N-CSR 1 d722403dncsr.htm AMG FUNDS AMG Funds

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-09521

 

 

AMG FUNDS

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

680 Washington Boulevard, Suite 500, Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

AMG Funds LLC

680 Washington Boulevard, Suite 500, Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 299-3500

Date of fiscal year end: DECEMBER 31

Date of reporting period: JANUARY 1, 2023 – DECEMBER 31, 2023

(Annual Shareholder Report)

 

 

 


Item 1.

Reports to Shareholders


LOGO    ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 
     LOGO
 
     AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund
 
     Class N: TSCPX | Class I: TSQIX | Class Z: TSCIX
 
     AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund
 
     Class N: TMDPX | Class I: TQMIX | Class Z: TMDIX
 
     AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund
 
     Class N: TCMPX | Class I: TQTIX | Class Z: TCMIX
 
     AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
 
     Class N: TQENX  | Class I: TQEIX | Class Z: TQEZX
 
     AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund
 
     Class N: TSYNX |Class I: TSYIX |Class Z: TSYZX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
wealth.amg.com         123123   AR012



  

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

 

 

    
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
   

 

 
 
   

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

     2  
 
   

ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES

     3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULES OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS   
 
   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

     4  
 
   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

     11  
 
   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

     19  
 
   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

     27  
 
   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

     35  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     43  
 
   

Balance sheets, net asset value (NAV) per share computations

and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     45  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and

unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     46  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past two fiscal years

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     48  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income

and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     63  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and

transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of

certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      72  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      73  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      74  
   

  

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 

 


LOGO   Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

        Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns   December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:        1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)     26.29%       10.00%        15.69%  

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)     16.93%       2.22%        9.97%  

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)     15.62%       1.55%        7.08%  

Bonds:

                           

Investment Grade

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)     5.53%       (3.31)%       1.10%  

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)     13.44%       1.98%        5.37%  

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)     6.40%       (0.40)%       2.25%  

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)     5.14%       2.17%        2.02%  

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

About Your Fund’s Expenses

   

 

     

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

      

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

         

 

 

 

 Six Months Ended

 December 31, 2023

   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.19%   $1,000      $1,053      $6.16

Class I

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,054      $5.54

Class Z

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,054      $5.12

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.19%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.06

Class I

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.45

Class Z

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.04

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.19%   $1,000      $1,087      $6.26

Class I

   1.04%   $1,000      $1,087      $5.47

Class Z

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,088      $5.21

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.19%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.06

Class I

   1.04%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.30

Class Z

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.04

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.23%   $1,000      $1,030      $6.29

Class I

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,030      $5.48

Class Z

   0.98%   $1,000      $1,031      $5.02

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.23%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.26

Class I

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.45

Class Z

   0.98%   $1,000      $1,020      $4.99

 Six Months Ended

 December 31, 2023

   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.65%   $1,000      $1,093      $8.70

Class I

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,095      $6.60

Class Z

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,095      $6.60

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.65%   $1,000      $1,017      $8.39

Class I

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.36

Class Z

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.36

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,053      $6.47

Class I

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,055      $5.18

Class Z

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,055      $5.18

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.36

Class I

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.09

Class Z

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.09

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 

 

3


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

The Year In Review

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 16.41%, while the benchmark, the Russell 2000® Growth Index, returned 18.66%.

 

2023 started off with a rollercoaster ride for global equity markets in the first quarter, followed by a steady climb in the second quarter, a decline in the third quarter, and ended the year with a strong rebound in the fourth quarter.

 

The fourth quarter was bolstered by central banks pausing rates increases, but it may be premature to declare victory over inflation and plot a near-term pivot to monetary easing. That speculation led to a rally benefiting global equities—especially small & microcaps and emerging markets. Concerns surrounding wage inflation and access to skilled workers generally subsided across markets, with the notable exception of Japan where that remains a significant challenge. Most factors finished the year in positive territory. However, it was Beta that significantly outpaced other style factors in 2023. Among U.S. small- to mid- cap growth stocks better performance was found in the information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Utilities and energy generally lagged.

 

As our investment team meets with companies, reviews recent earnings reports, and surveys the global landscape, they note several investment dynamics that inform our positioning:

 

•  Technology: Cybersecurity remains a top priority for companies, propelled by recent well publicized cyberattacks and new SEC disclosure rules on cyber risks which took effect in December 2023. Our channel checks indicate that information technology (IT) budgets will continue growing, with cybersecurity becoming an increasing percentage. Interest continues to grow in machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications, though companies approach this area cautiously given the costs and fast paced changes.

 

•  Industrials: Many years of prior underinvestment leave significant ground to recover that recent government programs have only begun to address. Industrial capital expenditures may continue to be a bright spot for several years as structural labor challenges are addressed with greater automation and supply chains move closer to home, particularly away from China.

  

•  China: Localization and import substitution are major trends, either due to geopolitical concerns in the case of the technology industry, or trading down to cheaper domestic products due to consumer weakness. Meanwhile, both Chinese and multinational companies continue to seek other manufacturing centers in the region, or re-shore them completely, which should benefit Southeast Asia, Mexico, and India.

 

Fund Performance Review

 

At the start of 2023, the Fund lagged the Russell 2000® Growth Index during the market’s jump in January following 2022’s negative market. As the market tide ebbed, our relative performance improved, and we were ahead of the benchmark by early spring. Then market hype surrounding generative AI or GLP 1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) obesity drugs lifted riskier small cap growth stocks far higher than our holdings. By the fall, we regained our relative performance lead when quality was favored while risk and high valuation were shunned. In the last two months of the year, the market rebounded sharply with expectations for both an economic soft landing and a near term pivot on monetary policy, leaving us behind the benchmark for the year.

 

Our preferences in the consumer oriented sectors lean toward value oriented or specialty retailers, franchise models, or premium brands. This year, however, that proved challenging. We exited our positions in Planet Fitness and National Vision—each had a negative impact on performance. The fitness center franchisor Planet Fitness was down -39% while we held it in 2023. Early in the year, investors were disappointed that the company’s initial expectation for 160 new store openings was below expectations for 175. That pace continued to lag in subsequent quarters, and we trimmed our position. Then in September, the company’s board discharged its CEO over differing views on how best to move the company forward. In our follow up discussion with the CFO and interim CEO, we were not convinced a positive change was near, so we sold our remaining position. We left behind National Vision in early March with its shares down -40%. Earnings came up short versus expectations, though revenues were in line for this value oriented optical retail chain providing eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. The company’s management cited a difficult

  

operating environment, particularly for their lower income customers. The company’s 2023 outlook was slightly below estimates, incorporating continuing constraints on eye exam capacity due to a shortage of optometrists. Faring far better was Wingstop, Inc., the franchisor and operator of quick service restaurants for cooked-to-order chicken wings. The company began the year with better-than-anticipated results thanks to higher levels of customer traffic and many recently opened locations. As its price rose in the spring, we trimmed our position. Late in the summer its share price faded, somewhat from market sentiment that the GLP 1 weight loss drugs would curb customer appetites for wings, and we added to our holdings. Toward the end of the year, Wingstop reported revenues and earnings well above expectations as transactions increased meaningfully with significant growth of digital sales. At the same time, chicken costs decreased, which led Wingstop’s management to increase its guidance for the balance of the year. We trimmed our position on that price strength, and Wingstop ended 2023 with a 78% gain.

 

In the financials sector, we tend to avoid banks that face credit deterioration or rising deposit costs, preferring either asset managers or specialized insurance companies. That included private markets investment service provider Hamilton Lane and its 81% return. Quarter after quarter, the company exceeded expectations with ever-rising fee income. Fundraising was on track, especially for its new Evergreen products (most private investment funds have finite lifespans). That led to steady growth in the firm’s assets under management and fee earnings, and we trimmed our position during the second half of the year. Offsetting that was the 21% showing from ProAssurance. In May, the company’s underwriting results were lower than anticipated, caused by an atypical adverse reserve development that stemmed from a business ProAssurance acquired in 2021. Its shares gradually recovered, but then retreated again in November. Although its primary malpractice insurance business was good, its smaller workers’ compensation business fared poorly as it faced notable medical cost inflation. That was enough to weigh on overall underwriting results. We had trimmed the position prior to the report in the face of potential risks, and did so again afterward, though the company’s valuation based on the malpractice business remained very attractive.

 

 

 

4


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

Our preferences among health care stocks are those companies providing novel therapies for unmet needs that deserve premium pricing, or specialized service providers. One of our top contributors had a short stay in the strategy this year, though during that time Reata Pharmaceuticals posted an 88% gain. In April we initiated a position in this biotechnology developer of therapies for types of chronic kidney and neurological diseases. At that time we had been following the company for some time and it recently gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating Friedreich’s Ataxia, an inherited genetic disorder affecting the nervous system. We saw a long-term opportunity and the company was moving toward more attractive profitability under a new CFO. Then in July it agreed to be acquired by Biogen and we subsequently exited the stock. Detracting from results was Treace Medical, an orthopedic medical device company focused on treating bunions. At the start of the year, Treace contributed to performance after reporting that business momentum was strong across several channels and the company soon preannounced better-than-expected revenues. Later its shares pulled back when the market seemed concerned about the pace of Treace’s quarterly sales, a slippage in its average selling price (“ASP”) for devices, and a wave of obesity treatments lessening the need for orthopedic devices. In our view, Treace should see a later reacceleration of sales, higher demand for more complex devices will lift its ASP, and podiatrists note that obesity does not drive the occurrence of bunions. Thus, we added to our holdings following Treace’s 45% price decline.

 

Many of our industrials positions provide necessary business to business operational services, highly technical components, automation and efficiency improvements, or essential infrastructure services. One steady contributor throughout the year was the global welding company Esab Corporation. Business activity from Esab’s end customers—especially in the emerging markets—markedly improved during 2023. At the same time, ESAB was about to increase pricing, which led its management to repeatedly increase its forward guidance. We regularly trimmed

  

our holdings as Esab’s shares climbed by 85%. At the other end of the scale was a -48% decline for Driven Brands, an automotive services company meeting a range of needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance, and car washes. Midyear, the company reported fewer-than-expected new business openings (though same store sales were better than expected). Later there was a marked decline in car wash volumes, with management citing poor weather conditions as the culprit. Driven also noted competition was growing in that segment. Also challenged this year was WNS Holdings, which provides business process management services—including customer interaction, finance and accounting, and data analytics—to a variety of industries. The mania surrounding generative AI and its possibilities created volatility in several industries. AI has been a productivity tool for business process outsourcing companies. Therefore, it seemed to us there was an overreaction on the potential disruption for businesses such as WNS that provide value added services, enabling customers to save costs. However, later in the year WNS’s management reduced guidance for the balance of its fiscal year. Although the core business continued generating significant cash flows, WNS noted that a recently signed contract for a captive insurance operation was taking longer than expected to start—and generate revenues. The company also saw hesitancy from a travel industry client who projected more conservative growth levels. Out of caution, recognizing some of these one-offs need to clear before its shares reaccelerate, we trimmed our position, which had retreated by -21%.

 

Among the wide variety of information technology companies, we prefer critical system providers, specialized component designers, systems that improve productivity or efficiency for their clients, and others that are closely tied to increasing shares of corporate IT budgets. One holding that consistently climbed in 2023 was Onto Innovation, which develops inspection technologies for use across the entire semiconductor fabrication process. Onto’s management was conservative with its initial

  

guidance for 2023 and actively worked to cut costs, which investors rewarded. End market demand, growing complexity for semiconductors, and higher volume needs translated into a 125% gain for Onto. Also picking up new business was Vertex, Inc. Providing end-to-end tax compliance software for large businesses, Vertex’s rates of annual recurring revenues initially were stable and later increased in 2023. It also benefited from its partnership with SAP, Oracle, Workday, Microsoft, and Salesforce.com—all of which drive additional sales momentum. Then at the end of the year Vertex announced the end of its two year cycle of internal investments—including a new Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system—which should lead to improving margins in the future. Combined, that led to an 86% return for Vertex, and we trimmed our position at year end.

 

Looking forward into 2024 markets will keep a close eye on central banks and the polls. Early indications are for some monetary easing, though there is a wide divergence on when that may occur. This year will also be one of the biggest for global elections. Including the U.S., Taiwan, India, Mexico, and expectations for the U.K., there will be nearly 40 national elections. That all but guarantees shifting fiscal policies as over 40% of the world’s population heads to the voting booths. With those influences beyond our control, we focus on how our portfolio companies plan to navigate this environment. Many showed improving fundamentals toward the end of 2023 that we expect to continue into 2024 and beyond. As bottom up investors, we seek underpinnings to near term valuations in the form of expected earnings growth and other business fundamentals. We continuously review the business models and management teams of current and potential holdings, and fine tune our own valuation models on an ongoing basis, as we endeavor to protect the assets you have entrusted with us.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

5


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013 to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 2000® Growth Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund and the Russell 2000® Growth Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Ten      Since     Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year     Years     Years      Inception     Date  

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

Class N

     16.41     9.57     6.84%        8.47     01/21/00  

Class I

     16.64     9.71     —         8.67     02/24/17  

Class Z

     16.73     9.80     7.07%        8.65     01/21/00  

Russell 2000® Growth Index9

     18.66     9.22     7.16%        5.12      01/21/00  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Date reflects inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

   capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

4  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

5  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

8  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9  The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the Russell 2000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 2000® Growth Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

The Russell 2000® Growth Index is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

 

6


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector    % of
Net Assets
 

Industrials

   26.0
 

Information Technology

   24.5
 

Health Care

   16.7
 

Consumer Discretionary

    8.3
 

Financials

    8.0
 

Energy

    4.4
 

Communication Services

    3.6
 

Consumer Staples

    2.8
 

Exchange Traded Funds

    1.7
 

Real Estate

    1.6
 

Materials

    1.0
 

Short-Term Investments

    2.5
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

     (1.1)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name   

% of

Net Assets

 

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A

   3.0
 

JFrog, Ltd. (Israel)

   2.3
 

Hexcel Corp.

   2.1
 

PowerSchool Holdings, Inc., Class A

   2.1
 

Synaptics, Inc.

   2.0
 

Esab Corp.

   1.9
 

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.

   1.9
 

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)

   1.9
 

Smartsheet, Inc., Class A

   1.8
 

Vertex, Inc., Class A

   1.8
 
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

   20.8
  

 

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

7


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Common Stocks - 96.9%

 

  

Communication Services - 3.6%

 

  

Bumble, Inc., Class A*

     112,500        $1,658,250  

IAC, Inc.*

     31,000        1,623,780  

Integral Ad Science Holding Corp.*

     185,000        2,662,150  

Total Communication Services

        5,944,180  

Consumer Discretionary - 8.3%

     

Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*

     26,500        1,562,175  

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*

     23,500        1,803,860  

European Wax Center, Inc., Class A*,1

     87,718        1,192,088  

Global-e Online, Ltd. (Israel)*

     56,000        2,219,280  

Savers Value Village, Inc.*,1

     70,000        1,216,600  

Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.*

     97,400        1,396,716  

Visteon Corp.*

     13,900        1,736,110  

Warby Parker, Inc., Class A*

     49,700        700,770  

Wingstop, Inc.

     7,600        1,950,008  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        13,777,607  

Consumer Staples - 2.8%

     

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*

     46,900        3,126,354  

The Simply Good Foods Co.*

     38,500        1,524,600  

Total Consumer Staples

        4,650,954  

Energy - 4.4%

     

Cactus, Inc., Class A

     64,000        2,905,600  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A

     75,300        1,603,137  

Matador Resources Co.

     49,800        2,831,628  

Total Energy

        7,340,365  

Financials - 8.0%

     

AvidXchange Holdings, Inc.*

     154,000        1,908,060  

Flywire Corp.*

     31,000        717,650  

Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A

     26,220        2,974,397  

MVB Financial Corp.

     43,100        972,336  

PJT Partners, Inc., Class A1

     16,500        1,680,855  

ProAssurance Corp.

     106,600        1,470,014  

Safety Insurance Group, Inc.

     15,800        1,200,642  

Victory Capital Holdings, Inc., Class A

     65,000        2,238,600  

Total Financials

        13,162,554  

Health Care - 16.7%

     

Addus HomeCare Corp.*

     22,000        2,042,700  

Ascendis Pharma A/S, ADR (Denmark)*

     23,800        2,997,610  

AtriCure, Inc.*

     72,900        2,601,801  

Certara, Inc.*

     43,500        765,165  

Day One Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     135,900        1,984,140  

HealthEquity, Inc.*

     22,600        1,498,380  
     
Shares
     Value  

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*

     35,300        $2,528,186  

Krystal Biotech, Inc.*

     18,100        2,245,486  

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (Switzerland)*,1

     35,300        2,131,767  

Phreesia, Inc.*

     65,000        1,504,750  

RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.*

     37,025        920,071  

Shockwave Medical, Inc.*

     10,500        2,000,880  

Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.*

     134,500        1,714,875  

Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Canada)*

     58,900        2,712,934  

Total Health Care

        27,648,745  

Industrials - 26.0%

     

ACV Auctions, Inc., Class A*

     106,000        1,605,900  

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

     5,100        880,719  

The AZEK Co., Inc.*

     52,500        2,008,125  

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A*

     58,600        5,007,956  

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

     5,800        1,192,886  

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.*

     108,000        1,540,080  

EMCOR Group, Inc.

     13,500        2,908,305  

Esab Corp.

     36,700        3,178,954  

Exponent, Inc.

     34,000        2,993,360  

Hexcel Corp.

     46,400        3,422,000  

ICF International, Inc.

     10,100        1,354,309  

ITT, Inc.

     14,000        1,670,480  

Marten Transport, Ltd.

     90,000        1,888,200  

Paycor HCM, Inc.*

     62,400        1,347,216  

RBC Bearings, Inc.*,1

     5,932        1,689,967  

Regal Rexnord Corp.

     19,200        2,841,984  

Saia, Inc.*

     1,300        569,686  

Tetra Tech, Inc.

     15,400        2,570,722  

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*

     35,900        1,597,550  

WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR (India)*

     42,000        2,654,400  

Total Industrials

        42,922,799  

Information Technology - 24.5%

     

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.*

     28,000        847,560  

Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc., Class A*

     129,000        2,583,870  

Cohu, Inc.*

     60,000        2,123,400  

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)*

     14,000        3,066,700  

FormFactor, Inc.*

     31,500        1,313,865  

HashiCorp, Inc., Class A*

     58,900        1,392,396  

JFrog, Ltd. (Israel)*

     111,000        3,841,710  

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. (Singapore)

     51,000        2,790,720  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*

     20,000        1,859,000  

Onto Innovation, Inc.*

     13,500        2,064,150  

PowerSchool Holdings, Inc., Class A*,1

     144,000        3,392,640  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Information Technology - 24.5%
(continued)

     

Q2 Holdings, Inc.*

     37,700        $1,636,557  

Smartsheet, Inc., Class A*

     64,000        3,060,480  

Sprout Social, Inc., Class A*,1

     21,000        1,290,240  

Synaptics, Inc.*

     28,500        3,251,280  

Vertex, Inc., Class A*

     112,000        3,017,280  

Workiva, Inc.*

     28,502        2,893,808  

Total Information Technology

        40,425,656  

Materials - 1.0%

     

Avient Corp.

     40,500        1,683,585  

Real Estate - 1.6%

     

National Storage Affiliates Trust, REIT

     64,000        2,654,080  

Total Common Stocks

 

  

(Cost $135,217,055)

        160,210,525  

Exchange Traded Funds - 1.7%

     

iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF
(Cost $2,766,924)

     11,500        2,900,530  
     Principal
Amount
        

Short-Term Investments - 2.5%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 1.2%2

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $1,000,598 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $1,020,123)

     $1,000,000        1,000,000  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.350% total to be received $20,787 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% -6.500%, 09/01/46 - 06/01/62, totaling $21,191)

     $20,775        $20,775  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

     2,020,775  
     Shares         

Other Investment Companies - 1.3%

 

  

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.25%3

     837,739        837,739  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%3

     1,256,608        1,256,608  

Total Other Investment Companies

 

     2,094,347  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $4,115,122)

        4,115,122  

Total Investments - 101.1%

 

  

(Cost $142,099,101)

        167,226,177  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (1.1)%

 

     (1,873,610

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $165,352,567  
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $8,292,535 or 5.0% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

2 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

3 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

ADR  American Depositary Receipt

 

ETF  Exchange Traded Fund

 

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

   $ 160,210,525                    $ 160,210,525  

Exchange Traded Funds

     2,900,530                      2,900,530  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

          $ 2,020,775               2,020,775  

Other Investment Companies

     2,094,347                      2,094,347  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investments in Securities

   $ 165,205,402      $ 2,020,775             $ 167,226,177  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

All common stocks held in the Fund are Level 1 securities. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

The Year In Review

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 24.82%, while its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, returned 25.87%.

 

2023 started off with a rollercoaster ride for global equity markets in the first quarter, followed by a steady climb in the second quarter, a decline in the third quarter, and ended the year with a strong rebound in the fourth quarter.

 

The fourth quarter rebound was bolstered by central banks pausing rates increases, but it may be premature to declare victory over inflation and plot a near-term pivot to monetary easing. That speculation led to a rally benefiting global equities—especially small & microcaps and emerging markets. Concerns surrounding wage inflation and access to skilled workers generally subsided across markets, with the notable exception of Japan where that remains a significant challenge. Most factors finished the year in positive territory. However, it was Beta that significantly outpaced other style factors in 2023. Among U.S. small to mid cap growth stocks better performance was found in the information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Utilities and energy generally lagged.

 

As our investment team meets with companies, reviews recent earnings reports, and surveys the global landscape, they note several investment dynamics that inform our positioning:

 

•  Technology: Cybersecurity remains a top priority for companies, propelled by recent well publicized cyberattacks and new SEC disclosure rules on cyber risks that took effect in December 2023. Our channel checks indicate that information technology (IT) budgets will continue growing, with cybersecurity becoming an increasing percentage. Interest continues to grow in machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications, though companies approach this area cautiously given the costs and fast paced changes.

 

•  Industrials: Many years of prior underinvestment leave significant ground to recover that recent government programs have only begun to address. Industrial capital expenditures may continue to be a bright spot for several years as structural labor challenges are addressed with greater automation and supply chains move closer to home, particularly away from China.

  

•  China: Localization and import substitution are major trends, either due to geopolitical concerns in the case of the technology industry, or trading down to cheaper domestic products due to consumer weakness. Meanwhile, both Chinese and multinational companies continue to seek other manufacturing centers in the region, or re-shore them completely, which should benefit Southeast Asia, Mexico, and India.

 

Fund Performance Review

 

Amid this environment, the Fund performed behind the Russell Midcap® Growth Index for the full year. The Fund experienced mixed performance across sectors. Relative weakness was found in consumer discretionary, industrials, financials, and real estate. This was partially offset by strength in health care, information technology, materials, and energy.

 

In consumer-oriented sectors, we lean toward value-oriented or specialty retailers, franchise models, as well as premium brands. In our view, the timeshare space represents a better investment option to hotels due to the annual maintenance fee requirement from customers/owners. Another driver has been an increase in leisure travel post-pandemic. These were the underpinnings to the thesis for Marriott Vacations Worldwide, a timeshare and resort property management company. We held the stock up until their second quarter earnings report. The combination of weak results and lower forward guidance caused us to exit the position, which was down -16% for the time it was held during the year. Aptiv Plc designs and manufactures vehicle components focused on electronics and vehicle safety. The United Auto Workers’ strike, which occurred in the fall, had an adverse impact on demand for the company’s products, causing its stock to slide by -4%. We trimmed the position in the latter part of the year. Tractor Supply Co. is the largest retailer in the U.S. focused on the farm and ranch market, with over 2,000 stores. Customer service is a strong differentiator with knowledgeable sales staff. They have an extensive mix of products to care for home, land, pets, and animals. During the year, results were impacted by adverse weather conditions and economic headwinds that hampered consumer spending. This caused a -3% pullback in Tractor Supply. Turning to positives, shares of Floor & Decor Holdings gained 60%. They operate as a multi channel specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories. The company enjoys a

  

strong position in a fragmented market. While it was aided by meaningful enrollment increases in its Premier rewards program (PRO), higher interest rates impacted the housing market and associated businesses. Of note, gross margins have improved along with lower supply chain costs. Brunswick, a manufacturer of recreational marine products including boats and engines, surged ahead by 37%. Management, while acknowledging a tough industry backdrop, remains upbeat about the long-term prospects for their business. Premium level customers remain resilient as evidenced by sales at a recent boat show. There was strong demand for Boston Whaler and Sea Ray boats and Mercury propulsion systems. There are also healthy usage trends in its Freedom Boat Club. Value-oriented consumers are demonstrating hesitancy around purchases as they are more sensitive to rising interest rates.

 

In the industrials sector, we gravitate toward business service companies, those focused on automation and efficiency improvements, and essential infrastructure services. Paylocity Holding offers cloud-based human capital management and payroll software solutions. Its results were steady for most of the year up its their fiscal first quarter earnings report. In that early November release, management noted weakness with existing client headcounts and prompted fears among investors. That in turn triggered a 15% selloff. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding is a management and technology consulting services provider to U.S. government departments and agencies. We decided to exit the position, which was down -11% while we held it during the first quarter. While recent revenues and earnings were in line with expectations, delays in some large orders caused us to reassess the position and exit. Better performance was found in some of our business service companies. Copart, a provider of online auctions and vehicle remarketing, rallied 61%. These services are offered to insurance companies, rental car companies, local municipalities, financial institutions, and charities. There has been a continued pickup in total loss frequency for vehicles as repair costs remain high and used car pricing has declined. Cintas supplies uniforms and facilities services to approximately one million customers. The current penetration rate for ancillary products and services within the company’s uniform rental customer base is less than 20%. This implies a runway for growth. Customer

 

 

11


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

retention remains slightly above 95%. Operating margin has expanded due to higher utilization, route density, improved supply chain capabilities, and cost controls. The latest quarter exceeded expectations. This included beats to revenues and earnings estimates, as well as an increase in forward guidance. These developments lifted the stock of Cintas by 35% for the year. Verisk Analytics supplies data analytics solutions to the insurance industry. Its latest quarter represented the third consecutive period of higher-than-expected growth across Underwriting and Claims. That served to boost its shares by 36%. Verisk is focused on adding deeper and more extensive data to its products. Management believes its highly proprietary data assets position the company to capitalize on the benefits of AI and generative AI.

 

In financials, we prefer well placed insurance companies and niche businesses while tending to avoid banks which face credit deterioration and rising deposit costs. The troubles for Silicon Valley Bank weighed on the rest of the banking industry, including our position in Signature Bank, a commercial bank serving businesses and private clients, predominantly in the New York metropolitan area. As concerns grew in early March about potential deposit outflows, we sold our remaining shares. Signature’s share price fell -35% during the first quarter while we owned it, though we exited before regulators closed the bank. Nasdaq operates as a technology company that serves capital markets and other industries worldwide. Earnings outpaced consensus estimates due to the combination of stronger revenues and lower operating expenses. We decided to sell out of the position due to the upcoming close on their Adenza acquisition. We question the merits of this deal and prefer to watch from the sidelines for the time being. Nasdaq’s shares dropped by -17% before we liquidated the position during the fourth quarter. Turning to credits, TPG operates as an alternative asset manager. Third quarter earnings were well above Street estimates, driven by management and performance fees. During the year they acquired Angelo Gordon. This significantly expands their product offering. Angelo Gordon is a well established and successful manager of private credit and real estate. TPG’s legacy business includes private equity, credit, growth equity, impact investing, real estate, public market solutions, and capital markets services. This deal along with a more bullish outlook for fundraising in 2024 lifted its shares by 62%. Brown & Brown, a marketer of insurance products and services, gained 26%. Its business lines include

  

Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The latest quarter’s results included growth, with strong new business and retention across Retail, National Programs, and Wholesale. Its Services segment was driven by an increase in claims processing revenues.

 

Within real estate, SBA Communications is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure including towers and distributed antenna systems. We sold the stock during the third quarter due to interest rate sensitivity tied to its levered balance sheet and a slower-than-expected ramp in 5G spending by some wireless carriers. The stock tumbled by -21% while we owned it this year.

 

Our preference within health care is for novel therapies to address unmet medical needs, specialized providers, and innovators. Envista Holdings develops and manufactures dental products. We exited the position during the fourth quarter on the combination of disappointing third quarter results and lowered forward guidance. They reported softness in adult orthodontics and high end implants. Its stock sold off by -32% while it was held during the year. Royalty Pharma Plc, a buyer of drug therapy royalties and funder of innovation in the biopharmaceutical space, declined by -31%. The stock has not been given credit for its differentiated business model and additions to its royalty stream. We decided to sell out of the position during the third quarter and potentially revisit Royalty Pharma in the future. Shockwave Medical is a medical device company that utilizes intravascular lithotripsy technology for treating calcified plaque in patients suffering from coronary disease. The company is well positioned and continues to expand its product offerings. It appears the stock has been caught up in the market’s medical technology unwind. While third quarter results were in line with expectations, management did not raise guidance for the first time since the pandemic. Two headwinds impaired the outlook: private insurers are increasing the need for preauthorization for treating peripheral arterial disease and the China anti corruption campaign is impacting restocking in their joint venture.

Shockwave was added to the Fund in the third quarter and its shares lost -29% since then. The stock was sold in the fourth quarter. Better was the 36% return for IDEXX Laboratories. They develop, manufacture, and distribute products and services for veterinary, livestock, poultry, and dairy markets. Results were solid up until the third quarter. In that period, revenues missed estimates on weaker

  

clinical veterinarian visits in the companion animal segment. Clinical vet visit softness was not entirely unexpected this quarter given publicly available VetSource data and management expects this to improve as capacity constraints ease. Operating margins improved. Pharmaceutical product distributor Cencora climbed 25%. It consistently posted strong results. Its mix is heavily weighted to specialty drugs and that continues to drive above market growth. The increased interest in GLP 1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) drugs also served to benefit Cencora’s revenues, but they are a slight drag on operating margins due to the refrigeration requirement for shipping. During the third quarter, DexCom was added to the Fund. This is a medical device company focused on the design and development of continuous glucose monitoring systems. While GLP 1 drugs can help with weight loss, individuals with type 1 diabetes would remain insulin dependent. We used share price weakness as an opportunity to initiate the position. The stock rose 19% since then.

 

Across the IT universe, we seek companies possessing differentiated capabilities, products, and services. Palo Alto Networks was the leading contributor for the year with its 111% return. This company supplies cybersecurity solutions worldwide. Revenues and earnings were continually higher than expected, although in the latter part of the year they fell short on billings growth. Management stressed that they are not seeing any change in the demand environment and that pipeline visibility remains high. Higher interest rates may well mean that customers are less willing to sign multi-year contracts. CrowdStrike Holdings, a provider of cybersecurity products and services to stop network breaches, jumped 142%. Its results were consistently solid throughout the year. Management noted increased momentum driven by strong product platform leading to vendor consolidation opportunities and go-to-market partnerships with Amazon, Dell, and others. Sales reps from the hiring spree 9 to 12 months ago have fully ramped up, and that further supports expectations. Annualized recurring revenues have accelerated. Synopsys provides electronic design automation software products used to design and test integrated circuits. The company continually has delivered quarterly results that were above the guidance and consensus range. Operating margins expanded. EDA (electronic design automation) and IP (intellectual property) solutions continue to be key growth drivers for the company and the momentum

 

 

12


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

is clearly sustaining into 2024. Its shares advanced 61%. Synopsys is well positioned to benefit from increasing complexity of AI chip development.

 

Keysight Technologies supplies electronic design and test solutions to the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and semiconductor industries. We decided to sell the stock during the fourth quarter with the ongoing malaise in the telecommunications industry. That end market lacks visibility, and near-term estimates are being cut. Nevertheless, Keysight’s shares were down (28)% for the time the position was held. We used share price weakness to add HashiCorp during the third quarter. It provides multi-cloud infrastructure automation solutions and is well positioned to benefit long term from a myriad of secular tailwinds and architectural shifts in software. These include increasing adoption of infrastructure automation tools, sustained growth in the pace of applications development, and ongoing shifts of workloads to the cloud. In December, it reported fiscal third quarter results. Revenues beat estimates, but short-term bookings derived from backlog were soft and current subscription billings slowed. That caused an -18% pullback.

 

Within materials we seek well positioned companies that are less susceptible to swings in commodity prices. FMC is an agricultural sciences company offering solutions in areas such as crop protection, plant health, professional pest, and turf management. Although the company’s outlook on revenues improved in the first quarter results, there were concerns surrounding FMC’s ability to recover

  

from past margin weakness. That combination was repeated, with management counting on a significant upturn in the second half to meet its unflinching outlook for the year. In our view, this is too optimistic, and we sold our remaining shares during the second quarter, with the stock falling -13% for the time it was held. Martin Marietta Materials, a supplier of aggregates to the construction industry, surged ahead by 49%. Its third quarter included higher-than-expected earnings with inline revenues. Across its product lineup aggregate volumes declined, cement volumes were flat, ready mix volumes were up, and asphalt volumes were up. Its profit guidance was also increased. The company is well positioned to benefit from increased infrastructure spending measures including the Inflation Reduction Act and state highway programs.

 

We often see the ebb and flow of the energy sector tied to underlying commodity prices. In this area we seek low cost exploration and production companies with high yielding acreage or specialized service providers. Antero Resources is an exploration and production company with operations in the Appalachian Basin. We sold out of the position in the second quarter due to continued deterioration of the U.S. natural gas market inclusive of pricing and declining rig count. Its shares slid -29% for the time it was held. Moving in the opposite direction with its 15% return was Cheniere Energy. This energy infrastructure company operates liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) terminals in Louisiana and Texas. Third quarter results were solid with lower-than-anticipated levels of expected capital

  

expenditures, and management maintained full year guidance. Two important business drivers for its business include increased use of LNG as it represents a cleaner alternative to coal, and the export of LNG to areas such as Europe in their search for alternative energy sources.

 

Looking forward into 2024, markets will keep a close eye on central banks and the polls. Early indications are for some monetary easing, though there is a wide divergence on when that may occur. This year will also be one of the biggest for global elections. Including the U.S., Taiwan, India, Mexico, and expectations for the U.K., there will be nearly 40 national elections. That all but guarantees shifting fiscal policies as over 40% of the world’s population heads to the voting booths. With those influences beyond our control, we focus on how our portfolio companies plan to navigate this environment. Many showed improving fundamentals toward the end of 2023 that we expect to continue into 2024 and beyond. As bottom up investors, we seek underpinnings to near term valuations in the form of expected earnings growth and other business fundamentals. We continuously review the business models and management teams of current and potential holdings, and fine tune our own valuation models on an ongoing basis, as we endeavor to protect the assets you have entrusted with us.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

13


AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013 to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund and the Russell Midcap® Growth Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Ten       Since      Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year     Years     Years       Inception      Date  

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 

     

Class N

     24.82     15.43     10.49%        10.49%        03/04/05  

Class I

     24.94     15.59            12.73%        02/24/17  

Class Z

     25.03     15.66     10.72%        10.70%        03/04/05  

Russell Midcap® Growth Index8

     25.87     13.81     10.57%        9.93%         03/04/05  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

† Date reflects inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

4  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

5  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The stocks of mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

8  The Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with higher price/book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000® Growth Index. Unlike the Fund, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

The Russell Midcap® Growth Index is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

14


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector   

% of

Net Assets

 

Information Technology

       28.9
 

Industrials

       20.3
 

Health Care

       18.9
 

Consumer Discretionary

       10.8
 

Financials

       7.3
 

Communication Services

       3.4
 

Energy

       3.2
 

Materials

       2.3
 

Consumer Staples

       1.5
 

Real Estate

       1.4
 

Short-Term Investments

       3.2
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

       (1.2 )

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name   

% of

Net Assets

 

Cintas Corp.

       2.8 
 

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.

       2.5 
 

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A

       2.4 
 

Gartner, Inc.

       2.4 
 

Cencora, Inc.

       2.4 
 

Waste Connections, Inc. (Canada)

       2.3 
 

Chemed Corp.

       2.1 
 

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

       2.1 
 

Dexcom, Inc.

       2.1 
 

Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A

       2.1 
 
      

 

 

 
 

Top Ten as a Group

        23.2 
    

 

 

 
 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

15


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Common Stocks - 98.0%

     

Communication Services - 3.4%

 

  

IAC, Inc.*

     254,500        $13,330,710  

Pinterest, Inc., Class A*

     558,400        20,683,136  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*

     62,300        10,027,185  

Total Communication Services

        44,041,031  

Consumer Discretionary - 10.8%

     

Aptiv PLC (Ireland)*

     97,200        8,720,784  

Brunswick Corp.

     197,500        19,108,125  

Five Below, Inc.*

     56,300        12,000,908  

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A*,1

     133,200        14,859,792  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*

     34,000        32,302,720  

Pool Corp.

     43,275        17,254,175  

Ross Stores, Inc.

     182,600        25,270,014  

Tractor Supply Co.

     46,300        9,955,889  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        139,472,407  

Consumer Staples - 1.5%

     

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*

     291,900        19,458,054  

Energy - 3.2%

     

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

     162,200        27,689,162  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

     62,100        13,965,048  

Total Energy

        41,654,210  

Financials - 7.3%

     

Brown & Brown, Inc.

     156,300        11,114,493  

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A

     233,200        19,332,280  

RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd. (Bermuda)

     122,200        23,951,200  

TPG, Inc.

     566,320        24,448,034  

WEX, Inc.*

     78,100        15,194,355  

Total Financials

        94,040,362  

Health Care - 18.9%

     

Argenx SE, ADR (Netherlands)*

     32,050        12,192,781  

Ascendis Pharma A/S, ADR (Denmark)*

     126,800        15,970,460  

Cencora, Inc.

     148,400        30,478,392  

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*

     8,600        2,033,040  

Chemed Corp.

     47,425        27,731,769  

Dexcom, Inc.*

     220,400        27,349,436  

Encompass Health Corp.

     286,500        19,115,280  

ICON PLC (Ireland)*

     58,300        16,502,981  

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*

     45,000        24,977,250  

Legend Biotech Corp., ADR *

     287,292        17,286,360  

Repligen Corp.*,1

     58,106        10,447,459  

Stevanato Group S.P.A. (Italy)

     501,045        13,673,518  
     
Shares
     Value  

Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*

     139,485        $26,853,652  

Total Health Care

        244,612,378  

Industrials - 20.3%

     

AMETEK, Inc.

     111,800        18,434,702  

Carlisle Cos., Inc.

     56,800        17,746,024  

Cintas Corp.

     60,300        36,340,398  

Copart, Inc.*

     191,900        9,403,100  

EMCOR Group, Inc.

     62,938        13,558,733  

Equifax, Inc.

     52,300        12,933,267  

GFL Environmental, Inc. (Canada)

     441,304        15,229,401  

Hexcel Corp.

     236,000        17,405,000  

Nordson Corp.

     40,000        10,566,400  

Paylocity Holding Corp.*

     73,600        12,132,960  

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     56,500        17,542,120  

Saia, Inc.*

     27,220        11,928,349  

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Class A

     100,000        23,886,000  

Waste Connections, Inc. (Canada)

     201,775        30,118,954  

Watsco, Inc.

     36,300        15,553,461  

Total Industrials

        262,778,869  

Information Technology - 28.9%

     

Amphenol Corp., Class A

     237,400        23,533,462  

Aspen Technology, Inc.*

     52,900        11,645,935  

Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B

     349,700        18,247,346  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*

     121,500        31,021,380  

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)*

     81,800        17,918,290  

Elastic, N.V.*

     154,900        17,457,230  

Gartner, Inc.*

     68,425        30,867,202  

HashiCorp, Inc., Class A*

     555,200        13,124,928  

HubSpot, Inc.*

     43,700        25,369,598  

Marvell Technology, Inc.

     181,560        10,949,883  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

     245,800        22,166,244  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

     31,100        19,617,258  

Nice, Ltd., Sponsored ADR (Israel)*,1

     100,720        20,094,647  

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*

     83,917        24,745,445  

Samsara, Inc., Class A*

     176,600        5,894,908  

Smartsheet, Inc., Class A*

     348,600        16,670,052  

Synopsys, Inc.*

     34,115        17,566,155  

Teradyne, Inc.

     208,600        22,637,272  

Tyler Technologies, Inc.*

     38,200        15,972,184  

Universal Display Corp.

     49,164        9,403,107  

Total Information Technology

        374,902,526  

Materials - 2.3%

     

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

     34,100        17,012,831  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

16


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

      Shares      Value  

Materials - 2.3% (continued)

     

RPM International, Inc.

     116,700      $ 13,027,221  

Total Materials

        30,040,052  

Real Estate - 1.4%

     

CoStar Group, Inc.*

     212,700        18,587,853  

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $832,973,797)

        1,269,587,742  
     Principal
Amount
        

Short-Term Investments - 3.2%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 1.2%2

 

  

Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $3,181,625 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 0.000% - 7.613%, 08/01/25 - 09/20/73, totaling $3,243,286)

     $3,179,692        3,179,692  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $668,742 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $681,791)

     668,342        668,342  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $3,737,624 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $3,810,116)

     3,735,408        3,735,408  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.390% total to be received $3,700,269 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 1.500% - 6.838%, 10/25/30 - 03/20/71, totaling $3,772,015)

     $3,698,054        $3,698,054  

State of Wisconsin Investment Board, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $3,662,925 (collateralized by various U.S. Treasuries, 0.125% - 3.625%, 04/15/25 - 02/15/53, totaling $3,731,226)

     3,660,700        3,660,700  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

        14,942,196  
     Shares         

Other Investment Companies - 2.0%

 

  

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.25%3

     10,301,480        10,301,480  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%3

     15,452,221        15,452,221  

Total Other Investment Companies

        25,753,701  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $40,695,897)

        40,695,897  

Total Investments - 101.2%
(Cost $873,669,694)

        1,310,283,639  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (1.2)%

 

     (15,016,652

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $1,295,266,987  
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $36,651,313 or 2.8% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

2 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

3 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

ADR American Depositary Receipt

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

17


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

     $1,269,587,742                      $1,269,587,742  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            $14,942,196               14,942,196  

Other Investment Companies

     25,753,701                      25,753,701  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     $1,295,341,443        $14,942,196               $1,310,283,639  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

All common stocks held in the Fund are Level 1 securities. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Year In Review

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 9.92%, while its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, returned 13.16%.

 

2023 started off with a rollercoaster ride for global equity markets in the first quarter, followed by a steady climb in the second quarter, a decline in the third quarter, and ended the year with a strong rebound in the fourth quarter.

 

The fourth quarter rally was bolstered by central banks pausing rates increases, but it may be premature to declare victory over inflation and plot a near-term pivot to monetary easing. That speculation led to a rally benefiting global equities—especially small & microcaps and emerging markets. Concerns surrounding wage inflation and access to skilled workers generally subsided across markets, with the notable exception of Japan where that remains a significant challenge. Most factors finished the year in positive territory. However, it was Beta and Book to Price that significantly outpaced other style factors in 2023. Within the international small cap universe, Europe outperformed other regions with double-digit performance. All sectors generated positive returns with real estate, energy, and financials leading the way.

 

As our investment team meets with companies, reviews recent earnings reports, and surveys the global landscape, they note several investment dynamics that inform our positioning:

 

•  Technology: Cybersecurity remains a top priority for companies, propelled by recent well publicized cyberattacks. Our channel checks indicate that information technology (IT) budgets will continue growing, with cybersecurity becoming an increasing percentage. Interest continues to grow in machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications, though companies approach this area cautiously given the costs and fast paced changes.

 

•  Industrials: Many years of prior underinvestment leave significant ground to recover. Industrial capital expenditures may continue to be a bright spot for several years as structural labor challenges are addressed with greater automation and supply chains move closer to home, particularly away from China.

 

•  China: Localization and import substitution are major trends, either due to geopolitical concerns in the case of the technology industry, or trading

    

down to cheaper domestic products due to consumer weakness. Meanwhile, both Chinese and multinational companies continue to seek other manufacturing centers in the region, or reshore them completely, which should benefit Southeast Asia, Mexico, and India.

 

Fund Performance Review

 

The Fund underperformed the MSCI EAFE Small Cap benchmark during 2023 due to relative weakness in Europe and Japan.

 

Regional Performance: Europe

 

Recognizing the geopolitical landscape and economic reality, we reduced our position in Europe throughout the year. At the end of the year, the Fund had a slightly underweight position in Europe versus the benchmark. For the year, underperformance in the region was driven by stock selection. Holdings in the U.K. and Germany detracted while France and Sweden contributed.

 

In the U.K., wealth manager St. James’s Place has been a long-time holding in the Fund. A regulatory change in the industry placed a lower cap on the company fees for long duration bond and pension investments. This will create headwinds for St. James going forward. Spirent Communications is a leading provider of automated testing and assurance solutions for networks, security, and positioning (GPS). The company noted prolonged order delays in 5G investment from telecom carriers, which led its FY23 revenue guidance lower. We exited our positions in St. James’s Place and Spirent, which lost -36% and- 31%, respectively, while they were held this year. The Fund’s largest detractor was Keywords Studios, a provider of outsourced creative and technical services to the video game industry. The company reported resilient first half 2023 results, but speculation on potential disruption by AI has created volatility for business outsourcing companies. The company also noted impact from the U.S. writer/actor strikes. As a result, the stock traded down -35%. We believe the company’s dominant exposure in the growing market and its long-standing client relationships will be beneficial in the long run, and the U.S. writer’s strike was resolved at the end of the third quarter. More positive was the U.K.-based online automotive platform Auto Trader. The company delivered strong results for the first half of 2024 and upgraded its FY24 outlook. The share price of Auto Trader surged 50%.

 

Military spending in the world had been in a long-term decline, though given the current geopolitical situation there should be structural

    

increases in spending. Our holdings here include Swedish defense equipment manufacturer Saab, which continued to post strong revenue growth and expand its margin. Saab’s share price improved 54%, making it the greatest contributor for the year. Earlier in the year, we initiated a position in Germany based pure play, platform agnostic defense electronics company, Hensoldt. The company’s sensors/radar and Optronics (precision vision guidance systems) are critical to military hardware. There was some concern over the loss making in their Optronics segment in the early quarter, but management reiterated the guidance for the full year. We remained confident in the company and gradually added to the position with the stock traded down -24% since it was first added to the Fund.

 

Elsewhere in Europe, France’s Technip Energy is one of only a handful of companies that can build liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) plants. We trimmed the position with its share price up 52% for the year. Netherlands-based engineering consultant Arcadis reported strong performance throughout the year. The company also raised its organic revenue growth target over the next two fiscal years, driven by increased client spending on climate and sustainability-related and energy transition projects. This positive news served to lift its shares by 40% during the year.

 

Regional Performance: Japan

 

Within Japan there has been a significant shift to Value after the Tokyo Stock Exchange urged companies with low price to book ratios (P/B) to start focusing on using capital more efficiently. That led active investors to allocate capital into low P/B stocks and created a significant rotation to Value. Though in the short-term this stylistic headwind impacts some of our holdings, we believe this could be positive in the long term as companies will be more likely to take excess capital and reallocate to the market. This rotation to Value calmed down somewhat during the fourth quarter.

 

Leading Japanese logistics provider AZ-COM has benefited from recent momentum of freight rate hikes in the logistics industry and ecommerce-related outsourcing services. The company announced the issuance of new shares and secondary offering of shares in November. The dilution in the share price and selling pressure from existing shareholders led to a -28% slide. We believe the company’s outlook remains solid but reached out

 

 

19


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

 

 

to local brokers to voice our disapproval regarding this corporate action. Shoei is the world’s largest manufacturer of premium motorcycle helmets. The company is projecting lower sales volume as distributors work through excess inventories. We exited the position with its share price down -33% while it was in the portfolio during the year.

 

There are also some bright spots in the Fund’s Japan holdings. A case in point is the water recycling services provider, Organo. The company announced upward revisions of guidance in October. In its quarterly earnings, the company noted strong order intakes due to acceleration of domestic projects and semiconductor projects in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Share price surged 90% as a result. Socionext is a leading Japanese fabless semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) design company. The proliferation of artificial intelligence has increased the demand for customized application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). The construction of Japan-based semiconductor foundries by TSMC (the world’s largest fab foundry) and the desire among customers for IC design talent outside of mainland China should also be beneficial for Socionext. The company’s impressive results also further demonstrated the strength of its business model, though in our mind management was conservative about not upgrading guidance. We trimmed our position with the stock ascending 20% for the year.

 

Regional Performance: Asia/Pacific ex Japan

 

The Fund’s holdings in Asia/Pacific ex Japan performed in line with the benchmark’s regional performance.

    

The share price of Australia’s intellectual property services provider IPH came under pressure due to increased leverage with its recent acquisition in Canada and the lack of organic growth in its home market. We believe the acquisition in Canada was attractive and the reasons for poor sentiment are increasingly behind us. We continue to hold the name even though its shares traded down -24%. Late in the year we parted ways with APM Human Services International, a leading human resources provider that focuses on disability, employment, and related services. Record low levels of unemployment in Australia and the U.K. remained a headwind, driving industry caseloads lower. Meanwhile, rising interest costs and taxes compounded the issue. Shares of APM declined -37% while they were held during the year.

 

Jumping 55%, CAR Group (previously Carsales.com) is the #1 online classified platform in Australia with a growing presence in South Korea, Latin America, and the U.S. In September, the company hosted U.S. and Brazil investor days, which provided clarity on the company’s medium term outlook.

 

Regional Performance: Emerging Markets

 

Within the Emerging Markets, Taiwan-based Accton is a leading manufacturer of white box network devices, in particular network switches, for brand vendors (such as Broadcom and HP) and leading data center “hyperscalers” (such as Facebook and Amazon). Accton’s share price jumped 126% on the back of better-than-expected quarterly results helped by easing supply chain pressure and strong demand trend for 400G switches.

    

Conclusion

 

Looking forward into 2024, markets will keep a close eye on central banks and the polls. Early indications are for some monetary easing, though there is a wide divergence on when that may occur. This year will also be one of the biggest for global elections. Including the U.S., Taiwan, India, Mexico, and expectations for the U.K., there will be nearly 40 national elections. That all but guarantees shifting fiscal policies as over 40% of the world’s population heads to the voting booths. With those influences beyond our control, we focus on how our portfolio companies plan to navigate this environment. Many showed improving fundamentals toward the end of 2023 that we expect to continue into 2024 and beyond. As bottom up investors, we seek underpinnings to near term valuations in the form of expected earnings growth and other business fundamentals. We continuously review the business models and management teams of current and potential holdings, and fine tune our own valuation models on an ongoing basis, as we endeavor to protect the assets you have entrusted with us.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

20


AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013 to a $10,000 investment made in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund and the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One   Five   Ten     Since   Inception
  Average Annual Total Returns1    Year   Years   Years     Inception   Date

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Class N

   9.92%   3.36%     3.46%     5.25%   01/02/13

Class I

   10.11%   3.52%         2.38%   02/24/17

Class Z

   10.22%   3.61%     3.72%     5.48%   01/02/13

MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index14

   13.16%   6.58%     4.80%     6.67%   01/02/13

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

 

capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

4  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

5  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies

 

8  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9  Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

10 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically

 

 

 

21


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

 

less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

11 Changes in the general political and social environment of a country can have substantial effects on the value of investments exposed to that country.

 

12 To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a particular country, group of countries or geographic region, the Fund is particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting such countries or region, and the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund and may result in losses.

 

   The Fund is highly susceptible to the social, political, economic, regulatory and other conditions or events that may affect Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent upon international trade, and, therefore, is particularly exposed to the risks of currency fluctuation, foreign trade policy and regional and global economic disruption, including the risk of increased tariffs,

  

embargoes, and other trade limitations or factors. Japanese government policy has been characterized by economic regulation, intervention, protectionism and large government deficits. The Japanese economy is also challenged by an unstable financial services sector, highly leveraged corporate balance sheets and extensive cross-ownership among major corporations. Structural social and labor market changes, including an aging workforce, population decline and traditional aversion to labor mobility may adversely affect Japan’s economic competitiveness and growth potential. The potential for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis, could also have significant negative effects on Japan’s economy.

 

13 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. dollar investment when converted back to U.S. dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. The values of foreign 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.

 

14 The MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index covers all investable small-cap securities with a market capitalization below that of the companies in the MSCI Standard Indices of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is.” The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

22


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Industrials

   30.3
 

Financials

   10.0
 

Information Technology

    9.8
 

Consumer Discretionary

    9.4
 

Consumer Staples

    7.6
 

Communication Services

    7.5
 

Health Care

    6.0
 

Materials

    5.5
 

Real Estate

    5.1
 

Energy

   2.8
 

Utilities

    1.9
 

Short-Term Investments1

    5.1
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities2

    (1.0)

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Steadfast Group, Ltd. (Australia)

   3.3
 

Saab AB, Class B (Sweden)

   2.6
 

Arcadis, N.V. (Netherlands)

   2.5
 

Diploma PLC (United Kingdom)

   2.1
 

Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (Japan)

   2.1
 

Daiei Kankyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)

   1.9
 

Nippon Gas Co., Ltd. (Japan)

   1.9
 

Siegfried Holding AG (Switzerland)

   1.9
 

Organo Corp. (Japan)

   1.8
 

Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (Japan)

   1.7
  

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

   21.8
  

 

 
1 

Includes reinvestment of cash collateral into joint repurchase agreements on security lending transactions.

 

2 

Includes repayment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions.

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

23


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

      Shares      Value  

Common Stocks - 95.4%

     

Communication Services - 7.5%

 

  

Auto Trader Group PLC (United Kingdom)1

     312,310        $2,869,083  

CAR Group Ltd. (Australia)2

     131,064        2,777,414  

Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (Japan)

     198,440        4,048,739  

IPSOS S.A. (France)

     40,530        2,544,804  

Kadokawa Corp. (Japan)

     99,590        2,022,963  

Total Communication Services

        14,263,003  

Consumer Discretionary - 9.4%

 

  

Adventure, Inc. (Japan)2

     27,560        1,084,039  

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc., Class A (Uruguay)

     209,280        2,655,763  

CIE Automotive, S.A. (Spain)2

     48,407        1,377,707  

Dalata Hotel Group PLC (Ireland)

     561,596        2,864,279  

Games Workshop Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     18,100        2,274,710  

Goldwin, Inc. (Japan)

     29,490        2,114,395  

KOMEDA Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     53,840        1,047,043  

Samsonite International, S.A. (United States)*,1

     568,320        1,875,014  

Spin Master Corp. (Canada)1

     59,990        1,578,243  

Tod’s S.P.A. (Italy)*,2

     25,260        952,924  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        17,824,117  

Consumer Staples - 7.6%

 

  

Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     99,768        2,947,218  

Lawson, Inc. (Japan)

     47,410        2,448,844  

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     160,590        3,229,352  

Sugi Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     30,227        1,387,616  

Tate & Lyle PLC (United Kingdom)

     266,714        2,240,383  

Viscofan, S.A. (Spain)

     39,320        2,326,632  

Total Consumer Staples

        14,580,045  

Energy - 2.8%

 

  

Pason Systems, Inc. (Canada)

     166,470        2,031,486  

Technip Energies, N.V. (France)

     106,570        2,487,583  

TGS ASA (Norway)2

     57,050        740,855  

Total Energy

        5,259,924  

Financials - 10.0%

 

  

FinecoBank Banca Fineco S.P.A. (Italy)

     116,043        1,745,770  

Integral Corp. (Japan)*,2

     144,610        2,720,290  

Nordnet AB publ (Sweden)

     94,437        1,607,789  

Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (Japan)*,2

     220,030        3,290,776  

Ringkjoebing Landbobank A/S (Denmark)

     14,610        2,145,786  

Steadfast Group, Ltd. (Australia)

     1,567,323        6,225,278  

Topdanmark AS (Denmark)

     28,401        1,356,219  

Total Financials

       

 

19,091,908

 

 

 

      Shares      Value  

Health Care - 6.0%

 

  

Ambu A/S, Class B (Denmark)*

     99,680        $1,552,897  

Amplifon S.P.A. (Italy)2

     31,965        1,107,607  

Carenet, Inc. (Japan)2

     208,370        1,618,399  

Gerresheimer AG (Germany)

     16,350        1,700,983  

Nakanishi, Inc. (Japan)

     113,650        1,906,867  

Siegfried Holding AG (Switzerland)

     3,490        3,569,999  

Total Health Care

        11,456,752  

Industrials - 29.8%

 

  

Ag Growth International, Inc. (Canada)

     63,390        2,416,862  

ALS, Ltd. (Australia)

     341,490        2,991,114  

Arcadis, N.V. (Netherlands)

     87,000        4,699,850  

AZ-COM MARUWA Holdings, Inc. (Japan)

     175,380        1,897,169  

Bodycote PLC (United Kingdom)

     340,239        2,578,261  

Daiei Kankyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     208,920        3,685,150  

Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche S.P.A. (Italy)

     28,200        914,579  

Diploma PLC (United Kingdom)

     88,660        4,049,255  

DMG Mori Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     163,260        3,115,620  

Hensoldt AG (Germany)

     57,050        1,536,499  

Howden Joinery Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     170,943        1,769,733  

Interpump Group S.P.A. (Italy)

     18,707        970,535  

IPH, Ltd. (Australia)

     738,320        3,229,438  

MEITEC Group Holdings, Inc. (Japan)

     134,500        2,691,121  

Nexans, S.A. (France)

     31,050        2,724,072  

Organo Corp. (Japan)

     82,320        3,396,579  

Rotork PLC (United Kingdom)

     426,840        1,756,664  

Saab AB, Class B (Sweden)

     81,400        4,905,462  

SGL Carbon SE (Germany)*,2

     168,770        1,213,825  

SMS Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     121,730        2,495,666  

SPIE, S.A. (France)

     75,700        2,369,546  

TRYT, Inc. (Japan)*

     172,630        696,642  

Valmet Oyj (Finland)2

     26,000        751,856  

Total Industrials

        56,855,498  

Information Technology - 9.8%

 

  

Accton Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

     117,140        1,991,004  

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)*

     13,510        2,959,366  

Fortnox AB (Sweden)

     161,240        964,623  

Indra Sistemas, S.A. (Spain)

     95,000        1,471,391  

Keywords Studios PLC (Ireland)

     129,080        2,734,519  

Nova, Ltd. (Israel)*

     11,670        1,603,341  

QT Group Oyj (Finland)*,2

     15,080        1,076,532  

Simplex Holdings, Inc. (Japan)

     60,180        1,167,731  

Socionext, Inc. (Japan)

     105,750       

 

1,912,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

24


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

 

      Shares      Value  

Information Technology - 9.8% (continued)

     

Sopra Steria Group SACA (France)

     12,583      $ 2,755,899  

Total Information Technology

        18,636,454  

Materials - 5.5%

     

Acerinox, S.A. (Spain)

     202,580        2,387,406  

Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland)2

     70,560        2,863,983  

Imdex, Ltd. (Australia)

     1,654,710        2,123,230  

Osisko Gold Royalties, Ltd. (Canada)

     165,920        2,367,871  

Verallia, S.A. (France)1

     20,030        771,692  

Total Materials

        10,514,182  

Real Estate - 5.1%

 

  

KDX Realty Investment Corp., REIT (Japan)

     1,010        1,150,424  

Merlin Properties Socimi SA, REIT (Spain)

     254,580        2,826,622  

Safestore Holdings PLC, REIT (United Kingdom)

     244,290        2,751,196  

The UNITE Group PLC, REIT (United Kingdom)

     221,230        2,938,708  

Total Real Estate

        9,666,950  

Utilities - 1.9%

     

Nippon Gas Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     217,370        3,584,772  

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $149,754,286)

        181,733,605  

Preferred Stock - 0.5%

 

  

Industrials - 0.5%

 

  

Jungheinrich AG, 2.760% (Germany)

     28,110        1,029,217  

Total Preferred Stock
(Cost $955,334)

        1,029,217  
     Principal
Amount
        

Short-Term Investments - 5.1%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 5.1%3

 

  

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $2,424,673 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% - 7.500%, 07/20/37 - 12/20/53, totaling $2,471,700)

     $2,423,235        2,423,235  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $2,424,684 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $2,471,998)

     $2,423,235        $2,423,235  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.350% total to be received $2,424,675 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% - 6.500%, 09/01/46 - 06/01/62, totaling $2,471,700)

     2,423,235        2,423,235  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $2,424,673 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $2,471,700)

     2,423,235        2,423,235  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $9,692,940)

        9,692,940  

Total Investments - 101.0%
(Cost $160,402,560)

        192,455,762  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (1.0)%

 

     (1,975,765

Net Assets - 100.0%

        $190,479,997  
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $7,094,032 or 3.7% of net assets.

 

2 

Some of these securities, amounting to $15,336,376 or 8.1% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

3 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

25


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

 

     Level 1      Level 21      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Industrials

   $ 5,691,765      $ 51,163,733             $ 56,855,498  

Financials

            19,091,908               19,091,908  

Information Technology

     7,297,226        11,339,228               18,636,454  

Consumer Discretionary

     7,098,285        10,725,832               17,824,117  

Consumer Staples

     7,015,859        7,564,186               14,580,045  

Communication Services

            14,263,003               14,263,003  

Health Care

            11,456,752               11,456,752  

Materials

     2,367,871        8,146,311               10,514,182  

Real Estate

            9,666,950               9,666,950  

Energy

     2,031,486        3,228,438               5,259,924  

Utilities

            3,584,772               3,584,772  

Preferred Stock

           

Industrials

            1,029,217               1,029,217  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            9,692,940               9,692,940  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investment in Securities

  

$

31,502,492

 

  

$

160,953,270

 

  

 

 

  

$

192,455,762

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country    % of Long-Term
Investments

 Australia

    9.5

 Canada

    4.6

 Denmark

    2.8

 Finland

    2.6

 France

    7.5

 Germany

    3.0

 Ireland

    3.1

 Israel

    2.5

 Italy

    3.1

 Japan

   30.4

 Netherlands

    2.6
 Country    % of Long-Term
Investments

 Norway

    0.4

 Spain

    5.7

 Sweden

    4.1

 Switzerland

    1.9

 Taiwan

    1.1

 United Kingdom

   12.7

 United States

    1.0

 Uruguay

    1.4
  

 

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

Year in Review

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) Class I shares returned 24.46%, while its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index, returned 23.92%.

 

2023 started off with a rollercoaster ride for global equity markets in the first quarter, followed by a steady climb in the second quarter, a decline in the third quarter, and ended the year with a strong rebound in the fourth quarter.

 

The fourth quarter rebound was bolstered by central banks pausing rates increases, but it may be premature to declare victory over inflation and plot a near term pivot to monetary easing. That speculation led to a rally benefiting global equities—especially small & microcaps and emerging markets. Most factors finished the year in positive territory. However, it was Beta and Book to Price that significantly outpaced other style factors in 2023. With the exception of consumer discretionary, all sectors generated positive returns with information technology, industrials, and financials leading the way.

 

As our investment team meets with companies, reviews recent earnings reports, and surveys the global landscape, they note several investment dynamics that inform our positioning:

 

•  Technology investment & technology adoption remains an important theme throughout Emerging Markets (EM): Taiwanese and Korean companies are important enablers of latest advancements in hardware (driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and continued demand by companies to make chips smaller, faster, and more efficient). China’s self-sufficiency drive and the vast amount of related investment and government support continues unabated. India is investing heavily in attracting high tech manufacturing, tech localization, and moving up the value chain. We continue to see EM companies make use of the latest innovations in emarketing, CRM, Big Data, and even AI in their businesses.

 

•  Regional elections may present risks but are largely expected to extend the status quo: Taiwan, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and South Africa will hold presidential and key legislative elections. The U.S. Presidential election will also be held in 2024, and both the run up and election results could have global ramifications, especially as it relates to U.S.-China relations.

    

•  China: Localization and import substitution are major trends, either due to geopolitical concerns in the case of the technology industry, or trading down to cheaper domestic products due to consumer weakness. Meanwhile, both Chinese and multinational companies continue to seek other manufacturing centers in the region, or re-shore them completely, which should benefit Southeast Asia, Mexico, and India.

 

The AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund slightly outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap benchmark during 2023. Relative weakness in Asia was offset by relative strength in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Frontier markets.

 

Regional Performance: Asia

 

Within Asia, the Fund’s performance was mixed, with holdings in India, Korea, and Taiwan outperforming, while those in China, Malaysia, and Indonesia underperformed.

 

Initial optimism surrounding China’s reopening evaporated, triggering a pullback, particularly among those companies that were viewed as beneficiaries. For example, the portfolio’s largest detractor, Hong Kong noodle restaurant chain Tam Jai International, noted that their Hong Kong restaurant traffic has returned near pre-COVID levels, with increasing visits from mainland Chinese tourists. While their pre-COVID new restaurant opening plan in mainland China remains on track, Tam Jai’s stock price still declined -48% this year. We capitalized on this weakness by adding to our position.

 

In the first quarter we initiated positions in China’s largest private assisted reproduction service (“ARS”) provider, Jinxin Fertility Group and the country’s leading running shoe manufacturer, Xtep International Holding. As a leader in the ARS market and with China’s current demographic situation, we believe Jinxin stands to benefit from the long-term structural growth of China’s assisted reproductive market. In their latest update, management reiterated their full-year guidance. China’s weaker-than-expected consumer recovery weighed on Xtep. The company benefited from increased local buying versus global competitors with significantly improved quality, lower prices, and a shift in consumer sentiment favoring domestic brands. However, they faced challenges from overall weak

      

consumer sentiment. Xtep reported soft Singles Day (China’s largest online shopping festival) sales and revised their annual guidance downwards. Jinxin and Xtep declined by -57% and -44%, respectively.

 

Across the strait , two of our information technology holdings, Alchip Technologies and WinWay Technology, surged 305% and 98%, respectively. The Fund’s top contributor, Alchip, manufactures application specific IC (“ASIC”) as well as system on a chip (“SoC”) for complex, high growth applications such as AI and higher-performance computing. Management issued strong 2023 guidance and a bullish medium-term growth outlook. With end customers moving into more customized products, Alchip is seeing strong growing demand. WinWay Technology is a leading Taiwanese provider of semiconductor testing interfaces, with a particular focus on higher end interfaces. The company’s strong position in the TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) ecosystem has allowed it to benefit from more complex chipsets which require increasingly customized solutions, particularly for AI, high performance computing (“HPC”), and graphic processing applications. These higher complexity orders are more resilient than consumer / smartphone chipsets, which have allowed the company to charge higher prices (and achieve greater margins). WinWay will become more self sufficient in probe pins beginning in mid 2023, further supporting gross margin expansion.

 

India has emerged as one of the beneficiaries of the shift in supply chains away from China. RailTel Corp. of India, which provides telecommunication services including video conferencing, data center, broadband, virtual private network, and consulting services, has seen its project revenues grow as supply chain pressures ease. The company’s order backlog remains healthy, and investors have been further encouraged by its recent success in securing several large contracts supporting connectivity investments for Indian railways. Kalyan Jewelers owns and operates jewelry stores that offer gold, diamond, platinum, and silver jewelry. Despite volatile gold prices, Kalyan delivered better results than its peers driven by franchise led retail expansion. BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) continues to benefit from the digitization of Indian capital market. Since the relaunch of the BSE Sensex 30 and Broker derivative contracts in mid May 2023, the exchange has seen better-than-expected growth

 

 

 

27


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

and strong momentum. Cyient is an outsourced provider of engineering research and development services. The company reported solid quarterly results driven by steady growth in their consolidated services segment. Demand across its key verticals remains healthy and the company has undertaken multiple cost cutting initiatives, which should further drive margin improvement. We trimmed all four positions with them jumping 162%, 151%, 247%, and 167%, respectively.

 

South Korea’s leading carrier-neutral internet data center and its only carrier-neutral internet exchange operator, KINX, continues to benefit from surging demand for data centers driven by the proliferation of AI and cloud computing. Shares of KINX rose 79%.

 

Southeast Asia was an area of weakness in the region. Lower-than-targeted cash collection from both non-performing loans and non-performing assets hurt Thailand’s largest domestic non-performing asset manager, Bangkok Commercial Asset Management. The increase in operating expenses was another factor behind the company’s below-expectations third quarter results, which drove down its share price by 46%. One Enterprise (“ONEE”) is a leading media entertainment company that produces media content that gets monetized across both online platforms as well as its own traditional TV channels. We exited the position in the second quarter due to concerns over prolonged advertising weakness. The share price of ONEE declined -51% while it was held in the portfolio during the year.

 

Regional Performance: EMEA

 

While EMEA was the weakest performing region in the benchmark, the Fund’s relative strength can be attributed to positive stock selection. However,

 

    

foreign exchange as well as geopolitical impacts weighed on some of our companies in this region. Case in point was AlAmar Foods, a master franchise operator for Domino’s in the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan) region and Dunkin’ Donuts in North Africa. The company reported a revenue decline (revenue increase in constant currency) due to devaluations of Egyptian Pound and Lebanese Lira, but we also became concerned over anti-American boycotts across Muslim countries due to the conflict in Israel. South Africa-based Transaction Capital operates through three major segments: SA Taxi, Transaction Capital Risk Services (“TCRS”), and WeBuyCars (“WBC”). SA Taxi specializes in financial vehicles in the minibus taxi industry, TCRS provides debt collection services, and WBC is a platform for buying or selling used vehicles. The company’s Webuycars platform is facing tough margin pressure while management indicated that its SA Taxi business is “unlikely to return to pre COVID levels in the short to medium term.” As a result, we liquidated our positions with both stocks falling -42% and -68% while they were held in the year.

 

The largest outdoor advertiser in Saudi Arabia, Arabian Contracting Services, posted strong results throughout the year. The company is going through the transition of shifting its billboards from static to digital. This transition would expand ad inventory with little incremental spending, as the digital billboards offer more available ad space, are easier to update, can be more interactive, and can provide better measures for advertisers. With its dominant market share, Arabian Contracting Services is well positioned to benefit from the initiatives led by the Vision 2030 programs, which is expected to bring

 

      

increased business and tourism activities. The company’s win of the Riyadh airport deal provided another boost to its share price, which ended the year up 121%.

 

Conclusion

 

Looking forward into 2024, markets will keep a close eye on central banks and the polls. Early indications are for some monetary easing, though there is a wide divergence on when that may occur. This year will also be one of the biggest for global elections. Including the U.S., Taiwan, India, Mexico, and expectations for the U.K., there will be nearly 40 national elections. That all but guarantees shifting fiscal policies as over 40% of the world’s population heads to the voting booths. With those influences beyond our control, we focus on how our portfolio companies plan to navigate this environment. Many showed improving fundamentals toward the end of 2023 that we expect to continue into 2024 and beyond. As bottom up investors, we seek underpinnings to near term valuations in the form of expected earnings growth and other business fundamentals. We continuously review the business models and management teams of current and potential holdings, and fine tune our own valuation models on an ongoing basis as we endeavor to protect the assets you have entrusted with us.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

28


 AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

 Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund’s Class I shares on December 14, 2016 (inception date), to a $10,000 investment made in the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund and the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

    One     Five     Since     Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1   Year     Years     Inception     Date  

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

 

Class N

    23.90     9.46     6.74     02/24/17  

Class I

    24.46     9.89     8.32     12/14/16  

Class Z

    24.34     9.87     8.31     12/14/16  

MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index18

    23.92     9.92     8.16      12/14/16  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

   capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

4  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

5  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

8  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9  Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

10  Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically

 

 

 

 

29


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

11  Changes in the general political and social environment of a country can have substantial effects on the value of investments exposed to that country.

 

12  Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. dollar investment when converted back to U.S. dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. The values of foreign 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.

 

13  The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly

  

   changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

 

14  Investments in frontier markets may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in more developed markets or in other emerging market countries. Risks that are characteristic of many emerging markets generally may be especially heightened in frontier markets due to political, economic, financial, or other factors.

 

15  Higher portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance by increasing Fund transaction costs and may increase a shareholder’s tax liability.

 

16  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.

 

17  To the extent that a large number of shares of the Fund is held by a single shareholder (e.g., an institutional investor) or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption or large purchase by that shareholder or group of all or a large portion of its Fund shares will require the Fund to sell securities, or to invest additional cash, as the case may be, at disadvantageous prices, disrupt the Fund’s operations, or force the Fund’s

 

  

   liquidation. Purchases of a large number of shares may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that it takes time to invest new cash and the Fund maintains a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.

 

18  MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index includes small cap representation across 24 Emerging Markets countries. The small cap segment tends to capture more local economic and sector characteristics relative to larger Emerging Markets capitalization segments. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is.” The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

30


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector   

% of

Net Assets

 

Information Technology

   23.3
 

Consumer Discretionary

   16.1
 

Industrials

   13.9
 

Health Care

   13.6
 

Financials

   11.7
 

Communication Services

    7.1
 

Consumer Staples

    7.1
 

Materials

    3.8
 

Real Estate

    3.3
 

Energy

    1.7
 

Utilities

    0.7
 

Short-Term Investments

    1.2
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

    (3.5)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name   

% of

Net Assets

 

KINX, Inc. (South Korea)

   2.4
 

LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

   2.1
 

Andes Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

   1.9
 

Green World FinTech Service Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

   1.9
 

M31 Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

   1.8
 

Grupo Traxion SAB de CV (Mexico)

   1.7
 

Kalyan Jewellers India, Ltd. (India)

   1.7
 

Despegar.com Corp. (Argentina)

   1.7
 

AKR Corporindo Tbk PT (Indonesia)

   1.7
 

Cyient, Ltd. (India)

   1.6
 
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

   18.5 
  

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

31


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

     

Shares

     Value  

Common Stocks - 102.3%

     

Communication Services - 7.1%

 

  

Arabian Contracting Services Co. (Saudi Arabia)

     400          $25,280  

Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. (Philippines)*

     129,200        19,553  

KINX, Inc. (South Korea)*

     600        46,318  

Megacable Holdings SAB de CV (Mexico)

     8,100        18,055  

Railtel Corp. of India, Ltd. (India)

     6,509        26,435  

Total Communication Services

        135,641  

Consumer Discretionary - 16.1%

 

  

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc., Class A (Uruguay)

     2,100        26,649  

Cartrade Tech, Ltd. (India)*

     2,000        17,143  

Despegar.com Corp. (Argentina)*

     3,400        32,164  

JUMBO SA (Greece)

     700        19,412  

Kalyan Jewellers India, Ltd. (India)

     7,669        32,597  

Minor International PCL (Thailand)

     21,800        18,814  

momo.com, Inc. (Taiwan)

     35        580  

MR DIY Group M Bhd (Malaysia)1

     64,400        20,322  

OPAP, S.A. (Greece)

     1,200        20,361  

PDS, Ltd. (India)

     2,390        15,816  

Raymond, Ltd. (India)

     1,100        22,761  

Restaurant Brands Asia, Ltd. (India)*

     11,523        15,468  

Tam Jai International Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong)

     152,800        24,645  

Varroc Engineering, Ltd. (India)*,1

     3,100        20,631  

Xtep International Holdings, Ltd. (China)

     35,100        19,842  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        307,205  

Consumer Staples - 7.1%

 

  

Al-Dawaa Medical Services Co. (Saudi Arabia)

     800        22,513  

Coca-Cola Icecek A.S. (Turkey)

     1,400        24,896  

Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (Malaysia)

     3,300        20,224  

Giant Biogene Holding Co., Ltd. (Cayman Islands)*,1

     5,032        22,953  

Universal Robina Corp. (Philippines)

     9,400        20,047  

ZJLD Group, Inc. (Cayman Islands)*,1

     19,150        24,085  

Total Consumer Staples

        134,718  

Energy - 1.7%

 

  

AKR Corporindo Tbk PT (Indonesia)

     333,000        31,901  

Financials - 11.7%

 

  

Bangkok Commercial Asset Management PCL (Thailand)

     55,700        13,276  

BSE, Ltd. (India)

     669        17,843  

Central Depository Services India, Ltd. (India)

     1,020        22,346  

The Co. for Cooperative Insurance (Saudi Arabia)

     300        10,432  

Green World FinTech Service Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     2,387        35,606  
     
     

Shares

     Value  

Kfin Technologies, Ltd. (India)*

      3,300          $19,136  

One 97 Communications, Ltd. (India)*

     2,641        20,144  

PB Fintech, Ltd. (India)*

     2,291        21,857  

Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, Ltd. (India)

     1,300        18,781  

Tracxn Technologies, Ltd. (India)*

     17,781        23,290  

Yeahka, Ltd. (China)*,2

     10,500        19,823  

Total Financials

        222,534  

Health Care - 13.6%

 

  

Arrail Group, Ltd. (China)*,1

     21,700        19,953  

Bio Plus Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     5,300        28,187  

Bora Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     1,139        23,715  

Burjeel Holdings PLC (United Arab Emirates)

     10,949        9,271  

Caregen Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     1,290        27,472  

CM Hospitalar, S.A. (Brazil)*

     6,300        18,092  

Jeisys Medical, Inc. (South Korea)*

     2,890        23,456  

Jinxin Fertility Group, Ltd. (China)*,1

     47,100        20,213  

Lotus Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     3,100        27,446  

PharmaResearch Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     200        16,916  

Shanghai Kindly Medical Instruments Co., Ltd., Class H (China)

     3,800        13,943  

T&L Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     600        18,610  

Universal Vision Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     1,206        10,876  

Total Health Care

        258,150  

Industrials - 13.9%

 

  

Allcargo Logistics, Ltd. (India)

     5,200        20,093  

Allcargo Terminals, Ltd. (India)

     13,900        8,752  

Container Corp. Of India, Ltd. (India)

     200        2,064  

Frontken Corp. Bhd (Malaysia)

     28,850        20,319  

GMM Pfaudler, Ltd. (India)

     1,000        19,357  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV (Mexico)

     2,800        29,613  

Grupo Traxion SAB de CV (Mexico)*,1

     16,300        33,414  

Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     250        24,118  

InPost, S.A. (Poland)*

     1,271        17,598  

LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     400        40,491  

Maharah Human Resources Co. (Saudi Arabia)

     1,260        26,263  

Praj Industries, Ltd. (India)

     3,356        22,413  

Total Industrials

        264,495  

Information Technology - 23.3%

 

  

Accton Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

     100        1,700  

Alchip Technologies, Ltd. (Taiwan)

     200        21,252  

Andes Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

     2,300        35,901  

Brogent Technologies, Inc. (Taiwan)

     2,500        9,278  

Chinasoft International, Ltd. (China)

     37,800        29,015  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

32


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

     

Shares

     Value  

Information Technology - 23.3% (continued)

     

Cyient, Ltd. (India)

     1,104          $30,404  

eCloudvalley Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     6,851        29,721  

Elite Material Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     1,750        21,731  

Intellian Technologies, Inc. (South Korea)

     453        25,388  

ISC Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     250        15,484  

Locaweb Servicos de Internet, S.A. (Brazil)1

     17,400        21,528  

M31 Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

     1,000        34,425  

Metrodata Electronics Tbk PT (Indonesia)

     861,800        29,945  

Route Mobile, Ltd. (India)

     982        18,853  

SOLUM Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     1,350        28,562  

Text S.A. (Poland)

     500        14,715  

TOTVS, S.A. (Brazil)

     2,559        17,748  

Venustech Group, Inc., Class A (China)

     4,800        18,253  

WinWay Technology Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

     1,000        27,260  

WONIK IPS Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     500        13,107  

Total Information Technology

        444,270  

Materials - 3.8%

 

  

EPL, Ltd. (India)

     10,000        24,247  

NANOTIM Corp. (South Korea)*

     2,100        25,140  

Samator Indo Gas Tbk PT (Indonesia)

     239,800        23,673  

Total Materials

        73,060  

Real Estate - 3.3%

 

  

Cencosud Shopping, S.A. (Chile)

     12,000        19,205  

Corp. Inmobiliaria Vesta SAB de CV (Mexico)

     4,050        16,061  

Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios, S.A. (Brazil)

     3,400        19,892  

TransIndia Real Estate, Ltd. (India)*

     13,900        7,584  

Total Real Estate

        62,742  
     

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $183,099 or 9.6% of net assets.

 

2 

Some of these securities, amounting to $14,867 or 0.8% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

     

Shares

     Value  

Utilities - 0.7%

 

  

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corp. (United Arab Emirates)

     27,600          $12,475  

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,638,430)

        1,947,191  
     Principal         
     Amount         

Short-Term Investments - 1.2%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 0.8%3

 

  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $15,656 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $15,960)

     $15,647        15,647  
     Shares         

Other Investment Companies - 0.4%

 

  

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.25%4

     3,129        3,129  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%4

     4,693        4,693  

Total Other Investment Companies

        7,822  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $23,469)

        23,469  

Total Investments - 103.5%
(Cost $1,661,899)

        1,970,660  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (3.5)%

 

     (66,357

Net Assets - 100.0%

        $1,904,303  
     

 

3 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

4

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

33


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Information Technology

     $83,936        $360,334               $444,270  

Consumer Discretionary

     118,908        188,297               307,205  

Industrials

     63,027        201,468               264,495  

Health Care

     71,031        187,119               258,150  

Financials

     10,432        212,102               222,534  

Communication Services

     43,335        92,306               135,641  

Consumer Staples

     20,224        114,494               134,718  

Materials

     23,673        49,387               73,060  

Real Estate

     62,742                      62,742  

Energy

     31,901                      31,901  

Utilities

     12,475                      12,475  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            15,647               15,647  

Other Investment Companies

     7,822                      7,822  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investment in Securities

     $549,506        $1,421,154               $1,970,660  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Argentina

    1.7

 Brazil

    4.0

 Cayman Islands

    2.4

 Chile

    1.0

 China

    7.2

 Greece

    2.0

 Hong Kong

    1.3

 India

   23.0

 Indonesia

    4.4

 Malaysia

    3.1

 Mexico

    5.0
 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Philippines

     2.0

 Poland

     1.7

 Saudi Arabia

     4.3

 South Korea

    17.1

 Taiwan

    14.4

 Thailand

     1.6

 Turkey

     1.3

 United Arab Emirates

     1.1

 Uruguay

     1.4
  

 

   100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

34


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

Year in Review

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 13.62% while its benchmark, the MSCI World Small Cap Index, returned 15.76%.

 

2023 started off with a rollercoaster ride for global equity markets in the first quarter, followed by a steady climb in the second quarter, a decline in the third quarter, and ended the year with a strong rebound in the fourth quarter.

 

The fourth quarter rebound was bolstered by central banks pausing rates increases, but it may be premature to declare victory over inflation and plot a near-term pivot to monetary easing. That speculation led to a rally benefiting global equities—especially small & microcaps and emerging markets. Concerns surrounding wage inflation and access to skilled workers generally subsided across markets, with the notable exception of Japan where that remains a significant challenge. Most factors finished the year in positive territory. However, it was Beta and Book to Price that significantly outpaced other style factors in 2023. Within the global small cap universe, the Americas outperformed other regions. With the exception of utilities, all sectors generated positive returns with information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary leading the way.

 

As our investment team meets with companies, reviews recent earnings reports, and surveys the global landscape, they note several investment dynamics that inform our positioning:

 

•  Technology: Cybersecurity remains a top priority for companies, propelled by recent well publicized cyberattacks and new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure rules on cyber risks that took effect in December 2023. Our channel checks indicate that information technology (IT) budgets will continue growing, with cybersecurity becoming an increasing percentage. Interest continues to grow in machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications, though companies approach this area cautiously given the costs and fast paced changes.

 

•  Industrials: Many years of prior underinvestment leave significant ground to recover that recent government programs have only begun to address. Industrial capital expenditures may continue to be a bright spot for several years as structural labor challenges are addressed with greater automation and supply chains move closer to home, particularly away from China.

    

•  China: Localization and import substitution are major trends, either due to geopolitical concerns in the case of the technology industry, or trading down to cheaper domestic products due to consumer weakness. Meanwhile, both Chinese and multinational companies continue to seek other manufacturing centers in the region, or re-shore them completely, which should benefit Southeast Asia, Mexico, and India.

 

Fund Performance Review

 

The Fund underperformed the MSCI World Small Cap benchmark during 2023 due to relative weakness in Europe, Japan, and Asia/Pacific ex Japan.

 

Regional Performance: The Americas

 

Strong stock selection in the Americas contributed to the Fund’s outperformance in the region.

 

Within consumer discretionary, National Vision is an optical specialty retailer operating under the America’s Best, Eyeglass World, and Visa Optical brands. Their fourth quarter 2022 earnings came up short versus sell side projections, though revenues were in line. Management cited a difficult operating environment, particularly for their lower income customers. The company’s 2023 outlook was slightly below estimates, incorporating continuing constraints on eye exam capacity due to a shortage of optometrists. We decided to liquidate the position in the first quarter, which fell (40)% for the time it was held in 2023. Another sale was Planet Fitness, which franchises fitness centers across the U.S. Its shares had been weak earlier in the year and we trimmed ahead of its earnings report in early August given general concerns about consumer-focused businesses. While it subsequently reported better-than-expected trailing results, Planet announced a slower future pace for new store openings. Then in September the company’s board discharged its CEO over differing views on how best to move the company forward. In our follow-up discussion with the CFO and interim CEO, we were not convinced a positive change was near, so we sold our remaining position as the stock fell (35)% during the partial year.

 

Many of our industrials positions provide necessary business to business operational services, highly technical components, automation and efficiency improvements, or essential infrastructure services. WNS Holdings is a business process management company supplying data, voice, analytical, and transformation services. Its results were in line with expectations, though management reduced guidance for the balance of its fiscal year. Although

 

      

the core business continued generating significant cash flows, WNS noted that a recently signed contract for a captive insurance operation was taking longer than expected to start—and generate revenues. The company also saw hesitancy from a travel industry client who projected more conservative growth levels. Out of caution, recognizing some of these one-offs need to clear before its shares reaccelerate, we reduced our position in WNS. There was a strong contribution from the global welding company Easb Corporation. Revenues and earnings outstripped expectations. Business activity was stronger than anticipated with resilience in most markets and steady volumes, especially from emerging markets. Easb’s management increased its guidance, and we trimmed our position during its 85% climb.

Improving 46% was EMCOR Group, which provides electrical, mechanical, and facilities services primarily in the U.S. and U.K. The company reported a better-than-expected quarter with improving margins and strong bookings momentum. Management increased guidance for the rest of the year.

 

In the financials sector we tend to avoid banks that face credit deterioration or rising deposit costs. However, through our bottom up research process, we identified Webster Financial Corp. (the holding company for Webster Bank) as a high quality bank candidate that is suitable for this Fund. The company is seeing deposit costs moderating and benefiting from the increase in interest rates since the majority of the company’s loan book is floating rate. The bank reported solid third quarter results with an improving net interest margin driven by robust core deposit growth, and its share price jumped 40% since it was added to the Fund in the third quarter.

 

A rebound in the PC and smartphone markets benefited Synaptics, a developer of human interface technologies for a variety of devices. Synaptics’ fiscal quarterly revenues and earnings surpassed expectations thanks to that stabilization, and its management expects a further recovery in 2024. The company also won several new design mandates. That gave its shares a 28% lift.

 

 

 

35


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Regional Performance: Europe

 

Recognizing the geopolitical landscape and economic reality, we continued to reduce our position in Europe. For the year, underperformance in the region was driven by stock selection.

 

In the U.K., wealth manager St. James’s Place has been a long-time holding in the Fund. A regulatory change in the industry placed a lower cap on company fees for long-duration bond and pension investments. This will create headwinds for St. James going forward. Spirent Communications is a leading provider of automated testing and assurance solutions for networks, security, and positioning (GPS). The company noted prolonged order delays in 5G investment from telecom carriers, which led its FY23 revenue guidance lower. We exited our positions in St. James’s Place and Spirent, which lost (36)% and (31)%, respectively, while they were held this year. The Fund’s largest detractor was Keywords Studios, a provider of outsourced creative and technical services to the video game industry. The company reported resilient first half 2023 results, but speculation on potential disruption by Ai has created volatility for business outsourcing companies. The company also noted impact from the U.S. writer/actor strikes. As a result, the stock traded down (35)%. We believe Keywords Studios dominant exposure in the growing market and its long-standing client relationships will be beneficial in the long run, and the U.S. writer’s strike was resolved at the end of the third quarter.

 

On the positive side, France’s Technip Energy is one of only a handful of companies that can build liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) plants. We trimmed the position with its share price up 52% for the year. Swedish defense equipment manufacturer Saab continued to post strong revenue growth and expand margin. Military spending in the world had been in a long-term decline, though given the current geopolitical situation there should be structural increases in spending. Saab’s share price improved 54%, making it one of the greatest contributors for the year.

    

Regional Performance: Japan

 

Within Japan there has been a significant shift to Value after the Tokyo Stock Exchange urged companies with low price to book ratios to start focusing on using capital more efficiently. That led active investors to allocate capital into low P/B stocks and created a significant rotation to Value. Though in the short term this stylistic headwind impacts some of our holdings, we believe this could be positive in the long term as companies will be more likely to take excess capital and reallocate to the market. This rotation to Value calmed down somewhat during the fourth quarter.

 

Leading Japanese logistics provider AZ-Com has benefited from recent momentum of freight rate hikes in the logistics industry and ecommerce-related outsourcing services. The company announced the issuance of new shares and secondary offering of shares in November. The dilution in the share price and selling pressure from existing shareholders led to a (28)% slide. We believe the company’s outlook remains solid but reached out to local brokers to voice our disapproval regarding this corporate action.

 

In November we initiated a position in Simplex Holdings, a provider of system development and financial solutions. The company reported impressive new order growth and robust backlog. Its newly released medium term business plan and long-term growth strategy further solidified our confidence in its future prospects.

 

Regional Performance: Asia/Pacific ex Japan and Middle East

 

The share price of Australia’s intellectual property services provider IPH came under pressure due to increased leverage with its recent acquisition in Canada and the lack of organic growth in its home market. We believe the acquisition in Canada was attractive and the reasons for poor sentiment are increasingly behind us. We continue to hold the name even though its shares traded down (24)%.

 

      

In Israel CyberArk Software is a global leader in privileged access management (“PAM”). Recent high-profile data breaches fueled investor interest in CyberArk’s solutions. Contrast to its security software peers who reported before them, CyberArk surpassed expectations with stellar results and raised its full-year outlook. The share price of CyberArk climbed 68%, prompting us to trim our position on this price strength.

 

Conclusion

 

Looking forward into 2024, markets will keep a close eye on central banks and the polls. Early indications are for some monetary easing, though there is a wide divergence on when that may occur. This year will also be one of the biggest for global elections. Including the U.S., Taiwan, India, Mexico, and expectations for the U.K., there will be nearly 40 national elections. That all but guarantees shifting fiscal policies as over 40% of the world’s population heads to the voting booths. With those influences beyond our control, we focus on how our portfolio companies plan to navigate this environment. Many showed improving fundamentals toward the end of 2023 that we expect to continue into 2024 and beyond. As bottom up investors, we seek underpinnings to near term valuations in the form of expected earnings growth and other business fundamentals. We continuously review the business models and management teams of current and potential holdings, and fine tune our own valuation models on an ongoing basis, as we endeavor to protect the assets you have entrusted with us.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

36


 AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

 Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund’s Class N shares on May 30, 2018 (inception date), to a $10,000 investment made in the MSCI World Small Cap Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund and the MSCI World Small Cap Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One   Five   Since   Inception
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year   Years   Inception   Date

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Class N

   13.62%   7.97%   2.79%   05/30/18

Class I

   13.94%   8.25%   3.05%   05/30/18

Class Z

   13.94%   8.24%   3.05%   05/30/18

MSCI World Small Cap Index15

   15.76%   9.76%   5.22%   05/30/18

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

   capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

4  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

5  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies

 

8  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9  Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

10  Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically

 
 

 

 

37


    

 

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

11  Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. dollar investment when converted back to U.S. dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. The values of foreign 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.

 

12  Changes in the general political and social environment of a country can have substantial effects on the value of investments exposed to that country.

 

13  To the extent that a large number of shares of the Fund is held by a single shareholder (e.g., an institutional investor) or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Fund is

 

  

   subject to the risk that a redemption or large purchase by that shareholder or group of all or a large portion of its Fund shares will require the Fund to sell securities, or to invest additional cash, as the case may be, at disadvantageous prices, disrupt the Fund’s operations, or force the Fund’s liquidation. Purchases of a large number of shares may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that it takes time to invest new cash and the Fund maintains a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.

 

14  Because applying the Fund’s ESG investment criteria may result in the selection or exclusion of securities of certain issuers for reasons other than financial performance, the Fund’s investment returns may underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG factors into their investment process. The incorporation of ESG criteria into the investment process may affect the Fund’s investment exposure to certain companies, sectors, regions, countries or types of investments, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Applying ESG criteria to investment decisions is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria utilized by the Subadviser or any judgment exercised by the Subadviser will improve the financial

 

  

   performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s ESG practices or the Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time.

 

15  The MSCI World Small Cap Index captures small cap representation across 23 Developed Markets countries. With over 4,000 constituents, the index covers approximately 14% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI World Small Cap Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is.” The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

38


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector   

% of

Net Assets

 

Industrials

   30.0
 

Information Technology

   19.5
 

Financials

   13.9
 

Consumer Discretionary

    8.5
 

Health Care

    7.6
 

Consumer Staples

    7.5
 

Communication Services

    4.2
 

Real Estate

    2.3
 

Materials

    1.9
 

Energy

    1.8
 

Utilities

    0.9
 

Short-Term Investments

    4.7
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

   (2.8)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name   

% of

Net Assets

 

Synaptics, Inc. (United States)

    3.0
 

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)

    2.5
 

EMCOR Group, Inc. (United States)

    2.4
 

Performance Food Group Co. (United States)

    2.3
 

Steadfast Group, Ltd. (Australia)

    2.3
 

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A (United States)

    2.3
 

Hexcel Corp. (United States)

    2.1
 

Webster Financial Corp. (United States)

    2.1
 

Esab Corp. (United States)

    1.9
 

Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. (United States)

    1.9
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

   22.8
  

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

39


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

     

 Shares 

     Value  

Common Stocks - 98.1%

 

  

Communication Services - 4.2%

 

  

Auto Trader Group PLC (United Kingdom)1

     1,300           $11,943  

Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. (United States)*

     2,350        33,816  

Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (Japan)

     975        19,893  

Kadokawa Corp. (Japan)

     450        9,141  

Total Communication Services

        74,793  

Consumer Discretionary - 8.5%

 

  

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc., Class A (Uruguay)

     1,400        17,766  

Brunswick Corp. (United States)

     275        26,606  

CIE Automotive, S.A. (Spain)

     425        12,096  

Dalata Hotel Group PLC (Ireland)

     3,700        18,871  

Games Workshop Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     100        12,567  

Goldwin, Inc. (Japan)

     150        10,755  

momo.com, Inc. (Taiwan)

     338        5,596  

Spin Master Corp. (Canada)1

     625        16,443  

Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (United States)*

     775        11,114  

Visteon Corp. (United States)*

     150        18,735  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        150,549  

Consumer Staples - 7.5%

 

  

Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     525        15,509  

Lawson, Inc. (Japan)

     325        16,787  

MatsukiyoCocokara & Co. (Japan)

     975        17,232  

Performance Food Group Co. (United States)*

     600        41,490  

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     775        15,584  

Tate & Lyle PLC (United Kingdom)

     1,000        8,400  

Viscofan, S.A. (Spain)

     325        19,231  

Total Consumer Staples

        134,233  

Energy - 1.8%

 

  

Pason Systems, Inc. (Canada)

     950        11,593  

Technip Energies, N.V. (France)

     525        12,255  

TGS ASA (Norway)

     700        9,090  

Total Energy

        32,938  

Financials - 13.9%

 

  

FinecoBank Banca Fineco S.P.A. (Italy)

     900        13,540  

Integral Corp. (Japan)*

     800        15,049  

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (United States)

     125        20,426  

MVB Financial Corp. (United States)

     1,000        22,560  

Nordnet AB publ (Sweden)

     550        9,364  

PJT Partners, Inc., Class A (United States)2

     133        13,549  

Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (Japan)*

     1,750        26,173  

RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd. (Bermuda)

     135        26,460  
     
     

 Shares 

     Value  

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (United States)

     175           $13,298  

Steadfast Group, Ltd. (Australia)

     10,425        41,407  

Topdanmark AS (Denmark)

     200        9,551  

Webster Financial Corp. (United States)

     725        36,801  

Total Financials

        248,178  

Health Care - 7.6%

 

  

Amplifon S.P.A. (Italy)

     300        10,395  

Ascendis Pharma A/S, ADR (Denmark)*

     200        25,190  

Chemed Corp. (United States)

     55        32,162  

Encompass Health Corp. (United States)

     385        25,687  

Nakanishi, Inc. (Japan)

     500        8,389  

Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. (United States)*

     1,500        19,125  

Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Canada)*

     300        13,818  

Total Health Care

        134,766  

Industrials - 30.0%

 

  

Ag Growth International, Inc. (Canada)

     550        20,970  

Arcadis, N.V. (Netherlands)

     225        12,155  

AZ-COM MARUWA Holdings, Inc. (Japan)

     1,325        14,333  

The AZEK Co., Inc. (United States)*

     525        20,081  

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A (United States)*

     475        40,593  

Daiei Kankyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     900        15,875  

Diploma PLC (United Kingdom)

     400        18,269  

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc. (United States)*

     1,200        17,112  

EMCOR Group, Inc. (United States)

     195        42,009  

Esab Corp. (United States)

     400        34,648  

Exponent, Inc. (United States)

     275        24,211  

Hexcel Corp. (United States)

     500        36,875  

Interpump Group S.P.A. (Italy)

     200        10,376  

IPH, Ltd. (Australia)

     5,225        22,854  

KION Group AG (Germany)

     266        11,353  

Marten Transport, Ltd. (United States)

     1,000        20,980  

Nexans, S.A. (France)

     150        13,160  

Regal Rexnord Corp. (United States)

     200        29,604  

Rotork PLC (United Kingdom)

     2,275        9,363  

Saab AB, Class B (Sweden)

     400        24,105  

SMS Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     725        14,864  

Tetra Tech, Inc. (United States)

     100        16,693  

The Weir Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     850        20,424  

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (United States)*

     575        25,588  

WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR (India)*

     275        17,380  

Total Industrials

        533,875  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

40


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

 

     

 Shares 

     Value  

Information Technology - 19.5%

 

  

Accton Technology Corp. (Taiwan)

     550           $9,348  

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)*

     200        43,810  

Fortnox AB (Sweden)

     2,000        11,965  

JFrog, Ltd. (Israel)*

     675        23,362  

Keywords Studios PLC (Ireland)

     725        15,359  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (United States)*

     225        20,914  

Nice, Ltd., Sponsored ADR (Israel)*

     150        29,926  

Onto Innovation, Inc. (United States)*

     140        21,406  

Simplex Holdings, Inc. (Japan)

     1,500        29,106  

Sopra Steria Group SACA (France)

     75        16,426  

Synaptics, Inc. (United States)*

     475        54,188  

TOTVS, S.A. (Brazil)

     1,783        12,366  

Universal Display Corp. (United States)

     150        28,689  

Workiva, Inc. (United States)*

     290        29,444  

Total Information Technology

        346,309  

Materials - 1.9%

 

  

Avient Corp. (United States)

     500        20,785  

Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland)2

     300        12,177  

Total Materials

        32,962  

Real Estate - 2.3%

 

  

National Storage Affiliates Trust, REIT (United States)

     625        25,919  

The UNITE Group PLC, REIT (United Kingdom)

     1,200        15,940  

Total Real Estate

        41,859  
     
     

 Shares 

     Value  

Utilities - 0.9%

 

  

Nippon Gas Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     975           $16,079  

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,468,034)

        1,746,541  
     Principal         
     Amount         

Short-Term Investments - 4.7%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 1.3%3

 

  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $23,580 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $24,037)

     $23,566        23,566  
     Shares         

Other Investment Companies - 3.4%

 

  

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.25%4

     23,737        23,737  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%4

     35,605        35,605  

Total Other Investment Companies

        59,342  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $82,908)

        82,908  

Total Investments - 102.8%
(Cost $1,550,942)

        1,829,449  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (2.8)%

 

     (49,089

Net Assets - 100.0%

        $1,780,360  
     
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $28,386 or 1.6% of net assets.

 

2 

Some of these securities, amounting to $22,478 or 1.3% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

3 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

4 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

ADR American Depositary Receipt

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

41


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21      Level 3      Total  

 

 Investments in Securities

 

           

Common Stocks

           

Industrials

     $346,744        $187,131               $533,875  

Information Technology

     279,464        66,845               346,309  

Financials

     133,094        115,084               248,178  

Consumer Discretionary

     109,535        41,014               150,549  

Health Care

     115,982        18,784               134,766  

Consumer Staples

     85,908        48,325               134,233  

Communication Services

     33,816        40,977               74,793  

Real Estate

     25,919        15,940               41,859  

Materials

     20,785        12,177               32,962  

Energy

     11,593        21,345               32,938  

Utilities

            16,079               16,079  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            23,566               23,566  

Other Investment Companies

     59,342                      59,342  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investment in Securities

     $1,222,182        $607,267               $1,829,449  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

Country

 

  

% of Long-Term
Investments

 

Australia

   3.7

Bermuda

   1.5

Brazil

   0.7

Canada

   3.6

Denmark

   2.0

Finland

   0.7

France

   2.4

Germany

   0.6

India

   1.0

Ireland

   2.0

Israel

   5.6

Italy

   2.0

Country

 

  

% of Long-Term
Investments

 

Japan

    14.0

Netherlands

     0.7

Norway

     0.5

Spain

     1.8

Sweden

     2.6

Taiwan

     0.9

United Kingdom

     5.5

United States

   47.2

Uruguay

     1.0
  

 

   100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

42


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

    AMG
TimesSquare
Small Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
International Small
Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Emerging
Markets Small

Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Global Small
Cap Fund

Assets:

                   

 Investments at value1 (including securities on loan valued at $8,292,535, $36,651,313, $15,336,376, $14,867, and $22,478, respectively)

      $167,226,177       $1,310,283,639       $192,455,762       $1,970,660       $1,829,449

 Foreign currency2

                  728,714             1,921

 Receivable for investments sold

      121,636       1,996,835       16,580,501             5,067

 Dividend and interest receivables

      183,847       353,390       1,139,631       3,434       1,362

 Securities lending income receivable

      2,514       5,241       20,553       20       3

 Receivable for Fund shares sold

      49,463       518,344       1,122,857            

 Receivable from affiliate

      5,683                   20,200       7,803

 Prepaid expenses and other assets

      13,034       12,493       20,859       818       22

 Total assets

      167,602,354       1,313,169,942       212,068,877       1,995,132       1,845,627

 Liabilities:

                   

 Payable upon return of securities loaned

      2,020,775       14,942,196       9,692,940       15,647       23,566

 Payable for investments purchased

            978,229       130,420            

 Payable for Fund shares repurchased

      43,826       766,250       235,091            

 Payable for foreign capital gains tax

                        5,932      

 Interfund loan payable

                  11,278,643            

 Accrued expenses:

                   

 Investment advisory and management fees

      107,722       852,267       124,005       1,494       1,028

 Administrative fees

      20,454       161,823       24,801       236       220

 Distribution fees

                        22       12

 Shareholder service fees

      2,685       85,467       1,436       13      

 Other

     

 

54,325

 

 

     

 

116,723

 

 

     

 

101,544

 

 

     

 

67,485

 

 

     

 

40,441

 

 

 Total liabilities

      2,249,787       17,902,955       21,588,880       90,829       65,267

 Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 7)

                   

 Net Assets

      $165,352,567       $1,295,266,987       $190,479,997       $1,904,303       $1,780,360

1 Investments at cost

      $142,099,101       $873,669,694       $160,402,560       $1,661,899       $1,550,942

2 Foreign currency at cost

                  $735,107             $1,920

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

43


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

 

 

 

 

    AMG
TimesSquare
Small Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
International Small
Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Emerging
Markets Small

Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Global Small
Cap Fund

 Net Assets Represent:

                   

 Paid-in capital

      $142,490,413       $853,916,903       $381,721,163       $2,809,827       $1,768,055

 Total distributable earnings (loss)

      22,862,154       441,350,084       (191,241,166 )       (905,524 )       12,305

 Net Assets

      $165,352,567       $1,295,266,987       $190,479,997       $1,904,303       $1,780,360

 Class N:

                   

 Net Assets

      $12,717,092       $411,238,320       $9,101,185       $107,384       $57,620

 Shares outstanding

      1,127,213       26,687,368       637,868       10,680       5,354

 Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $11.28       $15.41       $14.27       $10.05       $10.76

 Class I:

                   

 Net Assets

      $9,563,607       $401,600,814       $96,333,408       $424,749       $35,485

 Shares outstanding

      793,266       24,337,556       6,736,787       41,863       3,283

 Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $12.06       $16.50       $14.30       $10.15       $10.81

 Class Z:

                   

 Net Assets

      $143,071,868       $482,427,853       $85,045,404       $1,372,170       $1,687,255

 Shares outstanding

      11,784,121       29,062,035       5,951,766       135,310       156,080

 Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $12.14       $16.60       $14.29       $10.14       $10.81

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

44


   

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

     AMG
TimesSquare
Small Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
International Small

Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Emerging
Markets Small

Cap Fund
  AMG
TimesSquare
Global Small
Cap Fund

 Investment Income:

          

 Dividend income

     $1,197,449       $9,355,123       $7,980,817       $50,521 1       $27,500   

 Interest income

     2,545       19,566       2,315              

 Securities lending income

     29,191       57,167       102,617       34       73  

 Foreign withholding tax

           (42,711     (804,016     (6,066     (3,715)  

 Total investment income

     1,229,185       9,389,145       7,281,733       44,489       23,858  

 Expenses:

          

 Investment advisory and management fees

     1,532,079       9,397,664       2,366,131       27,225       12,039  

 Administrative fees

     290,901       1,784,367       473,226       4,299       2,580  

 Distribution fees - Class N

                       202       138  

 Shareholder servicing fees - Class N

     44,678       771,562       25,890       121        

 Shareholder servicing fees - Class I

     6,767       183,042       148,961              

 Professional fees

     54,160       125,822       73,965       70,925       37,211  

 Custodian fees

     37,930       90,051       61,058       75,645       29,797  

 Registration fees

     36,595       65,635       52,716       1,076       188  

 Trustee fees and expenses

     13,874       87,540       22,466       204       126  

 Reports to shareholders

     10,491       90,249       48,813       4,107       3,865  

 Transfer agent fees

     7,327       44,662       26,353       645       392  

 Interest expense

     2,036             62,254       1,577       11  

 Miscellaneous

     13,346       60,141       21,075       2,717       2,607  

 Total expenses before offsets

     2,050,184       12,700,735       3,382,908       188,743       88,954  

 Expense reimbursements

     (76,751                 (149,056     (71,590

 Expense reductions

     (48,635     (72,753                  

 Net expenses

     1,924,798       12,627,982       3,382,908       39,687       17,364  

          

 Net investment income (loss)

     (695,613     (3,238,837     3,898,825       4,802       6,494  

 Net Realized and Unrealized Gain:

          

 Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     14,608,737       86,219,986       (633,858     63,627       (649

 Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions

           141       (266,887     (4,098     (101

 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     15,619,003       185,202,792       25,258,567       463,062       223,372  

 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations

                 39,716       8,239       46  

 Net realized and unrealized gain

     30,227,740       271,422,919       24,397,538       530,830       222,668  
          

 Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     $29,532,127       $268,184,082       $28,296,363       $535,632       $229,162  

1 Includes non-recurring dividends of $7,700.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

45


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

     AMG
TimesSquare
Small Cap
Growth Fund
    AMG
TimesSquare
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
    AMG
TimesSquare
International Small
Cap Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022     2023     2022

 Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

            

 Net investment income (loss)

     $(695,613     $(1,831,932     $(3,238,837     $(4,442,047     $3,898,825       $10,230,958  

 Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     14,608,737       (14,588,698     86,220,127       (14,032,359     (900,745     (155,938,549

 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     15,619,003       (86,795,211     185,202,792       (375,856,383     25,298,283       (147,722,857

 Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     29,532,127       (103,215,841     268,184,082       (394,330,789     28,296,363       (293,430,448

 Distributions to Shareholders:

            

 Class N

           (4,006,378     (17,077,801     (14,196,340     (155,058     (92,131

 Class I

           (580,982     (15,567,072     (12,340,247     (1,731,160     (2,705,146

 Class Z

           (11,346,058     (18,481,755     (15,739,439     (1,880,383     (1,955,638

 Total distributions to shareholders

           (15,933,418     (51,126,628     (42,276,026     (3,766,601     (4,752,915

 Capital Share Transactions:1

            

 Net decrease from capital share transactions

     (92,828,128     (64,127,267     (44,126,377     (218,353,331     (272,230,172     (295,725,740
            

 Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (63,296,001     (183,276,526     172,931,077       (654,960,146     (247,700,410     (593,909,103

 Net Assets:

            

 Beginning of year

     228,648,568       411,925,094       1,122,335,910       1,777,296,056       438,180,407       1,032,089,510  

 End of year

     $165,352,567       $228,648,568       $1,295,266,987       $1,122,335,910       $190,479,997       $438,180,407  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

46


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

     AMG
TimesSquare
Emerging
Markets Small Cap Fund
    AMG
TimesSquare
Global Small
Cap Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $4,802       $41,925       $6,494       $8,002  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     59,529       (1,049,673     (750     (229,123

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     471,301       (406,817     223,418       (452,077

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     535,632       (1,414,565     229,162       (673,198

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

     (2,179     (1,423     (178      

Class I

     (9,752     (7,395     (193     (65

Class Z

     (31,518     (93,111     (9,197     (3,369

Total distributions to shareholders

     (43,449     (101,929     (9,568     (3,434

Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net decrease from capital share transactions

     (3,292,898     (1,734,530     (142,183     (308,863
        

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (2,800,715     (3,251,024     77,411       (985,495

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

     4,705,018       7,956,042       1,702,949       2,688,444  

End of year

     $1,904,303       $4,705,018       $1,780,360       $1,702,949  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

47


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $9.69       $14.09       $16.45       $13.96       $12.21  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.06     (0.09     (0.17     (0.11 )3       (0.09

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.65       (3.62     1.18       4.92       3.47  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.59       (3.71     1.01       4.81       3.38  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.69     (3.37     (2.32     (1.63

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.28       $9.69       $14.09       $16.45       $13.96  

 Total Return2,4

     16.41     (26.41 )%      6.72     34.96     27.98

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     1.17     1.17     1.17 %6       1.16     1.17

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.23     1.20     1.19 %6       1.20     1.19

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.53 )%      (0.79 )%      (0.97 )%      (0.79 )%      (0.63 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     63     50     65     71     62

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $12,717       $38,225       $86,941       $112,740       $105,862  
                                          

 

 

48


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $10.34       $14.96       $17.25       $14.53       $12.64  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.05     (0.08     (0.15     (0.10 )3       (0.07

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.77       (3.85     1.23       5.14       3.59  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.72       (3.93     1.08       5.04       3.52  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.69     (3.37     (2.32     (1.63

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $12.06       $10.34       $14.96       $17.25       $14.53  

 Total Return2,4

     16.64     (26.34 )%      6.81     35.19     28.13

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     1.05     1.05     1.05 %6       1.03     1.01

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.11     1.08     1.07 %6       1.07     1.03

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.41 )%      (0.67 )%      (0.85 )%      (0.66 )%      (0.47 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     63     50     65     71     62

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $9,564       $9,185       $12,380       $12,062       $11,333  
                                          

 

 

49


   

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $10.40       $15.03       $17.30       $14.55       $12.65  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.04     (0.07     (0.14     (0.09 )3       (0.07

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.78       (3.87     1.24       5.16       3.60  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.74       (3.94     1.10       5.07       3.53  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.69     (3.37     (2.32     (1.63

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $12.14       $10.40       $15.03       $17.30       $14.55  

 Total Return2,4

     16.73     (26.29 )%      6.91     35.35     28.19

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     0.97     0.97     0.97 %6       0.96     0.97

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.03     1.00     0.99 %6       1.00     0.99

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.33 )%      (0.59 )%      (0.77 )%      (0.59 )%      (0.43 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     63     50     65     71     62

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $143,072       $181,238       $312,604       $320,535       $367,787  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment loss would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.12), $(0.10) and $(0.09) for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

5 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to 0.02%, 0.02%, 0.02%, 0.03% and 0.02% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

6 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to 0.01%.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

50


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $12.88       $17.24       $19.66       $17.69       $15.00  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.06     (0.06     (0.10 )3       (0.09 )4       (0.07

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     3.25       (3.79     3.11       5.84       5.62  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     3.19       (3.85     3.01       5.75       5.55  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.66     (0.51     (5.43     (3.78     (2.86

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $15.41       $12.88       $17.24       $19.66       $17.69  

 Total Return2,5

     24.82     (22.39 )%      15.92     33.03     37.15

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     1.18     1.17     1.17     1.17     1.17

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.19     1.18     1.18     1.18     1.18

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.39 )%      (0.45 )%      (0.46 )%      (0.48 )%      (0.38 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     39     44     53     74     65

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $411,238       $368,938       $535,289       $613,501       $518,267  
                                          

 

 

51


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.73       $18.31       $20.58       $18.35       $15.46  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.04     (0.04     (0.07 )3       (0.07 )4       (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     3.47       (4.03     3.25       6.08       5.80  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     3.43       (4.07     3.18       6.01       5.75  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

                 (0.02            

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.66     (0.51     (5.43     (3.78     (2.86

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.66     (0.51     (5.45     (3.78     (2.86

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $16.50       $13.73       $18.31       $20.58       $18.35  

 Total Return2,5

     24.94     (22.23 )%      16.04     33.27     37.33

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     1.03     1.02     1.02     1.04     1.07

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.04     1.03     1.03     1.05     1.08

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.24 )%      (0.30 )%      (0.31 )%      (0.35 )%      (0.28 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     39     44     53     74     65

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $401,601       $339,100       $431,797       $526,800       $472,524  
                                          

 

 

52


   

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.81       $18.39       $20.65       $18.39       $15.48  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment loss1,2

     (0.03     (0.04     (0.06 )3       (0.05 )4       (0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     3.48       (4.03     3.27       6.09       5.80  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     3.45       (4.07     3.21       6.04       5.77  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

                 (0.04            

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.66     (0.51     (5.43     (3.78     (2.86

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.66     (0.51     (5.47     (3.78     (2.86

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $16.60       $13.81       $18.39       $20.65       $18.39  

 Total Return2,5

     25.03     (22.18 )%      16.10     33.36     37.41

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     0.98     0.97     0.97     0.97     0.97

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     0.99     0.98     0.98     0.98     0.98

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets2

     (0.19 )%      (0.25 )%      (0.26 )%      (0.28 )%      (0.18 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     39     44     53     74     65

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $482,428       $414,298       $810,210       $896,929       $894,390  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment loss would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.16), $(0.13) and $(0.12) for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.11), $(0.08) and $(0.07) for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to 0.01% for each fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

53


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.21       $18.49       $18.44       $16.24       $12.72  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.14       0.19 3       0.09       0.02       0.21 4  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.16       (5.36     0.14       2.18       3.55  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.30       (5.17     0.23       2.20       3.76  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.24     (0.11     (0.18           (0.24

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $14.27       $13.21       $18.49       $18.44       $16.24  

 Total Return2,5

     9.92     (27.97 )%      1.25     13.55     29.56

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.27 %6      1.25     1.22     1.23     1.23

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.27 %6      1.25     1.22     1.23     1.23

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.04     1.33     0.47     0.17     1.43

Portfolio turnover

     69     71     73     57     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $9,101       $10,977       $21,202       $45,389       $70,532  
                                          

 

 

54


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.23       $18.52       $18.49       $16.26       $12.74  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.17       0.21 3       0.12       0.05       0.24 4  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.16       (5.37     0.13       2.19       3.55  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.33       (5.16     0.25       2.24       3.79  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.26     (0.13     (0.22     (0.01     (0.27

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $14.30       $13.23       $18.52       $18.49       $16.26  

 Total Return2,5

     10.11     (27.84 )%      1.36     13.75     29.78

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.11 %6       1.10     1.07     1.08     1.06

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.11 %6       1.10     1.07     1.08     1.06

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.20     1.48     0.62     0.32     1.60

Portfolio turnover

     69     71     73     57     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $96,333       $260,896       $614,652       $629,502       $658,599  
                                          

 

 

55


   

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.23       $18.53       $18.50       $16.26       $12.75  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.18       0.22 3       0.14       0.06       0.25 4  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.16       (5.37     0.12       2.20       3.55  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.34       (5.15     0.26       2.26       3.80  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.28     (0.15     (0.23     (0.02     (0.29

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $14.29       $13.23       $18.53       $18.50       $16.26  

 Total Return2,5

     10.22     (27.78 )%      1.47     13.90     29.77

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.02 %6       1.00     0.97     0.98     0.98

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.02 %6       1.00     0.97     0.98     0.98

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.29     1.58     0.72     0.42     1.68

Portfolio turnover

     69     71     73     57     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $85,045       $166,307       $396,236       $397,976       $401,528  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.15, $0.17 and $0.18 for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.16, $0.18 and $0.20 for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Includes interest expense of 0.02% related to participation in the interfund lending program.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

56


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.29       $10.52       $13.66       $11.03       $9.49  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     (0.02 )3      0.03       (0.03     0.13 4       0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.99       (2.08     1.22       2.50       1.53  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.97       (2.05     1.19       2.63       1.56  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.21           (0.07     (0.00 )5      (0.02

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.18     (4.26            

Paid in capital

                             (0.00 )5 

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.21     (0.18     (4.33     (0.00 )5      (0.02

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.05       $8.29       $10.52       $13.66       $11.03  

 Total Return2,6

     23.90     (19.43 )%      9.10     23.86     16.49

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.77 %7      1.68 %7      1.68 %8      1.65     1.67 %7 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets9

     6.97 %7      4.23 %7      3.03 %8      3.66     4.29 %7 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     (0.22 )%      0.34     (0.19 )%      1.22     0.31

Portfolio turnover

     81     104     139     129     103

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $107       $65       $49       $43       $39  
                               

 

 

57


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.35       $10.56       $13.70       $11.05       $9.51  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.02 3       0.07       0.03       0.18 4       0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.02       (2.10     1.23       2.51       1.53  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.04       (2.03     1.26       2.69       1.60  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.24           (0.14     (0.04     (0.05

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.18     (4.26            

Paid in capital

                             (0.01

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.24     (0.18     (4.40     (0.04     (0.06

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.15       $8.35       $10.56       $13.70       $11.05  

 Total Return2,6

     24.46     (19.16 )%      9.50     24.49     16.83

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.37 %7      1.28 %7      1.28 %8      1.25     1.27 %7 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets9

     6.57 %7      3.83 %7      2.63 %8      3.26     3.89 %7 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.18     0.74     0.21     1.62     0.71

Portfolio turnover

     81     104     139     129     103

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $425       $342       $434       $396       $310  
                               

 

 

58


   

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.35       $10.55       $13.70       $11.05       $9.51  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.02 3       0.07       0.03       0.18 4       0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.01       (2.09     1.22       2.51       1.53  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.03       (2.02     1.25       2.69       1.60  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.24           (0.14     (0.04     (0.05

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.18     (4.26            

Paid in capital

                             (0.01

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.24     (0.18     (4.40     (0.04     (0.06

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.14       $8.35       $10.55       $13.70       $11.05  

Total Return2,6

     24.34     (19.09 )%      9.51     24.40     16.83

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.37 %7      1.28 %7      1.28 %8      1.25     1.27 %7 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets9

     6.57 %7      3.83 %7      2.63 %8      3.26     3.89 %7 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.18     0.74     0.21     1.62     0.71

Portfolio turnover

     81     104     139     129     103

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,372       $4,298       $7,473       $6,766       $5,473  
                               

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.05), $(0.01) and $(0.01) for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.11, $0.16 and $0.16 for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

5 

Less than $(0.005) per share.

 

6 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

7 

Includes interest expense totaling 0.12%, 0.03% and 0.02% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2019, respectively, related to participation in the interfund lending program and bank overdrafts.

 

8 

Includes expense totaling 0.03% relating to excise tax expense.

 

9 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

59


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $9.50       $12.50       $12.05       $10.84       $7.95  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.01       0.01       0.00 3,4       (0.02     0.04  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.28       (3.01     1.31       1.23       2.95  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.29       (3.00     1.31       1.21       2.99  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.03                       (0.10

Net realized gain on investments

                 (0.86            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.03           (0.86           (0.10

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.76       $9.50       $12.50       $12.05       $10.84  

 Total Return2,5

     13.62     (24.00 )%      11.08     11.16     37.60

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.27 %6 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     5.41     5.17     4.28     6.48     7.45 %6 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.14     0.15     0.00 %8      (0.18 )%      0.42

Portfolio turnover

     59     51     59     42     80

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $58       $53       $69       $63       $44  
                               

 

 

60


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $9.54       $12.54       $12.09       $10.85       $7.96  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.04       0.04       0.03 3       0.01       0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.29       (3.02     1.31       1.23       2.96  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.33       (2.98     1.34       1.24       3.02  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.06     (0.02     (0.03           (0.13

Net realized gain on investments

                 (0.86            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.06     (0.02     (0.89           (0.13

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.81       $9.54       $12.54       $12.09       $10.85  

 Total Return2,5

     13.94     (23.76 )%      11.29     11.43     37.96

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.02 %6 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     5.16     4.92     4.03     6.23     7.20 %6 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.39     0.40     0.25     0.07     0.67

Portfolio turnover

     59     51     59     42     80

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $35       $31       $41       $37       $33  
                               

 

 

61


   

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $9.54       $12.55       $12.09       $10.86       $7.96  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.04       0.04       0.03 3       0.01       0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.29       (3.03     1.32       1.22       2.97  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.33       (2.99     1.35       1.23       3.03  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.06     (0.02     (0.03           (0.13

Net realized gain on investments

                 (0.86            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.06     (0.02     (0.89           (0.13

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.81       $9.54       $12.55       $12.09       $10.86  

 Total Return2,5

     13.94     (23.83 )%      11.38     11.33     38.09

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.02 %6 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     5.16     4.92     4.03     6.23     7.20 %6 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.39     0.40     0.25     0.07     0.67

Portfolio turnover

     59     51     59     42     80

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,687       $1,619       $2,578       $2,186       $2,032  
                               

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income (loss) per share would have been $(0.02), $0.01 and $0.01 for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

Less than $0.005 per share.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Includes interest expense related to participation in the interfund lending program and excise tax expense totaling 0.02%.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

8 

Less than 0.005%.

 

 

62


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business trust, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trust consists of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report are AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund (“Small Cap”), AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund (“Mid Cap”), AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund (“International Small Cap”), AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund (“Emerging Markets Small Cap”) and AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund (“Global Small Cap”), each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”.

Each Fund offers Class N, Class I and Class Z shares. Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the respective Fund. Although all share classes generally have identical voting rights, each share class votes separately when required by law. Different share classes may have different net asset values per share to the extent the share classes pay different distribution amounts and/or the expenses of such share classes differ. Each share class has its own expense structure. Please refer to a current prospectus for additional information on each share class.

Market prices of investments held by the Funds may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Funds’ financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or reported on the NASDAQ national market system (“NMS”) are valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, if applicable, the NASDAQ official closing price or the official closing price of the relevant exchange or, lacking any sales, at the last quoted bid price. Equity securities held by the Funds that are traded in the over-the-counter market (other than NMS securities) are valued at the bid price. Foreign equity securities (securities principally traded in markets other than U.S. markets) held by the Funds are valued at the official closing price on the primary exchange or, for markets that either do not offer an official closing price or where the official closing price may not be representative of the overall market, the last quoted sale price.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of

amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Funds’ portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Funds’ Valuation Designee to perform the Funds’ fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Funds may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Funds’ valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Funds might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Funds. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Funds’ investments.

With respect to foreign equity securities and certain foreign fixed income securities, securities held in the Funds that can be fair valued by the applicable fair value pricing service are fair valued on each business day provided that each individual price exceeds a pre-established confidence level.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds.

Unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions

 

 

 

63


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from foreign securities are recorded on the ex-dividend date, and if after the fact, as soon as the Funds become aware of the ex-dividend date, except for Korean securities where dividends are recorded on confirmation date. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Dividend and interest income on foreign securities is recorded gross of any withholding tax. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are reported at the fair market value of the securities received. Upon notification from the issuer, distributions received from a real estate investment trust (REIT) may be

redesignated as a reduction of cost of investments and/or realized gain. Other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust and other trusts or funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of each Fund, and certain fund level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of each Fund.

Small Cap and Mid Cap had certain portfolio trades directed to various brokers under a brokerage recapture program. Credits received from the brokerage recapture program are earned and paid on a monthly basis, and are recorded as expense offsets, which serve to reduce the Funds’ overall expense ratio. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the impact on the expenses and expense ratios, if any, were as follows: Small Cap - $48,635 or 0.02% and Mid Cap - $72,753 or 0.01%.

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from either net investment income or realized net capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Permanent differences are primarily due to the write-off of net operating losses for Small Cap and Mid Cap. In addition, permanent differences for Mid Cap are due to tax equalization utilized. There were no permanent differences for International Small Cap, Emerging Markets Small Cap, or Global Small Cap. Temporary differences are primarily due to mark-to-market on passive foreign investment companies for Small Cap, International Small Cap, and Global Small Cap. Temporary differences for Emerging Markets Small Cap are due to cost adjustments on dividend income received from spinoffs and qualified late-year ordinary loss deferrals. In addition, each Fund had temporary differences due to wash sale loss deferrals.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

     Small Cap      Mid Cap      International Small Cap  

 Distributions paid from:

     2023        2022        2023        2022        2023        2022  

 Ordinary income

                                 $3,766,601        $4,752,915  

 Long-term capital gains

            $15,933,418        $51,126,628        $42,276,026                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
           —           $15,933,418           $51,126,628           $42,276,026           $3,766,601           $4,752,915  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

64


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

     Emerging Markets Small Cap      Global Small Cap  

 Distributions paid from:

         2023                2022                2023                2022      

 Ordinary income

     $43,449        $40        $9,568        $3,434  

 Long-term capital gains

            101,889                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $43,449        $101,929        $9,568        $3,434  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

 

    Small Cap     Mid Cap     International Small Cap     Emerging Markets Small Cap     Global Small Cap  

 Capital loss carryforward

                $216,324,335       $1,128,187       $254,038  

 Undistributed ordinary income

                658,296             1,274  

 Undistributed long-term capital gains

    $1,308,155       $15,599,257                    

 Late-year ordinary loss deferral

                      1,351        

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Fund    Cost      Appreciation      Depreciation     Net Appreciation  

 Small Cap

     $145,672,178        $33,874,858        $(12,320,859)       $21,553,999  

 Mid Cap

     884,532,812        445,705,345        (19,954,518     425,750,827  

 International Small Cap

     167,960,653        36,205,321        (11,780,448)       24,424,873  

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

     1,740,770        422,842        (198,828     224,014  

 Global Small Cap

     1,564,386        330,205        (65,136)       265,069  

 

e. FEDERAL TAXES

Each Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on each Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, each Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the Funds had capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes as shown in the following chart. These amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

 Fund   Short-Term     Long-Term     Total  

 International Small Cap

    $148,363,459       $67,960,876       $216,324,335  

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

    885,714       242,473       1,128,187  

 Global Small Cap

    222,989       31,049       254,038  

As of December 31, 2023, Small Cap and Mid Cap had no capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes. Should the Funds incur net capital losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, such amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the following Funds utilized capital loss carryovers in the amount of:

 

 Fund    Short-Term              Long-Term

 Small Cap

     $14,054,444        

 Mid Cap

     16,021,723        

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

     25,003        
 

 

 

65


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

The Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes for each Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. Each Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the capital stock transactions by class for the Funds were as follows:

 

    Small Cap     Mid Cap  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

    149,591        $1,544,535        896,662        $9,946,104        1,274,860        $18,102,672        2,655,998        $37,873,019   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    —        —        406,723        4,006,213        1,117,758        17,056,989        1,081,027        14,183,075   

Shares redeemed

    (2,966,125)       (30,368,078)       (3,529,240)       (35,526,177)       (4,347,913)       (61,635,017)       (6,145,647)       (87,467,481)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (2,816,534)       $(28,823,543)       (2,225,855)       $(21,573,860)       (1,955,295)       $(26,475,356)       (2,408,622)       $(35,411,387)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    134,221        $1,459,754        111,079        $1,237,865        3,605,178        $54,683,241        6,003,888        $91,051,092   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    —        —        55,279        580,981        929,609        15,189,815        876,938        12,268,364   

Shares redeemed

    (228,887)       (2,631,354)       (105,953)       (1,199,131)       (4,886,026)       (74,099,111)       (5,771,917)       (85,383,863)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (94,666)       $(1,171,600)       60,405        $619,715        (351,239)       $(4,226,055)       1,108,909        $17,935,593   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z:

               

Shares sold

    1,503,089        $16,617,655        1,221,999        $14,450,187        4,876,000        $73,516,898        5,137,985        $78,962,853   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    —        —        1,010,145        10,677,230        1,056,143        17,362,982        1,089,566        15,319,295   

Shares redeemed

    (7,141,397)       (79,450,640)       (5,614,082)       (68,300,539)       (6,876,645)       (104,304,846)       (20,266,422)       (295,159,685)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (5,638,308)       $(62,832,985)       (3,381,938)       $(43,173,122)       (944,502)       $(13,424,966)       (14,038,871)       $(200,877,537)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    International Small Cap     Emerging Markets Small Cap  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

    71,119        $988,188        143,240        $2,009,589        3,784        $34,508        5,117        $43,509   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    11,212        155,058        6,983        92,109        220        2,179        165        1,353   

Shares redeemed

    (275,623)       (3,836,992)       (465,959)       (6,397,061)       (1,178)       (11,350)       (2,100)       (20,778)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (193,292)       $(2,693,746)       (315,736)       $(4,295,363)       2,826        $25,337        3,182        $24,084   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    859,552        $12,026,291        8,648,988        $125,632,972        —        —        —        —   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    122,056        1,691,697        198,865        2,627,008        976        $9,752        893        $7,395   

Shares redeemed

    (13,966,035)       (196,364,888)       (22,311,931)       (318,198,623)       —        —        (1,083)       (10,580)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (12,984,427)       $(182,646,900)       (13,464,078)       $(189,938,643)       976        $9,752        (190)       $(3,185)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z:

               

Shares sold

    2,367,890        $33,277,315        4,355,478        $66,368,453        —        —        527        $5,001   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    135,712        1,879,620        147,401        1,947,166        3,158        $31,518        11,245        93,111   

Shares redeemed

    (9,121,849)       (122,046,461)       (13,315,597)       (169,807,353)       (382,669)       (3,359,505)       (205,101)       (1,853,541)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (6,618,247)       $(86,889,526)       (8,812,718)       $(101,491,734)       (379,511)       $(3,327,987)       (193,329)       $(1,755,429)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

66


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

     Global Small Cap  
     December 31, 2023      December 31, 2022  
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  

 Class N:

           

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     13         $141         —         —   

 Shares redeemed

     (215)        (2,247)        —         —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Net decrease

     (202)        $(2,106)        —         —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Class I:

           

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     18         $193         7         $65   

 Class Z:

           

 Shares sold

     —         —         4,549         $50,000   

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     865         $9,197         354         3,369   

 Shares redeemed

     (14,446)        (149,467)        (40,733)        (362,297)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Net decrease

        (13,581)           $(140,270)           (35,830)            $(308,928)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2023, certain shareholders of record individually or collectively held greater than 5% of the net assets of the Funds as follows: Emerging Markets Small Cap - four own 73%; Global Small Cap - three own 84%. At December 31, 2023, two affiliated investors, including TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC and the Investment Manager owned 15% of the net assets of Global Small Cap. Transactions by these shareholders may have a material impact on the Funds.

 

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes and for reinvestment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions under the securities lending program offered by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) (the “Securities Lending Program”) (collectively, “Repurchase Agreements”). The value of the underlying collateral, including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the Repurchase Agreements during the term of the agreement. For joint repurchase agreements, the Funds participate on a pro rata basis with other clients of BNYM in their share of the underlying collateral under such joint repurchase agreements and in their share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of the underlying collateral. The underlying collateral for all Repurchase Agreements is held by the Funds’ custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Funds may be delayed or limited. Pursuant to the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM on joint repurchase agreements.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of Repurchase Agreements outstanding for Small Cap, Mid Cap, International Small Cap, Emerging Markets Small Cap and Global Small Cap was $2,020,775, $14,942,196, $9,692,940, $15,647 and $23,566 respectively.

i. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. Dollars. The value of investments, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon current foreign exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income and expenses are converted into U.S. Dollars based on currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on

foreign currency transactions represent: (1) foreign exchange gains and losses from the sale and holdings of foreign currencies; (2) gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions and foreign currency exchange contracts; and (3) gains and losses from the difference between amounts of interest and dividends recorded and the amounts actually received.

The Funds do not isolate the net realized and unrealized gain or loss resulting from changes in exchange rates from the fluctuations in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

For each of the Funds, the Trust has entered into an investment advisory agreement under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Funds and is responsible for the Funds’ overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Board and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the subadviser for the Funds and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. Each Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (“TimesSquare”) who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in TimesSquare.

Investment management fees are paid directly by the Funds to the Investment Manager based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds’ investment management fees were paid at the following annual rates of each Fund’s respective average daily net assets:

 

 

 

67


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 Small Cap

   0.79% 

 Mid Cap

   0.79% 

 International Small Cap

   0.75% 

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

   0.95% 

 Global Small Cap

   0.70% 

The fee paid to TimesSquare for its services as subadviser is paid out of the fee the Investment Manager receives from each Fund and does not increase the expenses of each Fund.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), shareholder servicing fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) of Small Cap, Mid Cap, International Small Cap, Emerging Markets Small Cap and Global Small Cap to the annual rate of 0.99%, 1.13%, 1.05%, 1.25% and 1.00%, respectively, of each Fund’s average daily net assets (this annual rate or such other annual rate that may be in effect from time to time, the “Expense Cap”), subject to later reimbursement by the Funds in certain circumstances.

In general, for a period of up to 36 months after the date any amounts are paid, waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may recover such amounts from a Fund, provided that such repayment would not cause the Fund’s total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of the items noted in the parenthetical above) to exceed either (i) the Expense Cap in effect at the time such amounts were paid, waived or reimbursed, or (ii) the Expense Cap in effect at the time of such repayment by the Fund.

The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of a Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board, or in the event of a Fund’s liquidation unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of a Fund.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager’s expense reimbursements, and repayments of prior reimbursements by the Funds to the Investment Manager, if any, are as follows:

 

     Expense
Reimbursements
   Repayment of
Prior Reimbursements

Small Cap

   $76,751   

Mid Cap

     

International Small Cap

     

Emerging Markets Small Cap

   149,056   

Global Small Cap

   71,590   

At December 31, 2023, the Funds’ expiration of reimbursements subject to recoupment is as follows:

 

Expiration

Period

  Small Cap     Emerging Markets Small Cap     Global Small Cap  

Less than 1 year

    $4,404       $108,894       $76,549  

1-2 years

    39,090       144,775       80,223  

2-3 years

    76,751       149,056       71,590  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $120,245       $402,725       $228,362  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Funds’ administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of managing the Funds’ operations, including administration and shareholder services to each Fund. Each Fund pays a fee to the Administrator at the rate of 0.15% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets for this service.

The Funds are distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for each Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of each Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

The Trust has adopted a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Class N shares of Emerging Markets Small Cap and Global Small Cap, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the requirements of the applicable rules of FINRA regarding asset-based sales charges. Pursuant to the Plan, Emerging Markets Small Cap and Global Small Cap may make payments to the Distributor for its expenditures in financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Emerging Markets Small Cap and Global Small Cap’s Class N shares and for maintenance and personal service provided to existing shareholders of that class. The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor up to 0.25% annually of Emerging Markets Small Cap’s and Global Small Cap’s average daily net assets attributable to the Class N shares.

For each of the Class N and Class I shares, the Board has approved reimbursement payments to the Investment Manager for shareholder servicing expenses (“shareholder servicing fees”) incurred. Shareholder servicing fees include payments to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers (including fund supermarket platforms), banks, and trust companies who provide shareholder recordkeeping, account servicing and other services. The Class N and Class I shares may reimburse the Investment Manager for the actual amount incurred up to a maximum annual rate of each Class’s average daily net assets as shown in the table below.

 

 

 

68


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The impact on the annualized expense ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

     Maximum Annual     Actual 
     Amount     Amount 
Fund    Approved     Incurred 

Small Cap

     

Class N

     0.20%        0.20%   

Class I

     0.10%        0.08%  

Mid Cap

     

Class N

     0.20%        0.20%  

Class I

     0.05%        0.05%  

International Small Cap

     

Class N

     0.25%        0.25%  

Class I

     0.10%        0.09%  

Emerging Markets Small Cap

     

Class N

     0.15%        0.15%  

Class I

     0.15%         

Global Small Cap

     

Class N

     0.15%         

Class I

     0.15%         

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trust and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of the Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Funds are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, International Small Cap had an interfund loan payable outstanding of $11,278,643.

The following Funds utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

Fund   Average
Lent
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
 

Small Cap

    $1,371,198       11       $2,545       6.158%   
Fund    Average
Lent
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
 

Mid Cap

     9,162,232       13       $19,566       5.996 %  

International Small Cap

     1,571,996       9       2,315       5.973 %  

 

Fund    Average
Borrowed
     Number
of Days
     Interest
Paid
     Average
Interest Rate
 

Small Cap

     $6,208,279        2        $2,036        5.985%   

International Small Cap

     11,537,782        33        62,254        5.968%   

Emerging Markets Small Cap

     710,099        14        1,577        5.789%   

Global Small Cap

     14,036        5        11        5.965%   

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

     Long Term Securities  
 Fund    Purchases      Sales  

 Small Cap

     $117,658,266        $203,464,302   

 Mid Cap

     458,270,716        574,082,593   

 International Small Cap

     211,548,937        476,568,718   

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

     2,322,101        5,641,371   

 Global Small Cap

     1,004,660        1,201,391   

The Funds had no purchases or sales of U.S. Government Obligations during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

The Funds participate in the Securities Lending Program providing for the lending of securities to qualified borrowers. Securities lending income includes earnings of such temporary cash investments, plus or minus any rebate to a borrower. These earnings (after any rebate) are then divided between BNYM, as a fee for its services under the Securities Lending Program, and the Funds, according to agreed-upon rates. Collateral on all securities loaned is accepted in cash, U.S. Treasury Obligations or U.S. Government Agency Obligations. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the market value, plus interest, if applicable, of investments on loan. It is the Funds’ policy to obtain additional collateral from or return excess collateral to the borrower by the end of the next business day, following the valuation date of the securities loaned. Therefore, the value of the collateral held may be temporarily less than the value of the securities on loan. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Funds if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned were to increase and the borrower did not increase the collateral accordingly, and the borrower fails to return the securities. Under the terms of the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM. Cash collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM, who is authorized to exclusively enter into joint repurchase agreements for that cash collateral. Securities collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM and cannot be sold or pledged. BNYM bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the cash collateral available for return to the borrower due to any loss

 

 

 

69


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

on the collateral invested. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities as soon as practical, which is normally within three business days.

The value of securities loaned on positions held, cash collateral and securities collateral received at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

            Cash      Securities      Total  
     Securities      Collateral      Collateral      Collateral  
 Fund    Loaned      Received      Received      Received  

Small Cap

     $8,292,535        $2,020,775        $6,580,442        $8,601,217   

Mid Cap

     36,651,313        14,942,196        23,166,873        38,109,069   

International Small Cap

     15,336,376        9,692,940        7,463,682        17,156,622   

Emerging Markets Small Cap

     14,867        15,647               15,647   

Global Small Cap

     22,478        23,566               23,566   

The following table summarizes the securities received as collateral for securities lending at December 31, 2023:

 

 Fund  

Collateral

Type

 

Coupon

Range

 

Maturity

Date Range

Small Cap

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.125%-5.368%   04/15/24-08/15/53

Mid Cap

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.000%-7.500%   01/11/24-08/15/53

International Small Cap

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.125%-4.750%   07/31/24-05/15/53

5. FOREIGN SECURITIES

Certain Funds may invest in securities of foreign entities and in instruments denominated in foreign currencies which involve risks not typically associated with investments in domestic securities, such as exposure to currency fluctuations, less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. A Fund’s investments in emerging market countries are exposed to additional risks. A Fund’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting companies in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less

diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. Realized gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the Fund level and the Fund would pay such foreign taxes at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction.

6. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENT IN JAPAN

International Small Cap invests a significant portion of its net assets in Japan, which makes International Small Cap particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions that may affect Japan’s economy. Therefore, International Small Cap’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund and may result in losses. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent upon international trade, and, therefore, is particularly exposed to the risks of currency fluctuation, foreign trade policy and regional and global economic disruption, including the risk of increased tariffs, embargoes, and other trade limitations or factors. Japanese government policy has been characterized by economic regulation, intervention, protectionism and large government deficits. The Japanese economy is also challenged by an unstable financial services sector, highly leveraged corporate balance sheets and extensive cross ownership among major corporations. Structural social and labor market changes, including an aging workforce, population decline and traditional aversion to labor mobility may adversely affect Japan’s economic competitiveness and growth potential. The potential for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis, could also have significant negative effects on Japan’s economy.

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Funds under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against a Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds had no prior claims or losses and expect the risks of loss to be remote.

 

8. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into master netting agreements with their counterparties for the Securities Lending Program and Repurchase Agreements, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For securities lending transactions, see Note 4.

 

 

70


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The following table is a summary of the Funds’ open Repurchase Agreements that are subject to a master netting agreement as of December 31, 2023:

 

         Gross Amount Not Offset in the        
         Statement of Assets and Liabilities        
 Fund    Gross Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
 

Offset

Amount

 

Net

Asset

Balance

 

Collateral

Received

 

Net

Amount

          

 Small Cap

          

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

     $1,000,000                  $1,000,000         $1,000,000            

 Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     20,775             20,775       20,775        

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     1,000,000             1,000,000       1,000,000        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

     $2,020,775             $2,020,775       $2,020,775        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mid Cap

          

 Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc.

     $3,179,692             $3,179,692       $3,179,692        

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

     668,342             668,342       668,342        

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     3,735,408             3,735,408       3,735,408        

 Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC

     3,698,054             3,698,054       3,698,054        

 State of Wisconsin Investment Board

     3,660,700             3,660,700       3,660,700        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

       $14,942,196          —          $14,942,196          $14,942,196          —  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 International Small Cap

          

 Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

     $2,423,235             $2,423,235       $2,423,235        

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

     2,423,235             2,423,235       2,423,235        

 Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     2,423,235             2,423,235       2,423,235        

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     2,423,235             2,423,235       2,423,235        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

     $9,692,940             $9,692,940       $9,692,940        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Emerging Markets Small Cap

          

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     $15,647             $15,647       $15,647        

 Global Small Cap

          

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     $23,566             $23,566       $23,566        

 

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Funds have determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Funds’ financial statements which require an additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Funds’ financial statements.

   

 

 

 

71


 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds and Shareholders of AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund, AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund and AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of portfolio investments, of AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund, AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund and AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund (five of the funds constituting AMG Funds, hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2023, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinions

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

 

72


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund, AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund and AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund each hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for each Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the year.

In accordance with federal tax law, the following Funds elect to provide foreign taxes paid and the income sourced from foreign countries. Accordingly, each Fund hereby makes the following designations regarding its taxable period ended December 31, 2023:

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

uThe total amount of taxes paid and income sourced from foreign countries was $680,235 and $7,694,061, respectively.

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

uThe total amount of taxes paid and income sourced from foreign countries was $11,239 and $63,734, respectively.

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

uThe total amount of taxes paid and income sourced from foreign countries was $3,124 and $21,541, respectively.

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund, AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund, AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund and AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund each hereby designates $0, $52,768,402, $0, $0 and $0, respectively, as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable period ended December 31, 2023, or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such period.

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds (the “Trust”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on a proposal to elect trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The proposal and results of the vote are described below. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trust until his retirement on December 31, 2023.

 

 AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*  
 Election of Trustees 1    For             Withheld  

 Jill R. Cuniff

     523,453,201           50,330,270  

 Kurt A. Keilhacker

     563,642,997           10,140,474  

 Peter W. MacEwen

     523,551,974           50,231,497  

 Steven J. Paggioli

     561,225,673           12,557,798  

 Eric Rakowski

     561,230,560           12,552,911  

 Victoria L. Sassine

     563,668,874           10,114,597  

 Garret W. Weston

     564,280,150           9,503,321  

1 Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Board of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

*Rounded to the nearest share.

 

 

73


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

      

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trust and the Funds. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds, and

 

  

review the Funds’ performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trust: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trust’s organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

 

   The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

 Number of Funds Overseen in

  Fund Complex

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco (2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A. (2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC. (1990-2001).

 

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

*Mr. Bingham retired from the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds on December 31, 2023.

**Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Board of Trustees by the shareholders of AMG Funds on October 10, 2023.

 

 

74


 

    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

Number of Funds Overseen in
Fund Complex
  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
   

• Trustee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

Officers

 

  Position(s) Held with Fund and

  Length of Time Served

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

 

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

 

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

 

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director - Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director - Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

 

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

 

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

 

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

75


 

 

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 


LOGO
   

 

      

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND

ADMINISTRATOR

AMG Funds LLC

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

AMG Distributors, Inc.

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

75 Rockefeller Plaza

30th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

CUSTODIAN

The Bank of New York Mellon

Mutual Funds Custody

6023 Airport Road

Oriskany, NY 13424

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

AMG Funds

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

500 Ross Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

800.548.4539

  

This report is prepared for the Funds’ shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for each Fund are available on the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures each Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding the Funds’ proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com          


 

LOGO
   

 

      

 

EQUITY FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman International Equity

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG Boston Common Global Impact

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG Frontier Small Cap Growth

Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Growth

AMG GW&K International Small Cap

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

AMG Montrusco Bolton Large Cap Growth

Montrusco Bolton Investments, Inc.

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth

The Renaissance Group LLC

     

AMG River Road Dividend All Cap Value

AMG River Road Focused Absolute Value

AMG River Road Large Cap Value Select

AMG River Road Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small-Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small Cap Value

River Road Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

 

AMG Veritas Asia Pacific

AMG Veritas China

AMG Veritas Global Focus

AMG Veritas Global Real Return

Veritas Asset Management LLP

 

AMG Yacktman

AMG Yacktman Focused

AMG Yacktman Global

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities

Yacktman Asset Management LP

 

  

FIXED INCOME FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman Core Plus Bond

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG GW&K Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K ESG Bond

AMG GW&K High Income

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com              123123   AR012


LOGO    ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 
    

 

LOGO

 
     AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund
 
     Class N: MRLTX | Class I: MRLSX | Class Z: MRLIX
 
    
 
    

 

 

 

 

 wealth.amg.com        123123   AR024



    

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

 

 

    
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
   

 

 
   

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

     2  
 
   

ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES

     3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS      4  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     10  
 
   

Balance sheet, net asset value (NAV) per share computations
and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     12  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and
unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     13  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past two fiscal years

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     14  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income
and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     17  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and
transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of
certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      22  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      23  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      24  
 
      

 

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 


LOGO   Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

 

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

        Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns   December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:        1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)     26.29     10.00%       15.69%  

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)     16.93     2.22%       9.97%  

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)     15.62     1.55%       7.08%  

Bonds:

                           

Investment Grade 

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)     5.53     (3.31)%       1.10%  

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)     13.44     1.98%       5.37%  

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)     6.40     (0.40)%       2.25%  

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)     5.14     2.17%       2.02%  

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

   

 

     

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

    

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

         

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

December 31, 2023

   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,093      $5.28

Class I

   0.73%   $1,000      $1,095      $3.85

Class Z

   0.66%   $1,000      $1,095      $3.48

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.00%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.09

Class I

   0.73%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.72

Class Z

   0.66%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.36

 

 *

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 

 

3


 

    

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 25.04% for the year ending December 31, 2023, trailing the Fund’s benchmark, the Russell 1000® Growth Index (the “Index”), which returned 42.68%.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW

 

Stocks continued their march higher during the first half of 2023, with the S&P 500® Index returning 16.89% and the Index returning 29.02%. After a modest pullback during the third quarter, primarily in August and September, markets surged forward again to finish the year significantly higher. For the entire period, the Index returned 42.68% while the S&P 500® Index returned 26.29%. Gains were broad based, as every sector within the Index was positive for the period. The information technology and communication services sectors led the way with gains of roughly 65% each, while the more defensive consumer staples, utilities, and energy sectors posted more modest, low single-digit gains.

 

This year the financial press has focused its attention on a group of strong-performing information technology and consumer discretionary stocks, aptly referred to as the “Magnificent Seven” (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Tesla, NVIDIA, and Meta Platforms), which accounted for the lion’s share of returns across several key market indices this year as a result of their strong performance and large market capitalization, as most market indices are capitalization weighted. The returns of the Magnificent Seven have contributed to more than two-thirds of the total returns for both the Russell 1000® Index and the Index over the period. However, it is worth noting that the Magnificent Seven also declined more than the overall market during the market pullback that occurred in the last two months of the third quarter.

 

In December 2022, a story in The Economist stated that 85% of economists polled expected a recession to occur over the next 12 months (i.e., 2023). The fact

      

that the majority of economists were wrong should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who makes economic projections. In 2023, the financial markets weathered the U.S. Federal Reserve’s raising of interest rates 11 times over the preceding 18 months to their highest level in over 20 years, weakness in regional banks and a significant bank failure (Silicon Valley Bank), the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the renewed war in the Middle East. Few would have expected that these events would be associated with a 20%+ gain in the stock market, but these results have nonetheless occurred, lending credence to the adage that “the stock market tends to climb a wall of worry.”

 

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

 

For 2023, stock selection in the communication services and real estate sectors was the largest positive contributor to relative performance. Notable individual contributors for the year included Meta Platforms, Inc. (+194%), Broadcom, Inc. (+104%), and Apple, Inc. (+49%). Stock selection in the health care and information technology sectors was the largest detractor from relative performance during the year. Notable individual detractors included Dollar General Corp. (-36%), Genpact, Ltd. (-27%), and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (-14%). We exited our positions in Dollar General and Genpact during the period.

 

OUTLOOK

 

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of the S&P 500® Index, based on estimated earnings over the next 12 months, rose from 17.9x at the beginning of 2023 to 22.1x by the end of December. This 24% increase, which accounted for virtually all of the S&P 500® Index’s gain in 2023, was an unusual occurrence given the increases in short-term interest rates over the year. The median P/E ratio over the past 30 years was 17.9x, and current readings rank in the highest 18% of past periods, suggesting that further increases in the P/E ratio are less likely.

 

While the market P/E ratio is relatively high, earnings growth for the S&P 500® Index appears to be transitioning to growth. The fourth quarter of 2023 is

      

estimated to see positive growth after several quarters of negative year-over-year comparisons. Consensus forecasts now suggest double-digit growth in earnings for 2024, which, if achieved, may support further price gains in the market.

 

The fourth quarter return for the equal-weighted S&P 500® Index was virtually the same as the cap-weighted index, but the equal-weighted index lagged the cap-weighted S&P 500® Index by -12.4% in 2023, marking the worst relative performance by the equal-weighted index since 1998. The poor performance was a direct result of the outperformance of a relatively small group of mega-cap stocks over the past year. The largest 10 stocks in the S&P 500® Index accounted for 86% of the overall index return in 2023 and accounted for a record 32.1% weight in the index at year-end, according to JP Morgan. Notably, a similar period of outperformance by mega-cap companies occurred in the late 1990s, followed by strong outperformance by the equal-weighted index over subsequent periods extending out from 3 to 20 years. We continue to believe that a willingness to look beyond the recent mega-cap market leaders will result in good relative returns going forward.

 

We continue to focus our efforts on identifying high-quality companies with good growth opportunities that are selling at reasonable valuations. While the market outlook for 2024 is just as difficult to predict as it was in 2023, we believe that our disciplined investment approach will continue to reward patient investors with good long-term returns.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of Renaissance Investment Management as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

             

 

 

 

4


AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 1000® Growth Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund and the Russell 1000® Growth Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Ten  
Average Annual Total Returns1    Year     Years     Years  

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

 

Class N

     25.04     17.63     12.56

Class I

     25.47     17.92     12.89

Class Z

     25.54     18.02     13.00

Russell 1000® Growth Index10

     42.68     19.50     14.86

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

5  The stocks of mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

7  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

8  Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

9  When a quantitative model (“Model”) or information or data (“Data”) used in managing the Fund contains an error, or is incorrect or incomplete, any investment decision made in reliance on the Model or Data may not produce the desired results and the Fund may realize losses. In addition, any hedging based on a faulty Model or Data may prove to be unsuccessful. Furthermore, the success of a Model that is predictive in nature is dependent largely on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data. All Models are susceptible to input errors or errors in design, which may cause the resulting output to be faulty.

 

10 The Russell 1000® Growth Index is a market capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 1000®

 

 

 

5


 

    

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

Growth Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

The Russell 1000® Growth Index is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

     Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.     
         

 

 

6


 

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 
   

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN 

 

 Sector    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Information Technology

   36.9
 

Health Care

   19.8
 

Industrials

   12.0
 

Financials

   11.2
 

Consumer Discretionary

    7.5
 

Communication Services

    6.4
 

Consumer Staples

    3.0
 

Energy

    1.6
 

Short-Term Investments

    1.6
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

     0.01

1 Less than (0.05)%

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Apple, Inc.

   3.3
 

Microsoft Corp.

   2.9
 

Amazon.com, Inc.

   2.5
 

Alphabet, Inc., Class A

   2.4
 

Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A

   2.0
 

Lam Research Corp.

   2.0
 

Netflix, Inc.

   2.0
 

PTC, Inc.

   1.9
 

Amphenol Corp., Class A

   1.9
 

salesforce.com, Inc.

   1.9
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    22.8 
  

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

7


 

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 
   

 

      Shares      Value  

Common Stocks - 98.4%

     

Communication Services - 6.4%

     

Alphabet, Inc., Class A*

     22,921        $3,201,834  

Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*

     7,796        2,759,472  

Netflix, Inc.*

     5,412        2,634,995  

Total Communication Services

        8,596,301  

Consumer Discretionary - 7.5%

     

Amazon.com, Inc.*

     22,055        3,351,037  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

     8,407        1,870,978  

Marriott International, Inc., Class A

     11,219        2,529,996  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*

     2,423        2,302,044  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        10,054,055  

Consumer Staples - 3.0%

     

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*

     28,792        1,919,275  

The Procter & Gamble Co.

     14,898        2,183,153  

Total Consumer Staples

        4,102,428  

Energy - 1.6%

     

EOG Resources, Inc.

     17,565        2,124,487  

Financials - 11.2%

     

Arch Capital Group, Ltd. (Bermuda)*

     26,694        1,982,563  

Everest Group, Ltd. (Bermuda)

     5,583        1,974,037  

Fiserv, Inc.*

     17,543        2,330,412  

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     5,550        2,367,131  

PayPal Holdings, Inc.*

     28,503        1,750,369  

Visa, Inc., Class A

     9,299        2,420,995  

WEX, Inc.*

     11,402        2,218,259  

Total Financials

        15,043,766  

Health Care - 19.8%

     

Abbott Laboratories

     20,658        2,273,826  

Cencora, Inc.

     11,798        2,423,073  

Chemed Corp.

     4,076        2,383,441  

Danaher Corp.

     10,009        2,315,482  

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

     8,238        2,229,862  

Humana, Inc.

     4,255        1,947,982  

Johnson & Johnson

     13,702        2,147,651  

McKesson Corp.

     4,813        2,228,323  

The Cigna Group

     7,045        2,109,625  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     3,707        1,967,639  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     4,167        2,193,800  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     5,853        2,381,527  

Total Health Care

        26,602,231  

Industrials - 12.0%

     

Cintas Corp.

     4,227        2,547,444  
     
      Shares      Value  

Ferguson PLC (United Kingdom)

     12,529        $2,418,974  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

     7,825        2,049,681  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

     10,870        2,363,790  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     4,251        1,926,723  

Union Pacific Corp.

     9,815        2,410,760  

WW Grainger, Inc.

     2,882        2,388,285  

Total Industrials

        16,105,657  

Information Technology - 36.9%

 

  

Adobe, Inc.*

     4,019        2,397,735  

Amphenol Corp., Class A

     26,164        2,593,637  

ANSYS, Inc.*

     6,712        2,435,651  

Apple, Inc.

     22,706        4,371,586  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     15,344        2,486,802  

Broadcom, Inc.

     2,304        2,571,840  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*

     8,411        2,290,904  

CDW Corp.

     11,083        2,519,388  

Fortinet, Inc.*

     30,112        1,762,455  

Gartner, Inc.*

     5,547        2,502,307  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.*

     14,232        2,264,169  

KLA Corp.

     4,189        2,435,066  

Lam Research Corp.

     3,375        2,643,503  

Microsoft Corp.

     10,451        3,929,994  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

     7,692        2,408,288  

PTC, Inc.*

     14,865        2,600,780  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

     4,406        2,402,019  

salesforce.com, Inc.*

     9,840        2,589,298  

ServiceNow, Inc.*

     3,419        2,415,489  

Total Information Technology

        49,620,911  

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $86,443,251)

        132,249,836  

Short-Term Investments - 1.6%

     

Other Investment Companies - 1.6%

 

  

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.25%1

     849,281        849,281  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%1

     1,273,922        1,273,922  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,123,203)

        2,123,203  

Total Investments - 100.0%
(Cost $88,566,454)

        134,373,039  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 0.0%#

        (37,765

Net Assets - 100.0%

      $ 134,335,274  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8


 

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
   

 

  *

Non-income producing security.

 

  # 

Less than (0.05)%.

 

  1 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

    

Level 2

 

    

Level 3

 

    

Total

 

 

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

  

$

132,249,836

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

$132,249,836

 

Short-Term Investments

           

Other Investment Companies

     2,123,203                      2,123,203  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investments in Securities

  

$

134,373,039

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

$134,373,039

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

All common stocks held in the Fund are Level 1 securities. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


    

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

    AMG Renaissance
Large Cap

Growth Fund

Assets:

   

Investments at value1

      $134,373,039

Dividend and interest receivables

      67,423

Securities lending income receivable

      42

Receivable for Fund shares sold

      91,823

Receivable from affiliate

      15,372

Prepaid expenses and other assets

      11,222

Total assets

      134,558,921

Liabilities:

   

Payable for Fund shares repurchased

      78,239

Accrued expenses:

   

Investment advisory and management fees

      54,401

Administrative fees

      16,817

Distribution fees

      13,695

Shareholder service fees

      10,416

Other

      50,079

Total liabilities

      223,647

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 5)

 

Net Assets

      $134,335,274

1 Investments at cost

      $88,566,454

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10


 

    

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

    AMG Renaissance
Large Cap

Growth Fund

Net Assets Represent:

   

Paid-in capital

      $87,729,997

Total distributable earnings

      46,605,277

Net Assets

      $134,335,274

Class N:

   

Net Assets

      $65,422,254

Shares outstanding

      3,939,206

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $16.61

Class I:

   

Net Assets

      $44,970,021

Shares outstanding

      2,671,143

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $16.84

Class Z:

   

Net Assets

      $23,942,999

Shares outstanding

      1,451,418

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $16.50
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

11


 

    

 

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

    AMG Renaissance
Large Cap

Growth Fund

Investment Income:

   

Dividend income

      $1,280,598

Interest income

      287

Securities lending income

      2,014

Total investment income

      1,282,899

Expenses:

   

Investment advisory and management fees

      602,128

Administrative fees

      183,610

Distribution fees - Class N

      151,150

Shareholder servicing fees - Class N

      54,764

Shareholder servicing fees - Class I

      27,601

Professional fees

      43,571

Registration fees

      42,461

Custodian fees

      27,059

Reports to shareholders

      25,524

Transfer agent fees

      15,909

Trustee fees and expenses

      9,178

Interest expense

      759

Miscellaneous

      7,699

Total expenses before offsets

      1,191,413

Expense reimbursements

      (149,132 )

Expense reductions

      (3,214 )

Net expenses

      1,039,067
   

Net investment income

      243,832

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain:

   

Net realized gain on investments

      9,073,938

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      18,753,772

Net realized and unrealized gain

      27,827,710
   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      $28,071,542
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

12


    

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

   

 

      

 

 

     AMG Renaissance
Large Cap
Growth Fund
     2023   2022

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

       $243,832       $312,760

Net realized gain on investments

       9,073,938       5,552,868

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       18,753,772       (24,391,584 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

       28,071,542       (18,525,956 )

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

       (4,555,570 )       (3,750,988 )

Class I

       (3,137,397 )       (1,502,447 )

Class Z

       (1,750,282 )       (1,496,106 )

Total distributions to shareholders

       (9,443,249 )       (6,749,541 )

Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net increase from capital share transactions

       12,471,195       15,701,143
        

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

       31,099,488       (9,574,354 )

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

       103,235,786       112,810,140

End of year

       $134,335,274       $103,235,786

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

13


    

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

   

 

      

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

       $14.28       $18.41       $15.31       $13.01       $10.48

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

                    

Net investment income1,2

       0.01       0.03       0.00 3,4         0.01       0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

       3.55       (3.16 )       4.57       3.04       3.61

Total income (loss) from investment operations

       3.56       (3.13 )       4.57       3.05       3.67

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

                    

Net investment income

       (0.01 )       (0.02 )       (0.00 )3       (0.02 )       (0.08 )

Net realized gain on investments

       (1.22 )       (0.98 )       (1.47 )       (0.73 )       (1.06 )

Total distributions to shareholders

       (1.23 )       (1.00 )       (1.47 )       (0.75 )       (1.14 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

       $16.61       $14.28       $18.41       $15.31       $13.01

Total Return2,5

       25.04 %       (17.05 )%       30.02 %       23.54 %       35.16 %

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %      
1.00
%7

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

       1.12 %       1.15 %       1.13 %       1.19 %       1.17 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

       0.05 %       0.22 %       0.00 %9       0.10 %       0.48 %

Portfolio turnover

       35 %       28 %       18 %       28 %       40 %

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

       $65,422       $56,264       $79,490       $67,688       $63,900

 

 

 

 

14


 

    

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

   

 

      

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

       $14.46       $18.63       $15.48       $13.14       $10.58

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

                    

Net investment income1,2

       0.05       0.07       0.04 4         0.05       0.09

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

       3.60       (3.19 )       4.62       3.07       3.64

Total income (loss) from investment operations

       3.65       (3.12 )       4.66       3.12       3.73

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

                    

Net investment income

       (0.05 )       (0.07 )       (0.04 )       (0.05 )       (0.11 )

Net realized gain on investments

       (1.22 )       (0.98 )       (1.47 )       (0.73 )       (1.06 )

Total distributions to shareholders

       (1.27 )       (1.05 )       (1.51 )       (0.78 )       (1.17 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

       $16.84       $14.46       $18.63       $15.48       $13.14

Total Return2,5

       25.47 %       (16.87 )%       30.30 %       23.90 %       35.42 %

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

       0.73 %       0.73 %       0.75 %       0.75 %      
0.75
%7

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

       0.85 %       0.88 %       0.88 %       0.94 %       0.92 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

       0.32 %       0.48 %       0.25 %       0.35 %       0.73 %

Portfolio turnover

       35 %       28 %       18 %       28 %       40 %

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

       $44,970       $25,585       $12,599       $9,414       $8,410

 

 

 

 

15


    

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

   

 

      

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

       $14.18       $18.31       $15.22       $12.94       $10.43

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

                    

Net investment income1,2

       0.06       0.09       0.06 4         0.06       0.10

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

       3.54       (3.16 )       4.56       3.01       3.60

Total income (loss) from investment operations

       3.60       (3.07 )       4.62       3.07       3.70

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

                    

Net investment income

       (0.06 )       (0.08 )       (0.06 )       (0.06 )       (0.13 )

Net realized gain on investments

       (1.22 )       (0.98 )       (1.47 )       (0.73 )       (1.06 )

Total distributions to shareholders

       (1.28 )       (1.06 )       (1.53 )       (0.79 )       (1.19 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

       $16.50       $14.18       $18.31       $15.22       $12.94

Total Return2,5

       25.54 %       (16.83 )%       30.54 %       23.90 %       35.58 %

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

       0.66 %       0.66 %       0.66 %       0.66 %       0.66 %7

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

       0.78 %       0.81 %       0.79 %       0.85 %       0.83 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

       0.39 %       0.55 %       0.34 %       0.44 %       0.82 %

Portfolio turnover

       35 %       28 %       18 %       28 %       40 %

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

       $23,943       $21,386       $20,721       $17,068       $20,372

 

 

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3

Less than $0.005 or $(0.005) per share.

 

4

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income (loss) per share would have been $(0.02), $0.02, and $0.04 for Class N, Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

5

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to less than 0.01% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, and 0.01% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

7

Includes interest expense of 0.01% of average net assets.

 

8

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

9

Less than 0.005%.

 

 

16


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business trust, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trust consists of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report is AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”).

The Fund offers Class N, Class I, and Class Z shares. Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund. Although all share classes generally have identical voting rights, each share class votes separately when required by law. Different share classes may have different net asset values per share to the extent the share classes pay different distribution amounts and/or the expenses of such share classes differ. Each share class has its own expense structure. Please refer to a current prospectus for additional information on each share class.

Stocks in the information technology sector comprise a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio at December 31, 2023. The information technology sector may be affected by technological obsolescence, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, competitive pressures and general market conditions.

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or reported on the NASDAQ national market system (“NMS”) are valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, if applicable, the NASDAQ official closing price or the official closing price of the relevant exchange or, lacking any sales, at the last quoted bid price. Equity securities held by the Fund that are traded in the over-the-counter market (other than NMS securities) are valued at the bid price. Foreign equity securities (securities principally traded in markets other than U.S. markets) held by the Fund are valued at the official closing price on the primary exchange or, for markets that either do not offer an official closing price or where the official closing price may not be representative of the overall market, the last quoted sale price.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Fund’s portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Fund’s Valuation Designee to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Fund may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Fund. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Fund’s investments.

With respect to foreign equity securities and certain foreign fixed income securities, securities held in the Fund that can be fair valued by the applicable fair value pricing service are fair valued on each business day provided that each individual price exceeds a pre-established confidence level.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is

 

 

 

17


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Dividend and interest income on foreign securities is recorded gross of any withholding tax. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are reported at the fair market value of the securities received. Other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to the Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust and other trusts or funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Fund, and certain fund level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the Fund.

The Fund had certain portfolio trades directed to various brokers under a brokerage recapture program. Credits received from the brokerage recapture program are earned and paid on a monthly basis, and are recorded as expense offsets, which serve to reduce the Fund’s overall expense ratio. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the impact on the expenses and expense ratios was $3,214 and less than 0.01%, respectively.

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from either net investment income or realized net capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Permanent differences are primarily due to tax equalization utilized. Temporary differences are primarily due to wash sale loss deferrals.

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

 Distributions paid from:    2023         2022     

 Ordinary income *

     $823,992        $301,910  

 Long-term capital gains

     8,619,257        6,447,631  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
       $9,443,249          $6,749,541  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

 

 Undistributed ordinary income

     $178,935  

 Undistributed long-term capital gains

     644,766  

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Cost   Appreciation      Depreciation        Net Appreciation  

 $88,591,463

    $47,220,260        $(1,438,684)       $45,781,576  

e. FEDERAL TAXES

The Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on the Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, the Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

 

 

 

18


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the Fund had no capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes. Should the Fund incur net capital losses for the fiscal year

 

ended December 31, 2024, such amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

The Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes for the Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. The Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the capital stock transactions by class for the Fund were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
        
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

 Class N:

        

 Shares sold

     152,280       $2,409,381       76,753       $1,159,718  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     243,694       3,986,834       226,359       3,255,046  

 Shares redeemed

     (397,378     (6,282,365     (680,358     (10,668,386
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase (decrease)

     (1,404     $113,850       (377,246     $(6,253,622)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Class I:

        

 Shares sold

     1,841,207       $28,308,530       1,270,962       $19,392,826  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     188,381       3,125,239       101,750       1,480,470  

 Shares redeemed

     (1,128,271     (18,173,646     (279,075     (4,314,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase

     901,317       $13,260,123       1,093,637       $16,559,181  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Class Z:

        

 Shares sold

     109,971       $1,690,410       446,235       $6,599,400  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     104,585       1,699,513       100,082       1,429,170  

 Shares redeemed

     (270,825     (4,292,701     (170,599     (2,632,986
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase (decrease)

     (56,269     $(902,778)        375,718       $5,395,584  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Fund may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes and for reinvestment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions under the securities lending program offered by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) (the “Securities Lending Program”) (collectively, “Repurchase Agreements”). The value of the underlying collateral, including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the Repurchase Agreements during the term of the agreement. For joint repurchase agreements, the Fund participates on a pro rata basis with other clients of BNYM in its share of the underlying collateral under such joint repurchase agreements and in its share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of the underlying collateral. The underlying collateral for all Repurchase Agreements is held by the Fund’s custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Pursuant to the Securities Lending Program, the Fund is indemnified for such losses by BNYM on joint repurchase agreements.

At December 31, 2023, the Fund had no Repurchase Agreements outstanding.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

The Trust has entered into an investment advisory agreement under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the Fund’s overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Board and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the subadviser for the Fund and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. The Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by The Renaissance Group LLC (“Renaissance”) who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in Renaissance.

Investment management fees are paid directly by the Fund to the Investment Manager based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund paid an investment management fee at the following annual rates of the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

 

 

19


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

 on the first $50 million

     0.55

 on the next $25 million

     0.50

 on the next $25 million

     0.45

 on balance over $100 million

     0.40

The fee paid to Renaissance for its services as subadviser is paid out of the fee the Investment Manager receives from the Fund and does not increase the expenses of the Fund.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), shareholder servicing fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) of 0.66% of the Fund’s average daily net assets (this annual rate or such other annual rate that may be in effect from time to time, the “Expense Cap”), subject to later reimbursement by the Fund in certain circumstances.

In general, for a period of up to 36 months after the date any amounts are paid, waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may recover such amounts from the Fund, provided that such repayment would not cause the Fund’s total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of the items noted in the parenthetical above) to exceed either (i) the Expense Cap in effect at the time such amounts were paid, waived or reimbursed, or (ii) the Expense Cap in effect at the time of such repayment by the Fund.

The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of the Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board, or in the event of the Fund’s liquidation unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of the Fund.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager reimbursed the Fund $149,132, and did not recoup any previously reimbursed expenses. At December 31, 2023, the Fund’s expiration of reimbursements subject to recoupment is as follows:

 

  Expiration

  Period

      

  Less than 1 year

   $ 131,129  

  1-2 years

     145,481  

  2-3 years

     149,132  
  

 

 

 

  Total

   $ 425,742  
  

 

 

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of

managing the Fund’s operations, including administration and shareholder services to the Fund. The Fund pays a fee to the Administrator at the rate of 0.15% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets for this service.

The Fund is distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for the Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

The Trust has adopted a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Class N shares, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the requirements of the applicable rules of FINRA regarding asset-based sales charges. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund may make payments to the Distributor for its expenditures in financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of the Fund’s Class N shares and for maintenance and personal service provided to existing shareholders of that class. The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor up to 0.25% annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the Class N shares.

For each of the Class N and Class I shares, the Board has approved reimbursement payments to the Investment Manager for shareholder servicing expenses (“shareholder servicing fees”) incurred. Shareholder servicing fees include payments to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers (including fund supermarket platforms), banks, and trust companies who provide shareholder recordkeeping, account servicing and other services. The Class N and Class I shares may reimburse the Investment Manager for the actual amount incurred up to a maximum annual rate of each Class’s average daily net assets as shown in the table below. Effective December 31, 2022, the Investment Manager agreed, through December 31, 2023, to waive a portion of shareholder servicing fees paid by Class I as necessary to ensure the fees were limited to 0.07%. On December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager agreed to renew the waiver through December 31, 2024.

The impact on the annualized expense ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

     Maximum Annual
Amount
Approved
    Actual
Amount
Incurred
     

 Class N

     0.15     0.09  

 Class I

     0.15     0.07    

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trust and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of the Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within

 

 

 

20


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Fund are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the Fund had no interfund loans outstanding.

The Fund utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

    Average
Lent
  Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
 
  $2,007,897     1       $287       5.208%   

 

    Average
Borrowed
  Number
of Days
    Interest
Paid
    Average
Interest Rate
 
  $2,307,515     2       $759       6.000%   

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, were $44,308,330 and $41,652,547, respectively.

The Fund had no purchases or sales of U.S. Government Obligations during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

The Fund participates in the Securities Lending Program providing for the lending of securities to qualified borrowers. Securities lending income includes earnings of such temporary cash investments, plus or minus any rebate to a borrower. These earnings (after any rebate) are then divided between BNYM, as a fee for its services under the Securities Lending Program, and the Fund, according to agreed-upon rates. Collateral on all securities loaned is accepted in cash, U.S. Treasury Obligations or U.S. Government Agency Obligations. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the market value, plus interest, if applicable, of investments on loan. It is the Fund’s policy to obtain additional collateral from or return excess collateral to the borrower by the end of the next business day, following the valuation date of

the securities loaned. Therefore, the value of the collateral held may be temporarily less than the value of the securities on loan. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Fund if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned were to increase and the borrower did not increase the collateral accordingly, and the borrower fails to return the securities. Under the terms of the Securities Lending Program, the Fund is indemnified for such losses by BNYM. Cash collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM, who is authorized to exclusively enter into joint repurchase agreements for that cash collateral. Securities collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM and cannot be sold or pledged. BNYM bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the cash collateral available for return to the borrower due to any loss on the collateral invested. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities as soon as practical, which is normally within three business days.

The Funds did not have any securities on loan at December 31, 2023.

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Fund under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund had no prior claims or losses and expects the risks of loss to be remote.

6. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Fund may enter into master netting agreements with its counterparties for the Securities Lending Program and Repurchase Agreements, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For securities lending transactions, see Note 4. At December 31, 2023, the Fund had no Repurchase Agreements outstanding.

7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Fund has determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Fund’s financial statements which require an additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

21


    

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

   

 

      

 

To the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds and Shareholders of AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund (one of the funds constituting AMG Funds, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

 

22


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for the Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the year.

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund hereby designates $9,170,218 as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such year.

 

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds (the “Trust”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on a proposal to elect trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The proposal and results of the vote are described below. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trust until his retirement on December 31, 2023.

 

 AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*
 Election of Trustees 1    For    Withheld     

 Jill R. Cuniff

   523,453,201    50,330,270   

 Kurt A. Keilhacker

   563,642,997    10,140,474   

 Peter W. MacEwen

    523,551,974     50,231,497   

 Steven J. Paggioli

   561,225,673    12,557,798   

 Eric Rakowski

   561,230,560    12,552,911   

 Victoria L. Sassine

   563,668,874    10,114,597   

 Garret W. Weston

   564,280,150    9,503,321   

1 Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Board of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

*Rounded to the nearest share.

 

 

23


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

      

 

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund, and     

review the Fund’s performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trust: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trust’s organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

      

The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

                   

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

 

 Number of Funds Overseen in 

  Fund Complex

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
(2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A.
(2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC.
(1990-2001).

 

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

*Mr. Bingham retired from the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds on December 31, 2023.

**Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Board of Trustees by the shareholders of AMG Funds on October 10, 2023.

 

 

24


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

 Number of Funds Overseen in 

  Fund Complex

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
   

• Trustee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

Officers

 

 Position(s) Held with Fund and 

  Length of Time Served

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

 

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

 

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

 

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director - Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director - Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

 

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

 

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

 

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

25


 

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LOGO

 

 

 

   

 

      

 

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATOR

 

AMG Funds LLC

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

 

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

AMG Distributors, Inc.

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

 

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

 

The Renaissance Group LLC

 

50 East RiverCenter Boulevard

 

Suite 1200

 

Covington, KY 41011

 

      

CUSTODIAN

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

Mutual Funds Custody

 

6023 Airport Road

 

Oriskany, NY 13424

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Ropes & Gray LLP

 

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

 

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

AMG Funds

 

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

 

500 Ross Street

 

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

 

800.548.4539

      

This report is prepared for the Fund’s shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for the Fund are available on the Fund’s website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding the Fund’s proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Fund’s website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com       


 

 

LOGO

 

 

 

   

 

      

 

EQUITY FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman International Equity

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG Boston Common Global Impact

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG Frontier Small Cap Growth

Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Growth

AMG GW&K International Small Cap

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

AMG Montrusco Bolton Large Cap Growth

Montrusco Bolton Investments, Inc.

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth

The Renaissance Group LLC

      

AMG River Road Dividend All Cap Value

AMG River Road Focused Absolute Value

AMG River Road Large Cap Value Select

AMG River Road Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small-Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small Cap Value

River Road Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

 

AMG Veritas Asia Pacific

AMG Veritas China

AMG Veritas Global Focus

AMG Veritas Global Real Return

Veritas Asset Management LLP

 

AMG Yacktman

AMG Yacktman Focused

AMG Yacktman Global

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities

Yacktman Asset Management LP

 

 

      

FIXED INCOME FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman Core Plus Bond

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG GW&K Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K ESG Bond

AMG GW&K High Income

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

 

 

 wealth.amg.com         123123  AR024


LOGO

 

 

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 

     LOGO
 
     AMG Yacktman Fund
 
     Class I: YACKX
 
    

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

 

   
     Class N: YAFFX    Class I: YAFIX
 
    

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

 

   
     Class N: YFSNX    Class I: YFSIX
 
    

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

 

   
     Class I: YASSX    Class Z: YASLX
 
    
 
       

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com        123123   AR071



    

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

 

    
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
   

 

 
    LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS      2  
 
    ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES      3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULES OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS   
 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

     4  
 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

     11  
 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

     19  
 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

     26  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     34  
 
   

Balance sheets, net asset value (NAV) per share computations
and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     36  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and
unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     37  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past two fiscal years

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     39  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income
and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     46  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and
transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of
certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      55  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      56  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      57  
 
      

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 

 


LOGO   Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

        Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns   December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:        1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)     26.29     10.00     15.69

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)     16.93     2.22     9.97

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)     15.62     1.55     7.08

Bonds:

                           

Investment Grade

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)     5.53     (3.31 )%      1.10

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)     13.44     1.98     5.37

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)     6.40     (0.40 )%      2.25

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)     5.14     2.17     2.02

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

   

 

     

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

    

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

 

 

 Six Months Ended

 December 31, 2023

  

Expense

Ratio for

the Period

 

Beginning

Account

Value

07/01/23

  

Ending

Account

Value

12/31/23

    

Expenses

Paid

During

the Period*

AMG Yacktman Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class I

   0.70%   $1,000      $1,088      $3.68

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class I

   0.70%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.57

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,087      $6.57

Class I

   1.06%   $1,000      $1,088      $5.58

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.25%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.36

Class I

   1.06%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.40

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.13%   $1,000      $1,094      $5.97

Class I

   0.93%   $1,000      $1,095      $4.91

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.13%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.75

Class I

   0.93%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.74

 Six Months Ended

 December 31, 2023

  

Expense

Ratio for

the Period

 

Beginning

Account

Value

07/01/23

  

Ending

Account

Value

12/31/23

    

Expenses

Paid

During

the Period*

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class I

   1.34%   $1,000      $1,018      $6.82

Class Z

   1.24%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.31

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class I

   1.34%   $1,000      $1,018      $6.82

Class Z

   1.24%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.31

 

 

Includes a performance fee adjustment amounting to (0.40)% of average daily net assets which is not annualized. (See Note 2 of Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 

 

3


    

 

AMG Yacktman Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

For the 12 months ending December 31, 2023, the AMG Yacktman Fund (the “Fund”) Class I shares returned 15.39%, outperforming the 11.46% return of the Russell 1000® Value Index and lagging the 26.29% return of the S&P 500® Index.

 

In many ways, 2023 was the mirror image of 2022. Although the Fund’s Class I shares lagged relative to the S&P 500® Index in 2023, it outperformed the S&P 500® Index on a two-year basis, returning a cumulative 6.89% versus the 3.42% cumulative return of the S&P 500® Index. We believe that our commitment to mitigating capital loss in a down market led to the outperformance over the two years despite the strong finish for the Russell 1000® Value Index and the broader S&P 500® Index in 2023.

 

Contributors and Detractors

 

Contributors to the year’s performance include Microsoft and Alphabet. These technology companies benefited from the enthusiasm in the market for artificial intelligence (“AI”) and represent two of the “Magnificent Seven”1 that drove the broad market performance for the year. Canadian Natural Resources, an oil sands producer in Canada, was also a leading contributor to performance, continuing its strong capital allocation discipline with growing dividends and share repurchases.

 

Detractors to performance for the year include Charles Schwab and Northrup Grumman. Both companies are still held in the Fund and we maintain our conviction in these names. We exited our position in U.S. Bancorp during the acute but short-lived banking crisis in March of 2023. Concerns about the leverage and underlying risk in the loan portfolios of many financial institutions remain.

 

High Conviction Names

 

There are two companies that we believe are poised for a substantial period of performance. They trade at large discounts to their fundamental value, and we

 

    

see the potential for that value to be unlocked and realized on the horizon. Samsung Electronics is one of them. Samsung’s memory chip business is emerging from a cyclical trough, plus memory chips play a critical role in supporting memory-hungry AI and machine learning applications. The foundry business is strategically important to the U.S. with its (largest ever in the U.S.) semiconductor production facility not far from our offices in Austin, Texas set to open later this year. Samsung will also participate in the regulatory and access unlocks that are underway.

 

On December 14, 2023, South Korea abolished the 30-year-old foreign registration requirement plus other measures aimed at encouraging greater foreign investor participation in the market. Hundreds of Korean companies are preparing to adopt dividend payment processes that better align with global standards. We anticipate further regulatory and governance changes in 2024 that should make South Korea a more accessible and investable market for foreign investors. Eventually, we expect the country to be re-rated by MSCI as a developed market.

 

Bolloré is another company that we firmly believe continues to set up well. It owns a large stake in Universal Music Group (“UMG”), traded on the Amsterdam stock exchange but headquartered in California. UMG performed very well in 2023 translating into additional value for Bolloré that was not reflected in the stock price. It also owns about 30% of Vivendi, a French media conglomerate, which is actively exploring opportunities to simplify its structure and unlock value. Last year, Bolloré signed an agreement for the sale of its European logistics business, which is expected to close later this year. (This follows on the sale of its African logistics

    

business in 2022.) Once this occurs, Bolloré will effectively own two major media businesses plus a large pile of cash. Historically considered to be valued with a “conglomerate discount,” Bolloré will have simplified its structure significantly.

 

Conclusion

 

Passive fund assets now exceed active fund assets,2 while just ten years ago active fund assets were double passive fund assets. We maintain that most investors’ portfolios belong with active managers, especially those keen on managing risk. With numerous risks present in today’s world (geopolitical, interest rates above zero for consumers and companies alike, and expanding government balance sheets, to name a few), we believe that active fund management plays a vital role in protecting investors’ capital in challenging markets. While none of us know the source or timing of the next trigger that will impact the equity markets, at Yacktman, we constantly think about what could go wrong and when.

 

We are excited about the Fund’s current positioning, and we believe that the companies we own are resilient and well-positioned in the current market. We remain focused on generating strong risk-adjusted returns over time.

 

1 Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

 

2 Source: Morningstar (“It’s Official: Passive Funds Overtake Active Funds”), January 2024.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of Yacktman Asset Management LP as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

4


   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG Yacktman Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG Yacktman Fund’s Class I shares on December 31, 2013 to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 1000® Value Index and the S&P 500® Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG Yacktman Fund, the Russell 1000® Value Index and the S&P 500® Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Ten  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year     Years     Years  

AMG Yacktman Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

 

Class I

     15.39     11.64     9.42

Russell 1000® Value Index17

     11.46     10.91     8.40

S&P 500® Index18

     26.29     15.69     12.03

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 
 
2 

From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3 

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4 

The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

5 

The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6 

Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

7 

Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. To the extent the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in a relatively small number of securities, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile and the Fund may involve more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of securities. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

8 

Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

9 

Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

10 

Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. Dollar investment when converted back to U.S. Dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the

 

 

 

5


    

 

AMG Yacktman Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar.

 

11 Convertible preferred stocks, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and pay regular dividends, and convertible debt securities, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and bear interest, are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. The lower the conversion premium, the more likely the price of the convertible security will follow the price of the underlying common stock. Conversely, higher premium convertible securities are more likely to exhibit the behavior of bonds because the likelihood of conversion is lower, which may cause their prices to fall as interest rates rise. There is the risk that the issuer of convertible preferred stock will not be able to make dividend payments or that the issuer of a convertible bond will not be able to make principal and/or interest payments.

 

12 The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

    

13 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

14 Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

15 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

16 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund

 

    

   has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

17 The Russell 1000® Value Index is a market capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 1000® Value Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

18 The S&P 500® Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The S&P 500® Index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries. Unlike the Fund, the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

The Russell 1000® Value Index is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

 

The S&P 500® Index is proprietary data of Standard & Poor’s, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

6


 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

Communication Services

   17.1
 

Consumer Staples

   14.8
 

Energy

   14.4
 

Information Technology

   14.4
 

Industrials

   10.2
 

Financials

    9.6
 

Consumer Discretionary

    4.3
 

Materials

    3.5
 

Health Care

    3.4
 

Short-Term Investments

    7.9
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

    0.4

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Bolloré SE (France)

   7.1

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)

   6.4

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

   6.3

Microsoft Corp.

   3.7

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

   3.4

PepsiCo, Inc.

   2.9

The Charles Schwab Corp.

   2.8

News Corp., Class A

   2.6

U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares

   2.5

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

   2.4

Top Ten as a Group

    40.1 
  

 

 

 

NEW POSITIONS 1

 

 Security Name    Current
Shares Held
 

Kenvue, Inc.2

     3,300,000  

1 For the six months ended December 31, 2023

2 Acquired in a corporate action.

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

7


 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     

Shares

    Value  

Common Stocks - 84.4%

    

Communication Services - 17.1%

 

 

Alphabet, Inc., Class C*

     2,070,000        $291,725,100  

Bolloré SE (France)

     96,200,000       602,001,759  

Comcast Corp., Class A

     1,100,000       48,235,000  

Fox Corp., Class A

     2,400,000       71,208,000  

Fox Corp., Class B

     3,100,000       85,715,000  

News Corp., Class A

     8,900,000       218,495,000  

The Walt Disney Co.

     900,000       81,261,000  

Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*

     4,400,000       50,072,000  

Total Communication Services

       1,448,712,859  

Consumer Discretionary - 3.3%

 

 

Booking Holdings, Inc.*

     35,000       124,152,700  

eBay, Inc.

     1,250,000       54,525,000  

Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     550,000       100,767,169  

Total Consumer Discretionary

       279,444,869  

Consumer Staples - 14.8%

 

 

Associated British Foods PLC (United Kingdom)

     6,800,000       204,945,337  

The Coca-Cola Co.

     1,385,000       81,618,050  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

     1,100,000       87,681,000  

Ingredion, Inc.

     1,150,000       124,809,500  

Kenvue, Inc.

     3,300,000       71,049,000  

KT&G Corp. (South Korea)

     1,452,810       97,873,157  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     1,450,000       246,268,000  

The Procter & Gamble Co.

     1,350,000       197,829,000  

Sysco Corp.

     920,000       67,279,600  

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

     1,460,000       78,475,000  

Total Consumer Staples

       1,257,827,644  

Energy - 14.4%

 

 

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)1

     8,310,000       544,471,200  

ConocoPhillips

     890,000       103,302,300  

Devon Energy Corp.

     1,610,000       72,933,000  

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

     800,000       124,064,000  

EOG Resources, Inc.

     955,000       115,507,250  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

     725,000       163,038,000  

Weatherford International PLC*

     1,000,000       97,830,000  

Total Energy

       1,221,145,750  

Financials - 9.6%

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

     2,300,000       119,715,000  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*

     340,000       121,264,400  

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     3,400,000       233,920,000  

First Hawaiian, Inc.

     1,530,000       34,975,800  

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     130,000      

 

50,150,100

 

 

 

     

Shares

    Value  

State Street Corp.

     1,900,000       $147,174,000  

Wells Fargo & Co.

     2,110,000        103,854,200  

Total Financials

       811,053,500  

Health Care - 3.4%

 

 

Elevance Health, Inc.

     300,000       141,468,000  

Embecta Corp.

     1,600,000       30,288,000  

Johnson & Johnson

     767,682       120,326,477  

Total Health Care

       292,082,477  

Industrials - 10.2%

 

 

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.1

     735,000       72,265,200  

Brenntag SE (Germany)

     2,200,000       202,196,489  

GrafTech International, Ltd.

     7,000,000       15,330,000  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

     355,000       74,770,100  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     195,000       88,381,800  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     225,000       105,331,500  

Samsung C&T Corp. (South Korea)

     700,000       70,215,875  

U-Haul Holding Co.*,1

     330,000       23,694,000  

U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares

     2,970,000       209,206,800  

Total Industrials

       861,391,764  

Information Technology - 8.1%

 

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

     800,000       40,416,000  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

     2,750,000       207,707,500  

Corning, Inc.

     1,100,000       33,495,000  

Microsoft Corp.

     840,000       315,873,600  

Oracle Corp.

     700,000       73,801,000  

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     200,000       12,139,368  

Total Information Technology

       683,432,468  

Materials - 3.5%

 

 

Olin Corp.

     2,205,000       118,959,750  

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

     650,000       181,792,000  

Total Materials

       300,751,750  

Total Common Stocks

 

 

(Cost $4,476,932,916)

       7,155,843,081  

Preferred Stocks - 7.3%

    

Consumer Discretionary - 1.0%

 

 

Hyundai Motor Co., 1.360% (South Korea)

     400,000       35,417,025  

Hyundai Motor Co., 1.370% (South Korea)

     523,882       46,077,169  

Total Consumer Discretionary

       81,494,194  

Information Technology - 6.3%

 

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

     11,050,000       532,460,913  

Total Preferred Stocks

 

 

(Cost $304,566,646)

      

 

613,955,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8


 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

     

Principal

Amount

    Value  

Short-Term Investments - 7.9%

 

 

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 0.0%#,2

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,131,122 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% -7.500%, 07/20/37 - 12/20/53, totaling $1,153,060)

     $1,130,451        $1,130,451  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $1,131,127 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 -01/01/54, totaling $1,153,199)

     1,130,451       1,130,451  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.350% total to be received $1,131,123 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% -6.500%, 09/01/46 - 06/01/62, totaling $1,153,060)

     1,130,451       1,130,451  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,131,122 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $1,153,060)

     1,130,451       1,130,451  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

       4,521,804  

U.S. Government Obligations - 3.7%

 

 

U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.945%, 10/03/243

     80,000,000      

 

77,122,430

 

 

 

     

Principal

Amount

    Value  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.050%, 01/25/243

     $80,000,000        $79,730,504  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.251%, 06/13/243

     82,000,000       80,124,630  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.299%, 03/21/243

     80,000,000       79,088,559  

Total U.S. Government Obligations

       316,066,123  

Repurchase Agreements - 2.1%

 

 

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $1,969,126 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 3.875%, 08/15/33, totaling $2,007,380)

     1,968,000       1,968,000  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $174,226,639 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $177,609,576)

     174,127,000       174,127,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

       176,095,000  
     Shares        

Other Investment Companies - 2.1%

 

 

JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, IM Shares, 5.30%4

     174,622,794       174,622,794  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

 

(Cost $671,225,904)

       671,305,721  

Total Investments - 99.6%

 

 

(Cost $5,452,725,466)

       8,441,103,909  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 0.4%

 

    32,928,746  

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

    $8,474,032,655  
 
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

# 

Less than 0.05%.

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $21,398,538 or 0.3% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

2 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

3 

Represents yield to maturity at December 31, 2023.

 

4 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Communication Services

     $846,711,100        $602,001,759               $1,448,712,859  

Consumer Staples

     955,009,150        302,818,494               1,257,827,644  

Energy

     1,221,145,750                      1,221,145,750  

Industrials

     588,979,400        272,412,364               861,391,764  

Financials

     811,053,500                      811,053,500  

Information Technology

     671,293,100        12,139,368               683,432,468  

Materials

     300,751,750                      300,751,750  

Health Care

     292,082,477                      292,082,477  

Consumer Discretionary

     178,677,700        100,767,169               279,444,869  

Preferred Stocks

            613,955,107               613,955,107  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            4,521,804               4,521,804  

U.S. Government Obligations

            316,066,123               316,066,123  

Repurchase Agreements

            176,095,000               176,095,000  

Other Investment Companies

     174,622,794                      174,622,794  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     $6,040,326,721        $2,400,777,188               $8,441,103,909  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

All preferred stocks held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of preferred stocks by major industry classification, please refer to Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Canada

     7.0

 France

     7.8

 Germany

     2.6

 South Korea

    11.5

 United Kingdom

     2.6

 United States

   68.5
  

 

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10


    

 

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

For the 12 months ending December 31, 2023, the AMG Yacktman Focused Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 16.45%, outperforming the 11.46% return of the Russell 1000® Value Index and lagging the 26.29% return of the S&P 500® Index.

 

In many ways, 2023 was the mirror image of 2022. Although the Fund’s Class N shares lagged relative to the S&P 500® Index in 2023, it outperformed the S&P 500® Index on a two-year basis, returning a cumulative 7.06% versus the 3.42% cumulative return of the S&P 500® Index. We believe that our commitment to mitigating capital loss in a down market led to the outperformance over the two years despite the strong finish for the Russell 1000® Value Index and the broader S&P 500® Index in 2023.

 

Contributors and Detractors

 

Contributors to the year’s performance include Microsoft and Alphabet. These technology companies benefited from the enthusiasm in the market for artificial intelligence (“AI”) and represent two of the “Magnificent Seven”1 that drove the broad market performance for the year. Canadian Natural Resources, an oil sands producer in Canada, was also a leading contributor to performance, continuing its strong capital allocation discipline with growing dividends and share repurchases.

 

Detractors to performance for the year include Charles Schwab and Northrup Grumman. Both companies are still held in the Fund and we maintain our conviction in these names. We exited our position in U.S. Bancorp during the acute but short-lived banking crisis in March of 2023. Concerns about the leverage and underlying risk in the loan portfolios of many financial institutions remain.

 

High Conviction Names

 

There are two companies that we believe are poised for a substantial period of performance. They trade at large discounts to their fundamental value, and we

 

see the potential for that value to be unlocked and realized on the horizon. Samsung Electronics is one of them. Samsung’s memory chip business is emerging from a cyclical trough, plus memory chips play a critical role in supporting memory-hungry AI and machine learning applications. The foundry business is strategically important to the U.S. with its (largest ever in the U.S.) semiconductor production facility not far from our offices in Austin, Texas set to open later this year. Samsung will also participate in the regulatory and access unlocks that are underway.

 

On December 14, 2023, South Korea abolished the 30-year-old foreign registration requirement plus other measures aimed at encouraging greater foreign investor participation in the market. Hundreds of Korean companies are preparing to adopt dividend payment processes that better align with global standards. We anticipate further regulatory and governance changes in 2024 that should make South Korea a more accessible and investable market for foreign investors. Eventually, we expect the country to be re-rated by MSCI as a developed market.

 

Bolloré is another company that we firmly believe continues to set up well. It owns a large stake in Universal Music Group (“UMG”), traded on the Amsterdam stock exchange but headquartered in California. UMG performed very well in 2023 translating into additional value for Bolloré that was not reflected in the stock price. It also owns about 30% of Vivendi, a French media conglomerate, which is actively exploring opportunities to simplify its structure and unlock value. Last year, Bolloré signed an agreement for the sale of its European logistics business, which is expected to close later this year. (This follows the sale of its African logistics business

 

in 2022.) Once this occurs, Bolloré will effectively own two major media businesses plus a large pile of cash. Historically considered to be valued with a “conglomerate discount,” Bolloré will have simplified its structure significantly.

 

Conclusion

 

Passive fund assets now exceed active fund assets,2 while just ten years ago active fund assets were double passive fund assets. We maintain that most investors’ portfolios belong with active managers, especially those keen on managing risk. With numerous risks present in today’s world (geopolitical, interest rates above zero for consumers and companies alike, and expanding government balance sheets, to name a few), we believe that active fund management plays a vital role in protecting investors’ capital in challenging markets. While none of us know the source or timing of the next trigger that will impact the equity markets, at Yacktman, we constantly think about what could go wrong and when.

 

We are excited about the Fund’s current positioning, and we believe that the companies we own are resilient and well-positioned in the current market. We remain focused on generating strong risk-adjusted returns over time.

 

1 Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

 

2 Source: Morningstar (“It’s Official: Passive Funds Overtake Active Funds”), January 2024.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of Yacktman Asset Management LP as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

11


   

 

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 
 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG Yacktman Focused Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013 to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 1000® Value Index and the S&P 500® Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, the Russell 1000® Value Index and the S&P 500® Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Ten  

Average Annual Total Returns1

   Year     Years     Years  

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

 

Class N

     16.45 %       11.74 %       9.66

Class I

     16.67     11.94     9.86

Russell 1000® Value Index23

     11.46     10.91     8.40

S&P 500® Index24

     26.29     15.69     12.03

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

5  The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6  Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

7  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

8  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

9  The Fund is non-diversified and therefore a greater percentage of holdings may be focused in a small number of issuers or a single issuer, which can place the Fund at greater risk. Notwithstanding the Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which imposes its own diversification requirements that are less restrictive than the requirements applicable to “diversified” investment companies under the 1940 Act. The Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit its pursuit of its investment strategy and its investment strategy could limit its ability to so qualify.

 

10 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

 

 

12


    

 

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

11 To the extent the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in a relatively small number of securities or a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector, it generally will be subject to greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of the Fund would be more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector.

 

12 Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

13 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

14 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. Dollar investment when converted back to U.S. Dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar.

 

15 Convertible preferred stocks, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and pay regular dividends, and convertible debt securities, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and bear interest, are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. The lower the conversion premium, the more likely the price of the convertible security will follow the price of the underlying common stock. Conversely, higher premium convertible securities

 

   are more likely to exhibit the behavior of bonds because the likelihood of conversion is lower, which may cause their prices to fall as interest rates rise. There is the risk that the issuer of convertible preferred stock will not be able to make dividend payments or that the issuer of a convertible bond will not be able to make principal and/or interest payments.

 

16 The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

17 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

18 Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

19 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

20 The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly

 

   with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

 

21 There is no guarantee that hedging strategies will be successful. For example, changes in the value of a hedging transaction may not completely offset changes in the value of the assets and liabilities being hedged. Hedging transactions involve costs and may result in losses.

 

22 A short sale of a security involves the theoretical risk of unlimited loss because of potential unlimited increases in the market price of the security sold short. The Fund’s use of short sales, in certain circumstances, can result in significant losses.

 

23 The Russell 1000® Value Index is a market capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 1000® Value Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

24 The S&P 500® Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The S&P 500® Index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries. Unlike the Fund, the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

The Russell 1000® Value Index is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

 

The S&P 500® Index is proprietary data of Standard & Poor’s, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

13


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector    % of
Net Assets
 

Communication Services

       17.9
 

Information Technology

       17.7
 

Consumer Staples

       14.1
 

Energy

       13.6
 

Industrials

       12.1
 

Financials

       5.9
 

Consumer Discretionary

       5.6
 

Materials

       4.1
 

Health Care

       1.4
 

Short-Term Investments

       9.9
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

       (2.3 )

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of
Net Assets

 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

   10.7

 Bolloré SE (France)

    8.5

 Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)

    7.2

 Microsoft Corp.

    3.8

 U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares

    3.7

 Alphabet, Inc., Class C

    3.3

 KT&G Corp. (South Korea)

    2.9

 PepsiCo, Inc.

    2.5

 The Charles Schwab Corp.

    2.5

 Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

    2.4

 Top Ten as a Group

   47.5
  

 

 

 

NEW POSITIONS 1

 

 Security Name   

Current Shares or

Principal Held

 

Kenvue, Inc.2

          783,745
 

GrafTech Global Enterprises, Inc. 9.875%, 12/15/28

       $10,00,000
 

    

 

1 

For the six months ended December 31, 2023

 

2 

Acquired in a corporate action.

 

FULL SALES 1

 

 Security Name   

Net Shares, Contracts or

Principal Sold

 

 Booking Holdings, Inc.

     24,000     

 Microsoft Corp., 2.000%, 08/08/23

     $11,500,000     

 eBay, Inc. (Call)

     9,500     

 Warner Bros Discovery, Inc. (Call)

     19,000     

 Booking Holdings, Inc. (Call)

     240     
 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

14


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Common Stocks - 78.1%

    

Communication Services - 17.9%

 

 

Alphabet, Inc., Class C*

     860,000        $121,199,800   

Bolloré SE (France)

     50,300,000       314,768,071  

Fox Corp., Class B

     3,000,000       82,950,000  

News Corp., Class A

     3,685,000       90,466,750  

News Corp., Class B

     200,000       5,144,000  

The Walt Disney Co.

     300,000       27,087,000  

Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*

     1,900,000       21,622,000  

Total Communication Services

 

    663,237,621  

Consumer Discretionary - 3.0%

 

 

eBay, Inc.

     950,000       41,439,000  

Hyundai Home Shopping Network Corp. (South Korea)1

     600,000       20,002,911  

Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     260,000       47,635,389  

Total Consumer Discretionary

 

    109,077,300  

Consumer Staples - 13.5%

 

 

Associated British Foods PLC (United Kingdom)

     2,700,000       81,375,355  

The Coca-Cola Co.

     470,000       27,697,100  

Ingredion, Inc.

     540,000       58,606,200  

Kenvue, Inc.

     783,745       16,874,030  

KT&G Corp. (South Korea)

     1,600,000       107,789,078  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     540,000       91,713,600  

The Procter & Gamble Co.

     540,000       79,131,600  

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

     700,000       37,625,000  

Total Consumer Staples

 

    500,811,963  

Energy - 13.6%

 

 

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)2

     4,100,000           268,632,000  

ConocoPhillips

     400,000       46,428,000  

Devon Energy Corp.

     720,000       32,616,000  

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

     326,000       50,556,080  

EOG Resources, Inc.

     371,000       44,872,450  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

     123,000       27,660,240  

Weatherford International PLC*

     350,000       34,240,500  

Total Energy

 

    505,005,270  

Financials - 5.9%

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

     650,000       33,832,500  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*

     100,000       35,666,000  

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     1,325,000       91,160,000  

State Street Corp.

     750,000       58,095,000  

Total Financials

 

    218,753,500  

Health Care - 1.4%

 

 

Johnson & Johnson

     322,427       50,537,208  
     

  Shares  

    Value  

Industrials - 11.7%

 

 

Brenntag SE (Germany)

     967,236        $88,896,237   

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

     170,000       35,805,400  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     95,000       43,057,800  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     110,000       51,495,400  

Samsung C&T Corp. (South Korea)

     460,000       46,141,861  

U-Haul Holding Co.*,2

     59,000       4,236,200  

U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares

     1,950,000       137,358,000  

Yuasa Trading Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     800,000       26,836,549  

Total Industrials

       433,827,447  

Information Technology - 7.0%

 

 

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A

     1,200,000       90,636,000  

Microsoft Corp.

     375,000       141,015,000  

Oracle Corp.

     250,000       26,357,500  

Total Information Technology

 

    258,008,500  

Materials - 4.1%

 

 

Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     1,868,100       15,030,989  

Olin Corp.

     995,000       53,680,250  

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

     300,000       83,904,000  

Total Materials

       152,615,239  

Total Common Stocks

 

 

(Cost $1,959,144,473)

         2,891,874,048  
    

Principal

Amount

       

Corporate Bonds and Notes - 0.4%

 

 

Industrials - 0.4%

 

 

GrafTech Finance, Inc. 4.625%, 12/15/283

     $10,600,000       7,026,846  

GrafTech Global Enterprises, Inc. 9.875%, 12/15/282,3

     10,000,000       7,712,500  

Total Industrials

       14,739,346  

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes

 

 

(Cost $15,610,454)

       14,739,346  
     Shares        

Preferred Stocks - 13.9%

 

 

Consumer Discretionary - 2.6%

 

 

Hyundai Motor Co., 1.360% (South Korea)

     438,620       38,836,538  

Hyundai Motor Co., 1.370% (South Korea)

     661,380       58,170,577  

Total Consumer Discretionary

 

    97,007,115  

Consumer Staples - 0.6%

 

 

Amorepacific Corp., 1.980% (South Korea)

     250,000       7,088,413  

LG Household & Health Care Co., Ltd., 2.740% (South Korea)

     118,000       14,451,254  

Total Consumer Staples

 

    21,539,667  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

15


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Information Technology - 10.7%

 

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

     8,200,000        $395,129,365   

Total Preferred Stocks

 

 

(Cost $319,184,914)

       513,676,147  
    

Principal

Amount

       

Short-Term Investments - 9.9%

 

 

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 2.9%4

 

 

Bethesda Securities LLC, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $9,580,160 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% -5.881%, 10/01/27 - 01/01/57, totaling $9,765,828)

     $9,574,341       9,574,341  

Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $23,101,408 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 1.500% -7.613%, 08/01/25 - 09/20/73, totaling $23,549,124)

     23,087,376           23,087,376  

Citadel Securities LLC, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.480% total to be received $12,415,141 (collateralized by various U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 5.250%, 01/23/24 -11/15/53, totaling $12,663,444)

     12,407,586       12,407,586  

Mirae Asset Securities USA, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.500% total to be received $11,151,147 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 8.000%, 02/02/24 -04/20/71, totaling $11,374,172)

     11,144,337       11,144,337  

Mirae Asset Securities USA, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.540% total to be received $4,389,837 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 2.000% - 7.000%, 06/30/24 -09/15/65, totaling $4,477,633)

     4,387,136       4,387,136  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $12,267,850 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $12,505,787)

     12,260,575       12,260,575  
     

 Principal 

Amount

    Value  

Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.390% total to be received $13,882,022 (collateralized by various

    

U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 1.500% -6.838%, 10/25/30 - 03/20/71, totaling $14,151,187)

     $13,873,713        $13,873,713  

State of Wisconsin Investment Board, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $21,766,823 (collateralized by various

    

U.S. Treasuries, 0.125% - 3.625%, 04/15/25 -02/15/53, totaling $22,172,703)

     21,753,602       21,753,602  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

    108,488,666  

U.S. Government Obligations - 3.7%

 

 

U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.945%, 10/03/245

     35,000,000       33,741,063  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.050%, 01/25/245

     35,000,000       34,882,095  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.251%, 06/13/245

     36,000,000       35,176,667  

U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.299%, 03/21/245

     35,000,000       34,601,245  

Total U.S. Government Obligations

 

    138,401,070  

Repurchase Agreements - 2.0%

 

 

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $24,950,269 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 0.125%, 01/15/32, totaling $25,434,737)

     24,936,000       24,936,000  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $47,991,446 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $48,923,305)

     47,964,000       47,964,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

 

    72,900,000  
     Shares        

Other Investment Companies - 1.3%

 

 

JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, IM Shares, 5.30%6

     45,983,085       45,983,085  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

 

(Cost $365,737,833)

       365,772,821  

Total Investments - 102.3%

 

 

(Cost $2,659,677,674)

       3,786,062,362  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (2.3)%

 

    (85,729,770

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

    $3,700,332,592  
 
*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Affiliated issuer. See schedule of affiliated investments for details.

 

2 

Some of these securities, amounting to $125,117,590 or 3.4% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

3 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $14,739,346 or 0.4% of net assets.

 

4 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

5 

Represents yield to maturity at December 31, 2023.

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

16


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

 

6 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

The following schedule shows the value of affiliated investments at December 31, 2023.

 

 Affiliated

 Issuers

  

Number

of shares

   Purchases    Sales   

Net realized

gain (loss) for

the period

  

Net change in

appreciation

(depreciation)

 

Amount of

Dividends

   Value

 Hyundai Home Shopping Network Corp.

   600,000             $(5,654,527)   $1,303,559    $20,002,911 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21    Level 3      Total

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Communication Services

     $348,469,550        $314,768,071               $663,237,621  

Energy

     505,005,270                      505,005,270  

Consumer Staples

     311,647,530        189,164,433               500,811,963  

Industrials

     271,952,800        161,874,647               433,827,447  

Information Technology

     258,008,500                      258,008,500  

Financials

     218,753,500                      218,753,500  

Materials

     137,584,250        15,030,989               152,615,239  

Consumer Discretionary

     41,439,000        67,638,300               109,077,300  

Health Care

     50,537,208                      50,537,208  

Corporate Bonds and Notes

            14,739,346               14,739,346  

Preferred Stocks

            513,676,147               513,676,147  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            108,488,666               108,488,666  

U.S. Government Obligations

            138,401,070               138,401,070  

Repurchase Agreements

            72,900,000               72,900,000  

Other Investment Companies

     45,983,085                      45,983,085  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

   $ 2,189,380,693      $ 1,596,681,669             $ 3,786,062,362  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

   

All corporate bonds and notes and preferred stocks held in the Fund are level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of corporate bonds and notes and preferred stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

  1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the Fund and the amount of realized gain/loss and unrealized appreciation/depreciation on derivatives recognized in income were as follows:

 

     Realized Gain    Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation  
           

 Derivatives not accounted

 for as hedging instruments

  

Statement of Operations

Location

  

Realized

Gain

  

Statement of Operations

Location

  

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation/

Depreciation

 

 Equity contracts

   Net realized gain on written options    $7,628,769    Net change in unrealized appreciation/
depreciation on written options
     $77,729  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

17


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Canada

     7.9

 France

     9.2

 Germany

     2.6

 Japan

     1.2

 South Korea

    21.5

 United Kingdom

     2.4

 United States

    55.2
  

 

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18


    

 

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

For the 12 months ending December 31, 2023, the AMG Yacktman Global Fund (the “Fund”) Class I shares returned 16.46%, underperforming the 23.79% return of the MSCI World Index.

 

In many ways, 2023 was the mirror image of 2022. Although the Fund’s Class I shares lagged relative to the MSCI World Index in 2023, it outperformed the MSCI World Index over a two-year period, returning a cumulative 5.91% versus the 1.33% cumulative return of the MSCI World Index. We believe that our commitment to mitigating capital loss in a down market led to the outperformance over the previous two years.

 

Contributors and Detractors

 

Contributors to the year’s performance include Samsung Electronics and Canadian Natural Resources (“CNQ”). Samsung benefited somewhat from the enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (“AI”) that drove the broad market performance for the year. Samsung continues to be one of our largest holdings (see comments below). CNQ, an oil sands producer in Canada, continues its strong capital allocation discipline with growing dividends and share repurchases.

 

Detractors to performance for the year include Total Energy Services and Charles Schwab. Total Energy’s share price declined in Q4 during a volatile market for oilfield services and the company had to pause share repurchases while working on mergers and acquisitions. In January of 2024, Total Energy announced an accretive deal to gain market share in drilling rigs in Australia. Schwab traded down during the acute but short-lived banking crisis in March of 2023. Both companies are still held in the Fund, and we maintain our conviction in these names.

 

High Conviction Names

 

There are two companies that we believe are poised for a substantial period of performance. They trade at large discounts to their fundamental value, and we

 

see the potential for that value to be unlocked and realized on the horizon. Samsung is one of them. Samsung’s memory chip business is emerging from a cyclical trough, plus memory chips play a critical role in supporting memory-hungry AI and machine learning applications. The foundry business is strategically important to the U.S. with its (largest ever in the U.S.) semiconductor production facility not far from our offices in Austin, Texas set to open later this year. Samsung will also participate in the regulatory and access unlocks that are underway.

 

On December 14, 2023, South Korea abolished the 30-year-old foreign registration requirement plus other measures aimed at encouraging greater foreign investor participation in the market. Hundreds of Korean companies are preparing to adopt dividend payment processes that better align with global standards. We anticipate further regulatory and governance changes in 2024 that should make South Korea a more accessible and investable market for foreign investors. Eventually, we expect the country to be re-rated by MSCI as a developed market.

 

Bolloré is another company that we firmly believe continues to set up well. It owns a large stake in Universal Music Group (“UMG”), traded on the Amsterdam stock exchange but headquartered in California. UMG performed very well in 2023, translating into additional value for Bolloré that was not reflected in the stock price. It also owns about 30% of Vivendi, a French media conglomerate, which is actively exploring opportunities to simplify its structure and unlock value. Last year, Bolloré signed a purchase agreement for the sale of its European logistics business which is expected to close later

 

this year. (This follows the sale of its African logistics business in 2022.) Once this occurs, Bolloré will effectively own two major media businesses plus a large pile of cash. Historically considered to be valued with a “conglomerate discount,” Bolloré will have simplified its structure significantly.

 

Conclusion

 

Passive fund assets now exceed active fund assets,1 while just ten years ago active fund assets were double those of passive fund assets. We maintain the belief that most investors’ portfolios belong with active managers, especially those keen on managing risk. With numerous risks present in today’s world (geopolitical issues, interest rates above zero for consumers and companies alike, and expanding government balance sheets, to name a few), we believe that active fund management plays a vital role in protecting investors’ capital in challenging markets. While none of us know the source or timing of the next trigger that will impact the equity markets, at Yacktman, we constantly think about what could go wrong.

 

We are excited about the Fund’s current positioning, and we believe that the companies we own are resilient and well-positioned in the current market. We remain focused on generating strong risk-adjusted returns over time.

 

1 Source: Morningstar (“It’s Official: Passive Funds Overtake Active Funds”), January 2024.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of Yacktman Asset Management LP as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

19


   

 

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 
 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG Yacktman Global Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG Yacktman Global Fund’s Class I shares on January 30, 2017 (inception date), to a $10,000 investment made in the MSCI World Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG Yacktman Global Fund and the MSCI World Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Since     Inception  

Average Annual Total Returns1

   Year     Years     Inception     Date  

AMG Yacktman Global Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

 

Class N

     16.30 %       11.35 %       11.42 %       01/30/17  

Class I

     16.46     11.48     11.51     01/30/17  

MSCI World Index24

     23.79     12.80     10.48      01/30/17  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

5  The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6  Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

7  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

8  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

9  The Fund is non-diversified and therefore a greater percentage of holdings may be focused in a small number of issuers or a single issuer, which can place the Fund at greater risk. Notwithstanding the Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which imposes its own diversification requirements that are less restrictive than the requirements applicable to “diversified” investment companies under the 1940 Act. The Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit its pursuit of its investment strategy and its investment strategy could limit its ability to so qualify.

 

10 To the extent the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in a relatively small number of securities or a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector, it generally will be subject to

 

 

 

20


    

 

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

   greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of the Fund would be more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector.

 

11 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

12 Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

13 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

14 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. Dollar investment when converted back to U.S. Dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar.

 

15 To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a particular country, group of countries or geographic region, the Fund is particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting such countries or region, and the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund and may result in losses.

 

16 Convertible preferred stocks, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and pay

 

   regular dividends, and convertible debt securities, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and bear interest, are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. The lower the conversion premium, the more likely the price of the convertible security will follow the price of the underlying common stock. Conversely, higher premium convertible securities are more likely to exhibit the behavior of bonds because the likelihood of conversion is lower, which may cause their prices to fall as interest rates rise. There is the risk that the issuer of convertible preferred stock will not be able to make dividend payments or that the issuer of a convertible bond will not be able to make principal and/or interest payments.

 

17 The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

18 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

19 Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

20 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be

 

   unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

21 The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

 

22 There is no guarantee that hedging strategies will be successful. For example, changes in the value of a hedging transaction may not completely offset changes in the value of the assets and liabilities being hedged. Hedging transactions involve costs and may result in losses.

 

23 A short sale of a security involves the theoretical risk of unlimited loss because of potential unlimited increases in the market price of the security sold short. The Fund’s use of short sales, in certain circumstances, can result in significant losses.

 

24 The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI World Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is”. The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

21


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector    % of
Net Assets
 

Industrials

       24.2
 

Communication Services

       13.9
 

Energy

       13.8
 

Consumer Discretionary

       13.3
 

Information Technology

       12.5
 

Consumer Staples

       9.3
 

Materials

       3.3
 

Health Care

       2.3
 

Financials

       1.9
 

Short-Term Investments

       5.0
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

       0.5

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of
Net Assets

 Bolloré SE (France)

    9.1

 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

    8.1

 Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)

    7.6

 Samsung C&T Corp. (South Korea)

    4.5

 Cie de L’Odet SE (France)

    3.8

 HI-LEX Corp. (Japan)

    3.7

 Ocean Wilsons Holdings, Ltd. (Bermuda)

    3.2

 KT&G Corp. (South Korea)

    3.2

 Total Energy Services, Inc. (Canada)

    3.2

 LG Household & Health Care Co., Ltd., 2.740% (South Korea)

    3.0

 Top Ten as a Group

   49.4
  

 

 

 

NEW POSITIONS 1

 

 Security Name   

Current Shares

Held

 

Ajis Co., Ltd. (Japan)

   19,400
 

BML, Inc. (Japan)

   95,000
 

Kenvue, Inc. (United States) 2

   14,924

 

FULL SALES 1

 

 Security Name   

Net Shares

Sold

 

 Tohokushinsha Film Corp. (Japan)

     200,000   

 Weatherford International PLC (United States)

     20,000   
 

 

1 

For the six months ended December 31, 2023

 

2 

Acquired in a corporate action.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

22


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Common Stocks - 79.9%

    

Communication Services - 13.9%

 

 

Alphabet, Inc., Class C (United States)*

     7,000        $986,510   

Bolloré SE (France)

     2,750,000         17,208,990  

Fox Corp., Class B (United States)

     130,000       3,594,500  

News Corp., Class A (United States)

     130,000       3,191,500  

Reading International, Inc., Class A (United States)*

     320,000       611,200  

The Walt Disney Co. (United States)

     10,000       902,900  

Total Communication Services

 

    26,495,600  

Consumer Discretionary - 10.5%

 

 

Car Mate Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     52,500       320,958  

Continental AG (Germany)

     10,000       849,314  

Daewon San Up Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     160,000       724,825  

Dong Ah Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     200,000       1,859,883  

HI-LEX Corp. (Japan)

     730,000       7,020,842  

Hyundai Home Shopping Network Corp. (South Korea)

     120,000       4,000,582  

Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     25,000       4,580,326  

Rinnai Corp. (Japan)

     24,000       555,308  

Total Consumer Discretionary

 

    19,912,038  

Consumer Staples - 5.9%

 

 

Associated British Foods PLC (United Kingdom)

     80,000       2,411,122  

Kenvue, Inc. (United States)

     14,924       321,314  

KT&G Corp. (South Korea)

     90,000       6,063,136  

Naked Wines PLC (United Kingdom)*

     1,000,000       701,057  

PepsiCo, Inc. (United States)

     5,000       849,200  

The Procter & Gamble Co. (United States)

     6,000       879,240  

Total Consumer Staples

 

    11,225,069  

Energy - 13.8%

 

 

Amplify Energy Corp. (United States)*

     115,000       681,950  

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (Canada)

     220,000       14,414,400  

Total Energy Services, Inc. (Canada)

     1,050,000       5,990,717  

Unit Corp. (United States)

     120,000       5,181,600  

Total Energy

 

      26,268,667  

Financials - 1.9%

 

 

The Charles Schwab Corp. (United States)

     30,000       2,064,000  

State Street Corp. (United States)

     20,000       1,549,200  

Total Financials

 

    3,613,200  

Health Care - 2.3%

 

 

BML, Inc. (Japan)

     95,000       2,018,121  

Johnson & Johnson (United States)

     6,142       962,697  

Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     9,400       205,557  
     

  Shares  

     Value  

Medipal Holdings Corp. (Japan)

     70,000        $1,133,188  

Total Health Care

 

     4,319,563  

Industrials - 23.9%

 

  

Ajis Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     19,400        314,803  

Brenntag SE (Germany)

     25,000        2,297,687  

CB Industrial Product Holding Bhd (Malaysia)

     10,500,000        3,062,024  

Cie de L’Odet SE (France)

     4,500        7,231,792  

Komelon Corp. (South Korea)

     120,000        849,492  

Ocean Wilsons Holdings, Ltd. (Bermuda)

     400,000        6,118,320  

Parker Corp. (Japan)

     172,500        938,413  

Rix Corp. (Japan)

     20,000        480,802  

Sam Yung Trading Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     180,000        1,731,656  

Samsung C&T Corp. (South Korea)

     86,000        8,626,522  

Sekisui Jushi Corp. (Japan)

     140,000        2,462,400  

Shinwa Co., Ltd./Nagoya (Japan)

     100,000        1,672,606  

U-Haul Holding Co. (United States)*

     6,000        430,800  

U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares (United States)

     70,000        4,930,800  

Yuasa Trading Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     130,000        4,360,939  

Total Industrials

 

     45,509,056  

Information Technology - 4.4%

 

  

CAC Holdings Corp. (Japan)

     240,000        2,957,518  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A (United States)

     25,000        1,888,250  

Hochiki Corp. (Japan)

     160,000        1,979,794  

INFOvine Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     20,000        329,703  

Microsoft Corp. (United States)

     3,000        1,128,120  

Total Information Technology

 

     8,283,385  

Materials - 3.3%

 

  

KISCO Holdings Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     70,000        1,291,282  

Kohsoku Corp. (Japan)

     90,000        1,333,573  

Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     250,000        2,011,534  

The Pack Corp. (Japan)

     70,000        1,677,267  

Total Materials

        6,313,656  

Total Common Stocks

 

  

(Cost $126,186,551)

         151,940,234  

Preferred Stocks - 14.6%

 

  

Consumer Discretionary - 2.8%

 

  

Hyundai Motor Co., 1.370% (South Korea)

     60,000        5,277,200  

Consumer Staples - 3.4%

 

  

Amorepacific Corp., 1.980% (South Korea)

     25,000        708,841  

LG Household & Health Care Co., Ltd., 2.740% (South Korea)

     47,000        5,756,008  

Total Consumer Staples

 

     6,464,849  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

23


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Industrials - 0.3%

 

 

Sebang Co., Ltd., 4.360% (South Korea)

     106,126        $579,289  

Information Technology - 8.1%

 

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

     320,000         15,419,683   

Total Preferred Stocks

 

 

(Cost $26,994,734)

       27,741,021  

Short-Term Investments - 5.0%

 

 

Other Investment Companies - 5.0%

 

 

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%1

     9,439,643       9,439,643  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

 

(Cost $9,439,643)

       9,439,643  
     

      

     Value  

Total Investments - 99.5%

 

  

(Cost $162,620,928)

        $189,120,898   

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 0.5%

 

     945,089  

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

      $190,065,987  
 
*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21    Level 3      Total

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Industrials

     $16,588,403        $28,920,653               $45,509,056  

Communication Services

     9,286,610        17,208,990               26,495,600  

Energy

     26,268,667                      26,268,667  

Consumer Discretionary

     320,958        19,591,080               19,912,038  

Consumer Staples

     2,750,811        8,474,258               11,225,069  

Information Technology

     3,016,370        5,267,015               8,283,385  

Materials

            6,313,656               6,313,656  

Health Care

     962,697        3,356,866               4,319,563  

Financials

     3,613,200                      3,613,200  

Preferred Stocks

           

Information Technology

            15,419,683               15,419,683  

Consumer Staples

            6,464,849               6,464,849  

Consumer Discretionary

            5,277,200               5,277,200  

Industrials

     579,289                      579,289  

Short-Term Investments

           

Other Investment Companies

     9,439,643                      9,439,643  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

   $ 72,826,648      $ 116,294,250             $ 189,120,898  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

24


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Bermuda

     3.4

 Canada

    11.4

 France

    13.6

 Germany

     1.7

 Japan

    17.5

 Malaysia

     1.7

 South Korea

    32.2

 United Kingdom

     1.7

 United States

    16.8
  

 

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

25


    

 

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

For the twelve months ending December 31, 2023, the AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) Class I shares returned 3.24%, behind the 21.46% increase of the MSCI ACWI All Cap Index.

 

After the Fund declined less than the market in a turbulent 2022, performance lagged the rally in 2023. This past year was almost a complete reversal of 2022. Strong enthusiasm for the latest “hit” product in artificial intelligence (AI) led to outsized performance in large tech stocks out of the gate. The top seven stocks now represent almost 15% of the Fund’s “broadly diversified” benchmark (which encompasses more than 15,000 securities). These mega-cap companies drove a significant amount of the market’s performance in 2023. Their concentration and outsized influence are even higher in domestic indexes.

 

Index performance looked much different at the end of October—still positive for the year, but sentiment and performance were struggling. However, a few hints from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) about potential (key word: potential) rate cuts in 2024 caused the market to shoot up in the last eight weeks of the year. It remains to be seen whether market hopes jumped ahead of reality. Unfortunately, the optimistic valuations for many stocks leave little room for disappointment of any kind, Fed-induced or otherwise.

 

Portfolio Review

 

Our Fund did not participate in the enthusiasm for AI. In fact, we tend to avoid whatever the major buzzword may be in any given year. The “next big thing” makes for lively discussion at parties, but returns from today’s party topics tend to disappoint. While performance was positive, it was not a great year. Much of the disappointment stemmed from a steep decline in one of the Fund’s top holdings. Our stance on concentration hasn’t changed—we believe it remains a key element of outperformance over long periods—but a differentiated portfolio can cut both ways and it impacted performance this year. We ended the year with 45 positions, with the top ten representing 44.2% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

For the first time in many years, the Fund’s weighting in domestic securities has increased. Within the top ten, four positions are U.S. companies. After years of U.S. small-caps underperforming their large-cap growth counterparts (which have dominated investor capital and attention), the widening spread has created a few interesting opportunities. However, our conviction remains that the best

 

opportunities are outside the U.S., and the Fund remains overwhelmingly positioned in small international value stocks. Broadly, valuation differentials in that area are as extreme as we’ve seen in years, but stock picking is still crucial.

 

Take the Fund’s exposure to energy—after a strong two years, the energy sector was down almost -5% in 2023 (only utilities were worse). Oil & gas equities faced a weak macro environment and extreme price volatility in the underlying commodity. Yet, the largest contributor to Fund performance was an upstream oil & gas stock, Unit Corp., with a total return of more than 40% during the year. Across the Fund’s energy sector holdings, the median stock was positive on the year. This demonstrates again that our willingness to search far and wide to find value can lead to differentiated returns. The goal is to translate that success to the rest of the Fund.

 

Drive (or Invest?) to Survive

 

In our last annual letter, we likened value investing to “steady treadmill work.” Fund performance this year was rather pedestrian (barely a walking pace?), but more importantly we kept moving. Meanwhile, the market feels like it’s ramped up its treadmill straight to a 12-mph sprint, but without any warm-up or conditioning to hold that pace safely. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to demonstrate treadmill mishaps at that speed.

 

We’ll extend our analogy to an even more perilous activity than walking or running: auto racing. We recently watched the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. It is an entertaining series, and we couldn’t help but think about its application to investing. Like the large-cap growth stocks today, the top F1 teams seem to keep on winning—they have significant advantages in technology, drivers, and capital (although budget rules have changed to help level the playing field). These are huge advantages, but it’s very hard to consistently win. Competition is brutal and constantly adapting. While we can appreciate the excellence of top stocks, just like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen in F1, betting on them to win every race has minimal upside.

 

However, while the performance of the top teams is impressive, much of the series focuses on the “midfield,” the pack of cars outside of the top few teams. For these teams, the glory of a podium finish is a rare occurrence. Considering their budget and skill level, scoring even a point or two is a significant achievement. By comparison, a tenth-place finish for Mercedes-AMG or Red Bull Racing would be a massive disappointment Yet, that is a solid finish for the other teams. Expectations are different.

 

Especially for those midfield contenders, getting two drivers to the finish line itself is often an achievement. Cars in the middle of the pack are constantly jostling for position in the crowd, which means more collisions. An essential element of value investing is outperforming the market’s modest expectations. Sometimes that means just avoiding the big crashes. The goal is not necessarily to spray champagne on the podium after every race—it’s winning by not losing. An absolute prerequisite to scoring points is finishing the race. Just like investing.

 

Contributors / Detractors

 

The three most significant contributors were Unit, Legacy Housing, and Delfi. This lineup shows the range of investment ideas in the Fund: oil & gas, manufactured homes, and chocolate. Unit was added to the Fund in early 2023 and made an immediate impact. After emerging from a 2020 bankruptcy with a much better balance sheet, Unit traded on the over-the-counter exchange, out of sight for most investors. The company was also a grab-bag of assets across midstream gathering systems, land drilling services, and upstream oil & gas production. Unit benefited from a strong upswing in its rig business in 2023, divested its midstream segment, and pivoted toward a significant capital return program. Unit capped the year by paying $22.50 per share in distributions in December, or more than 45% of the Fund’s initial purchase price. Not a bad yield! Unit exemplifies our approach—finding truly off-the-radar securities where most funds cannot invest.

 

We mentioned both Legacy and Delfi as top contributors in our semi-annual letter for the period ended June 30, 2023. Much of their contribution occurred in the first half of the year as both shares re-rated from significantly lower valuations. As a manufactured housing builder, Legacy’s more reasonably priced product stood out against the sky-high prices and affordability challenges in the traditional housing market. Legacy’s loan book remains a key competitive advantage and has helped the company grow its equity at double-digit rates for years. Delfi’s strong run in the first half of 2023 reversed a bit as the chocolate producer’s shares seemed to be under pressure due to rapidly rising cocoa prices. It may take some time for Delfi to pass along those costs to consumers, but we are

 

 

26


    

 

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

confident that they will do so in time. In our opinion, Delfi remains a crown jewel asset if and when the family shareholders decide to sell.

 

The top three detractors were Omni Bridgeway, Texhong International Group, and Naked Wines. As the Fund’s largest position entering the year (and for much of the Fund’s history), Omni’s share price performance in 2023 was disappointing. Given its weighting, it was by far the largest detractor. We believe the business is taking the necessary steps to demonstrate the inherent value in its case portfolio. The case-level returns are there (as evidence, all of the marque limited partners (LPs) in Omni’s recent funds have re-committed to hundreds of millions of new investment), but this has not yet shown up in shareholder returns. It will take a few quarters of steady case performance translating to consistent profits to restore market confidence in Omni’s shares. We like the non-correlated nature of this asset class but acknowledge that the next 12–18 months are an important testing point for Omni’s business model.

 

Texhong faced a challenging year as the yarn industry lapped the record surge in demand through the pandemic. Texhong is one of the largest players in the industry with significant benefits from economies of scale—if they are struggling to this degree, we believe the rest of the players are in dire straits. Bear markets are when top companies can extend their leadership position. Management has

 

recently sold some non-core, non-income producing assets to help delever the balance sheet. Sentiment toward anything Hong Kong/China-related is also at an all-time low. Given geopolitical challenges, this is the Fund’s only direct exposure to the region, and we are comforted that a large part of Texhong’s business is based outside of China (namely in Vietnam).

 

Naked Wines has also suffered from post-pandemic headwinds. However, this was compounded by operational missteps and over-optimistic growth projections. In 2023, the company faced a shrinking top line and subscriber base, too much inventory, and tight financial covenants on its credit facility—a bad combination. The share price declined dramatically to below the net current assets on its balance sheet. The market was signaling the company was worth more dead than alive despite a subscriber base of over 600,000 customers (a valuable asset). The CEO resigned in response to these missteps. The original founder returned and immediately instituted self-help measures to right size the business, including much-needed cost reductions. The stock is still pricing in little upside potential, with the downside protected by its current assets. We expect material cash generation over the next 18 months.

 

Conclusion:

 

Investors have been conditioned for the past decade (or more) that every market pullback should be bought. First, the rationale was low interest rates.

 

Then, because the Fed always rescued the market. Ultimately, we think it boils down to a sentiment that “markets always go up.” However, at some point, valuations exert an inexorable pull-on stock prices—even if business performance is decent. Ask an emerging market investor. The Hong Kong stock market is now at prices first seen in 1997. South Korean investors recently went through a 30+ year period where returns were flat in U.S. Dollar terms. Similar decade-plus stretches of low-to-no returns have happened in the U.S. market as well (yes, it’s true). When the market is going 200 mph, the margin between a podium finish and disaster is razor thin. Winning the race means avoiding a DNF (did not finish). Long-term success in investing requires a steady, disciplined approach—even though the all-out pace of an F1 driver can seem more exciting. Our goal remains to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns over a full market cycle. We appreciate the Fund’s shareholders who entrust us with their capital to pursue this goal.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of Yacktman Asset Management LP as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

27


   

 

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 
 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund’s Class Z shares on June 30, 2014 (inception date), to a $10,000 investment made in the MSCI ACWI All Cap Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund and the MSCI ACWI All Cap Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Since     Inception  

Average Annual Total Returns1

   Year     Years     Inception     Date  

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

 

Class I

     3.24     6.60     7.15     06/30/15  

Class Z

     3.44     6.71     5.75     06/30/14  

MSCI ACWI All Cap Index26

     21.46     11.46     7.48      06/30/14  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

5  The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6  The stocks of microcapitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

7  Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

8  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

10 The prospect of a positive or negative performance adjustment may create an incentive for the Fund’s portfolio manager to take greater risks with the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, because performance adjustments are based upon past performance, a shareholder may pay a higher or lower management fee for performance that occurred prior to the shareholder’s investment in the Fund.

 

11 The Fund is non-diversified and therefore a greater percentage of holdings may be focused in a small number of issuers or a single issuer, which can place the Fund at greater risk. Notwithstanding the Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded favorable tax treatment under the Internal

 

 

 

28


    

 

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

   Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which imposes its own diversification requirements that are less restrictive than the requirements applicable to “diversified” investment companies under the 1940 Act. The Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit its pursuit of its investment strategy and its investment strategy could limit its ability to so qualify.

 

12 To the extent the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in a relatively small number of securities or a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector, it generally will be subject to greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of the Fund would be more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector.

 

13 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

14 Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

15 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

16 Changes in the general political and social environment of a country can have substantial effects on the value of investments exposed to that country.

 

17 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. Dollar investment when converted back to U.S. Dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the

 

   risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar.

 

18 Convertible preferred stocks, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and pay regular dividends, and convertible debt securities, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and bear interest, are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. The lower the conversion premium, the more likely the price of the convertible security will follow the price of the underlying common stock. Conversely, higher premium convertible securities are more likely to exhibit the behavior of bonds because the likelihood of conversion is lower, which may cause their prices to fall as interest rates rise. There is the risk that the issuer of convertible preferred stock will not be able to make dividend payments or that the issuer of a convertible bond will not be able to make principal and/or interest payments.

 

19 The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

20 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

21 Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

22 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be

 

   unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

23 The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

 

24 There is no guarantee that hedging strategies will be successful. For example, changes in the value of a hedging transaction may not completely offset changes in the value of the assets and liabilities being hedged. Hedging transactions involve costs and may result in losses.

 

25 A short sale of a security involves the theoretical risk of unlimited loss because of potential unlimited increases in the market price of the security sold short. The Fund’s use of short sales, in certain circumstances, can result in significant losses.

 

26 The MSCI ACWI All Cap Index captures large-, mid-, small- and micro-capitalization representation across certain Developed Markets (DM) and large-, mid- and small-capitalization representation across certain Emerging Markets (EM). The Index is comprehensive, covering a significant percentage of the global equity investment opportunity set. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI ACWI All Cap Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is”. The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

29


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector    % of
Net Assets
 

Industrials

       23.9
 

Energy

       20.3
 

Consumer Discretionary

       15.7
 

Materials

       10.8
 

Consumer Staples

       9.8
 

Financials

       7.4
 

Information Technology

       2.4
 

Utilities

       0.6
 

Communication Services

       0.3
 

Short-Term Investments

       11.9
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

       (3.1 )

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of
Net Assets

 Omni Bridgeway, Ltd. (Australia)

    5.5

 Total Energy Services, Inc. (Canada)

    5.3

 Legacy Housing Corp. (United States)

    5.2

 U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares (United States)

    4.9

 Brickability Group PLC (United Kingdom)

    4.4

 Unit Corp. (United States)

    4.2

 Italian Wine Brands S.P.A (Italy)

    3.8

 Cie de L’Odet SE (France)

    3.7

 Macfarlane Group PLC (United Kingdom)

    3.7

 America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (United States)

    3.5

 Top Ten as a Group

   44.2
  

 

 

 

NEW POSITIONS 1

 

 Security Name   

Current Shares

Held

 

A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (United States)

        45,000
 

Italian Design Brands S.P.A. (Italy)

       115,000
 

    

FULL SALES 1

 

 Security Name   

Net Shares

Sold

 

 Ifis Japan, Ltd. (Japan)

     92,000    
 

 

1 

For the six months ended December 31, 2023

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

30


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Common Stocks - 89.6%

    

Communication Services - 0.3%

 

 

Reading International, Inc., Class A (United States)*

     120,000        $229,200   

Consumer Discretionary - 15.7%

 

 

America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (United States)*

     34,000       2,576,180  

B&S Group, S.A.R.L. (Luxembourg)1

     185,000       754,633  

Dong Ah Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     70,000       650,959  

Italian Design Brands S.P.A. (Italy)*,2

     115,000       1,292,394  

Legacy Housing Corp. (United States)*

     150,000       3,783,000  

Texhong International Group, Ltd. (Hong Kong)*

     4,312,000       2,418,718  

Total Consumer Discretionary

 

      11,475,884  

Consumer Staples - 9.8%

 

 

Delfi, Ltd. (Singapore)

     3,000,000       2,544,957  

Italian Wine Brands S.P.A (Italy)

     130,000       2,735,569  

Naked Wines PLC (United Kingdom)*

     1,350,000       946,428  

NeoPharm Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     47,500       952,191  

Total Consumer Staples

 

    7,179,145  

Energy - 20.3%

 

 

Amplify Energy Corp. (United States)*

     120,000       711,600  

Arrow Exploration Corp. (Canada)*

     7,850,000       1,801,080  

Hargreaves Services PLC (United Kingdom)

     329,211       1,741,460  

Hemisphere Energy Corp. (Canada)

     950,000       924,871  

Horizon Oil, Ltd. (Australia)

     15,000,000       1,584,985  

Noram Drilling A.S. (Norway)

     195,000       785,859  

Pardee Resources Co., Inc. (United States)

     1,500       382,500  

Total Energy Services, Inc. (Canada)

     675,800       3,855,740  

Unit Corp. (United States)

     71,000       3,065,780  

Total Energy

 

    14,853,875  

Financials - 7.4%

 

 

A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (United States)2

     45,000       1,361,250  

Omni Bridgeway, Ltd. (Australia)*

     4,350,000       4,018,089  

Total Financials

 

    5,379,339  

Industrials - 23.9%

 

 

Boustead Singapore, Ltd. (Singapore)

     600,000       390,750  

CB Industrial Product Holding Bhd (Malaysia)

     1,500,000       437,432  

Cie de L’Odet SE (France)

     1,700       2,732,010  

Fila S.P.A. (Italy)

     185,000       1,793,146  

Komelon Corp. (South Korea)

     60,000       424,746  

Macfarlane Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     1,825,175       2,721,957  

Maezawa Industries, Inc. (Japan)

     115,000       798,816  

Mitani Corp. (Japan)

     30,000       414,402  

Ocean Wilsons Holdings, Ltd. (Bermuda)

     107,327       1,641,652  
     

  Shares  

    Value  

Sam Yung Trading Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     85,000        $817,726   

Sekisui Jushi Corp. (Japan)

     45,000       791,486  

Sinko Industries, Ltd. (Japan)

     50,000       945,140  

U-Haul Holding Co., Non-Voting Shares (United States)

     51,000       3,592,440  

Total Industrials

 

    17,501,703  

Information Technology - 0.8%

 

 

Bixolon Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

     130,000       572,828  

Materials - 10.8%

 

 

Amerigo Resources, Ltd. (Canada)

     975,000       1,022,791  

Brickability Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     4,000,000       3,212,444  

KISCO Holdings Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     55,000       1,014,579  

Master Drilling Group, Ltd. (South Africa)

     641,581       476,999  

Okamoto Industries, Inc. (Japan)

     39,000       1,373,342  

Pumtech Korea Co., Ltd. (South Korea)*

     22,000       407,844  

SK Kaken Co., Ltd. (Japan)

     7,000       370,355  

Total Materials

 

    7,878,354  

Utilities - 0.6%

 

 

Maxim Power Corp. (Canada)*

     140,000       473,341  

Total Common Stocks

 

 

(Cost $61,454,756)

         65,543,669  

Preferred Stock - 1.6%

 

 

Information Technology - 1.6%

 

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 2.410% (South Korea)

     24,000       1,156,476  

Total Preferred Stock

 

 

(Cost $398,488)

       1,156,476  
    

Principal

Amount

       

Short-Term Investments - 11.9%

 

 

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 2.0%3

 

 

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $475,774 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 -01/01/54, totaling $485,058)

     $475,490       475,490  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     1,000,000       1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

    1,475,490  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

31


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

     

  Shares  

    Value  

Other Investment Companies - 9.9%

 

 

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%4

     7,222,819         $7,222,819   

Total Short-Term Investments

 

 

(Cost $8,698,309)

       8,698,309  
                 

Value

 

Total Investments - 103.1%

 

  

(Cost $70,551,553)

        $75,398,454  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (3.1)%

 

     (2,268,374

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

      $73,130,080  
 
*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of this security amounted to $754,633 or 1.0% of net assets.

 

2 

Some of these securities, amounting to $1,379,835 or 1.9% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

3 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

4 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 21    Level 3      Total

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Industrials

     $11,004,353        $6,497,350               $17,501,703  

Energy

     12,483,031        2,370,844               14,853,875  

Consumer Discretionary

     10,824,925        650,959               11,475,884  

Materials

     1,499,790        6,378,564               7,878,354  

Consumer Staples

     946,428        6,232,717               7,179,145  

Financials

     1,361,250        4,018,089               5,379,339  

Information Technology

            572,828               572,828  

Utilities

     473,341                      473,341  

Communication Services

     229,200                      229,200  

Preferred Stock

            1,156,476               1,156,476  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            1,475,490               1,475,490  

Other Investment Companies

     7,222,819                      7,222,819  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

   $ 46,045,137      $ 29,353,317             $ 75,398,454  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

   

Preferred stock held in the Fund is a Level 2 security. For a detailed breakout of preferred stock by major industry classification, please refer to Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

  1 

An external pricing service is used to reflect any impact on security value due to market movements between the time the Fund valued such foreign securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

32


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 
 

 

The country allocation in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Country   

% of Long-Term

Investments

 Australia

     8.4

 Bermuda

     2.5

 Canada

    12.1

 France

     4.1

 Hong Kong

     3.6

 Italy

     8.7

 Japan

     7.0

 Luxembourg

     1.1

 Malaysia

     0.7

 Norway

     1.2

 Singapore

     4.4

 South Africa

     0.7

 South Korea

     9.0

 United Kingdom

    12.9

 United States

    23.6
  

 

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

33


 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     AMG Yacktman
Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Focused Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Global Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Special
Opportunities Fund

Assets:

        

Investments at value1 (including securities on loan valued at $21,398,538, $125,117,590, $0, and $1,379,835, respectively)

     $8,441,103,909        $3,766,059,451        $189,120,898         $75,398,454   

Affiliated Investments at value2

           20,002,911              

Cash

     7,392,335       3,038,758              

Receivable for investments sold

           11,529,858             6,147  

Interfund loan receivable

     11,278,643                    

Dividend and interest receivables

     25,220,632       12,968,723       1,496,899       270,756  

Securities lending income receivable

     42,647       29,891             341  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     3,667,316       1,403,281       940,566       33,305  

Receivable from affiliate

                 10,325       7,213  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     35,289       24,750       19,869       5,911  

Total assets

     8,488,740,771       3,815,057,623       191,588,557       75,722,127  

Liabilities:

        

Payable upon return of securities loaned

     4,521,804       108,488,666             1,475,490  

Dividends payable to shareholders

                 887,322       314,875  

Payable for investments purchased

     873,900       240,167             74,921  

Payable for Fund shares repurchased

     4,129,365       2,287,830       447,853       631,041  

Accrued expenses:

        

Investment advisory and management fees

     3,029,819       2,681,842       110,985       33,856  

Administrative fees

     1,059,329       462,387       23,447       9,265  

Shareholder service fees

     549,696       273,710       376       3,303  

Other

     544,203       290,429       52,587       49,296  

Total liabilities

     14,708,116       114,725,031       1,522,570       2,592,047  

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 6)

        

Net Assets

     $8,474,032,655       $3,700,332,592       $190,065,987       $73,130,080  

1 Investments at cost

     $5,452,725,466       $2,606,162,787       $162,620,928       $70,551,553  

2 Affiliated Investments at cost

           $53,514,887              

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

34


 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

 
 

 

     AMG Yacktman
Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Focused Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Global Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Special
Opportunities Fund

Net Assets Represent:

        

Paid-in capital

     $5,447,616,561        $2,531,934,462        $169,490,536         $70,496,498    

Total distributable earnings

     3,026,416,094       1,168,398,130       20,575,451       2,633,582  

Net Assets

     $8,474,032,655       $3,700,332,592       $190,065,987       $73,130,080  

Class N:

        

Net Assets

           $1,798,470,900       $2,325,055        

Shares outstanding

           89,105,952       151,929        

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

           $20.18       $15.30        

Class I:

        

Net Assets

     $8,474,032,655       $1,901,861,692       $187,740,932       $38,793,203  

Shares outstanding

     363,093,360       94,627,543       12,235,734       3,631,798  

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

     $23.34       $20.10       $15.34       $10.68  

Class Z:

        

Net Assets

                       $34,336,877  

Shares outstanding

                       3,204,864  

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

                       $10.71  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

35


 
   

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 
 

 

     AMG Yacktman
Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Focused Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Global Fund
  AMG Yacktman
Special
Opportunities Fund

Investment Income:

        

Dividend income

     $184,459,692       $78,638,276       $5,888,778 1       $3,337,997 2 

Interest income

     19,567,998       7,392,604       16,880       2,883  

Dividends from affiliated securities

           1,303,559              

Securities lending income

     108,588       44,318       165       21,858  

Foreign withholding tax

     (9,396,325 )       (6,014,672 )       (613,281 )       (160,130 )   

Total investment income

     194,739,953       81,364,085       5,292,542       3,202,608  

Expenses:

        

Investment advisory and management fees

     35,011,696       31,218,159       1,230,365       619,235  

Administrative fees

     12,236,320       5,382,441       259,936       121,829  

Shareholder servicing fees - Class N

           3,254,610       3,784        

Shareholder servicing fees - Class I

     6,941,609                   44,956  

Professional fees

     740,346       349,744       52,299       43,798  

Custodian fees

     733,328       392,302       50,964       51,069  

Trustee fees and expenses

     601,271       264,480       12,843       5,905  

Transfer agent fees

     427,990       211,532       7,791       3,213  

Reports to shareholders

     342,905       161,417       7,881       9,456  

Registration fees

     101,295       92,946       35,031       20,780  

Miscellaneous

     398,715       176,172       9,198       6,398  

Repayment of prior reimbursements

           11,961              

Total expenses before offsets

     57,535,475       41,515,764       1,670,092       926,639  

Expense reimbursements

                 (53,342     (43,125

Fee waivers

     (174,733     (33,458            

Net expenses

     57,360,742       41,482,306       1,616,750       883,514  
        

Net investment income

     137,379,211       39,881,779       3,675,792       2,319,094  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

        

Net realized gain on investments

     229,780,266       156,618,332       5,264,355       2,257,143  

Net realized gain on written options

           7,628,769              

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     (610,184     (766,378     (104,871     (30,184

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     805,420,273       353,260,143       17,850,936       (2,611,187

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated investments

           (5,654,527            

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options

           77,729              

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations

     379,376       141,186       (1,403     765  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1,034,969,731       511,305,254       23,009,017       (383,463
        

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     $1,172,348,942       $551,187,033       $26,684,809       $1,935,631  

 

1

Includes non-recurring dividends of $ 630,400.

2

Includes non-recurring dividends of $ 372,987.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

36


 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 
 

 

     AMG Yacktman
Fund
    AMG Yacktman
Focused Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $137,379,211       $131,992,691       $39,881,779       $48,203,876  

Net realized gain on investments

     229,170,082       359,428,136       163,480,723       170,369,987  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     805,799,649       (1,194,880,359     347,824,531       (573,645,767
        

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     1,172,348,942       (703,459,532     551,187,033       (355,071,904

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

                 (77,433,936     (124,361,503

Class I

     (360,103,585     (557,461,732     (84,719,132     (134,536,532

Total distributions to shareholders

     (360,103,585     (557,461,732     (162,153,068     (258,898,035

Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net decrease from capital share transactions

     (311,253,360     (241,661,122     (225,102,893     (317,483,501
        

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     500,991,997       (1,502,582,386     163,931,072       (931,453,440

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

     7,973,040,658       9,475,623,044       3,536,401,520       4,467,854,960  
        

End of year

     $8,474,032,655       $7,973,040,658       $3,700,332,592       $3,536,401,520  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

37


 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 
 

 

     AMG Yacktman
Global Fund
    AMG Yacktman
Special
Opportunities Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $3,675,792       $2,582,542       $2,319,094       $742,278  

Net realized gain on investments

     5,159,484       5,161,445       2,226,959       336,254  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     17,849,533       (23,916,430     (2,610,422     (16,505,510
        

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     26,684,809       (16,172,443     1,935,631       (15,426,978

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

     (164,990     (51,267            

Class I

     (14,169,608     (6,262,235     (3,386,442     (398,986

Class Z

                 (2,979,968     (342,692

Total distributions to shareholders

     (14,334,598     (6,313,502     (6,366,410     (741,678

Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions

     26,870,906       2,240,388       (6,245,176     (12,133,984
        

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     39,221,117       (20,245,557     (10,675,955     (28,302,640

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

     150,844,870       171,090,427       83,806,035       112,108,675  
        

End of year

     $190,065,987       $150,844,870       $73,130,080       $83,806,035  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

38


 
   

AMG Yacktman Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

 

 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class I    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $21.13       $24.50       $21.26       $20.48       $19.05  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.38       0.35       0.26 3       0.27       0.35  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.86       (2.17     3.89       2.81       2.99  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     3.24       (1.82     4.15       3.08       3.34  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.42     (0.33     (0.27     (0.28     (0.37

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.61     (1.22     (0.64     (2.02     (1.54

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.03     (1.55     (0.91     (2.30     (1.91

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $23.34       $21.13       $24.50       $21.26       $20.48  

Total Return2,4

     15.39     (7.37 )%      19.63     15.28     17.66

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.71     0.71

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.68     1.54     1.09     1.38     1.70

Portfolio turnover

     5     11     15     27     35

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $8,474,033       $7,973,041       $9,475,623       $7,636,139       $8,242,523  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.21.

 

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

5 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

39


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class N    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $18.11       $21.21       $19.09       $18.25       $17.78  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.20       0.22       0.14 3       0.15       0.23  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.76       (1.94     2.98       2.95       3.13  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.96       (1.72     3.12       3.10       3.36  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.25     (0.21     (0.16     (0.15     (0.25

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.64     (1.17     (0.84     (2.11     (2.64

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.89     (1.38     (1.00     (2.26     (2.89

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $20.18       $18.11       $21.21       $19.09       $18.25  

Total Return2,4

     16.45     (8.06 )%      16.45     17.26     19.13

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.25 %5       1.25 %5       1.25 %5       1.24     1.24

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6

     1.25 %5       1.25 %5       1.25 %5       1.26     1.26

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.02     1.14     0.68     0.85     1.20

Portfolio turnover

     4     13     19     33     31

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,798,471       $1,730,316       $2,158,777       $1,943,998       $2,078,758  
                                          

 

 

40


 
   

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class I    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $18.04       $21.13       $19.03       $18.19       $17.74  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.23       0.26       0.18 3       0.18       0.27  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.76       (1.93     2.96       2.96       3.11  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.99       (1.67     3.14       3.14       3.38  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.29     (0.25     (0.20     (0.19     (0.29

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.64     (1.17     (0.84     (2.11     (2.64

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.93     (1.42     (1.04     (2.30     (2.93

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $20.10       $18.04       $21.13       $19.03       $18.19  

Total Return2,4

     16.67     (7.85 )%      16.62     17.52     19.30

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.06     1.06     1.06     1.06     1.06

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6

     1.06     1.06     1.06     1.07     1.07

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.21     1.33     0.87     1.04     1.39

Portfolio turnover

     4     13     19     33     31

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,901,862       $1,806,085       $2,309,078       $1,695,239       $1,554,975  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.09 and $0.13 for Class N and Class I, respectively.

 

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

5 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to less than 0.01%, less than 0.01% and 0.01% for the fiscal years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

6 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

41


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class N    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $14.21       $16.36       $15.69       $13.90       $11.94  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.29 3       0.21       0.19 4       0.18       0.17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.00       (1.74     1.80       2.35       2.37  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.29       (1.53     1.99       2.53       2.54  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.68           (0.55     (0.23     (0.25

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.52     (0.62     (0.77     (0.51     (0.33

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.20     (0.62     (1.32     (0.74     (0.58

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $15.30       $14.21       $16.36       $15.69       $13.90  

Total Return2,5

     16.30     (9.31 )%      12.96     18.32     21.40

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.13     1.13     1.16 %6      1.19     1.12

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.16     1.17     1.18 %6      1.25     1.22

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.92     1.47     1.12     1.40     1.28

Portfolio turnover

     11     11     17     27     23

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $2,325       $1,354       $775       $431       $183  
                                          

 

 

42


 
   

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class I    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $14.25       $16.36       $15.69       $13.89       $11.94  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.32 3       0.25       0.22 4       0.20       0.17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.00       (1.74     1.79       2.35       2.36  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.32       (1.49     2.01       2.55       2.53  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.71           (0.57     (0.24     (0.25

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.52     (0.62     (0.77     (0.51     (0.33

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.23     (0.62     (1.34     (0.75     (0.58

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $15.34       $14.25       $16.36       $15.69       $13.89  

Total Return2,5

     16.46     (9.06 )%      13.08     18.47     21.32

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.93     0.93     1.00 %6       1.08     1.08

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     0.96     0.97     1.02 %6       1.15     1.19

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     2.12     1.67     1.28     1.51     1.31

Portfolio turnover

     11     11     17     27     23

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $187,741       $149,491       $170,316       $132,758       $96,041  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.23 and $0.26 for Class N and Class I, respectively.

 

4 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.15 and $0.17 for Class N and Class I, respectively.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to less than 0.01%.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

43


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class I    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $11.27       $13.16       $11.02       $10.04       $9.82  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.32 3       0.08       (0.01     0.20 4       0.24  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.04       (1.87     2.65       1.06       0.73  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.36       (1.79     2.64       1.26       0.97  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.68           (0.15     (0.23     (0.21

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.27     (0.10     (0.35     (0.05     (0.54

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.95     (0.10     (0.50     (0.28     (0.75

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.68       $11.27       $13.16       $11.02       $10.04  

Total Return2,5

     3.24     (13.59 )%      24.30     12.66     10.20

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     1.13     1.96 %7       2.29 %7       1.14     1.29

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6,8

     1.19     2.00 %7       2.29 %7       1.23     1.47

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2,6

     2.81     0.69     (0.09 )%      2.27     2.32

Portfolio turnover

     24     40     21     37     24

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $38,793       $47,024       $33,912       $13,881       $11,701  
                                          

 

 

44


 
   

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 
 

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class Z    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $11.31       $13.20       $11.04       $10.06       $9.84  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.33 3       0.10       0.00 9       0.21 4       0.25  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.03       (1.88     2.67       1.06       0.72  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.36       (1.78     2.67       1.27       0.97  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.69     (0.01     (0.16     (0.24     (0.21

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.27     (0.10     (0.35     (0.05     (0.54

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.96     (0.11     (0.51     (0.29     (0.75

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $10.71       $11.31       $13.20       $11.04       $10.06  

Total Return2,5

     3.44     (13.57 )%      24.42     12.83     10.27

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     1.03     1.86 %7       2.19 %7       1.04     1.19

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6,8

     1.09     1.90 %7       2.19 %7       1.13     1.37

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2,6

     2.91     0.79     0.01     2.37     2.42

Portfolio turnover

     24     40     21     37     24

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $34,337       $36,782       $78,197       $64,908       $47,981  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.27 and $0.28 for Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

4 

Includes non-recurring dividends. Without these dividends, net investment income per share would have been $0.17 and $0.18 for Class I and Class Z, respectively.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Includes a performance adjustment amounting to (0.61)%, 0.22%, 0.55%, (0.60)% and (0.45)% for the fiscal years ended 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. (See Note 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements)

 

7 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to 0.01%.

 

8 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

9 

Less than $0.005 per share.

 

 

45


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business trust, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trust consists of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report are AMG Yacktman Fund (“Yacktman Fund”), AMG Yacktman Focused Fund (“Yacktman Focused”), AMG Yacktman Global Fund (“Yacktman Global”) and AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund (“Yacktman Special Opportunities”), each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”.

Each Fund offers different classes of shares. Yacktman Fund and Yacktman Special Opportunities have established Class N, Class I and Class Z shares. Currently, Yacktman Fund offers only Class I shares and Yacktman Special Opportunities offers only Class I shares and Class Z shares. Yacktman Focused and Yacktman Global established and offer Class N and Class I shares. Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the respective Fund. Although all share classes generally have identical voting rights, each share class votes separately when required by law. Different share classes may have different net asset values per share to the extent the share classes pay different distribution amounts and/or the expenses of such share classes differ. Each share class has its own expense structure. Please refer to a current prospectus for additional information on each share class.

Yacktman Focused, Yacktman Global and Yacktman Special Opportunities are non-diversified. A greater percentage of the Funds’ holdings may be focused in a smaller number of securities which may place the Funds at greater risk than a more diversified fund.

Market prices of investments held by the Funds may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Funds’ financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Equity securities, including options, traded on a national securities exchange or reported on the NASDAQ national market system (“NMS”) are valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, if applicable, the NASDAQ official closing price or the official closing price of the relevant exchange or, lacking any sales, at the last quoted bid price. Equity securities held by the Funds that are traded in the over-the-counter market (other than NMS securities) are valued at the bid price. Foreign equity securities (securities principally traded in markets other than U.S. markets) held by the Funds are valued at the official closing price

 

on the primary exchange or, for markets that either do not offer an official closing price or where the official closing price may not be representative of the overall market, the last quoted sale price.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity exceeding 60 days are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an authorized pricing service or, if an evaluated price is not available, by reference to other securities which are considered comparable in credit rating, interest rate, due date and other features (generally referred to as “matrix pricing”) or other similar pricing methodologies.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Funds’ portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Funds’ Valuation Designee to perform the Funds’ fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Funds may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Funds’ valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Funds might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Funds. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Funds’ investments.

With respect to foreign equity securities and certain foreign fixed income securities, securities held in the Funds that can be fair valued by the applicable

 

 

 

46


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

fair value pricing service are fair valued on each business day provided that each individual price exceeds a pre-established confidence level.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds. Unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from foreign securities are recorded on the ex-dividend date, and if after the fact, as soon as the Funds become aware of the ex-dividend date, except for Korean securities where dividends are recorded on confirmation date. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Dividend and interest income on foreign securities is recorded gross of any withholding tax. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are reported at the fair market value of the securities received. Other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust and other trusts or funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of each Fund, and certain fund level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of each Fund.

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from either net investment income or realized net capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Permanent differences for Yacktman Global are primarily due to passive foreign investment companies. There were no permanent differences during the year for Yacktman Fund, Yacktman Focused and Yacktman Special Opportunities. Temporary differences are primarily due to write-off of outstanding defaulted securities interest for Yacktman Fund and Yacktman Focused, and premium amortization on callable bonds for Yacktman Focused. In addition, temporary differences for each Fund are wash sale loss deferrals, and mark-to-market on passive foreign investment companies. Temporary differences also include taxable dividends payable in the following year for Yacktman Global.

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

     Yacktman Fund      Yacktman Focused  

 Distributions paid from:

     2023        2022        2023        2022  

 Ordinary income *

     $143,368,137        $118,514,921        $48,551,185        $43,003,314  

 Long-term capital gains

     216,735,448        438,946,811        113,601,883        215,894,721  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       $360,103,585          $557,461,732          $162,153,068          $258,898,035  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

47


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

    

 

Yacktman Global

    

 

Yacktman Special Opportunities

 

 Distributions paid from:

     2023        2022        2023        2022  

 Ordinary income *

     $8,710,103        $179,704        $4,343,593        $22,911  

 Long-term capital gains

     5,624,495        6,133,798        2,022,817        718,767  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $14,334,598            $6,313,502            $6,366,410             $741,678  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

* For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

 

     Yacktman Fund      Yacktman Focused      Yacktman Global      Yacktman Special Opportunities  

 Undistributed long-term capital gains

     $41,925,926        $43,437,418               $345,133  

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Fund    Cost      Appreciation      Depreciation     Net Appreciation  

 Yacktman Fund

     $5,456,690,009        $3,159,644,673        $(175,154,505     $2,984,490,168  

 Yacktman Focused

     2,661,161,934        1,243,180,507        (118,219,795     1,124,960,712  

 Yacktman Global

     167,981,650        37,027,148        (15,885,908     21,141,240  

 Yacktman Special Opportunities

     73,110,967        16,278,776        (13,990,327     2,288,449  

 

e. FEDERAL TAXES

Each Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on each Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, each Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the Funds had no capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes. Should the Funds incur net capital losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, such amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

The Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes for each Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. Each Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date.

 

 

48


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the capital stock transactions by class for the Funds were as follows:

 

    Yacktman Fund     Yacktman Focused  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

                            4,984,313       $96,043,282       5,851,238       $115,544,774  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

                            3,855,512       76,339,138       6,834,816       122,548,252  

Shares redeemed

                            (15,257,857     (294,725,391     (18,963,976     (369,705,319
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

                            (6,418,032     $(122,342,971     (6,277,922     $(131,612,293
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    34,457,972       $767,882,557       45,550,372       $1,044,334,856       13,130,392       $251,622,460       19,648,527       $385,717,991  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    14,266,780       327,850,612       24,225,869       507,774,202       3,901,519       76,937,961       6,836,097       122,024,342  

Shares redeemed

    (62,958,568     (1,406,986,529     (79,153,813     (1,793,770,180     (22,520,182     (431,320,343     (35,653,583     (693,613,541
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (14,233,816     $(311,253,360     (9,377,572     $(241,661,122     (5,488,271     $(102,759,922     (9,168,959     $(185,871,208
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Yacktman Global     Yacktman Special Opportunities  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

    98,793       $1,485,778       74,515       $1,120,463                          

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    10,847       164,235       3,664       51,082                          

Shares redeemed

    (52,936     (798,154     (30,314     (433,176                        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

    56,704       $851,859       47,865       $738,369                          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    2,402,734       $35,786,674       1,323,636       $19,495,639       1,647,292       $18,841,654       3,377,460       $40,334,837  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    559,170       8,482,587       275,730       3,851,950       320,890       3,380,430       35,664       398,371  

Shares redeemed

    (1,219,771     (18,250,214     (1,513,839     (21,845,570     (2,507,310     (27,923,527     (1,818,251     (21,433,664
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    1,742,133       $26,019,047       85,527       $1,502,019       (539,128     $(5,701,443     1,594,873       $19,299,544  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z:

               

Shares sold

                            72,604       $820,680       101,193       $1,143,070  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

                            161,282       1,704,410       17,985       201,613  

Shares redeemed

                            (281,776     (3,068,823     (2,790,318     (32,778,211
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

                            (47,890     $(543,733     (2,671,140     $(31,433,528
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At December 31, 2023, one affiliated investor, Yacktman Asset Management LP, owned 11% of the net assets in Yacktman Special Opportunities. Transactions by shareholders of record that individually or collectively hold greater than 5% of a Fund’s net assets may have a material impact on a Fund.

 

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes and for reinvestment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions under the securities lending program offered by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) (the “Securities Lending Program”) (collectively, “Repurchase Agreements”). The value of the underlying collateral,

including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the Repurchase Agreements during the term of the agreement. For joint repurchase agreements, the Funds participate on a pro rata basis with other clients of BNYM in their share of the underlying collateral under such joint repurchase agreements and in their share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of the underlying collateral. The underlying collateral for all Repurchase Agreements is held by the Funds’ custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the

 

 

 

49


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Funds may be delayed or limited. Pursuant to the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM on joint repurchase agreements.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of Repurchase Agreements outstanding for Yacktman Fund, Yacktman Focused, Yacktman Global and Yacktman Special Opportunities was $180,616,804, $181,388,666, $0 and $1,475,490, respectively.

i. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. Dollars. The value of investments, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon current foreign exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income and expenses are converted into U.S. Dollars based on currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represent: (1) foreign exchange gains and losses from the sale and holdings of foreign currencies; (2) gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions and foreign currency exchange contracts; and (3) gains and losses from the difference between amounts of interest and dividends recorded and the amounts actually received.

The Funds do not isolate the net realized and unrealized gain or loss resulting from changes in exchange rates from the fluctuations in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

For each of the Funds, the Trust has entered into an investment advisory agreement under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Funds and is responsible for the Funds’ overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Board and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the subadviser for the Funds and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. Each Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by Yacktman Asset Management LP (“Yacktman”) who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in Yacktman.

Investment management fees are paid directly by the Funds to the Investment Manager based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds’ investment management fees were paid at the following annual rates of each Fund’s respective average daily net assets:

Yacktman Fund

  

on first $500 million

     0.52%   

next $500 million

     0.47%   

over $1 billion

     0.42%   

Yacktman Focused

     0.87%   

Yacktman Global

     0.71%   

Yacktman Special Opportunities

     1.37%   

The fee paid to Yacktman for its services as subadviser is paid out of the fee the Investment Manager receives from each Fund and does not increase the expenses of each Fund.

Yacktman Special Opportunities has a performance-based fee structure that consists of an investment management fee and a performance adjustment (“Performance Adjustment”). The monthly investment management fee is increased or reduced by the Performance Adjustment, based on the Fund’s performance relative to the MSCI ACWI All Cap Index over the then preceding twelve months. The Performance Adjustment for the Fund may not exceed plus or minus 0.75%. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Performance Adjustment decreased the management fee by a net amount of $493,466, resulting in an effective management fee rate of 0.76%.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses, as well as shareholder servicing fees and distribution and service (12b-1) fees and, with respect to Yacktman Special Opportunities, investment management fees and administrative fees) of Yacktman Global and Yacktman Special Opportunities to the annual rate of 0.93% and 0.12%, respectively, of each Fund’s average daily net assets (this annual rate or such other annual rate that may be in effect for the applicable Fund or share class from time to time, the “Expense Cap”), subject to later reimbursement by the applicable Fund in certain circumstances. On May 1, 2023, the contractual expense limitation agreement relating to Class N shares of Yacktman Focused expired. As a result of the expense limitation agreement expiring, the Investment Manager waived its right to recover unexpired previously reimbursed amounts of $9,219. Prior to May 1, 2023, the Investment Manager contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) of Yacktman Focused Class N shares to the annual rate of 1.25% of the share class’s average daily net assets, subject to later reimbursement by the share class in certain circumstances.

In general, for a period of up to 36 months after the date any amounts are paid, waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may recover such amounts from a Fund, provided that such repayment would not cause the Fund’s total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of the items noted in the parenthetical above) to exceed either (i) the Expense Cap in effect at the time such amounts were paid, waived or reimbursed, or (ii) the Expense Cap in effect at the time of such repayment by the Fund.

The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of a Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board, or in the event of a Fund’s liquidation (unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of a Fund).

 

 

 

50


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager’s expense reimbursements, and repayments of prior reimbursements by the Funds to the Investment Manager, if any, are as follows:

 

     Expense
Reimbursements
   Repayment of
Prior Reimbursements

Yacktman Focused

      $11,961

Yacktman Global

   $53,342   

Yacktman Special Opportunities

   43,125   

At December 31, 2023, the Funds’ expiration of reimbursements subject to recoupment, if any, is as follows:

 

 Expiration

 Period

  Yacktman Global     Yacktman Special Opportunities  

Less than 1 year

    $33,935       $4,331  

1-2 years

    54,795       34,769  

2-3 years

    53,342       43,125  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $142,072       $82,225  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Investment Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in consideration of a shareholder servicing rebate that it has received from JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc., with respect to direct investments in the JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, IM Shares by Yacktman Fund and Yacktman Focused. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the investment management fees for Yacktman Fund and Yacktman Focused were reduced by $174,733 and $33,458, respectively, or less than 0.01% of average daily net assets.

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Funds’ administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of managing the Funds’ operations, including administration and shareholder services to each Fund. Each Fund pays a fee to the Administrator at the rate of 0.15% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets for this service.

The Funds are distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for each Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of each Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

For Class N of Yacktman Focused and Yacktman Global and for Class I of Yacktman Fund and Yacktman Special Opportunities, the Board has approved reimbursement payments to the Investment Manager for shareholder servicing expenses (“shareholder servicing fees”) incurred. Shareholder servicing fees include payments to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers (including fund supermarket platforms), banks, and trust companies who provide shareholder recordkeeping, account servicing and other services. The Class N shares of Yacktman Focused and Yacktman Global and Class I shares of Yacktman Fund and

Yacktman Special Opportunities may reimburse the Investment Manager for the actual amount incurred up to a maximum annual rate of each Class’s average daily net assets as shown in the table below.

The impact on the annualized expense ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

     Maximum Annual      Actual         
     Amount      Amount         
 Fund    Approved      Incurred         

Yacktman Fund

        

Class I

     0.20%        0.09%     

Yacktman Focused

        

Class N

     0.20%        0.19%     

Yacktman Global

        

Class N

     0.20%        0.20%     

Yacktman Special Opportunities

        

Class I

     0.10%        0.10%           

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trust and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of the Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Funds are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, Yacktman Fund had an interfund loan receivable outstanding of $11,278,643. The Funds did not borrow during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

The following Funds utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

 Fund   Average
Lent
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
       

Yacktman Fund

    $11,468,196       22       $42,249       6.112%    

Yacktman Focused

    3,802,709       13       7,685       5.674%    

Yacktman Global

    1,998,622       9       2,835       5.752%    

Yacktman Special Opportunities

    2,840,192       6       2,883       6.176%          
 

 

 

51


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

     Long Term Securities  
 Fund    Purchases      Sales         

Yacktman Fund

     $354,407,583        $730,517,405     

Yacktman Focused

     143,234,818        489,132,230     

Yacktman Global

     33,733,955        17,920,499     

Yacktman Special Opportunities

     18,093,410        27,382,438           

The Funds had no purchases or sales of U.S. Government Obligations during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

The Funds participate in the Securities Lending Program providing for the lending of securities to qualified borrowers. Securities lending income includes earnings of such temporary cash investments, plus or minus any rebate to a borrower. These earnings (after any rebate) are then divided between BNYM, as a fee for its services under the Securities Lending Program, and the Funds, according to agreed-upon rates. Collateral on all securities loaned is accepted in cash, U.S. Treasury Obligations or U.S. Government Agency Obligations. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the market value, plus interest, if applicable, of investments on loan. It is the Funds’ policy to obtain additional collateral from or return excess collateral to the borrower by the end of the next business day, following the valuation date of the securities loaned. Therefore, the value of the collateral held may be temporarily less than the value of the securities on loan. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Funds if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned were to increase and the borrower did not increase the collateral accordingly, and the borrower fails to return the securities. Under the terms of the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM. Cash collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM, who is authorized to exclusively enter into joint repurchase agreements for that cash collateral. Securities collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM and cannot be sold or pledged. BNYM bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the cash collateral available for return to the borrower due to any loss on the collateral invested. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities as soon as practical, which is normally within three business days.

The value of securities loaned on positions held, cash collateral and securities collateral received at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

          Cash     Securities     Total        
    Securities     Collateral     Collateral     Collateral        
 Fund   Loaned     Received     Received     Received        

Yacktman Fund

    $21,398,538       $4,521,804       $17,653,220       $22,175,024    

Yacktman Focused

    125,117,590       108,488,666       19,345,592       127,834,258    

Yacktman Special Opportunities

    1,379,835       1,475,490             1,475,490    

The following table summarizes the securities received as collateral for securities lending at December 31, 2023:

 

 Fund  

Collateral

Type

 

Coupon

Range

  Maturity
Date Range
     

 Yacktman Fund

  U.S. Treasury Obligations   0.125%-4.750%   04/15/24-05/15/51  

 Yacktman Focused

  U.S. Treasury Obligations   0.125%-4.750%   04/15/24-05/15/51        

5. FOREIGN SECURITIES

The Funds invest in securities of foreign entities and in instruments denominated in foreign currencies which involve risks not typically associated with investments in domestic securities, such as exposure to currency fluctuations, less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. A Fund’s investments in emerging market countries are exposed to additional risks. A Fund’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting companies in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. Realized gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the Fund level and the Fund would pay such foreign taxes at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction.

6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Funds under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against a Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds had no prior claims or losses and expect the risks of loss to be remote.

7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The following disclosures contain information on how and why certain Funds use derivative instruments, the credit risk and how derivative instruments affect the Fund’s financial position, and results of operations. The location and fair value amounts of these instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and the realized gains and losses and changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on the Statement of Operations, each categorized by type of derivative contract, are included in a table at the end of the applicable Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the average monthly balances of derivative financial instruments outstanding were as follows:

 

     Yacktman Focused   

 Options

  

 Average value of written option contracts

     $4,671,534   
 

 

 

52


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

8. OPTIONS

The Funds may purchase and write call options and put options on a variety of underlying securities and instruments, including, but not limited to, specific securities, securities indices, futures contracts and foreign currencies. The Funds purchase or write call and put options to generate income and hedge against losses or lock in gains of underlying portfolio security positions. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security or instrument at the agreed-upon price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security or instrument at the agreed-upon price during the option period. Options purchased are recorded as an asset, while options written (sold) are recorded as liabilities. When a Fund writes options it bears the risk of an

 

unfavorable change in the market value of the instrument underlying the written option. When an option expires, the premium (original option value) is realized as a gain if the option was written or as a loss if the option was purchased. When the exercise of an option results in a cash settlement, the difference between the premium and the settlement proceeds is recognized as realized gain or loss. When securities are acquired or delivered upon exercise of an option, the acquisition cost or sale proceeds are adjusted by the amount of the premium. When an option is closed, the difference between the premium and the cost to close the position is realized as a gain or loss. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Yacktman Focused wrote call and put options and as of December 31, 2023, the Fund did not hold option contracts.

 

9. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into master netting agreements with their counterparties for the Securities Lending Program, Repurchase Agreements and derivatives, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For securities lending transactions, see Note 4.

The following table is a summary of the Funds’ open Repurchase Agreements that are subject to a master netting agreement as of December 31, 2023:

 

                         Gross Amount Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                                         
Fund    Gross Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
    

Offset

Amount

    

Net

Asset

Balance

    

Collateral

Received

    

Net

Amount

 

 

 

Yacktman Fund

                                       

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

       $1,130,451                         $1,130,451             $1,130,451                 

Daiwa Capital Markets America

       1,130,451                         1,130,451             1,130,451                 

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

       1,130,451                         1,130,451             1,130,451                 

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

       1,130,451                         1,130,451             1,130,451                 

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

       1,968,000                         1,968,000             1,968,000                 

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

       174,127,000                         174,127,000             174,127,000                 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           $180,616,804                                                    $180,616,804                     $180,616,804                                        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

53


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

                      Gross Amount Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                                     
 Fund   Gross Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
    Offset
Amount
   

Net

Asset

Balance

    Collateral
Received
   

Net

Amount

 

Yacktman Focused

                             

Bethesda Securities LLC

      $9,574,341                     $9,574,341           $9,574,341              

Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc.

      23,087,376                     23,087,376           23,087,376              

Citadel Securities LLC

      12,407,586                                         12,407,586                   12,407,586                                  

Mirae Asset Securities USA, Inc.

      11,144,337                     11,144,337           11,144,337              

Mirae Asset Securities USA, Inc.

      4,387,136                     4,387,136           4,387,136              

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

      12,260,575                     12,260,575           12,260,575              

Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC

      13,873,713                     13,873,713           13,873,713              

State of Wisconsin Investment Board

      21,753,602                     21,753,602           21,753,602              

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

      24,936,000                     24,936,000           24,936,000              

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

          47,964,000                         47,964,000           47,964,000              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $181,388,666                     $181,388,666           $181,388,666              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Yacktman Special Opportunities

                             

Daiwa Capital Markets America

      $475,490                     $475,490           $475,490              

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

      1,000,000                     1,000,000           1,000,000              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $1,475,490                     $1,475,490           $1,475,490              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Funds have determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Funds’ financial statements which require an additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Funds’ financial statements.

 

 

 

54


   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds and Shareholders of AMG Yacktman Fund, AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, AMG Yacktman Global Fund and AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of portfolio investments, of AMG Yacktman Fund, AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, AMG Yacktman Global Fund and AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund (four of the funds constituting AMG Funds, hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2023, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinions

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodians and broker. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

 

55


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

AMG Yacktman Fund, AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, AMG Yacktman Global Fund and AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund each hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for each Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the calendar year.

In accordance with federal tax law, the following Funds elected to provide foreign taxes paid and the income sourced from foreign countries. Accordingly, the funds below make the following designations regarding their periods ended December 31, 2023:

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

uThe total amount of taxes paid and income sourced from foreign countries was $580,002 and $4,173,032, respectively.

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

uThe total amount of taxes paid and income sourced from foreign countries was $159,147 and $2,193,161, respectively.

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG Yacktman Fund, AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, AMG Yacktman Global Fund and AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund each hereby designates $216,735,448, $113,601,883, $5,624,495 and $2,022,817, respectively, as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable year ended December 31, 2023, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such year.

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds (the “Trust”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on a proposal to elect trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The proposal and results of the vote are described below. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trust until his retirement on December 31, 2023.

 

AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*  
Election of Trustees 1    For             Withheld        

Jill R. Cuniff

     523,453,201               50,330,270    

Kurt A. Keilhacker

     563,642,997           10,140,474    

Peter W. MacEwen

     523,551,974           50,231,497    

Steven J. Paggioli

     561,225,673           12,557,798    

Eric Rakowski

     561,230,560           12,552,911    

Victoria L. Sassine

     563,668,874           10,114,597    

Garret W. Weston

     564,280,150           9,503,321    

1 Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Board of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

*Rounded to the nearest share.

 

 

56


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

      

 

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trust and the Funds. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds, and

  

review the Funds’ performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trust: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trust’s organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

  

The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

   

Number of Funds Overseen in Fund Complex

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco (2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A. (2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC. (1990-2001).

 

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

*Mr. Bingham retired from the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds on December 31, 2023.

**Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Board of Trustees by the shareholders of AMG Funds on October 10, 2023.

 

 

57


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

Number of Funds Overseen in Fund Complex    Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

 

Officers

    
Position(s) Held with Fund and Length of Time Served    Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

  

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

  

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

  

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director - Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director - Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

  

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

  

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

  

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

58


 

 

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LOGO

     

 

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND

ADMINISTRATOR

 

AMG Funds LLC

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

AMG Distributors, Inc.

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

 

Yacktman Asset Management LP

6300 Bridgepoint Parkway

Building One, Suite 500

Austin, TX 78730

 

CUSTODIAN

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

Mutual Funds Custody

6023 Airport Road

Oriskany, NY 13424

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

AMG Funds

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

500 Ross Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

800.548.4539

  

This report is prepared for the Funds’ shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for each Fund are available on the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures each Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding the Funds’ proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 
wealth.amg.com           


LOGO

     

 

 

EQUITY FUNDS

 

AMG Beutel Goodman International Equity

 

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG Boston Common Global Impact

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG Frontier Small Cap Growth

 

Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Growth

AMG GW&K International Small Cap

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

AMG Montrusco Bolton Large Cap Growth

 

Montrusco Bolton Investments, Inc.

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth

 

The Renaissance Group LLC

   

AMG River Road Dividend All Cap Value

AMG River Road Focused Absolute Value

AMG River Road Large Cap Value Select

AMG River Road Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small-Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small Cap Value

 

River Road Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth

 

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

 

AMG Veritas Asia Pacific

AMG Veritas China

AMG Veritas Global Focus

AMG Veritas Global Real Return

 

Veritas Asset Management LLP

 

AMG Yacktman

AMG Yacktman Focused

AMG Yacktman Global

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities

 

Yacktman Asset Management LP

 

FIXED INCOME FUNDS

 

AMG Beutel Goodman Core Plus Bond

 

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG GW&K Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K ESG Bond

AMG GW&K High Income

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

   

 

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com     

 

         123123   AR071


LOGO    ANNUAL REPORT
   

 

      

 

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 
    

 

LOGO

 
     AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund
 
     Class N: MGFIX | Class I: MGBIX
 
     AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund
 
     Class N: MFDAX | Class I: MFDSX | Class Z: MFDYX
 
     AMG GW&K High Income Fund
 
     Class N: MGGBX | Class I: GWHIX
 
     AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund
 
     Class N: GWMTX | Class I: GWMIX
 
     AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund
 
     Class N: GWMNX | Class I: GWMEX | Class Z: GWMZX

 

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com        123123   AR088



    

 

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

   

 

     

 

 

        
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
   

 

 
   

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

     2  
 
   

ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES

     3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULES OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS   
 
   

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

     4  
 
   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

     14  
 
   

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

     23  
 
   

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

     30  
 
   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

     40  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     48  
 
   

Balance sheets, net asset value (NAV) per share computations
and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     50  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and
unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     51  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past two fiscal years

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     53  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income
and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     65  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and
transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of
certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      74  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      75  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      77  

    

 

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 


LOGO   Letter to Shareholders
   

 

      

Dear Shareholder:

 

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

            Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns        December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:             1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)       26.29     10.00     15.69

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)       16.93     2.22     9.97

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)         15.62     1.55     7.08

Bonds:

                               

Investment Grade

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)       5.53     (3.31 )%      1.10

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)       13.44     1.98     5.37

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)       6.40     (0.40 )%      2.25

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)         5.14     2.17     2.02

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

   

 

      

 

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

      

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

 

 

 Six Months Ended
 December 31, 2023
   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.68%   $1,000      $1,037      $3.49

Class I

   0.48%   $1,000      $1,038      $2.47

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.68%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.47

Class I

   0.48%   $1,000      $1,023      $2.45

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.73%   $1,000      $1,033      $3.74

Class I

   0.56%   $1,000      $1,032      $2.87

Class Z

   0.48%   $1,000      $1,034      $2.46

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.73%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.72

Class I

   0.56%   $1,000      $1,022      $2.85

Class Z

   0.48%   $1,000      $1,023      $2.45

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.84%   $1,000      $1,053      $4.35

Class I

   0.64%   $1,000      $1,054      $3.31

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.84%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.28

Class I

   0.64%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.26
 Six Months Ended
 December 31, 2023
   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.72%   $1,000      $1,037      $3.70

Class I

   0.39%   $1,000      $1,039      $2.00

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.72%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.67

Class I

   0.39%   $1,000      $1,023      $1.99
          

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,044      $5.10

Class I

   0.64%   $1,000      $1,046      $3.30

Class Z

   0.59%   $1,000      $1,046      $3.04

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.04

Class I

   0.64%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.26

Class Z

   0.59%   $1,000      $1,022      $3.01

 

 *

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 

 

3


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund Class N (the “Fund”) shares returned 6.69% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with the 5.53% return for its current benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the “Index”).

 

MARKET OVERVIEW

 

The fixed income market experienced a solid rally in the first quarter of 2023, rebounding from its worst year on record. Much of the period saw a continuation of the tension that drove trading in 2022: inflation continued to slow, but at a glacial pace; a moribund housing market and downbeat consumer had yet to manifest as a slowdown in spending; and a record pace of rate hikes was unable to cool a stubbornly hot labor market. Investors also struggled to anticipate the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed) reaction function amid the various crosscurrents, while Chair Powell’s commentary offered few concrete insights beyond a firm resolve and data dependence. But the narrative shifted abruptly in the final weeks, as signs of systemic instability flared up amid a flurry of bank failures. The implications of this turmoil for financial conditions were not yet evident, but the stress in the banking sector was a complicating factor for both the Fed and the bond market.

 

The market posted a small loss in the second quarter, giving back a portion of the banking crisis-inspired rally that occurred in the closing days of March. Sentiment was cautious at the outset and investors sought haven assets on the possibility of contagion in the financial sector. But as it became clear that fallout from the failure of several regional lenders was likely to be contained, attention returned to the underlying strength of the economy and the stubborn persistence of inflation. The labor market gave only the slightest indications of softening, the buoyant housing sector continued to defy higher mortgage rates, and consumer spending once again proved irrepressible. Inflation showed limited progress on its path lower, plateauing at a level solidly above the Fed’s 2% target. Against this backdrop, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) endeavored to maintain restrictive financial conditions by raising rates and providing hawkish guidance. There was nevertheless scant evidence of the Fed’s success in curbing aggregate demand away from some narrow segments of the commercial real estate and consumer finance markets.

 

Fixed income markets posted a significant loss in the third quarter that more than offset the gains achieved in the first half of the year. The

      

higher-for-longer Fed narrative increasingly took center stage, driven by a surprisingly resilient economy, surging oil prices, and inflation that persisted well above the Fed’s 2% target. While there were subtle signs that the labor market and consumer credit metrics might be softening, the unemployment rate remained near cycle lows and the consumer continued to spend robustly. The undeniably strong cadence of the economy left economists upgrading their third-quarter GDP growth estimates and recharging optimism for a soft landing. Fed officials held rates steady at the September FOMC meeting, but thwarted hopes for a pivot by signaling the possibility of one more hike during the year and projecting less easing in 2024/2025.

 

The market experienced an extraordinary rally in the fourth quarter on elevated odds of an economic soft landing and dovish signals from the Fed. The strong performance was a sharp reversal from the prior quarter, which briefly raised the specter of an unprecedented third consecutive annual loss for the bond market. Sentiment was bolstered first by news that the US Treasury’s borrowing needs were lower than feared and then lifted further by a series of upbeat economic readings and moderating price pressure. The final stage of the rally was powered by the arrival of the long-awaited Fed pivot, which left little doubt that the hiking cycle had concluded. Both the rates market and credit swiftly repriced to reflect a more rapid series of cuts and narrower risk premia, lifting asset prices across the board, and broadly easing financial conditions.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund outperformed the Index for 2023. The Fund’s overweight to spread product was the main driver of outperformance, particularly the overweight to Corporates. Our out-of-benchmark allocation to high yield Corporates and overweight to lower rated investment grade Corporates were also significant positive contributors along with our overweight to Taxable Municipals. The Fund also benefited from its underweight to, and allocation within, Securitized. This was offset somewhat by modestly negative security selection within BBB-rated Corporates, particularly within the communications, basic industry, and banking sectors. The effects from duration and yield curve were muted given our general neutral positioning.

 

The corporate bond market remains in a transition period with respect to ESG and sustainability. Many companies have set sustainability targets and are

      

now shifting into the implementation phase, at times supported by public funds and incentives. However, higher inflation and increased regulatory costs of reporting have kept progress slow. Still, despite a sometimes-downbeat portrayal in media, investors continue to show a strong interest in ESG and sustainability, with fund flows and ESG bond issuance remaining roughly steady from last year. 2024 promises to be another important year for global ESG topics with many important regions poised for elections that could have a meaningful impact on the direction of ESG initiatives globally. Overall, we believe ESG and sustainability concerns will remain key issues for both companies and investors in the coming year. We continue to integrate ESG as a core part of our fundamental investment process and will closely monitor regulatory and policy actions that could influence the ESG investing landscape.

 

OUTLOOK

 

After a brief period in the second quarter that saw the bond market converge with the Fed’s dot plot, a rift has once again formed. The Fed projects three rate cuts in 2024 while the Fed Funds futures market expects more than six. Similarly, the persistent inversion of the yield curve suggests the bond market is pricing in elevated odds of a recession, while the Fed’s median projections don’t see Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth falling below 1.4%. The inversion of the yield curve seems less likely to persist indefinitely, especially if rates normalize into a soft landing.

 

A soft landing would provide a favorable backdrop for corporate fundamentals. By creating conditions that allow the Fed to cut rates, it would both support topline growth and promote favorable liquidity conditions, thereby easing future refinancing needs. It would also be constructive on a technical basis, given it would enhance the appeal of spread product. Valuations at current levels are less appealing, with breakevens versus Treasuries at the lower end of their historical range and leaving little room for error. As such, we believe this backdrop supports a neutral view of credit. Within the space, we favor names with defensive operating and financial metrics, given that investors do not seem to be assigning a meaningful discount to riskier business profiles. Within the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) space, we see a continued interest from banks helping support demand as valuations

 

 

4


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

edge closer to long-term averages. We continue to favor seasoned, high-coupon pools that offer higher carry and better convexity profiles.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

             

 

 

5


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

 Average Annual Total Returns1   One
Year
    Five
Years
    Ten
Years
 
AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

 

Class N

     6.69      1.75      2.21%  

Class I

    6.85     1.96     2.37%  

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index24

    5.53     1.10     1.81%  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars($).

 

2 

As of March 19, 2021, the Fund’s Subadviser was changed to GW&K Investment Management, LLC. Prior to

   March 19, 2021, the Fund was known as the AMG Managers Loomis Sayles Bond Fund and had different principal investment strategies and corresponding risks. Performance shown for periods prior to March 19, 2021, reflects the performance and investment strategies of the Fund’s previous Subadviser, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the Fund were managed by the current Subadviser and strategy, and the Fund’s prior performance record might be less pertinent for investors considering whether to purchase shares of the Fund.

3  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

4  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

5  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

6  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

8  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

9  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution

 

 

 

6


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

   amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

10 During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

11 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

12 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

13 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

14 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

15 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

16 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are

      

   considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

17 Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, while obligations issued by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and are backed solely by the entity’s own resources or by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. If one of these agencies defaults on a loan, there is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support.

 

18 Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities involve risk of severe credit downgrades, loss due to prepayments that occur earlier or later than expected, illiquidity and default.

 

19 Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

20 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

21 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. dollar investment when converted back to U.S. dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

22 Because exchange-traded funds incur their own

 

      

   costs, investing in them could result in a higher cost to the investor.

 

23 Because applying the Fund’s ESG investment criteria may result in the selection or exclusion of securities of certain issuers for reasons other than financial performance, the Fund’s investment returns may underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG factors into their investment process. The incorporation of ESG criteria into the investment process may affect the Fund’s investment exposure to certain companies, sectors, regions, countries or types of investments, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Applying ESG criteria to investment decisions is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria utilized by the Subadviser or any judgment exercised by the Subadviser will improve the financial performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s ESG practices or the Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time.

 

24 The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an index of the U.S. investment-grade fixed-rate bond market, including both government and corporate bonds. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

7


   

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Category    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Corporate Bonds and Notes

   52.4
 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

   39.3
 

Municipal Bonds

    6.3
 

Asset-Backed Securities

    1.2
 

Short-Term Investments

    3.3
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

    (2.5)

 

 Rating    % of Market Value1
 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

   39.6
 

Aaa/AAA

    3.4
 

Aa/AA

    7.2
 

A

    9.2
 

Baa/BBB

   20.5
 

Ba/BB

   19.8
 

B

    0.3

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of 
Net Assets 
 

FHLMC, 3.000%, 04/01/51

   3.1
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.250%, 05/15/41

   2.5
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.875%, 02/15/51

   2.2
 

FNMA, 3.500%, 08/01/49

   2.2
 

FNMA, 3.500%, 02/01/35

   2.2
 

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K134, Class A2, 2.243%, 10/25/31

   2.1
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.125%, 05/15/48

   2.1
 

FHLMC, 5.500%, 07/01/53

   2.1
 

FNMA, 3.500%, 02/01/47

   2.0
 

FNMA, 5.500%, 11/01/52

   1.9
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    22.4 
  

 

 

 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

8


   

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Corporate Bonds and Notes - 52.4%

     

Financials - 11.0%

 

  

American Express Co.

     

(3.550% to 09/15/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 2.854%), 3.550%, 09/15/261,2,3

     $1,195,000        $1,024,473  

Bank of America Corp.

     

MTN, (4.330% to 03/15/49 then 3 month SOFR + 1.782%), 4.330%, 03/15/501,3

     2,775,000        2,442,491  

(5.872% to 09/15/33 then SOFR + 1.840%), 5.872%, 09/15/341,3,4

     3,100,000        3,244,988  

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

     

Series G, (4.700% to 09/20/25 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 4.358%), 4.700%, 09/20/251,2,3

     4,100,000        3,995,562  

Citigroup, Inc.

     

Series P, (5.950% to 05/15/25 then 3 month SOFR + 4.167%), 5.950%, 05/15/251,2,3

     1,550,000        1,517,152  

Series T, (6.250% to 08/15/26 then 3 month SOFR + 4.779%), 6.250%, 08/15/261,2,3,4

     1,075,000        1,061,022  

Crown Castle, Inc.
4.000%, 03/01/27

     2,300,000        2,223,045  

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     

Series O, (5.300% to 11/10/26 then 3 month SOFR + 4.096%), 5.300%, 11/10/261,2,3,4

     1,125,000        1,098,853  

6.750%, 10/01/37

     1,850,000        2,036,362  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

     

(4.443% to 08/04/27 then SOFR + 1.970%), 4.443%, 08/04/281,3

     2,430,000        2,355,353  

Morgan Stanley

     

3.950%, 04/23/27

     2,200,000        2,135,560  

(4.431% to 01/23/29 then 3 month SOFR + 1.890%), 4.431%, 01/23/301,3

     2,948,000        2,871,285  

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

     

(5.068% to 01/24/33 then SOFR + 1.933%), 5.068%, 01/24/341,3

     2,386,000        2,334,607  

SBA Communications Corp.
3.875%, 02/15/27

     2,950,000        2,832,926  

SLM Corp.

     

3.125%, 11/02/26

     3,365,000        3,137,644  

4.200%, 10/29/25

     838,000        812,860  

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.
4.750%, 03/15/25

     1,700,000        1,677,390  

Truist Financial Corp., MTN

     

(5.867% to 06/08/33 then SOFR + 2.361%), 5.867%, 06/08/341,3

     2,288,000        2,333,975  

US Bancorp

     

(5.775% to 06/12/28 then SOFR + 2.020%), 5.775%, 06/12/291,3

     2,350,000        2,414,282  

Wells Fargo & Co.
Series U, 5.875%, 06/15/252,3

     3,400,000        3,364,560  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Weyerhaeuser Co.
6.875%, 12/15/33

     $2,600,000        $2,857,623  

Total Financials

        47,772,013  

Industrials - 39.7%

 

  

Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp.
4.272%, 08/15/48

     1,700,000        1,528,686  

AECOM
5.125%, 03/15/27

     1,650,000        1,638,118  

Air Canada (Canada)
3.875%, 08/15/265

     1,200,000        1,146,468  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

     

2.700%, 05/15/40

     1,950,000        1,485,379  

4.800%, 03/03/334

     1,171,000        1,208,340  

Alcoa Nederland Holding, B.V. (Netherlands)
4.125%, 03/31/294,5

     5,150,000        4,775,665  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.
4.375%, 04/15/38

     2,200,000        2,086,313  

APi Group DE, Inc.
4.125%, 07/15/294,5

     1,275,000        1,160,194  

Aramark Services, Inc.
5.000%, 02/01/284,5

     3,020,000        2,929,520  

Ashtead Capital, Inc.
1.500%, 08/12/265

     3,536,000        3,205,920  

AT&T, Inc.
4.300%, 02/15/30

     2,200,000        2,154,253  

Ball Corp.
2.875%, 08/15/30

     3,625,000        3,110,195  

Broadcom, Inc.
4.300%, 11/15/32

     2,820,000        2,705,407  

BWX Technologies, Inc.
4.125%, 06/30/285

     1,225,000        1,135,930  

Campbell Soup Co.
2.375%, 04/24/30

     2,680,000        2,322,904  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
5.500%, 05/01/265

     2,000,000        1,986,680  

Celanese US Holdings LLC
6.550%, 11/15/30

     4,249,000        4,491,732  

Centene Corp.
3.375%, 02/15/30

     3,650,000        3,274,890  

CF Industries, Inc.
5.150%, 03/15/344

     1,170,000        1,157,459  

Cisco Systems, Inc.
5.500%, 01/15/40

     1,400,000        1,490,285  

Clean Harbors, Inc.
4.875%, 07/15/275

     2,520,000        2,469,328  

Clearwater Paper Corp.
4.750%, 08/15/285

     1,950,000        1,807,654  

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.
3.500%, 05/01/265

     3,365,000        3,221,533  

Comcast Corp.
4.650%, 02/15/334

     3,217,000        3,236,379  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Industrials - 39.7% (continued)

     

CommonSpirit Health

     

3.347%, 10/01/29

     $1,950,000        $1,780,459  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc.

     

3.000%, 02/15/294

     1,285,000        1,161,289  

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. V

     

4.250%, 09/30/26

     2,850,000        2,764,505  

Dell International LLC/EMC Corp.

     

8.100%, 07/15/36

     972,000        1,195,462  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

     

7.375%, 01/15/264

     2,475,000        2,558,531  

Discovery Communications LLC

     

3.950%, 03/20/28

     2,047,000        1,947,032  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty, Ltd. (Australia)

     

4.500%, 09/15/275

     2,750,000        2,642,157  

The Ford Foundation

     

Series 2020, 2.415%, 06/01/50

     2,725,000        1,793,247  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     

4.625%, 08/01/304

     2,961,000        2,893,538  

Graphic Packaging International LLC

     

3.500%, 03/01/295

     2,850,000        2,566,093  

Hasbro, Inc.

     

3.900%, 11/19/294

     3,120,000        2,901,510  

HB Fuller Co.

     

4.250%, 10/15/28

     3,150,000        2,945,419  

HCA, Inc.

     

3.500%, 09/01/304

     3,050,000        2,764,905  

Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.

     

4.875%, 01/15/30

     2,600,000        2,519,808  

The Home Depot, Inc.

     

5.875%, 12/16/36

     1,450,000        1,620,728  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc.

     

6.875%, 05/01/25

     1,050,000        1,063,611  

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

     

5.900%, 03/01/33

     4,293,000        4,382,461  

KB Home

     

4.800%, 11/15/29

     1,222,000        1,167,621  

6.875%, 06/15/27

     1,751,000        1,819,724  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.

     

4.625%, 10/01/39

     2,480,000        2,305,206  

Lamar Media Corp.

     

4.875%, 01/15/294

     3,250,000        3,137,287  

Methanex Corp. (Canada)

     

5.125%, 10/15/27

     1,205,000        1,177,166  

Microsoft Corp.

     

2.525%, 06/01/50

     2,450,000        1,672,549  

MSCI, Inc.

     

3.250%, 08/15/335

     2,015,000        1,684,111  

Mueller Water Products, Inc.

     

4.000%, 06/15/295

     3,000,000        2,732,997  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

     

4.750%, 09/15/29

     $3,250,000        $3,079,375  

Novelis Corp.

     

3.250%, 11/15/265

     3,175,000        2,988,941  

Owens Corning

     

7.000%, 12/01/366

     1,800,000        2,064,599  

Packaging Corp. of America

     

5.700%, 12/01/33

     2,155,000        2,268,525  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

     

3.250%, 06/14/29

     1,650,000        1,552,487  

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

     

3.500%, 09/01/25

     2,000,000        1,940,316  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc.

     

5.750%, 04/15/265

     2,800,000        2,815,170  

PulteGroup, Inc.

     

6.000%, 02/15/35

     2,050,000        2,152,619  

Sensata Technologies, B.V.

     

4.000%, 04/15/295

     1,275,000        1,184,877  

SK Hynix, Inc. (South Korea)

     

2.375%, 01/19/315

     3,000,000        2,431,860  

Sonoco Products Co.

     

2.850%, 02/01/32

     1,822,000        1,550,301  

Sysco Corp.

     

2.400%, 02/15/30

     3,975,000        3,506,270  

Teleflex, Inc.

     

4.250%, 06/01/285

     3,100,000        2,938,133  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

     

4.875%, 01/01/26

     3,250,000        3,213,380  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III, B.V. (Netherlands)

     

5.125%, 05/09/294

     2,300,000        2,196,607  

Toll Brothers Finance Corp.

     

4.875%, 03/15/274

     2,750,000        2,734,033  

Travel + Leisure Co.

     

5.650%, 04/01/246

     2,300,000        2,297,125  

Twilio, Inc.

     

3.625%, 03/15/294

     600,000        547,372  

3.875%, 03/15/31

     2,194,000        1,953,768  

United Parcel Service, Inc.

     

6.200%, 01/15/38

     1,500,000        1,715,088  

United Rentals North America, Inc.

     

3.875%, 02/15/314

     3,400,000        3,089,240  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     

3.875%, 02/08/29

     4,408,000        4,273,476  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

     

3.200%, 04/15/304

     1,225,000        1,078,332  

4.800%, 11/18/44

     2,520,000        2,099,608  

Walmart, Inc.

     

4.050%, 06/29/48

     1,850,000        1,689,895  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Industrials - 39.7% (continued)

     

Western Digital Corp.

     

4.750%, 02/15/26

     $1,916,000        $1,879,631  

Yum! Brands, Inc.

     

3.625%, 03/15/314

     3,050,000        2,750,472  

Total Industrials

        172,918,148  

Utilities - 1.7%

     

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

     

1.350%, 03/15/31

     4,635,000        3,635,963  

Northern States Power Co.

     

2.900%, 03/01/50

     5,365,000        3,758,287  

Total Utilities

        7,394,250  

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes
(Cost $243,221,612)

        228,084,411  

Asset-Backed Securities - 1.2%

     

American Express Credit Account Master Trust

     

Series 2022-4, Class A

     

4.950%, 10/15/27

     2,145,000        2,151,940  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust

     

Series 2022-B, Class A4 3.930%, 08/15/27

     2,193,000        2,155,037  

Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust

     

Series 2021-B, Class A4

     

0.530%, 10/15/26

     858,000        811,310  

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $5,073,748)

        5,118,287  

Municipal Bonds - 6.3%

     

California Health Facilities Financing Authority
4.190%, 06/01/37

     3,500,000        3,237,206  

California State General Obligation, School Improvements, Build America Bonds

     

7.550%, 04/01/39

     2,300,000        2,903,999  

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Series B

     

4.110%, 07/15/31

     2,380,694        2,361,371  

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Series A

     

4.507%, 11/01/51

     1,000,000        933,500  

JobsOhio Beverage System, Series A

     

2.833%, 01/01/38

     3,700,000        3,015,869  

Los Angeles Unified School District, School Improvements, Build America Bonds

     

5.750%, 07/01/34

     3,225,000        3,423,646  

Massachusetts School Building Authority,

     

Series B, 1.753%, 08/15/30

     4,500,000        3,867,779  

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Pension Funding, Series A (National Insured)

     

7.425%, 02/15/29

     3,300,000        3,565,910  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

     

6.040%, 12/01/29

     2,000,000        2,159,850  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

University of California, Series BI

     

1.697%, 05/15/29

     $2,400,000        $2,092,272  

Total Municipal Bonds
(Cost $31,662,496)

        27,561,402  

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations - 39.3%

 

  

Fannie Mae - 16.4%

 

  

FNMA

     

3.500%, 02/01/35 to 02/01/51

     35,224,804        33,399,236  

4.000%, 07/01/44 to 01/01/51

     21,674,568        20,868,127  

4.500%, 05/01/48 to 06/01/49

     6,084,577        6,054,691  

5.000%, 05/01/50

     2,762,454        2,775,736  

5.500%, 11/01/52

     8,270,894        8,450,458  

Total Fannie Mae

        71,548,248  

Freddie Mac - 13.3%

     

FHLMC

     

2.000%, 03/01/36

     7,738,239        6,980,786  

3.000%, 04/01/51

     15,264,033        13,544,148  

3.500%, 02/01/50

     8,607,304        8,010,947  

4.500%, 10/01/48 to 12/01/48

     9,140,912        9,011,400  

5.500%, 07/01/53

     8,859,092        8,945,263  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates

     

Series K134, Class A2
2.243%, 10/25/313

     10,730,000        9,195,313  

Freddie Mac REMICS

     

Series 5297, Class DA
5.000%, 12/25/52

     2,148,576        2,130,912  

Total Freddie Mac

        57,818,769  

Ginnie Mae - 0.5%

     

GNMA

     

Series 2023-111, Class FD
(SOFR + 1.000%, Cap 7.000%, Floor 1.000%), 6.338%, 08/20/533

     2,122,350        2,116,379  

U.S. Treasury Obligations - 9.1%

     

U.S. Treasury Bonds

     

1.250%, 05/15/50

     4,625,000        2,492,261  

1.875%, 02/15/51

     15,247,000        9,668,146  

2.250%, 05/15/41

     14,109,000        10,746,539  

2.500%, 02/15/46

     2,096,000        1,572,737  

3.125%, 05/15/48

     10,968,000        9,137,715  

3.500%, 02/15/39

     6,477,000        6,134,174  

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations

        39,751,572  

Total U.S. Government and Agency Obligations
(Cost $195,408,520)

        171,234,968  

Short-Term Investments - 3.3%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 3.2%7

 

  

Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $3,008,261 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 0.000% - 7.613%, 08/01/25 - 09/20/73, totaling $3,066,563)

     3,006,434        3,006,434  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

11


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 3.2%7 (continued)

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $632,324 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $644,663)

     $631,946        $631,946  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $3,533,991 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $3,602,533)

     3,531,895        3,531,895  

Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.390% total to be received $3,498,670 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 1.500% - 6.838%, 10/25/30 - 03/20/71, totaling $3,566,507)

     3,496,576        3,496,576  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

State of Wisconsin Investment Board, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.470% total to be received $3,463,361 (collateralized by various U.S. Treasuries, 0.125% - 3.625%, 04/15/25 - 02/15/53, totaling $3,527,941)

     $3,461,257        $3,461,257  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

        14,128,108  

Repurchase Agreements - 0.1%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $293,168 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $298,920)

     293,000        293,000  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $14,421,108)

        14,421,108  

Total Investments - 102.5%
(Cost $489,787,484)

        446,420,176  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (2.5)%

 

     (10,998,720

Net Assets - 100.0%

        $435,421,456  
 

 

1 

Fixed to variable rate investment. The rate shown reflects the fixed rate in effect at December 31, 2023. Rate will reset at a future date.

 

2 

Perpetuity Bond. The date shown represents the next call date.

 

3 

Variable rate security. The rate shown is based on the latest available information as of December 31, 2023. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

 

4 

Some of these securities, amounting to $22,416,408 or 5.1% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

5 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $45,823,231 or 10.5% of net assets.

6 

Step Bond: A debt instrument with either deferred interest payments or an interest rate that resets at specific times during its term.

 

7 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

CMT   Constant Maturity Treasury
FHLMC   Freddie Mac
FNMA   Fannie Mae
GNMA   Ginnie Mae
MTN   Medium-Term Note
National Insured   National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
REMICS   Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
SOFR   Secured Overnight Financing Rate
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

12


    

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

    

Level 2

 

    

Level 3

 

    

Total

 

 

 Investments in Securities

           

 Corporate Bonds and Notes

          $ 228,084,411             $ 228,084,411  

 Asset-Backed Securities

            5,118,287               5,118,287  

 Municipal Bonds

            27,561,402               27,561,402  

 U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

            171,234,968               171,234,968  

 Short-Term Investments

           

 Joint Repurchase Agreements

            14,128,108               14,128,108  

 Repurchase Agreements

            293,000               293,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

          $ 446,420,176             $ 446,420,176  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

All corporate bonds and notes, municipal bonds, and U.S. government and agency obligations held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of corporate bonds and notes, municipal bonds, and U.S. government and agency obligations by major industry or agency classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

13


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 5.89% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the return of 5.53% for Fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW

 

The fixed income market experienced a solid rally in the first quarter of 2023, rebounding from its worst year on record. Much of the period saw a continuation of the tension that drove trading in 2022: inflation continued to slow, but at a glacial pace; a moribund housing market and downbeat consumer had yet to manifest as a slowdown in spending; and a record pace of rate hikes was unable to cool a stubbornly hot labor market. Investors also struggled to anticipate the U.S, Federal Reserve (the Fed)’s reaction function amid the various crosscurrents, while Chair Powell’s commentary offered few concrete insights beyond a firm resolve and data dependence. But the narrative shifted abruptly in the final weeks, as signs of systemic instability flared up amid a flurry of bank failures. The implications of this turmoil for financial conditions were not yet evident, but the stress in the banking sector was a complicating factor for both the Fed and the bond market.

 

The market posted a small loss in the second quarter, giving back a portion of the banking crisis-inspired rally that occurred in the closing days of March. Sentiment was cautious at the outset and investors sought haven assets on the possibility of contagion in the financial sector. But as it became clear that fallout from the failure of several regional lenders was likely to be contained, attention returned to the underlying strength of the economy and the stubborn persistence of inflation. The labor market gave only the slightest indications of softening, the buoyant housing sector continued to defy higher mortgage rates, and consumer spending once again proved irrepressible. Inflation showed limited progress on its path lower, plateauing at a level solidly above the Fed’s 2% target. Against this backdrop, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) endeavored to maintain restrictive financial conditions by raising rates and providing hawkish guidance. There was nevertheless scant evidence of the Fed’s success in curbing aggregate demand away from some narrow segments of the commercial real estate and consumer finance markets.

    

The market posted a significant loss in the third quarter that more than offset the gains achieved in the first half of the year. The higher-for-longer Fed narrative increasingly took center stage, driven by a surprisingly resilient economy, surging oil prices, and inflation that persisted well above the Fed’s 2% target. While there were subtle signs that the labor market and consumer credit metrics might be softening, the unemployment rate remained near cycle lows and the consumer continued to spend robustly. The undeniably strong cadence of the economy left economists upgrading their third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimates and recharging optimism for a soft landing. Fed officials held rates steady at the September FOMC meeting, but thwarted hopes for a pivot by signaling the possibility of one more hike during the year and projecting less easing in 2024/2025.

 

The market experienced an extraordinary rally in the fourth quarter on elevated odds of an economic soft landing and dovish signals from the Fed. The strong performance was a sharp reversal from the prior quarter, which briefly raised the specter of an unprecedented third consecutive annual loss for the bond market. Sentiment was bolstered first by news that the U.S. Treasury’s borrowing needs were lower than feared and then lifted further by a series of upbeat economic readings and moderating price pressure. The final stage of the rally was powered by the arrival of the long-awaited Fed pivot, which left little doubt that the hiking cycle had concluded. Both the rates market and credit swiftly repriced to reflect a more rapid series of cuts and narrower risk premia, lifting asset prices across the board, and broadly easing financial conditions.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund outperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index for 2023. The Fund’s overweight to spread product was the main driver of outperformance, particularly the overweight to Corporates. Our out-of-benchmark allocations to high yield Corporates and Preferreds were also positive contributors along with our overweight to Taxable Municipals and overweight to lower rated investment grade Corporates. This was offset somewhat by negative security selection within BBB-rated Corporates, particularly within the communications, consumer cyclical and finance companies sectors. The effects from duration and yield curve were negative, mostly from our overweight to intermediate rates which underperformed other parts of the curve.

    

The corporate bond market remains in a transition period with respect to ESG and sustainability. Many companies have set sustainability targets and are now shifting into the implementation phase, at times supported by public funds and incentives. However, higher inflation and increased regulatory costs of reporting have kept progress slow. Still, despite a sometimes-downbeat portrayal in media, investors continue to show a strong interest in ESG and sustainability, with fund flows and ESG bond issuance remaining roughly steady from last year. 2024 promises to be another important year for global ESG topics with many important regions poised for elections that could have a meaningful impact on the direction of ESG initiatives globally. Overall, we believe ESG and sustainability concerns will remain key issues for both companies and investors in the coming year. We continue to integrate ESG as a core part of our fundamental investment process and will closely monitor regulatory and policy actions that could influence the ESG investing landscape.

 

OUTLOOK

 

After a brief period in the second quarter that saw the bond market converge with the Fed’s dot plot, a rift has once again formed. The Fed projects three rate cuts in 2024 while the Fed funds futures market expects more than six. Similarly, the persistent inversion of the yield curve suggests the bond market is pricing in elevated odds of a recession, while the Fed’s median projections don’t see GDP growth falling below 1.4%. The inversion of the yield curve seems less likely to persist indefinitely, especially if rates normalize into a soft landing.

 

A soft landing would provide a favorable backdrop for corporate fundamentals. By creating conditions that allow the Fed to cut rates, it would both support topline growth and promote favorable liquidity conditions, thereby easing future refinancing needs. It would also be constructive on a technical basis, given that it would enhance the appeal of spread product. Valuations at current levels are less appealing, with breakevens versus Treasuries at the lower end of their historical range and leaving little room for error. As such, we believe this backdrop supports a neutral view of credit. Within the space, we favor names with defensive operating and financial metrics, given that investors do not seem to be assigning a meaningful discount to riskier business profiles. Within the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) space, we see a continued interest from banks helping support demand as valuations

 

 

14


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

edge closer to long-term averages. We continue to favor seasoned, high-coupon pools that offer higher carry and better convexity profiles.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

         

 

 

15


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

     

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One        Five        Ten  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year        Years        Years  
AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

 

Class N

   5.89%      1.62%        1.54%  

Class I

   6.05%      1.77%        1.72%  

Class Z

   6.13%        1.86%          1.79%  

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index19

   5.53%        1.10%          1.81%  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

5  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

6  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

7  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

8  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

9  During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

10 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the

 

 

 

16


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

11 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

12 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

13 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

14 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

15 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than

    

   higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

16 Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, while obligations issued by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and are backed solely by the entity’s own resources or by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. If one of these agencies defaults on a loan, there is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support.

 

17 Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities involve risk of severe credit downgrades, loss due to prepayments that occur earlier or later than expected, illiquidity and default.

 

18 Because applying the Fund’s ESG investment criteria may result in the selection or exclusion of securities of certain issuers for reasons other than financial performance, the Fund’s investment returns may underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG factors into their investment process. The incorporation of ESG criteria into the investment process may affect the Fund’s investment exposure to certain companies, sectors, regions, countries or types of investments, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance

    

   depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Applying ESG criteria to investment decisions is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria utilized by the Subadviser or any judgment exercised by the Subadviser will improve the financial performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s ESG practices or the Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time.

 

19 The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an index of the U.S. investment-grade fixed-rate bond market, including both government and corporate bonds. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

17


   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Category    % of
Net Assets
 
 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

     48.4    
 

Corporate Bonds and Notes

     42.6    
 

Municipal Bonds

     5.6    
 

Asset-Backed Securities

     1.3    
 

Short-Term Investments

     5.3    
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

     (3.2)   

 

 Rating    % of Market Value1  
 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

     49.4     
 

Aaa/AAA

     4.3     
 

Aa/AA

     5.2     
 

A

     8.9     
 

Baa/BBB

     20.0     
 

Ba/BB

     12.0     
 

B

     0.2     

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of
Net Assets
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.250%, 05/15/41

   2.8
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.500%, 02/15/39

   2.7
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.875%, 02/15/51

   2.3
 

FNMA, 3.500%, 02/01/47

   2.1
 

FNMA, 4.000%, 10/01/43

   1.9
 

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K133, Class A2, 2.096%, 09/25/31

   1.8
 

FNMA, 4.500%, 09/01/46

   1.8
 

FHLMC, 3.000%, 03/01/51

   1.6
 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.125%, 05/15/48

   1.6
 

California State General Obligation, School Improvements, Build America Bonds, 7.550%, 04/01/39

   1.6
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    20.2 
  

 

    
 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

18


   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Corporate Bonds and Notes - 42.6%

     

Financials - 11.7%

     

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust (Ireland) 1.650%, 10/29/24

     $450,000          $434,297  

Air Lease Corp.

     

2.875%, 01/15/26

     248,000        236,260  

American Express Co.

     

(3.550% to 09/15/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 2.854%), 3.550%, 09/15/261,2,3

     445,000        381,498  

Bank of America Corp.

     

MTN, (4.330% to 03/15/49 then 3 month SOFR + 1.782%), 4.330%, 03/15/501,3,4

     390,000        343,269  

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

     

Series I, (3.750% to 12/20/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 2.630%), 3.750%, 12/20/261,2,3

     61,000        52,724  

Series G, (4.700% to 09/20/25 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 4.358%), 4.700%, 09/20/251,2,3

     206,000        200,753  

Citigroup, Inc.

     

Series P, (5.950% to 05/15/25 then 3 month SOFR + 4.167%), 5.950%, 05/15/251,2,3

     140,000        137,033  

Crown Castle, Inc.

     

4.300%, 02/15/29

     375,000        360,892  

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     

Series O, (5.300% to 11/10/26 then 3 month SOFR + 4.096%), 5.300%, 11/10/261,2,3,4

     193,000        188,514  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     

(6.254% to 10/23/33 then SOFR + 1.810%), 6.254%, 10/23/341,3,4

     370,000        401,075  

Morgan Stanley

     

(4.431% to 01/23/29 then 3 month SOFR + 1.890%), 4.431%, 01/23/301,3

     415,000        404,201  

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

     

(5.068% to 01/24/33 then SOFR + 1.933%), 5.068%, 01/24/341,3

     412,000        403,126  

SBA Communications Corp.

     

3.875%, 02/15/27

     200,000        192,063  

SLM Corp.

     

3.125%, 11/02/26

     275,000        256,420  

US Bancorp

     

(5.775% to 06/12/28 then SOFR + 2.020%), 5.775%, 06/12/291,3

     375,000        385,258  

Wells Fargo & Co.

     

MTN, (2.879% to 10/30/29 then 3 month SOFR + 1.432%), 2.879%, 10/30/301,3

     450,000        400,033  

Total Financials

        4,777,416  

Industrials - 30.3%

     

AECOM

     

5.125%, 03/15/27

     223,000        221,394  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Air Canada (Canada)

     

3.875%, 08/15/265

     $105,000          $100,316  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

     

4.800%, 03/03/334

     246,000        253,844  

Alcoa Nederland Holding, B.V. (Netherlands)

     

4.125%, 03/31/294,5

     480,000        445,111  

APi Group DE, Inc.

     

4.125%, 07/15/294,5

     105,000        95,545  

Aramark Services, Inc.

     

5.000%, 02/01/284,5

     207,000        200,798  

Ashtead Capital, Inc.

     

1.500%, 08/12/265

     308,000        279,249  

AT&T, Inc.

     

1.650%, 02/01/28

     205,000        182,553  

4.300%, 02/15/30

     190,000        186,049  

Ball Corp.

     

2.875%, 08/15/30

     223,000        191,331  

Broadcom, Inc.

     

4.150%, 11/15/30

     333,000        318,075  

BWX Technologies, Inc.

     

4.125%, 06/30/285

     110,000        102,002  

Campbell Soup Co.

     

2.375%, 04/24/30

     230,000        199,354  

Celanese US Holdings LLC

     

6.550%, 11/15/30

     370,000        391,137  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital

     

4.908%, 07/23/25

     307,000        304,082  

Clean Harbors, Inc.

     

4.875%, 07/15/275

     195,000        191,079  

Clearwater Paper Corp.

     

4.750%, 08/15/285

     214,000        198,378  

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

     

3.500%, 05/01/265

     267,000        255,616  

Comcast Corp.

     

4.150%, 10/15/28

     85,000        83,816  

4.650%, 02/15/334

     105,000        105,633  

CommonSpirit Health

     

3.347%, 10/01/29

     403,000        367,962  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc.

     

3.000%, 02/15/294

     218,000        197,012  

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. V

     

4.250%, 09/30/264

     252,000        244,440  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

     

4.375%, 04/19/28

     70,000        67,726  

Fiserv, Inc.

     

4.200%, 10/01/284

     353,000        344,984  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty, Ltd. (Australia)

     

4.500%, 09/15/275

     72,000        69,177  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

19


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Industrials - 30.3% (continued)

     

The Ford Foundation

     

Series 2020, 2.415%, 06/01/50

     $468,000          $307,978  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     

4.625%, 08/01/304

     306,000        299,028  

Graphic Packaging International LLC

     

4.750%, 07/15/275

     60,000        58,200  

HB Fuller Co.

     

4.250%, 10/15/28

     71,000        66,389  

HCA, Inc.

     

3.500%, 09/01/304

     332,000        300,967  

Hillenbrand, Inc.

     

5.000%, 09/15/266

     60,000        59,312  

Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.

     

4.875%, 01/15/30

     217,000        210,307  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc.

     

5.900%, 02/01/274

     151,000        154,875  

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

     

5.900%, 03/01/33

     360,000        367,502  

KB Home

     

4.800%, 11/15/29

     236,000        225,498  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.

     

4.250%, 03/01/314

     366,000        358,517  

Lamar Media Corp.

     

3.750%, 02/15/28

     60,000        56,281  

McDonald’s Corp.

     

4.800%, 08/14/28

     279,000        283,813  

Merck & Co., Inc.

     

1.900%, 12/10/284

     159,000        143,091  

Meritage Homes Corp.

     

5.125%, 06/06/27

     60,000        59,120  

Methanex Corp. (Canada)

     

5.125%, 10/15/27

     97,000        94,759  

Microsoft Corp.

     

2.525%, 06/01/50

     484,000        330,414  

MSCI, Inc.

     

3.250%, 08/15/335

     273,000        228,170  

Mueller Water Products, Inc.

     

4.000%, 06/15/295

     55,000        50,105  

Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

     

4.750%, 09/15/29

     75,000        71,063  

5.625%, 05/01/27

     125,000        123,911  

Novelis Corp.

     

3.250%, 11/15/265

     215,000        202,401  

Packaging Corp. of America

     

5.700%, 12/01/33

     190,000        200,009  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc.

     

5.750%, 04/15/265

     149,000        149,807  

Sealed Air Corp.

     

4.000%, 12/01/275

     70,000        65,700  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Sensata Technologies, B.V.

     

4.000%, 04/15/295

     $200,000          $185,863  

Sonoco Products Co.

     

2.850%, 02/01/32

     279,000        237,395  

Sysco Corp.

     

2.400%, 02/15/30

     420,000        370,474  

Teleflex, Inc.

     

4.250%, 06/01/285

     70,000        66,345  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

     

4.875%, 01/01/26

     160,000        158,197  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III, B.V. (Netherlands)

     

5.125%, 05/09/29

     200,000        191,009  

United Rentals North America, Inc.

     

3.875%, 02/15/314

     195,000        177,177  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     

3.875%, 02/08/294

     374,000        362,586  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

     

3.200%, 04/15/304

     469,000        412,847  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.

     

7.250%, 06/15/285

     140,000        143,896  

Total Industrials

        12,369,669  

Utilities - 0.6%

     

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

     

1.350%, 03/15/31

     332,000        260,440  

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes

 

  

(Cost $18,153,700)

        17,407,525  

Asset-Backed Securities - 1.3%

     

American Express Credit Account Master Trust

     

Series 2022-4, Class A
4.950%, 10/15/27

     200,000        200,647  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust
Series 2022-B, Class A4
3.930%, 08/15/27

     205,000        201,451  

Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust

 

  

Series 2021-B, Class A3
0.260%, 11/17/25

     40,731        39,855  

Series 2021-B, Class A4
0.530%, 10/15/26

     85,000        80,375  

Total Asset-Backed Securities

     

(Cost $517,991)

        522,328  

Municipal Bonds - 5.6%

 

  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority

     

4.190%, 06/01/37

     240,000        221,980  

California State General Obligation, School Improvements, Build America Bonds

     

7.550%, 04/01/39

     500,000        631,304  

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Series B

     

4.110%, 07/15/31

     226,015        224,181  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Aviation Revenue

     

Series C, 4.280%, 10/01/41

     430,000        390,437  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

20


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Municipal Bonds - 5.6% (continued)

 

  

Los Angeles Unified School District, School Improvements, Build America Bonds

     

5.750%, 07/01/34

     $360,000          $382,174  

Massachusetts School Building Authority,

 

  

Series B, 1.753%, 08/15/30

     368,000        316,298  

University of California, University & College Improvements, Series BD
3.349%, 07/01/29

     120,000        114,103  

Total Municipal Bonds

     

(Cost $2,495,536)

        2,280,477  

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations - 48.4%

 

  

Fannie Mae - 24.8%

 

  

FNMA

     

3.000%, 06/01/33 to 05/01/50

     999,842        934,815  

3.500%, 04/01/34 to 05/01/52

     4,062,167        3,831,516  

4.000%, 10/01/43 to 06/01/49

     2,335,784        2,264,693  

4.500%, 04/01/39 to 05/01/53

     2,274,263        2,249,179  

5.000%, 07/01/47

     487,714        495,597  

5.500%, 11/01/52

     326,519        333,608  

Total Fannie Mae

        10,109,408  

Freddie Mac - 9.2%

     

FHLMC

     

2.000%, 09/01/35

     240,315        216,981  

3.000%, 03/01/50 to 03/01/51

     1,233,841        1,105,846  

4.000%, 07/01/48

     297,395        286,860  

4.500%, 10/01/41

     430,385        429,830  

5.500%, 06/01/53

     482,060        486,818  

FHLMC Gold Pool

     

3.500%, 02/01/30 to 01/01/31

     222,381        217,047  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates

     

Series K133, Class A2
2.096%, 09/25/31

     880,000        746,511  

Series K134, Class A2
2.243%, 10/25/313

     95,000        81,412  

Freddie Mac REMICS Series 5297, Class DA
5.000%, 12/25/52

     204,853        203,169  

Total Freddie Mac

        3,774,474  

Ginnie Mae - 0.5%

     

GNMA

     

Series 2023-111, Class FD
(SOFR + 1.000%, Cap 7.000%, Floor 1.000%),
6.338%, 08/20/533

     197,428        196,873  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

U.S. Treasury Obligations - 13.9%

 

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds

     

1.875%, 02/15/51

     $1,487,000          $942,909  

2.250%, 05/15/41

     1,508,000        1,148,613  

2.500%, 02/15/46

     338,000        253,619  

3.125%, 05/15/48

     771,000        642,339  

3.500%, 02/15/39

     1,148,000        1,087,237  

3.625%, 02/15/53

     225,000        207,774  

3.875%, 02/15/43

     397,000        378,515  

5.000%, 05/15/37

     163,000        182,286  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes

     

0.250%, 01/15/25

     292,273        283,689  

0.500%, 01/15/28

     293,120        277,345  

1.125%, 01/15/33

     263,385        249,135  

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations

        5,653,461  

Total U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

 

  

(Cost $21,531,747)

        19,734,216  

Short-Term Investments - 5.3%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 5.3%7

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $1,000,598 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $1,020,123)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.350% total to be received $185,684 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% - 6.500%, 09/01/46 - 06/01/62, totaling $189,285)

     185,574        185,574  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

     2,185,574  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $2,185,574)

        2,185,574  

Total Investments - 103.2%

     

(Cost $44,884,548)

        42,130,120  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (3.2)%

 

     (1,313,459

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $40,816,661  
 

 

1 

Fixed to variable rate investment. The rate shown reflects the fixed rate in effect at December 31, 2023. Rate will reset at a future date.

 

2 

Perpetuity Bond. The date shown represents the next call date.

3 

Variable rate security. The rate shown is based on the latest available information as of December 31, 2023. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

21


    

 

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

4 

Some of these securities, amounting to $4,139,635 or 10.1% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

5 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $3,087,758 or 7.6% of net assets.

 

6 

Step Bond: A debt instrument with either deferred interest payments or an interest rate that resets at specific times during its term.

 

7 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

CMT

Constant Maturity Treasury

FHLMC

Freddie Mac

FNMA

Fannie Mae

GNMA

Ginnie Mae

MTN

Medium-Term Note

REMICS

Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

SOFR

Secured Overnight Financing Rate

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

      

Level 2

 

      

Level 3

 

      

Total

 

 

Investments in Securities

                 

Corporate Bonds and Notes

            $ 17,407,525                 $ 17,407,525  

Asset-Backed Securities

              522,328                   522,328  

Municipal Bonds

              2,280,477                   2,280,477  

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

              19,734,216                   19,734,216  

Short-Term Investments

                 

Joint Repurchase Agreements

              2,185,574                   2,185,574  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       —        $ 42,130,120            —        $ 42,130,120  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

All corporate bonds and notes, municipal bonds, and U.S. government agency obligations held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of corporate bonds and notes, municipal bonds, and U.S. government agency obligations by major industry or agency classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

22


    

 

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

AMG GW&K High Income Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 9.13% during the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the 9.65% return for the Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1–5 Year Ba Index.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW

 

The fixed income market experienced a solid rally in the first quarter of 2023, rebounding from its worst year on record. Much of the period saw a continuation of the tension that drove trading in 2022: inflation continued to slow, but at a glacial pace; a moribund housing market and downbeat consumer had yet to manifest as a slowdown in spending; and a record pace of rate hikes was unable to cool a stubbornly hot labor market. Investors also struggled to anticipate the U. S Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) reaction function amid the various crosscurrents, while Chair Powell’s commentary offered few concrete insights beyond a firm resolve and data dependence. But the narrative shifted abruptly in the final weeks, as signs of systemic instability flared up amid a flurry of bank failures. The implications of this turmoil for financial conditions were not yet evident, but the stress in the banking sector was a complicating factor for both the Fed and the bond market.

 

The market posted a small loss in the second quarter, giving back a portion of the banking crisis-inspired rally that occurred in the closing days of March. Sentiment was cautious at the outset and investors sought haven assets on the possibility of contagion in the financial sector. But as it became clear that fallout from the failure of several regional lenders was likely to be contained, attention returned to the underlying strength of the economy and the stubborn persistence of inflation. The labor market gave only the slightest indications of softening, the buoyant housing sector continued to defy higher mortgage rates, and consumer spending once again proved irrepressible. Inflation showed limited progress on its path lower, plateauing at a level solidly above the Fed’s 2% target. Against this backdrop, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) endeavored to maintain restrictive financial conditions by raising rates and providing hawkish

    

guidance. There was nevertheless scant evidence of the Fed’s success in curbing aggregate demand away from some narrow segments of the commercial real estate and consumer finance markets.

 

The market posted a significant loss in the third quarter that more than offset the gains achieved in the first half of the year. The higher-for-longer Fed narrative increasingly took center stage, driven by a surprisingly resilient economy, surging oil prices, and inflation that persisted well above the Fed’s 2% target. While there were subtle signs that the labor market and consumer credit metrics might be softening, the unemployment rate remained near cycle lows and the consumer continued to spend robustly. The undeniably strong cadence of the economy left economists upgrading their third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimates and recharging optimism for a soft landing. Fed officials held rates steady at the September FOMC meeting, but thwarted hopes for a pivot by signaling the possibility of one more hike during the year and projecting less easing in 2024/2025.

 

The market experienced an extraordinary rally in the fourth quarter on elevated odds of an economic soft landing and dovish signals from the Fed. The strong performance was a sharp reversal from the prior quarter, which briefly raised the specter of an unprecedented third consecutive annual loss for the bond market. Sentiment was bolstered first by news that the US Treasury’s borrowing needs were lower than feared and then lifted further by a series of upbeat economic readings and moderating price pressure. The final stage of the rally was powered by the arrival of the long-awaited Fed pivot, which left little doubt that the hiking cycle had concluded. Both the rates market and credit swiftly repriced to reflect a more rapid series of cuts and narrower risk premia, lifting asset prices across the board, and broadly easing financial conditions.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund underperformed the Bloomberg U.S High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index for 2023. The Fund’s out-of-benchmark allocation to BBB-rated

    

Corporates was the main detractor from performance amidst the lower quality rally. Our longer duration and exposure to intermediate rates, particularly the 10- and 20-year part of the curve, detracted from returns given the re-steepening. This was mostly offset by the Fund’s out-of-benchmark allocation to single B-rated Corporates, which was a positive contributor. Security selection was similarly positive, particularly within the BB-rated consumer cyclical, utilities, and capital goods sectors.

 

OUTLOOK

 

After a brief period in the second quarter that saw the bond market converge with the Fed’s dot plot, a rift has once again formed. The Fed projects three rate cuts in 2024 while the Federal Funds futures market expects more than six. Similarly, the persistent inversion of the yield curve suggests the bond market is pricing in elevated odds of a recession, while the Fed’s median projections do not see GDP growth falling below 1.4%. The inversion of the yield curve seems less likely to persist indefinitely, especially if rates normalize into a soft landing.

 

A soft landing would provide a favorable backdrop for corporate fundamentals. By creating conditions that allow the Fed to cut rates, it would both support topline growth and promote favorable liquidity conditions, thereby easing future refinancing needs. It would also be constructive on a technical basis, given that it would enhance the appeal of spread product. Valuations at current levels are less appealing, with breakevens versus Treasuries at the lower end of their historical range and leaving little room for error. As such, we believe this backdrop supports a neutral view of credit. Within the space, we favor names with defensive operating and financial metrics, given that investors do not seem to be assigning a meaningful discount to riskier business profiles.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

23


    

 

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K High Income Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K High Income Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K High Income Fund and the Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

 Average Annual Total Returns1    One
Year
     Five
Years
     Ten
Years
     Since
Inception
     Inception
Date
 
AMG GW&K High Income Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

 

Class N

     9.13%        4.95%        3.05%        4.69%        03/25/94  

Class I

     9.35%                      2.05%        03/15/21  

Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index20

     9.65%        5.04%        4.21%        6.49%         03/25/94  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

   capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

5  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

6  As of December 4, 2020, the Fund’s Subadviser was changed to GW&K Investment Management, LLC. Prior to December 4, 2020, the Fund was known as the AMG Managers Global Income Opportunity Fund, and had different principal investment strategies and corresponding risks. Performance shown for periods prior to December 4, 2020 reflects the performance and investment strategies of the Fund’s previous Subadviser, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the Fund were managed by the current Subadviser and strategy, and the Fund’s prior performance record might be less pertinent for investors considering whether to purchase shares of the Fund.

 

7  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

8  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder

 

 

 

24


    

 

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

   redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

9  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

10 During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

11 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

12 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

13 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

14 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

    

15 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

16 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

17 Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, while obligations issued by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and are backed solely by the entity’s own resources or by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. If one of these agencies defaults on a loan, there is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support.

 

18 Investing in restricted securities (including, without limitation, Rule 144A securities) may reduce the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in the event that an adequate trading market does not exist for these securities. Limitations on the resale of restricted securities could adversely affect the marketability of the securities, and the Fund may be unable to sell the security at the desired time or price, if at all. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable unrestricted securities for which a liquid trading market exists.

 

19 Because applying the Fund’s ESG investment criteria may result in the selection or exclusion of securities of certain issuers for reasons other than

    

   financial performance, the Fund’s investment returns may underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG factors into their investment process. The incorporation of ESG criteria into the investment process may affect the Fund’s investment exposure to certain companies, sectors, regions, countries or types of investments, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Applying ESG criteria to investment decisions is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria utilized by the Subadviser or any judgment exercised by the Subadviser will improve the financial performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s ESG practices or the Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time.

 

20 The Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index, a subset of the Bloomberg High Yield Index, is an unmanaged index comprised of fixed rate, publicly issued, non-investment grade debt registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) where the middle rating of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch is BB and maturities range from 1 to 5 years. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 1-5 Year Ba Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

25


    

 

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

  Category    % of
Net Assets
 

Corporate Bonds and Notes

   97.9
 

Short-Term Investments1

   15.7
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities2

   (13.6)

 

1 

Includes reinvestment of cash collateral into joint repurchase agreements on security lending transactions.

 

2 

Includes repayment of cash collateral on security lending transactions.

 

  Rating    % of Market Value1
 

A

    1.0
 

Baa/BBB

   25.4
 

Ba/BB

   68.5
 

B

    5.1

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

  Security Name    % of
Net Assets
 

NuStar Logistics LP, 5.625%, 04/28/27

   2.0
 

SLM Corp., 4.200%, 10/29/25

   1.8
 

SM Energy Co., 5.625%, 06/01/25

   1.8
 

Matador Resources Co., 5.875%, 09/15/26

   1.6
 

Southwestern Energy Co., 8.375%, 09/15/28

   1.6
 

Citigroup, Inc., 3.875%, 02/18/26

   1.6
 

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc., 5.750%, 04/15/26

   1.6
 

Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 4.750%, 03/15/25

   1.6
 

Navient Corp., 5.000%, 03/15/27

   1.5
 

MGM Resorts International, 5.750%, 06/15/25

   1.5
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    16.6 
  

 

 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

26


    

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Corporate Bonds and Notes - 97.9%

     

Financials - 17.5%

 

  

American Express Co.
(3.550% to 09/15/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 2.854%), 3.550%, 09/15/261,2,3

     $186,000        $159,458  

Citigroup, Inc.
(3.875% to 02/18/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 3.417%), 3.875%, 02/18/261,2,3

     255,000          225,758  

Fifth Third Bancorp

     

3.650%, 01/25/24

     25,000        24,959  

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Series U
(3.650% to 08/10/26 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 2.915%), 3.650%, 08/10/261,2,3,4

     151,000        133,902  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

     

2.625%, 08/06/24

     75,000        73,598  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Series S
(6.750% to 02/01/24 then 3 month SOFR + 4.042%), 6.750%, 02/01/241,2,3

     167,000        166,661  

KeyCorp

     

(3.878% to 05/23/24 then SOFR Index + 1.250%), 3.878%, 05/23/251,3

     75,000        73,324  

M&T Bank Corp.

     

(4.553% to 08/16/27 then SOFR Index + 1.780%), 4.553%, 08/16/281,3

     39,000        37,571  

MetLife, Inc.
Series G
(3.850% to 09/15/25 then U.S. Treasury Yield Curve CMT 5 year + 3.576%), 3.850%, 09/15/251,2,3,4

     135,000        127,791  

Morgan Stanley
Series M
5.875%, 09/15/262,3

     174,000        166,248  

Navient Corp.

     

5.000%, 03/15/274

     220,000        212,400  

SBA Communications Corp.

     

3.875%, 02/15/27

     198,000        190,142  

SLM Corp.

     

4.200%, 10/29/25

     264,000        256,080  

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

     

4.750%, 03/15/25

     223,000        220,034  

Wells Fargo & Co.
Series U
5.875%, 06/15/252,3,4

     209,000        206,821  

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.

     

5.500%, 03/01/255

     170,000        169,135  

Total Financials

        2,443,882  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Industrials - 77.3%

     

AECOM

     

5.125%, 03/15/27

     $167,000        $165,797  

Air Canada (Canada)

     

3.875%, 08/15/265

     195,000          186,301  

Alcoa Nederland Holding BV (Netherlands)

     

6.125%, 05/15/285

     200,000        201,151  

American Airlines Inc/AAdvantage Loyalty IP, Ltd.

     

5.500%, 04/20/265

     149,167        148,091  

Apache Corp.

     

4.250%, 01/15/304

     148,000        138,287  

APi Group DE, Inc.

     

4.125%, 07/15/294,5

     200,000        181,991  

Aramark Services, Inc.

     

5.000%, 02/01/284,5

     146,000        141,626  

ATI, Inc.

     

4.875%, 10/01/29

     78,000        72,693  

Avient Corp.

     

5.750%, 05/15/255

     66,000        66,002  

Ball Corp.

     

5.250%, 07/01/25

     70,000        69,913  

BWX Technologies, Inc.

     

4.125%, 06/30/285

     195,000        180,822  

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

     

6.250%, 07/01/255

     175,000        175,476  

Callon Petroleum Co.

     

6.375%, 07/01/264

     185,000        184,122  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

     

5.500%, 05/01/265

     179,000        177,808  

Celanese US Holdings LLC

     

6.330%, 07/15/29

     149,000        156,193  

Centene Corp.

     

4.250%, 12/15/27

     93,000        89,610  

Cheniere Energy Partners LP

     

4.500%, 10/01/29

     155,000        148,252  

Chord Energy Corp.

     

6.375%, 06/01/265

     175,000        175,000  

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

     

5.875%, 06/01/274

     172,000        171,385  

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

     

3.500%, 05/01/265

     188,000        179,985  

Commercial Metals Co.

     

3.875%, 02/15/31

     124,000        109,712  

Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.

     

7.375%, 12/15/26

     185,000        194,250  

Dana, Inc.

     

5.625%, 06/15/28

     123,000        121,268  

Embraer Netherlands Finance BV (Netherlands)

     

5.400%, 02/01/27

     110,000        109,283  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

27


    

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Industrials - 77.3% (continued)

     

Encompass Health Corp.

     

4.500%, 02/01/28

     $146,000        $139,687  

EnLink Midstream LLC

     

5.375%, 06/01/29

     180,000        176,122  

EQT Corp.

     

5.700%, 04/01/28

     105,000        106,556  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty, Ltd. (Australia)

     

4.500%, 09/15/275

     152,000        146,039  

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

     

4.134%, 08/04/25

     200,000        194,389  

General Motors Co.

     

6.800%, 10/01/27

     70,000        74,204  

Graphic Packaging International LLC

     

3.500%, 03/01/295

     165,000        148,563  

HB Fuller Co.

     

4.250%, 10/15/28

     154,000        143,998  

Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada)

     

4.500%, 04/01/265

     95,000        91,891  

KB Home

     

4.000%, 06/15/31

     85,000        76,128  

Lamar Media Corp.

     

4.875%, 01/15/29

     173,000        167,000  

Matador Resources Co.

     

5.875%, 09/15/264

     231,000        229,082  

Mattel, Inc.

     

3.375%, 04/01/265

     216,000        205,408  

MEG Energy Corp. (Canada)

     

5.875%, 02/01/295

     185,000        179,754  

Meritage Homes Corp.

     

6.000%, 06/01/25

     92,000        91,754  

Methanex Corp. (Canada)

     

5.125%, 10/15/27

     183,000        178,773  

MGM Resorts International

     

5.750%, 06/15/25

     210,000        209,190  

Mueller Water Products, Inc.

     

4.000%, 06/15/295

     186,000        169,446  

Murphy Oil Corp.

     

6.375%, 07/15/28

     170,000        170,773  

Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

     

5.625%, 05/01/27

     178,000        176,449  

Novelis Corp.

     

3.250%, 11/15/265

     192,000        180,749  

NuStar Logistics LP

     

5.625%, 04/28/27

     276,000        274,824  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     

7.875%, 09/15/31

     150,000        170,634  

Olin Corp.

     

5.125%, 09/15/27

     202,000        195,846  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Penn Entertainment, Inc.

     

4.125%, 07/01/294,5

     $181,000        $154,755  

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

     

3.500%, 09/01/25

     184,000        178,509  

Permian Resources Operating LLC

     

5.375%, 01/15/265

     190,000        187,470  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc.

     

5.750%, 04/15/265

     223,000        224,208  

Sealed Air Corp.

     

5.500%, 09/15/255

     165,000        165,000  

Sensata Technologies, B.V.

     

4.000%, 04/15/295

     200,000        185,863  

Silgan Holdings, Inc.

     

4.125%, 02/01/284

     155,000        148,031  

Southwestern Energy Co.

     

8.375%, 09/15/28

     220,000        227,608  

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

     

9.375%, 11/30/294,5

     165,000        180,555  

Teleflex, Inc.

     

4.250%, 06/01/285

     155,000        146,907  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

     

4.875%, 01/01/26

     180,000        177,972  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III, B.V. (Netherlands)

     

3.150%, 10/01/26

     199,000        184,254  

Toll Brothers Finance Corp.

     

4.350%, 02/15/284

     120,000        117,236  

Travel + Leisure Co.

     

6.000%, 04/01/276

     70,000        69,610  

6.600%, 10/01/256

     75,000        75,075  

Trinity Industries, Inc.

     

4.550%, 10/01/24

     112,000        110,320  

United Rentals North America, Inc.

     

4.875%, 01/15/284

     181,000        176,699  

United States Steel Corp.

     

6.875%, 03/01/294

     133,000        136,067  

Wabash National Corp.

     

4.500%, 10/15/285

     163,000        147,078  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.

     

7.250%, 06/15/285

     103,000        105,866  

Western Digital Corp.

     

4.750%, 02/15/26

     137,000        134,399  

Western Midstream Operating LP

     

4.650%, 07/01/26

     162,000        159,161  

Total Industrials

        10,834,920  

Utilities - 3.1%

     

NRG Energy, Inc.

     

5.250%, 06/15/295

     195,000        188,835  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28


    

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Utilities - 3.1% (continued)

     

SM Energy Co.

     

5.625%, 06/01/25

     $253,000        $250,018  

Total Utilities

        438,853  

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes
(Cost $13,776,553)

         13,717,655  

Short-Term Investments - 15.7%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 14.7%7

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $1,000,598 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $1,020,123)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.350% total to be received $57,825 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 2.000% - 6.500%, 09/01/46 - 06/01/62, totaling $58,947)

     57,791        57,791  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23,due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     $1,000,000        $1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

     2,057,791  

Repurchase Agreements - 1.0%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $140,080 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $142,856)

     140,000        140,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $2,197,791)

        2,197,791  

Total Investments - 113.6%

 

  

(Cost $15,974,344)

        15,915,446  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (13.6)%

 

     (1,900,272

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $14,015,174  
 

 

1 

Fixed to variable rate investment. The rate shown reflects the fixed rate in effect at December 31, 2023. Rate will reset at a future date.

 

2 

Perpetuity Bond. The date shown represents the next call date.

 

3 

Variable rate security. The rate shown is based on the latest available information as of December 31, 2023. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

 

4 

Some of these securities, amounting to $2,406,325 or 17.2% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

5 

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities amounted to $4,791,775 or 34.2% of net assets.

 

6 

Step Bond: A debt instrument with either deferred interest payments or an interest rate that resets at specific times during its term.

 

7 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

 

CMT    Constant Maturity Treasury
SOFR    Secured Overnight Financing Rate
 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

    

Level 2

 

    

Level 3

 

    

Total

 

 

 Investments in Securities

           

 Corporate Bonds and Notes

          $ 13,717,655             $ 13,717,655  

Short-Term Investments

           

 Joint Repurchase Agreements

            2,057,791               2,057,791  

 Repurchase Agreements

            140,000               140,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

          $ 15,915,446             $ 15,915,446  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

All corporate bonds and notes held in the Fund are level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of corporate bonds and notes by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

29


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 5.72%, compared to the 5.78% return for its benchmark, the Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”).

 

Municipal bonds posted solid gains in the first quarter, piggybacking a strong but extremely volatile rally in Treasuries. Although interest rates ultimately finished lower for the quarter, each month produced wildly different results. In January yields declined sharply as weak economic data fueled speculation of a U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) pivot. That notion gained more currency after the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) executed a slimmed-down quarter-point hike at its meeting on February 1, 2023. Two days later, however, a blowout jobs report undermined any thoughts of a slowdown, setting the stage for a violent reversal in rates. Worries over a recession faded, giving way to talk of a potential “no landing” scenario, where the economy continues to grow despite the Fed’s efforts to tame inflation. By early March, the yield curve had reached its deepest inversion in 40 years. The no-landing theory was ultimately done in, however, by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and subsequent turmoil in the banking industry. Rates plummeted into quarter end in a classic flight to safety, as investors worried that a pullback in lending posed a serious threat to future economic growth. As March ended, markets were anticipating multiple Fed cuts by year-end, even as central bank officials continued to forecast at least one more hike and no cuts until 2024.

 

Municipal bonds posted modest losses in the second quarter, following the lead of a Treasury market that finally stopped fighting the Fed. Coming into April, investors were confident that the central bank would be forced to reverse its tightening campaign before year end. But that conviction didn’t last. Economic data stood firm against the torrent of rate hikes, defying predictions for a near-term recession. Regional banks earned back investor confidence, despite a third major failure. And while inflation slowed, it remained well above its 2% target, still threatening to become entrenched. Even when the FOMC stood pat in June, its first pause in 18 months of constant hiking, the committee refused to signal the all-clear, guiding for two more increases in 2023. The Street got the message. Short-term rates spiked more than 80 basis points over the quarter while the futures market erased bets that cuts would come later in the year. Long-term rates rose less dramatically, leading the yield curve to nearly match

      

its March inversion, the deepest in over 40 years. An eventual recession is still the market’s base case, but exactly when or how deep remain open questions.

 

The municipal market was a full participant in the global bond rout that unfolded over the third quarter. Broad fixed income losses piled up each month, but accelerated after the September FOMC meeting, where the Fed policymakers signaled a determination to hold interest rates higher for longer. Investors were taken off guard by the hawkish messaging, given the trajectory toward lower inflation and reduced froth in the labor markets, particularly over the last three months. But as Jay Powell pointed out in his post-meeting press conference, the recent jump in Treasury yields was less about inflation and more about real yields rising in response to stronger-than-expected economic data. The Fed Chair listed a number of plausible explanations for the economy’s surprising resilience (lagged effects of tightening, higher neutral rate, more durable consumer and business balance sheets), but emphasized the need to guard against overheated growth, lest it threaten the headway made to date in restoring price stability and full employment. The markets shared his caution, as the yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed 73 basis points over the quarter, closing September at 4.57%, its highest level since 2007.

 

As we ended the year, municipal bonds posted their best quarterly performance in nearly four decades, transforming 2023 into a year of solid gains after it looked like we were headed for a second consecutive annual loss. The remarkable turnaround was fueled by macro forces that unfolded over the final two months of the year. Recall that in October interest rates were still in selloff mode, as a stubbornly strong economy and persistently high inflation gave teeth to the Fed’s “higher-for-longer” mantra. Later that month, the yield on the 10-year Treasury had risen to 5%, a 16-year high. From that point on, however, the data began to shift. Job growth softened meaningfully while price pressures eased, increasing the odds of a soft landing and fueling speculation of an impending monetary pivot. Fed officials virtually confirmed this view when they unexpectedly penciled in 75 basis points of cuts for 2024 in the December FOMC projection materials. The bond market, already rallying coming into the meeting, continued to surge into the yearend. By the end of December, the 10-year yield had fallen to 3.88%, down almost 70 basis points for the quarter.

      

While the Treasury rally was the key factor driving performance to finish the year, municipal bonds received additional boosts from limited issuance and skyrocketing demand. Even during the October selloff, retail investors were jumping at the chance to lock in tax-equivalent yields not seen in over a decade, keeping municipals relatively well bid. When the market then started to turn, a healthy appetite for paper turned into a mad scramble, reflecting a fierce competition for bonds amid an end-of-year slowdown in issuance. The frenzy was amplified by a spike in rollover flows as well as an explosion of tax-loss harvesting, as participants hastened to reinvest proceeds before the market moved away from them. Over the final two months of the year, the 10-year municipal yield fell 133 basis points. And when it was all said and done, you had to go back to 1986 to find a better quarterly return. 2023 now enters the history books as the sixth best annual return in the last two decades, an extraordinary outcome for a year that brought so much handwringing.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund performed in line with the Bloomberg Municipal 10-Year Index for the year. A longer duration and an extension trade overweighting longer-term bonds were positives. An underweight to lower coupon structures and BBB-rated bonds were negatives.

 

OUTLOOK

 

Looking ahead to January, the combination of seasonally low supply, still-heavy reinvestment needs and an end to tax-loss selling should continue to foster the momentum built up over the past two months. Demand will be supported by a healthy fundamental backdrop and historically attractive tax-equivalent yields. The outlook for state and local governments remains solid, with most looking at low-single-digit revenue increases, manageable expense growth and significant financial flexibility, a product of record-high reserves. Investors will need to be alert to future volatility, especially with the market anticipating a sea change in monetary policy followed by a fast-approaching national election. One area to keep an eye on is how expensive valuations to Treasuries have become in the wake of the recent rally. While we don’t necessarily expect a quick unwind of these historically stretched ratios, municipal bonds are less likely to outperform Treasuries until we see those metrics improve. Even so, heading into a year with so much uncertainty, the

 

 

30


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

high-quality stability offered by municipal bonds promises to draw even more interest to the asset class in 2024.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

             

 

 

 

31


 

    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund and the Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

 Average Annual Total Returns1    One
Year
    Five
Years
    Ten
Years
 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

 

Class N

     5.72     1.77     2.35%  

Class I

     6.04     2.11     2.71%  

Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index16

     5.78     2.57     3.22%  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

5  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

6  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

7  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

8  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

9  During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

10 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the

 

 

 

32


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

   future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

11 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

12 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

      

13 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

14 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

15 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

16 The Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index is the 10 Year (8-12) component of the Municipal Bond Index. It is a rules based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the tax-exempt bond market. The Index tracks general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, insured bonds, and prerefunded bonds rated Baa3/BBB- or higher by at least two of the

      

   ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg 10-Year Municipal Bond Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

33


    

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Category    % of
Net Assets 
 

General Obligation

   39.9
 

Transportation

   18.2
 

Airport

   10.0
 

Medical

    8.7
 

Water

    6.1
 

Utilities

    5.4
 

Education

    5.4
 

Power

    2.7
 

Tobacco Settlement

    0.8
 

Development

    0.8
 

Short term investments

    1.5
 

Other assets and liabilities

    0.5

 

 Rating    % of Market Value1
 

Aaa/AAA

   21.6
 

Aa/AA

   46.6
 

A

   23.5
 

Baa/BBB

    8.3

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of
Net Assets 
 

Iowa Finance Authority, State Revolving Fund Green Bond, 5.000%, 08/01/30

   1.6
 

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Green Bond, Series B, 5.000%, 11/15/27

   1.5
 

State of Maryland, Department of Transportation, 5.000%, 09/01/29

   1.3
 

State of Maryland, Department of Transportation, 5.000%, 10/01/28

   1.3
 

Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Series A, 5.000%, 07/01/42

   1.2
 

City of San Antonio Electric & Gas Systems, Series A, 5.000%, 02/01/31

   1.2
 

Illinois State Finance Authority, Clean Water Initiative, 5.000%, 07/01/27

   1.1
 

State of Wisconsin Transportation, Series 2, 5.000%, 07/01/29

   1.1
 

State of Illinois, Series B, 5.000%, 05/01/34

   1.1
 

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Senior Revenue, Series A, 5.000%, 01/01/30

   1.1
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    12.5 
  

 

 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

34


    

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Municipal Bonds - 98.0%

     

Alabama - 0.8%

 

  

Alabama Public School and College Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 11/01/34

     $7,500,000        $8,679,221  

California - 4.0%

 

  

California Municipal Finance Authority, Community Medical Centers, Series A,

     

5.000%, 02/01/31

     900,000        942,015  

5.000%, 02/01/32

     1,855,000        1,941,330  

City of Los Angeles Department of Airports, Series C

     

5.000%, 05/15/30

     5,515,000        6,147,060  

San Francisco City & County Airport Commission, San Francisco International Airport, Series A,

     

5.000%, 05/01/32

     3,000,000        3,366,044  

5.000%, 05/01/34

     5,010,000        5,459,889  

5.000%, 05/01/35

     5,800,000        6,305,526  

State of California,

     

5.000%, 09/01/29

     4,075,000        4,327,770  

5.000%, 09/01/35

     5,000,000        6,117,302  

5.000%, 10/01/36

     5,000,000        6,020,468  

Total California

        40,627,404  

Colorado - 0.5%

 

  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 08/01/33

     4,260,000        4,659,865  

Connecticut - 4.0%

 

  

Connecticut State Health & Educational Facilities Authority,

     

5.000%, 07/01/31

     6,205,000        6,886,101  

5.000%, 07/01/33

     2,750,000        3,068,705  

5.000%, 07/01/34

     3,100,000        3,451,072  

State of Connecticut Special Tax Obligation, Transportation Infrastructure, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/30

     10,180,000        11,168,692  

State of Connecticut Special Tax Obligation, Transportation Infrastructure, Series B

     

5.000%, 10/01/35

     7,500,000        8,298,373  

State of Connecticut, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/15/31

     7,650,000        8,772,215  

Total Connecticut

        41,645,158  

District of Columbia - 3.0%

 

  

District of Columbia, Series A

     

5.000%, 06/01/30

     6,020,000        6,348,425  

District of Columbia, Series B

     

5.000%, 06/01/31

     5,080,000        5,622,556  

District of Columbia, Series C,

     

5.000%, 12/01/33

     5,000,000        6,067,577  

5.000%, 12/01/34

     6,000,000        7,258,290  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Washington DC Convention & Sports Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 10/01/27

     $4,845,000        $5,273,602  

Total District of Columbia

        30,570,450  

Florida - 3.4%

 

  

Escambia County Health Facilities Authority

     

5.000%, 08/15/37

     6,000,000        6,270,378  

Florida Development Finance Corp.

     

4.000%, 11/15/33

     10,000,000        10,683,637  

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Department of Transportation, Series C

     

5.000%, 07/01/28

     7,075,000        7,462,288  

Lee Memorial Health System, Series A1

     

5.000%, 04/01/34

     5,645,000        6,140,364  

Orange County Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 10/01/31

     4,525,000        4,733,609  

Total Florida

        35,290,276  

Illinois - 8.3%

 

  

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/35

     5,010,000        5,677,060  

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Senior Lien, Series A,

     

5.000%, 01/01/36

     10,050,000        10,771,569  

5.000%, 01/01/38

     5,500,000        5,805,216  

Illinois Finance Authority, Series A

     

4.000%, 08/15/37

     5,910,000        6,115,466  

Illinois State Finance Authority, Clean Water Initiative

     

5.000%, 07/01/27

     11,000,000        11,500,487  

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Senior Revenue, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/30

     10,110,000        11,297,940  

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Series A,

     

5.000%, 12/01/31

     9,735,000        10,144,240  

5.000%, 01/01/361

     3,000,000        3,647,038  

State of Illinois, Series A

     

5.250%, 03/01/37

     8,500,000        9,590,052  

State of Illinois, Series B

     

5.000%, 05/01/34

     10,000,000        11,298,538  

Total Illinois

        85,847,606  

Indiana - 2.3%

 

  

Indiana Finance Authority, Series 1,

     

5.000%, 10/01/28

     1,000,000        1,112,994  

5.000%, 10/01/29

     3,555,000        4,029,228  

Indiana Finance Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 02/01/32

     5,000,000        5,844,870  

Indiana Finance Authority, Series B

     

5.000%, 02/01/34

     5,815,000        6,902,059  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

35


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Indiana - 2.3% (continued)

 

  

Indiana Finance Authority, Series C

     

5.000%, 06/01/29

     $4,800,000        $5,445,089  

Total Indiana

        23,334,240  

Iowa - 1.6%

 

  

Iowa Finance Authority, State Revolving Fund Green Bond

     

5.000%, 08/01/30

     15,025,000        16,350,860  

Kentucky - 0.6%

 

  

Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Government, Norton Healthcare Inc.

     

5.000%, 10/01/29

     5,505,000        5,736,199  

Louisiana - 1.8%

 

  

Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Series A,

     

5.000%, 07/01/40

     2,750,000        3,091,859  

5.000%, 07/01/42

     11,500,000        12,803,435  

State of Louisiana, Series A

     

5.000%, 09/01/30

     2,000,000        2,196,939  

Total Louisiana

        18,092,233  

Maryland - 5.6%

 

  

Maryland State Transportation Authority

     

5.000%, 07/01/33

     6,350,000        7,293,513  

State of Maryland, Department of Transportation,

     

5.000%, 10/01/28

     12,365,000        13,185,922  

5.000%, 09/01/29

     12,205,000        13,278,244  

State of Maryland, Series C

     

4.000%, 03/01/29

     9,245,000        10,033,854  

State of Maryland, Series D

     

4.000%, 08/01/29

     6,500,000        7,092,470  

State of Maryland, State & Local Facilities Loan of 2019, 1st Series

     

5.000%, 03/15/30

     6,000,000        6,797,039  

Total Maryland

        57,681,042  

Massachusetts - 0.5%

 

  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency

     

5.250%, 07/01/48

     4,250,000        4,650,377  

Michigan - 1.8%

 

  

Michigan Finance Authority, Henry Ford Health System

     

5.000%, 11/15/29

     8,000,000        8,407,222  

Michigan State Building Authority, Series I

     

5.000%, 04/15/27

     5,700,000        5,925,402  

Wayne County Airport Authority, Series A,

     

5.000%, 12/01/37

     2,285,000        2,622,409  

5.000%, 12/01/39

     1,800,000        2,027,813  

Total Michigan

        18,982,846  

New Jersey - 6.1%

 

  

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Series A

     

5.250%, 11/01/40

     7,000,000        8,004,278  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Series SSS,

     

5.250%, 06/15/361

     $3,000,000        $3,578,244  

5.250%, 06/15/371

     2,000,000        2,361,193  

New Jersey State Turnpike Authority, Series D

     

5.000%, 01/01/28

     6,000,000        6,328,709  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series A,

     

5.250%, 06/15/41

     2,700,000        3,101,473  

5.250%, 06/15/42

     2,500,000        2,853,906  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series B,

     

5.000%, 06/15/30

     6,255,000        7,145,934  

5.000%, 06/15/31

     7,615,000        8,837,368  

5.000%, 06/15/32

     5,750,000        6,658,256  

5.000%, 06/15/33

     6,000,000        6,923,775  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series BB

     

4.000%, 06/15/37

     3,000,000        3,120,802  

South Jersey Transportation Authority,

     

5.000%, 11/01/39

     1,150,000        1,254,629  

5.000%, 11/01/41

     2,565,000        2,772,413  

Total New Jersey

        62,940,980  

New Mexico - 0.8%

 

  

New Mexico Finance Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 06/15/30

     7,500,000        8,678,672  

New York - 19.9%

 

  

City of New York

     

5.000%, 08/01/34

     5,000,000        6,080,926  

City of New York, Series B-1

     

5.000%, 08/01/32

     3,000,000        3,602,456  

City of New York, Series C,

     

5.000%, 08/01/33

     1,500,000        1,734,229  

5.000%, 08/01/34

     3,250,000        3,749,886  

City of New York, Series L-5

     

5.000%, 04/01/33

     6,500,000        7,611,207  

Long Island Power Authority

     

5.000%, 09/01/35

     5,030,000        5,548,408  

Long Island Power Authority, Series F

     

5.000%, 09/01/33

     3,000,000        3,657,701  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Green Bond, Series B

     

5.000%, 11/15/27

     14,225,000        15,339,569  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Series F

     

5.000%, 11/15/28

     4,760,000        4,891,584  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Revenue, Series 1A, (State Aid Withholding)

     

5.000%, 07/15/32

     9,485,000        11,114,279  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Revenue, Series S-3, (State Aid Withholding)

     

5.000%, 07/15/31

     5,080,000        5,620,307  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

36


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

New York - 19.9% (continued)

 

  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured Subordinate, Series A-1,

     

5.000%, 05/01/40

     $2,500,000        $2,897,950  

5.000%, 05/01/41

     3,000,000        3,456,590  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured Subordinate, Series E-1

     

5.000%, 02/01/37

     7,000,000        8,063,556  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured Subordinate, Series F-1,

     

5.000%, 11/01/31

     2,500,000        2,949,430  

5.000%, 11/01/32

     4,000,000        4,716,026  

5.000%, 02/01/39

     4,000,000        4,586,182  

New York State Dormitory Authority

     

4.000%, 05/01/39

     2,000,000        2,006,465  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series 1

     

5.000%, 03/15/30

     5,000,000        5,755,145  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series 2,

     

5.000%, 09/15/30

     5,000,000        5,787,733  

5.000%, 09/15/33

     5,000,000        6,090,618  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series A,

     

5.000%, 03/15/31

     7,670,000        8,508,497  

5.000%, 03/15/32

     8,000,000        9,412,502  

5.000%, 03/15/32

     3,000,000        3,584,186  

5.000%, 03/15/33

     3,200,000        3,828,325  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series E

     

5.000%, 03/15/32

     8,410,000        8,659,439  

New York State Urban Development Corp.

     

5.000%, 03/15/32

     7,000,000        8,137,707  

New York Transportation Development Corp.,

     

4.000%, 10/31/41

     1,250,000        1,193,464  

4.000%, 10/31/46

     1,500,000        1,376,950  

5.000%, 12/01/30

     1,000,000        1,113,142  

5.000%, 12/01/31

     1,100,000        1,219,769  

5.000%, 12/01/32

     1,450,000        1,602,216  

5.000%, 12/01/33

     1,000,000        1,100,873  

5.000%, 12/01/36

     10,000,000        10,993,744  

5.000%, 06/30/49

     2,000,000        2,089,260  

6.000%, 06/30/54

     3,000,000        3,312,704  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Series 221

     

5.000%, 07/15/32

     6,545,000        7,309,965  

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority,

     

5.000%, 11/15/30

     7,500,000        8,759,409  

5.000%, 11/15/33

     3,970,000        4,881,630  

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, Series C

     

5.000%, 11/15/35

     2,000,000        2,442,017  

Total New York

        204,786,046  

North Carolina - 2.2%

 

  

County of Union NC Enterprise System Revenue,

     

1.750%, 06/01/34

     3,300,000        2,721,036  

1.750%, 06/01/35

     4,225,000        3,419,927  

1.850%, 06/01/36

     4,315,000        3,446,981  

2.125%, 06/01/40

     3,350,000        2,480,530  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

North Carolina State Limited Obligation, Series B

     

5.000%, 05/01/28

     $10,000,000        $10,832,374  

Total North Carolina

        22,900,848  

Ohio - 0.8%

 

  

Ohio State General Obligation, Series T

     

5.000%, 05/01/30

     5,000,000        5,386,875  

Ohio Water Development Authority Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Series B

     

5.000%, 06/01/35

     2,500,000        3,032,038  

Total Ohio

        8,418,913  

Pennsylvania - 3.1%

 

  

Allegheny County Airport Authority, Series A,

     

5.000%, 01/01/31

     1,350,000        1,498,974  

5.000%, 01/01/32

     2,215,000        2,451,339  

Commonwealth Financing Authority, Pennsylvania Tobacco

     

5.000%, 06/01/32

     7,910,000        8,557,422  

Hospitals & Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia, (AGM)

     

4.000%, 07/01/38

     2,500,000        2,568,917  

4.000%, 07/01/39

     2,000,000        2,038,301  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority,

     

5.250%, 06/30/35

     3,000,000        3,367,654  

5.750%, 06/30/48

     5,000,000        5,483,578  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Series A

     

5.000%, 12/01/33

     5,000,000        5,887,018  

Total Pennsylvania

        31,853,203  

South Carolina - 1.2%

 

  

Richland County School District No 2, Series A, (South Carolina School District)

     

2.000%, 03/01/38

     6,190,000        4,728,082  

2.000%, 03/01/39

     10,080,000        7,484,863  

Total South Carolina

        12,212,945  

Tennessee - 0.6%

 

  

City of Chattanooga Electric System Revenue

     

2.000%, 09/01/39

     8,925,000        6,582,298  

Texas - 12.8%

 

  

City of Corpus Christi Utility System, Junior Lien Revenue Improvement

     

5.000%, 07/15/29

     3,125,000        3,451,227  

City of Houston Airport System, Series A,

     

4.000%, 07/01/35

     1,100,000        1,131,542  

4.000%, 07/01/36

     1,100,000        1,124,142  

5.000%, 07/01/34

     2,835,000        3,168,552  

City of San Antonio Electric & Gas Systems, Series A,

     

5.000%, 02/01/31

     10,715,000        12,475,630  

5.000%, 02/01/34

     5,460,000        6,592,220  

5.000%, 02/01/35

     3,000,000        3,602,705  

5.000%, 02/01/37

     3,010,000        3,411,025  

5.000%, 02/01/38

     2,985,000        3,337,551  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

37


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Texas - 12.8% (continued)

 

  

County of Harris Toll Road First Lien, Series A

     

5.000%, 08/15/34

     $5,000,000        $6,046,013  

Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Senior Lien, (AMBAC)

     

5.250%, 12/01/28

     8,865,000        10,040,691  

Denton Independent School District, (PSF-GTD)

     

5.000%, 08/15/33

     5,000,000        6,096,790  

5.000%, 08/15/35

     3,000,000        3,631,424  

Lamar Consolidated Independent School District

     

5.000%, 02/15/34

     7,965,000        9,466,377  

Leander Independent School District, (PSF-GTD)

     

5.000%, 02/15/32

     6,795,000        8,100,928  

Lower Colorado River Authority

     

5.000%, 05/15/31

     6,000,000        6,950,513  

North Texas Municipal Water District Water System Revenue Refunding and Improvement

     

5.000%, 09/01/29

     7,350,000        7,736,567  

North Texas Tollway Authority, 2nd Tier, Series B,

     

5.000%, 01/01/31

     2,000,000        2,073,525  

5.000%, 01/01/32

     3,010,000        3,209,603  

North Texas Tollway Authority, Series A

     

5.250%, 01/01/38

     4,500,000        5,184,275  

Prosper Independent School District, Series A, (PSF-GTD)

     

1.750%, 02/15/34

     3,565,000        2,993,858  

1.750%, 02/15/35

     5,155,000        4,250,035  

State of Texas, Series A

     

5.000%, 10/01/29

     5,000,000        5,180,485  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.,

     

5.500%, 06/30/41

     1,000,000        1,074,602  

5.500%, 06/30/42

     1,000,000        1,073,747  

5.500%, 06/30/43

     1,000,000        1,072,449  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., Series A,

     

4.000%, 12/31/37

     5,000,000        5,042,783  

4.000%, 12/31/38

     3,735,000        3,748,732  

Total Texas

        131,267,991  

Utah - 3.4%

 

  

Intermountain Power Agency,

     

5.000%, 07/01/33

     3,500,000        4,199,534  

5.000%, 07/01/34

     3,500,000        4,189,452  

5.000%, 07/01/35

     3,250,000        3,870,903  

Intermountain Power Agency, Series A

     

5.000%, 07/01/34

     5,250,000        6,196,768  

Salt Lake City Corp. Airport Revenue, Series A,

     

5.000%, 07/01/29

     3,450,000        3,716,844  

5.000%, 07/01/30

     6,585,000        7,063,449  

University of Utah/The, Series B

     

5.000%, 08/01/37

     5,000,000        5,880,418  

Total Utah

        35,117,368  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Virginia - 1.6%

 

  

Virginia College Building Authority

     

5.000%, 02/01/33

     $8,250,000        $10,027,020  

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority,

     

4.000%, 01/01/37

     3,000,000        3,007,895  

4.000%, 01/01/38

     3,000,000        2,961,831  

Total Virginia

        15,996,746  

Washington - 4.0%

 

  

Energy Northwest, Series A

     

5.000%, 07/01/35

     8,000,000        9,620,579  

Port of Seattle, Series C

     

5.000%, 08/01/31

     5,000,000        5,574,888  

State of Washington School Improvements, Series C

     

5.000%, 02/01/28

     7,370,000        7,719,258  

State of Washington, Series B

     

5.000%, 08/01/31

     4,680,000        4,942,310  

State of Washington, Series R

     

5.000%, 07/01/31

     9,975,000        10,171,281  

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 08/01/38

     3,270,000        3,474,167  

Total Washington

        41,502,483  

West Virginia - 1.6%

 

  

West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority, Series B

     

6.000%, 09/01/48

     5,250,000        5,995,954  

West Virginia Parkways Authority,

     

5.000%, 06/01/37

     1,750,000        2,001,874  

5.000%, 06/01/38

     2,000,000        2,265,797  

5.000%, 06/01/39

     5,150,000        5,807,313  

Total West Virginia

        16,070,938  

Wisconsin - 1.7%

 

  

State of Wisconsin Transportation, Series 2

     

5.000%, 07/01/29

     10,405,000        11,331,694  

State of Wisconsin, Series 2

     

5.000%, 05/01/35

     5,000,000        6,049,663  

Total Wisconsin

        17,381,357  

Total Municipal Bonds

 

  

(Cost $1,014,813,167)

        1,007,858,565  

Short-Term Investments - 1.5%

 

  

Repurchase Agreements - 1.5%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $7,903,520 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $8,057,021)

     7,899,000        7,899,000  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

38


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Repurchase Agreements - 1.5% (continued)

     

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $7,321,187 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 3.875%, 12/31/27, totaling $7,463,368)

     $7,317,000        $7,317,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

 

     15,216,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $15,216,000)

        15,216,000  
     

 

1 

All or part of a security is delayed delivery transaction. The market value for delayed delivery securities at December 31, 2023, amounted to $9,586,475, or 0.9% of net assets.

AGM    Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
             
Value
 

Total Investments - 99.5%

              

(Cost $1,030,029,167)

        $1,023,074,565  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 0.5%

 

     5,613,991  

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $1,028,688,556  

 

 

AMBAC    American Municipal Bond Assurance Corp.
GNMA    PSF-GTD Permanent School Fund Guaranteed
 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

      

Level 2

 

      

Level 3

 

      

Total

 

 

Investments in Securities

                 

Municipal Bonds

            $ 1,007,858,565                 $ 1,007,858,565  

Short-Term Investments

                 

Repurchase Agreements

              15,216,000                   15,216,000  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

            $ 1,023,074,565                 $ 1,023,074,565  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

All municipal bonds held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of municipal bonds by major classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

39


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund’s (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 10.53%, compared to the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index (the “Index”), which returned 8.93%.

 

Municipal bonds posted solid gains in the first quarter, piggybacking a strong but extremely volatile, rally in Treasuries. Although interest rates ultimately finished lower for the quarter, each month produced wildly different results. In January, yields declined sharply as weak economic data fueled speculation of a U.S Federal Reverse (the “Fed”) pivot. That notion gained more currency after the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) executed a slimmed-down quarter-point hike at its meeting on February 1, 2023. Two days later, however, a blowout jobs report undermined any thoughts of a slowdown, setting the stage for a violent reversal in rates. Worries over a recession faded, giving way to talk of a potential “no landing” scenario, where the economy continues to grow despite the Fed’s efforts to tame inflation. By early March the yield curve had reached its deepest inversion in 40 years. The no-landing theory was ultimately done in, however, by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and subsequent turmoil in the banking industry. Rates plummeted into quarter end in a classic flight to safety, as investors worried that a pullback in lending posed a serious threat to future economic growth. As March ended, markets were anticipating multiple Fed cuts by year-end, even as central bank officials continued to forecast at least one more hike and no cuts until 2024.

 

Municipal bonds posted modest losses in the second quarter, following the lead of a Treasury market that finally stopped fighting the Fed. Coming into April, investors were confident that the central bank would be forced to reverse its tightening campaign before year end. But that conviction didn’t last. Economic data stood firm against the torrent of rate hikes, defying predictions for a near-term recession. Regional banks earned back investor confidence, despite a third major failure. And while inflation slowed, it remained well above its 2% target, still threatening to become entrenched. Even when the FOMC stood pat in June, its first pause in 18 months of constant hiking, the committee refused to signal the all-clear, guiding for two more increases in 2023. The Street got the message. Short-term rates spiked more than 80 basis points over the quarter while the futures market erased bets that cuts would come later in the year. Long-term rates rose less dramatically, leading the yield curve to nearly match

      

its March inversion, the deepest in over 40 years. An eventual recession is still the market’s base case, but exactly when or how deep remain open questions.

 

The municipal market was a full participant in the global bond rout that unfolded over the third quarter. Broad fixed income losses piled up each month, but accelerated after the September FOMC meeting, where Fed policymakers signaled a determination to hold interest rates higher for longer. Investors were taken off guard by the hawkish messaging, given the trajectory toward lower inflation and reduced froth in the labor markets, particularly over the last three months. But as Jay Powell pointed out in his post-meeting press conference, the recent jump in Treasury yields was less about inflation and more about real yields rising in response to stronger-than-expected economic data. The Fed Chair listed a number of plausible explanations for the economy’s surprising resilience (lagged effects of tightening, higher neutral rate, more durable consumer and business balance sheets), but emphasized the need to guard against overheated growth, lest it threaten the headway made to date in restoring price stability and full employment. The markets shared his caution, as the yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed 73 basis points over the quarter, closing September at 4.57%, its highest level since 2007.

 

As we ended the year, municipal bonds posted their best quarterly performance in nearly four decades, transforming 2023 into a year of solid gains after it looked like we were headed for a second consecutive annual loss. The remarkable turnaround was fueled by macro forces that unfolded over the final two months of the year. Recall that in October interest rates were still in selloff mode, as a stubbornly strong economy and persistently high inflation gave teeth to the Feds “higher-for-longer” mantra. Later that month, the yield on the 10-year Treasury had risen to 5%, a 16-year high. From that point on, however, the data began to shift. Job growth softened meaningfully while price pressures eased, increasing the odds of a soft landing and fueling speculation of an impending monetary pivot. Fed officials virtually confirmed this view when they unexpectedly penciled in 75 basis points of cuts for 2024 in the December FOMC projection materials. The bond market, already rallying coming into the meeting, continued to surge into year-end. By the end of December, the 10-year yield had fallen to 3.88%, down almost 70 basis points for the quarter.

 

While the Treasury rally was the key factor driving performance in the fourth quarter, municipal bonds received additional boosts from limited issuance and

       

sky-rocketing demand. Even during the October selloff, retail investors were jumping at the chance to lock in tax-equivalent yields not seen in over a decade, keeping municipals relatively well bid. When the market then started to turn, a healthy appetite for paper turned into a mad scramble, reflecting a fierce competition for bonds amid an end-of-year slowdown in issuance. The frenzy was amplified by a spike in rollover flows as well as an explosion of tax-loss harvesting, as participants hastened to reinvest proceeds before the market moved away from them. Over the final two months of the year, the 10-year municipal yield fell 133 basis points. And when it was all said and done, you had to go back to 1986 to find a better quarterly return. 2023 now enters the history books as the sixth best annual return in the last two decades, an extraordinary outcome for a year that brought so much handwringing.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund outperformed the Index for the year. The strong rally in the fourth quarter transformed 2023 into a year of solid gains and outweighed the performance of the previous three quarters. The Fund’s outperformance was driven mainly by its longer duration, its overweight to longer maturities, and the significant decline in interest rates in the quarter. Additionally, the Fund’s overweights to the hospital and transportation sectors contributed to performance. Lower quality benefited from the rally in the fourth quarter. The Fund’s higher quality bias detracted from performance, specifically the Fund’s overweight to Single A versus the BBB-rated bonds of the Index. An underweight to lower coupon bonds and security selection in the tobacco and housing sectors were also detractors from performance.

 

OUTLOOK

 

Looking ahead to January, the combination of seasonally low supply, still-heavy reinvestment needs and an end to tax-loss selling should continue to foster the momentum built up over the past two months. Demand will be supported by a healthy fundamental backdrop and historically attractive tax-equivalent yields. The outlook for state and local governments remains solid, with most looking at low-single-digit revenue increases, manageable expense growth and significant financial flexibility, a product of record-high reserves. Investors will need to be alert to future volatility, especially with the market anticipating a sea change in monetary policy

 

 

40


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

followed by a fast-approaching national election. One area to keep an eye on is how expensive valuations to Treasuries have become in the wake of the recent rally. While we don’t necessarily expect a quick unwind of these historically stretched ratios, municipal bonds are less likely to outperform

       Treasuries until we see those metrics improve. Even so, heading into a year with so much uncertainty, the high-quality stability generally offered by municipal bonds promises to draw even more interest to the asset class in 2024.         The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

41


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund and the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

 Average Annual Total Returns1    One
Year
    Five
Years
    Ten
Years
    Since
Inception
    Inception
Date
 
AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

 

Class N

     10.53     1.94     3.83     4.77     07/27/09  

Class I

     10.89     2.29     4.23     3.92     12/30/05  

Class Z

     10.95     2.37           2.89     02/24/17  

Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index18

     8.93     3.02     4.42     4.81      07/27/09  

 

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

   capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

5  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

6  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

7  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

8  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

9  During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may

 

 

 

42


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

 

   pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

10 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

11 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

12 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

13 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments

      

   from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

14 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

15 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

16 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

17 The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly

      

   changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

 

18 The Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index is a subset of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index with an index rating of Baa1, Baa2, or Baa3. The Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index is a rules-based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the long-term, tax-exempt bond market. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have

been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

43


    

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

  Category    % of
Net Assets
 

Transportation

   26.9
 

Medical

   22.3
 

General Obligation

   17.0
 

Higher Education

    7.0
 

Airport

    6.6
 

Industrial Development

    5.8
 

Tobacco Settlement

    4.4
 

Housing

    3.1
 

School District

    2.9
 

Utilities

    2.6
 

Short-Term Investments

    2.5
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

    (1.1)

 

  Rating    % of Market Value1
 

Aa/AA

   10.9
 

A

   41.3
 

Baa/BBB

   47.8

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

  Security Name    % of
Net Assets
 

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., 5.000%, 06/30/58

   3.7
 

Public Authority for Colorado Energy Natural Gas Purchase Revenue, 6.500%, 11/15/38

   3.2
 

Richland County School District No 2, Series A, 1.875%, 03/01/38

   3.0
 

City of Chattanooga Electric, 2.000%, 09/01/40

   2.6
 

Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, 5.250%, 11/01/52

   2.6
 

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, 5.250%, 06/30/53

   2.5
 

Central Plains Energy Project #3, Series A, 5.000%, 09/01/42

   2.4
 

New York Transportation Development Corp., 4.000%, 04/30/53

   2.4
 

Escambia County Health Facilities Authority, 4.000%, 08/15/50

   2.1
 

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Series A, 5.000%, 08/01/44

   2.1
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    26.6 
  

 

 

 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

44


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Municipal Bonds - 98.6%

     

California - 5.5%

     

California Municipal Finance Authority,

     

5.000%, 05/15/43

     $2,515,000        $2,589,281  

5.000%, 05/15/48

     3,855,000        3,940,708  

California Municipal Finance Authority, Series A

     

4.000%, 02/01/51

     1,260,000        1,142,127  

Riverside County Transportation Commission, Series B1

     

4.000%, 06/01/46

     1,095,000        1,096,857  

Riverside County Transportation Commission, Series C

     

4.000%, 06/01/47

     2,870,000        2,818,641  

Total California

        11,587,614  

Colorado - 5.3%

     

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 08/01/44

     4,185,000        4,358,208  

Public Authority for Colorado Energy Natural Gas Purchase Revenue

     

6.500%, 11/15/38

     5,395,000        6,797,330  

Total Colorado

        11,155,538  

Connecticut - 2.0%

     

Connecticut State Health & Educational Facilities Authority,

     

4.000%, 07/01/40

     2,845,000        2,808,496  

4.000%, 07/01/42

     1,465,000        1,421,282  

Total Connecticut

        4,229,778  

Florida - 12.5%

     

Brevard County Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 04/01/47

     4,025,000        4,327,055  

City of Tampa, Series B

     

5.000%, 07/01/50

     2,065,000        2,165,619  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Seaport Department, Series 1, (AGM)

     

4.000%, 10/01/45

     2,730,000        2,604,753  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Seaport Department, Series A

     

5.250%, 10/01/52

     1,260,000        1,370,269  

Escambia County Health Facilities Authority

     

4.000%, 08/15/50

     5,065,000        4,455,095  

Florida Development Finance Corp.,

     

4.000%, 02/01/52

     2,515,000        1,932,696  

5.000%, 02/01/52

     1,675,000        1,552,354  

Hillsborough County Industrial Development Authority

     

4.000%, 08/01/50

     4,185,000        3,907,709  

Miami Beach Health Facilities Authority

     

4.000%, 11/15/46

     4,185,000        4,023,004  

Total Florida

        26,338,554  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Illinois - 8.3%

     

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Senior Lien, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/48

     $3,000,000        $3,091,419  

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority,

     

4.000%, 12/15/42

     1,675,000        1,673,996  

4.000%, 06/15/52

     2,515,000        2,366,020  

5.000%, 06/15/50

     4,185,000        4,324,762  

State of Illinois

     

5.750%, 05/01/45

     2,515,000        2,767,863  

State of Illinois, Series A,

     

4.000%, 03/01/40

     1,260,000        1,265,476  

5.000%, 03/01/46

     1,870,000        1,980,535  

Total Illinois

        17,470,071  

Louisiana - 0.8%

     

Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Series A

     

5.250%, 07/01/53

     1,500,000        1,657,513  

Massachusetts - 3.2%

     

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency,

     

4.000%, 07/01/51

     4,340,000        3,649,185  

5.250%, 07/01/52

     2,795,000        3,037,554  

Total Massachusetts

        6,686,739  

Minnesota - 1.0%

     

Duluth Economic Development Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 02/15/48

     2,140,000        2,178,542  

Nebraska - 2.4%

     

Central Plains Energy Project #3, Series A

     

5.000%, 09/01/42

     4,655,000        5,111,377  

New Jersey - 7.7%

     

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series AA,

     

4.000%, 06/15/50

     1,675,000        1,623,985  

5.000%, 06/15/50

     1,000,000        1,066,287  

South Jersey Transportation Authority,

     

4.625%, 11/01/47

     2,930,000        3,029,722  

5.250%, 11/01/52

     3,770,000        4,051,910  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series A,

     

5.000%, 06/01/46

     2,095,000        2,130,536  

5.250%, 06/01/46

     2,755,000        2,840,056  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series B

     

5.000%, 06/01/46

     1,605,000        1,629,093  

Total New Jersey

        16,371,589  

New York - 13.9%

     

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Series 1,

     

4.750%, 11/15/45

     2,660,000        2,739,335  

5.000%, 11/15/50

     1,955,000        2,053,715  

5.250%, 11/15/55

     2,530,000        2,681,198  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series A,

     

4.000%, 07/01/47

     1,675,000        1,592,446  

4.000%, 07/01/52

     1,775,000        1,626,697  
     
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

45


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

New York - 13.9% (continued)

     

New York Transportation Development Corp.,

     

4.000%, 12/01/39

     $1,000,000        $1,011,564  

4.000%, 04/30/53

     5,790,000        5,077,717  

5.000%, 12/01/40

     1,000,000        1,068,287  

5.000%, 12/01/41

     2,185,000        2,315,847  

5.625%, 04/01/40

     4,000,000        4,303,295  

6.000%, 04/01/35

     2,500,000        2,784,990  

6.000%, 06/30/54

     2,000,000        2,208,469  

Total New York

        29,463,560  

Pennsylvania - 10.8%

     

Allegheny County Airport Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/51

     4,185,000        4,353,788  

Geisinger Authority

     

4.000%, 04/01/50

     1,610,000        1,507,435  

Montgomery County Higher Education and Health Authority, Series B

     

5.000%, 05/01/52

     3,980,000        4,195,197  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority

     

5.250%, 06/30/53

     5,025,000        5,259,596  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Series A

     

4.000%, 12/01/50

     2,065,000        2,023,281  

Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development

     

5.250%, 11/01/52

     5,185,000        5,538,519  

Total Pennsylvania

        22,877,816  

Rhode Island - 1.3%

     

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series A

     

5.000%, 06/01/40

     2,755,000        2,776,829  

South Carolina - 2.9%

     

Richland County School District No 2, Series A, (South Carolina School District)

     

1.875%, 03/01/38

     8,290,000        6,198,756  

Tennessee - 3.7%

     

City of Chattanooga Electric

     

2.000%, 09/01/40

     7,710,000        5,547,400  

Metropolitan Government Nashville & Davidson County Health & Educational Facilities

     

5.250%, 05/01/53

     2,000,000        2,173,140  

Total Tennessee

        7,720,540  

Texas - 9.7%

     

Central Texas Regional Mobility

     

Authority, Series B

     

4.000%, 01/01/51

     1,705,000        1,675,799  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.,

     

5.000%, 12/31/40

     $3,315,000        $3,341,377  

5.000%, 12/31/45

     3,250,000        3,269,647  

5.000%, 06/30/58

     7,800,000        7,881,991  

5.500%, 12/31/58

     1,120,000        1,214,576  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., Series A

     

4.000%, 12/31/39

     3,155,000        3,148,465  

Total Texas

        20,531,855  

Virginia - 6.2%

     

Lynchburg Economic Development Authority

     

4.000%, 01/01/55

     1,260,000        1,207,190  

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority,

     

4.000%, 01/01/39

     2,515,000        2,471,081  

4.000%, 01/01/40

     2,515,000        2,460,321  

5.000%, 12/31/47

     2,145,000        2,256,075  

5.000%, 12/31/49

     2,095,000        2,104,292  

5.000%, 12/31/52

     2,655,000        2,663,413  

Total Virginia

        13,162,372  

West Virginia - 1.4%

     

West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority, Series B

     

6.000%, 09/01/53

     2,625,000        2,973,614  

Total Municipal Bonds
(Cost $219,058,013)

 

     208,492,657  

Short-Term Investments - 2.5%

 

  

Repurchase Agreements - 2.5%

     

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $3,320,899 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 3.875%, 08/15/33, totaling $3,385,422)

     3,319,000        3,319,000  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $1,866,067 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $1,902,338)

     1,865,000        1,865,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

        5,184,000  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $5,184,000)

 

     5,184,000  

Total Investments - 101.1%
(Cost $224,242,013)

 

     213,676,657  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (1.1)%

 

     (2,268,391

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $211,408,266  
  
 

 

AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

46


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

    

Level 1

 

    

Level 2

 

    

Level 3

 

    

Total

 

 

 Investments in Securities

           

Municipal Bonds

  

 

 

  

 

$208,492,657

 

  

 

 

  

 

$208,492,657

 

Short-Term Investments

           

Repurchase Agreements

            5,184,000               5,184,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investments in Securities

  

 

 

  

$

213,676,657

 

  

 

 

  

$

213,676,657

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

All municipal bonds held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of municipal bonds by major classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

47


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 

 
     

 

    AMG GW&K
ESG
Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Enhanced
Core Bond
ESG Fund
    AMG
GW&K High
Income Fund
    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced
Yield Fund
 

Assets:

         

Investments at value1 (including securities on loan valued at $22,416,408, $4,139,635, $2,406,325, $0, and $0, respectively)

    $431,999,068       $39,944,546       $13,717,655       $1,007,858,565       $208,492,657  

Repurchase Agreements at value2

    14,421,108       2,185,574       2,197,791       15,216,000       5,184,000  

Cash

    764             576       635,673       217,952  

Receivable for investments sold

          751,395                    

Interest receivables

    4,126,109       334,577       193,387       13,533,410       2,783,924  

Securities lending income receivable

    7,508       742       1,343              

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    240,282       395,372       8       1,971,322       541,498  

Receivable from affiliate

    6,679       11,110       10,493       66,004       21,319  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    19,278       12,838       9,238       17,465       20,027  

Total assets

    450,820,796       43,636,154       16,130,491       1,039,298,439       217,261,377  

Liabilities:

         

Payable upon return of securities loaned

    14,128,108       2,185,574       2,057,791              

Payable for delayed delivery investments purchased

                      8,929,520        

Payable for Fund shares repurchased

    972,511       32,479       1,357       1,215,964       5,679,877  

Due to custodian

          523,529                    

Accrued expenses:

         

Investment advisory and management fees

    84,894       10,570       4,607       180,610       82,176  

Administrative fees

    55,366       5,285       1,772       129,884       27,392  

Distribution fees

          2,374             2,545       1,110  

Shareholder service fees

    64,138       1,956       1,775       43,538       9,570  

Other

    94,323       57,726       48,015       107,822       52,986  

Total liabilities

    15,399,340       2,819,493       2,115,317       10,609,883       5,853,111  

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 5)

         

Net Assets

    $435,421,456       $40,816,661       $14,015,174       $1,028,688,556       $211,408,266  

1 Investments at cost

    $475,366,376       $42,698,974       $13,776,553       $1,014,813,167       $219,058,013  

2 Repurchase agreements at cost

    $14,421,108       $2,185,574       $2,197,791       $15,216,000       $5,184,000  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

48


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

 

 
     

 

    AMG GW&K
ESG
Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Enhanced
Core Bond
ESG Fund
    AMG
GW&K High
Income Fund
    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced
Yield Fund
 

Net Assets Represent:

         

Paid-in capital

    $519,006,605       $50,366,220       $15,538,229       $1,062,346,645       $238,125,011  

Total distributable loss

    (83,585,149     (9,549,559     (1,523,055     (33,658,089     (26,716,745

Net Assets

    $435,421,456       $40,816,661       $14,015,174       $1,028,688,556       $211,408,266  

Class N:

 

         

Net Assets

    $269,529,427       $11,370,215       $7,061,496       $12,081,330       $5,963,753  

Shares outstanding

    12,337,059       1,242,810       337,682       1,047,721       648,395  

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $21.85       $9.15       $20.91       $11.53       $9.20  

Class I:

 

         

Net Assets

    $165,892,029       $21,804,982       $6,953,678       $1,016,607,226       $205,321,568  

Shares outstanding

    7,592,307       2,374,504       332,687       87,642,830       23,045,193  

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $21.85       $9.18       $20.90       $11.60       $8.91  

Class Z:

         

Net Assets

          $7,641,464                   $122,945  

Shares outstanding

          832,312                   13,803  

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

          $9.18                   $8.91  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

49


   

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 

 
     

 

     AMG GW&K
ESG
Bond Fund
  AMG
GW&K Enhanced
Core Bond
ESG Fund
  AMG
GW&K High
Income Fund
  AMG
GW&K Municipal
Bond Fund
  AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced
Yield Fund

 Investment Income:

          

Interest income

   $ 16,708,574     $ 1,555,978      $ 843,707     $ 26,960,615      $ 9,453,149   

Securities lending income

     54,288       11,281       29,590              

Foreign withholding tax

     (17,309     (257     (500            

Total investment income

     16,745,553       1,567,002       872,797       26,960,615       9,453,149  

 Expenses:

          

Investment advisory and management fees

     1,063,895       119,542       61,171       2,184,142       1,101,809  

Administrative fees

     693,844       59,771       23,527       1,572,482       367,270  

Distribution fees - Class N

           27,445             32,772       9,305  

Shareholder servicing fees - Class N

     707,619             16,782       16,950       5,583  

Shareholder servicing fees - Class I

     89,758       16,980       4,486       517,606       120,504  

Professional fees

     86,687       55,137       49,306       123,287       57,519  

Reports to shareholders

     52,174       10,858       5,364       52,620       18,220  

Registration fees

     50,458       37,163       26,291       129,134       48,578  

Custodian fees

     46,034       25,189       21,895       81,896       31,805  

Trustee fees and expenses

     34,002       2,963       1,140       77,317       17,753  

Transfer agent fees

     25,407       2,940       1,177       37,460       8,680  

Interest expense

           990             1,144       3,962  

Miscellaneous

     27,341       5,133       3,059       55,697       14,624  

Total expenses before offsets

     2,877,219       364,111       214,198       4,882,507       1,805,612  

Expense reimbursements

     (90,822     (127,203     (100,391     (749,681     (221,214

Net expenses

     2,786,397       236,908       113,807       4,132,826       1,584,398  
          

Net investment income

     13,959,156       1,330,094       758,990       22,827,789       7,868,751  

 Net Realized and Unrealized Gain:

          

Net realized loss on investments

     (19,675,989     (1,593,070     (225,634     (16,640,418     (10,403,174 )1 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     34,991,525       2,720,322       825,281       53,394,216       24,812,114  

Net realized and unrealized gain

     15,315,536       1,127,252       599,647       36,753,798       14,408,940  
          

 Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 29,274,692     $ 2,457,346     $ 1,358,637     $ 59,581,587     $ 22,277,691  

1 Includes realized losses of $4,997,167 relating to redemptions in-kind. See note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

50


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

 
     

 

     AMG GW&K
ESG Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Enhanced
Core Bond ESG Fund
    AMG
GW&K High
Income Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022     2023     2022  

 Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

            

Net investment income

     $13,959,156       $12,222,196       $1,330,094       $1,041,080       $758,990       $618,650  

Net realized loss on investments

     (19,675,989     (19,299,747     (1,593,070     (2,654,300     (225,634     (1,149,384

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     34,991,525       (84,052,548     2,720,322       (5,951,857     825,281       (961,928

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     29,274,692       (91,130,099     2,457,346       (7,565,077     1,358,637       (1,492,662

 Distributions to Shareholders:

            

Class N

     (8,492,938     (7,736,535     (347,751     (235,849     (325,482     (277,251

Class I

     (5,729,614     (5,885,301     (691,238     (537,618     (446,846     (410,014

Class Z

                 (280,142     (268,295            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (14,222,552     (13,621,836     (1,319,131     (1,041,762     (772,328     (687,265

 Capital Share Transactions:1

            

Net decrease from capital share transactions

     (72,637,330     (157,179,741     (768,427     (11,796,222     (3,839,684     (1,875,236
            

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (57,585,190     (261,931,676     369,788       (20,403,061     (3,253,375     (4,055,163

 Net Assets:

            

Beginning of year

     493,006,646       754,938,322       40,446,873       60,849,934       17,268,549       21,323,712  

End of year

     $435,421,456       $493,006,646       $40,816,661       $40,446,873       $14,015,174       $17,268,549  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

51


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

 
     

 

     AMG
GW&K Municipal
Bond Fund
    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced Yield Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022  

 Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $22,827,789       $19,705,256       $7,868,751       $8,043,373  

Net realized loss on investments

     (16,640,418     (10,312,359     (10,403,174     (10,807,395

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     53,394,216       (113,439,737     24,812,114       (60,592,633

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     59,581,587       (104,046,840     22,277,691       (63,356,655

 Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

     (240,964     (212,610     (109,195     (79,222

Class I

     (22,338,212     (21,345,146     (7,709,369     (8,871,256

Class Z

                 (3,806     (3,685

Total distributions to shareholders

     (22,579,176     (21,557,756     (7,822,370     (8,954,163

 Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net decrease from capital share transactions

     (89,576,367     (142,203,031     (62,041,101     (53,225,598
        

Total decrease in net assets

     (52,573,956     (267,807,627     (47,585,780     (125,536,416

 Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

     1,081,262,512       1,349,070,139       258,994,046       384,530,462  

End of year

     $1,028,688,556       $1,081,262,512       $211,408,266       $258,994,046  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

52


   

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $21.11       $24.88       $28.12       $27.14       $25.49  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.63       0.44       0.44       0.90       0.94  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.75       (3.70     (0.83     1.03       1.85  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.38       (3.26     (0.39     1.93       2.79  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.64     (0.47     (0.47     (0.88     (0.98

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.04     (2.38     (0.07     (0.16

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.64     (0.51     (2.85     (0.95     (1.14

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $21.85       $21.11       $24.88       $28.12       $27.14  

 Total Return2,3

     6.69     (13.17 )%      (1.29 )%      7.34     11.10

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.68     0.68     0.69 %4      0.71     0.72 %5 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6

     0.70     0.69     0.69 %4      0.72     0.73 %5 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     2.94     1.98     1.71     3.31     3.53

Portfolio turnover

     27     23     186     25     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $269,529       $301,028       $427,818       $555,124       $618,381  
    

 

 

53


   

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $21.12       $24.89       $28.13       $27.14       $25.49  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.67       0.49       0.50       0.95       0.99  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.75       (3.71     (0.83     1.05       1.85  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.42       (3.22     (0.33     2.00       2.84  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.69     (0.51     (0.53     (0.94     (1.03

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.04     (2.38     (0.07     (0.16

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.69     (0.55     (2.91     (1.01     (1.19

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $21.85       $21.12       $24.89       $28.13       $27.14  

 Total Return2,3

     6.85     (12.99 )%      (1.05 )%      7.57     11.32

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.48     0.48     0.49 %4      0.50     0.52 %5 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets6

     0.50     0.49     0.49 %4      0.51     0.53 %5 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.14     2.18     1.91     3.52     3.73

Portfolio turnover

     27     23     186     25     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $165,892       $191,979       $327,121       $546,698       $605,353  
    

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Ratio includes recapture of reimbursed fees from prior years amounting to less than 0.01% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

5 

Includes 0.01% of extraordinary expense related to legal expense in support of an investment held in the portfolio.

 

6 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

54


   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.92       $10.61       $10.90       $10.15       $9.43  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.29       0.19       0.14       0.20       0.24  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.22       (1.69     (0.28     0.75       0.73  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.51       (1.50     (0.14     0.95       0.97  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.28     (0.19     (0.14     (0.20     (0.25

Paid in capital

                 (0.01            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.28     (0.19     (0.15     (0.20     (0.25

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $9.15       $8.92       $10.61       $10.90       $10.15  

 Total Return2,3

     5.89     (14.17 )%      (1.26 )%      9.41     10.35

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.73     0.73     0.73     0.73     0.73

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     1.05     1.00     0.93     1.06     1.16

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.20     1.99     1.32     1.86     2.43

Portfolio turnover

     51     54     86     101     71

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $11,370       $10,680       $13,736       $15,794       $14,779  
    

 

 

55


   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.95       $10.65       $10.94       $10.19       $9.47  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.30       0.21       0.16       0.22       0.26  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.23       (1.70     (0.28     0.75       0.73  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.53       (1.49     (0.12     0.97       0.99  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.30     (0.21     (0.16     (0.22     (0.27

Paid in capital

                 (0.01            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.30     (0.21     (0.17     (0.22     (0.27

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $9.18       $8.95       $10.65       $10.94       $10.19  

 Total Return2,3

     6.05     (14.07 )%      (1.07 )%      9.57     10.51

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.56     0.56     0.56     0.55     0.55

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.88     0.83     0.76     0.88     0.98

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.37     2.16     1.49     2.04     2.62

Portfolio turnover

     51     54     86     101     71

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $21,805       $19,890       $33,402       $27,800       $8,502  
    

 

 

56


   

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.95       $10.65       $10.93       $10.18       $9.46  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.31       0.21       0.17       0.22       0.27  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.23       (1.69     (0.27     0.75       0.72  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.54       (1.48     (0.10     0.97       0.99  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.31     (0.22     (0.17     (0.22     (0.27

Paid in capital

                 (0.01            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.31     (0.22     (0.18     (0.22     (0.27

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $9.18       $8.95       $10.65       $10.93       $10.18  

 Total Return2,3

     6.13     (14.00 )%      (0.92 )%      9.65     10.59

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.48     0.48     0.48     0.48     0.48

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.80     0.75     0.68     0.81     0.91

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.45     2.24     1.57     2.11     2.72

Portfolio turnover

     51     54     86     101     71

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $7,641       $9,877       $13,712       $11,552       $10,080  
    

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

57


   

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $20.11       $22.46       $22.23       $21.52       $20.04  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.96       0.67       0.53       0.51       0.57  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.83       (2.20     0.28       2.09       0.98  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     1.79       (1.53     0.81       2.60       1.55  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.99     (0.77     (0.53     (0.48     (0.07

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.05     (0.05     (1.41      

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.99     (0.82     (0.58     (1.89     (0.07

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $20.91       $20.11       $22.46       $22.23       $21.52  

 Total Return2,3

     9.13     (6.80 )%      3.67     12.16     7.67

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.84     0.86 %4      0.84     0.89     0.89

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

     1.48     1.32     1.37     1.70     1.87

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     4.72     3.22     2.36     2.28     2.70

Portfolio turnover

     25     74     97     157     52

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $7,061       $6,528       $8,157       $10,302       $9,638  
    

 

 

58


   

AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal period

 

 
     

 

      For the fiscal years ended December 31,    For the fiscal
period ended
December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    20216

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $20.10   $22.45   $22.27

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

      

Net investment income1,2

   1.00   0.71   0.46

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

   0.83   (2.20)   0.35

Total income (loss) from investment operations

   1.83   (1.49)   0.81

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

      

Net investment income

   (1.03)   (0.81)   (0.58)

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.05)   (0.05)

Total distributions to shareholders

   (1.03)   (0.86)   (0.63)

 Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $20.90   $20.10   $22.45

 Total Return2,3

   9.35%   (6.63)%   3.68%7

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   0.64%   0.66%4   0.64%8

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

   1.28%   1.12%   1.17%8

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

   4.92%   3.42%   2.56%8

Portfolio turnover

   25%   74%   97%

Net assets end of period (000’s) omitted

   $6,954   $10,740   $13,166
                  

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Includes interest expense totaling 0.02% related to participation in the interfund lending program.

 

5 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

6 

Commencement of operations was on March 15, 2021.

 

7 

Not annualized.

 

8 

Annualized.

 

 

59


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $11.11       $12.24       $12.45       $12.12       $11.48  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.21       0.15       0.13       0.15       0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.42       (1.10     (0.11     0.33       0.64  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.63       (0.95     0.02       0.48       0.83  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.21     (0.16     (0.13     (0.15     (0.19

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.02     (0.10            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.21     (0.18     (0.23     (0.15     (0.19

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.53       $11.11       $12.24       $12.45       $12.12  

 Total Return2,3

     5.72     (7.80 )%      0.10     4.31     7.29

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.72     0.72     0.71     0.71     0.71

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.79     0.78     0.76     0.77     0.78

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.85     1.35     1.01     1.25     1.59

Portfolio turnover

     29     20     24     17     18

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $12,081       $12,972       $17,112       $18,153       $18,711  
                            

 

 

60


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $11.18       $12.31       $12.52       $12.18       $11.54  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.25       0.19       0.17       0.19       0.23  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.41       (1.11     (0.11     0.34       0.64  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.66       (0.92     0.06       0.53       0.87  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.24     (0.19     (0.17     (0.19     (0.23

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.02     (0.10            

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.24     (0.21     (0.27     (0.19     (0.23

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.60       $11.18       $12.31       $12.52       $12.18  

 Total Return2,3

     6.04     (7.45 )%      0.43     4.70     7.58

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.39     0.39     0.39     0.39     0.39

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.46     0.45     0.44     0.45     0.46

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     2.18     1.68     1.33     1.57     1.91

Portfolio turnover

     29     20     24     17     18

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,016,607       $1,068,290       $1,331,958       $1,287,667       $1,014,514  
    

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

61


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.56       $10.74       $10.69       $10.42       $9.69  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.25       0.22       0.20       0.23       0.26  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.64       (2.17     0.18       0.37       0.78  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.89       (1.95     0.38       0.60       1.04  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.25     (0.20     (0.19     (0.21     (0.25

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.03     (0.14     (0.12     (0.06

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.25     (0.23     (0.33     (0.33     (0.31

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $9.20       $8.56       $10.74       $10.69       $10.42  

 Total Return2,3

     10.53     (18.19 )%      3.59     5.95     10.92

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.99     0.99     0.99     0.99     0.99

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     1.08     1.07     1.05     1.07     1.08

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     2.87     2.39     1.85     2.17     2.56

Portfolio turnover

     24     45     61     81     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $5,964       $2,955       $14,923       $5,015       $5,722  
    

 

 

62


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.30       $10.43       $10.40       $10.15       $9.45  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.27       0.24       0.23       0.25       0.29  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.62       (2.09     0.17       0.37       0.76  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.89       (1.85     0.40       0.62       1.05  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.28     (0.25     (0.23     (0.25     (0.29

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.03     (0.14     (0.12     (0.06

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.28     (0.28     (0.37     (0.37     (0.35

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $8.91       $8.30       $10.43       $10.40       $10.15  

 Total Return2,3

     10.89     (17.86 )%      3.94     6.31     11.28

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.73     0.72     0.70     0.72     0.73

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.22     2.74     2.20     2.52     2.91

Portfolio turnover

     24     45     61     81     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $205,322       $255,928       $369,473       $323,439       $273,228  
    

 

 

63


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

 

 
     

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023    2022    2021    2020    2019 

 Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $8.30       $10.43       $10.40       $10.15       $9.44  

 Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.28       0.25       0.24       0.26       0.30  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.61       (2.10     0.17       0.37       0.76  

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.89       (1.85     0.41       0.63       1.06  

 Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.28     (0.25     (0.24     (0.26     (0.29

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.03     (0.14     (0.12     (0.06

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.28     (0.28     (0.38     (0.38     (0.35

 Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $8.91       $8.30       $10.43       $10.40       $10.15  

 Total Return2,3

     10.95     (17.82 )%      3.99     6.37     11.45

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.59     0.59     0.59     0.59     0.59

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets4

     0.68     0.67     0.65     0.67     0.68

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     3.27     2.79     2.25     2.57     2.96

Portfolio turnover

     24     45     61     81     40

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $123       $111       $135       $130       $120  
    

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

64


    

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds, AMG Funds II (“Trust II”) and AMG Funds III (“Trust III”) (the “Trusts”) are open-end management investment companies, organized as Massachusetts business trusts, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trusts consist of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report are AMG Funds: AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund (“Municipal Bond”), AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund (“Municipal Enhanced”), Trust II: AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund (“Enhanced Core Bond ESG”) and Trust III: AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund (“ESG Bond”) and AMG GW&K High Income Fund (“High Income”), each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”.

Each Fund offers different classes of shares. All Funds offer Class N shares and Class I shares; and Enhanced Core Bond ESG and Municipal Enhanced offer Class Z shares. Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the respective Fund. Although all share classes generally have identical voting rights, each share class votes separately when required by law. Different share classes may have different net asset values per share to the extent the share classes pay different distribution amounts and/or the expenses of such share classes differ. Each share class has its own expense structure. Please refer to a current prospectus for additional information on each share class.

Market prices of investments held by the Funds may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Funds’ financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity exceeding 60 days are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an authorized pricing service or, if an evaluated price is not available, by reference to other securities which are considered comparable in credit rating, interest rate, due date and other features (generally referred to as “matrix pricing”) or other similar pricing methodologies. Investments in certain mortgage-backed and stripped mortgage-backed securities, convertible securities, derivatives and other debt securities not traded on an organized securities market are valued on the basis of valuations provided by dealers or by a pricing service which uses information with respect to transactions in such securities and various relationships between such securities and yield to maturity in determining value.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of

amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Funds’ portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Funds’ Valuation Designee to perform the Funds’ fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Funds may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Funds’ valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Funds might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Funds. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Funds’ investments.

With respect to foreign equity securities and certain foreign fixed income securities, securities held in the Funds that can be fair valued by the applicable fair value pricing service are fair valued on each business day provided that each individual price exceeds a pre-established confidence level.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds. Unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions

 

 

 

65


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Interest income on foreign

securities is recorded gross of any withholding tax. Other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trusts and other trusts or funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of each Fund, and certain fund level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of each Fund.

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from net investment income, if any, will normally be declared and paid monthly by the Funds. Fund distributions resulting from realized net capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Permanent differences are primarily due to redemptions in kind for Municipal Enhanced. There were no permanent differences for ESG Bond, Enhanced Core Bond ESG, High Income or Municipal Bond. Temporary differences are primarily due to wash sale loss deferrals for ESG Bond, Enhanced Core Bond ESG, High Income and Municipal Enhanced and premium amortization on callable bonds for ESG Bond and High Income. Municipal Bond had no temporary differences.

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

     ESG Bond      Enhanced Core Bond ESG      High Income  

 Distributions paid from:

     2023           2022          2023            2022           2023            2022     

 Ordinary income *

     $14,222,552        $12,655,107        $1,319,131        $1,041,762        $772,328        $684,311  

 Tax-exempt income

                                         

 Long-term capital gains

            966,729                             2,954  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       $14,222,552          $13,621,836          $1,319,131          $1,041,762        $772,328        $687,265  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                 
                   Municipal Bond      Municipal Enhanced  

 Distributions paid from:

           2023            2022           2023            2022     

 Ordinary income *

           $1,247,248        $551,119        $367,083        $207,654  

 Tax-exempt income

           21,331,928        19,272,793        7,455,287        7,931,831  

 Long-term capital gains

                  1,733,844               814,678  
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
             $22,579,176          $21,557,756          $7,822,370          $8,954,163  
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

 

 

66


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

 

     ESG Bond      Enhanced Core Bond ESG      High Income      Municipal Bond      Municipal Enhanced  

 Capital loss carryforward

     $39,808,360        $6,549,700        $1,435,297        $26,952,777        $16,215,360  

 Undistributed ordinary income

     82,816        10,963        9,749                

 Undistributed tax-exempt income

                          249,290        76,439  

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Fund    Cost      Appreciation      Depreciation     Net Depreciation  

 ESG Bond

     $490,317,269        $4,059,983        $(47,919,588     $(43,859,605

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

     45,140,942        274,109        (3,284,931     (3,010,822

 High Income

     16,013,211        116,928        (214,435     (97,507

 Municipal Bond

     1,030,029,167        16,415,545        (23,370,147     (6,954,602

 Municipal Enhanced

     224,254,481        3,241,997        (13,819,821     (10,577,824

 

e. FEDERAL TAXES

Each Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on each Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, each Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the Funds had capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes as shown in the following chart. These amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

 Fund    Short-Term      Long-Term      Total  

 ESG Bond

     $9,213,293        $30,595,067        $39,808,360  

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

     2,675,067        3,874,633        6,549,700  

 High Income

     398,620        1,036,677        1,435,297  

 Municipal Bond

     1,211,437        25,741,340        26,952,777  

 Municipal Enhanced

     4,404,660        11,810,700        16,215,360  
 

 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

Each of AMG Funds’ Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, AMG Funds II’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, and AMG Funds III’s Declaration of Trust authorizes for each applicable Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. Each Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Municipal Enhanced delivered securities, and cash in connection with redemptions in-kind transactions in the amount of $46,736,183 for subscriptions in-kind to AMG Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares, an affiliated fund, and a related party. For the purposes of U.S. GAAP, the transactions were treated as sales of securities and the resulting gain or loss was recognized based on the market value of the securities on the date of the transfer. For tax purposes, no gains or losses were recognized.

 

 

67


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the capital stock transactions by class for the Funds were as follows:

 

    ESG Bond     Enhanced Core Bond ESG  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

 Class N:

               

 Shares sold

    502,045     $ 10,618,434       434,859     $ 9,802,580       384,052     $ 3,446,741       151,245     $ 1,447,268  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    395,272       8,384,556       345,800       7,627,326       32,277       287,738       20,650       192,586  

 Shares redeemed

    (2,817,229     (59,923,434     (3,716,450     (83,888,821     (370,741     (3,342,409     (268,963     (2,557,723
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase (decrease)

    (1,919,912   $ (40,920,444     (2,935,791   $ (66,458,915     45,588     $ 392,070       (97,068   $ (917,869
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Class I:

               

 Shares sold

    1,156,432     $ 24,647,398       1,292,769     $ 29,148,121       1,011,926     $ 9,000,136       1,447,204     $ 13,969,790  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    259,536       5,507,823       256,042       5,663,172       74,147       663,551       55,346       519,860  

 Shares redeemed

    (2,914,785     (61,872,107     (5,602,000     (125,532,119     (933,098     (8,401,244     (2,416,748     (23,744,821
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase (decrease)

    (1,498,817   $ (31,716,886     (4,053,189   $ (90,720,826     152,975     $ 1,262,443       (914,198   $ (9,255,171
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Class Z:

               

 Shares sold

                            143,285       $1,297,193       147,673       $1,476,721  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

                            30,302       271,456       27,916       261,662  

 Shares redeemed

                            (444,712)       (3,991,589)       (359,946)       (3,361,565)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net decrease

                            (271,125)       $(2,422,940)       (184,357)       $(1,623,182)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    High Income     Municipal Bond  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

 Class N:

               

 Shares sold

    80,767     $ 1,656,985       18,712     $ 389,945       418,863     $ 4,709,065       647,098     $ 7,349,629  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    15,456       314,368       13,040       267,721       18,635       207,971       16,904       188,374  

 Shares redeemed

    (83,177     (1,699,230     (70,270     (1,469,556     (556,927     (6,183,058     (895,246     (10,012,745
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net increase (decrease)

    13,046     $ 272,123       (38,518   $ (811,890     (119,429   $ (1,266,022     (231,244   $ (2,474,742
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Class I:

               

 Shares sold

    58,087     $ 1,187,228       484,312     $ 9,834,594       37,373,757     $ 421,157,504       81,732,933     $ 917,700,640  

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    21,980       446,846       19,941       410,014       1,488,315       16,699,309       1,484,035       16,631,130  

 Shares redeemed

    (281,706     (5,745,881     (556,443     (11,307,954     (46,781,942     (526,167,158     (95,879,229     (1,074,060,059
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Net decrease

    (201,639   $ (4,111,807     (52,190   $ (1,063,346     (7,919,870   $ (88,310,345     (12,662,261   $ (139,728,289
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Municipal Enhanced        
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022              
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount                          

 Class N:

               

 Shares sold

    1,862,046     $ 16,341,115       616,950     $ 5,797,292          

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    8,269       72,921       5,976       53,425          

 Shares redeemed

    (1,567,017     (13,721,798     (1,667,635     (16,584,715        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 Net increase (decrease)

    303,298     $ 2,692,238       (1,044,709   $ (10,733,998        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 

 

68


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

    Municipal Enhanced        
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022              
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount                          

 Class I:

               

 Shares sold

    14,554,470       $124,614,205       12,933,675       $112,341,447          

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    330,028       2,811,647       534,430       4,664,114          

 Shares redeemed

    (22,667,440     (192,162,997 )1      (18,061,842     (159,500,846        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 Net decrease

    (7,782,942     $(64,737,145     (4,593,737     $(42,495,285        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 Class Z:

               

 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    448       $3,806       423       $3,685          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 Net increase

    448     $ 3,806       423     $ 3,685          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

 

1 

Includes redemption in-kind in the amount of $46,736,183.

 

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes and for reinvestment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions under the securities lending program offered by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) (the “Securities Lending Program”) (collectively, “Repurchase Agreements”). The value of the underlying collateral, including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the Repurchase Agreements during the term of the agreement. For joint repurchase agreements, the Funds participate on a pro rata basis with other clients of BNYM in their share of the underlying collateral under such joint repurchase agreements and in their share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of the underlying collateral. The underlying collateral for all Repurchase Agreements is held by the Funds’ custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Funds may be delayed or limited. Pursuant to the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM on joint repurchase agreements.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of Repurchase Agreements outstanding for ESG Bond, Enhanced Core Bond ESG, High Income, Municipal Bond and Municipal Enhanced was $14,421,108, $2,185,574, $2,197,791, $15,216,000 and $5,184,000, respectively.

i. DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS AND WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

The Funds may enter into securities transactions on a delayed delivery or when issued basis. Payment and delivery may take place after the customary settlement period for that security. The price of the underlying securities and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. During the time a delayed delivery sell is outstanding, the contract is marked to market daily and equivalent deliverable securities are held for the transaction. The value of the securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis are identified as such in each Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. With respect to purchase commitments, the Funds identify securities as segregated in their records with a value at least equal to the amount of the commitment. Delayed delivery or when-issued securities that have been purchased from and sold to different brokers are reflected as an investment in

securities and a forward sale commitment in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does offset the receivable and payable for delayed delivery investments purchased and sold. Losses may arise due to changes in the value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract, or if the issuer does not issue the securities due to political, economic, or other factors.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of delayed delivery securities held in Municipal Bond amounted to $9,586,475.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

For each of the Funds, the Trusts have entered into investment advisory agreements under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Funds and is responsible for the Funds’ overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Boards and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the subadviser for the Funds and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. Each Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by GW&K Investment Management, LLC (“GW&K”), who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in GW&K.

Investment management fees are paid directly by the Funds to the Investment Manager based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds’ investment management fees were paid at the following annual rates of each Fund’s respective average daily net assets:

 

 ESG Bond

   0.23% 

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

   0.30% 

 High Income

   0.39% 

 Municipal Bond

  

  on first $25 million

   0.35% 

  on next $25 million

   0.30% 

  on next $50 million

   0.25% 

  on balance over $100 million

   0.20% 

 Municipal Enhanced

   0.45% 

 

 

 

 

69


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The fee paid to GW&K for its services as subadviser is paid out of the fee the Investment Manager receives from each Fund and does not increase the expenses of each Fund.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), shareholder servicing fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) of ESG Bond, Enhanced Core Bond ESG, High Income, Municipal Bond, and Municipal Enhanced to the annual rate of 0.43%, 0.48%, 0.59%, 0.34%, and 0.59%, respectively, of each Fund’s average daily net assets (this annual rate or such other annual rate that may be in effect from time to time, the “Expense Cap”), subject to later reimbursement by the Funds in certain circumstances.

In general, for a period of up to 36 months after the date any amounts are paid, waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may recover such amounts from a Fund, provided that such repayment would not cause the Fund’s total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of the items noted in the parenthetical above) to exceed either (i) the Expense Cap in effect at the time such amounts were paid, waived or reimbursed, or (ii) the Expense Cap in effect at the time of such repayment by the Fund.

The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of a Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board, or in the event of a Fund’s liquidation unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of a Fund.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager’s expense reimbursements, and repayments of prior reimbursements by the Funds to the Investment Manager, if any, are as follows:

 

     Expense
Reimbursements
     Repayment of Prior
Reimbursements

 ESG Bond

     $90,822        — 

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

     127,203        — 

 High Income

     100,391        — 

 Municipal Bond

     749,681        — 

 Municipal Enhanced

     221,214        — 

At December 31, 2023, the Funds’ expiration of reimbursements subject to recoupment is as follows:

 

 Expiration

 Period

   ESG Bond     

Enhanced Core

Bond ESG

     High Income  

 Less than 1 year

     $19,644        $113,335        $94,499  

 1-2 years

     72,842        130,195        88,045  

 2-3 years

     90,822        127,203        100,391  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total

     $183,308        $370,733        $282,935  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 Expiration

 Period

   Municipal Bond      Municipal Enhanced  

 Less than 1 year

     $706,015        $230,390  

 1-2 years

     726,185        225,094  

 2-3 years

     749,681        221,214  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total

       $2,181,881          $676,698  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Trusts, on behalf of the Funds, have entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Funds’ administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of managing the Funds’ operations, including administration and shareholder services to each Fund. Each Fund pays a fee to the Administrator at the rate of 0.15% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets for this service.

The Funds are distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for each Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of each Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

The Trusts have adopted a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Class N shares, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the requirements of the applicable rules of FINRA regarding asset-based sales charges. Pursuant to the Plan, Enhanced Core Bond ESG, Municipal Bond and Municipal Enhanced may make payments to the Distributor for its expenditures in financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of each Fund’s Class N shares and for maintenance and personal service provided to existing shareholders of that class. The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor up to 0.25% annually of Enhanced Core Bond ESG, Municipal Bond and Municipal Enhanced average daily net assets attributable to the Class N shares. The portion of payments made under the plan by Class N shares of Enhanced Core Bond ESG, Municipal Bond and Municipal Enhanced for shareholder servicing may not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of each Fund’s shares of that class owned by clients of such broker, dealer or financial intermediary.

For each of Class N and Class I shares of ESG Bond, High Income, Municipal Bond, and Municipal Enhanced, and for Enhanced Core Bond ESG’s Class I shares, the

 

 

 

70


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Board has approved reimbursement payments to the Investment Manager for shareholder servicing expenses (“shareholder servicing fees”) incurred. Shareholder servicing fees include payments to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers (including fund supermarket platforms), banks, and trust companies who provide shareholder recordkeeping, account servicing and other services. The Class N and Class I shares may reimburse the Investment Manager for the actual amount incurred up to a maximum annual rate of each Class’s average daily net assets as shown in the table below.

The impact on the annualized expense ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

     Maximum Annual     Actual   
     Amount     Amount   
Fund    Approved     Incurred   

ESG Bond

    

Class N

     0.25%       0.25%  

Class I

     0.05%       0.05%  

Enhanced Core Bond ESG

 

Class I

     0.10%       0.08%  

High Income

 

Class N

     0.25%       0.25%  

Class I

     0.05%       0.05%  

Municipal Bond

 

Class N

     0.15%       0.13%  

Class I

     0.05       0.05%  

Municipal Enhanced

 

Class N

     0.15%       0.15%  

Class I

     0.05%       0.05%  

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trusts and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trusts who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of each Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Funds are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the Funds had no interfund loans outstanding.

The following Funds utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

 Fund   Average
Lent
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
 

Municipal Bond

    $7,448,357       10       $12,158       5.958 %  

Municipal Enhanced

    1,723,990       6       1,748       6.122 %  

 

 Fund   Average
Borrowed
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Paid
    Average
Interest Rate
 

Enhanced Core Bond ESG

    $1,432,227       4       $990       6.220 %  

Municipal Bond

    2,344,795       3       1,144       5.935 %  

Municipal Enhanced

    1,802,749       13       3,962       6.170 %  

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

     Long Term Securities  
 Fund    Purchases      Sales  

 ESG Bond

     $78,262,046         $115,067,183   

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

     11,200,578         11,978,804   

 High Income

     3,863,034         7,666,292   

 Municipal Bond

     301,623,507         393,699,685   

 Municipal Enhanced

     56,932,120         70,231,619   

Purchases and sales of U.S. Government Obligations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

     U.S. Government Obligations  
 Fund     Purchases         Sales    

 ESG Bond

     $43,877,436        $74,388,537   

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

     8,566,832        8,562,787   

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

The Funds, except Municipal Bond and Municipal Enhanced, participate in the Securities Lending Program providing for the lending of securities to qualified borrowers. Securities lending income includes earnings of such temporary cash investments, plus or minus any rebate to a borrower. These earnings (after any rebate) are then divided between BNYM, as a fee for its services under the Securities Lending Program, and the Funds, according to agreed-upon rates. Collateral on all securities loaned is accepted in cash, U.S. Treasury Obligations or U.S. Government Agency Obligations. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the market value, plus interest, if applicable, of investments on loan. It is the Funds’ policy to obtain additional collateral from or return excess collateral to the borrower by the end of the next business day, following the valuation date of the securities loaned. Therefore, the value of the collateral held may be temporarily less than the value of the securities on loan. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Funds if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned were to increase and

 

 

 

71


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

the borrower did not increase the collateral accordingly, and the borrower fails to return the securities. Under the terms of the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM. Cash collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM, who is authorized to exclusively enter into joint repurchase agreements for that cash collateral. Securities collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM and cannot be sold or pledged. BNYM bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the cash collateral available for return to the borrower due to any loss on the collateral invested. Loans of securities are terminable by a Fund at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities as soon as practical, which is normally within three business days.

The value of securities loaned on positions held, cash collateral and securities collateral received at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Fund   Securities
Loaned
    Cash
Collateral
Received
    Securities
Collateral
Received
    Total
Collateral
Received
 

ESG Bond

    $22,416,408       $14,128,108       $9,203,847       $23,331,955   

Enhanced Core Bond ESG

    4,139,635       2,185,574       2,109,537       4,295,111   

High Income

    2,406,325       2,057,791       456,310       2,514,101   

The following table summarizes the securities received as collateral for securities lending at December 31, 2023:

 

 Fund  

Collateral

Type

  Coupon
Range
  Maturity
Date Range

ESG Bond

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.125%-5.471%   04/15/24-05/15/51 

Enhanced Core Bond ESG

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.125%-4.750%   04/15/24-05/15/51 

High Income

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

  0.000%-6.000%   02/01/24-08/15/53 

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trusts’ organizational documents, their Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trusts. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Funds under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims

that may be made against a Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds had no prior claims or losses and expect the risks of loss to be remote.

6. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

Investing in high yield securities involves greater risks and considerations not typically associated with U.S. Government and other high quality/investment grade securities. High yield securities are generally below investment grade securities and do not have an established retail secondary market. Economic downturns may disrupt the high yield market and impair the issuer’s ability to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would likely have an adverse impact on the value of such obligations and could cause the securities to become less liquid.

7. CREDIT AGREEMENT

Effective April 12, 2023, the Trust III, on behalf of High Income and another fund in the Trust, became party to a Credit Agreement among BNYM, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds IV (together with the Trust and AMG Funds II, the “Participating Trusts”) (the “Credit Agreement”) that provided a revolving line of credit of up to $50 million to certain funds in the Participating Trusts (such funds, the “Participating Funds”). On December 31, 2023, the Credit Agreement was terminated. The facility was shared by the Participating Funds, and was available for temporary, emergency purposes including liquidity needs in meeting redemptions. The interest rate on outstanding Alternate Base Rate Loans was equal to the greater of the Prime Rate plus 1.25%, or 0.50% plus the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1.25%. The interest rate on outstanding Overnight Loans was equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1.25%, or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus 1.25%. The aforementioned Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR was the sum of Daily Simple SOFR plus 0.10% plus a floor rate of 0.00%. The Participating Funds paid a commitment fee on the unutilized commitment amount of 0.175% per annum, which was allocated to the Participating Funds based on average daily net assets and is included in miscellaneous expense on the Participating Funds’ Statement of Operations. Interest incurred on loans utilized, if any, is included in the Statement of Operations as interest expense.

High Income did not utilize the line of credit during the period April 12, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

 

 

8. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into master netting agreements with their counterparties for the Securities Lending Program and Repurchase Agreements, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For securities lending transactions, see Note 4.

The following table is a summary of the Funds’ open Repurchase Agreements that are subject to a master netting agreement as of December 31, 2023:

 

 

72


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

    Gross Amount Not Offset in the    
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities    
 Fund Gross Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities

Offset

Amount

Net

Asset

Balance

Collateral

Received

Net

Amount

 ESG Bond

 Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, Inc.

  $3,006,434     —      $3,006,434   $3,006,434     —   

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

    631,946       631,946     631,946  

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

  3,531,895     3,531,895   3,531,895  

 Santander U.S. Capital Markets LLC

  3,496,576     3,496,576   3,496,576  

 State of Wisconsin Investment Board

  3,461,257     3,461,257   3,461,257  

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  293,000     293,000   293,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

  $14,421,108     $14,421,108   $14,421,108  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Enhanced Core Bond ESG

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

  $1,000,000     $1,000,000   $1,000,000  

 Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

  185,574     185,574   185,574  

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

  1,000,000     1,000,000   1,000,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

  $2,185,574     $2,185,574   $2,185,574  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 High Income

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

  $1,000,000     $1,000,000   $1,000,000  

 Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

  57,791     57,791   57,791  

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

  1,000,000     1,000,000   1,000,000  

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  140,000     140,000   140,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

  $2,197,791     $2,197,791   $2,197,791  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Municipal Bond

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  $7,899,000     $7,899,000   $7,899,000  

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  7,317,000     7,317,000   7,317,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

  $15,216,000     $15,216,000   $15,216,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Municipal Enhanced

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  $3,319,000     $3,319,000   $3,319,000  

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

  1,865,000     1,865,000   1,865,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

  $5,184,000     $5,184,000   $5,184,000  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Funds have determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Funds’ financial statements which require an additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Funds’ financial statements.

 

 

 

73


    

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

   

 

      

 

To the Boards of Trustees of AMG Funds, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III and Shareholders of AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund, AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund, AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund, AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund and AMG GW&K High Income Fund

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of portfolio investments, of AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund, AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund (two of the funds constituting AMG Funds), AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund (one of the funds constituting AMG Funds II), AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund and AMG GW&K High Income Fund (two of the funds constituting AMG Funds III) (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2023, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 and each of the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinions

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

74


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund, AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund, AMG GW&K High Income Fund, AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund, and AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund each hereby designate the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for each Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the year.

 

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG GW&K ESG Bond Fund, AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG Fund, AMG GW&K High Income Fund, AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund, and AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund, each hereby designates $0, as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable year ended December 31, 2023, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such fiscal year.

 

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (collectively the “Trusts”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on proposals to elect trustees to the Boards of Trustees of the Trusts and to amend certain fundamental restrictions of AMG High Income Fund. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trusts until his retirement on December 31, 2023. The proposals and results of the votes are described below.

 

 AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*
 Election of Trustees 1    For      Withheld

 Jill R. Cuniff

   523,453,201      50,330,270

 Kurt A. Keilhacker

   563,642,997      10,140,474

 Peter W. MacEwen

   523,551,974      50,231,497

 Steven J. Paggioli

   561,225,673      12,557,798

 Eric Rakowski

   561,230,560      12,552,911

 Victoria L. Sassine

   563,668,874      10,114,597

 Garret W. Weston

   564,280,150      9,503,321
 AMG Funds II    All Funds in Trust*
 Election of Trustees 1    For      Withheld

 Jill R. Cuniff

   4,796,336      35,586

 Kurt A. Keilhacker

   4,798,616      33,306

 Peter W. MacEwen

   4,797,782      34,140

 Steven J. Paggioli

   4,797,674      34,248

 Eric Rakowski

   4,803,644      28,278

 Victoria L. Sassine

   4,801,440      30,482

 Garret W. Weston

   4,798,028      33,894

 

 

75


    

 

Other Information

 

   

 

      

 

 AMG Funds III    All Funds in Trust*
 Election of Trustees 1    For    Withheld

 Jill R. Cuniff

   16,176,146    1,292,448 

 Kurt A. Keilhacker

   16,195,091    1,273,503 

 Peter W. MacEwen

   16,181,186    1,287,408 

 Steven J. Paggioli

   16,171,262    1,297,332 

 Eric Rakowski

   16,234,882    1,233,712 

 Victoria L. Sassine

   16,232,798    1,235,796 

 Garret W. Weston

   16,302,659    1,165,935 

 

     AMG High Income Fund*
To approve the amendment of the Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions    For    Against    Abstain    Broker
Non-Vote

Borrowing

   365,234    2,237    5,456    205,732 

Issuing Senior Securities

   365,234    2,189    5,503    205,733 

 

1 

Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Boards of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

*

Rounded to the nearest share.

 

 

76


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

      

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trusts, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trusts and the Funds. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds, and

 

    

review the Funds’ performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trusts: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trusts’ organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

   The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trusts within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

Number of Funds Overseen in Fund Complex

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2012-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2012-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco (2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A. (2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2023-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2000-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 1993-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC. (1990-2001).

 

 

77


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2000-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 1999-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2013-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

*Mr. Bingham retired from the Boards of Trustees of the Trusts on December 31, 2023.

**Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Boards of Trustees by the shareholders of the Trusts on October 10, 2023.

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

 

Number of Funds Overseen in Fund Complex

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2021-AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2021-AMG Funds II

• Trustee since 2021-AMG Funds III

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

Officers

 

  Position(s) Held with Fund and

  Length of Time Served

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

  

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

  

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

  

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director-Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director-Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

 

78


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

  Position(s) Held with Fund and

  Length of Time Served

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

  

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

  

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

  

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

79


 

 

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


 

LOGO

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATOR

AMG Funds LLC

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

AMG Distributors, Inc.

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

 

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

222 Berkeley St.

 

Boston, MA 02116

  

CUSTODIAN

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

Mutual Funds Custody

 

6023 Airport Road

 

Orisk any, NY 13424

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

Ropes & Gray LLP

 

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

 

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

AMG Funds

 

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

 

500 Ross Street

 

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

 

800.548.4539

  

This report is prepared for the Funds’ shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for each Fund are available on the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures each Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding each Fund’s proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com      


 

LOGO

 

EQUITY FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman International Equity

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG Boston Common Global Impact

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG Frontier Small Cap Growth

Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Growth

AMG GW&K International Small Cap

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

AMG Montrusco Bolton Large Cap Growth

 

Montrusco Bolton Investments, Inc.

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth

 

The Renaissance Group LLC

   

AMG River Road Dividend All Cap Value

AMG River Road Focused Absolute Value

AMG River Road Large Cap Value Select

AMG River Road Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small-Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small Cap Value

River Road Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

 

AMG Veritas Asia Pacific

AMG Veritas China

AMG Veritas Global Focus

AMG Veritas Global Real Return

Veritas Asset Management LLP

 

AMG Yacktman

AMG Yacktman Focused

AMG Yacktman Global

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities

Yacktman Asset Management LP

 

 

 

FIXED INCOME FUNDS

AMG Beutel Goodman Core Plus Bond

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG GW&K Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K ESG Bond

AMG GW&K High Income

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com       123123    AR088


LOGO

 

ANNUAL REPORT

   

 

     

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 
    

 

LOGO

 
     AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund
 
     Class N: GWETX | Class I: GWEIX  | Class Z: GWEZX
 
     AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund
 
     Class N: SKSEX  | Class I: SKSIX  | Class Z: SKSZX
 
    

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

(formerly AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Fund)

 
     Class N: GWGVX | Class I: GWGIX | Class Z: GWGZX
 
     AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund
 
     Class N: MBEAX  | Class I: MBESX  | Class Z: MBEYX
 
    
 
    

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com        123123   AR089



    

 

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

   

 

     
    
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
   

 

 
 
    LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS      2  
 
    ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES      3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULES OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS   
 
   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

     4  
 
   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

     10  
 
   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

     17  
 
   

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

     22  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     27  
 
   

Balance sheets, net asset value (NAV) per share computations
and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     29  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and
unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     30  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past two fiscal years

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     32  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income
and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     44  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and
transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of
certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      52  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      53  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      55  
      

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 


LOGO

 

 

Letter to Shareholders

 

   

 

     

Dear Shareholder:

 

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

        Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns   December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:        1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)     26.29     10.00     15.69

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)     16.93     2.22     9.97

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)     15.62     1.55     7.08

Bonds:

                           

Investment Grade

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)     5.53     (3.31 )%      1.10

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)     13.44     1.98     5.37

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)     6.40     (0.40 )%      2.25

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)     5.14     2.17     2.02

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

   

 

     

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

      

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

         

 

 

 

 Six Months Ended
 December 31, 2023
   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.30%   $1,000      $1,046      $6.70

Class I

   0.95%   $1,000      $1,048      $4.90

Class Z

   0.90%   $1,000      $1,048      $4.65

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.30%   $1,000      $1,019      $6.61

Class I

   0.95%   $1,000      $1,020      $4.84

Class Z

   0.90%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.58

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.15%   $1,000      $1,118      $6.14

Class I

   0.95%   $1,000      $1,119      $5.07

Class Z

   0.90%   $1,000      $1,119      $4.81

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.15%   $1,000      $1,019      $5.85

Class I

   0.95%   $1,000      $1,020      $4.84

Class Z

   0.90%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.58

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,079      $5.61

Class I

   0.87%   $1,000      $1,080      $4.56

Class Z

   0.82%   $1,000      $1,081      $4.30

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   1.07%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.45

Class I

   0.87%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.43

Class Z

   0.82%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.18
 Six Months Ended
 December 31, 2023
   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
     Expenses
Paid
During
the Period*

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

Class N

   0.99%   $1,000      $993      $4.97

Class I

   0.85%   $1,000      $993      $4.27

Class Z

   0.77%   $1,000      $995      $3.87

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

Class N

   0.99%   $1,000      $1,020      $5.04

Class I

   0.85%   $1,000      $1,021      $4.33

Class Z

   0.77%   $1,000      $1,021      $3.92

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 

 

3


    

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 8.02%, compared with the Fund’s benchmark, the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”), which returned 16.93%.

 

If we are anything alike, you are hoping the words “pivot” and “landing” are retired from the financial lexicon in 2024. The past year has been ALL about the macro and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) activities. Will they keep raising, stay higher for longer, or could they pause? By the time we reached December, investors pivoted to arguing about how many rate cuts were coming. Market participants shifted their views of economic conditions in 2023 as many times as Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted for fraud. Hard landing, soft landing, no landing. Bulls continuously thought there would be no recession and a pivot was just around the corner. Bears figured either the Fed’s rapid interest-rate increase would break something, causing earnings estimates to fall, or stickier inflation would keep the Fed firm.

 

For now, it appears the bulls were correct. However, given the rapid change in perspectives during 2023, investors assuming the bulls get the last word might also be shocked when a Barbie movie sequel or spinoff is announced. In fact, it is possible the Oppenheimer-Barbie cinematic linkage is the best example of 2023 markets you can find: two polar opposite experiences, improbably embraced simultaneously and relatedly. Inflation, higher interest rates, a banking crisis, and higher for longer in one theater, while the other audience watches a resilient economy, peaking monetary policy, and a bull market for financial assets. Stock investors were especially rewarded as the year came to a close, this time even those owning US small caps. The bulls emerge victorious for now but keep watch for changes to the outlook and the release of a Ken movie prequel.

 

The Index jumped 14.0% in the fourth quarter to finish the year with an impressive 16.9% return. During the year, sector leadership came from information technology, consumer discretionary, and industrials. Lagging performance came especially

      

from utilities, while health care and communication services delivered less than half of the Index return. Housing-related industries were up well over 50% and some extraordinary individual stocks drove high returns in technology hardware, personal care, and beverages. Banks were just below flat on the year and joined life science tools & services, food, and containers/packaging among the laggards. Related to these last two industries, the lowest-beta quintile of the Index was ignored in the rally, increasing just 6.7%. Other factor oddities included the 30.3% return from the lowest-valuation quintile and languishing returns from the middle Return-on-Equity (ROE) group.

 

Stepping back, it appears our lower risk profile and lack of exposure in areas such as biotech, unprofitable tech, and housing or building products played a factor in our underperformance. We were far too cautiously positioned relative to the benchmark in areas such as housing and related construction materials and services, missed some critical one-off big winners, and suffered selection challenges which could not be overcome. The macro-centric backdrop certainly played a role, as likely did the ebbing of the tide from two previous strong years of Fund relative performance.

 

By sector, health care suffered half our deficit, although it is still our best performer over three years. Our holdings had nearly universally weak stock performance, although in most cases the fundamentals were sound and results not meaningfully different from our expectations in January 2023.

 

We missed several benchmark names with truly epic price appreciation, which cost over 100 bps of performance. Information technology experienced a dual hit to relative results from both our holdings and a few moon shots in the Index, where investors fancied a host of bitcoin and artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks. Totaling the impact of just six of these stocks created a headwind of 90 bps given their size and triple-digit returns. Finally, we were absent the cyclical semi cap equipment space, which jumped 55%.

      

Other sectors worth mentioning include financials and energy on the negative side of the ledger and industrials in the plus column. Financials suffered from weak stock selection in banks and Insurance. Higher exposure to commercial Real Estate (particularly office) and unanticipated credit events during the year were the main issues, but even those with solid execution suffered if they had above industry average valuations. In energy, our exploration & production holdings mostly hit numbers but lagged more dynamic performers. The industrials sector was a lone bright spot with strongly positive stock selection. The common theme among the best performers was solid revenue and order growth relative to expectations, good margin performance, and valuation expansion.

 

As we look forward into 2024, we are hopeful for a shift within the investing environment. Instead of pivots and landings or bitcoin and AI vaporware, we would prefer to focus on near and intermediate term earnings and cash-flow generation potential. While the market was hypersensitive to macro outcomes in 2023, consistent and sustainable earnings growth was often not the driving factor for returns. There are lessons to be learned from our stock selection, and we will study those and use them to improve our analytical thinking and investment process. We continue to believe consistent and sustainable growers will outperform the benchmark over long periods, as investors tire of rebound trades and other short-term infatuations.

 

We think it is a mistake to assume the outcome of this economic cycle is decided. The yield curve remains inverted, and the resilient economy has of late been partially supported by fiscal stimulus. It is uncertain if we will be able to avoid a recession over the next 12 months. As we enter 2024, we’re hoping it is the year where stock-specific fundamentals and small cap stocks trump the macro.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

4


AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

      

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 2000® Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund and the Russell 2000® Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One      Five      Ten      Since      Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year      Years      Years      Inception      Date  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

Class N

     8.02%        10.90%        7.20%        8.08%        12/10/96  

Class I

     8.39%        11.29%        7.60%        12.03%        07/27/09  

Class Z

     8.44%        11.33%        —         8.01%        02/24/17  

Russell 2000® Index9

     16.93%        9.97%        7.16%        8.01%         12/10/96  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

 
 

capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2 

From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3 

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4 

The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

5 

The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

6 

Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

7 

Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

8 

The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9 

The Russell 2000® Index is composed of the 2,000 smallest stocks in the Russell 3000® Index and is widely regarded in the industry as the premier measure of small-cap stock performance. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 2000® Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

The Russell Indices are trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

5


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

Industrials

   18.5
 

Health Care

   17.2
 

Financials

   16.2
 

Consumer Discretionary

   13.2
 

Information Technology

   13.0
 

Materials

   6.0
 

Real Estate

   5.3
 

Energy

   4.4
 

Consumer Staples

   2.8
 

Utilities

   2.2
 

Short-Term Investments

   1.2
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

   0.01

 

1 

Less than (0.05)%

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

 

   2.1
 

SPX Technologies, Inc.

 

   2.0
 

RBC Bearings, Inc.

 

   2.0
 

Matador Resources Co.

 

   1.9
 

STAG Industrial, Inc.

 

   1.9
 

UFP Industries, Inc.

 

   1.9
 

Novanta, Inc.

 

   1.9
 

Avient Corp.

 

   1.8
 

Medpace Holdings, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.

   1.7
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    19.0 
  

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

6


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Common Stocks - 98.8%

     

Consumer Discretionary - 13.2%

 

  

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*

     84,120        $6,457,051  

Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*

     124,174        4,747,172  

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.*

     81,662        1,641,406  

Fox Factory Holding Corp.*

     66,016        4,454,760  

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*

     66,609        8,795,052  

Helen of Troy, Ltd.*

     39,844        4,813,554  

Lithia Motors, Inc.

     29,876        9,837,569  

Oxford Industries, Inc.

     76,851        7,685,100  

Patrick Industries, Inc.

     66,007        6,623,802  

Revolve Group, Inc.*,1

     122,856        2,036,953  

Skyline Champion Corp.*

     123,935        9,203,413  

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

     110,798        13,542,840  

Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*

     137,784        4,877,554  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        84,716,226  

Consumer Staples - 2.8%

 

  

Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*

     241,084        10,617,340  

Utz Brands, Inc.

     253,393        4,115,102  

The Vita Coco Co., Inc.*

     122,275        3,136,354  

Total Consumer Staples

        17,868,796  

Energy - 4.4%

 

  

ChampionX Corp.

     165,498        4,834,197  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A

     422,889        9,003,307  

Matador Resources Co.

     218,634        12,431,529  

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

     206,944        2,234,995  

Total Energy

        28,504,028  

Financials - 16.2%

 

  

Ameris Bancorp

     171,780        9,112,929  

AMERISAFE, Inc.

     93,685        4,382,584  

Cathay General Bancorp

     165,340        7,369,204  

Cohen & Steers, Inc.1

     126,124        9,551,371  

Flywire Corp.*

     387,237        8,964,537  

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

     133,092        5,499,361  

Horace Mann Educators Corp.

     229,815        7,514,950  

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

     76,204        9,137,622  

Independent Bank Corp.

     92,564        6,091,637  

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

     352,295        6,115,841  

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.

     276,783        8,057,153  

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

     268,572        7,643,559  

Stifel Financial Corp.

     138,217        9,557,706  

UMB Financial Corp.

     55,000        4,595,250  

Total Financials

       

 

103,593,704

 

 

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Health Care - 17.2%

 

  

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.*

     338,381        $1,092,971  

Artivion, Inc.*

     233,943        4,182,901  

AtriCure, Inc.*

     156,909        5,600,082  

Azenta, Inc.*

     90,584        5,900,642  

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     341,024        2,042,734  

CryoPort, Inc.*,1

     128,417        1,989,179  

Globus Medical, Inc., Class A*

     147,942        7,883,829  

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*

     208,179        7,694,296  

HealthEquity, Inc.*

     138,878        9,207,611  

ICU Medical, Inc.*

     30,265        3,018,631  

Insmed, Inc.*

     162,863        5,047,124  

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*

     119,865        5,220,121  

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*

     129,579        9,280,448  

Medpace Holdings, Inc.*

     37,391        11,461,463  

Phreesia, Inc.*

     292,061        6,761,212  

Progyny, Inc.*

     149,613        5,562,611  

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     237,168        6,863,642  

US Physical Therapy, Inc.

     59,441        5,536,335  

Veracyte, Inc.*

     223,656        6,152,777  

Total Health Care

        110,498,609  

Industrials - 18.5%

 

  

Alamo Group, Inc.

     50,881        10,694,677  

Allegiant Travel Co.

     37,517        3,099,279  

CBIZ, Inc.*

     155,811        9,752,211  

Chart Industries, Inc.*,1

     44,070        6,008,063  

Ducommun, Inc.*

     63,417        3,301,489  

Heartland Express, Inc.

     153,339        2,186,614  

ICF International, Inc.

     65,209        8,743,875  

ITT, Inc.

     77,066        9,195,515  

Paycor HCM, Inc.*

     311,685        6,729,279  

Primoris Services Corp.

     269,791        8,959,759  

RBC Bearings, Inc.*

     44,709        12,737,147  

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc., Class A*

     332,567        5,168,091  

SPX Technologies, Inc.*

     130,085        13,139,886  

Terex Corp.

     122,987        7,066,833  

UFP Industries, Inc.

     94,741        11,894,733  

Total Industrials

        118,677,451  

Information Technology - 13.0%

 

  

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.*

     214,263        6,485,741  

Appfolio, Inc., Class A*

     54,972        9,523,349  

The Descartes Systems Group, Inc. (Canada)*

     114,038        9,586,034  

Endava PLC, Sponsored ADR (United Kingdom)*

    

 

89,019

 

 

 

    

 

6,930,129

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

7


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

     

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Information Technology - 13.0%

 

  

(continued)

     

Intapp, Inc.*,1

     220,306        $8,376,034  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*

     119,723        11,128,253  

Novanta, Inc.*

     70,613        11,891,936  

Rapid7, Inc.*

     91,963        5,251,087  

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*

     51,383        6,796,430  

Viavi Solutions, Inc.*

     722,159        7,272,141  

Total Information Technology

        83,241,134  

Materials - 6.0%

 

  

Avient Corp.

     277,293        11,527,070  

Balchem Corp.

     57,203        8,508,946  

Minerals Technologies, Inc.

     122,847        8,760,220  

Silgan Holdings, Inc.

     208,354        9,428,018  

Total Materials

        38,224,254  

Real Estate - 5.3%

 

  

Agree Realty Corp., REIT

     101,393        6,382,689  

National Health Investors, Inc., REIT

     86,016        4,803,993  

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., REIT

     97,877        10,772,343  

STAG Industrial, Inc., REIT

     310,922        12,206,798  

Total Real Estate

        34,165,823  

Utilities - 2.2%

 

  

IDACORP, Inc.

     64,930        6,383,917  

Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.

     149,247        7,595,180  

Total Utilities

 

     13,979,097  

Total Common Stocks

 

  

(Cost $474,239,143)

        633,469,122  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Short-Term Investments - 1.2%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 0.3%2

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $795,438 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $810,960)

     $794,963        $794,963  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

     1,794,963  

Repurchase Agreements - 0.9%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $2,328,332 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 0.125%, 01/15/32, totaling $2,373,602)

     2,327,000        2,327,000  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $3,389,939 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $3,455,767)

     3,388,000        3,388,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

 

     5,715,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $7,509,963)

        7,509,963  

Total Investments - 100.0%

 

  

(Cost $481,749,106)

        640,979,085  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 0.0%#

 

     (263,811

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $640,715,274  
  
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

# 

Less than (0.05)%.

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $10,123,784 or 1.6% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

2 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

ADR American Depositary Receipt

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

     

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

     $633,469,122                      $633,469,122  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            $1,794,963               1,794,963  

Repurchase Agreements

            5,715,000               5,715,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     $633,469,122        $7,509,963               $640,979,085  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

All common stocks held in the Fund are Level 1 securities. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


    

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 17.43%, compared to a 14.65% return for the Russell 2000® Value Index (the “Index”), the Fund’s benchmark.

 

If we are anything alike, you are hoping the words “pivot” and “landing” are retired from the financial lexicon in 2024. The past year has been ALL about the macro and the U.S Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) activities. Will they keep raising, stay higher for longer, or could they pause? By the time we reached December, investors pivoted to arguing about how many rate cuts were coming. Market participants shifted their views of economic conditions in 2023 as many times as Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted for fraud. Hard landing, soft landing, no landing. Bulls continuously thought there would be no recession and a pivot was just around the corner. Bears figured either the Fed’s rapid interest-rate increase would break something, causing earnings estimates to fall, or stickier inflation would keep the Fed firm.

 

For now, it appears the bulls were correct. However, given the rapid change in perspectives during 2023, investors assuming the bulls get the last word might also be shocked when a Barbie movie sequel or spinoff is announced. In fact, it is possible the Oppenheimer-Barbie cinematic linkage is the best example of 2023 markets you can find: two polar opposite experiences, improbably embraced simultaneously and relatedly. Inflation, higher interest rates, a banking crisis, and higher for longer in one theater, while the other audience watches a resilient economy, peaking monetary policy, and a bull market for financial assets. Stock investors were especially rewarded to finish out the year, this time even those owning U.S. small caps. The bulls emerge victorious for now, but keep watch for changes to the outlook and the release of a Ken movie prequel.

      

Focusing on the broader small cap market, the Russell 2000® Index jumped 14.0% in the fourth quarter to finish the year with an impressive 16.9% return. Sector leadership came from consumer discretionary, industrials, and information technology. Lagging performance came especially from utilities, while health care, communication services, and consumer staples delivered less than half of the Russell 2000® Index return. Housing-related industries were up well over 50% and some extraordinary individual stocks drove high returns in technology hardware, software, and construction & engineering. Banks were just below flat on the year, and joined broadline retail, communications equipment, and health care technology among the worst-performing industries.

 

Compared to the Russell 2000 Value Index, our relative outperformance was driven by both strong stock selection and favorable sector allocation. Our strongest sectors were Health Care, Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Staples. In Health Care, performance benefited from both allocation and stock selection. Our underweight position in biotech helped performance, and was boosted by solid returns from several names, including Tenet Healthcare, NeoGenomics, Integer Holdings, and Albireo Pharma.

 

Similarly, in financials both sector allocation (a slight underweight), and stock selection drove relative performance. Industrials benefited most from our overweight in construction & engineering, with strong selection across the sector. In Consumer Staples, our two holdings, Hostess Brands and Central Garden & Pet, outperformed by a wide margin, helped by the acquisition of Hostess by J.M. Smucker. The utilities and materials sectors also produced relative outperformance.

      

Other sectors worth mentioning in brief include real estate and information technology on the negative side of the ledger. Poor stock selection drove relative performance in real estate as several of our long-term holdings suffered from the impact of rising interest rates. In information technology, our biggest headwind was our lack of exposure in software, an industry that was up 58.4% for the year.

 

As we look forward into 2024, we are hopeful for a shift in the investing environment. Instead of pivots and landings or bitcoin and artificial intelligence (AI) vaporware, we would prefer to focus on near- and intermediate-term earnings and cash-flow generation potential. While the market was hypersensitive to macro outcomes in 2023, consistent and sustainable earnings growth was often not the driving factor for returns. There are lessons to be learned from our stock selection, and we will study those and use them to improve our analytical thinking and investment process. We continue to believe consistent and sustainable growers will outperform the benchmark over long periods, as investors tire of rebound trades and other short-term infatuations.

 

We think it is a mistake to assume the outcome of this economic cycle is decided. The yield curve remains inverted, and the resilient economy has of late been partially supported by fiscal stimulus. It is uncertain if we will be able to avoid a recession over the next 12 months. As we enter 2024, we’re hoping it is the year where stock-specific fundamentals and small cap stocks trump the macro.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

             

 

 

10


AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 2000® Value Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund and the Russell 2000® Value Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One      Five      Ten      Since      Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year      Years      Years      Inception      Date  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

 

     

Class N

     17.43%        11.92%        6.22%        11.11%        04/23/87  

Class I

     17.73%        12.14%               6.61%        02/24/17  

Class Z

     17.77%        12.20%               6.67%        02/24/17  

Russell 2000® Value Index11

     14.65%        10.00%        6.76%                

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 
 
2 

As of December 4, 2020, the Fund’s Subadviser was changed to GW&K Investment Management, LLC. Prior to December 4, 2020, the Fund was known as the AMG Managers Skyline Special Equities Fund, and had different principal investment strategies and corresponding risks. Performance shown for periods prior to December 4, 2020 reflects the performance and investment strategies of the Fund’s previous Subadviser, Skyline Asset Management, L.P. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the Fund were managed by the current Subadviser and strategy, and the Fund’s prior performance record might be less pertinent for investors considering whether to purchase shares of the Fund.

 

3 

From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

4 

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

5 

The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6 

Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

7 

Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

8 

The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

9 

Investments in the Fund may be subject to many of the same risks as a direct investment in real estate. The stock prices of companies in the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), are typically sensitive to changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, as well as the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. REITs also depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or

 

 

 

11


    

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   unitholders and are subject to the risk of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

10 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

      

11 The Russell 2000® Value Index is an unmanaged, market-value weighted, value-oriented index comprised of small stocks that have relatively low price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 2000® Value Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

      

The Russell Indices are trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

12


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

Financials

   28.6
 

Industrials

   15.4
 

Consumer Discretionary

   12.3
 

Real Estate

   10.0
 

Energy

   8.9
 

Health Care

   8.4
 

Information Technology

   4.6
 

Materials

   4.4
 

Utilities

   3.1
 

Consumer Staples

   2.0
 

Communication Services

   1.4
 

Short-Term Investments

   1.2
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

   (0.3)

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 
 

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

 

     2.4  
 

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C

 

     2.3  
 

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

 

     2.2  
 

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

 

     2.2  
 

CBIZ, Inc.

 

     2.2  
 

Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

 

     2.1  
 

Piper Sandler Cos.

 

     2.1  
 

Orion, S.A.

 

     2.0  
 

Central Garden & Pet Co.

 

     2.0  
 

PJT Partners, Inc., Class A

 

     1.8  
    

 

 

 
 

Top Ten as a Group

      21.3   
  

 

 

 
 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

13


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Common Stocks - 99.1%

     

Communication Services - 1.4%

 

  

IMAX Corp. (Canada)*

     138,360        $2,078,167  

Ziff Davis, Inc.*

     22,549        1,515,068  

Total Communication Services

        3,593,235  

Consumer Discretionary - 12.3%

 

  

Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.

     59,621        3,934,986  

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*

     55,100        1,984,151  

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*

     60,619        4,653,115  

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.*

     233,901        4,701,410  

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

     19,937        6,075,601  

Helen of Troy, Ltd.*

     22,125        2,672,921  

Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.*

     139,299        1,997,548  

Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*

     78,500        2,778,900  

Worthington Enterprises, Inc.1

     48,973        2,818,396  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        31,617,028  

Consumer Staples - 2.0%

 

  

Central Garden & Pet Co.*,1

     101,330        5,077,646  

Energy - 8.9%

 

  

California Resources Corp.

     39,335        2,150,838  

Chord Energy Corp

     23,026        3,827,612  

Crescent Energy Co., Class A1

     170,520        2,252,569  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A

     135,130        2,876,918  

Matador Resources Co.

     57,756        3,284,006  

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.1

     70,220        2,603,055  

Permian Resources Corp.

     325,793        4,430,785  

Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, Inc., Class A

     197,190        1,569,632  

Total Energy

        22,995,415  

Financials - 28.6%

 

  

Ameris Bancorp

     80,054        4,246,865  

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.

     116,294        4,249,383  

Cathay General Bancorp

     75,122        3,348,188  

City Holding Co.

     33,366        3,678,935  

Community Bank System, Inc.

     54,395        2,834,523  

Enterprise Financial Services Corp.

     52,030        2,323,140  

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C

     30,667        5,864,144  

First Financial Bancorp

     121,829        2,893,439  

First Interstate BancSystem, Inc., Class A

     114,430        3,518,722  

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.1

     56,260        2,324,663  

International Bancshares Corp.

     74,848        4,065,743  

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

     129,553        2,249,040  

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.

     92,274        2,686,096  

Piper Sandler Cos.

    

 

30,549

 

 

 

    

 

5,342,104

 

 

 

     
Shares
     Value  

PJT Partners, Inc., Class A1

     46,851        $4,772,711  

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

     80,102        2,279,703  

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

     58,415        5,811,124  

Stifel Financial Corp.

     55,442        3,833,814  

Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

     48,718        5,408,185  

WesBanco, Inc.

     63,078        1,978,757  

Total Financials

        73,709,279  

Health Care - 8.4%

 

  

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     250,010        1,497,560  

Integer Holdings Corp.*

     46,176        4,575,118  

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     49,825        3,558,502  

NeoGenomics, Inc.*

     212,308        3,435,143  

OmniAb, Inc.*,2,3

     10,502        0  

OmniAb, Inc.*,2,3

     10,502        0  

Paragon 28, Inc.*

     248,742        3,091,863  

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     103,046        2,982,151  

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*

     53,944        2,579,602  

Total Health Care

        21,719,939  

Industrials - 15.4%

 

  

Atkore, Inc.*

     27,211        4,353,760  

CBIZ, Inc.*

     88,947        5,567,193  

Columbus McKinnon Corp.

     91,447        3,568,262  

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

     27,781        5,713,718  

Herc Holdings, Inc.

     19,176        2,855,115  

Hillenbrand, Inc.

     60,296        2,885,163  

ICF International, Inc.

     14,607        1,958,653  

Primoris Services Corp.

     110,220        3,660,406  

Terex Corp.

     76,265        4,382,187  

UFP Industries, Inc.

     37,194        4,669,707  

Total Industrials

        39,614,164  

Information Technology - 4.6%

 

  

Endava PLC, Sponsored ADR (United Kingdom)*

     50,107        3,900,830  

Power Integrations, Inc.

     31,205        2,562,243  

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*

     25,713        3,401,059  

Viavi Solutions, Inc.*

     202,350        2,037,664  

Total Information Technology

        11,901,796  

Materials - 4.4%

 

  

Minerals Technologies, Inc.

     38,987        2,780,163  

Orion, S.A.

     186,576        5,173,752  

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A

     61,985        1,869,468  

Worthington Steel, Inc.*,1

     48,973        1,376,141  

Total Materials

       

 

11,199,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

14


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

     

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Real Estate - 10.0%

 

  

Acadia Realty Trust, REIT

     123,030        $2,090,280  

Agree Realty Corp., REIT

     44,330        2,790,574  

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc., REIT 1

     135,268        3,422,280  

Getty Realty Corp., REIT

     111,617        3,261,449  

Independence Realty Trust, Inc., REIT

     289,397        4,427,774  

LXP Industrial Trust, REIT

     158,624        1,573,550  

Plymouth Industrial REIT, Inc.

     107,330        2,583,433  

STAG Industrial, Inc., REIT

     84,920        3,333,959  

Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc., REIT

     170,671        2,324,539  

Total Real Estate

        25,807,838  

Utilities - 3.1%

 

  

IDACORP, Inc.

     33,552        3,298,833  

Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.

     47,853        2,435,239  

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

     36,798        2,331,153  

Total Utilities

 

     8,065,225  

Total Common Stocks

 

  

(Cost $195,571,246)

        255,301,089  
     Principal
Amount
        

Short-Term Investments - 1.2%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 0.4%4

 

  

Daiwa Capital Markets America, dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.380% total to be received $78,423 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 03/22/24 - 01/01/54, totaling $79,953)

     $78,376        78,376  
     
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $1,000,593 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 - 12/01/53, totaling $1,020,000)

     $1,000,000        $1,000,000  

Total Joint Repurchase Agreements

 

     1,078,376  

Repurchase Agreements - 0.8%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $2,066,182 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $2,106,360)

     2,065,000        2,065,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $3,143,376)

        3,143,376  

Total Investments - 100.3%

 

  

(Cost $198,714,622)

        258,444,465  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (0.3)%

 

     (845,701

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

     $257,598,764  
  
 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $17,250,209 or 6.7% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

2 

Security’s value was determined by using significant unobservable inputs.

 

3 

These securities are restricted and are not available for re-sale. Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ligand”) completed a spin-off of OmniAb, Inc on November 2, 2022. Ligand shareholders received new holdings of OmniAb earn-out shares. The market value of earn-out shares was $0 on the date of the spin-off. At December 31, 2023, for each holding of OmniAb earn-out shares, the cost was $19,190 and the market value of each was $0, which represents 0% of net assets.

4 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

ADR American Depositary Receipt

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

15


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

   

 

     

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

           

Financials

     $73,709,279                      $73,709,279  

Industrials

     39,614,164                      39,614,164  

Consumer Discretionary

     31,617,028                      31,617,028  

Real Estate

     25,807,838                      25,807,838  

Energy

     22,995,415                      22,995,415  

Health Care

     21,719,939               $0        21,719,939  

Information Technology

     11,901,796                      11,901,796  

Materials

     11,199,524                      11,199,524  

Utilities

     8,065,225                      8,065,225  

Consumer Staples

     5,077,646                      5,077,646  

Communication Services

     3,593,235                      3,593,235  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

            $1,078,376               1,078,376  

Repurchase Agreements

            2,065,000               2,065,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     $255,301,089        $3,143,376        $0        $258,444,465  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Level 3 common stocks were received as a result of a corporate action. The security’s value was determined by using significant unobservable inputs. For the current period ended December 31, 2023, the change in unrealized depreciation was $0.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3. The Fund did not have any purchases and sales of Level 3 securities for the same period.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

16


    

 

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund (the “Fund”) Class I shares returned 14.76%, compared to the Fund’s benchmark, the Russell 2500® Index (the “Index”), which returned 17.42%.

 

If we are anything alike, you are hoping the words “pivot” and “landing” are retired from the financial lexicon in 2024. The past year has been ALL about the macro and the U.S Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) activities. Will they keep raising, stay higher for longer, or could they pause? By the time we reached December, investors pivoted to arguing about how many rate cuts were coming. Market participants shifted their views of economic conditions in 2023 as many times as Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted for fraud. Hard landing, soft landing, no landing. Bulls continuously thought there would be no recession and a pivot was just around the corner. Bears figured either the Fed’s rapid interest-rate increase would break something, causing earnings estimates to fall, or stickier inflation would keep the Fed firm.

 

For now, it appears the bulls were correct. However, given the rapid change in perspectives during 2023, investors assuming the bulls get the last word might also be shocked when a Barbie movie sequel or spinoff is announced. In fact, it is possible the Oppenheimer-Barbie cinematic linkage is the best example of 2023 markets you can find: two polar opposite experiences, improbably embraced simultaneously and relatedly. Inflation, higher interest rates, a banking crisis, and higher for longer in one theater, while the other audience watches a resilient economy, peaking monetary policy, and a bull market for financial assets. Stock investors were especially rewarded as the year came to a close, this time even those owning US small/mid (smid) caps. The bulls emerge victorious for now but keep watch for changes to the outlook and the release of a Ken movie prequel.

 

During the year, sector leadership in the Index came from information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary. Lagging performance came

      

especially from utilities, while health care and energy offered only modest positive returns. Housing-related industries were up close to 60%, and some extraordinary individual stocks drove high returns in technology hardware, personal care, and beverages. Banks were just below flat on the year and joined health care equipment/supplies and communications equipment among the negative performers. Among factor details, the lowest-beta quintile of the benchmark was ignored in the rally, increasing just 6.5%. Other factor oddities included the 25.0% return from the lowest-valuation quintile and languishing returns from the middle Return-on-Equity (ROE) group (+12.6%).

 

Stepping back, it appears our lower risk profile and lack of exposure in areas such as biotech, unprofitable software, and housing or building products played a factor, in addition to stock selection. We were too cautiously positioned relative to the benchmark in areas such as housing and related construction materials and services, missed some critical one-off big winners, and suffered selection challenges which could not be overcome. The macro centric backdrop certainly played a role. By sector, Health Care suffered the majority of our deficit, although it is still our best performer over three years. We missed several benchmark names with truly epic price appreciation, which cost us in addition to our biotech underweight. Performance issues in the Financials sector were mostly due to our selection in banks. Our holdings were hit hard during the March banking crisis, with Signature Bank taken over by New York state regulators and Western Alliance doing everything they could not to follow that pathway. We sold Western Alliance and replaced it with other banking exposure, but the impact of both stocks was nearly 150 bps, a portion of which was earned back elsewhere in the sector. Finally, consumer staples was hurt by a drop in Lancaster Colony due to disappointing margin performance and BJ’s Wholesale, which grew

      

earnings but saw its multiple degrade to generate a flat stock on the year. In the plus column, information technology benefited from broadly excellent stock selection in software. Outperformance was all the more remarkable given investor obsession with a host of bitcoin and artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks. Totaling the impact of just six of these stocks created a headwind of 40 bps given their size and triple-digit returns. The materials sector was also additive.

 

As we look forward into 2024, we are hopeful for a shift within the investing environment. Instead of pivots and landings or bitcoin and AI vaporware, we would prefer to focus on near- and intermediate-term earnings and cash-flow generation potential. While the market was hypersensitive to macro outcomes in 2023, consistent and sustainable earnings growth was often not the driving factor for returns. There are lessons to be learned from our stock selection, and we will study those and use them to improve our analytical thinking and investment process. We continue to believe consistent and sustainable growers will outperform the benchmark over long periods, as investors tire with rebound trades and other short-term infatuations.

 

We think it is a mistake to assume the outcome of this economic cycle is decided. The yield curve remains inverted, and the resilient economy has of late been partially supported by fiscal stimulus. It is uncertain if we will be able to avoid a recession over the next 12 months. As we enter 2024, we’re hoping it is the year where stock-specific fundamentals and small cap stocks trump the macro.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

             

 

 

17


 AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

 Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 
 

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund’s Class I shares on June 30, 2015, to a $10,000 investment made in the Russell 2500® Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund and the Russell 2500® Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One     Five     Since     Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Year     Years     Inception     Date  

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

 

Class N

     14.51     13.62     9.80     02/24/17  

Class I

     14.76     13.84     8.41     06/30/15  

Class Z

     14.78     13.90     10.07     02/24/17  

Russell 2500® Index9

     17.42     11.67     8.42      06/30/15  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and

 
 

capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2 

From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3 

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

4 

The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

5 

Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

6 

Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

7 

The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

8 

The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

9 

The Russell 2500® Index is composed of the 2,500 smallest stocks in the Russell 3000® Index and is widely regarded in the industry as the premier measure of small/mid cap stock performance. Unlike the Fund, the Russell 2500® Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

The Russell Indices are trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies.

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

 

18


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Sector

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

Industrials

   23.4
 

Health Care

   14.7
 

Information Technology

   14.6
 

Consumer Discretionary

   13.9
 

Financials

   11.4
 

Materials

   6.7
 

Real Estate

   5.3
 

Consumer Staples

   4.6
 

Energy

   3.6
 

Utilities

   2.0
 

Short-Term Investments

   1.4
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

   (1.6)

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name

 

  

% of
Net Assets

 

 

RBC Bearings, Inc.

 

   2.0
 

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)

 

   1.9
 

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

Voya Financial, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

 

   1.8
 

Cavco Industries, Inc.

 

   1.8
 

Nordson Corp.

 

   1.8
 

Globant SA (Uruguay)

 

   1.7
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    18.2 
  

 

 

 

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

19


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

   

 

     

 

      Shares      Value  

Common Stocks - 100.2%

     

Consumer Discretionary - 13.9%

 

  

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*,1 

     83,246        $7,845,103  

Burlington Stores, Inc.*

     40,115        7,801,565  

Carter’s, Inc.

     46,759        3,501,781  

Cavco Industries, Inc.*

     35,570        12,329,273  

Dorman Products, Inc.*

     78,107        6,514,905  

Five Below, Inc.*

     46,178        9,843,302  

Gentherm, Inc.*

     88,679        4,643,232  

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*

     42,567        5,620,547  

Krispy Kreme, Inc.1

     197,240        2,976,352  

Lithia Motors, Inc.

     35,001        11,525,129  

Polaris, Inc.1

     67,101        6,359,162  

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

     104,513        12,774,624  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

     24,397        5,208,028  

Total Consumer Discretionary

        96,943,003  

Consumer Staples - 4.6%

 

  

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*

     191,548        12,768,590  

Lancaster Colony Corp.

     45,974        7,649,614  

Performance Food Group Co.*

     167,261        11,566,098  

Total Consumer Staples

        31,984,302  

Energy - 3.6%

 

  

ChampionX Corp.

     133,691        3,905,114  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A

     272,876        5,809,530  

Matador Resources Co.

     114,281        6,498,018  

Ovintiv, Inc.

     118,080        5,186,073  

SM Energy Co.

     96,186        3,724,322  

Total Energy

        25,123,057  

Financials - 11.4%

 

  

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.

     195,181        7,131,914  

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

     130,065        5,374,286  

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

     33,862        11,340,722  

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

     19,332        5,661,376  

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

     130,089        11,346,363  

Piper Sandler Cos.

     61,778        10,803,119  

Stifel Financial Corp.

     98,598        6,818,052  

Voya Financial, Inc.

     172,118        12,557,729  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

     87,854        8,148,458  

Total Financials

        79,182,019  

Health Care - 14.7%

 

  

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*

     96,855        7,531,445  

Azenta, Inc.*

     135,592        8,832,463  

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*

    

 

22,266

 

 

 

    

 

7,189,469

 

 

 

      Shares      Value  

Catalent, Inc.*

     88,067        $3,956,850  

Globus Medical, Inc., Class A*

     153,656        8,188,328  

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*

     167,670        6,197,083  

Hologic, Inc.*

     101,759        7,270,681  

Integer Holdings Corp.*

     97,690        9,679,125  

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*

     139,882        10,018,349  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC*

     63,671        7,831,533  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.*

     10,991        3,971,158  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*

     80,879        10,656,617  

Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*,1

     207,853        6,148,292  

Vericel Corp.*

     131,497        4,682,608  

Total Health Care

        102,154,001  

Industrials - 23.4%

 

  

Atkore, Inc.*

     62,254        9,960,640  

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

     97,082        12,417,759  

Chart Industries, Inc.*,1

     30,628        4,175,515  

Columbus McKinnon Corp.

     152,243        5,940,522  

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

     60,570        12,457,432  

Exponent, Inc.

     79,173        6,970,391  

Federal Signal Corp.

     132,079        10,135,742  

Gates Industrial Corp. PLC*

     537,651        7,215,276  

Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*

     103,161        8,147,656  

Hexcel Corp.

     117,453        8,662,159  

IDEX Corp.

     43,505        9,445,370  

ITT, Inc.

     76,937        9,180,123  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

     46,531        10,118,631  

Nordson Corp.

     46,571        12,302,195  

Paylocity Holding Corp.*

     52,343        8,628,744  

RBC Bearings, Inc.*,1

     48,817        13,907,475  

Schneider National, Inc., Class B

     216,377        5,506,795  

The Toro Co.

     82,342        7,904,009  

Total Industrials

        163,076,434  

Information Technology - 14.6%

 

  

CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings, Inc.*

     722,419        8,228,352  

Cognex Corp.

     228,107        9,521,186  

CyberArk Software, Ltd. (Israel)*

     61,711        13,517,795  

Entegris, Inc.

     98,833        11,842,170  

Globant SA (Uruguay)*

     50,828        12,096,047  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*

     78,849        7,329,015  

Manhattan Associates, Inc.*

     52,091        11,216,234  

Procore Technologies, Inc.*

     114,100        7,898,002  

Rapid7, Inc.*

     96,866        5,531,049  

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*

    

 

53,782

 

 

 

    

 

7,113,745

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

20


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

   

 

     

 

     
Shares
     Value  

Information Technology - 14.6% (continued)

     

Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*

     27,047        $7,392,757  

Total Information Technology

        101,686,352  

Materials - 6.7%

 

  

AptarGroup, Inc.

     39,428        4,874,089  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     57,818        11,727,803  

Element Solutions, Inc.

     438,743        10,152,513  

Quaker Chemical Corp.

     48,637        10,380,109  

RPM International, Inc.

     87,750        9,795,532  

Total Materials

        46,930,046  

Real Estate - 5.3%

 

  

Agree Realty Corp., REIT

     105,078        6,614,660  

Easterly Government Properties, Inc., REIT1

     417,062        5,605,313  

EastGroup Properties, Inc., REIT

     42,168        7,739,515  

National Storage Affiliates Trust, REIT

     122,629        5,085,425  

Physicians Realty Trust, REIT

     263,427        3,506,213  

Sun Communities, Inc., REIT

     63,469        8,482,632  

Total Real Estate

        37,033,758  

Utilities - 2.0%

 

  

IDACORP, Inc.

     75,009        7,374,885  

Portland General Electric Co.

     157,274        6,816,255  

Total Utilities

        14,191,140  

Total Common Stocks

 

  

(Cost $580,215,613)

       

 

698,304,112

 

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Short-Term Investments - 1.4%

 

  

Joint Repurchase Agreements - 0.0%#,2

 

  

RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.340% total to be received $38,408 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency Obligations and U.S. Treasuries, 0.000% - 7.500%, 01/15/24 -12/01/53, totaling $39,153)

     $38,385        $38,385  

Repurchase Agreements - 1.4%

 

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $1,203,688 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 0.125%, 01/15/32, totaling $1,227,142)

     1,203,000        1,203,000  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp., dated 12/29/23, due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $8,469,844 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 09/30/27, totaling $8,634,337)

     8,465,000        8,465,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

 

     9,668,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

 

  

(Cost $9,706,385)

        9,706,385  

Total Investments - 101.6%

 

  

(Cost $589,921,998)

        708,010,497  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (1.6)%

 

     (11,097,449

Net Assets - 100.0%

 

    

 

$696,913,048

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security. 

#

Less than 0.05%. 

 

1 

Some of these securities, amounting to $18,547,638 or 2.7% of net assets, were out on loan to various borrowers and are collateralized by cash and various U.S. Treasury Obligations. See Note 4 of Notes to Financial Statements.

2 

Cash collateral received for securities lending activity was invested in these joint repurchase agreements.

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities

           

Common Stocks

   $ 698,304,112                    $ 698,304,112  

Short-Term Investments

           

Joint Repurchase Agreements

          $ 38,385               38,385  

Repurchase Agreements

            9,668,000               9,668,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

   $ 698,304,112      $ 9,706,385             $ 708,010,497  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

All common stocks held in the Fund are Level 1 securities. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by major industry classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

21


    

 

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 5.35%, compared to the 15.48% return for its blended benchmark which consists of 60% the MSCI All Country World (ACWI) Index (“MSCI ACWI Index”) and 40% the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index.

 

The Board of Trustees of AMG Funds II has approved to liquidate and close the Fund on February 9, 2024. Therefore, the Fund liquidated all of its investment positions during December 2023.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION

 

The asset allocation framework for the Fund favored equities over fixed income in 2023. In the fourth quarter, the equity/fixed income asset allocation stood at 60%/40%, where it has remained since early 2023. For the full year, the 60% MSCI ACWI Index/40% Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index gained 15.5% with more than one half of the benchmark’s gain coming in the final quarter. The Fund’s modest tilt toward equities reflected our judgment that global equities should outperform global fixed income over the coming quarters, albeit with significant volatility along the way.

 

The tilt toward equities is based on both quantitative and qualitative judgments. First, relative asset-class valuations continue to support a significant allocation to equities, despite the rise in most developed market government bond yields since 2021. Second, we expect the global economy to continue to expand for the next several years, although recession risks are significant for both the U.S. and Europe. Inflation moderated significantly in 2023, which should permit many central banks to cut interest rates over the coming year. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed“) has projected that it will cut the upper range of the federal funds rate to 4.75% by the end of 2024 compared to its 5.5% level at the end of 2023. Except for the Bank of Japan, most other major central banks are also expected to cut rates in response to easing inflation.

 

Expectations for moderating inflation and lower rates provided favorable tailwinds to global equity and bond markets last year. That said, recession risks in many nations remain elevated based on the lagged effects of monetary tightening since 2021. Fortunately, easing inflation and improving financial conditions have raised the odds that global economic growth will continue in 2024, albeit with sluggish growth widely expected for developed market (DM) economies in the first half of the year.

 

      

Emerging market (EM) economies are also expected to post solid growth in 2024 based on broad-based monetary easing. In the case of China, active support from fiscal policy is also expected. In short, we remain cautiously optimistic that the global economy has sufficient momentum to continue to expand despite higher rates and that a positive tailwind of corporate earnings growth should still favor equities over fixed income.

 

A key valuation metric for global equities is the Long-term Earnings Yield of the MSCI ACWI Index. That stood at 5.0% at the end of 2023 and is based on the inverse of the corresponding Shiller PE ratio of 20 times. By way of comparison, the Long-term Earnings Yield of MSCI ACWI Index has averaged 5.5% since 2006, corresponding to an average Shiller PE ratio of 18.2 times. Those figures suggest that equities are modestly expensive relative to their own history.

 

For asset allocation purposes, a relevant comparison of the Long-term Earnings Yield is to the real yield of US Treasuries. At the end of 2023, the yield on 10-Year U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) stood at 1.7%. The gap between the Long-term Earnings Yield of 5.0 for global equities and 1.7% for TIPS securities suggests the potential for global equities to outperform bonds by about 3.3% per annum in inflation-adjusted terms over the next five to ten years.

 

In short, investors continue to have reasonable incentive to favor equities over fixed income, notwithstanding the potential for greater volatility in equities. Key risks would be if the ongoing expansion that is evident in global economic data gives way to pronounced weakness or if major central banks fail to deliver on the rate cuts that are currently priced into markets. Financial market volatility may also be subject to ongoing geopolitical risks involving Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, and China-Taiwan. These types of risks will be monitored carefully, but we currently view such risks as sufficiently discounted by markets to justify a significant tilt toward equities.

 

EQUITY

 

Global equity markets rebounded in 2023 on expectations that softer inflation would lead to rate cuts in several countries, particularly the U.S. Developed markets delivered particularly strong results, but China weighed on emerging markets due to ongoing stress in the property market and relatively weak consumer demand. The MSCI ACWI Index returned 22.2%, led by the Americas and Europe, while Asia underperformed as the MSCI

      

China Index fell -11.2%. Sector performance was broadly positive with information technology, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasm, communication services, and consumer discretionary among the leaders. Utilities, consumer staples, and health care trailed the MSCI ACWI Index.

 

The Fund’s equity component underperformed the MSCI ACWI Index for 2023. Stock selection in the financials and consumer discretionary sectors was a key detractor, accounting for nearly 70% of the performance shortfall. Additionally, less exposure to the outperforming IT sector was a drag on relative returns. Within financials, Charles Schwab declined due to increased funding costs caused by higher U.S. interest rates. Hong Kong based life insurer AIA Group was down on falling bond yields in China, though new business continued to recover as the year progressed. Demand concerns caused selling pressure in the Fund’s consumer positions in China—quick service restaurant operator Yum China Holdings, hotel operator H World Group and ecommerce platform Alibaba. Health care was a standout sector, due to positive stock selection. Idexx, a leader in companion animal health diagnostics, ended the year on a positive note as fundamentals began to stabilize. Our newer holding in Switzerland-based Ypsomed, maker of specialty injection systems for the biopharmaceutical industry, delivered positive earnings which led to incrementally positive estimate revisions and strong stock performance.

 

On a geographic level, Asia was the Fund’s worst performing region due to the Fund’s higher weight in China and stock selection in the country. This combination accounted for over 40% of the Fund’s underperformance. The U.S. also detracted from results due to an underweight allocation and stock selection. In addition to Schwab, interest-rate sensitive names in the utilities and real estate sectors, NextEra Energy and American Tower, were also down during the year. Finally, higher exposure to the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region was a positive contributor.

 

Due to exceptional fourth quarter performance, the larger global equity markets, excluding China, have mostly recouped 2022 losses, reflecting the view that central banks have largely tamed inflation without undue economic costs. This could set the stage for a near-term pause in market momentum ahead of the fourth-quarter earnings season when the focus will shift to 2024 guidance. With policy normalization behind us and rate reductions expected in several countries, the longer-term outlook for global equity markets is promising. Valuations are attractive,

 

 

22


    

 

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

particularly outside the U.S., input costs are leveling off and, in some cases, declining, and top-line forecasts remain conservative. Additionally, there could be more stimulus on the way in China, as the government has become increasingly vocal about the need to support economic growth and opportunity.

 

FIXED INCOME

 

The Fund’s fixed income component underperformed the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index for

       2023. An overweight to U.S. rates was a negative contributor as rates were broadly higher over this time period. This was offset somewhat by the Fund’s overweight to spread, particularly Corporates. The underweight to, and allocation within, the Securitized sector was also a positive contributor, but was entirely offset by the overweight to Government Related. Security selection was mixed but ultimately a negative contributor, particularly from within the BBB-rated communications and finance companies sectors.        The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

23


AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

      

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund’s Class N shares on December 31, 2013, to a $10,000 investment made in the 60% MSCI ACWI/40% Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the indexes exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund and the 60% MSCI ACWI/40% Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     One   Five   Ten
Average Annual Total Returns1    Year   Years   Years

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

Class N

   5.35%   3.72%   4.67%

Class I

   5.50%   3.88%   4.83%

Class Z

   5.65%   3.99%   4.94%

60% MSCI ACWI/40% Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index29, 30

   15.48%   7.12%   5.12%

MSCI ACWI Index 29

   22.20%   11.72%   7.93%

Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index30

   5.72%   (0.32%)   0.38%

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain

   

   distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

 

2  As of April 17, 2020, the Fund’s Subadviser was changed to GW&K Investment Management, LLC. Prior to April 17, 2020, the Fund was known as the AMG Chicago Equity Partners Balanced Fund, and had different principal investment strategies and corresponding risks. Performance shown for periods prior to April 17, 2020 reflects the performance and investment strategies of the Fund’s previous Subadviser, Chicago Equity Partners, LLC. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the Fund were managed by the current Subadviser and strategy, and the Fund’s prior performance record might be less pertinent for investors considering whether to purchase shares of the Fund.

 

3  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

4  Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

5  The stocks of small-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

6  The prices of equity securities of companies that are expected to experience relatively rapid earnings growth, or “growth stocks,” may be more sensitive to market movements because the prices tend to reflect future investor expectations rather than just current profits.

 

7  Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may be undervalued by the market for a long period of time.

 

8  Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

 

9  The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

10 The Fund’s investments may not be allocated in the best performing asset classes.

 

 

 

 

24


    

 

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

11 Investments in foreign issuers involve additional risks (such as risks arising from less frequent trading, changes in political or social conditions, and less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers) that differ from those associated with investments in U. S. issuers and may result in greater price volatility.

 

12 Investments in emerging markets are subject to the general risks of foreign investments, as well as additional risks which can result in greater price volatility. Such additional risks include the risk that markets in emerging market countries are typically less developed and less liquid than markets in developed countries and such markets are subjected to increased economic, political, or regulatory uncertainties.

 

13 Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the total loss or gain on a non-U.S. dollar investment when converted back to U.S. dollars and exposure to non-U.S. currencies may subject the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

14 Changes in the general political and social environment of a country can have substantial effects on the value of investments exposed to that country.

 

15 The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

16 Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities involve risk of severe credit downgrades, loss due to prepayments that occur earlier or later than expected, illiquidity and default.

 

17 The issuer of bonds or other debt securities may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

18 Because applying the Fund’s ESG investment criteria may result in the selection or exclusion of securities of certain issuers for reasons other than financial performance, the Fund’s investment returns may underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG factors into their investment process. The incorporation of ESG criteria into the investment process may affect the Fund’s investment exposure to certain companies, sectors, regions, countries or types of investments, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Applying ESG criteria to investment decisions is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria utilized by the Subadviser or any judgment exercised by the Subadviser will improve the financial performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s ESG practices or

       

the Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time.

 

19 During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

20 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

21 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. As inflation rates increase, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

22 Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

23 The stocks of large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the stocks of small- or mid-capitalization companies.

 

24 The stocks of mid-capitalization companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume, and less liquidity than the stocks of larger, more established companies.

 

25 Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

26 A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

27 The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

28 Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies,

       

authorities,instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, while obligations issued by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and are backed solely by the entity’s own resources or by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. If one of these agencies defaults on a loan, there is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support.

 

29 The MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. Please go to msci.com for most current list of countries represented by the Index. Unlike the Fund, the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

30 The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index provides a broad-based measure of the global investment-grade fixed income markets. The three major components of this index are the U.S. Aggregate, the Pan-European Aggregate, and the Asian-Pacific Aggregate Indices. The Index also includes Eurodollar and Euro-Yen corporate bonds, Canadian government, agency and corporate securities, and USD investment grade 144A securities. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

All MSCI data is provided “as is”. The products described herein are not sponsored or endorsed and have not been reviewed or passed on by MSCI. In no event shall MSCI, its affiliates or any MSCI data provider have any liability of any kind in connection with the MSCI data or the products described herein. Copying or redistributing the MSCI data is strictly prohibited.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

25


   

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

     
      

 

      Shares      Value  

Short-Term Investments - 100.3%

     

Other Investment Companies - 100.3%

 

  

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Money Market Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.32%1

     27,228,212        $27,228,212  

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $27,228,212)

        27,228,212  
            Value  

Total Investments - 100.3%
(Cost $27,228,212)

     $27,228,212  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - (0.3)%

     (76,749

Net Assets - 100.0%

     $27,151,463  
 

 

1 

Yield shown represents the December 31, 2023, seven day average yield, which refers to the sum of the previous seven days’ dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

           

Short-Term Investments

           

Other Investment Companies

   $ 27,228,212                    $ 27,228,212  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investments in Securities

  

$

27,228,212

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

$

27,228,212

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

     AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Value Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small/Mid
Cap Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Global
Allocation Fund

Assets:

                

Investments at value1 (including securities on loan valued at $10,123,784, $17,250,209, $18,547,638, and $0, respectively)

       $640,979,085       $258,444,465       $708,010,497       $27,228,212

Cash

       239,637       170,687       404,030      

Receivable for investments sold

       1,681,731             3,693,352       4,422

Dividend and interest receivables

       517,716       354,458       405,254       87,162

Securities lending income receivable

       2,402       1,006       1,881       124

Receivable for Fund shares sold

       214,835       25,763       532,138      

Receivable from affiliate

       8,765       8,208       16,951       70,746

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

      

 

20,305

 

 

     

 

11,663

 

 

     

 

19,926

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

       643,664,476       259,016,250       713,084,029       27,390,666

Liabilities:

                

Payable upon return of securities loaned

       1,794,963       1,078,376       38,385      

Payable for investments purchased

       221,854                  

Payable for Fund shares repurchased

       382,933       60,821       15,578,005       134,105

Accrued expenses:

                

Investment advisory and management fees

       372,330       148,647       363,367       15,130

Administrative fees

       79,785       31,853       87,911       3,782

Distribution fees

       1,717             10,953       1,453

Shareholder service fees

       18,385       37,490       12,186       367

Other

 

      

 

77,235

 

 

     

 

60,299

 

 

     

 

80,174

 

 

     

 

84,366

 

 

Total liabilities

       2,949,202       1,417,486       16,170,981       239,203
                

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 6)

                
                

Net Assets

       $640,715,274       $257,598,764       $696,913,048       $27,151,463

1 Investments at cost

       $481,749,106       $198,714,622       $589,921,998       $27,228,212

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

27


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

     AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Value Fund
   AMG
GW&K Small/Mid Cap
Core Fund
   AMG
GW&K Global
Allocation Fund

Net Assets Represent:

                  

Paid-in capital

       $484,094,439       $196,070,190        $591,426,301        $27,151,308

Total distributable earnings

      

 

156,620,835

 

 

     

 

61,528,574

 

 

      

 

105,486,747

 

 

      

 

155

 

 

Net Assets

       $640,715,274       $257,598,764        $696,913,048        $27,151,463

Class N:

                  

Net Assets

       $8,335,778       $165,039,759        $53,075,606        $19,457,460

Shares outstanding

       283,346       5,545,091        3,085,279        1,684,053

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

       $29.42       $29.76        $17.20        $11.55

Class I:

                  

Net Assets

       $421,135,676       $86,356,848        $296,659,228        $6,596,583

Shares outstanding

       13,899,802       2,905,123        17,183,794        560,223

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

       $30.30       $29.73        $17.26        $11.77

Class Z:

                  

Net Assets

       $211,243,820       $6,202,157        $347,178,214        $1,097,420

Shares outstanding

       6,967,046       209,495        20,075,991        93,352

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

       $30.32       $29.61        $17.29        $11.76

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28


   

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

   

 

      

 

     AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Value Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small/Mid
Cap Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Global
Allocation Fund

 Investment Income:

                

 Dividend income

       $7,957,059       $4,259,085       $6,276,650       $270,841

 Interest income

       749,293       190,143       570,716       564,489

 Securities lending income

       29,141       17,333       31,348       5,544

 Foreign withholding tax

      

 

(328

 

)

 

     

 

(2,455

 

)

 

     

 

(798

 

)

 

     

 

(47,258

 

)

 

 Total investment income

       8,735,165       4,464,106       6,877,916       793,616

 Expenses:

                

 Investment advisory and management fees

       4,659,582       1,749,632       4,039,089       221,209

 Administrative fees

       998,482       374,921       977,199       55,302

 Distribution fees - Class N

       20,421             128,855       53,720

 Shareholder servicing fees - Class N

       12,253       399,819            

 Shareholder servicing fees - Class I

       214,973       41,857       133,003       10,418

 Professional fees

       84,285       57,883       87,706       46,356

 Custodian fees

       66,012       32,125       65,430       30,488

 Registration fees

       54,157       44,110       61,394       66,220

 Reports to shareholders

       52,859       28,014       57,645       23,808

 Trustee fees and expenses

       48,143       18,126       48,229       2,690

 Transfer agent fees

       26,407       24,714       33,088       6,496

 Interest expense

       5,929                  

 Miscellaneous

       35,862       14,499       32,602       23,549

 Repayment of prior reimbursements

      

 

9,858

 

 

     

 

 

 

     

 

2,140

 

 

     

 

 

 

 Total expenses before offsets

       6,289,223       2,785,700       5,666,380       540,256

 Expense reimbursements

       (44,646 )       (94,496 )       (62,502 )       (178,130 )

 Expense reductions

       (38,740 )       (16,749 )       (13,277 )      

 Fee waivers

      

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

     

 

(6,447

 

)

 

 Net expenses

       6,205,837       2,674,455       5,590,601       355,679

                

 Net investment income

       2,529,328       1,789,651       1,287,315       437,937

 Net Realized and Unrealized Gain:

                

 Net realized gain (loss) on investments

       1,660,979       2,909,094       (7,110,048 )       5,789,015

 Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

                         (5,890 )

 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       44,726,622       35,560,602       92,679,674       (4,181,179 )

 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations

 

      

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

     

 

1,554

 

 

 Net realized and unrealized gain

       46,387,601       38,469,696       85,569,626       1,603,500

                

 Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       $48,916,929         $40,259,347         $86,856,941         $2,041,437  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

29


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

   

 

      

 

     AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Core Fund
  AMG
GW&K Small Cap
Value Fund
     2023   2022   2023   2022

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

                

Net investment income

       $2,529,328       $980,632       $1,789,651       $1,649,617

Net realized gain on investments

       1,660,979       8,194,929       2,909,094       2,350,459

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       44,726,622       (135,195,014 )       35,560,602       (58,011,614 )
                

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

       48,916,929       (126,019,453 )       40,259,347       (54,011,538 )

Distributions to Shareholders:

                

Class N

       (58,273 )       (64,594 )       (2,472,103 )       (2,695,354 )

Class I

       (4,206,615 )       (3,756,002 )       (1,481,630 )       (1,530,323 )

Class Z

       (2,323,516 )       (2,006,227 )       (107,131 )       (164,728 )

Total distributions to shareholders

       (6,588,404 )       (5,826,823 )       (4,060,864 )       (4,390,405 )

Capital Share Transactions:1

                

Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions

       (62,153,366 )       34,931,383       (30,511,025 )       (61,819,336 )
                

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

       (19,824,841 )       (96,914,893 )       5,687,458       (120,221,279 )

Net Assets:

                

Beginning of year

       660,540,115       757,455,008       251,911,306       372,132,585
                

End of year

       $640,715,274       $660,540,115       $257,598,764       $251,911,306

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

30


   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the fiscal years ended December 31,

   

 

 

      

 

     AMG
GW&K Small/Mid Cap
Core Fund
    AMG
GW&K Global
Allocation Fund
 
     2023     2022     2023     2022  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $1,287,315       $1,413,863       $437,937       $348,609  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     (7,110,048     11,157,155       5,783,125       2,887,870  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     92,679,674       (126,909,129     (4,179,625     (28,082,042
        

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     86,856,941       (114,338,111     2,041,437       (24,845,563

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Class N

           (2,004,795     (4,440,153     (2,644,479

Class I

     (568,708     (10,257,877     (1,823,450     (1,798,913

Class Z

     (857,186     (10,783,979     (261,489     (201,039

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1,425,894     (23,046,651     (6,525,092     (4,644,431

Capital Share Transactions:1

        

Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions

     47,327,881       138,227,537       (9,414,026     (56,032,680
        

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     132,758,928       842,775       (13,897,681     (85,522,674

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

     564,154,120       563,311,345       41,049,144       126,571,818  
        

End of year

     $696,913,048       $564,154,120       $27,151,463       $41,049,144  

1 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

31


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class N    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $27.43       $33.13       $29.97       $26.09       $21.03  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.00 3       (0.06     (0.15     (0.03     (0.04

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.19       (5.43     6.34       4.64       6.47  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.19       (5.49     6.19       4.61       6.43  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.03                        

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.17     (0.21     (3.03     (0.73     (1.37
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.20     (0.21     (3.03     (0.73     (1.37

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $29.42       $27.43       $33.13       $29.97       $26.09  
          

Total Return2,4

     8.02     (16.58 )%      21.01     17.73     30.66

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     1.30 %6      1.29 %6      1.30 %6       1.29     1.29

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     1.31 %6      1.30 %6      1.30 %6       1.30     1.31

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.02     (0.22 )%      (0.45 )%      (0.14 )%      (0.15 )% 

Portfolio turnover

     20     25     33     37     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

    

 

$8,336

 

 

 

   

 

$8,533

 

 

 

   

 

$11,278

 

 

 

   

 

$8,667

 

 

 

   

 

$10,239

 

 

 

                                          

 

 

32


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
Class I    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019 
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $28.24       $34.02       $30.61       $26.57       $21.37  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.11       0.04       (0.03     0.05       0.05  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.25       (5.57     6.47       4.76       6.58  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.36       (5.53     6.44       4.81       6.63  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.13     (0.04           (0.04     (0.06

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.17     (0.21     (3.03     (0.73     (1.37
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.30     (0.25     (3.03     (0.77     (1.43

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $30.30       $28.24       $34.02       $30.61       $26.57  
          

Total Return2,4

     8.39     (16.27 )%      21.38     18.16     31.13

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     0.95 %6       0.94 %6       0.95 %6       0.94     0.94

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     0.96 %6       0.95 %6       0.95 %6       0.95     0.96

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.37     0.13     (0.10 )%      0.21     0.20

Portfolio turnover

     20     25     33     37     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

    

 

$421,136

 

 

 

   

 

$433,066

 

 

 

   

 

$546,326

 

 

 

   

 

$470,373

 

 

 

   

 

$331,703

 

 

 

                                          

 

 

33


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $28.26       $34.05       $30.61       $26.57       $21.37  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.12       0.05       (0.02     0.07       0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.26       (5.58     6.49       4.75       6.59  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.38       (5.53     6.47       4.82       6.65  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.15     (0.05           (0.05     (0.08

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.17     (0.21     (3.03     (0.73     (1.37
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.32     (0.26     (3.03     (0.78     (1.45

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $30.32       $28.26       $34.05       $30.61       $26.57  
          

Total Return2,4

     8.44     (16.25 )%      21.48     18.21     31.13

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets5

     0.90 %6       0.89 %6       0.90 %6       0.89     0.89

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     0.91 %6       0.90 %6       0.90 %6       0.90     0.91

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.42     0.18     (0.05 )%      0.26     0.25

Portfolio turnover

     20     25     33     37     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $211,244       $218,941       $199,851       $125,848       $110,020  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Less than $0.005 per share.

 

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

5 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to less than 0.01%, 0.01%, less than 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.01% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

6 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to less than 0.01%, less than 0.01% and 0.01% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

34


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $25.73       $30.90       $26.71       $37.16       $30.93  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.17       0.13       0.09       0.08       0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     4.31       (4.87     8.41       1.00       8.79  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     4.48       (4.74     8.50       1.08       8.86  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.20     (0.15     (0.08     (0.08     (0.09

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.25     (0.28     (4.23     (11.45     (2.54
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.45     (0.43     (4.31     (11.53     (2.63

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $29.76       $25.73       $30.90       $26.71       $37.16  
          

Total Return2,3

     17.43     (15.33 )%      32.93     3.29     28.64

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.14 %4       1.13 %4       1.13 %4       1.17     1.17

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

     1.19     1.18     1.17     1.21     1.20

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.64     0.47     0.28     0.28     0.19

Portfolio turnover

     14     19     41     115     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $165,040       $162,011       $223,586       $243,655       $359,550  
                                          

 

 

35


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $25.69       $30.87       $26.79       $37.23       $31.05  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.23       0.18       0.15       0.14       0.13  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     4.31       (4.87     8.42       1.02       8.83  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     4.54       (4.69     8.57       1.16       8.96  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.25     (0.21     (0.26     (0.15     (0.24

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.25     (0.28     (4.23     (11.45     (2.54
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.50     (0.49     (4.49     (11.60     (2.78

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $29.73       $25.69       $30.87       $26.79       $37.23  
          

Total Return2,3

     17.73     (15.19 )%      33.17     3.50     28.86

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.94 %4       0.93 %4       0.93 %4       0.99     1.01

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

     0.99     0.98     0.97     1.03     1.04

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.84     0.67     0.48     0.46     0.35

Portfolio turnover

     14     19     41     115     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $86,357       $81,319       $115,837       $83,003       $122,323  
                                          

 

 

36


   

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $25.59       $30.76       $26.72       $37.16       $31.10  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.24       0.20       0.16       0.16       0.16  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     4.30       (4.87     8.41       1.02       8.84  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     4.54       (4.67     8.57       1.18       9.00  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.27     (0.22     (0.30     (0.17     (0.40

Net realized gain on investments

     (0.25     (0.28     (4.23     (11.45     (2.54
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.52     (0.50     (4.53     (11.62     (2.94

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $29.61       $25.59       $30.76       $26.72       $37.16  
          

Total Return2,3

     17.77     (15.16 )%      33.27     3.57     28.94

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.89 %4      0.88 %4      0.88 %4       0.92     0.92

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets5

     0.94     0.93     0.92     0.96     0.95

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     0.89     0.72     0.53     0.53     0.44

Portfolio turnover

     14     19     41     115     20

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $6,202       $8,582       $32,710       $10,481       $11,815  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

4 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.02% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

5 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

37


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class N    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $15.02       $19.08       $16.04       $13.03       $9.99  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     (0.00 )3       0.01       (0.06     (0.01     0.00 4  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.18       (3.47     4.14       3.02       3.07  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.18       (3.46     4.08       3.01       3.07  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

           (0.00 )3                   (0.01

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.60     (1.04           (0.02
          

Total distributions to shareholders

           (0.60     (1.04           (0.03

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $17.20       $15.02       $19.08       $16.04       $13.03  
          

Total Return2,5

     14.51     (18.15 )%      25.63     23.10     30.64

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     1.07 %7       1.06 %7       1.06 %7       1.10     1.09

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     1.08 %7       1.08 %7       1.08 %7       1.13     1.14

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     (0.01 )%      0.04     (0.32 )%      (0.07 )%      0.02

Portfolio turnover

     19     25     19     29     18

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $53,076       $51,333       $70,736       $224       $172  
                                          

 

 

38


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class I    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $15.07       $19.15       $16.06       $13.04       $9.99  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.03       0.04       (0.02     0.01       0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.19       (3.48     4.15       3.03       3.07  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.22       (3.44     4.13       3.04       3.09  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.03     (0.04           (0.02     (0.02

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.60     (1.04           (0.02
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.03     (0.64     (1.04     (0.02     (0.04

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $17.26       $15.07       $19.15       $16.06       $13.04  
          

Total Return2,5

     14.76     (18.01 )%      25.91     23.31     30.86

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     0.87 %7       0.86 %7       0.86 %7       0.92     0.94

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     0.88 %7       0.88 %7       0.88 %7       0.95     0.99

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.19     0.24     (0.12 )%      0.11     0.17

Portfolio turnover

     19     25     19     29     18

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $296,659       $250,024       $293,614       $165,840       $102,784  
                                          

 

 

39


   

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,
 Class Z    2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $15.10       $19.18       $16.07       $13.05       $10.00  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.04       0.05       (0.01     0.02       0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     2.19       (3.48     4.16       3.03       3.07  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     2.23       (3.43     4.15       3.05       3.10  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.04     (0.05           (0.03     (0.03

Net realized gain on investments

           (0.60     (1.04           (0.02
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (0.04     (0.65     (1.04     (0.03     (0.05

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $17.29       $15.10       $19.18       $16.07       $13.05  
          

Total Return2,5

     14.78     (17.94 )%      26.02     23.37     30.94

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets6

     0.82 %7       0.81 %7       0.81 %7       0.83     0.84

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     0.83 %7       0.83 %7       0.83 %7       0.86     0.89

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     0.24     0.29     (0.07 )%      0.19     0.27

Portfolio turnover

     19     25     19     29     18

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $347,178       $262,798       $198,961       $104,705       $95,884  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Less than $(0.005) per share.

 

4 

Less than $0.005 per share.

 

5 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

6 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to less than 0.01%, less than 0.01%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.01% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

7 

Such ratio includes recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods amounting to less than 0.01%.

 

8 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

40


   

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class N    2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $13.93       $19.50       $19.50       $17.04       $15.45  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.16       0.06       (0.04     0.10       0.25  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.59       (3.94     0.51       2.93       2.35  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.75       (3.88     0.47       3.03       2.60  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.19     (0.02     (0.00 )3       (0.09     (0.27

Net realized gain on investments

     (2.94     (1.67     (0.47     (0.48     (0.74

Paid in capital

                       (0.00 )3        
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (3.13     (1.69     (0.47     (0.57     (1.01

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.55       $13.93       $19.50       $19.50       $17.04  
          

Total Return2,4

     5.35     (20.04 )%      2.44     18.92     16.96

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     1.03 %5       1.07 %6       1.06     1.07 %7       1.08 %7  

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     1.53     1.23 %6       1.10     1.19     1.16

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     1.12     0.38     (0.21 )%      0.60     1.51

Portfolio turnover

     20     36     36     156     123

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $19,457       $23,430       $41,939       $51,415       $69,774  
                                          

 

 

41


   

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class I    2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $14.14       $19.75       $19.71       $17.22       $15.60  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)1,2

     0.19       0.09       (0.01     0.13       0.28  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.59       (4.00     0.53       2.95       2.38  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.78       (3.91     0.52       3.08       2.66  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.21     (0.03     (0.01     (0.11     (0.30

Net realized gain on investments

     (2.94     (1.67     (0.47     (0.48     (0.74

Paid in capital

                       (0.00 )3        
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (3.15     (1.70     (0.48     (0.59     (1.04

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.77       $14.14       $19.75       $19.71       $17.22  
          

Total Return2,4

     5.50     (19.91 )%      2.60     19.08     17.17

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.87 %5      0.91 %6       0.91     0.92 %7       0.93 %7  

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     1.37     1.07 %6       0.95     1.04     1.01

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets2

     1.28     0.54     (0.06 )%      0.75     1.66

Portfolio turnover

     20     36     36     156     123

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $6,597       $16,074       $81,515       $97,869       $173,575  
                                          

 

 

42


   

AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout each fiscal year

   

 

 

      

 

     For the fiscal years ended December 31,  
 Class Z    2023      2022      2021      2020      2019   
          

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $14.13       $19.76       $19.71       $17.21       $15.60  

Income (loss) from Investment Operations:

          

Net investment income1,2

     0.20       0.10       0.01       0.14       0.30  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.60       (3.99     0.52       2.97       2.37  
          

Total income (loss) from investment operations

     0.80       (3.89     0.53       3.11       2.67  

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.23     (0.07     (0.01     (0.13     (0.32

Net realized gain on investments

     (2.94     (1.67     (0.47     (0.48     (0.74

Paid in capital

                       (0.00 )3       
          

Total distributions to shareholders

     (3.17     (1.74     (0.48     (0.61     (1.06

Net Asset Value, End of Year

     $11.76       $14.13       $19.76       $19.71       $17.21  
          

Total Return2,4

     5.65     (19.85 )%      2.73     19.28     17.21

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.79 %5      0.82 %6      0.81     0.82 %7      0.83 %7 

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets8

     1.29     0.98 %6      0.85     0.94     0.91

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets2

     1.36     0.63     0.04     0.85     1.76

Portfolio turnover

     20     36     36     156     123

Net assets end of year (000’s) omitted

     $1,097       $1,545       $3,118       $3,733       $8,358  
                                          

 

1 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

 

2 

Total returns and net investment income (loss) would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

 

3 

Less than $(0.005) per share.

 

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of fiscal year end.

 

5 

Includes voluntary waiver of 0.02%.

 

6 

Includes interest expense totaling 0.01% related to participation in the interfund lending program.

 

7 

Includes reduction from broker recapture amounting to less than 0.01% and 0.01% for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

8 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

 

 

43


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds and AMG Funds II (“Trust II” and, together with AMG Funds, the “Trusts”) are open-end management investment companies, organized as Massachusetts business trusts, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trusts consist of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report are AMG Funds: AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund (“Small Cap Core”), AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund (“Small Cap Value”) and AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund (“Small/Mid Cap Core”) (formerly, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Fund) and Trust II: AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund (“Global Allocation”), each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”.

Each Fund offers Class N shares, Class I shares and Class Z shares. Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the respective Fund. Although all share classes generally have identical voting rights, each share class votes separately when required by law. Different share classes may have different net asset values per share to the extent the share classes pay different distribution amounts and/or the expenses of such share classes differ. Each share class has its own expense structure. Please refer to a current prospectus for additional information on each share class.

The Board of Trustees of Trust II approved a plan to liquidate and terminate Global Allocation (the “Liquidation”). In conjunction with the Liquidation, the Fund sold its portfolio investments and invested the proceeds in cash and cash equivalents. Effective December 12, 2023, Global Allocation discontinued accruing 12b-1 distribution fees through the liquidation date and effective December 18, 2023, and through the liquidation date, the Investment Manager waived its management fee and will waive the right to recoup any prior reimbursed expenses under the Fund’s Expense Limitation Agreement.

Market prices of investments held by the Funds may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Funds’ financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or reported on the NASDAQ national market system (“NMS”) are valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, if applicable, the NASDAQ official closing price or the official closing price of the relevant exchange or, lacking any sales, at the last quoted bid price. Equity securities held by the Funds that are traded in the over-the-counter market (other than NMS securities) are valued at the bid price. Foreign equity securities (securities principally traded in markets other than U.S.

markets) held by the Funds are valued at the official closing price on the primary exchange or, for markets that either do not offer an official closing price or where the official closing price may not be representative of the overall market, the last quoted sale price.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity exceeding 60 days are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an authorized pricing service or, if an evaluated price is not available, by reference to other securities which are considered comparable in credit rating, interest rate, due date and other features (generally referred to as “matrix pricing”) or other similar pricing methodologies.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Funds’ portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Funds’ Valuation Designee to perform the Funds’ fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Funds may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Funds’ valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Funds might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Funds. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Funds’ investments.

With respect to foreign equity securities and certain foreign fixed income securities, securities held in the Funds that can be fair valued by the applicable

 

 

 

44


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

fair value pricing service are fair valued on each business day provided that each individual price exceeds a pre-established confidence level.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds.

Unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or

methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from foreign securities are recorded on the ex-dividend date, and if after the fact, as soon as the Funds become aware of the ex-dividend date. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Dividend and interest income on foreign securities is recorded gross of any withholding tax. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are reported at the fair market value of the securities received. Upon notification from the issuer, distributions received from a real estate investment trust (REIT) may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of investments and/or realized gain. Other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trusts and other funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of each Fund, and certain fund level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro- rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of each Fund.

Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value and Small/Mid Cap Core had certain portfolio trades directed to various brokers under a brokerage recapture program. Credits received from the brokerage recapture program are earned and paid on a monthly basis, and are recorded as expense offsets, which serve to reduce the Fund’s overall expense ratio. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the impact on the expenses and expense ratios were as follows: Small Cap Core $38,740 or less than 0.01%, Small Cap Value $16,749 or 0.01% and Small/Mid Cap Core $13,277 or less than 0.01%.

 

 

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from either net investment income or realized net capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Permanent differences for Global Allocation are primarily due to equalization utilized. There were no permanent differences during the year for Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value, and Small/Mid Cap Core. Temporary differences for Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value, and Small/Mid Cap Core are primarily due to wash sale loss deferrals. There were no temporary differences for Global Allocation.

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

     Small Cap Core      Small Cap Value  

 Distributions paid from:

        2023              2022              2023              2022     

 Ordinary income *

     $2,576,784        $983,753        $1,865,133        $2,858,422  

 Long-term capital gains

     4,011,620        4,843,070        2,195,731        1,531,983  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $6,588,404        $5,826,823        $4,060,864        $4,390,405  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

45


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

     Small/Mid Cap Core      Global Allocation  

 Distributions paid from:

        2023              2022              2023              2022     

 Ordinary income *

     $1,425,894        $3,063,625        $728,606        $70,230  

 Long-term capital gains

            19,983,026        5,796,486        4,574,201  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $1,425,894        $23,046,651        $6,525,092        $4,644,431  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

 

    Small Cap Core     Small Cap Value     Small/Mid Cap Core     Global Allocation  

Capital loss carryforward

                $10,955,179        

Undistributed ordinary income

          $2,425,103              

Late-year capital loss deferral

    $60,816                    

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Fund    Cost      Appreciation      Depreciation     Net Appreciation  

 Small Cap Core

     $484,297,434        $192,231,577        $(35,549,926     $156,681,651  

 Small Cap Value

     199,338,228        67,950,258        (8,844,021     59,106,237  

 Small/Mid Cap Core

     591,568,572        142,005,936        (25,564,010     116,441,926  

 Global Allocation

     27,228,212        155              155  

 

e. FEDERAL TAXES

Each Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on each Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, each Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the following Fund had capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes as shown in the following chart. These amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

Fund   Short-Term     Long-Term     Total  

Small/Mid Cap Core

    $9,038,319       $1,916,860       $10,955,179  

As of December 31, 2023, Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value and Global Allocation had no capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes. Should the Funds incur net capital losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, such amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as either short-term and/or long-term.

 

 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

Each of AMG Funds’ Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and AMG Funds II’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes for each applicable Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. Each Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date.

 

 

46


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the capital stock transactions by class for the Funds were as follows:

 

    Small Cap Core     Small Cap Value  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

    29,118       $817,133       37,881       $1,067,824       180,373       $4,935,921       328,009       $9,251,175  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    2,003       58,273       2,347       64,594       82,894       2,445,379       103,980       2,676,448  

Shares redeemed

    (58,835     (1,645,587     (69,611     (2,001,608     (1,015,943     (27,541,793     (1,369,396     (38,000,949
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (27,714     $(770,181     (29,383     $(869,190     (752,676     $(20,160,493     (937,407     $(26,073,326
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    2,751,955       $79,493,243       4,099,105       $120,153,569       288,685       $7,769,687       175,101       $4,827,765  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    128,635       3,852,621       120,360       3,408,606       48,671       1,433,860       58,116       1,494,168  

Shares redeemed

    (4,316,175     (122,609,775     (4,942,007     (145,337,666     (597,479     (16,210,599     (820,535     (22,214,607
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (1,435,585     $(39,263,911     (722,542     $(21,775,491     (260,123     $(7,007,052     (587,318     $(15,892,674
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z:

               

Shares sold

    1,965,678       $58,356,284       3,687,440       $109,560,529       47,660       $1,319,831       234,844       $6,285,035  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    74,897       2,244,651       67,660       1,917,493       3,651       107,131       6,435       164,728  

Shares redeemed

    (2,820,695     (82,720,209     (1,877,449     (53,901,958     (177,185     (4,770,442     (969,451     (26,303,099
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (780,120     $(22,119,274     1,877,651       $57,576,064       (125,874     $(3,343,480     (728,172     $(19,853,336
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Small/Mid Cap Core     Global Allocation  
    December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022     December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class N:

               

Shares sold

    102,414       $1,577,823       79,691       $1,266,688       131,305       $1,825,500       185,281       $2,987,760  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    —        —        125,984       1,906,132       349,449       4,029,141       168,475       2,382,240  

Shares redeemed

    (434,221     (6,733,845     (495,033     (7,984,813     (478,305     (6,574,736     (822,318     (13,591,753
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (331,807     $(5,156,022     (289,358     $(4,811,993     2,449       $(720,095     (468,562     $(8,221,753
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I:

               

Shares sold

    3,440,965       $54,073,777       5,005,682       $81,783,320       31,228       $447,025       101,204       $1,688,772  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    31,529       535,995       638,185       9,687,652       153,180       1,799,865       111,655       1,601,140  

Shares redeemed

    (2,874,163     (45,263,249     (4,388,574     (68,857,138     (760,841     (10,682,407     (3,204,309     (50,332,935
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    598,331       $9,346,523       1,255,293       $22,613,834       (576,433     $(8,435,517     (2,991,450     $(47,043,023
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z:

               

Shares sold

    7,272,985       $116,360,111       8,639,083       $147,447,070       3,175       $47,299       8,240       $131,446  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    47,547       809,723       666,057       10,124,070       20,831       244,352       13,576       194,542  

Shares redeemed

    (4,648,999     (74,032,454     (2,272,861     (37,145,444     (39,978     (550,065     (70,316     (1,093,892
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    2,671,533       $43,137,380       7,032,279       $120,425,696       (15,972     $(258,414     (48,500     $(767,904
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

47


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes and for reinvestment of cash collateral on securities lending transactions under the securities lending program offered by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) (the “Securities Lending Program”) (collectively, “Repurchase Agreements”). The value of the underlying collateral, including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the Repurchase Agreements during the term of the agreement. For joint repurchase agreements, the Funds participate on a pro rata basis with other clients of BNYM in their share of the underlying collateral under such joint repurchase agreements and in their share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of the underlying collateral. The underlying collateral for all Repurchase Agreements is held by the Funds’ custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Funds may be delayed or limited. Pursuant to the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM on joint repurchase agreements.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of Repurchase Agreements outstanding for Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value, Small/Mid Cap Core and Global Allocation was $7,509,963, $3,143,376, $9,706,385 and $0, respectively.

i. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. Dollars. The value of investments, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon current foreign exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income and expenses are converted into U.S. Dollars based on currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represent: (1) foreign exchange gains and losses from the sale and holdings of foreign currencies; (2) gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions and foreign currency exchange contracts; and (3) gains and losses from the difference between amounts of interest and dividends recorded and the amounts actually received.

The Funds do not isolate the net realized and unrealized gain or loss resulting from changes in exchange rates from the fluctuations in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

For each of the Funds, the Trusts have entered into investment advisory agreements under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Funds and is responsible for the Funds’ overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Board and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the subadviser for the Funds and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. Each Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by GW&K Investment Management, LLC (“GW&K”), who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in GW&K.

Investment management fees are paid directly by the Funds to the Investment Manager based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds’ investment management fees were paid at the following annual rates of each Fund’s respective average daily net assets:

 

 Small Cap Core

   0.70% 

 Small Cap Value

   0.70% 

 Small/Mid Cap Core

   0.62% 

 Global Allocation

   0.60%1

 

1 

Effective December 18, 2023, the investment management fee was waived.

The fee paid to GW&K for its services as subadviser is paid out of the fee the Investment Manager receives from each Fund and does not increase the expenses of each Fund.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive management fees and/or pay or reimburse fund expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts, and in connection with securities sold short), shareholder servicing fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) of Small Cap Core, Small Cap Value, Small/Mid Cap Core and Global Allocation to the annual rate of 0.90%, 0.90%, 0.82% and 0.81%, respectively, of each Fund’s average daily net assets (this annual rate or such other annual rate that may be in effect from time to time, the “Expense Cap”), subject to later reimbursement by the Funds in certain circumstances.

In general, for a period of up to 36 months after the date any amounts are paid, waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may recover such amounts from a Fund, provided that such repayment would not cause the Fund’s total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursements (exclusive of the items noted in the parenthetical above) to exceed either (i) the Expense Cap in effect at the time such amounts were paid, waived or reimbursed, or (ii) the Expense Cap in effect at the time of such repayment by the Fund.

The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of a Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board, or in the event of a Fund’s liquidation unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of a Fund.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager’s expense reimbursements, and repayments of prior reimbursements by the Funds to the Investment Manager, if any, are as follows:

 

 

 

48


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

     Expense
Reimbursements
   Repayment of
Prior
Reimbursements

Small Cap Core

       $44,646        $9,858

Small Cap Value

       94,496       

Small/Mid Cap Core

       62,502        2,140

Global Allocation

       178,130       

At December 31, 2023, the Funds’ expiration of reimbursements subject to recoupment is as follows:

 

 Expiration

 Period

   Small Cap Core    Small Cap Value    Small/Mid Cap Core

 Less than 1 year

              $52,722        $42,690

 1-2 years

       $4,130        93,363        39,766

 2-3 years

       44,646        94,496        62,502
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 Total

       $48,776        $240,581        $144,958
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Effective December 18, 2023, for Global Allocation the Investment Manager waived its management fee and right to recoup any prior reimbursed expenses under each Fund’s Expense Limitation Agreement. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the investment management fees for Global Allocation were reduced by $6,447, or 0.02% of average daily net assets.

The Trusts, on behalf of the Funds, have entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Funds’ administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of managing the Funds’ operations, including administration and shareholder services to each Fund. Each Fund pays a fee to the Administrator at the rate of 0.15% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets for this service.

The Funds are distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for each Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of each Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

The Trusts have adopted a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Class N shares of each Fund, except Small Cap Value, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the requirements of the applicable rules of FINRA regarding asset-based sales charges. Pursuant to the Plan, each Fund, except Small Cap Value, may make payments to the Distributor for its expenditures in financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of each Fund’s Class N shares and for maintenance and personal service provided to existing shareholders of that class. The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor up to 0.25% annually of each Fund’s, except Small Cap Value’s, average daily net assets attributable to the Class N shares. The portion of payments made under the plan by Class N shares of each Fund, except Small Cap Value, for shareholder servicing may not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net asset

value of each Fund’s shares of that class owned by clients of such broker, dealer or financial intermediary.

For each of Class N and Class I shares of Small Cap Core and Small Cap Value, and for Small/Mid Cap Core and Global Allocation’s Class I shares, the Board has approved reimbursement payments to the Investment Manager for shareholder servicing expenses (“shareholder servicing fees”) incurred. Shareholder servicing fees include payments to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers (including fund supermarket platforms), banks, and trust companies who provide shareholder recordkeeping, account servicing and other services. The Class N and Class I shares may reimburse the Investment Manager for the actual amount incurred up to a maximum annual rate of each Class’s average daily net assets as shown in the table below.

The impact on the annualized expense ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

     Maximum Annual     Actual        
     Amount     Amount        
Fund    Approved     Incurred        

Small Cap Core

      

Class N

     0.15     0.15  

Class I

     0.05     0.05  

Small Cap Value

      

Class N

     0.25     0.25  

Class I

     0.05     0.05  

Small/Mid Cap Core

      

Class I

     0.05     0.05  

Global Allocation

      

Class I

     0.10     0.08        

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trusts and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trusts who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of each Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Funds are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the Funds had no interfund loans outstanding.

 

 

 

49


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

The following Funds utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

 Fund   Average
Lent
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Earned
    Average
Interest Rate
       

Small Cap Core

  $ 6,812,514       6     $ 6,389       5.705  

Small/Mid Cap Core

    1,814,515       1       271       5.450  

Global Allocation

    1,372,065       3       586       5.200  
 Fund   Average
Borrowed
    Number
of Days
    Interest
Paid
    Average
Interest Rate
       

Small Cap Core

  $ 5,806,086       6     $ 5,929       6.212  

Small Cap Value did not have any interfund lending activity for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

     Long Term Securities  
 Fund    Purchases      Sales  

 Small Cap Core

     $132,668,535        $194,185,898   

 Small Cap Value

     35,598,022        66,173,311   

 Small/Mid Cap Core

     178,822,371        123,919,851   

 Global Allocation

     5,711,397        42,058,168   

Global Allocation purchases and sales of U.S. Government Obligations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 were $1,005,553 and $6,285,160, respectively.

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

The Funds participate in the Securities Lending Program providing for the lending of securities to qualified borrowers. Securities lending income includes earnings of such temporary cash investments, plus or minus any rebate to a borrower. These earnings (after any rebate) are then divided between BNYM, as a fee for its services under the Securities Lending Program, and the Funds, according to agreed-upon rates. Collateral on all securities loaned is accepted in cash, U.S. Treasury Obligations or U.S. Government Agency Obligations. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the market value, plus interest, if applicable, of investments on loan. It is the Funds’ policy to obtain additional collateral from or return excess collateral to the borrower by the end of the next business day, following the valuation date of the securities loaned. Therefore, the value of the collateral held may be temporarily less than the value of the securities on loan. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Funds if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned were to increase and the borrower did not increase the collateral accordingly, and the borrower fails to return the securities. Under the terms of the Securities Lending Program, the Funds are indemnified for such losses by BNYM. Cash collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by BNYM, who is authorized to exclusively enter into joint repurchase agreements for that cash collateral. Securities collateral is held in separate omnibus accounts managed by

BNYM and cannot be sold or pledged. BNYM bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the cash collateral available for return to the borrower due to any loss on the collateral invested. Loans of securities are terminable by a Fund at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities as soon as practical, which is normally within three business days.

The value of securities loaned on positions held, cash collateral and securities collateral received at December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

 Fund    Securities
Loaned
     Cash
Collateral
Received
     Securities
Collateral
Received
     Total
Collateral
Received
 

Small Cap Core

     $10,123,784        $1,794,963        $8,822,681        $10,617,644  

Small Cap Value

     17,250,209        1,078,376        16,764,826        17,843,202  

Small/Mid Cap Core

     18,547,638        38,385        19,226,148        19,264,533  

The following table summarizes the securities received as collateral for securities lending at December 31, 2023:

 

 Fund    Collateral
Type
   Coupon
Range
   Maturity
Date Range

Small Cap Core

   U.S. Treasury Obligations    0.125%-5.368%    04/15/24-08/15/53 

Small Cap Value

   U.S. Treasury Obligations    0.125%-4.750%    04/15/24-05/15/51 

Small/Mid Cap Core

   U.S. Treasury Obligations    0.125%-4.750%    04/15/24-05/15/51 

5. FOREIGN SECURITIES

Global Allocation invested in securities of foreign entities and in instruments denominated in foreign currencies which involve risks not typically associated with investments in domestic securities, such as exposure to currency fluctuations, less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. A Fund’s investments in emerging market countries are exposed to additional risks. A Fund’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting companies in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. Realized gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the Fund level and the Fund would pay such foreign taxes at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction.

6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trusts’ organizational documents, their Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trusts. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Funds under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against a Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds had no prior claims or losses and expect the risks of loss to be remote.

 

 

 

50


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

7. CREDIT AGREEMENT

Effective April 12, 2023, the Trust II, on behalf of Global Allocation, and another fund in the Trust, became party to a Credit Agreement among BNYM, AMG Funds III, and AMG Funds IV (together with Trust and AMG Funds III, the “Participating Trusts”) (the “Credit Agreement”) that provided a revolving line of credit of up to $50 million to certain funds in the Participating Trusts (such funds, the “Participating Funds”). On December 31, 2023, the Credit Agreement was terminated. The facility was shared by the Participating Funds, and was available for temporary, emergency purposes including liquidity needs in meeting redemptions. The interest rate on outstanding Alternate Base Rate Loans was equal to the greater of the Prime Rate plus 1.25%, or 0.50% plus the Federal Funds

Effective Rate plus 1.25%. The interest rate on outstanding Overnight Loans was equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1.25%, or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus 1.25%. The aforementioned Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR was the sum of Daily Simple SOFR plus 0.10% plus a floor rate of 0.00%. The Participating Funds paid a commitment fee on the unutilized commitment amount of 0.175% per annum, which was allocated to the Participating Funds based on average daily net assets and is included in miscellaneous expense on the Participating Funds’ Statement of Operations. Interest incurred on loans utilized, if any, is included in the Statement of Operations as interest expense.

Global Allocation did not utilize the line of credit during the period April 12, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

 

 

8. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Funds may enter into master netting agreements with their counterparties for the Securities Lending Program and Repurchase Agreements, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For securities lending transactions, see Note 4.

The following table is a summary of the Funds’ open Repurchase Agreements that are subject to a master netting agreement as of December 31, 2023:

 

         Gross Amount Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
       
 Fund    Gross Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Offset
Amount
 

Net

Asset
Balance

  Collateral Received   Net Amount

 Small Cap Core

          

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

     $794,963                   $794,963          $794,963             

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     1,000,000             1,000,000       1,000,000        

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

     2,327,000             2,327,000       2,327,000        

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

     3,388,000             3,388,000       3,388,000          —  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

       $7,509,963          —          $7,509,963          $7,509,963        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Small Cap Value

          

 Daiwa Capital Markets America

     $78,376             $78,376       $78,376        

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     1,000,000             1,000,000       1,000,000        

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

     2,065,000             2,065,000       2,065,000        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

     $3,143,376             $3,143,376       $3,143,376        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Small/Mid Cap Core

 

       

 RBC Dominion Securities, Inc.

     $38,385             $38,385       $38,385        

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

     1,203,000             1,203,000       1,203,000        

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

     8,465,000             8,465,000       8,465,000        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total

     $9,706,385             $9,706,385       $9,706,385        
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Funds have determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Funds’ financial statements which require an

additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Funds’ financial statements except, Global Allocation liquidated on February 9, 2024.

 

 

 

51


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   

 

     

 

To the Boards of Trustees of AMG Funds and AMG Funds II and Shareholders of AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund, AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund and AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of portfolio investments, of AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund, AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund (three of the funds constituting AMG Funds) and AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund (one of the funds constituting AMG Funds II) (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2023, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinions

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian and broker; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

 

52


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund, AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund and AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund each hereby designate the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for each Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the year.

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund, AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund, AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund and AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund each hereby designates $4,011,620, $2,195,731, $0 and $5,796,486, respectively, as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable year ended December 31, 2023, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such fiscal year.

 

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds and AMG Funds II (collectively the “Trusts”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on proposals to elect trustees to the Boards of Trustees of the Trusts and to amend certain fundamental restrictions of AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund. With respect to the proposal to amend certain fundamental restrictions of AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund, the meeting was adjourned to October 31, 2023, November 21, 2023 and December 11, 2023. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trusts until his retirement on December 31, 2023. The proposals and results of the votes are described below.

 

AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*  
Election of Trustees1    For      Withheld  

Jill R. Cuniff

 

    

 

523,453,201

 

 

 

    

 

50,330,270

 

 

 

Kurt A. Keilhacker

 

    

 

563,642,997

 

 

 

    

 

10,140,474

 

 

 

Peter W. MacEwen

 

    

 

523,551,974

 

 

 

    

 

50,231,497

 

 

 

Steven J. Paggioli

 

    

 

561,225,673

 

 

 

    

 

12,557,798

 

 

 

Eric Rakowski

 

    

 

561,230,560

 

 

 

    

 

12,552,911

 

 

 

Victoria L. Sassine

 

    

 

563,668,874

 

 

 

    

 

10,114,597

 

 

 

Garret W. Weston

 

    

 

564,280,150

 

 

 

    

 

9,503,321

 

 

 

AMG Funds II    All Funds in Trust*  
Election of Trustees1    For      Withheld  

Jill R. Cuniff

 

    

 

4,796,336

 

 

 

    

 

35,586

 

 

 

Kurt A. Keilhacker

 

    

 

4,798,616

 

 

 

    

 

33,306

 

 

 

Peter W. MacEwen

 

    

 

4,797,782

 

 

 

    

 

34,140

 

 

 

Steven J. Paggioli

 

    

 

4,797,674

 

 

 

    

 

34,248

 

 

 

Eric Rakowski

 

    

 

4,803,644

 

 

 

    

 

28,278

 

 

 

Victoria L. Sassine

 

    

 

4,801,440

 

 

 

    

 

30,482

 

 

 

Garret W. Weston

 

    

 

4,798,028

 

 

 

    

 

33,894

 

 

 

 

 

53


    

 

Other Information

 

   

 

      

 

     AMG GW&K Global Allocation Fund*  
To approve the amendment of the Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions    For      Against      Abstain      Broker
Non-Vote
 

 Borrowing

     828,792        38,339        54,533        619,284  

 Issuing Senior Securities

     830,187        35,803        55,674        619,284  

 

1

Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Boards of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

 

*Rounded

to the nearest share.

 

 

54


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

      

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trusts, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trusts and the Funds. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds, and

 

  

review the Funds’ performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trusts: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trusts’ organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

   The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

Number of Funds Overseen in

Fund Complex

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by
Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2012 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2023 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Trustee since 2013 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2013 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco (2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A. (2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2023 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2000 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC. (1990-2001).

 

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2000 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

 

55


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   

• Trustee since 2013 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2013 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

 

*Mr.

Bingham retired from the Boards of Trustees of the Trusts on December 31, 2023.

 

**Ms.

Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Boards of Trustees by the shareholders of the Trusts on October 10, 2023.

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

 

   

Number of Funds Overseen in Fund Complex

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2021 - AMG Funds

• Trustee since 2021 - AMG Funds II

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

  

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

Officers

 

   

Position(s) Held with Fund and Length of Time Served

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

  

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

  

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

  

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director - Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director - Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

  

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

  

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

 

56


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

   

Position(s) Held with Fund and Length of Time Served

   Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

  

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

57


 

 

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LOGO

 

 

 

     
      

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATOR

 

AMG Funds LLC

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

AMG Distributors, Inc.

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

Stamford, CT 06901

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

222 Berkeley St.

Boston, MA 02116

  

CUSTODIAN

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

Mutual Funds Custody

6023 Airport Road

Oriskany, NY 13424

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

AMG Funds

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

500 Ross Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

800.548.4539

  

This report is prepared for the Funds’ shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for each Fund are available on the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures each Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding each Fund’s proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Funds’ website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com           


LOGO

 

 

 

   

 

      

 

EQUITY FUNDS

 

AMG Beutel Goodman International Equity

 

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG Boston Common Global Impact

 

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG Frontier Small Cap Growth

 

Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC

 

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Growth

AMG GW&K International Small Cap

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

AMG Montrusco Bolton Large Cap Growth

 

Montrusco Bolton Investments, Inc.

 

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth

 

The Renaissance Group LLC

   

AMG River Road Dividend All Cap Value

AMG River Road Focused Absolute Value

AMG River Road Large Cap Value Select

AMG River Road Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small-Mid Cap Value

AMG River Road Small Cap Value

 

River Road Asset Management, LLC

 

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth

 

TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC

 

AMG Veritas Asia Pacific

AMG Veritas China

 

AMG Veritas Global Focus

AMG Veritas Global Real Return

 

Veritas Asset Management LLP

 

AMG Yacktman AMG Yacktman Focused

AMG Yacktman Global

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities

 

Yacktman Asset Management LP

 

FIXED INCOME FUNDS

 

AMG Beutel Goodman Core Plus Bond

 

Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.

 

AMG GW&K Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K Enhanced Core Bond ESG

AMG GW&K ESG Bond

AMG GW&K High Income

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

   

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com               123123   AR089


LOGO    ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

    

AMG Funds

 

December 31, 2023

 
     LOGO
 
     AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares
 
     Ticker: MESHX
 
    
 
    

 

 

 

 

 wealth.amg.com        123123   AR090



    

AMG Funds

Annual Report — December 31, 2023

 

 

 

    
  TABLE OF CONTENTS    PAGE  
 

 

 
   

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

     2  
 
   

ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES

     3  
 
    PORTFOLIO MANAGER’S COMMENTS, FUND SNAPSHOTS AND SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS      4  
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     11  
 
   

Balance sheet, net asset value (NAV) per share computations
and cumulative distributable earnings (loss)

  
 
   

Statement of Operations

     12  
 
   

Detail of sources of income, expenses, and realized and
unrealized gains (losses) during the fiscal year

  
 
   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

     13  
 
   

Detail of changes in assets for the past fiscal period

  
 
   

Financial Highlights

     14  
 
   

Historical net asset values per share, distributions, total returns, income
and expense ratios, turnover ratios and net assets

  
 
   

Notes to Financial Statements

     15  
 
   

Accounting and distribution policies, details of agreements and
transactions with Fund management and affiliates, and descriptions of
certain investment risks

  
 
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      19  
 
    OTHER INFORMATION      20  
 
    TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS      21  

 

Nothing contained herein is to be considered an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any series of the AMG Funds Family of Funds. Such offering is made only by prospectus, which includes details as to offering price and other material information.

 

 


LOGO   Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide this annual report for your investment with AMG Funds. Our foremost goal is to provide investment solutions that help our shareholders successfully achieve their long-term investment goals. We appreciate the privilege of providing you with investment tools.

Throughout most of the year, markets wrestled with uncertainties around tighter monetary policy, increased geopolitical tension, instability in the regional banking sector, and political handwringing over the U.S. debt ceiling. However, investors remained optimistic for an economic “soft landing” as inflation continued to ease and risk assets finally surged in the fourth quarter following a dovish pivot in the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Bonds finished with a positive return; a remarkable development after struggling to move higher for most of the year as global central banks raised interest rates.

The S&P 500® Index gained 26.29% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, fully recouping losses suffered in 2022. Large-cap stocks diverged from small-cap stocks, particularly driven by a handful of mega-cap technology and consumer discretionary stocks. The Russell 1000® Index gained 26.53% compared to the 16.93% return for the Russell 2000® Index. Nine out of eleven sectors posted positive returns, with information technology (60.93%), communication services (55.86%), and consumer discretionary (43.22%) leading the way. The weakest sectors were utilities (-7.08%), energy (-1.33%), and consumer staples (+0.55%). The strength in information technology drove growth stocks to strongly outperform value stocks with the Russell 1000® Growth Index gaining 42.68% compared to a 11.46% return for the Russell 1000® Value Index. Outside the U.S., foreign equity markets underperformed domestic equities, delivering a 15.62% return, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA benchmark.

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad measure of U.S. bond market performance, rebounded with a 5.53% return over the period. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to post-GFC (Global Financial Crisis) highs through October as the Fed tightened policy throughout the year, leading many to expect another year of negative bond returns. However, investors received much needed relief as interest rates fell sharply in the final two months of the year following the Fed’s message signaling rate cuts in 2024. Looking across the broadest sectors of the market, investment-grade corporate bonds gained 8.52% for the year, while agency mortgage-backed securities rose 5.05%. High yield bonds were the best performing sector with a 13.44% return as measured by the return of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index. Municipal bonds outperformed the broader market with a 6.40% gain for the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index. Outside the U.S., foreign bonds were also positive as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Index gained 5.72%.

AMG Funds provides access to a distinctive array of actively managed return-oriented investment strategies. You can rest assured that under all market conditions our team is focused on delivering excellent investment management services for your benefit. For more information about AMG Funds’ wide range of products and resources, please visit wealth.amg.com. We thank you for your investment and continued trust in AMG Funds.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Keitha Kinne

President

AMG Funds

 

        Periods ended  
Average Annual Total Returns   December 31, 2023*  
Stocks:        1 Year     3 Years     5 Years  

Large Cap

  (S&P 500® Index)     26.29%       10.00%       15.69%  

Small Cap

  (Russell 2000® Index)     16.93%       2.22%       9.97%  

International

  (MSCI ACWI ex USA)     15.62%       1.55%       7.08%  

Bonds:

                           

Investment Grade 

  (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)     5.53%       (3.31)%       1.10%  

High Yield

  (Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index)     13.44%       1.98%       5.37%  

Tax-exempt

  (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)     6.40%       (0.40)%       2.25%  

Treasury Bills

  (ICE BofAML U.S. 6-Month Treasury Bill Index)     5.14%       2.17%       2.02%  

*Source: FactSet. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

 

2


    

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

   

 

     

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

 

ACTUAL EXPENSES

 

The first section of the following table provides information about the actual account values and

    

actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

 

The second section of the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s

      

actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

         

 

 

 

 Six Months Ended

 December 31, 2023

   Expense
Ratio for
the Period
  Beginning
Account
Value
07/01/23
   Ending
Account
Value
12/31/23
    

Expenses
Paid

During
the Period*,**

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Based on Actual Fund Return

     0.00%   $1,000      $1,048      $0.00

Based on Hypothetical 5% Annual Return

     0.00%   $1,000      $1,025      $0.00

 

 *

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365.

 

 **

The figures in the example do not reflect the effect of fees and expenses associated with a separately managed account, nor a management fee or other operating expenses of the Fund. Such management fees are paid directly or indirectly by the separately managed account sponsor to the Fund’s investment manager or subadviser. All operating expenses of the Fund were reimbursed by the investment manager, pursuant to an expense reimbursement arrangement between the Fund and the investment manager.

 

 

 

3


    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares (the “Fund”) Class N shares returned 8.81% since inception on February 28, 2023 through December 31, 2023, compared to the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index (the “Index”), which returned 7.63% over the same period.

 

Municipal bonds posted solid gains in the Fund’s first full month after inception, piggybacking on a strong rally in Treasuries. Then municipal bonds posted modest losses in the second quarter, following the lead of a Treasury market that finally stopped fighting the Fed. Coming into April, investors were confident that the central bank would be forced to reverse its tightening campaign before year end. But that conviction didn’t last. Economic data stood firm against the torrent of rate hikes, defying predictions for a near-term recession. Regional banks earned back investor confidence, despite a third major failure. And while inflation slowed, it remained well above its 2% target, still threatening to become entrenched. Even when the FOMC stood pat in June, its first pause in 18 months of constant hiking, the committee refused to signal the all-clear, guiding for two more increases in 2023. The street got the message. Short-term rates spiked more than 80 basis points over the quarter while the futures market erased bets that cuts would come later in the year. Long-term rates rose less dramatically, leading the yield curve to nearly match its March inversion, the deepest in over 40 years. An eventual recession is still the market’s base case, but exactly when or how deep remain open questions.

 

The municipal market was a full participant in the global bond rout that unfolded over the third quarter. Broad fixed income losses piled up each month, but accelerated after the September FOMC meeting, where Fed policymakers signaled a determination to hold interest rates higher for longer. Investors were taken off guard by the hawkish messaging, given the trajectory toward lower inflation and reduced froth in the labor markets, particularly over the last three months. But as Jay Powell pointed out in his post-meeting press conference, the recent jump in Treasury yields was less about inflation and more about real yields rising in response to stronger-than-expected economic data. The Fed chair listed a number of plausible explanations for the economy’s surprising resilience (lagged effects of tightening, higher neutral rate, more durable consumer and business balance sheets), but

      

emphasized the need to guard against overheated growth, lest it threaten the headway made to date in restoring price stability and full employment. The markets shared his caution, as the yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed 73 basis points over the quarter, closing September at 4.57%, its highest level since 2007.

 

As we ended the year, municipal bonds posted their best quarterly performance in nearly four decades, transforming 2023 into a year of solid gains after it looked like we were headed for a second consecutive annual loss. The remarkable turnaround was fueled by macro forces that unfolded over the final two months of the year. Recall that in October interest rates were still in selloff mode, as a stubbornly strong economy and persistently high inflation gave teeth to the Fed’s “higher-for-longer” mantra. Later that month, the yield on the 10-year Treasury had risen to 5%, a 16-year high. From that point on, however, the data began to shift. Job growth softened meaningfully while price pressures eased, increasing the odds of a soft landing and fueling speculation of an impending monetary pivot. Fed officials virtually confirmed this view when they unexpectedly penciled in 75 basis points of cuts for 2024 in the December FOMC projection materials. The bond market, already rallying coming into the meeting, continued to surge into year-end. By the end of December, the 10-year yield had fallen to 3.88%, down almost 70 basis points for the quarter.

 

While the Treasury rally was the key factor driving performance in the fourth quarter, municipal bonds received additional boosts from limited issuance and sky-rocketing demand. Even during the October selloff, retail investors were jumping at the chance to lock in tax-equivalent yields not seen in over a decade, keeping municipals relatively well bid. When the market then started to turn, a healthy appetite for paper turned into a mad scramble, reflecting a fierce competition for bonds amid an end-of-year slowdown in issuance. The frenzy was amplified by a spike in rollover flows as well as an explosion of tax-loss harvesting, as participants hastened to reinvest proceeds before the market moved away from them. Over the final two months of the year, the 10-year municipal yield fell 133 basis points. And when it was all said and done, you had to go back to 1986 to find a better quarterly return. 2023 now enters the history books as the sixth best annual return in the last two decades, an extraordinary outcome for a year that brought so much handwringing.

      

FUND REVIEW

 

The Fund outperformed the Index from inception through year-end. The strong rally in the fourth quarter transformed 2023 into a year of solid gains and outweighed the performance of the previous three quarters. The Fund’s outperformance was driven mainly by its longer duration, its overweight to longer maturities, and the significant decline in interest rates in the quarter. Additionally, the Fund’s overweights to the hospital and transportation sectors contributed to performance. Lower quality benefited from the rally in the fourth quarter. The Fund’s higher quality bias detracted from performance, specifically the Fund’s overweight to Single A versus the BBB-rated bonds of the Index. An underweight to lower coupon bonds and security selection in the tobacco and housing sectors were also detractors from performance.

 

OUTLOOK

 

Looking ahead to January, the combination of seasonally low supply, still-heavy reinvestment needs and an end to tax-loss selling should continue to foster the momentum built up over the past two months. Demand will be supported by a healthy fundamental backdrop and historically attractive tax-equivalent yields. The outlook for state and local governments remains solid, with most looking at low-single-digit revenue increases, manageable expense growth and significant financial flexibility, a product of record-high reserves. Investors will need to be alert to future volatility, especially with the market anticipating a sea change in monetary policy followed by a fast-approaching national election. One area to keep an eye on is how expensive valuations to Treasuries have become in the wake of the recent rally. While we don’t necessarily expect a quick unwind of these historically stretched ratios, municipal bonds are less likely to outperform Treasuries until we see those metrics improve. Even so, heading into a year with so much uncertainty, the high-quality stability offered by municipal bonds promises to draw even more interest to the asset class in 2024.

 

The views expressed represent the opinions of GW&K Investment Management, LLC as of December 31, 2023, and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results, and are subject to change without notice.

 

 

4


 

    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares’s cumulative total return is based on the daily change in net asset value (NAV), and assumes that all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares on February 28, 2023 (inception date), to a $10,000 investment made in the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index for the same time period. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on a Fund distribution or redemption of shares. The listed returns for the Fund are net of expenses and the returns for the index exclude expenses. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

LOGO

The table below shows the average annual total returns for the AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares and the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index for the same time periods ended December 31, 2023.

 

     Since      Inception  
 Average Annual Total Returns1    Inception*      Date  

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

     8.81%        02/28/23  

Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index19

     7.63%         02/28/23  

The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For performance information through the most recent month end, current net asset values per share for the Fund and other information, please call 800.548.4539 or visit our website at wealth.amg.com for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

 

Date reflects the inception date of the Fund, not the index.

* 

Not annualized.

 

1 

Total return equals income yield plus share price change and assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns are net of fees and may reflect offsets of Fund expenses as described in the prospectus. No adjustment has been made for taxes payable by shareholders on their reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Returns for periods greater than one year are annualized. The listed returns on the Fund are net of expenses and based on the published NAV as of December 31, 2023. All returns are in U.S. Dollars ($).

2  From time to time, the Fund’s Investment Manager has waived its fees and/or absorbed Fund expenses, which has resulted in higher returns.

 

3  The value of a debt security changes in response to various factors, including, for example, market-related factors, such as changes in interest rates or changes in the actual or perceived ability of an issuer to meet its obligations. Investments in debt securities are subject to, among other risks, credit risk, interest rate risk, extension risk, prepayment risk and liquidity risk.

 

4  Factors unique to the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of municipal bonds.

 

5  Fixed coupon payments (cash flows) of bonds and debt securities may become less competitive with the market in periods of rising interest rates and cause bond prices to decline. During periods of increasing interest rates, the Fund may experience high levels of volatility and shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices, which could reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

6  The issuer of bonds or other debt securities or a counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest, principal or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

7  A debtor may exercise its right to pay back a bond or other debt security earlier than expected or required during periods of decreasing interest rates.

 

8  The Fund will normally receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amount paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.

 

9  The Fund may have difficulty reinvesting payments from debtors and may receive lower rates than from its original investments.

 

10 During periods of rising interest rates, a debtor may pay back a bond or other fixed income security slower than expected or required, and the value of such security may fall.

 

11 Below investment grade debt securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risk than higher-rated securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect

 

 

 

5


 

    

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments.

 

12 Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors or adversely affect the real value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund. Recently, inflation levels have been at their highest point in nearly 40 years, and the U.S. Federal Reserve has begun an aggressive campaign to raise certain benchmark interest rates in an effort to combat inflation. As such, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate volatility and liquidity risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the prices throughout the economy decline over time – the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

13 Because the Fund is an actively managed investment portfolio, security selection or focus on securities in a particular style, market sector or group of companies may cause the Fund to incur losses or underperform relative to its benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. There can be no guarantee that the Subadviser’s investment techniques and risk analysis will produce the desired result.

      

14 Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of factors, including economic, political, or market conditions, or other factors including terrorism, war, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including epidemics or pandemics, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

 

15 The Fund is a new fund, which may result in additional risk. There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to an economically viable size, in which case the Fund may cease operations. In such an event, investors may be required to liquidate or transfer their investments at an inopportune time. In addition, until the Fund achieves sufficient scale, a Fund shareholder may experience proportionally higher Fund expenses than would be experienced by shareholders of a fund with a larger asset base.

 

16 The Fund may not be able to dispose of particular investments, such as illiquid securities, readily at favorable times or prices or the Fund may have to sell them at a loss.

 

17 The use of derivatives involves costs, the risk that the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly with their underlying assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, and the risk of mispricing or improper valuation. The use of derivatives may not succeed for various reasons, and the complexity and rapidly changing structure of derivatives markets may increase the possibility of market losses.

      

18 Issuers and companies that are in similar industry sectors may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events; to the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

 

19 The Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index is a subset of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index with an index rating of Baa1, Baa2, or Baa3. The Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index is a rules-based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the long-term, tax-exempt bond market. Unlike the Fund, the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond BAA Index is unmanaged, is not available for investment and does not incur expenses.

 

“Bloomberg®” and any Bloomberg index described herein are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by AMG Funds LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with AMG Funds LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend the fund described herein. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to such fund.

 

Not FDIC insured, nor bank guaranteed. May lose value.

 

 

6


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Fund Snapshots (unaudited)

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN

 

 Category    %of 
Net Assets 
 

Transportation

   24.0
 

General Obligation

   24.0
 

Medical

   17.9
 

Airport

    8.6
 

Higher Education

    4.5
 

Water

    4.5
 

Industrial Development

    2.7
 

School District

    2.4
 

Tobacco Settlement

    1.8
 

Power

    1.5
 

Housing

    1.3
 

Utilities

    1.0
 

Short-Term Investments

    4.1
 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

    1.7

 

 Rating    % of Market Value1
 

Aaa/AAA

    4.2
 

Aa/AA

   19.2
 

A

   43.7
 

Baa/BBB

   32.9

 

1 

Includes market value of long-term fixed-income securities only.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

 

 Security Name    % of 
Net Assets 
 

Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Series A, 5.250%, 07/01/53

   3.0
 

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured, Series 1, 5.000%, 05/01/48

   2.8
 

New York Transportation Development Corp., 6.000%, 06/30/54

   2.8
 

Great Lakes Water Authority Water Supply System Revenue, Series B, 5.250%, 07/01/53

   2.8
 

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, 5.250%, 07/01/52

   2.5
 

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, 5.250%, 06/30/53

   2.3
 

Miami Beach Health Facilities Authority, 4.000%, 11/15/46

   2.3
 

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series BB, 5.250%, 06/15/50

   2.3
 

County of Miami-Dade Florida Seaport Department, Series 1, 4.000%, 10/01/45

   2.2
 

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., 5.000%, 06/30/58

   2.1
    

 

 

Top Ten as a Group

    25.1 
  

 

 

 

Credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB- or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB+ or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by any of the rating agencies. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

Because a fund’s strategy may result in multiple investments in particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors and may fluctuate more widely than investments diversified across more sectors. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

Any sectors, industries, or securities discussed should not be perceived as investment recommendations. Mention of a specific security should not be considered a recommendation to buy or solicitation to sell that security. Specific securities mentioned in this report may have been sold from the Fund’s portfolio of investments by the time you receive this report.

 

 

7


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2023

 

 

      Principal
Amount
      Value   

Municipal Bonds - 94.2%

     

California - 2.9%

     

California Municipal Finance Authority,

     

5.000%, 05/15/43

     $485,000        $499,325  

5.000%, 05/15/48

     795,000        812,675  

California Municipal Finance Authority, Series A

     

4.000%, 02/01/51

     240,000        217,548  

Riverside County Transportation Commission, Series B1

     

4.000%, 06/01/46

     420,000        420,712  

Riverside County Transportation Commission, Series C

     

4.000%, 06/01/47

     555,000        545,068  

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Series B

     

4.000%, 07/01/51

     325,000        310,600  

Total California

        2,805,928  

Colorado - 2.3%

     

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 08/01/44

     930,000        968,491  

Public Authority for Colorado Energy Natural Gas Purchase Revenue

     

6.500%, 11/15/38

     1,050,000        1,322,928  

Total Colorado

        2,291,419  

Connecticut - 1.3%

     

Connecticut State Health & Educational Facilities Authority,

     

4.000%, 07/01/39

     485,000        482,910  

4.000%, 07/01/40

     555,000        547,879  

4.000%, 07/01/42

     285,000        276,495  

Total Connecticut

        1,307,284  

Florida - 10.8%

     

Brevard County Health Facilities Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 04/01/47

     1,185,000        1,273,928  

City of Tampa, Series B

     

5.000%, 07/01/50

     495,000        519,120  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Seaport Department, Series 1, (AGM)

     

4.000%, 10/01/45

     2,265,000        2,161,086  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Seaport Department, Series A

     

5.250%, 10/01/52

     365,000        396,943  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Water & Sewer System

     

4.000%, 10/01/48

     1,675,000        1,673,224  

Escambia County Health Facilities Authority

     

4.000%, 08/15/50

     985,000        866,391  

Florida Development Finance Corp.,

     

4.000%, 02/01/52

     485,000        372,707  

5.000%, 02/01/52

     325,000        301,203  
      Principal
Amount
      Value   

Hillsborough County Industrial Development Authority

     

4.000%, 08/01/50

     $815,000        $760,999  

Miami Beach Health Facilities Authority

     

4.000%, 11/15/46

     2,370,000        2,278,260  

Total Florida

        10,603,861  

Georgia - 1.5%

     

Columbia County Hospital Authority

     

5.750%, 04/01/53

     1,250,000        1,426,884  

Illinois - 7.9%

     

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Senior Lien, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/48

     1,100,000        1,133,520  

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/391

     1,000,000        1,175,169  

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority,

     

4.000%, 12/15/42

     325,000        324,805  

4.000%, 06/15/52

     485,000        456,270  

5.000%, 06/15/50

     815,000        842,218  

State of Illinois,

     

5.500%, 05/01/39

     650,000        719,652  

5.750%, 05/01/45

     485,000        533,763  

State of Illinois, Series A,

     

4.000%, 03/01/40

     1,240,000        1,245,389  

5.000%, 03/01/46

     355,000        375,984  

State of Illinois, Series B

     

5.500%, 05/01/47

     815,000        895,340  

Total Illinois

        7,702,110  

Kentucky - 1.2%

     

Kentucky State Property & Building Commission, Series A

     

5.500%, 11/01/43

     1,025,000        1,180,170  

Louisiana - 3.0%

     

Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Series A

     

5.250%, 07/01/53

     2,615,000        2,889,598  

Massachusetts - 3.3%

     

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency,

     

4.000%, 07/01/51

     970,000        815,601  

5.250%, 07/01/52

     2,205,000        2,396,353  

Total Massachusetts

        3,211,954  

Michigan - 4.3%

     

Great Lakes Water Authority Water Supply System Revenue

     

5.250%, 07/01/53

     2,405,000        2,717,435  

State of Michigan Trunk Line

     

5.250%, 11/15/49

     1,300,000        1,494,596  

Total Michigan

        4,212,031  

Minnesota - 0.4%

     

Duluth Economic Development Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 02/15/48

     410,000        417,384  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

      Principal
Amount
     Value  

Missouri - 1.5%

     

Health & Educational Facilities Authority of the State of Missouri

     

4.000%, 06/01/53

     $1,500,000        $1,453,640  

Nebraska - 1.1%

     

Central Plains Energy Project #3, Series A

     

5.000%, 09/01/42

     995,000        1,092,550  

New Jersey - 6.9%

     

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Series QQQ,

     

4.000%, 06/15/46

     240,000        237,514  

4.000%, 06/15/50

     340,000        328,589  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority

     

5.250%, 06/15/46

     325,000        361,227  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series AA,

     

4.000%, 06/15/45

     340,000        339,144  

4.000%, 06/15/50

     325,000        315,102  

5.000%, 06/15/50

     240,000        255,909  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Series BB

     

5.250%, 06/15/50

     2,000,000        2,219,757  

South Jersey Transportation Authority,

     

4.625%, 11/01/47

     570,000        589,400  

5.250%, 11/01/52

     820,000        881,317  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series A,

     

5.000%, 06/01/46

     405,000        411,870  

5.250%, 06/01/46

     530,000        546,363  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series B

     

5.000%, 06/01/46

     310,000        314,653  

Total New Jersey

        6,800,845  

New York - 17.7%

     

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Series 1,

     

4.750%, 11/15/45

     1,625,000        1,673,466  

5.000%, 11/15/50

     1,000,000        1,050,494  

5.250%, 11/15/55

     490,000        519,283  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured, Series 1

     

5.000%, 05/01/48

     2,500,000        2,780,311  

New York State Dormitory Authority

     

5.000%, 05/01/52

     485,000        517,540  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Series A,

     

4.000%, 07/01/47

     550,000        522,893  

4.000%, 07/01/52

     340,000        311,593  

New York State Thruway Authority, Series B

     

4.000%, 01/01/45

     325,000        324,897  

New York State Urban Development Corp., Series A

     

4.000%, 03/15/48

     1,175,000        1,177,480  
      Principal
Amount
     Value  

New York Transportation Development Corp.,

     

4.000%, 12/01/39

     $295,000        $298,411  

4.000%, 04/30/53

     1,125,000        986,603  

5.000%, 12/01/40

     845,000        902,702  

5.000%, 12/01/41

     815,000        863,806  

5.000%, 06/30/49

     1,000,000        1,044,630  

5.625%, 04/01/40

     1,000,000        1,075,824  

6.000%, 04/01/35

     500,000        556,998  

6.000%, 06/30/54

     2,500,000        2,760,586  

Total New York

        17,367,517  

Pennsylvania - 7.9%

     

Allegheny County Airport Authority, Series A

     

5.000%, 01/01/51

     815,000        847,870  

Geisinger Authority

     

4.000%, 04/01/50

     340,000        318,340  

Montgomery County Higher Education and Health Authority, Series B

     

5.000%, 05/01/52

     770,000        811,634  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority

     

5.250%, 06/30/53

     2,185,000        2,287,009  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, (AGM)

     

5.000%, 12/31/57

     1,240,000        1,279,885  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Series A

     

4.000%, 12/01/50

     1,135,000        1,112,070  

Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development

     

5.250%, 11/01/52

     1,010,000        1,078,863  

Total Pennsylvania

        7,735,671  

Rhode Island - 1.7%

     

Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp.

     

5.000%, 11/01/53

     1,020,000        1,108,096  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Series A

     

5.000%, 06/01/40

     530,000        534,199  

Total Rhode Island

        1,642,295  

South Carolina - 1.2%

     

Richland County School District No 2, Series A, (South Carolina School District)

     

1.875%, 03/01/38

     1,600,000        1,196,382  

Tennessee - 1.6%

     

City of Chattanooga Electric

     

2.000%, 09/01/40

     1,400,000        1,007,310  

Metropolitan Government Nashville & Davidson County Health & Educational Facilities

     

5.250%, 05/01/53

     520,000        565,016  

Total Tennessee

        1,572,326  
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Schedule of Portfolio Investments (continued)

 

 

      Principal
Amount
      Value   

Texas - 10.4%

     

Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Series B,

     

4.000%, 01/01/51

     $665,000        $653,611  

5.000%, 01/01/45

     1,590,000        1,695,036  

City of Houston Airport System, Series A

     

4.000%, 07/01/48

     240,000        230,386  

Lower Colorado River Authority

     

5.000%, 05/15/51

     1,365,000        1,457,247  

Northwest Independent School District, (PSF-GTD)

     

5.000%, 02/15/491

     1,000,000        1,110,498  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.,

     

5.000%, 12/31/40

     640,000        645,092  

5.000%, 12/31/45

     630,000        633,808  

5.000%, 06/30/58

     2,020,000        2,041,234  

5.500%, 12/31/58

     650,000        704,888  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., Series A

     

4.000%, 12/31/39

     995,000        992,939  

Total Texas

        10,164,739  

Virginia - 4.1%

     

Lynchburg Economic Development Authority

     

4.000%, 01/01/55

     240,000        229,941  

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority,

     

4.000%, 01/01/39

     485,000        476,530  

4.000%, 01/01/40

     485,000        474,456  

5.000%, 12/31/47

     425,000        447,008  

5.000%, 12/31/49

     1,905,000        1,913,449  

5.000%, 12/31/52

     515,000        516,632  

Total Virginia

        4,058,016  
      Principal
Amount
      Value   

West Virginia - 1.2%

     

West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority, Series B

     

6.000%, 09/01/53

     $1,000,000        $1,132,805  

Total Municipal Bonds

     

(Cost $88,284,424)

        92,265,409  

Short-Term Investments - 4.1%

     

Repurchase Agreements - 4.1%

     

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. dated 12/29/23 due 01/02/24, 5.150% total to be received $4,002,289 (collateralized by a U.S. Treasury, 4.125%, 08/15/33, totaling $4,080,024)

     4,000,000        4,000,000  

Total Short-Term Investments

     

(Cost $4,000,000)

        4,000,000  

Total Investments - 98.3%

     

(Cost $92,284,424)

        96,265,409  

Other Assets, less Liabilities - 1.7%

        1,664,901  

Net Assets - 100.0%

        $97,930,310  
 

 

1 

All or part of a security is delayed delivery transaction. The market value for delayed delivery securities at December 31, 2023, amounted to $2,285,667, or 2.3% of net assets.

AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.

PSF-GTD Permanent School Fund Guaranteed

 

 

The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments by the fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2023:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 Investments in Securities

 

           

 Municipal Bonds

          $ 92,265,409             $ 92,265,409  

 Short-Term Investments

           

 Repurchase Agreements

            4,000,000               4,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 Total Investments in Securities

       —      $ 96,265,409          —      $ 96,265,409  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

All municipal bonds held in the Fund are Level 2 securities. For a detailed breakout of municipal bonds by major classification, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

For the period ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10


   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

    AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced SMA Shares

Assets:

   

Investments at value1

      $96,265,409

Cash

      4,081,362

Interest receivables

      1,105,919

Receivable for Fund shares sold

      159,752

Receivable from affiliate

      13,513

Prepaid expenses and other assets

      7,575

Total assets

      101,633,530

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      1,443,934

Payable for delayed delivery investments purchased

      2,217,380

Accrued expenses:

   

Other

      41,906

Total liabilities

      3,703,220

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2 & 4)

 

Net Assets

      $97,930,310

1 Investments at cost

      $92,284,424

Net Assets Represent:

   

Paid-in capital

      $93,963,236

Total distributable earnings

      3,967,074

Net Assets

      $97,930,310

   

Net assets

      $97,930,310

Shares outstanding

      9,321,134

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

      $10.51

  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

11


   

Statement of Operations

For the period ended December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

     AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced SMA Shares1

Investment Income:

  

Dividend income

     $3,306     

Interest income

     2,001,673  

Total investment income

     2,004,979  

Expenses:

  

Professional fees

     40,509  

Custodian fees

     15,125  

Reports to shareholders

     13,424  

Registration fees

     12,189  

Trustee fees and expenses

     3,487  

Transfer agent fees

     1,416  

Miscellaneous

     873  

Total expenses before offsets

     87,023  

Expense reimbursements

     (87,023

Net expenses

      

  

Net investment income

     2,004,979  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain:

  

Net realized loss on investments

     (93,911

  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     3,980,985  

Net realized and unrealized gain

     3,887,074  

  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     $5,892,053  

1 Commencement of operations was February 28, 2023.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

12


   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

For the period ended December 31, 2023

 

 

 

     AMG
GW&K Municipal
Enhanced SMA Shares1

Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations:

    

Net investment income

       $2,004,979

Net realized loss on investments

       (93,911 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       3,980,985

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       5,892,053

Distributions to Shareholders:

       (1,924,979 )

Capital Share Transactions:2

    

Net increase from capital share transactions

       93,963,236
    

Total increase in net assets

       97,930,310

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of period

      

End of period

       $97,930,310

1 Commencement of operations was February 28, 2023.

2 See Note 1(g) of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

13


   

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Financial Highlights

For a share outstanding throughout the fiscal period

 

 

 

 

     For the fiscal
period ended
 December 31, 
 
     20231      

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

     $10.00      

Income from Investment Operations:

  

Net investment income2,3

     0.38      

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.48      

Total income from investment operations

     0.86      

Less Distributions to Shareholders from:

  

Net investment income

     (0.35)     

Net Asset Value, End of Period

     $10.51      

Total Return3,4

     8.81%5  

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.00%6  

Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets7

     0.20%6  

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets3

     4.55%6  

Portfolio turnover

     12%5,8  

Net assets end of period (000’s) omitted

     $97,930      
          

  

 
1 

Commencement of operations was February 28, 2023.

2 

Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares.

3 

Total returns and net investment income would have been lower had certain expenses not been offset.

4 

The total return is calculated using the published Net Asset Value as of period end.

5 

Not annualized.

6 

Annualized.

7 

Excludes the impact of expense reimbursement or fee waivers and expense reductions such as brokerage credits, but includes expense repayments and non-reimbursable expenses, if any, such as interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. (See Note 1(c) and 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.)

8 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received from processing a subscription in-kind.

 

 

14


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2023

 

   

 

      

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AMG Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business trust, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Currently, the Trust consists of a number of different funds, each having distinct investment management objectives, strategies, risks, and policies. Included in this report is AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares (“the “Fund”).

The Fund offers a single class of shares for purchase. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by or on behalf of separately managed account clients where GW&K Investment Management, LLC (“GW&K”), the Fund’s subadviser, has an agreement with sponsors of separately managed account programs (“Program Sponsors”), or directly with the client, to provide management or advisory services to the managed account or to the Program Sponsor for its use in managing such account.

Market prices of investments held by the Fund may fall rapidly or unpredictably due to a variety of economic or political factors, market conditions, disasters or public health issues, or in response to events that affect particular industries or companies.

The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including accounting and reporting guidance pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements:

a. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity exceeding 60 days are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an authorized pricing service or, if an evaluated price is not available, by reference to other securities which are considered comparable in credit rating, interest rate, due date and other features (generally referred to as “matrix pricing”) or other similar pricing methodologies.

Fixed income securities purchased with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, provided that the amortized cost value is approximately the same as the fair value of the security valued without the use of amortized cost. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their end of day net asset value per share.

The Fund’s portfolio investments are generally valued based on independent market quotations or prices or, if none, “evaluative” or other market based valuations provided by third party pricing services. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) designated AMG Funds LLC (the “Investment Manager”) as the Fund’s Valuation Designee to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations. Such determinations are subject to Board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to ensure that the Board receives the information it needs to oversee the Investment Manager’s fair value determinations.

 

Under certain circumstances, the value of certain Fund portfolio investments may be based on an evaluation of fair value, pursuant to procedures established by the Investment Manager and under the general supervision of the Board. The Fund may use the fair value of a portfolio investment to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”) in the event that the market quotation, price or market based valuation for the portfolio investment is not readily available or otherwise not determinable pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures, if the Investment Manager believes the quotation, price or market based valuation to be unreliable, or in certain other circumstances. When determining the fair value of an investment, the Investment Manager seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive from current sale of that portfolio investment in an arms-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon consideration of all available facts and information, including, but not limited to (i) attributes specific to the investment; (ii) fundamental and analytical data relating to the investment; and (iii) the value of other comparable securities or relevant financial instruments, including derivative securities, traded on other markets or among dealers.

The values assigned to fair value portfolio investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized in the future, since such amounts depend on future developments inherent in long-term investments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material. The Board will be presented with quarterly reports, as of the most recent quarter end, summarizing all fair value activity, material fair value matters that occurred during the quarter, and all outstanding securities fair valued by the Fund. Additionally, the Board will be presented with an annual report that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s process for determining the fair value of the Fund’s investments.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments (e.g., equity securities, open-end investment companies)

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs) (e.g., debt securities, government securities, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, fair valued securities with observable inputs)

 

 

 

15


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

Level 3 – inputs are significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments) (e.g., fair valued securities with unobservable inputs)

Changes in inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may result in a transfer in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments may not necessarily be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

b. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

c. INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES

Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is accrued as earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and other income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to the Fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust and other trusts or funds within the AMG Funds Family of Funds (collectively, the “AMG Funds Family”) based upon their relative average net assets or number of shareholders.

d. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund distributions resulting from net investment income, if any, will normally be declared and paid monthly. Fund distributions resulting from net realized capital gains, if any, will normally be declared and paid at least annually in December. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial statement purposes (U.S. GAAP). Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense and gain or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. There were no permanent or temporary differences during the period.

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023 was as follows:

 

 

  Distributions paid from:

  

 

2023 

 

  Ordinary income *

     $156,575  

  Tax-exempt income

     1,768,404  
  

 

 

 
       $1,924,979  
  

 

 

 

 

*

For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (excluding unrealized appreciation/depreciation) on a tax basis consisted of:

  Capital loss carryforward

     $93,911  

  Undistributed tax-exempt income

     80,000  

At December 31, 2023, the cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 Cost   Appreciation     Depreciation     Net Appreciation  

 $92,284,424

    $4,010,660       $(29,675)       $3,980,985  

e. FEDERAL TAXES

The Fund currently qualifies as an investment company and intends to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain diversification and income requirements with respect to investment companies. The Investment Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns as of December 31, 2023, and for all open tax years (generally, the three prior taxable years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. Additionally, the Investment Manager is not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit/detriment will change materially in the next twelve months.

Furthermore, based on the Fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, the Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

f. CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS

As of December 31, 2023, the Fund had capital loss carryovers for federal income tax purposes as shown in the following chart. These amounts may be used to offset future realized capital gains indefinitely, and retain their character as short-term and/or long-term.

 

 Short-Term   Long-Term   Total
$93,911     —     $93,911 

g. CAPITAL STOCK

The Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes for the Fund the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without par value. The Fund records sales and repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date. For the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, the Fund received securities and cash in connection with subscriptions in-kind transactions in the amount of $46,736,183 from a redemption in-kind from the AMG Municipal Enhanced Fund, an affiliated fund, and a related party. For the purposes of U.S. GAAP, the transactions were treated as purchases of securities at a cost equal to the market value of the securities on the date of the transfer.

 

 

 

16


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, the capital stock transactions for the Fund was as follows:

 

     December 31, 2023  
     
     Shares      Amount  
     

  Shares sold

     9,760,519         $98,358,593 1 

  Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

     168,047         1,683,854   

  Shares redeemed

     (607,432)        (6,079,211)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

  Net increase

       9,321,134           $93,963,236    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1 

Includes subscriptions in-kind in the amount of $46,736,183.

h. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Fund may enter into third-party and bilateral repurchase agreements for temporary cash management purposes. The value of the underlying collateral, including accrued interest, must equal or exceed the value of the repurchase agreements during the term of the agreement. The underlying collateral for all repurchase agreements is held by the Fund’s custodian or at the Federal Reserve Bank. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of repurchase agreements outstanding was $4,000,000.

i. DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS AND WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

The Fund may enter into securities transactions on a delayed delivery or when issued basis. Payment and delivery may take place after the customary settlement period for that security. The price of the underlying securities and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. During the time a delayed delivery sell is outstanding, the contract is marked to market daily and equivalent deliverable securities are held for the transaction. The value of the securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis are identified as such in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. With respect to purchase commitments, the Fund identifies securities as segregated in its records with a value at least equal to the amount of the commitment. Delayed delivery or when-issued securities that have been purchased from and sold to different brokers are reflected as an investment in securities and a forward sale commitment in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does offset the receivable and payable for delayed delivery investments purchased and sold. Losses may arise due to changes in the value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract, or if the issuer does not issue the securities due to political, economic, or other factors.

At December 31, 2023, the market value of delayed delivery securities held in the Fund amounted to $2,285,667.

2. AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

The Trust has entered into an investment advisory agreement under which the Investment Manager, a subsidiary and the U.S. wealth platform of Affiliated

Managers Group, Inc. (“AMG”), serves as investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the Fund’s overall administration and operations. The Investment Manager selects and recommends, subject to the approval of the Board and, in certain circumstances, shareholders, the Fund’s subadviser and monitors the subadviser’s investment performance, security holdings and investment strategies. The Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by GW&K, who serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. AMG indirectly owns a majority interest in GW&K.

The Fund does not pay advisory fees to the Investment Manager or GW&K. Shareholders should be aware, however, that the Fund is an integral part of separately managed account programs, and the Investment Manager or GW&K will be compensated directly or indirectly by Program Sponsors or program participants for managed account advisory services.

The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2024, to waive fees and/or pay or reimburse the Fund’s expenses in order to limit total annual operating expenses (exclusive of taxes, interest (including interest incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts and in connection with securities sold short), brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, dividends payable with respect to securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) of the Fund to the annual rate of 0.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund. The contractual expense limitation may only be terminated in the event the Investment Manager or a successor ceases to be the investment manager of the Fund or a successor fund, by mutual agreement between the Investment Manager and the Board or in the event of the Fund’s liquidation unless the Fund is reorganized or is a party to a merger in which the surviving entity is successor to the accounting and performance information of the Fund.

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, the Investment Manager reimbursed the Fund $87,023.

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an amended and restated Administration Agreement under which the Investment Manager serves as the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”) and is responsible for certain aspects of managing the Fund’s operations, including administration and shareholder services to the Fund. The Fund does not pay administrative fees to the Investment Manager for these services.

The Fund is distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager. The Distributor serves as the distributor and underwriter for the Fund and is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by or on behalf of separately managed account clients where GW&K has an agreement with the Program Sponsor (typically, a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer), or directly with the client, to provide management or advisory services to the managed account. Generally, the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the distribution agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of prospectuses for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature.

The Board provides supervision of the affairs of the Trust and other trusts within the AMG Funds Family. The Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager receive an annual retainer and per meeting fees for regular, special and telephonic meetings, and they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out their duties as Board members. The Chairman of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair receive additional annual

 

 

 

17


    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   

 

      

 

retainers. On October 10, 2023, the shareholders of the Trust elected Trustees, including two new Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Certain Trustees and Officers of the Fund are Officers and/or Directors of the Investment Manager, AMG and/or the Distributor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) granted an exemptive order that permits certain eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other eligible funds in the AMG Funds Family. Participation in this interfund lending program is voluntary for both the borrowing and lending funds, and an interfund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. The Administrator manages the program according to procedures approved by the Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. An interfund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemptive order, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds. The interest earned and interest paid on interfund loans are included on the Statement of Operations as interest income and interest expense, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the Fund had no interfund loans outstanding.

The Fund utilized the interfund loan program during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023 as follows:

 

Average

Lent

   Number
of Days
          Interest
Earned
          Average
Interest Rate
        

$1,173,168

     13           $2,538           6.075%     

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations) for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, were $49,745,596 and $5,758,118, respectively.

The Fund had no purchases or sales of U.S. Government Obligations during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.

4. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure to the Fund under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund had no prior claims or losses and expects the risks of loss to be remote.

5. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

Investing in high yield securities involves greater risks and considerations not typically associated with U.S. Government and other high quality/investment grade securities. High yield securities are generally below investment grade securities and do not have an established retail secondary market. Economic downturns may disrupt the high yield market and impair the issuer’s ability to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would likely have an adverse impact on the value of such obligations and could cause the securities to become less liquid.

 

 

6. MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS

The Fund may enter into master netting agreements with its counterparties for repurchase agreements, which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following table is a summary of the Fund’s open Repurchase Agreements that are subject to a master netting agreement as of December 31, 2023:

 

         

Gross Amount Not Offset in the

  Statement of Assets and Liabilities  

    
    

Gross Amounts of

Assets Presented in
the Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

  

Offset

Amount

  

Net

Asset

Balance

   Collateral
Received
          Net  
Amount  
                 

 Fixed Income Clearing Corp.

   $4,000,000       $4,000,000    $4,000,000       —  

 

7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Fund has determined that no material events or transactions occurred through the issuance date of the Fund’s financial statements which require an additional disclosure in or adjustment of the Fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

18


    

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

   

 

      

 

To the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds and Shareholders of AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares (one of the funds constituting AMG Funds, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2023, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for the period February 28, 2023 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations, changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the period February 28, 2023 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 27, 2024

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the AMG Funds Family since 1993.

 

 

 

19


    

 

Other Information (unaudited)

 

   

 

      

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividends as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The 2023 Form 1099-DIV you receive for the Fund will show the tax status of all distributions paid to you during the year.

Pursuant to section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares hereby designates $0 as a capital gain distribution with respect to the taxable year ended December 31, 2023, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gains of such fiscal year.

 

 

PROXY VOTE

A special meeting of the shareholders of AMG Funds (the “Trust”) was held on October 10, 2023, to vote on a proposal to elect trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The proposal and results of the vote are described below. Jill R. Cuniff, Kurt A. Keilhacker, Peter W. MacEwen, Steven J. Paggioli, Eric Rakowski, Victoria L. Sassine and Garret W. Weston were elected by shareholders at the special meeting on October 10, 2023. Bruce B. Bingham, an incumbent Trustee, served as a Trustee of the Trust until his retirement on December 31, 2023.

 

 AMG Funds    All Funds in Trust*  
 Election of Trustees 1    For             Withheld   

  Jill R. Cuniff

     523,453,201                  50,330,270    

  Kurt A. Keilhacker

     563,642,997           10,140,474    

  Peter W. MacEwen

     523,551,974           50,231,497    

  Steven J. Paggioli

     561,225,673           12,557,798    

  Eric Rakowski

     561,230,560           12,552,911    

  Victoria L. Sassine

     563,668,874           10,114,597    

  Garret W. Weston

     564,280,150           9,503,321    

 

1 Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were newly elected to the Board of Trustees on October 10, 2023; Messrs. Keilhacker, Paggioli, Rakowski, and Weston and Ms. Sassine are incumbent Trustees.

*Rounded to the nearest share.

 

 

20


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers

 

   

 

     

 

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, their business addresses, principal occupations for the past five years and ages are listed below. The Trustees provide broad supervision over the affairs of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund, and     

review the Fund’s performance. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee or Officer is the address of the Trust: 680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500, Stamford, CT. 06901.

 

There is no stated term of office for Trustees. Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement or removal in accordance with the Trust’s organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.

      

The Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary and such other Officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect each hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each Officer holds office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

                   

Independent Trustees

The following Trustees are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act:

 Number of Funds Overseen in

 Fund Complex

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2012

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Bruce B. Bingham, 75*

Partner, Hamilton Partners (real estate development firm) (1987-Present); Director of The Yacktman Funds, Inc. (2 portfolios) (2000-2012).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Jill R. Cuniff, 59**

Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (12 portfolios) (2018-Present); Retired (2016-Present); President & Portfolio Manager, Edge Asset Management (2009-2016); President & Chief Investment Officer, Morley Financial Services (2001-2009); President, Union Bond & Trust Company (2001-2009).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Kurt A. Keilhacker, 60

Managing Partner, Elementum Ventures (2013-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Europe (2000-Present); Managing Partner, TechFund Capital (1997-Present); Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco (2022-Present); Trustee, Wheaton College (2018-Present); Director, Wheaton College Trust Company, N.A. (2018-Present).

 

• Trustee since 2023

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Peter W. MacEwen, 59**

Private investor (2019-Present); Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2003-2018): Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CEO (2013-2018); Senior Vice President, Finance (2007-2013); Vice President, Finance (2003-2007).

 

• Trustee since 2004

• Oversees 37 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Steven J. Paggioli, 73

Independent Consultant (2002-Present); Trustee, Professionally Managed Portfolios (28 portfolios); Independent Director, Muzinich BDC, Inc. (business development company) (2019-Present); Director, The Wadsworth Group; Independent Director, Chase Investment Counsel (2008–2019); Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Investment Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, INC. (1990-2001).

 

• Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2017

• Chairman of the Governance Committee since 2017

• Trustee since 1999

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Eric Rakowski, 65

Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (1990-Present); Tax Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court; Trustee of Parnassus Funds (4 portfolios) (2021-Present); Trustee of Parnassus Income Funds (2 portfolios) (2021-Present); Director of Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (10 portfolios); Trustee of Third Avenue Trust (3 portfolios) (2002-2019); Trustee of Third Avenue Variable Trust (1 portfolio) (2002-2019).

 

• Trustee since 2013

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Victoria L. Sassine, 58

Adjunct Professor, Babson College (2007–Present); Director, Board of Directors, PRG Group (2017-Present); CEO, Founder, Scale Smarter Partners, LLC (2018-Present); Adviser, EVOFEM Biosciences (2019-Present); Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Business Management Associates (2018-2019).

*Mr. Bingham retired from the Board of Trustees of AMG Funds on December 31, 2023.

**Ms. Cuniff and Mr. MacEwen were elected to the Board of Trustees by the shareholders of AMG Funds on October 10, 2023.

 

 

21


    

 

AMG Funds

Trustees and Officers (continued)

 

   

 

     

 

Interested Trustee

The Trustee in the following table is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

 

 Number of Funds Overseen in

 Fund Complex

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee
 

• Trustee since 2021

• Oversees 39 Funds in Fund Complex

 

Garret W. Weston, 42

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2008-Present): Managing Director, Head of Affiliate Product Strategy and Development (2023-Present), Managing Director, Co-Head of Affiliate Engagement, Distribution (2021-2022), Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO (2019-2021), Senior Vice President, Affiliate Development (2016-2019), Vice President, Office of the CEO (2015-2016), Vice President, New Investments (2008-2015); Associate, Madison Dearborn Partners (2006-2008); Analyst, Merrill Lynch (2004-2006).

Officers

 

 Position(s) Held with Fund and

 Length of Time Served

  Name, Age, Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 

• President since 2018

• Principal Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Executive Officer since 2018

• Chief Operating Officer since 2007

 

Keitha L. Kinne, 65

Managing Director, Head of Platform and Operations, AMG Funds LLC (2023-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2007-Present); Chief Investment Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2008-Present); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2007-Present); President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2018-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2007-Present); Chief Operating Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aston Asset Management, LLC (2016); President and Principal Executive Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II and AMG Funds III (2012-2014); Managing Partner, AMG Funds LLC (2007-2014); President and Principal, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2012-2014); Managing Director, Legg Mason & Co., LLC (2006-2007); Managing Director, Citigroup Asset Management (2004-2006).

 

• Secretary since 2015

• Chief Legal Officer since 2015

 

Mark J. Duggan, 58

Managing Director and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2021); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2015-Present); Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP (2009-2015).

 

• Chief Financial Officer since 2017

• Treasurer since 2017

• Principal Financial Officer since 2017

• Principal Accounting Officer since 2017

 

Thomas G. Disbrow, 57

Vice President, Mutual Fund Treasurer & CFO, AMG Funds, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Managing Director - Global Head of Traditional Funds Product Control, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2015-2017); Managing Director - Head of North American Funds Treasury, UBS Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (2011-2015).

 

• Deputy Treasurer since 2017

 

John A. Starace, 53

Vice President, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Director, Mutual Fund Accounting, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2021); Vice President, Deputy Treasurer of Mutual Funds Services, AMG Funds LLC (2014-2017); Deputy Treasurer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2017-Present); Vice President, Citi Hedge Fund Services (2010-2014); Audit Senior Manager (2005-2010) and Audit Manager (2001-2005), Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

• Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer since 2019

• Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2022

 

Patrick J. Spellman, 49

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2017-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Distributors, Inc. (2010-Present); Chief Compliance Officer and Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2019-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, and AMG Funds III (2014-2019; 2022-Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, AMG Funds IV (2016-2019; 2022-Present); Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, AMG Funds LLC (2011-2017); Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (2005-2011).

 

• Assistant Secretary since 2016

 

Maureen M. Kerrigan, 38

Vice President, Senior Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2021-Present); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2019-2021); Director, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2017-2018); Vice President, Counsel, AMG Funds LLC (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary, AMG Funds, AMG Funds I, AMG Funds II, AMG Funds III and AMG Funds IV (2016-Present); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (2011-2015); Law Fellow, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2010-2011).

 

 

22


 

 

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LOGO

 

 

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATOR

 

AMG Funds LLC

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

 

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

AMG Distributors, Inc.

 

680 Washington Blvd., Suite 500

 

Stamford, CT 06901

 

800.548.4539

 

SUBADVISER

 

GW&K Investment Management, LLC

 

222 Berkeley St.

 

Boston, MA 02116

 

      

CUSTODIAN

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

Mutual Funds Custody

 

6023 Airport Road

 

Oriskany, NY 13424

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Ropes & Gray LLP

 

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

 

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

AMG Funds

 

Attn: 534426 AIM 154-0520

 

500 Ross Street

 

Pittsburgh, PA 15262

 

800.548.4539

      

This report is prepared for the Fund’s shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which includes additional information about Fund Trustees, please contact us by calling 800.548.4539. Distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

 

Current net asset values per share for the Fund are available on the Fund’s website at wealth.amg.com.

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to vote its proxies is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800.548.4539, or (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at sec.gov. For information regarding the Fund’s proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, call 800.548.4539 or visit the SEC website at sec.gov.

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and the Fund’s website at wealth.amg.com. To review a complete list of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, or to view the most recent semi-annual report or annual report, please visit wealth.amg.com.

 

 

 

 

wealth.amg.com      


Item 2.

CODE OF ETHICS

Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics. See attached Exhibit (a)(1).

 

Item 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that independent Trustee Mr. Steven J. Paggioli qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. Mr. Paggioli is “independent” as such term is defined in Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

(a) Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), to the Funds for the Funds’ two most recent fiscal years for professional services rendered for audits of annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements (“Audit Fees”) were as follows:

 

Fund - AMG Funds

   Fiscal 2023      Fiscal
2022
 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

   $ 34,220      $ 35,531  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

   $ 32,460      $ 30,944  

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

   $ 47,904      $ 47,220  

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

   $ 36,332      $ 34,064  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 33,826      $ 32,631  

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

   $ 39,299      $ 39,048  

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

   $ 33,860      $ 33,298  

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

   $ 31,600      $ 32,709  

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

   $ 31,653      $ 30,527  

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

   $ 27,064      $ 26,089  

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

   $ 27,473      $ 26,158  

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

   $ 66,954      $ 63,822  

AMG Yacktman Fund

   $ 108,395      $ 101,012  

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

   $ 30,139      $ 29,042  

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

   $ 30,086      $ 28,667  

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

   $ 31,039      $ 0  

(b) Audit-Related Fees

There were no fees billed by PwC to the Funds in their two most recent fiscal years for services rendered for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Funds’ financial statements, but are not reported as Audit Fees (“Audit-Related Fees”).


For the Funds’ two most recent fiscal years, there were no Audit-Related Fees billed by PwC for engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of one or more Funds by a Fund Service Provider. A Fund Service Provider is (a) any investment adviser to the Fund (not including any Subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) or (b) any entity that provides ongoing services to the Fund and is controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Fund investment adviser described in (a).

(c) Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed by PwC to the Funds for the two most recent fiscal years for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning (“Tax Fees”) were as follows:

 

Fund - AMG Funds

   Fiscal 2023      Fiscal
2022
 

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced Yield Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Core Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG GW&K Municipal Bond Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG GW&K Small/Mid Cap Core Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 7,760  

AMG GW&K Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG TimesSquare Small Cap Growth Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 6,760  

AMG TimesSquare International Small Cap Fund

   $ 8,370      $ 8,050  

AMG TimesSquare Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund

   $ 8,370      $ 8,050  

AMG TimesSquare Global Small Cap Fund

   $ 8,370      $ 8,050  

AMG Renaissance Large Cap Growth Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 7,760  

AMG Yacktman Focused Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 7,760  

AMG Yacktman Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 7,760  

AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund

   $ 7,030      $ 7,760  

AMG Yacktman Global Fund

   $ 8,370      $ 8,050  

AMG GW&K Municipal Enhanced SMA Shares

   $ 7,030      $ 0  

For the Funds’ two most recent fiscal years, Tax Fees billed by PwC for engagements by Fund Service Providers that related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds were $0 for fiscal 2023 and $0 for fiscal 2022, respectively.

The services for which Tax Fees were charged comprise all services performed by professional staff in PwC’s tax division except those services related to the audit. Typically, this category would include fees for tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice. Tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services include preparation of original and amended tax returns, claims for refund and tax payment-planning services, assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.


(d) All Other Fees

There were no other fees billed by PwC to the Funds for all other non-audit services (“Other Fees”) during the Funds’ two most recent fiscal years. During the same period, there were no Other Fees billed by PwC for engagements by Fund Service Providers that related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds.

(e)(1)According to policies adopted by the Audit Committee, services provided by PwC to the Funds must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. On an annual basis, the Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves various types of services that PwC may perform for the Funds without specific approval of each engagement, subject to specified budget limitations. As contemplated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Audit Committee also pre-approves non-audit services provided by PwC to any Fund Service Provider for any engagement that relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. Any engagement that is not already pre-approved or that will exceed a pre-approved budget must be submitted to the Audit Committee for pre-approval. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is authorized on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Audit Committee to approve the engagement of PwC to perform non-audit services subject to certain conditions, including notification to the Audit Committee of such pre-approval not later than the next meeting of the Audit Committee following the date of such pre-approval.

(e)(2) None.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The aggregate fees billed by PwC in 2023 and 2022 for non-audit services rendered to the Funds and Fund Service Providers were $157,840 and $147,560, respectively. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, this amount reflects the amounts disclosed above in Item 4(b),(c),(d), plus $40,000 in fees billed to the Fund Service Providers for non-audit services that did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, this amount reflects the amounts disclosed above in Item 4(b),(c),(d), plus $36,000 in additional fees billed to the Fund Service Providers for non-audit services that did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds.

(h) The Trust’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant’s investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provided ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved by the Committee (because such services did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant) was compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Item 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

Not applicable.


Item 6.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

The schedule of investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

Item 7.

DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

 

Item 10.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.

 

Item 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.

DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.


Item 13.

EXHIBITS

 

(a)(1)   Any Code of Ethics or amendments hereto. Filed herewith.
(a)(2)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 - Filed herewith.
(a)(3)   Not applicable.
(b)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 - Filed herewith.

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

AMG FUNDS

 

By:  

/s/ Keitha L. Kinne

  Keitha L. Kinne, Principal Executive Officer
Date:   March 7, 2024

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ Keitha L. Kinne

  Keitha L. Kinne, Principal Executive Officer
Date:   March 7, 2024
By:  

/s/ Thomas Disbrow

  Thomas Disbrow, Principal Financial Officer
Date:   March 7, 2024