EX-99.N 18F-3 PLAN 4 multipleclassplanvanguardfun.htm MULTICLASS PLAN multipleclassplanvanguardfun.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

VANGUARD FUNDS
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

I. INTRODUCTION

     This Multiple Class Plan (the “Plan”) describes six separate classes of shares that may be offered by investment company members of The Vanguard Group (collectively the “Funds,” individually a “Fund”). The Plan explains the separate arrangements for each class, how expenses are allocated to each class, and the conversion features of each class. Each Fund may offer any one or more of the specified classes.

     The Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”). In addition, the Plan has been adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of each Fund. The classes of shares offered by each Fund are designated in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

II. SHARE CLASSES

A Fund may offer any one or more of the following share classes:

Investor Shares
AdmiralShares
Institutional Shares
Institutional Plus Shares
ETF Shares
Transition Shares

III. DISTRIBUTION, AVAILABILITY AND ELIGIBILITY

     Distribution arrangements for all classes are described below. Vanguard retains sole discretion in determining share class availability, and whether Fund shares shall be offered either directly or through certain financial intermediaries, or on certain financial intermediary platforms. Eligibility requirements for purchasing shares of each class will differ, as follows:

A. Investor Shares

     Investor Shares generally will be available to investors who are not permitted to purchase other classes of shares, subject to the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for

1

 

Investor Shares will be substantially lower than the amount required for any other class of shares.

B. Admiral Shares

     Admiral Shares generally will be available to individual, institutional, and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. These eligibility requirements may include, but are not limited to the following factors: (i) the total amount invested the Fund; or (ii) any other factors deemed appropriate by a Fund’s Board of Trustees.

C. Institutional Shares

     Institutional Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount per account for Institutional Shares will be substantially higher than the amounts required for Investor Shares or Admiral Shares.

D. Institutional Plus Shares

     Institutional Plus Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Plus Shares will be substantially higher than the amount required for any other class of the Fund’s shares.

E. ETF Shares

     A Fund will sell ETF Shares to investors that are (or who purchase through) Authorized Participants, and who pay for their ETF shares by depositing a prescribed basket of securities rather than paying cash. An Authorized Participant is an institution, usually a broker-dealer, that is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with the Fund’s distributor. Additional eligibility requirements may be specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Investors who are not Authorized Participants may buy and sell ETF shares through various exchanges and market centers.

F. Transition Shares

     Transition Shares generally will be available solely to Vanguard funds-of-funds that meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

2

 

IV. SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

     All share classes will receive a range of services provided by Vanguard on a per account basis. These “account-based” services may include transaction processing and shareholder recordkeeping, as well as the mailing of updated prospectuses, shareholder reports, tax statements, confirmation statements, quarterly portfolio summaries, and other items. It is expected that the aggregate amount of account-based services provided to Investor Shares will materially exceed the amount of such services provided to any other class, due to the existence of many more accounts holding Investor Shares. In addition to this difference in the volume of services provided, arrangements will differ among the classes as follows:

A. Investor Shares

     Investor Shares generally will receive the most basic level of service from Vanguard. Investor Shares generally will be serviced through a pool of Vanguard client service representatives.

B. Admiral Shares

     Admiral Shares will receive a different level of service from Vanguard as compared to Investor Shares. Special client service representatives may be assigned to service Admiral Shares, and holders of such shares may from time to time receive special mailings and unique additional services.

C. Institutional Shares

     Institutional Shares will receive from Vanguard a level of service that differs from the service provided to the holders of shares of other classes. Such services may include special client service representatives who will be assigned to service Institutional Shares. Most holders of Institutional Shares periodically will receive special investment updates from Vanguard’s investment staff. Holders of Institutional Shares also may receive unique additional services from Vanguard, and generally will be permitted to transact with Vanguard through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s FundSERV system and other special servicing platforms for institutional investors.

D. Institutional Plus Shares

     Institutional Plus Shares generally will receive a very high level of service from Vanguard as compared to any other share classes. Special client service representatives will be assigned to service Institutional Plus Shares, and most holders of such shares periodically, but more than the holders of all other shares, will receive special updates from Vanguard’s investment staff. Holders of Institutional Plus Shares may receive unique additional services from Vanguard,

3

 

and generally will be permitted to transact with Vanguard through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s FundSERV system and other special servicing platforms for institutional investors.

E. ETF Shares

A Fund is expected to maintain only one shareholder of record for ETF

Shares¾DTC or its nominee. Special client service representatives will be assigned to the DTC account, and all transactions on this account will be handled electronically. Due to the nature and purpose of the DTC account, ETF Shares will not receive any special updates from Vanguard’s investment staff.

F. Transition Shares

     The only investors eligible to own Transition Shares are Vanguard funds-of-funds, and it is expected that such funds, because of the nature of Transition Shares, will own the shares only for the brief periods necessary to complete the relevant portfolio transitions. The level of service provided will be commensurate with the needs of a fund-of-funds transitioning from one underlying fund to another.

4

 

V. CONVERSION FEATURES

A. Self-Directed Conversions

1. Conversion into Investor Shares, Admiral Shares,
Institutional Shares, and Institutional Plus Shares. Shareholders may
conduct self-directed conversions from one share class into another share
class of the same fund for which they are eligible. Self-directed
conversions may be initiated by the shareholder; however, depending upon
the particular share class and the complexity of the shareholder’s accounts,
such conversions may require the assistance of a Vanguard representative.
Shareholders may convert from one share class into another share class
provided that following the conversion the shareholder: (i) meets the then
applicable eligibility requirements for the share class into which they are
converting; and (ii) receives services consistent with such new share class.
Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the
share classes next calculated after Vanguard’s receipt of the shareholder’s
request in good order.

2. Conversion into ETF Shares. Except as otherwise provided,
a shareholder may convert Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, or
Institutional Shares into ETF Shares of the same fund (if available),
provided that: (i) the share class out of which the shareholder is converting
and the ETF Shares declare and distribute dividends on the same schedule;
(ii) the shares to be converted are not held through an employee benefit
plan; and (iii) following the conversion, the shareholder will hold ETF
Shares through a brokerage account. Any such conversion will occur at the
respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after
Vanguard’s receipt of the shareholder’s request in good order. Vanguard
or the Fund may charge an administrative fee to process conversion
transactions.

B. Automatic Conversions

1. Automatic conversion into Admiral Shares. Vanguard may
automatically convert Investor Shares into Admiral Shares of the same
fund (if available), provided that following the conversion the shareholder:
(i) meets the eligibility requirements for Admiral Shares; and (ii) receives
services consistent with Admiral Shares. Any such conversion will occur
at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after
Vanguard’s conversion without the imposition of any charge. Such
automatic conversions may occur on a periodic, or one-time basis.
Automatic conversions may occur at different times due to the differing
mechanisms through which an account is funded or meets the required
investment minimum. Automatic conversions do not apply to certain

5

 

types of accounts (e.g., accounts held through certain intermediaries, or other accounts as may be excluded by Vanguard management).

     2. Automatic conversion into Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares. Vanguard may conduct automatic conversions of any share class into either Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares in accordance with then-current eligibility requirements.

C. Involuntary Conversions and Cash Outs

1. Cash Outs. If a shareholder in any class of shares no longer
meets the eligibility requirements for such shares, the Fund may cash out
the shareholder’s remaining account balance. Any such cash out will be
preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will be subject to the
Fund’s normal redemption fees, if any.

2. Conversion of Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, and
Institutional Plus Shares. If a shareholder no longer meets the eligibility
requirements for the share class currently held, the Fund may convert the
shareholder’s holdings into the share class for which such shareholder is
eligible. Any such conversion will be preceded by written notice to the
shareholder, and will occur at the respective net asset values of the share
classes without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.

3. Conversions of Transition Shares. When a Fund that issues
Transition Shares has completed the relevant portfolio transition, the Fund
will convert the Transition Shares to another share class of the same Fund as
appropriate, based on the eligibility requirements of such class as specified in
Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

VI. EXPENSE ALLOCATION AMONG CLASSES

A. Background

Vanguard is a jointly-owned subsidiary of the Funds. Vanguard provides
the Funds, on an at-cost basis, virtually all of their corporate management,
administrative and distribution services. Vanguard also may provide investment
advisory services on an at-cost basis to the Funds. Vanguard was established and
operates pursuant to a Funds’ Service Agreement between itself and the Funds
(the “Agreement”), and pursuant to certain exemptive orders granted by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (“Exemptive Orders”). Vanguard’s direct
and indirect expenses of providing corporate management, administrative and
distribution services to the Funds are allocated among such funds in accordance
with methods specified in the Agreement.

B. Class Specific Expenses

6

 

     1. Expenses for Account-Based Services. Expenses associated with Vanguard’s provision of account-based services to the Funds will be allocated among the share classes of each Fund on the basis of the amount incurred by each such class as follows:

     (a) Account maintenance expenses. Expenses associated with the maintenance of investor accounts will be proportionately allocated among each Fund’s share classes based upon a monthly determination of the costs to service each class of shares. Factors considered in this determination are (i) the percentage of total shareholder accounts represented by each class; (ii) the percentage of total account transactions performed by Vanguard for each class; and (iii) the percentage of new accounts opened for each class.

(b) Expenses of special servicing arrangements.

Expenses relating to any special servicing arrangements for a specific class will be proportionally allocated among each eligible Fund’s share classes primarily based on their percentage of total shareholder accounts receiving the special servicing arrangements.

(c) Literature production and mailing expenses.

Expenses associated with shareholder reports, proxy materials and other literature will be allocated among each Fund’s share classes based upon the number of such items produced and mailed for each class.

     2. Other Class Specific Expenses. Expenses for the primary benefit of a particular share class will be allocated to that share class. Such expenses would include any legal fees attributable to a particular class.

C. Fund-Wide Expenses

1. Marketing and Distribution Expenses. Expenses associated
with Vanguard’s marketing and distribution activities will be allocated
among the Funds and their separate share classes according to the
“Vanguard Modified Formula,” with each share class treated as if it were a
separate Fund. The Vanguard Modified Formula, which is set forth in the
Agreement and in certain of the SEC Exemptive Orders, has been deemed
an appropriate allocation methodology by each Fund’s Board of Trustees
under paragraph (c)(1)(v) of Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940.

7

 

     2. Asset Management Expenses. Expenses associated with management of a Fund’s assets (including all advisory, tax preparation and custody fees) will be allocated among the Fund’s share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

     3. Other Fund Expenses. Any other Fund expenses not described above will be allocated among the share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

VII. ALLOCATION OF INCOME, GAINS AND LOSSES

     Income, gains and losses will be allocated among each Fund’s share classes on the basis of their relative net assets. As a result of differences in allocated expenses, it is expected that the net income of, and dividends payable to, each class of shares will vary. Dividends and distributions paid to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, on the same day and at the same time.

VIII. VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS

     Each share class will have: (i) exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its service or distribution arrangements; and (ii) separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of the other class; and (iii) in all other respects the same rights, obligations and privileges as each other, except as described in the Plan.

IX. AMENDMENTS

     All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, any material amendment to the Plan must be approved by the Board of Directors of Vanguard.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000
Last Approved by Board: March 20, 2014

8

 

SCHEDULE A to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

Note: Transition Shares, when offered by a Fund, are available for a limited period of time and are then converted into another share class. For this reason, Transition Shares are not shown on Schedule A.

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
Vanguard Admiral Funds  
· Admiral Treasury Money Market Fund Investor
· S&P 500 Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P 500 Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
 
Vanguard Bond Index Funds  
· Short-Term Bond Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus, ETF
· Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional
    Plus, ETF
· Long-Term Bond Index Fund Investor, Institutional, Institutional Plus,
    ETF
· Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional
    Plus, ETF
· Total Bond Market II Index Fund Investor, Institutional
· Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional
 
Vanguard California Tax-Free Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral

 

Vanguard Charlotte Funds

· Total International Bond Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

 

1

 

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
 
Vanguard Chester Funds  
· PRIMECAP Fund Investor, Admiral
· Target Retirement Income Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2010 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2015 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2020 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2025 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2030 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2035 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2040 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2050 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2055 Fund Investor
· Target Retirement 2060 Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Fenway Funds  
· Equity Income Fund Investor, Admiral
· Growth Equity Fund Investor
· PRIMECAP Core Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds  
· Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor, Admiral
· Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor, Admiral
· Short-Term Federal Fund Investor, Admiral
· Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional
· Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund Investor, Admiral
· Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor, Admiral
· GNMA Fund Investor, Admiral
· Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor, Admiral
· Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor, Admiral
· High-Yield Corporate Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Horizon Funds  
· Capital Opportunity Fund Investor, Admiral
· Global Equity Fund Investor
· Strategic Equity Fund Investor
· Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund Investor

 

2

 

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
Vanguard Index Funds  
· 500 Index Fund Investor, Admiral, ETF
· Extended Market Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus, ETF
· Growth Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Large-Cap Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund Investor, Admiral, ETF
· Mid-Cap Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus, ETF
· Mid-Cap Value Index Fund Investor, Admiral, ETF
· Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Small-Cap Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus, ETF
· Small-Cap Value Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Value Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
 
Vanguard International Equity Index Funds  
· Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus
  FTSE Emerging Markets ETF ETF
· European Stock Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus
  FTSE Europe ETF ETF
· FTSE All-World ex US Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional
    Plus, ETF
· Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus
  FTSE Pacific ETF ETF
· Total World Stock Index Fund Investor, Institutional, ETF
· FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Investor, Institutional, ETF
· Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
 
Vanguard Malvern Funds  
· Capital Value Fund Investor
· Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities  
  Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· U.S. Value Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Funds  
· Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Money Market Funds  
· Prime Money Market Fund Investor, Institutional
· Federal Money Market Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund Investor, Admiral

 

3

 

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
Vanguard Montgomery Funds  
· Vanguard Market Neutral Fund Investor, Institutional
 
Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
· Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
· Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
· High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard New York Tax-Free Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Funds  
· Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Investor
· Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Quantitative Funds  
· Growth and Income Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Scottsdale Funds  
· Short-Term Government Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Intermediate-Term Government Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Long-Term Government Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Institutional, Admiral, ETF
· Explorer Value Fund Investor
· Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 1000 Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 2000 Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Russell 3000 Index Fund Institutional, ETF

 

4

 

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
Vanguard Specialized Funds  
· Energy Fund Investor, Admiral
· Precious Metals Fund Investor
· Health Care Fund Investor, Admiral
· Dividend Growth Fund Investor
· REIT Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Investor, Admiral, ETF
 
Vanguard STAR Funds  
· LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund Investor
· LifeStrategy Growth Fund Investor
· LifeStrategy Income Fund Investor
· LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund Investor
· STAR Fund Investor
· Total International Stock Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus, ETF
Vanguard Tax-Managed Funds  
· Tax-Managed Balanced Fund Admiral
· Tax-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund Admiral, Institutional
· Developed Markets Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional,
    Institutional Plus
  Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF ETF
· Tax-Managed Small-Cap Fund Admiral, Institutional
 
Vanguard Trustees’ Equity Fund  
· International Value Fund Investor
· Diversified Equity Fund Investor
· Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Valley Forge Funds  
· Balanced Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional
· Managed Payout Fund Investor
 
Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds  
· Balanced Portfolio Investor
· Conservative Allocation Portfolio Investor
· Diversified Value Portfolio Investor
· Equity Income Portfolio Investor
· Equity Index Portfolio Investor
· Growth Portfolio Investor
· Total Bond Market Index Portfolio Investor
· High Yield Bond Portfolio Investor
· International Portfolio Investor

 

5

 

Vanguard Fund Share Classes Authorized
 
· Mid-Cap Index Portfolio Investor
· Moderate Allocation Portfolio Investor
· Money Market Portfolio Investor
· REIT Index Portfolio Investor
· Short-Term Investment Grade Portfolio Investor
· Small Company Growth Portfolio Investor
· Capital Growth Portfolio Investor
· Total Stock Market Index Portfolio Investor
 
Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Whitehall Funds  
· Selected Value Fund Investor
· Mid-Cap Growth Fund Investor
· International Explorer Fund Investor
· High Dividend Yield Index Fund Investor, ETF
· Vanguard Emerging Markets Government  
  Bond Index Fund Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF
· Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard Windsor Funds  
· Windsor Fund Investor, Admiral
· Windsor II Investor, Admiral
 
Vanguard World Fund  
· Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund Institutional, Institutional Plus, ETF
· FTSE Social Index Fund Investor, Institutional
· International Growth Fund Investor, Admiral
· Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Mega Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· Mega Cap Value Index Fund Institutional, ETF
· U.S. Growth Fund Investor, Admiral
· Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Energy Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Financials Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Health Care Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Industrials Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Information Technology Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Materials Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Telecommunication Services Index Fund Admiral, ETF
· Utilities Index Fund Admiral, ETF
 
Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000  
Last Updated: February 9, 2015  

 

6

 

SCHEDULE B to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

Vanguard has policies and procedures designed to ensure consistency and compliance with the offering of multiple classes of shares within this Multiple Class Plan’s eligibility requirements. These policies are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis in conjunction with Vanguard’s Compliance Department.

Investor Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Investor Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000. Particular Vanguard Funds may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Investor Shares. Vanguard also reserves the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.

Admiral Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Admiral Shares generally are intended for clients who meet the required minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $10,000 for retail clients in index funds and $50,000 for retail clients in actively managed funds. Financial intermediary and other institutional clients may hold Admiral Shares of both index and actively managed funds without restriction. Vanguard Funds may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Admiral Shares and Vanguard reserves the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Admiral Share class eligibility also is subject to the following rule:

  • Certain Retirement Plans – Admiral Shares generally are not available for SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans, and retail serviced Individual 403(b)(7) custodial accounts held directly with Vanguard.

Institutional Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $5,000,000. However, Vanguard also reserves the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

  • Individual clients. Individual clients may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund.

  • Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

1

 

    (1) each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above; and (2) the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or (3) a sub-accounting arrangement between Vanguard and the financial intermediary allows Vanguard to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements established by Vanguard.

  • Institutional clients. Institutional clients, including but not limited to defined benefit and contribution plan clients, endowments, and foundations may hold Institutional Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $5 million (or such higher minimum required by the individual fund). Such institutional clients must disclose to Vanguard on behalf of their accounts the following: (1) that each account has a common decision-maker; and (2) the total balance in each account held by the client in the Fund.

  • Investment by Vanguard Target Retirement Collective Trust. A Vanguard Target Retirement Trust that is a collective trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in underlying Vanguard Funds (a “TRT”) may hold Institutional Shares of an underlying Fund whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.

  • Accumulation Period ¾Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g. employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if Vanguard management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of Vanguard management.

Institutional Plus Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Plus Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $100,000,000. However, Vanguard also reserves the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Plus Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

  • Individual clients. Individual clients may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. For purposes of this rule, Vanguard management is authorized to permit aggregation of a greater number of accounts in the case

2

 

of clients whose aggregate assets within the Vanguard Funds are expected to
generate substantial economies in the servicing of their accounts.

· Institutional clients. Institutional clients, including but not limited to defined
benefit and contribution plan clients, endowments, and foundations may hold
Institutional Plus Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts
held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries)
and invested in the Fund is at least $100 million (or such higher or lower
minimum required by the individual fund). Such institutional clients must
disclose to Vanguard on behalf of their accounts the following: (1) that each
account has a common decision-maker; and (2) the total balance in each
account held by the client in the Fund.

· Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold
Institutional Plus Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided
that:

(1) each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum
amount described above; and
(2) the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the
underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or
(3) a sub-accounting arrangement between Vanguard and the financial
intermediary allows Vanguard to monitor compliance with the eligibility
requirements established by Vanguard.

· Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions e.g.
employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected
to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares
upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly
after account set-up if Vanguard management determines that the account will
become eligible for Institutional Plus Shares within a limited period of time
(generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the
discretion of Vanguard management.

· Asset Allocation Models - Vanguard clients with defined asset allocation
models whose assets meet eligibility requirements may qualify for
Institutional Plus Shares if such models comply with policies and procedures
that have been approved by Vanguard management.

ETF Shares – Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for ETF Shares will be set forth in the Fund’s Registration Statement. To be eligible to purchase ETF Shares directly from a Fund, an investor must be (or must purchase through) an Authorized DTC Participant, as defined in Paragraph III.D of the Multiple Class Plan. Investors purchasing ETF Shares from a Fund must

3

 

purchase a minimum number of shares, known as a Creation Unit. The number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit may vary from Fund to Fund, and will be set forth in the relevant prospectus. The value of a Fund's Creation Unit will vary with the net asset value of the Fund’s ETF Shares, but is expected to be several million dollars. An eligible investor generally must purchase a Creation Unit by depositing a prescribed basket of securities with the Fund, rather than paying cash.

Transition Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Transition Shares will be offered only to Vanguard funds-of-funds and only by an underlying fund of a Vanguard fund-of-funds (i) that is receiving assets in kind from one or more funds-of-funds and (ii) that will “transition” those in-kind assets by selling some or all of them and using the proceeds to purchase different assets. There is no minimum investment amount for Transition Shares.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000
Last Approved by Board: October 27, 2014

4