AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 29, 2014
1933 Act No. 333-74295
1940 Act No. 811-09253
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 344 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 345 [X]
WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
525 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(800) 222-8222
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
C. David Messman
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC
525 Market Street, 12th Floor
San Francisco, California 94105
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With a copy to:
Marco E. Adelfio, Esq.
Goodwin Procter LLP
901 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
|
It is propsed that this filing will become effective: (check appropriate box) |
|
|
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
|
|
X |
on May 1, 2014 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
|
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) |
|
|
on [ ] pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) |
|
|
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) |
|
|
on [ ] pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485 |
|
|
If appropriate, check the following box: |
|
|
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment |
|
Explanatory Note: This Post-Effective Amendment No. 344 to the Registration Statement of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the "Trust") is being filed for Wells Fargo Advantage Alternative Strategies Fund primarily to make certain non-material changes to the Registration Statement.
WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST
PART A
PROSPECTUS
|
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
| |
May 1, 2014 |
Alternative Funds
Prospectus
Classes A, C
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
|
Class A - WALTX, Class C - WACTX |
As with all mutual funds, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
Fund shares are NOT deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., its affiliates or any other depository institution. Fund shares are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency and may lose value.
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
23 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
26 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
29 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
37 |
Alternative Strategies Fund Summary
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses
These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the aggregate in specified classes of certain Wells Fargo Advantage Funds®. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "A Choice of Share Classes" and "Reductions and Waivers of Sales Charges" on pages 18 and 20 of the Prospectus and "Additional Purchase and Redemption Information" on page 47 of the Statement of Additional Information.
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
|
|
|
|
Class A |
Class C |
|
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
5.75% |
None |
|
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price) |
None1 |
1.00% |
| 1. | Investments of $1 million or more are not subject to a front-end sales charge but generally will be subject to a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 18 months from the date of purchase. |
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
||
|
|
Class A |
Class C |
|
Management Fees |
1.80% |
1.80% |
|
Distribution (12b-1) Fees |
0.00% |
0.75% |
|
Other Expenses1 |
1.71% |
1.71% |
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
0.09% |
0.09% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2 |
3.60% |
4.35% |
|
Fee Waivers |
0.38% |
0.38% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver2,3 |
3.22% |
3.97% |
| 1. | Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
| 2. | Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses listed above include 0.68% of dividend and interest expense on short positions and 0.04% of interest expense on borrowings. |
| 3. | The Adviser has committed through November 30, 2015 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 2.50% for Class A and 3.25% for Class C. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses from dividend and interest on short positions, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Acquired fund fees and expenses incurred by investments made by The Rock Creek Group, LP, a sub-adviser of the Fund, will be included in the cap. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example of Expenses
The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
Assuming Redemption at End of Period |
|
|
Assuming No Redemption |
|||
|
After: |
Class A |
|
Class C |
|
|
Class C |
|
|
1 Year |
$881 |
$499 |
$399 |
||||
|
3 Years |
$1,582 |
$1,284 |
$1,284 |
||||
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, no history of the portfolio turnover rate is available.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies: Which take long and short positions in equities (and related instruments) believed to be under- and overvalued, respectively. Short positions may also be used solely to hedge broad market exposure.
Event Driven Strategies: Which seek to capitalize on the movements in security prices of companies currently or prospectively involved in a wide variety of corporate transactions.
Global Macro Strategies: Which analyze economic variables in an attempt to forecast future movements in equity, fixed income, currency, and commodity markets.
Relative Value Strategies: Which seek to identify and capitalize on valuation discrepancies between related financial instruments rather than on the direction of the general market.
Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Fund may lose money, is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates, is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, and is primarily subject to the risks briefly summarized below.
Borrowing Risk. If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company.
Credit Risk. The issuer or guarantor of a debt security may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay principal when they become due, which could cause the value of an investment to decline and a Fund to lose money.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than mitigate risk. Certain derivative instruments may be difficult to sell when the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so, or the other party to a derivative contract may be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.
Emerging Markets Risk. Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk" and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. Emerging market securities are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk. A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events, may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated, or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory, market or economic developments. Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and may be subject to higher withholding and other taxes.
Futures Contracts Risk. A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater risk of default or of not returning principal and their values tend to be more volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities.
Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. When interest rates decline, interest that a Fund is able to earn on its investments in debt securities may also decline, but the value of those securities may increase.
Investment Style Risk. Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions.
Loan Risk. Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be exposed to highly leveraged borrowers, restrictions on transfer and illiquidity, difficulty in fair valuation, limitations on the exercise of remedies, the inability or unwillingness of assignor(s) on whom a Fund relies to demand and receive loan payments, and potential co-lender liability.
Management Risk. Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk. The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value and become less liquid when defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of rising interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. When interest rates decline or are low, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities can reduce a Fund's returns.
Multi-Manager Management Risk. A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict with those of another sub-adviser.
Options Risk. A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of a loss of premiums without offsetting gains. A Fund that writes options receives a premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
Short Sales Risk. Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Smaller Company Securities Risk. Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies.
Swaps Risk. Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance
Since the Fund does not have annual returns for at least one calendar year, no performance information is shown.
Fund Management
|
Adviser |
Sub-Advisers |
Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since |
|
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
Sudhir Krishnamurthi, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
Chilton Investment Company, LLC |
Richard L. Chilton, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Mellon Capital Management Corporation |
Vassilis Dagioglu, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Passport Capital, LLC |
John Burbank, Portfolio Manager /2014 |
|
|
Pine River Capital Management L.P. |
Brad Berning, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
River Canyon Fund Management LLC |
Soon Pho, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. |
John F. Brennan, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Kent M. Stahl, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
In general, you can buy or sell shares of the Fund by mail, internet, phone or wire on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional.
|
Minimum Investments |
To Buy or Sell Shares |
|
Minimum Initial Investment |
Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
Tax Information
Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. However, subsequent withdrawals from such a tax advantaged investment plan may be subject to federal income tax. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.
Key Fund Information
This Prospectus contains information about one or more Funds within the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds® family and is designed to provide you with important information to help you with your investment decisions. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
In this Prospectus, "we" generally refers to Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), the relevant sub-adviser(s), if applicable, or the portfolio manager(s). "We" may also refer to a Fund's other service providers. "You" refers to the shareholder or potential investor.
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
The investment objective of the Fund in this Prospectus is non-fundamental; that is, it can be changed by a vote of the Board of Trustees alone. The objective and strategies description for the Fund tells you:
what the Fund is trying to achieve; and
how we intend to invest your money.
This section also provides a summary of the Fund's principal investment policies and practices.
Principal Risk Factors
This section lists the principal risk factors for the Fund. A complete description of these and other risks is found in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Alternative Strategies Fund
|
Adviser |
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
|
|
Sub-Advisers |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
|
|
Portfolio Managers |
Sudhir Krisnamurthi |
|
|
Fund Inception |
April 30, 2014 |
|
|
Class A |
Ticker: WALTX |
Fund Number: 3367 |
|
Class C |
Ticker: WACTX |
Fund Number: 3559 |
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The Fund's Board of Trustees can change this investment objective without a shareholder vote.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies
Equity hedged strategies combine core long and short positions in stocks, stock indices, or derivatives related to the equity markets. Equity hedged sub-advisers attempt to generate long-term capital appreciation by developing and actively managing equity portfolios that include both long and short positions. In general, equity hedged sub-advisers buy securities that they expect to outperform or that they believe are undervalued, and sell short securities that they believe will underperform, or that they believe are overvalued. Equity hedged sub-advisers may also sell short securities, as well as derivative instruments in the form of index ETFs, futures, options, and other baskets of securities, in order to hedge broad market exposure or manage overall beta to equity markets. Within this framework, equity hedged sub-advisers may exhibit a range of styles, including longer-term buy-and-hold investing and/or shorter-term trading styles. These sub-advisers will generally be "long-biased" meaning they will hold a greater percentage of the portfolio in long positions rather than short positions.
Event Driven Strategies
Event driven strategies seek to earn excess return through the purchase and sale of securities based on anticipated outcomes of company-specific or transaction-specific situations, such as spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies, recapitalizations, and share buybacks. Event driven strategies include, among others, the following:
Merger Arbitrage: Merger arbitrage sub-advisers seek to profit by taking advantage of differences between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the anticipated outcome of a potential merger.
Distressed Securities: Distressed securities sub-advisers generally invest in securities of financially troubled companies (such as, companies involved in bankruptcies, exchange offers, workouts, financial reorganizations, and other special credit event related transactions).
Special Situations: Special situations sub-advisers seek to profit by capturing discrepancies in valuation between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the occurrence of a corporate restructuring, reorganization or a significant alteration in the company's strategy or product mix, among others.
Global Macro Strategies
Global macro strategies involve investing in equity, fixed-income, foreign exchange or commodity markets around the world based on underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. Monetary policy shifts, fiscal policy shifts, gross domestic product growth or inflation all may be considered in developing a market view. Global macro sub-advisers establish opportunistic long or short market positions to seek to benefit from anticipated market moves. Global macro sub-advisers tend to make significant use of derivatives and leverage. These strategies include, among others, the following:
Discretionary: Discretionary macro strategy involves constructing long and short market positions around fundamental macro-economic or technical views. The main distinction of this strategy is that it tends to be focused on one or two subsets of global capital markets. For example, a discretionary sub-adviser may focus on foreign exchange and bond trading in the Group of Ten (G-10) markets. Other sub-advisers in this category may focus on less efficient markets, such as emerging markets, where they believe that it is possible to maintain an information edge over the market.
Systematic: Systematic macro strategy involves the quantitative trading of listed financial or commodity futures and currencies in markets around the world. Systematic sub-advisers tend to utilize sophisticated technical models to analyze price and market data to identify trends or price reversals across a broad range of markets. Derivative instruments are generally used by systematic sub-advisers to leverage their portfolios.
Relative Value Strategies
Relative value strategies include a range of different investment styles. These strategies seek to generate profits by exploiting the difference in price between related instruments, rather than because of the direction of the market. Generally, relative value sub-advisers buy a position in one instrument and sell an equivalent amount of another instrument with the expectation that the prices of the two instruments are not only historically related but also that they have deviated from their historical trading patterns. Profits may be generated if this unusual price deviation diminishes, and the prices of the two related instruments return to their historical trading patterns. Relative value strategies, among others include the following:
Equity Market Neutral: Equity market neutral strategy seeks to generate profits through the successful selection of equity securities while reducing or eliminating the effects of market-wide or, in some cases, industry- or sector-wide price movements by simultaneously taking long and short positions in or with respect to "matched" equities in approximately equal volumes.
Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible arbitrage strategy generally involves the simultaneous purchase and short sale of convertible bond issues of the same issuer. Often, the arbitrage involves the purchase of a convertible bond issued by the issuer and the short sale of that issuer's common stock. Sub-advisers may also seek to hedge out any interest rate risk as needed.
We may actively trade portfolio securities, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund's performance. In addition, active trading of portfolio securities may lead to higher taxes if your shares are held in a taxable account.
The Fund may hold some of its assets in cash or in money market instruments, including U.S. Government obligations, shares of other mutual funds and repurchase agreements, or make other short-term investments for purposes of maintaining liquidity or for short-term defensive purposes when we believe it is in the best interests of the shareholders to do so. During these periods, the Fund may not achieve its objective.
Principal Risk Factors
The Fund is primarily subject to the risks mentioned below.
|
Borrowing Risk Convertible Securities Risk Credit Risk Derivatives Risk Emerging Markets Risk Event Driven Strategies Risk Foreign Currency Contracts Risk Foreign Investment Risk Futures Contracts Risk High Yield Securities Risk Interest Rate Risk |
Investment Style Risk Loan Risk Management Risk Market Risk Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk Multi-Manager Management Risk Options Risk Short Sales Risk Smaller Company Securities Risk Swaps Risk U.S. Government Obligations Risk |
These and other risks could cause you to lose money in your investment in the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund's net asset value and total return. These risks are described in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section.
Portfolio Asset Allocation
The following table provides the Fund's current target allocation ranges. The Fund may change these allocation ranges at any time, may choose to not allocate to one or more investment strategies and may add additional strategies in the future.
|
|
|
|
Investment Strategies |
Target Allocation |
|
Equity Hedged |
25-55% |
|
Event Driven |
10-40% |
|
Global Macro |
10-25% |
|
Relative Value |
10-35% |
Description of Principal Investment Risks
Understanding the risks involved in mutual fund investing will help you make an informed decision that takes into account your risk tolerance and preferences. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on the Fund as a whole are called "principal risks." The principal risks for the Fund have been previously identified and are described below. Additional information about the principal risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Borrowing Risk
If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or
the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money
for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered
with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than
if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk
A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are
typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest
rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company. A convertible
security is also exposed to the risk that an issuer is unable to meet its obligation to make dividend or interest and principal
payments when due as a result of changing financial or market conditions. In the event of a liquidation of the issuer, holders
of a convertible security would generally be paid only after holders of any senior debt obligations. A Fund may be forced
to convert a convertible security before it would otherwise choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Credit Risk
The issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by a Fund may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay
principal when they become due. In these instances, the value of an investment could decline and the Fund could lose money.
Credit risk increases as an issuer's credit quality declines.
Derivatives Risk
The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, presents risks different from, and possibly greater
than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because
of adverse movements in the price or value of the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the derivatives themselves,
which may be magnified by certain features of the derivatives. These risks are heightened when derivatives are used to enhance
a Fund's return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or mitigate) the risk of a position
or security held by the Fund. The success of the adviser's derivative strategies will be affected by its ability to assess
and predict market or economic developments and their impact on the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the
derivatives themselves. Certain derivative instruments may become illiquid and, as a result, may be difficult to sell when
the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so. Certain derivatives create leverage, which can magnify the impact of
a decline in the value of their underlying assets, indexes or rates and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Certain derivatives (e.g., over-the-counter swaps) are also subject to the risk that the counterparty to the derivative contract
will be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations. Changes in laws or regulations may make the use of derivatives
more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the use, value or performance of
derivatives.
Emerging Markets Risk
Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk"
and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. For example, emerging market countries are typically more
dependent on exports and are therefore more vulnerable to recessions in other countries. Emerging markets tend to have less
developed legal and financial systems and a smaller market capitalization than markets in developed countries. Some emerging
markets are subject to greater political instability. Additionally, emerging markets may have more volatile currencies and
be more sensitive than developed markets to a variety of economic factors, including inflation. Emerging market securities
are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during
a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk
A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events,
may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated,
or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur. For example, if the Fund invests in securities in anticipation
of a merger and the deal is terminated prior to closing, the Fund is likely to suffer losses.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk
A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser
may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes. The Fund's gains from positions in foreign currency contracts
may accelerate and/or lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income or gains and its distributions to shareholders. The
Fund's losses from such positions may also lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income and its distributions to shareholders
and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders.
Foreign Investment Risk
Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory,
market or economic developments. Foreign companies may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies,
including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies.
Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Such changes may reduce the U.S. dollar
value of the investments. Foreign investments may be subject to additional risks such as potentially higher withholding and
other taxes, and may also be subject to greater trade settlement, custodial, and other operational risks than domestic investments.
Certain foreign markets may also be characterized by less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards.
Futures Contracts Risk
A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated
market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures
contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market
for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk
High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater
risk of default (or in the case of bonds currently in default, of not returning principal) and their values tend to be more
volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities. Additionally, these securities tend to be less liquid and more
difficult to value than higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk
When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. The longer the terms of the debt securities held by
a Fund, the more the Fund is subject to this risk. If interest rates decline, interest that the Fund is able to earn on its
investments in debt securities may also decline, which could cause the Fund to reduce the dividends it pays to shareholders,
but the value of those securities may increase. Some debt securities give the issuers the option to call, redeem or prepay
the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls, redeems or prepays a debt security during a time of declining
interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in a security offering a lower yield, and therefore might not
benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies
may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the debt securities market, reduced liquidity for certain Fund investments
and an increase in Fund redemptions. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden
and unpredictable.
Investment Style Risk
Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift
into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions. As a result, a
Fund's performance may at times be worse than the performance of other mutual funds that invest more broadly or in securities
of a different investment style.
Loan Risk
Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be made to finance
highly leveraged corporate operations or acquisitions. The highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in such transactions
may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in financial, economic or market conditions. Loans generally
are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell such loans in secondary markets.
As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell loans at a desired time or price. If the Fund acquires only an assignment or a participation
in a loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control amendments, waivers or the exercise of any remedies that
a lender would have under a direct loan and may assume liability as a lender.
Management Risk
Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not
produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds
with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk
The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other
factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline
significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market
and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during
periods of economic downturn. Defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets may cause such securities to decline in value
and become less liquid. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive
to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates,
these securities may exhibit additional volatility. When interest rates decline or are low, borrowers may pay off their mortgage
or other debts sooner than expected, which can reduce the returns of a Fund.
Multi-Manager Management Risk
A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict
with those of another sub-adviser. For example, at any particular time a sub-adviser may purchase a security being sold by
another sub-adviser, resulting in transaction costs with potentially no change to the Fund's overall portfolio.
Options Risk
A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that gains, if any, realized on the
position, will be less than the amount paid as premiums to the writer of the option. A Fund that writes options receives a
premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
A Fund that writes covered call options gives up the opportunity to profit from any price increase in the underlying security
above the option exercise price while the option is in effect. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments.
In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in values of options and their underlying
securities and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options.
Short Sales Risk
Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can
magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. If the
price of a security which the Fund has sold short increases between the time of the short sale and when the position is closed
out, the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time of the short sale plus any related interest payments,
dividends, transaction or other costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short position
at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price
of the security to rise, potentially exacerbating a loss or reducing a gain. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risk
that the lender of a security will terminate the loan at a time when the Fund is unable to borrow the same instrument from
another lender. A Fund that uses short sales is subject to the risk that its prime broker will be unwilling or unable to perform
its contractual obligations. Regulatory restrictions limit the extent to which the Fund may engage in short sales.
Smaller Company Securities Risk
Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger
companies. Smaller companies may have no or relatively short operating histories, limited financial resources or may be newly
public companies. Some of these companies have aggressive capital structures, including high debt levels, or are involved
in rapidly growing or changing industries and/or new technologies.
Swaps Risk
Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types
of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values,
mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices
or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk
U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
If a government-sponsored entity is unable to meet its obligations or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a
Fund that holds securities issued or guaranteed by the entity will be adversely impacted.
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. In addition, Funds Management will, from time to time, include portfolio holdings information in periodic commentaries for the Fund. The substance of the information contained in such commentaries will also be posted to the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Organization and Management of the Fund
About Wells Fargo Funds Trust
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 10, 1999. The Board of Trustees of the Trust ("Board") supervises the Fund's activities, monitors its contractual arrangements with various service providers and decides on matters of general policy.
The Board supervises the Fund and approves the selection of various companies hired to manage the Fund's operations. Except for the Fund's advisers, which generally may be changed only with shareholder approval, other service providers may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Adviser
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), headquartered at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as adviser for the Fund. Funds Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, a publicly traded diversified financial services company that provides banking, insurance, investment, mortgage and consumer financial services. Funds Management is a registered investment adviser that provides advisory services for registered mutual funds, closed-end funds and other funds and accounts.
As adviser, Funds Management is responsible for implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund. To assist Funds Management in performing these responsibilities, Funds Management has contracted with one or more sub-advisers to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. Funds Management employs a team of investment professionals who identify and recommend the initial hiring of the Fund's sub-adviser(s) and supervise and monitor the activities of the sub-adviser(s) on an ongoing basis. Funds Management retains overall responsibility for the management of the Fund.
Funds Management's investment professionals review and analyze the Fund's performance, including relative to peer funds, and monitor the Fund's compliance with its investment objective and strategies. Funds Management is responsible for reporting to the Board on investment performance and other matters affecting the Fund. When appropriate, Funds Management recommends to the Board enhancements to Fund features, including changes to Fund investment objectives, strategies and policies. Funds Management also communicates with shareholders and intermediaries about Fund performance and features.
For providing these advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive the fees disclosed in the row captioned "Management Fees" in the Fund's table of Annual Fund Operating Expenses. Funds Management compensates the sub-adviser(s) from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as adviser to the Fund.
Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has not yet paid an advisory fee to Funds Management.
As compensation for its advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive a monthly fee at the annual rates indicated below of the Fund's average daily net assets:
|
Fund |
Fee |
|
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
First $500M |
1.80% |
|
Next $500M |
1.75% |
|
|
Next $1B |
1.70% |
|
|
Next $2B |
1.68% |
|
|
Over $4B |
1.65% |
The Sub-Advisers and Portfolio Managers
Subject to the direction of the Board and overall supervision and control of Funds Management and the Trust, The Rock Creek Group, LP ("Rock Creek") makes recommendations regarding the selection of sub-advisers and allocates and reallocates the Fund's assets across investment strategies and sub-advisers. Subject to the direction of the Board and the overall supervision and control of Funds Management, Rock Creek and the Trust, the following sub-advisers (including Rock Creek) and portfolio managers provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. These services include making purchases and sales of securities and other investment assets for the Fund, selecting broker-dealers, negotiating brokerage commission rates and maintaining portfolio transaction records. Each sub-adviser is compensated for its services by Funds Management from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as investment adviser to the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.
Rock Creek, a registered investment adviser located at 1133 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. In addition to the Fund, Rock Creek, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advice to foundations, endowments, state and public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors.
|
Sudhir Krishnamurthi |
Dr. Krishnamurthi is Senior Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2002 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
|
Kenneth LaPlace |
Mr. LaPlace is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2003 and is a senior member of the Investment and Portfolio Management team. |
|
Ronald van der Wouden |
Mr. van der Wouden is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2005 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
Chilton Investment Company, LLC ("Chilton Investment Company"), a registered investment adviser located at 1290 East Main Street, Stamford, CT, 06902, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Chilton Investment Company manages registered funds, private investment funds, and private accounts for foundations, endowments, high net worth individuals or families, pension plans or institutional investors. The firm's investment philosophy is to seek to produce superior investment returns by aggessiverly pursuing capital appreciation in rising markets and aiming to preserve capital in declining markets.
|
Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
Mr. Chilton founded Chilton Investment Company, Inc. in 1992 and its subsidairy, Chilton Investment Company, in 2005, where he currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. |
Mellon Capital Management Corporation ("Mellon Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Mellon Capital has been providing investment advisory services since 1983 and provides investment advisory services primarily to institutional clients principally through separate accounts and a variety of commingled funds. Mellon Capital is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a publicly traded company, and is affiliated with a number of other investment organizations through BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
|
Vassilis Dagioglu |
Mr. Dagioglu joined Mellon Capital in 2000, where he currently serves as a Managing Director and Head of Asset Allocation Portfolio Management. He is a member of the Risk Management, Investment Management, Fiduciary, and Senior Management committees. |
Passport Capital, LLC ("Passport Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at One Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Passport has been managing client assets since August 2000 and primarily manages privately offered pooled investment vehicles, managed accounts and non-discretionary accounts. Passport Capital seeks to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns through a combination of macroeconomic analysis, fundamental research and quantitative tools.
|
John Burbank |
Mr. Burbank founded Passport Capital in 2000 where he currently serves as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. |
|
Tim Garry |
Mr. Garry joined Passport Capital in 2008 where he currently serves as Chairman of the Risk Committee and Portfolio Manager. |
Pine River Capital Management L.P. ("Pine River"), a registered investment adviser located at 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Pine River, an affiliate of Pine River Domestic Management L.P. and certain other subadvisory affiliates including Pine River Capital Partners (UK) LLP, and Pine River Capital Management (HK) Limited, is a global asset management firm focusing on relative value strategies across a full range of financial markets and providing investment solutions to institutional clients across three actively managed platforms: hedge funds, separate accounts and listed investment vehicles.
|
Brad Berning |
Mr. Berning joined Pine River in 2011, where he currently serves as a Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Brad served as an Analyst, an Assistant Portfolio Manager and a Co-Founding Partner at FrontPoint Financial Services from 2004 to 2010. |
River Canyon Fund Management LLC ("River Canyon"), a registered investment adviser located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. River Canyon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canyon Capital Advisors LLC, was formed in 2013 for the purpose of advising registered investment companies.
|
Soon Pho |
Mr. Pho joined River Canyon or an affiliate in 2001, where he currently serves as a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager. |
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. ("Sirios"), a registered investment adviser located at One International Place, Boston, MA 02110, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Sirios provides investment management services to clients including collective investment vehicles, accounts held by single investors and registered funds. Sirios is a fundamentally-driven investment firm that concentrates its investments in the consumer, energy/industrials, financials, healthcare and technology/telecommunications sectors.
|
John F. Brennan, Jr. |
Mr. Brennan co-founded Sirios in 1999, where he currently serves as its Managing Director. |
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management"), a registered investment adviser located at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years.
|
Kent M. Stahl, CFA |
Mr. Stahl joined Wellington Management in 1998, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Investments and Risk Management. |
|
Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Mr. Thomas joined Wellington Management in 2002, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Risk Management. |
Multi-Manager Arrangement
The Fund and Funds Management have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits Funds Management, subject to the
approval of the Board, to select or replace certain sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets and enter
into or amend a sub-advisory agreement with certain sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval ("Multi-Manager Structure").
The Multi-Manager Structure applies to sub-advisers that are not affiliated with Funds Management or the Fund, except to the
extent that affiliation arises solely because such sub-advisers provide sub-advisory services to the Fund ("Non-Affiliated
Sub-Advisers"), as well as sub-advisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Funds Management or of another
company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Funds Management ("Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers").
Pursuant to the SEC order, Funds Management, with the approval of the Board, has the discretion to select and allocate and
reallocate the Fund's assets among any other Non-Affiliated Sub-Advisers or Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers. Funds Management, subject
to oversight and supervision by the Board, has responsibility to oversee any sub-adviser to the Fund and to recommend the
removal and replacement of sub-advisers for the Fund. In the event that a new sub-adviser is hired pursuant to the Multi-Manager
Structure, the Fund is required to provide notice to shareholders within 90 days.
A Choice of Share Classes
After choosing a Fund, your next most important choice will be which share class to buy. The table below summarizes the features of the classes of shares available through this Prospectus. Specific Fund charges may vary, so you should review each Fund's fee table as well as the sales charge schedules that follow. Finally, you should review the "Reductions and Waivers of Sales Charges" section of the Prospectus before making your decision as to which share class to buy.
|
|
Class A |
Class C |
|
Initial Sales Charge |
5.75% |
None. Your entire investment goes to work immediately. |
|
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) |
None (except that a charge of 1% applies to certain redemptions made within eighteen months, following purchases of $1 million or more without an initial sales charge). |
1% if shares are sold within one year after purchase. |
|
Ongoing distribution (12b-1) fees |
None. |
0.75% |
|
Purchase maximum |
None. Volume reductions given upon providing adequate proof of eligibility. |
$1,000,000 |
|
Annual Expenses |
Lower ongoing expenses than Class C. |
Higher ongoing expenses than Class A because of higher 12b-1 fees. |
Information regarding the Fund's sales charges, breakpoints, and waivers is available free of charge on our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. You may wish to discuss this choice with your financial consultant.
Class A Shares Sales Charge Schedule
If you choose to buy Class A shares, you will pay the public offering price (POP) which is the net asset value (NAV) plus the applicable sales charge. Since sales charges are reduced for Class A share purchases above certain dollar amounts, known as "breakpoint levels," the POP is lower for these purchases. The dollar amount of the sales charge is the difference between the POP of the shares purchased (based on the applicable sales charge in the table below) and the NAV of those shares. Because of rounding in the calculation of the POP, the actual sales charge you pay may be more or less than that calculated using the percentages shown below.
|
Class A Shares Sales Charge Schedule |
|||
|
Amount of Purchase |
Front-end Sales Charge As % |
Front-end Sales Charge As % |
Dealer Reallowance As % |
|
Less than $50,000 |
5.75% |
6.10% |
5.00% |
|
$50,000 - $99,999 |
4.75% |
4.99% |
4.00% |
|
$100,000 - $249,999 |
3.75% |
3.90% |
3.00% |
|
$250,000 - $499,999 |
2.75% |
2.83% |
2.25% |
|
$500,000 - $999,999 |
2.00% |
2.04% |
1.75% |
|
$1,000,000 and over1 |
0.00% |
0.00% |
1.00% |
| 1. | We will assess a 1.00% CDSC on Class A share purchases of $1,000,000 or more if they are redeemed within eighteen months from the date of purchase. Certain exceptions apply (see "CDSC Waivers"). The CDSC percentage you pay is applied to the NAV of the shares on the date of original purchase. |
Class C Shares Sales Charges
If you choose Class C shares, you buy them at NAV and agree that if you redeem your shares within one year of the purchase date, you will pay a CDSC of 1.00%. At the time of purchase, the Fund's distributor pays sales commissions of up to 1.00% of the purchase price to selling agents and up to 1.00% annually thereafter. The CDSC percentage you pay is applied to the NAV of the shares on the date of original purchase. For Class C shares received in a reorganization, your date of purchase is the original purchase date of your predecessor Fund. To determine whether the CDSC applies to a redemption, the Fund will first redeem shares acquired by reinvestment of any distributions and then will redeem shares in the order in which they were purchased (such that shares held the longest are redeemed first).
Reductions and Waivers of Sales Charges
Generally, we offer more sales charge reductions or waivers for Class A shares than for Class C shares, particularly if you intend to invest greater amounts. You should consider whether you are eligible for any of the potential reductions or waivers when you are deciding which share class to buy. Consult the Statement of Additional Information for further details regarding reductions and waivers of sales charges, which we may change from time to time.
Class A Shares Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
You can pay a lower or no sales charge for the following types of purchases. If you believe you are eligible for any of the
following reductions or waivers, it is up to you to ask the selling agent or shareholder servicing agent for the reduction
or waiver and to provide appropriate proof of eligibility.
You pay no sales charges on Fund shares you buy with reinvested distributions.
You pay a lower sales charge if you are investing an amount over a breakpoint level. See "Class A Shares Sales Charge Schedule" above.
You pay no sales charges on Fund shares you purchase with the proceeds of a redemption of Class A shares of the same Fund within 90 days of the date of redemption. Subject to the Fund's policy regarding frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares, you may not be able to exercise this provision for the first 30 days after your redemption. Systematic transactions through the automatic investment plan, the automatic exchange plan and the systematic withdrawal plan are excluded from this provision.
By signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to purchase, you pay a lower sales charge now in exchange for promising to invest an amount over a specified breakpoint within the next 13 months. Purchases made prior to signing the LOI as well as reinvested dividends and capital gains do not count as purchases made during this period. We will hold in escrow shares equal to approximately 5% of the amount you say you intend to buy. If you do not invest the amount specified in the LOI before the expiration date, we will redeem enough escrowed shares to pay the difference between the reduced sales load you paid and the sales load you should have paid. Otherwise, we will release the escrowed shares when you have invested the agreed amount.
Rights of Accumulation (ROA) allow you to combine Class A and Class C and WealthBuilder Portfolio shares of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund already owned (excluding Wells Fargo Advantage money market fund shares, unless you notify us that you previously paid a sales load on these assets) in order to reach breakpoint levels and to qualify for sales load discounts on subsequent purchases of Class A or WealthBuilder Portfolio shares. The purchase amount used in determining the sales charge on your purchase will be calculated by multiplying the maximum public offering price by the number of Class A, Class C and WealthBuilder Portfolio shares of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund already owned and adding the dollar amount of your current purchase.
|
How a Letter of Intent Can Save You Money! |
Accounts That Can Be Aggregated
You may aggregate the following types of accounts indicated below to qualify for a volume discount:
|
Can this type of account be aggregated? |
Yes |
No |
|
Individual accounts |
X |
|
|
Joint accounts |
X |
|
|
UGMA/UTMA accounts |
X |
|
|
Trust accounts over which the shareholder has individual or shared authority |
X |
|
|
Solely owned business accounts |
X |
|
|
Retirement Plans |
||
|
Traditional and Roth IRAs |
X |
|
|
SEP IRAs |
X |
|
|
SIMPLE IRAs that use the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds prototype agreement1 |
X |
|
|
SIMPLE IRAs that do not use the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds prototype agreement |
X |
|
|
403(b) Plan accounts2 |
X |
|
|
401(k) Plan accounts |
X |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
529 Plan accounts1 |
X |
|
|
Accounts held through other brokerage firms |
X |
| 1. | These accounts may be aggregated at the plan level for purposes of establishing eligibility for volume discounts. When plan assets in Fund Class A, Class B, Class C and WealthBuilder Portfolio shares (excluding Wells Fargo Advantage money market fund shares) reach a breakpoint, all plan participants benefit from the reduced sales charge. Participant accounts will not be aggregated with personal accounts. |
| 2. | Wells Fargo Advantage Funds no longer offers new or accepts purchases in existing 403(b) accounts utilizing the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds prototype agreement. |
Based on the above chart, if you believe that you own shares in one or more accounts that can be combined with your current purchase to achieve a sales charge breakpoint, you must, at the time of your purchase specifically identify those shares to your selling agent or shareholder servicing agent. For an account to qualify for a volume discount, it must be registered in the name of, or held for, the shareholder, his or her spouse or domestic partner, as recognized by applicable state law, or his or her children under the age of 21. Class A shares purchased at NAV will not be aggregated with other shares for purposes of receiving a volume discount.
Class A Shares Sales Charge Waivers for Certain Parties
We reserve the right to enter into agreements that reduce or waive sales charges for groups or classes of shareholders. If
you own Fund shares as part of another account or package such as an IRA or a sweep account, you should read the materials
for that account. Those terms may supercede the terms and conditions discussed here. If you fall into any of the following
categories, you can buy Class A shares at NAV:
Current and retired employees, directors/trustees and officers of:
1) Wells Fargo Advantage Funds (including any predecessor funds);
2) Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates; and
3) family members (spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings (including step
and in-law)) of any of the above.
Current employees of:
1) the Fund's transfer agent;
2) broker-dealers who act as selling agents;
3) family members (spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings (including step
and in-law)) of any of the above; and
4) the Fund's sub-adviser, but only for the Fund(s) for which such sub-adviser provides investment advisory services.
Qualified registered investment advisers who buy through a broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with the Fund's distributor that allows for load-waived Class A purchases.
Investment companies exchanging shares or selling assets pursuant to a reorganization, merger, acquisition, or exchange offer to which the Fund is a party.
Section 529 college savings plan accounts.
Insurance company separate accounts.
Fund of Funds, including those advised by Funds Management (Wells Fargo Advantage WealthBuilder PortfoliosSM), subject to review and approval by Funds Management.
Investors who purchase shares that are to be included in certain retirement, benefit, pension, trust or investment "wrap accounts," including such specified types of investors who trade through an omnibus account maintained with a Fund by a broker-dealer.
CDSC Waivers
You will not be assessed a CDSC on Fund shares you redeem that were purchased with reinvested distributions.
We waive the CDSC for all redemptions made because of scheduled (Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2) withdrawal schedule) or mandatory distributions (withdrawals generally made after age 70½ according to Internal Revenue Service guidelines) from traditional IRAs and certain other retirement plans. (See your retirement plan information for details.)
We waive the CDSC for redemptions made in the event of the last surviving shareholder's death or for a disability suffered after purchasing shares. ("Disabled" is defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 72(m)(7).)
We waive the CDSC for redemptions made at the direction of Funds Management in order to, for example, complete a merger or effect a Fund liquidation.
We waive the Class C shares CDSC for redemptions by employer-sponsored retirement plans where the dealer of record waived its commission at the time of purchase.
We also reserve the right to enter into agreements that reduce or eliminate sales charges for groups or classes of shareholders, or for Fund shares included in other investment plans such as "wrap accounts." If you own Fund shares as part of another account or package, such as an IRA or a sweep account, you should read the terms and conditions that apply for that account. Those terms and conditions may supercede the terms and conditions discussed here. Contact your selling agent for further information.
Compensation to Dealers and Shareholder Servicing Agents
Distribution Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (12b-1 Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Class C shares. The
12b-1 Plan authorizes the payment of all or part of the cost of preparing and distributing prospectuses and distribution-related
services. The 12b-1 Plan also provides that, if and to the extent any shareholder servicing payments are recharacterized as
payments for distribution-related services, they are approved and payable under the 12b-1 Plan. The fees paid under this 12b-1
Plan are as follows:
|
Fund |
Class C |
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
0.75% |
This fee is paid out of the Class's assets on an ongoing basis. Over time, this fee will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of sales charges.
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Fund has a shareholder servicing plan. Under this plan, various shareholder servicing agents have been authorized to process
purchase and redemption requests, to service shareholder accounts, and to provide other related services for each Class of
the Fund. For these services, each Class pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets.
Additional Payments to Dealers
In addition to dealer reallowances and payments made by the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing, the Fund's adviser,
the distributor or their affiliates make additional payments ("Additional Payments") to certain selling or shareholder servicing
agents for the Fund, which include broker-dealers and 401(k) service providers and recordkeepers. These Additional Payments
are made in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Fund or for services to the Fund and its shareholders.
These Additional Payments, which may be significant, are paid by the Fund's adviser, the distributor or their affiliates,
out of their revenues, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the entire Fund complex.
In return for these Additional Payments, the Fund's adviser and distributor expect the Fund to receive certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments. Such advantages are expected to include, without limitation, placement of the Fund on a list of mutual funds offered as investment options to the selling agent's clients (sometimes referred to as "Shelf Space"); access to the selling agent's registered representatives; and/or ability to assist in training and educating the selling agent's registered representatives.
Certain selling or shareholder servicing agents receive these Additional Payments to supplement amounts payable by the Fund under the shareholder servicing plans. In exchange, these agents may provide services including, but not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records; answering inquiries regarding purchases, exchanges and redemptions; processing and verifying purchase, redemption and exchange transactions; furnishing account statements and confirmations of transactions; processing and mailing monthly statements, prospectuses, shareholder reports and other SEC-required communications; and providing the types of services that might typically be provided by the Fund's transfer agent (e.g., the maintenance of omnibus or omnibus-like accounts, the use of the National Securities Clearing Corporation for the transmission of transaction information and the transmission of shareholder mailings).
The Additional Payments may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a selling agent who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial consultant and review carefully any disclosure by the selling agent as to what monies they receive from mutual fund advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial consultant is compensated.
The Additional Payments are typically paid in fixed dollar amounts, or based on the number of customer accounts maintained by the selling or shareholder servicing agent, or based on a percentage of sales and/or assets under management, or a combination of the above. The Additional Payments are either up-front or ongoing or both. The Additional Payments differ among selling and shareholder servicing agents. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on its customers' assets typically range between 0.05% and 0.30% in a given year of assets invested in the Fund by the selling agent's customers. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on a percentage of sales typically range between 0.10% and 0.15% of the gross sales of the Fund attributable to the selling agent. In addition, representatives of the Fund's distributor visit selling agents on a regular basis to educate their registered representatives and to encourage the sale of Fund shares. The costs associated with such visits may be paid for by the Fund's adviser, distributor, or their affiliates, subject to applicable FINRA regulations.
More information on the FINRA member firms that have received the Additional Payments described in this section is available in the Statement of Additional Information, which is on file with the SEC and is also available on the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Pricing Fund Shares
The share price ("net asset value per share" or "NAV") for a Fund is calculated each business day as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4 p.m. ET). To calculate a Fund's NAV, the Fund's assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The price at which a purchase or redemption of Fund shares is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the order is placed. The Fund does not calculate its NAV on days the NYSE is closed for trading, which include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets that may be invested in other mutual funds, the Fund's NAV is calculated based upon the net asset values of the other mutual funds in which the Fund invests, and the prospectuses for those companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets invested directly in securities, the Fund's investments are generally valued at current market prices. Securities are generally valued based on the last sale price during the regular trading session if the security trades on an exchange (closing price). Securities that are not traded primarily on an exchange generally are valued using latest quoted bid prices obtained by an independent pricing service. Securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., however, are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price ("NOCP"), and if no NOCP is available, then at the last reported sales price.
We are required to depart from these general valuation methods and use fair value pricing methods to determine the values of certain investments if we believe that the closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security, including securities that trade primarily on a foreign exchange, does not accurately reflect its current value when the Fund calculates its NAV. In addition, we use fair value pricing to determine the value of investments in securities and other assets, including illiquid securities, for which current market quotations are not readily available. The closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security may not reflect its current value if, among other things, a significant event occurs after the closing price or latest quoted bid price but before a Fund calculates its NAV that materially affects the value of the security. We use various criteria, including a systematic evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in deciding whether a foreign security's market price is still reliable and, if not, what fair market value to assign to the security.
In light of the judgment involved in fair value decisions, there can be no assurance that a fair value assigned to a particular security is accurate or that it reflects the price that the Fund could obtain for such security if it were to sell the security as of the time of fair value pricing. Such fair value pricing may result in NAVs that are higher or lower than NAVs based on the closing price or latest quoted bid price. See the Statement of Additional Information for additional details regarding the pricing of Fund shares.
How to Open an Account
You can open a Wells Fargo Advantage Funds account through any of the following means:
directly with the Fund. Complete a Wells Fargo Advantage Funds application, which you may obtain by visiting our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com or by calling Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222. Be sure to indicate the Fund name and the share class into which you intend to invest when completing the application;
through a brokerage account with an approved selling agent; or
through certain retirement, benefit and pension plans or certain packaged investment products. (Please contact the providers of the plan or product for instructions.)
How to Buy Shares
This section explains how you can buy shares directly from Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If you're opening a new account, an account application is available on-line at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com or by calling Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222. For Fund shares held through brokerage and other types of accounts, please consult your selling agent.
|
Minimum Investments |
Initial Purchase |
Subsequent Purchases |
|
Regular accounts |
$1,000 |
$100 |
|
Buying Shares |
Opening an Account |
Adding to an Account |
|
Online |
A new account may not be opened online unless you have another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account with your bank information on file. If you do not currently have an account, refer to the section on buying shares by mail or wire. |
To buy additional shares or buy shares of a new Fund, visit Subsequent online purchases have a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $100,000. You may be eligible for an exception to this
maximum. Please call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 for more information. |
|
By Mail |
Complete and sign your account application. Mail the application with your check made payable to the Fund to Investor Services at: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds P.O. Box 8266 Boston, MA 02266-8266 Overnight Only Wells Fargo Advantage Funds c/o Boston Financial Data Services 30 Dan Road Canton, MA 02021-2809 |
Enclose a voided check (for checking accounts) or a deposit slip (savings accounts). Alternatively, include a note with your
name, the Fund name, and your account number. Mail the deposit slip or note with your check made payable to the Fund to the address on the left. |
|
By Telephone |
A new account may not be opened by telephone unless you have another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account with your bank information on file. If you do not currently have an account, refer to the section on buying shares by mail or wire. |
To buy additional shares or to buy shares of a new Fund call:
Investor Services at 1-800-368-7550 for the |
|
By Wire |
Complete, sign and mail your account application (refer to the section on buying shares by mail) Provide the following instructions to your financial institution: Bank ABA/routing number: 011000028 Bank account number: 9905-437-1 For credit to: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds For further credit to: [Your name (as registered on your fund account) and your fund and account number] |
To buy additional shares, instruct your bank or financial institution to use the same wire instructions shown to the left. |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes for Buying Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your new account application or purchase request in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to process your transaction.
Earning Distributions. You are eligible to earn distributions beginning on the business day after the transfer agent receives your purchase in proper form.
U.S. Dollars Only. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars and all checks must be drawn on U.S. banks.
Insufficient Funds. You will be charged a $25.00 fee for every check or Electronic Funds Transfer that is returned to us as unpaid.
No Fund Named. When all or a portion of a payment is received for investment without a clear Fund designation, we may direct the undesignated portion or the entire amount, as applicable, into the Wells Fargo Advantage Money Market Fund. We will treat your inaction as approval of this purchase until you later direct us to sell or exchange these shares of the Money Market Fund, at the next NAV calculated after we receive your order in proper form.
Right to Refuse an Order. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if we believe that doing so would be in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders.
Minimum Initial and Subsequent Investment Waivers. We allow a reduced minimum initial investment of $50 if you sign up for at least a $50 monthly automatic investment purchase plan. If you opened your account with the set minimum amount shown in the above chart, we allow reduced subsequent purchases for a minimum of $50 a month if you purchase through an automatic investment plan. We may also waive or reduce the minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for purchases made through certain retirement, benefit and pension plans, certain packaged investment products, or for certain classes of shareholders as permitted by the SEC. Check specific disclosure statements and applications for the program through which you intend to invest.
Other Share Classes. You may be eligible to invest in one or more classes of shares offered by a Fund. Each of the Fund's share classes bears varying expenses and may differ in other features. Consult your financial intermediary for more information regarding the Fund's available share classes.
Special Considerations When Investing Through Financial Intermediaries
If a financial intermediary purchases shares on your behalf, you should understand the following:
Minimum Investments and Other Terms of Your Account. Share purchases are made through a customer account at your financial intermediary following that firm's terms. Financial intermediaries may require different minimum investment amounts. Please consult an account representative from your financial intermediary for specifics.
Records are Held in Financial Intermediary's Name. Financial intermediaries are usually the holders of record for shares held through their customer accounts. The financial intermediaries maintain records reflecting their customers' beneficial ownership of the shares.
Purchase/Redemption Orders. Financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting their customers' purchase and redemption orders to a Fund and for delivering required payment on a timely basis.
Shareholder Communications. Financial intermediaries are responsible for delivering shareholder communications and voting information from a Fund, and for transmitting shareholder voting instructions to a Fund.
The information provided in this Prospectus is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would subject Fund shares to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country.
The Fund is distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC, and an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC") information and brochure are available at SIPC.org or by calling SIPC at (202) 371-8300.
How to Sell Shares
The following section explains how you can sell shares held directly through an account with Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. For Fund shares held through brokerage or other types of accounts, please consult your selling agent.
|
|
|
|
Selling Shares |
To Sell Some or All of Your Shares |
|
Online |
Visit our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Redemptions requested online are limited to a maximum of $100,000. You may be eligible for an exception to this maximum. Please call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 for more information. |
|
By Mail |
Send a Letter of Instruction providing your name, account number, the Fund from which you wish to redeem and the dollar amount
you wish to receive (or write "Full Redemption" to redeem your remaining account balance) to the address below. Make sure all account owners sign the request exactly as their names appear on the account application. A Medallion guarantee may be required under certain circumstances (see "General Notes for Selling Shares"). Wells Fargo Advantage Funds P.O. Box 8266 Boston, MA 02266-8266 Overnight Only Wells Fargo Advantage Funds c/o Boston Financial Data Services 30 Dan Road Canton, MA 02021-2809 |
|
By Wire |
To arrange for a Federal Funds wire, call 1-800-222-8222. Be prepared to provide information on the commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. Wire requests are sent to your bank account next business day if your request to redeem is received before the NYSE close. |
|
By Telephone/ |
Call an Investor Services representative at 1-800-222-8222 or use the automated phone system 1-800-368-7550. Telephone privileges are automatically made available to you unless you specifically decline them on your account application
or subsequently in writing. Redemption requests may not be made by phone if the address on your account was changed in the last 15 days. In this event,
you must request your redemption by mail (refer to the section on selling shares by mail). A check will be mailed to the address on record (if there have been no changes communicated to us within the last 15 days)
or transferred to a linked bank account. Transfers made to a Wells Fargo Bank account are made available sooner than transfers to an unaffiliated institution. Redemptions processed by EFT to a linked Wells Fargo Bank account occur same day for Wells Fargo Advantage money market funds,
and next day for all other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Redemptions to any other linked bank account may post in two business days. Please check with your financial institution for
timing of posting and availability of funds. |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes For Selling Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your request to sell shares in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your request to sell shares is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, it will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to sell your shares.
CDSC Fees. Your redemption proceeds are net of any applicable CDSC fees.
Form of Redemption Proceeds. You may request that your redemption proceeds be sent to you by check, by EFT into a bank account, or by wire. Please call Investor Services regarding requirements for linking bank accounts or for wiring funds. Although generally we pay redemption requests in cash, we reserve the right to determine in our sole discretion, whether to satisfy redemption requests by making payment in securities (known as a redemption in kind). In such case, we may pay all or part of the redemption in securities of equal value as permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder. The redeeming shareholder should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received.
Earning Distributions. Your shares are eligible to earn distributions through the date of redemption. If you redeem shares on a Friday or prior to a holiday, your shares will continue to be eligible to earn distributions until the next business day.
Telephone/Internet Redemptions. We will take reasonable steps to confirm that telephone and internet instructions are genuine. For example, we require proof of your identification, such as a Taxpayer Identification Number or username and password, before we will act on instructions received by telephone or the internet. We will not be liable for any losses incurred if we follow telephone or internet instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. Your call may be recorded.
Right to Delay Payment. We normally will send out checks within one business day, and in any event no more than seven days, after we accept your request to redeem. If you redeem shares recently purchased by check or through EFT or the Automatic Investment Plan, you may be required to wait up to seven business days before we will send your redemption proceeds. Our ability to determine with reasonable certainty that investments have been finally collected is greater for investments coming from accounts with banks affiliated with Funds Management than it is for investments coming from accounts with unaffiliated banks. Redemption payments also may be delayed under extraordinary circumstances or as permitted by the SEC in order to protect remaining shareholders. Such extraordinary circumstances are discussed further in the Statement of Additional Information.
Retirement Plans and Other Products. If you purchased shares through a packaged investment product or retirement plan, read the directions for selling shares provided by the product or plan. There may be special requirements that supercede the directions in this Prospectus.
Medallion Guarantees. Medallion guarantees are only required for mailed redemption requests under the following circumstances: (1) if the address on your account was changed within the last 15 days; (2) if the amount of the redemption exceeds $100,000 and includes bank account information that is not currently on file with Wells Fargo Advantage Funds or if all of the owners of your Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account are not included in the registration of the bank account provided; or (3) if the redemption is made payable to a third party. You can get a Medallion guarantee at a financial institution such as a bank or brokerage house. We do not accept notarized signatures.
How to Exchange Shares
Exchanges between Wells Fargo Advantage Funds involve two transactions: (1) a sale of shares of one Fund; and (2) the purchase of shares of another. In general, the same rules and procedures that apply to sales and purchases apply to exchanges. There are, however, additional factors you should keep in mind while making or considering an exchange:
In general, exchanges may be made between like share classes of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund offered to the general public for investment (i.e., a Fund not closed to new accounts), with the following exception: Class A shares of non-money market funds may also be exchanged for Service Class shares of any money market fund.
Same-fund exchanges between share classes are permitted subject to the following conditions: (1) exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares would not be allowed if shares are subject to a CDSC; (2) for exchanges into Class A shares, the shareholder must meet all qualifications to purchase Class A shares at net asset value based on current prospectus guidelines; and (3) the shareholder must meet the eligibility guidelines of the class being purchased in the exchange.
An exchange request will be processed on the same business day, provided that both Funds are open at the time the request is received. If one or both Funds are closed, the exchange will be processed on the following business day.
You should carefully read the prospectus for the Wells Fargo Advantage Fund into which you wish to exchange.
Every exchange involves selling Fund shares, which may produce a capital gain or loss for tax purposes.
If you are making an initial investment into a Fund through an exchange, you must exchange at least the minimum initial purchase amount for the new Fund, unless your balance has fallen below that amount due to investment performance.
Any exchange between two Wells Fargo Advantage Funds must meet the minimum subsequent purchase amounts.
Class B and Class C share exchanges will not trigger the CDSC. The new shares will continue to age according to their original schedule and will be charged the CDSC applicable to the original shares upon redemption.
Generally, we will notify you at least 60 days in advance of any changes in our exchange policy.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. Purchases or exchanges that a Fund determines could harm the Fund may be rejected.
Excessive trading by Fund shareholders can negatively impact a Fund and its long-term shareholders in several ways, including disrupting Fund investment strategies, increasing transaction costs, decreasing tax efficiency, and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Excessive trading in Fund shares can negatively impact a Fund's long-term performance by requiring it to maintain more assets in cash or to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time. Certain Funds may be more susceptible than others to these negative effects. For example, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in non-U.S. securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities resulting from pricing variations due to time zone differences across international financial markets. Similarly, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in small company securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities due to the less liquid nature of small company securities. Both types of Funds also may incur higher transaction costs in liquidating portfolio holdings to meet excessive redemption levels. Fair value pricing may reduce these arbitrage opportunities, thereby reducing some of the negative effects of excessive trading.
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, other than the Adjustable Rate Government Fund, Conservative Income Fund, Ultra Short-Term Income Fund and Ultra Short-Term Municipal Income Fund ("Ultra-Short Funds") and the money market funds, (the "Covered Funds"). The Covered Funds are not designed to serve as vehicles for frequent trading. The Covered Funds actively discourage and take steps to prevent the portfolio disruption and negative effects on long-term shareholders that can result from excessive trading activity by Covered Fund shareholders. The Board has approved the Covered Funds' policies and procedures, which provide, among other things, that Funds Management may deem trading activity to be excessive if it determines that such trading activity would likely be disruptive to a Covered Fund by increasing expenses or lowering returns. In this regard, the Covered Funds take steps to avoid accommodating frequent purchases and redemptions of shares by Covered Fund shareholders. Funds Management monitors available shareholder trading information across all Covered Funds on a daily basis. If a shareholder redeems more than $5,000 (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) from a Covered Fund, that shareholder is "blocked" from purchasing shares of that Covered Fund (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction) for 30 calendar days after the redemption. This policy does not apply to:
Money market funds;
Ultra-Short Funds;
Dividend reinvestments;
Systematic investments or exchanges where the financial intermediary maintaining the shareholder account identifies the transaction as a systematic redemption or purchase at the time of the transaction;
Rebalancing transactions within certain asset allocation or "wrap" programs where the financial intermediary maintaining a shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as part of an asset allocation program approved by Funds Management;
Transactions initiated by a "fund of funds" or Section 529 Plan into an underlying fund investment;
Permitted exchanges between share classes of the same Fund;
Certain transactions involving participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, including: participant withdrawals due to mandatory distributions, rollovers and hardships, withdrawals of shares acquired by participants through payroll deductions, and shares acquired or sold by a participant in connection with plan loans; and
Purchases below $5,000 (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction).
The money market funds and the Ultra-Short Funds. Because the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds are often used for short-term investments, they are designed to accommodate more frequent purchases and redemptions than the Covered Funds. As a result, the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not anticipate that frequent purchases and redemptions, under normal circumstances, will have significant adverse consequences to the money market funds or Ultra-Short Funds or their shareholders. Although the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not prohibit frequent trading, Funds Management will seek to prevent an investor from utilizing the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds to facilitate frequent purchases and redemptions of shares in the Covered Funds in contravention of the policies and procedures adopted by the Covered Funds.
All Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. In addition, Funds Management reserves the right to accept purchases, redemptions and exchanges made in excess of applicable trading restrictions in designated accounts held by Funds Management or its affiliate that are used at all times exclusively for addressing operational matters related to shareholder accounts, such as testing of account functions, and are maintained at low balances that do not exceed specified dollar amount limitations.
In the event that an asset allocation or "wrap" program is unable to implement the policy outlined above, Funds Management may grant a program-level exception to this policy. A financial intermediary relying on the exception is required to provide Funds Management with specific information regarding its program and ongoing information about its program upon request.
A financial intermediary through whom you may purchase shares of the Fund may independently attempt to identify excessive trading and take steps to deter such activity. As a result, a financial intermediary may on its own limit or permit trading activity of its customers who invest in Fund shares using standards different from the standards used by Funds Management and discussed in this Prospectus. Funds Management may permit a financial intermediary to enforce its own internal policies and procedures concerning frequent trading rather than the policies set forth above in instances where Funds Management reasonably believes that the intermediary's policies and procedures effectively discourage disruptive trading activity. If you purchase Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact the intermediary for more information about whether and how restrictions or limitations on trading activity will be applied to your account.
Account Policies
Automatic Plans
These plans help you conveniently purchase and/or redeem shares each month. Once you select a plan, tell us the day of the
month you would like the transaction to occur. If you do not specify a date, we will process the transaction on or about the
25th day of the month. Call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 for more information.
Automatic Investment Plan —With this plan, you can regularly purchase shares of a Wells Fargo Advantage Fund with money automatically transferred from a linked bank account.
Automatic Exchange Plan —With this plan, you can regularly exchange shares of a Wells Fargo Advantage Fund you own for shares of another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund. See the "How to Exchange Shares" section of this Prospectus for the conditions that apply to your shares. In addition, each transaction in an Automatic Exchange Plan must be for a minimum of $100. This feature may not be available for certain types of accounts.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan —With this plan, you can regularly redeem shares and receive the proceeds by check or by transfer to a linked bank account.
To participate in this plan, you:
must have a Fund account valued at $10,000 or more; must request a minimum redemption of $100; must have your distributions reinvested; and may not simultaneously participate in the Automatic Investment Plan.
Payroll Direct Deposit —With this plan, you may transfer all or a portion of your paycheck, social security check, military allotment, or annuity payment for investment into the Fund of your choice.
It generally takes about ten business days to establish a plan once we have received your instructions. It generally takes about five business days to change or cancel participation in a plan.We may automatically cancel your plan if the linked bank account you specified is closed, or for other reasons.
Householding
To help keep Fund expenses low, a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report may be sent to shareholders of the same
household. If your household currently receives a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report and you would prefer to
receive multiple copies, please contact your financial intermediary.
Retirement Accounts
We offer prototype documents for a variety of retirement accounts for individuals and small businesses. Please call 1-800-222-8222
for information on:
Individual Retirement Plans, including Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.
Qualified Retirement Plans, including Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs, Keoghs, Pension Plans, Profit-Sharing Plans, and 401(k) Plans.
There may be special distribution requirements for a retirement account, such as required distributions or mandatory Federal income tax withholdings. For more information, call the number listed above. For retirement accounts held directly with the Fund, certain fees may apply, including an annual account maintenance fee.
Small Account Redemptions
We reserve the right to redeem certain accounts that fall below the minimum initial investment amount as the result of shareholder
redemptions (as opposed to market movement). Before doing so,we will give you approximately 60 days to bring your account
above the minimum investment amount. Please call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 or contact your selling agent for further
details.
Statements and Confirmations
Statements summarizing activity in your account are mailed quarterly. Confirmations are mailed following each purchase, sale,
exchange, or transfer of Fund shares, except generally for Automatic Investment Plan transactions, Systematic Withdrawal Plan
transactions using Electronic Funds Transfer, and purchases of new shares through the automatic reinvestment of distributions.
Upon your request and for the applicable fee, you may obtain a reprint of an account statement. Please call Investor Services
at 1-800-222-8222 for more information.
Electronic Delivery of Fund Documents
You may elect to receive your Fund prospectuses, shareholder reports and other Fund documents electronically in lieu of paper
form by enrolling on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery. If you make this election, you will be notified
by e-mail when the most recent Fund documents are available for electronic viewing and downloading.
To receive Fund documents electronically, you must have an e-mail account and an internet browser that meets the requirements described in the Privacy & Security section of the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. You may change your electronic delivery preferences or revoke your election to receive Fund documents electronically at any time by visiting wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.
Statement Inquiries
Contact us in writing regarding any errors or discrepancies noted on your account statement within 60 days after the date
of the statement confirming a transaction. We may deny your ability to refute a transaction if we do not hear from you within
those 60 days.
Transaction Authorizations
Telephone, electronic, and clearing agency privileges allow us to accept transaction instructions by anyone representing
themselves as the shareholder and who provides reasonable confirmation of their identity. Neither we nor Wells Fargo Advantage Funds will be liable for any losses incurred if we follow such instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. For transactions
through the automated phone system and our Web site, we will assign personal identification numbers (PINs) and/or passwords
to help protect your account information. To safeguard your account, please keep your PINs and passwords confidential. Contact
us immediately if you believe there is a discrepancy on your confirmation statement or if you believe someone has obtained
unauthorized access to your account, PIN or password.
USA PATRIOT Act
In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, all financial institutions (including mutual funds) at the time an account is opened,
are required to obtain, verify and record the following information for all registered owners or others who may be authorized
to act on the account: full name, date of birth, taxpayer identification number (usually your Social Security Number), and
permanent street address. Corporate, trust and other entity accounts require additional documentation. This information will
be used to verify your identity. We will return your application if any of this information is missing, and we may request
additional information from you for verification purposes. In the rare event that we are unable to verify your identity, we
reserve the right to redeem your account at the current day's NAV. You will be responsible for any losses, taxes, expenses,
fees, or other results of such a redemption.
Distributions
The Fund generally makes distributions of any net investment income and any realized net capital gains at least annually. Please note, distributions have the effect of reducing the NAV per share by the amount distributed.
We offer the following distribution options. To change your current option for payment of distributions, please call 1-800-222-8222.
Automatic Reinvestment Option—Allows you to buy new shares of the same class of the Fund that generated the distributions. The new shares are purchased at NAV generally on the day the distribution is paid. This option is automatically assigned to your account unless you specify another option.
Check Payment Option—Allows you to have checks for distributions mailed to your address of record or to another name and address which you have specified in written instructions. A medallion guarantee may also be required. If checks remain uncashed for six months or are undeliverable by the Post Office, we will reinvest the distributions at the earliest date possible, and future distributions will be automatically reinvested.
Bank Account Payment Option—Allows you to receive distributions directly in a checking or savings account through Electronic Funds Transfer. The bank account must be linked to your Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account. Any distribution returned to us due to an invalid banking instruction will be sent to your address of record by check at the earliest date possible, and future distributions will be automatically reinvested.
Directed Distribution Purchase Option—Allows you to buy shares of a different Wells Fargo Advantage Fund of the same share class. The new shares are purchased at NAV generally on the day the distribution is paid. In order to establish this option, you need to identify the Fund and account the distributions are coming from, and the Fund and account to which the distributions are being directed. You must meet any required minimum purchases in both Funds prior to establishing this option.
Taxes
The following discussion regarding federal income taxes is based on laws that were in effect as of the date of this Prospectus and summarizes only some of the important federal income tax considerations affecting a Fund and you as a shareholder. It does not apply to foreign or tax-exempt shareholders or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) Plan or IRA. This discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional federal income tax information.
We will pass on to a Fund's shareholders substantially all of the Fund's net investment income and realized net capital gains, if any. Distributions from a Fund's ordinary income and net short-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from a Fund's net long-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain.
Corporate shareholders may be able to deduct a portion of their distributions when determining their taxable income.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended certain tax rates except those that applied to individual taxpayers with taxable incomes above $400,000 ($450,000 for married taxpayers, $425,000 for heads of households). Taxpayers that are not in the new highest tax bracket continue to be subject to a maximum 15% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. For taxpayers in the new highest tax bracket, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends will be 20%. Beginning in 2013, U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), a new 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will apply on "net investment income," including interest, dividends, and capital gains.
Distributions from a Fund normally will be taxable to you when paid, whether you take distributions in cash or automatically reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Following the end of each year, we will notify you of the federal income tax status of your distributions for the year.
If you buy shares of a Fund shortly before it makes a taxable distribution, your distribution will, in effect, be a taxable return of part of your investment. Similarly, if you buy shares of a Fund when it holds appreciated securities, you will receive a taxable return of part of your investment if and when the Fund sells the appreciated securities and distributes the gain. The Fund has built up, or has the potential to build up, high levels of unrealized appreciation.
Your redemptions (including redemptions in-kind) and exchanges of Fund shares ordinarily will result in a taxable capital gain or loss, depending on the amount you receive for your shares (or are deemed to receive in the case of exchanges) and the amount you paid (or are deemed to have paid) for them. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your redeemed or exchanged Fund shares for more than one year at the time of redemption or exchange. In certain circumstances, losses realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares may be disallowed.
In certain circumstances, Fund shareholders may be subject to backup withholding taxes.
Financial Highlights
Since the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this prospectus, financial highlights are not available for the Fund.
| FOR MORE INFORMATION More information on the Fund is available free upon request, including the following documents: Statement of Additional Information
("SAI") Supplements the disclosures made by this Prospectus. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and therefore is legally part of this Prospectus. Annual/Semi-Annual Reports Provide financial and other important information, including a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected Fund performance over the reporting period. To obtain copies of the above documents or for more information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, contact us: By telephone: Individual Investors: 1-800-222-8222 Retail Investment Professionals: 1-888-877-9275 Institutional Investment Professionals: 1-866-765-0778 |
By e-mail: wfaf@wellsfargo.com By mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds P.O. Box 8266 Boston, MA 02266-8266 Online: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com From the SEC: Visit the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (phone 1-202-551-8090 for operational information for the SEC's Public Reference Room) or the SEC's Internet site at sec.gov. To obtain information for a fee, write or email: SEC's Public Reference Section 100 "F" Street, NE Washington, DC 20549-0102 publicinfo@sec.gov |
| © 2014 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved | 054ALR/P701 5-14 ICA Reg. No. 811-09253 |
|
|
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
| |
May 1, 2014 |
Alternative Funds
Prospectus
Administrator Class
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
|
WADTX |
As with all mutual funds, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
Fund shares are NOT deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., its affiliates or any other depository institution. Fund shares are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency and may lose value.
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
23 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
28 |
Alternative Strategies Fund Summary
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses
These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
None |
|
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price) |
None |
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees |
1.80% |
|
Distribution (12b-1) Fees |
0.00% |
|
Other Expenses1 |
1.55% |
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
0.09% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2 |
3.44% |
|
Fee Waivers |
0.37% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver2,3 |
3.07% |
| 1. | Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
| 2. | Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses listed above include 0.68% of dividend and interest expense on short positions and 0.04% of interest expense on borrowings. |
| 3. | The Adviser has committed through November 30, 2015 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 2.35% for Administrator Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses from dividend and interest on short positions, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Acquired fund fees and expenses incurred by investments made by The Rock Creek Group, LP, a sub-adviser of the Fund, will be included in the cap. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example of Expenses
The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
After: |
|
|
1 Year |
$310 |
|
3 Years |
$1,022 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, no history of the portfolio turnover rate is available.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies: Which take long and short positions in equities (and related instruments) believed to be under- and overvalued, respectively. Short positions may also be used solely to hedge broad market exposure.
Event Driven Strategies: Which seek to capitalize on the movements in security prices of companies currently or prospectively involved in a wide variety of corporate transactions.
Global Macro Strategies: Which analyze economic variables in an attempt to forecast future movements in equity, fixed income, currency, and commodity markets.
Relative Value Strategies: Which seek to identify and capitalize on valuation discrepancies between related financial instruments rather than on the direction of the general market.
Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Fund may lose money, is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates, is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, and is primarily subject to the risks briefly summarized below.
Borrowing Risk. If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company.
Credit Risk. The issuer or guarantor of a debt security may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay principal when they become due, which could cause the value of an investment to decline and a Fund to lose money.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than mitigate risk. Certain derivative instruments may be difficult to sell when the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so, or the other party to a derivative contract may be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.
Emerging Markets Risk. Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk" and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. Emerging market securities are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk. A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events, may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated, or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory, market or economic developments. Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and may be subject to higher withholding and other taxes.
Futures Contracts Risk. A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater risk of default or of not returning principal and their values tend to be more volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities.
Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. When interest rates decline, interest that a Fund is able to earn on its investments in debt securities may also decline, but the value of those securities may increase.
Investment Style Risk. Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions.
Loan Risk. Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be exposed to highly leveraged borrowers, restrictions on transfer and illiquidity, difficulty in fair valuation, limitations on the exercise of remedies, the inability or unwillingness of assignor(s) on whom a Fund relies to demand and receive loan payments, and potential co-lender liability.
Management Risk. Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk. The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value and become less liquid when defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of rising interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. When interest rates decline or are low, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities can reduce a Fund's returns.
Multi-Manager Management Risk. A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict with those of another sub-adviser.
Options Risk. A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of a loss of premiums without offsetting gains. A Fund that writes options receives a premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
Short Sales Risk. Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Smaller Company Securities Risk. Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies.
Swaps Risk. Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance
Since the Fund does not have annual returns for at least one calendar year, no performance information is shown.
Fund Management
|
Adviser |
Sub-Advisers |
Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since |
|
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
Sudhir Krishnamurthi, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
Chilton Investment Company, LLC |
Richard L. Chilton, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Mellon Capital Management Corporation |
Vassilis Dagioglu, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Passport Capital, LLC |
John Burbank, Portfolio Manager /2014 |
|
|
Pine River Capital Management L.P. |
Brad Berning, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
River Canyon Fund Management LLC |
Soon Pho, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. |
John F. Brennan, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Kent M. Stahl, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Administrator Class shares are generally available through financial intermediaries for the accounts of their customers and directly to institutional investors and individuals. Institutional investors may include corporations; private banks and trust companies; endowments and foundations; defined contribution, defined benefit and other employer sponsored retirement plans; institutional retirement plan platforms; insurance companies; registered investment advisor firms; bank trusts; 529 college savings plans; family offices; and fund of funds including those managed by Funds Management. In general, you can buy or sell shares of the Fund by mail, internet, phone or wire on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional.
|
Minimum Investments |
To Buy or Sell Shares |
|
Minimum Initial Investment |
Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
Tax Information
Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. However, subsequent withdrawals from such a tax advantaged investment plan may be subject to federal income tax. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.
Key Fund Information
This Prospectus contains information about one or more Funds within the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds® family and is designed to provide you with important information to help you with your investment decisions. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
In this Prospectus, "we" generally refers to Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), the relevant sub-adviser(s), if applicable, or the portfolio manager(s). "We" may also refer to a Fund's other service providers. "You" refers to the shareholder or potential investor.
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
The investment objective of the Fund in this Prospectus is non-fundamental; that is, it can be changed by a vote of the Board of Trustees alone. The objective and strategies description for the Fund tells you:
what the Fund is trying to achieve; and
how we intend to invest your money.
This section also provides a summary of the Fund's principal investment policies and practices.
Principal Risk Factors
This section lists the principal risk factors for the Fund. A complete description of these and other risks is found in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Alternative Strategies Fund
|
Adviser |
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
|
|
Sub-Advisers |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
|
|
Portfolio Managers |
Sudhir Krisnamurthi |
|
|
Fund Inception |
April 30, 2014 |
|
|
Administrator Class |
Ticker: WADTX |
Fund Number: 3775 |
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The Fund's Board of Trustees can change this investment objective without a shareholder vote.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies
Equity hedged strategies combine core long and short positions in stocks, stock indices, or derivatives related to the equity markets. Equity hedged sub-advisers attempt to generate long-term capital appreciation by developing and actively managing equity portfolios that include both long and short positions. In general, equity hedged sub-advisers buy securities that they expect to outperform or that they believe are undervalued, and sell short securities that they believe will underperform, or that they believe are overvalued. Equity hedged sub-advisers may also sell short securities, as well as derivative instruments in the form of index ETFs, futures, options, and other baskets of securities, in order to hedge broad market exposure or manage overall beta to equity markets. Within this framework, equity hedged sub-advisers may exhibit a range of styles, including longer-term buy-and-hold investing and/or shorter-term trading styles. These sub-advisers will generally be "long-biased" meaning they will hold a greater percentage of the portfolio in long positions rather than short positions.
Event Driven Strategies
Event driven strategies seek to earn excess return through the purchase and sale of securities based on anticipated outcomes of company-specific or transaction-specific situations, such as spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies, recapitalizations, and share buybacks. Event driven strategies include, among others, the following:
Merger Arbitrage: Merger arbitrage sub-advisers seek to profit by taking advantage of differences between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the anticipated outcome of a potential merger.
Distressed Securities: Distressed securities sub-advisers generally invest in securities of financially troubled companies (such as, companies involved in bankruptcies, exchange offers, workouts, financial reorganizations, and other special credit event related transactions).
Special Situations: Special situations sub-advisers seek to profit by capturing discrepancies in valuation between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the occurrence of a corporate restructuring, reorganization or a significant alteration in the company's strategy or product mix, among others.
Global Macro Strategies
Global macro strategies involve investing in equity, fixed-income, foreign exchange or commodity markets around the world based on underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. Monetary policy shifts, fiscal policy shifts, gross domestic product growth or inflation all may be considered in developing a market view. Global macro sub-advisers establish opportunistic long or short market positions to seek to benefit from anticipated market moves. Global macro sub-advisers tend to make significant use of derivatives and leverage. These strategies include, among others, the following:
Discretionary: Discretionary macro strategy involves constructing long and short market positions around fundamental macro-economic or technical views. The main distinction of this strategy is that it tends to be focused on one or two subsets of global capital markets. For example, a discretionary sub-adviser may focus on foreign exchange and bond trading in the Group of Ten (G-10) markets. Other sub-advisers in this category may focus on less efficient markets, such as emerging markets, where they believe that it is possible to maintain an information edge over the market.
Systematic: Systematic macro strategy involves the quantitative trading of listed financial or commodity futures and currencies in markets around the world. Systematic sub-advisers tend to utilize sophisticated technical models to analyze price and market data to identify trends or price reversals across a broad range of markets. Derivative instruments are generally used by systematic sub-advisers to leverage their portfolios.
Relative Value Strategies
Relative value strategies include a range of different investment styles. These strategies seek to generate profits by exploiting the difference in price between related instruments, rather than because of the direction of the market. Generally, relative value sub-advisers buy a position in one instrument and sell an equivalent amount of another instrument with the expectation that the prices of the two instruments are not only historically related but also that they have deviated from their historical trading patterns. Profits may be generated if this unusual price deviation diminishes, and the prices of the two related instruments return to their historical trading patterns. Relative value strategies, among others include the following:
Equity Market Neutral: Equity market neutral strategy seeks to generate profits through the successful selection of equity securities while reducing or eliminating the effects of market-wide or, in some cases, industry- or sector-wide price movements by simultaneously taking long and short positions in or with respect to "matched" equities in approximately equal volumes.
Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible arbitrage strategy generally involves the simultaneous purchase and short sale of convertible bond issues of the same issuer. Often, the arbitrage involves the purchase of a convertible bond issued by the issuer and the short sale of that issuer's common stock. Sub-advisers may also seek to hedge out any interest rate risk as needed.
We may actively trade portfolio securities, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund's performance. In addition, active trading of portfolio securities may lead to higher taxes if your shares are held in a taxable account.
The Fund may hold some of its assets in cash or in money market instruments, including U.S. Government obligations, shares of other mutual funds and repurchase agreements, or make other short-term investments for purposes of maintaining liquidity or for short-term defensive purposes when we believe it is in the best interests of the shareholders to do so. During these periods, the Fund may not achieve its objective.
Principal Risk Factors
The Fund is primarily subject to the risks mentioned below.
|
Borrowing Risk Convertible Securities Risk Credit Risk Derivatives Risk Emerging Markets Risk Event Driven Strategies Risk Foreign Currency Contracts Risk Foreign Investment Risk Futures Contracts Risk High Yield Securities Risk Interest Rate Risk |
Investment Style Risk Loan Risk Management Risk Market Risk Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk Multi-Manager Management Risk Options Risk Short Sales Risk Smaller Company Securities Risk Swaps Risk U.S. Government Obligations Risk |
These and other risks could cause you to lose money in your investment in the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund's net asset value and total return. These risks are described in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section.
Portfolio Asset Allocation
The following table provides the Fund's current target allocation ranges. The Fund may change these allocation ranges at any time, may choose to not allocate to one or more investment strategies and may add additional strategies in the future.
|
|
|
|
Investment Strategies |
Target Allocation |
|
Equity Hedged |
25-55% |
|
Event Driven |
10-40% |
|
Global Macro |
10-25% |
|
Relative Value |
10-35% |
Description of Principal Investment Risks
Understanding the risks involved in mutual fund investing will help you make an informed decision that takes into account your risk tolerance and preferences. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on the Fund as a whole are called "principal risks." The principal risks for the Fund have been previously identified and are described below. Additional information about the principal risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Borrowing Risk
If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or
the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money
for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered
with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than
if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk
A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are
typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest
rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company. A convertible
security is also exposed to the risk that an issuer is unable to meet its obligation to make dividend or interest and principal
payments when due as a result of changing financial or market conditions. In the event of a liquidation of the issuer, holders
of a convertible security would generally be paid only after holders of any senior debt obligations. A Fund may be forced
to convert a convertible security before it would otherwise choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Credit Risk
The issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by a Fund may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay
principal when they become due. In these instances, the value of an investment could decline and the Fund could lose money.
Credit risk increases as an issuer's credit quality declines.
Derivatives Risk
The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, presents risks different from, and possibly greater
than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because
of adverse movements in the price or value of the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the derivatives themselves,
which may be magnified by certain features of the derivatives. These risks are heightened when derivatives are used to enhance
a Fund's return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or mitigate) the risk of a position
or security held by the Fund. The success of the adviser's derivative strategies will be affected by its ability to assess
and predict market or economic developments and their impact on the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the
derivatives themselves. Certain derivative instruments may become illiquid and, as a result, may be difficult to sell when
the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so. Certain derivatives create leverage, which can magnify the impact of
a decline in the value of their underlying assets, indexes or rates and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Certain derivatives (e.g., over-the-counter swaps) are also subject to the risk that the counterparty to the derivative contract
will be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations. Changes in laws or regulations may make the use of derivatives
more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the use, value or performance of
derivatives.
Emerging Markets Risk
Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk"
and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. For example, emerging market countries are typically more
dependent on exports and are therefore more vulnerable to recessions in other countries. Emerging markets tend to have less
developed legal and financial systems and a smaller market capitalization than markets in developed countries. Some emerging
markets are subject to greater political instability. Additionally, emerging markets may have more volatile currencies and
be more sensitive than developed markets to a variety of economic factors, including inflation. Emerging market securities
are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during
a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk
A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events,
may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated,
or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur. For example, if the Fund invests in securities in anticipation
of a merger and the deal is terminated prior to closing, the Fund is likely to suffer losses.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk
A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser
may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes. The Fund's gains from positions in foreign currency contracts
may accelerate and/or lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income or gains and its distributions to shareholders. The
Fund's losses from such positions may also lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income and its distributions to shareholders
and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders.
Foreign Investment Risk
Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory,
market or economic developments. Foreign companies may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies,
including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies.
Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Such changes may reduce the U.S. dollar
value of the investments. Foreign investments may be subject to additional risks such as potentially higher withholding and
other taxes, and may also be subject to greater trade settlement, custodial, and other operational risks than domestic investments.
Certain foreign markets may also be characterized by less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards.
Futures Contracts Risk
A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated
market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures
contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market
for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk
High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater
risk of default (or in the case of bonds currently in default, of not returning principal) and their values tend to be more
volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities. Additionally, these securities tend to be less liquid and more
difficult to value than higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk
When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. The longer the terms of the debt securities held by
a Fund, the more the Fund is subject to this risk. If interest rates decline, interest that the Fund is able to earn on its
investments in debt securities may also decline, which could cause the Fund to reduce the dividends it pays to shareholders,
but the value of those securities may increase. Some debt securities give the issuers the option to call, redeem or prepay
the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls, redeems or prepays a debt security during a time of declining
interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in a security offering a lower yield, and therefore might not
benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies
may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the debt securities market, reduced liquidity for certain Fund investments
and an increase in Fund redemptions. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden
and unpredictable.
Investment Style Risk
Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift
into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions. As a result, a
Fund's performance may at times be worse than the performance of other mutual funds that invest more broadly or in securities
of a different investment style.
Loan Risk
Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be made to finance
highly leveraged corporate operations or acquisitions. The highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in such transactions
may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in financial, economic or market conditions. Loans generally
are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell such loans in secondary markets.
As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell loans at a desired time or price. If the Fund acquires only an assignment or a participation
in a loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control amendments, waivers or the exercise of any remedies that
a lender would have under a direct loan and may assume liability as a lender.
Management Risk
Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not
produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds
with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk
The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other
factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline
significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market
and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during
periods of economic downturn. Defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets may cause such securities to decline in value
and become less liquid. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive
to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates,
these securities may exhibit additional volatility. When interest rates decline or are low, borrowers may pay off their mortgage
or other debts sooner than expected, which can reduce the returns of a Fund.
Multi-Manager Management Risk
A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict
with those of another sub-adviser. For example, at any particular time a sub-adviser may purchase a security being sold by
another sub-adviser, resulting in transaction costs with potentially no change to the Fund's overall portfolio.
Options Risk
A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that gains, if any, realized on the
position, will be less than the amount paid as premiums to the writer of the option. A Fund that writes options receives a
premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
A Fund that writes covered call options gives up the opportunity to profit from any price increase in the underlying security
above the option exercise price while the option is in effect. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments.
In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in values of options and their underlying
securities and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options.
Short Sales Risk
Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can
magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. If the
price of a security which the Fund has sold short increases between the time of the short sale and when the position is closed
out, the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time of the short sale plus any related interest payments,
dividends, transaction or other costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short position
at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price
of the security to rise, potentially exacerbating a loss or reducing a gain. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risk
that the lender of a security will terminate the loan at a time when the Fund is unable to borrow the same instrument from
another lender. A Fund that uses short sales is subject to the risk that its prime broker will be unwilling or unable to perform
its contractual obligations. Regulatory restrictions limit the extent to which the Fund may engage in short sales.
Smaller Company Securities Risk
Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger
companies. Smaller companies may have no or relatively short operating histories, limited financial resources or may be newly
public companies. Some of these companies have aggressive capital structures, including high debt levels, or are involved
in rapidly growing or changing industries and/or new technologies.
Swaps Risk
Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types
of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values,
mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices
or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk
U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
If a government-sponsored entity is unable to meet its obligations or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a
Fund that holds securities issued or guaranteed by the entity will be adversely impacted.
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. In addition, Funds Management will, from time to time, include portfolio holdings information in periodic commentaries for the Fund. The substance of the information contained in such commentaries will also be posted to the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Organization and Management of the Fund
About Wells Fargo Funds Trust
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 10, 1999. The Board of Trustees of the Trust ("Board") supervises the Fund's activities, monitors its contractual arrangements with various service providers and decides on matters of general policy.
The Board supervises the Fund and approves the selection of various companies hired to manage the Fund's operations. Except for the Fund's advisers, which generally may be changed only with shareholder approval, other service providers may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Adviser
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), headquartered at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as adviser for the Fund. Funds Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, a publicly traded diversified financial services company that provides banking, insurance, investment, mortgage and consumer financial services. Funds Management is a registered investment adviser that provides advisory services for registered mutual funds, closed-end funds and other funds and accounts.
As adviser, Funds Management is responsible for implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund. To assist Funds Management in performing these responsibilities, Funds Management has contracted with one or more sub-advisers to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. Funds Management employs a team of investment professionals who identify and recommend the initial hiring of the Fund's sub-adviser(s) and supervise and monitor the activities of the sub-adviser(s) on an ongoing basis. Funds Management retains overall responsibility for the management of the Fund.
Funds Management's investment professionals review and analyze the Fund's performance, including relative to peer funds, and monitor the Fund's compliance with its investment objective and strategies. Funds Management is responsible for reporting to the Board on investment performance and other matters affecting the Fund. When appropriate, Funds Management recommends to the Board enhancements to Fund features, including changes to Fund investment objectives, strategies and policies. Funds Management also communicates with shareholders and intermediaries about Fund performance and features.
For providing these advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive the fees disclosed in the row captioned "Management Fees" in the Fund's table of Annual Fund Operating Expenses. Funds Management compensates the sub-adviser(s) from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as adviser to the Fund.
Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has not yet paid an advisory fee to Funds Management.
As compensation for its advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive a monthly fee at the annual rates indicated below of the Fund's average daily net assets:
|
Fund |
Fee |
|
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
First $500M |
1.80% |
|
Next $500M |
1.75% |
|
|
Next $1B |
1.70% |
|
|
Next $2B |
1.68% |
|
|
Over $4B |
1.65% |
The Sub-Advisers and Portfolio Managers
Subject to the direction of the Board and overall supervision and control of Funds Management and the Trust, The Rock Creek Group, LP ("Rock Creek") makes recommendations regarding the selection of sub-advisers and allocates and reallocates the Fund's assets across investment strategies and sub-advisers. Subject to the direction of the Board and the overall supervision and control of Funds Management, Rock Creek and the Trust, the following sub-advisers (including Rock Creek) and portfolio managers provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. These services include making purchases and sales of securities and other investment assets for the Fund, selecting broker-dealers, negotiating brokerage commission rates and maintaining portfolio transaction records. Each sub-adviser is compensated for its services by Funds Management from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as investment adviser to the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.
Rock Creek, a registered investment adviser located at 1133 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. In addition to the Fund, Rock Creek, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advice to foundations, endowments, state and public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors.
|
Sudhir Krishnamurthi |
Dr. Krishnamurthi is Senior Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2002 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
|
Kenneth LaPlace |
Mr. LaPlace is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2003 and is a senior member of the Investment and Portfolio Management team. |
|
Ronald van der Wouden |
Mr. van der Wouden is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2005 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
Chilton Investment Company, LLC ("Chilton Investment Company"), a registered investment adviser located at 1290 East Main Street, Stamford, CT, 06902, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Chilton Investment Company manages registered funds, private investment funds, and private accounts for foundations, endowments, high net worth individuals or families, pension plans or institutional investors. The firm's investment philosophy is to seek to produce superior investment returns by aggessiverly pursuing capital appreciation in rising markets and aiming to preserve capital in declining markets.
|
Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
Mr. Chilton founded Chilton Investment Company, Inc. in 1992 and its subsidairy, Chilton Investment Company, in 2005, where he currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. |
Mellon Capital Management Corporation ("Mellon Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Mellon Capital has been providing investment advisory services since 1983 and provides investment advisory services primarily to institutional clients principally through separate accounts and a variety of commingled funds. Mellon Capital is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a publicly traded company, and is affiliated with a number of other investment organizations through BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
|
Vassilis Dagioglu |
Mr. Dagioglu joined Mellon Capital in 2000, where he currently serves as a Managing Director and Head of Asset Allocation Portfolio Management. He is a member of the Risk Management, Investment Management, Fiduciary, and Senior Management committees. |
Passport Capital, LLC ("Passport Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at One Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Passport has been managing client assets since August 2000 and primarily manages privately offered pooled investment vehicles, managed accounts and non-discretionary accounts. Passport Capital seeks to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns through a combination of macroeconomic analysis, fundamental research and quantitative tools.
|
John Burbank |
Mr. Burbank founded Passport Capital in 2000 where he currently serves as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. |
|
Tim Garry |
Mr. Garry joined Passport Capital in 2008 where he currently serves as Chairman of the Risk Committee and Portfolio Manager. |
Pine River Capital Management L.P. ("Pine River"), a registered investment adviser located at 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Pine River, an affiliate of Pine River Domestic Management L.P. and certain other subadvisory affiliates including Pine River Capital Partners (UK) LLP, and Pine River Capital Management (HK) Limited, is a global asset management firm focusing on relative value strategies across a full range of financial markets and providing investment solutions to institutional clients across three actively managed platforms: hedge funds, separate accounts and listed investment vehicles.
|
Brad Berning |
Mr. Berning joined Pine River in 2011, where he currently serves as a Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Brad served as an Analyst, an Assistant Portfolio Manager and a Co-Founding Partner at FrontPoint Financial Services from 2004 to 2010. |
River Canyon Fund Management LLC ("River Canyon"), a registered investment adviser located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. River Canyon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canyon Capital Advisors LLC, was formed in 2013 for the purpose of advising registered investment companies.
|
Soon Pho |
Mr. Pho joined River Canyon or an affiliate in 2001, where he currently serves as a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager. |
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. ("Sirios"), a registered investment adviser located at One International Place, Boston, MA 02110, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Sirios provides investment management services to clients including collective investment vehicles, accounts held by single investors and registered funds. Sirios is a fundamentally-driven investment firm that concentrates its investments in the consumer, energy/industrials, financials, healthcare and technology/telecommunications sectors.
|
John F. Brennan, Jr. |
Mr. Brennan co-founded Sirios in 1999, where he currently serves as its Managing Director. |
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management"), a registered investment adviser located at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years.
|
Kent M. Stahl, CFA |
Mr. Stahl joined Wellington Management in 1998, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Investments and Risk Management. |
|
Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Mr. Thomas joined Wellington Management in 2002, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Risk Management. |
Multi-Manager Arrangement
The Fund and Funds Management have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits Funds Management, subject to the
approval of the Board, to select or replace certain sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets and enter
into or amend a sub-advisory agreement with certain sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval ("Multi-Manager Structure").
The Multi-Manager Structure applies to sub-advisers that are not affiliated with Funds Management or the Fund, except to the
extent that affiliation arises solely because such sub-advisers provide sub-advisory services to the Fund ("Non-Affiliated
Sub-Advisers"), as well as sub-advisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Funds Management or of another
company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Funds Management ("Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers").
Pursuant to the SEC order, Funds Management, with the approval of the Board, has the discretion to select and allocate and
reallocate the Fund's assets among any other Non-Affiliated Sub-Advisers or Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers. Funds Management, subject
to oversight and supervision by the Board, has responsibility to oversee any sub-adviser to the Fund and to recommend the
removal and replacement of sub-advisers for the Fund. In the event that a new sub-adviser is hired pursuant to the Multi-Manager
Structure, the Fund is required to provide notice to shareholders within 90 days.
Compensation to Dealers and Shareholder Servicing Agents
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Fund has a shareholder servicing plan. Under this plan, various shareholder servicing agents have been authorized to process
purchase and redemption requests, to service shareholder accounts, and to provide other related services for the Fund's Administrator
Class. For these services, the Fund's Administrator Class pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets.
Additional Payments to Dealers
In addition to dealer reallowances and payments made by the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing, the Fund's adviser,
the distributor or their affiliates make additional payments ("Additional Payments") to certain selling or shareholder servicing
agents for the Fund, which include broker-dealers and 401(k) service providers and recordkeepers. These Additional Payments
are made in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Fund or for services to the Fund and its shareholders.
These Additional Payments, which may be significant, are paid by the Fund's adviser, the distributor or their affiliates,
out of their revenues, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the entire Fund complex.
In return for these Additional Payments, the Fund's adviser and distributor expect the Fund to receive certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments. Such advantages are expected to include, without limitation, placement of the Fund on a list of mutual funds offered as investment options to the selling agent's clients (sometimes referred to as "Shelf Space"); access to the selling agent's registered representatives; and/or ability to assist in training and educating the selling agent's registered representatives.
Certain selling or shareholder servicing agents receive these Additional Payments to supplement amounts payable by the Fund under the shareholder servicing plans. In exchange, these agents may provide services including, but not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records; answering inquiries regarding purchases, exchanges and redemptions; processing and verifying purchase, redemption and exchange transactions; furnishing account statements and confirmations of transactions; processing and mailing monthly statements, prospectuses, shareholder reports and other SEC-required communications; and providing the types of services that might typically be provided by the Fund's transfer agent (e.g., the maintenance of omnibus or omnibus-like accounts, the use of the National Securities Clearing Corporation for the transmission of transaction information and the transmission of shareholder mailings).
The Additional Payments may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a selling agent who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial consultant and review carefully any disclosure by the selling agent as to what monies they receive from mutual fund advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial consultant is compensated.
The Additional Payments are typically paid in fixed dollar amounts, or based on the number of customer accounts maintained by the selling or shareholder servicing agent, or based on a percentage of sales and/or assets under management, or a combination of the above. The Additional Payments are either up-front or ongoing or both. The Additional Payments differ among selling and shareholder servicing agents. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on its customers' assets typically range between 0.05% and 0.30% in a given year of assets invested in the Fund by the selling agent's customers. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on a percentage of sales typically range between 0.10% and 0.15% of the gross sales of the Fund attributable to the selling agent. In addition, representatives of the Fund's distributor visit selling agents on a regular basis to educate their registered representatives and to encourage the sale of Fund shares. The costs associated with such visits may be paid for by the Fund's adviser, distributor, or their affiliates, subject to applicable FINRA regulations.
More information on the FINRA member firms that have received the Additional Payments described in this section is available in the Statement of Additional Information, which is on file with the SEC and is also available on the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Pricing Fund Shares
The share price ("net asset value per share" or "NAV") for a Fund is calculated each business day as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4 p.m. ET). To calculate a Fund's NAV, the Fund's assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The price at which a purchase or redemption of Fund shares is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the order is placed. The Fund does not calculate its NAV on days the NYSE is closed for trading, which include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets that may be invested in other mutual funds, the Fund's NAV is calculated based upon the net asset values of the other mutual funds in which the Fund invests, and the prospectuses for those companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets invested directly in securities, the Fund's investments are generally valued at current market prices. Securities are generally valued based on the last sale price during the regular trading session if the security trades on an exchange (closing price). Securities that are not traded primarily on an exchange generally are valued using latest quoted bid prices obtained by an independent pricing service. Securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., however, are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price ("NOCP"), and if no NOCP is available, then at the last reported sales price.
We are required to depart from these general valuation methods and use fair value pricing methods to determine the values of certain investments if we believe that the closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security, including securities that trade primarily on a foreign exchange, does not accurately reflect its current value when the Fund calculates its NAV. In addition, we use fair value pricing to determine the value of investments in securities and other assets, including illiquid securities, for which current market quotations are not readily available. The closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security may not reflect its current value if, among other things, a significant event occurs after the closing price or latest quoted bid price but before a Fund calculates its NAV that materially affects the value of the security. We use various criteria, including a systematic evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in deciding whether a foreign security's market price is still reliable and, if not, what fair market value to assign to the security.
In light of the judgment involved in fair value decisions, there can be no assurance that a fair value assigned to a particular security is accurate or that it reflects the price that the Fund could obtain for such security if it were to sell the security as of the time of fair value pricing. Such fair value pricing may result in NAVs that are higher or lower than NAVs based on the closing price or latest quoted bid price. See the Statement of Additional Information for additional details regarding the pricing of Fund shares.
How to Buy Shares
Administrator Class shares are generally available through financial intermediaries for the accounts of their customers and directly to institutional investors and individuals. Institutional investors may include corporations; private banks; trust companies; endowments and foundations; defined contribution, defined benefit and other employer sponsored retirement plans; institutional retirement plan platforms; insurance companies; registered investment advisor firms; bank trusts; 529 college savings plans; family offices; and fund of funds including those managed by Funds Management. Specific eligibility requirements that apply to these entities include:
Employee benefit plan programs;
Broker-dealer managed account or wrap programs that charge an asset-based fee;
Registered investment adviser mutual fund wrap programs or other accounts that are charged a fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services;
Private bank and trust company managed accounts or wrap programs that charge an asset-based fee;
Internal Revenue Code Section 529 college savings plan accounts;
Fund of Funds including those advised by Funds Management;
Investment Management and Trust Departments of Wells Fargo purchasing shares on behalf of their clients;
Endowments, non-profits, and charitable organizations who invest a minimum initial amount of $500,000 in a Fund;
Any other institutions or customers of financial intermediaries who invest a minimum initial investment amount of $1 million in a Fund;
Individual investors who invest a minimum initial investment amount of $1 million directly with a Fund; and
Certain investors and related accounts as detailed in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Any of the minimum initial investment amount waivers listed above may be modified or discontinued at any time.
|
|
|
|
|
Institutions Purchasing |
Opening an Account |
Adding to an Account |
|
By Telephone or Online |
A new account may not be opened by telephone or online unless the institution has another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account. If the institution does not currently have an account, contact your investment representative. |
To buy additional shares or to buy
Call Investor Services at Call 1-800-368-7550 for the Visit our Web site at |
|
By Wire |
Complete and sign the Administrator Class account application Call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 for faxing instructions Use the following wiring instructions: Bank ABA/routing number: 011000028 Bank account number: 9905-437-1 For credit to: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds For further credit to: [Your name (as registered on your fund account) and your fund and account number] |
To buy additional shares, instruct |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes For Buying Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your new account application or purchase request in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to process your transaction.
Earning Distributions. You are eligible to earn distributions beginning on the business day after the transfer agent receives your purchase in proper form.
U.S. Dollars Only. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars and all checks must be drawn on U.S. banks.
Right to Refuse an Order. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if we believe that doing so would be in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders.
Other Share Classes. You may be eligible to invest in one or more classes of shares offered by a Fund. Each of the Fund's share classes bears varying expenses and may differ in other features. Consult your financial intermediary for more information regarding the Fund's available share classes.
Special Considerations When Investing Through Financial Intermediaries:
If a financial intermediary purchases Administrator Class shares on your behalf, you should understand the following:
Minimum Investments and Other Terms of Your Account. Share purchases are made through a customer account at your financial intermediary following that firm's terms. Financial intermediaries may require different minimum investment amounts. Please consult an account representative from your financial intermediary for specifics.
Records are Held in Financial Intermediary's Name. Financial intermediaries are usually the holders of record for Administrator Class shares held through their customer accounts. The financial intermediaries maintain records reflecting their customers' beneficial ownership of the shares.
Purchase/Redemption Orders. Financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting their customers' purchase and redemption orders to a Fund and for delivering required payment on a timely basis.
Shareholder Communications. Financial intermediaries are responsible for delivering shareholder communications and voting information from a Fund, and for transmitting shareholder voting instructions to a Fund.
The information provided in this Prospectus is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would subject Fund shares to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country.
The Fund is distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC, and an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC") information and brochure are available at SIPC.org or by calling SIPC at (202) 371-8300.
How to Sell Shares
Administrator Class shares must be redeemed according to the terms of your customer account with your financial intermediary. You should contact your investment representative when you wish to sell Fund shares.
|
Institutions Selling Shares Directly |
To Sell Some or All of Your Shares |
|
By Telephone / Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) |
To speak with an investor services representative call 1-800-222-8222 or use the automated phone system at 1-800-368-7550. Redemptions processed by EFT to a linked Wells Fargo Bank account occur same day for Wells Fargo Advantage money market funds,
and next day for all other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Transfers made to a Wells Fargo Bank account are made available sooner than transfers to an unaffiliated institution. Redemptions to any other linked bank account may post in two business days, please check with your financial institution for
funds posting and availability. |
|
By Wire |
To arrange for a Federal Funds wire, call 1-800-222-8222. Be prepared to provide information on the commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. Redemption proceeds are usually wired to the financial intermediary the following business day. |
|
Online |
Visit our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes for Selling Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your request to sell shares in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your request to sell shares is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, it will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to sell your shares.
Earning Distributions. Your shares are eligible to earn distributions through the date of redemption. If you redeem shares on a Friday or prior to a holiday, your shares will continue to be eligible to earn distributions until the next business day.
Right to Delay Payment. We normally will send out checks within one business day, and in any event no more than seven days, after we accept your request to redeem. If you redeem shares recently purchased by check or through Electronic Funds Transfer, you may be required to wait up to seven business days before we will send your redemption proceeds. Our ability to determine with reasonable certainty that investments have been finally collected is greater for investments coming from accounts with banks affiliated with Funds Management than it is for investments coming from accounts with unaffiliated banks. Redemption payments also may be delayed under extraordinary circumstances or as permitted by the SEC in order to protect remaining shareholders. Such extraordinary circumstances are discussed further in the Statement of Additional Information.
Redemption in Kind. Although generally we pay redemption requests in cash, we reserve the right to determine in our sole discretion, whether to satisfy redemption requests by making payment in securities (known as a redemption in kind). In such case, we may pay all or part of the redemption in securities of equal value as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder. The redeeming shareholders should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received.
Retirement Plans and Other Products. If you purchased shares through a packaged investment product or retirement plan, read the directions for selling shares provided by the product or plan. There may be special requirements that supersede the directions in this Prospectus.
How to Exchange Shares
Exchanges between Wells Fargo Advantage Funds involve two transactions: (1) a sale of shares of one Fund; and (2) the purchase of shares of another. In general, the same rules and procedures that apply to sales and purchases apply to exchanges. There are, however, additional factors you should keep in mind while making or considering an exchange:
In general, exchanges may be made between like share classes of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund offered to the general public for investment (i.e., a Fund not closed to new accounts), with the following exception: Class A shares of non-money market funds may also be exchanged for Service Class shares of any money market fund.
Same-fund exchanges between share classes are permitted subject to the following conditions: (1) exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares would not be allowed if shares are subject to a CDSC; (2) for exchanges into Class A shares, the shareholder must meet all qualifications to purchase Class A shares at net asset value based on current prospectus guidelines; and (3) the shareholder must meet the eligibility guidelines of the class being purchased in the exchange.
An exchange request will be processed on the same business day, provided that both Funds are open at the time the request is received. If one or both Funds are closed, the exchange will be processed on the following business day.
You should carefully read the prospectus for the Wells Fargo Advantage Fund into which you wish to exchange.
Every exchange involves selling Fund shares, which may produce a capital gain or loss for tax purposes.
If you are making an initial investment into a Fund through an exchange, you must exchange at least the minimum initial purchase amount for the new Fund, unless your balance has fallen below that amount due to investment performance.
Any exchange between two Wells Fargo Advantage Funds must meet the minimum subsequent purchase amounts.
Class B and Class C share exchanges will not trigger the CDSC. The new shares will continue to age according to their original schedule and will be charged the CDSC applicable to the original shares upon redemption.
Generally, we will notify you at least 60 days in advance of any changes in our exchange policy.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. Purchases or exchanges that a Fund determines could harm the Fund may be rejected.
Excessive trading by Fund shareholders can negatively impact a Fund and its long-term shareholders in several ways, including disrupting Fund investment strategies, increasing transaction costs, decreasing tax efficiency, and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Excessive trading in Fund shares can negatively impact a Fund's long-term performance by requiring it to maintain more assets in cash or to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time. Certain Funds may be more susceptible than others to these negative effects. For example, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in non-U.S. securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities resulting from pricing variations due to time zone differences across international financial markets. Similarly, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in small company securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities due to the less liquid nature of small company securities. Both types of Funds also may incur higher transaction costs in liquidating portfolio holdings to meet excessive redemption levels. Fair value pricing may reduce these arbitrage opportunities, thereby reducing some of the negative effects of excessive trading.
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, other than the Adjustable Rate Government Fund, Conservative Income Fund, Ultra Short-Term Income Fund and Ultra Short-Term Municipal Income Fund ("Ultra-Short Funds") and the money market funds, (the "Covered Funds"). The Covered Funds are not designed to serve as vehicles for frequent trading. The Covered Funds actively discourage and take steps to prevent the portfolio disruption and negative effects on long-term shareholders that can result from excessive trading activity by Covered Fund shareholders. The Board has approved the Covered Funds' policies and procedures, which provide, among other things, that Funds Management may deem trading activity to be excessive if it determines that such trading activity would likely be disruptive to a Covered Fund by increasing expenses or lowering returns. In this regard, the Covered Funds take steps to avoid accommodating frequent purchases and redemptions of shares by Covered Fund shareholders. Funds Management monitors available shareholder trading information across all Covered Funds on a daily basis. If a shareholder redeems more than $5,000 (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) from a Covered Fund, that shareholder is "blocked" from purchasing shares of that Covered Fund (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction) for 30 calendar days after the redemption. This policy does not apply to:
Money market funds;
Ultra-Short Funds;
Dividend reinvestments;
Systematic investments or exchanges where the financial intermediary maintaining the shareholder account identifies the transaction as a systematic redemption or purchase at the time of the transaction;
Rebalancing transactions within certain asset allocation or "wrap" programs where the financial intermediary maintaining a shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as part of an asset allocation program approved by Funds Management;
Transactions initiated by a "fund of funds" or Section 529 Plan into an underlying fund investment;
Permitted exchanges between share classes of the same Fund;
Certain transactions involving participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, including: participant withdrawals due to mandatory distributions, rollovers and hardships, withdrawals of shares acquired by participants through payroll deductions, and shares acquired or sold by a participant in connection with plan loans; and
Purchases below $5,000 (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction).
The money market funds and the Ultra-Short Funds. Because the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds are often used for short-term investments, they are designed to accommodate more frequent purchases and redemptions than the Covered Funds. As a result, the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not anticipate that frequent purchases and redemptions, under normal circumstances, will have significant adverse consequences to the money market funds or Ultra-Short Funds or their shareholders. Although the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not prohibit frequent trading, Funds Management will seek to prevent an investor from utilizing the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds to facilitate frequent purchases and redemptions of shares in the Covered Funds in contravention of the policies and procedures adopted by the Covered Funds.
All Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. In addition, Funds Management reserves the right to accept purchases, redemptions and exchanges made in excess of applicable trading restrictions in designated accounts held by Funds Management or its affiliate that are used at all times exclusively for addressing operational matters related to shareholder accounts, such as testing of account functions, and are maintained at low balances that do not exceed specified dollar amount limitations.
In the event that an asset allocation or "wrap" program is unable to implement the policy outlined above, Funds Management may grant a program-level exception to this policy. A financial intermediary relying on the exception is required to provide Funds Management with specific information regarding its program and ongoing information about its program upon request.
A financial intermediary through whom you may purchase shares of the Fund may independently attempt to identify excessive trading and take steps to deter such activity. As a result, a financial intermediary may on its own limit or permit trading activity of its customers who invest in Fund shares using standards different from the standards used by Funds Management and discussed in this Prospectus. Funds Management may permit a financial intermediary to enforce its own internal policies and procedures concerning frequent trading rather than the policies set forth above in instances where Funds Management reasonably believes that the intermediary's policies and procedures effectively discourage disruptive trading activity. If you purchase Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact the intermediary for more information about whether and how restrictions or limitations on trading activity will be applied to your account.
Account Policies
Advance Notice of Large Transactions
We strongly urge you to begin all purchases and redemptions as early in the day as possible and to notify us at least one
day in advance of transactions in excess of $5,000,000. This will allow us to manage your Fund most effectively. When you
give us this advance notice, you must provide us with your name and account number.
Householding
To help keep Fund expenses low, a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report may be sent to shareholders of the same
household. If your household currently receives a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report and you would prefer to
receive multiple copies, please contact your financial intermediary.
Retirement Accounts
We offer prototype documents for a variety of retirement accounts for individuals and small businesses. Please call 1-800-222-8222
for information on:
Individual Retirement Plans, including Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.
Qualified Retirement Plans, including Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs, Keoghs, Pension Plans, Profit-Sharing Plans, and 401(k) Plans.
There may be special distribution requirements for a retirement account, such as required distributions or mandatory Federal income tax withholdings. For more information, call the number listed above. For retirement accounts held directly with the Fund, certain fees may apply, including an annual account maintenance fee.
Small Account Redemptions
We reserve the right to redeem certain accounts that fall below the minimum initial investment amount as the result of shareholder
redemptions (as opposed to market movement). Before doing so, we will give you approximately 60 days to bring your account
above the minimum investment amount. Please call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 or contact your selling agent for further
details.
Statements and Confirmations
Statements summarizing activity in your account are mailed quarterly. Confirmations are mailed following each purchase, sale,
exchange, or transfer of Fund shares, except generally for Automatic Investment Plan transactions, Systematic Withdrawal Plan
transactions using Electronic Funds Transfer, and purchases of new shares through the automatic reinvestment of distributions.
Upon your request and for the applicable fee, you may obtain a reprint of an account statement. Please call Investor Services
at 1-800-222-8222 for more information.
Electronic Delivery of Fund Documents
You may elect to receive your Fund prospectuses, shareholder reports and other Fund documents electronically in lieu of paper
form by enrolling on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery. If you make this election, you will be notified
by e-mail when the most recent Fund documents are available for electronic viewing and downloading.
To receive Fund documents electronically, you must have an e-mail account and an internet browser that meets the requirements described in the Privacy & Security section of the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. You may change your electronic delivery preferences or revoke your election to receive Fund documents electronically at any time by visiting wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.
Statement Inquiries
Contact us in writing regarding any errors or discrepancies noted on your account statement within 60 days after the date
of the statement confirming a transaction. We may deny your ability to refute a transaction if we do not hear from you within
those 60 days.
Transaction Authorizations
Telephone, electronic, and clearing agency privileges allow us to accept transaction instructions by anyone representing
themselves as the shareholder and who provides reasonable confirmation of their identity. Neither we nor Wells Fargo Advantage Funds will be liable for any losses incurred if we follow such instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. For transactions
through the automated phone system and our Web site, we will assign personal identification numbers (PINs) and/or passwords
to help protect your account information. To safeguard your account, please keep your PINs and passwords confidential. Contact
us immediately if you believe there is a discrepancy on your confirmation statement or if you believe someone has obtained
unauthorized access to your account, PIN or password.
USA PATRIOT Act
In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, all financial institutions (including mutual funds) at the time an account is opened,
are required to obtain, verify and record the following information for all registered owners or others who may be authorized
to act on the account: full name, date of birth, taxpayer identification number (usually your Social Security Number), and
permanent street address. Corporate, trust and other entity accounts require additional documentation. This information will
be used to verify your identity. We will return your application if any of this information is missing, and we may request
additional information from you for verification purposes. In the rare event that we are unable to verify your identity, we
reserve the right to redeem your account at the current day's NAV. You will be responsible for any losses, taxes, expenses,
fees, or other results of such a redemption.
Distributions
The Fund generally makes distributions of any net investment income and any realized net capital gains at least annually. Please contact your institution for distribution options. Remember, distributions have the effect of reducing the NAV per share by the amount distributed.
Taxes
The following discussion regarding federal income taxes is based on laws that were in effect as of the date of this Prospectus and summarizes only some of the important federal income tax considerations affecting a Fund and you as a shareholder. It does not apply to foreign or tax-exempt shareholders or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) Plan or IRA. This discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional federal income tax information.
We will pass on to a Fund's shareholders substantially all of the Fund's net investment income and realized net capital gains, if any. Distributions from a Fund's ordinary income and net short-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from a Fund's net long-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain.
Corporate shareholders may be able to deduct a portion of their distributions when determining their taxable income.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended certain tax rates except those that applied to individual taxpayers with taxable incomes above $400,000 ($450,000 for married taxpayers, $425,000 for heads of households). Taxpayers that are not in the new highest tax bracket continue to be subject to a maximum 15% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. For taxpayers in the new highest tax bracket, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends will be 20%. Beginning in 2013, U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), a new 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will apply on "net investment income," including interest, dividends, and capital gains.
Distributions from a Fund normally will be taxable to you when paid, whether you take distributions in cash or automatically reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Following the end of each year, we will notify you of the federal income tax status of your distributions for the year.
If you buy shares of a Fund shortly before it makes a taxable distribution, your distribution will, in effect, be a taxable return of part of your investment. Similarly, if you buy shares of a Fund when it holds appreciated securities, you will receive a taxable return of part of your investment if and when the Fund sells the appreciated securities and distributes the gain. The Fund has built up, or has the potential to build up, high levels of unrealized appreciation.
Your redemptions (including redemptions in-kind) and exchanges of Fund shares ordinarily will result in a taxable capital gain or loss, depending on the amount you receive for your shares (or are deemed to receive in the case of exchanges) and the amount you paid (or are deemed to have paid) for them. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your redeemed or exchanged Fund shares for more than one year at the time of redemption or exchange. In certain circumstances, losses realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares may be disallowed.
In certain circumstances, Fund shareholders may be subject to backup withholding taxes.
Financial Highlights
Since the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this prospectus, financial highlights are not available for the Fund.
| FOR MORE INFORMATION More information on the Fund is available free upon request, including the following documents: Statement of Additional Information
("SAI") Supplements the disclosures made by this Prospectus. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and therefore is legally part of this Prospectus. Annual/Semi-Annual Reports Provide financial and other important information, including a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected Fund performance over the reporting period. To obtain copies of the above documents or for more information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, contact us: By telephone: Individual Investors: 1-800-222-8222 Retail Investment Professionals: 1-888-877-9275 Institutional Investment Professionals: 1-866-765-0778 |
By e-mail: wfaf@wellsfargo.com By mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds P.O. Box 8266 Boston, MA 02266-8266 Online: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com From the SEC: Visit the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (phone 1-202-551-8090 for operational information for the SEC's Public Reference Room) or the SEC's Internet site at sec.gov. To obtain information for a fee, write or email: SEC's Public Reference Section 100 "F" Street, NE Washington, DC 20549-0102 publicinfo@sec.gov |
| © 2014 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved | 054ALAM/P703 5-14 ICA Reg. No. 811-09253 |
|
|
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
| |
May 1, 2014 |
Alternative Funds
Prospectus
Institutional Class
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
|
WAITX |
As with all mutual funds, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
Fund shares are NOT deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., its affiliates or any other depository institution. Fund shares are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency and may lose value.
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
23 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
28 |
Alternative Strategies Fund Summary
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses
These tables are intended to help you understand the various costs and expenses you will pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
None |
|
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of offering price) |
None |
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees |
1.80% |
|
Distribution (12b-1) Fees |
0.00% |
|
Other Expenses1 |
1.28% |
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
0.09% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses2 |
3.17% |
|
Fee Waivers |
0.20% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver2,3 |
2.97% |
| 1. | Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
| 2. | Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses listed above include 0.68% of dividend and interest expense on short positions and 0.04% of interest expense on borrowings. |
| 3. | The Adviser has committed through November 30, 2015 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 2.25% for Institutional Class. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses from dividend and interest on short positions, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Acquired fund fees and expenses incurred by investments made by The Rock Creek Group, LP, a sub-adviser of the Fund, will be included in the cap. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example of Expenses
The example below is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes a $10,000 initial investment, 5% annual total return, and that operating expenses remain the same as in the tables above. The example also assumes that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver shown above will only be in place for the length of the current waiver commitment. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
After: |
|
|
1 Year |
$300 |
|
3 Years |
$959 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, no history of the portfolio turnover rate is available.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies: Which take long and short positions in equities (and related instruments) believed to be under- and overvalued, respectively. Short positions may also be used solely to hedge broad market exposure.
Event Driven Strategies: Which seek to capitalize on the movements in security prices of companies currently or prospectively involved in a wide variety of corporate transactions.
Global Macro Strategies: Which analyze economic variables in an attempt to forecast future movements in equity, fixed income, currency, and commodity markets.
Relative Value Strategies: Which seek to identify and capitalize on valuation discrepancies between related financial instruments rather than on the direction of the general market.
Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Fund may lose money, is not a deposit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or its affiliates, is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, and is primarily subject to the risks briefly summarized below.
Borrowing Risk. If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company.
Credit Risk. The issuer or guarantor of a debt security may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay principal when they become due, which could cause the value of an investment to decline and a Fund to lose money.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than mitigate risk. Certain derivative instruments may be difficult to sell when the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so, or the other party to a derivative contract may be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.
Emerging Markets Risk. Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk" and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. Emerging market securities are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk. A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events, may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated, or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory, market or economic developments. Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and may be subject to higher withholding and other taxes.
Futures Contracts Risk. A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater risk of default or of not returning principal and their values tend to be more volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities.
Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. When interest rates decline, interest that a Fund is able to earn on its investments in debt securities may also decline, but the value of those securities may increase.
Investment Style Risk. Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions.
Loan Risk. Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be exposed to highly leveraged borrowers, restrictions on transfer and illiquidity, difficulty in fair valuation, limitations on the exercise of remedies, the inability or unwillingness of assignor(s) on whom a Fund relies to demand and receive loan payments, and potential co-lender liability.
Management Risk. Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk. The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may decline in value and become less liquid when defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of rising interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. When interest rates decline or are low, the prepayment of mortgages or assets underlying such securities can reduce a Fund's returns.
Multi-Manager Management Risk. A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict with those of another sub-adviser.
Options Risk. A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of a loss of premiums without offsetting gains. A Fund that writes options receives a premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
Short Sales Risk. Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Smaller Company Securities Risk. Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies.
Swaps Risk. Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance
Since the Fund does not have annual returns for at least one calendar year, no performance information is shown.
Fund Management
|
Adviser |
Sub-Advisers |
Portfolio Manager, Title/Managed Since |
|
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
Sudhir Krishnamurthi, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
Chilton Investment Company, LLC |
Richard L. Chilton, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Mellon Capital Management Corporation |
Vassilis Dagioglu, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Passport Capital, LLC |
John Burbank, Portfolio Manager /2014 |
|
|
Pine River Capital Management L.P. |
Brad Berning, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
River Canyon Fund Management LLC |
Soon Pho, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. |
John F. Brennan, Jr., Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Kent M. Stahl, CFA, Portfolio Manager / 2014 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Institutional Class shares are generally available through financial intermediaries for the accounts of their customers and directly to institutional investors and individuals. Institutional investors may include corporations; private banks and trust companies; endowments and foundations; defined contribution, defined benefit and other employer sponsored retirement plans; institutional retirement plan platforms; insurance companies; registered investment advisor firms; bank trusts; 529 college savings plans; family offices; and fund of funds including those managed by Funds Management. In general, you can buy or sell shares of the Fund by mail, internet, phone or wire on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional.
|
Minimum Investments |
To Buy or Sell Shares |
|
Minimum Initial Investment |
Mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
Tax Information
Any distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax advantaged investment plan. However, subsequent withdrawals from such a tax advantaged investment plan may be subject to federal income tax. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Consult your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.
Key Fund Information
This Prospectus contains information about one or more Funds within the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds® family and is designed to provide you with important information to help you with your investment decisions. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
In this Prospectus, "we" generally refers to Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), the relevant sub-adviser(s), if applicable, or the portfolio manager(s). "We" may also refer to a Fund's other service providers. "You" refers to the shareholder or potential investor.
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
The investment objective of the Fund in this Prospectus is non-fundamental; that is, it can be changed by a vote of the Board of Trustees alone. The objective and strategies description for the Fund tells you:
what the Fund is trying to achieve; and
how we intend to invest your money.
This section also provides a summary of the Fund's principal investment policies and practices.
Principal Risk Factors
This section lists the principal risk factors for the Fund. A complete description of these and other risks is found in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Alternative Strategies Fund
|
Adviser |
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
|
|
Sub-Advisers |
The Rock Creek Group, LP |
|
|
Portfolio Managers |
Sudhir Krisnamurthi |
|
|
Fund Inception |
April 30, 2014 |
|
|
Institutional Class |
Ticker: WAITX |
Fund Number: 3176 |
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The Fund's Board of Trustees can change this investment objective without a shareholder vote.
Principal Investment Strategies
In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund seeks to achieve relatively low sensitivity and low volatility relative to major equity markets, primarily by allocating assets across a number of alternative investment strategies, each of which may invest in a broad array of security types. These alternative investment strategies include equity hedged, event driven, global macro and relative value strategies. The Fund may use all or some of these strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies in the future. The Fund employs one or more sub-advisers to execute each of the Fund's strategies.
In implementing the alternative investment strategies listed above, the Fund may take long and/or short positions in a broad range of investments including, but not limited to, equity securities of any market capitalization and debt securities of any quality or maturity (including loans) of U.S. and foreign issuers (including emerging markets issuers), convertible securities, and shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also take long and/or short positions in currency and other derivatives such as futures, options, swaps, and forwards, for both hedging and speculative purposes. The Fund may borrow money to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Certain of these securities and the use of these investment techniques create leverage. As a result, the sum of the Fund's investment exposures at times may significantly exceed the amount of the Fund's net assets. These exposures may vary over time.
The Fund uses a unique top-down approach to formulate an outlook on different asset classes, strategies and regions over a variety of time horizons. This outlook is the primary driver behind the strategy, asset, and sub-adviser allocation decisions, and may change at any time. The factors considered in making allocation decisions include macro-economic research, the actions of central banks and policy makers, and the opinions of leading hedge fund managers, analysts, and other market participants, and leading economists.
The alternative strategies that may be employed by the Fund's sub-advisers include:
Equity Hedged Strategies
Equity hedged strategies combine core long and short positions in stocks, stock indices, or derivatives related to the equity markets. Equity hedged sub-advisers attempt to generate long-term capital appreciation by developing and actively managing equity portfolios that include both long and short positions. In general, equity hedged sub-advisers buy securities that they expect to outperform or that they believe are undervalued, and sell short securities that they believe will underperform, or that they believe are overvalued. Equity hedged sub-advisers may also sell short securities, as well as derivative instruments in the form of index ETFs, futures, options, and other baskets of securities, in order to hedge broad market exposure or manage overall beta to equity markets. Within this framework, equity hedged sub-advisers may exhibit a range of styles, including longer-term buy-and-hold investing and/or shorter-term trading styles. These sub-advisers will generally be "long-biased" meaning they will hold a greater percentage of the portfolio in long positions rather than short positions.
Event Driven Strategies
Event driven strategies seek to earn excess return through the purchase and sale of securities based on anticipated outcomes of company-specific or transaction-specific situations, such as spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies, recapitalizations, and share buybacks. Event driven strategies include, among others, the following:
Merger Arbitrage: Merger arbitrage sub-advisers seek to profit by taking advantage of differences between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the anticipated outcome of a potential merger.
Distressed Securities: Distressed securities sub-advisers generally invest in securities of financially troubled companies (such as, companies involved in bankruptcies, exchange offers, workouts, financial reorganizations, and other special credit event related transactions).
Special Situations: Special situations sub-advisers seek to profit by capturing discrepancies in valuation between the current market price of a security and its expected future value based on the occurrence of a corporate restructuring, reorganization or a significant alteration in the company's strategy or product mix, among others.
Global Macro Strategies
Global macro strategies involve investing in equity, fixed-income, foreign exchange or commodity markets around the world based on underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. Monetary policy shifts, fiscal policy shifts, gross domestic product growth or inflation all may be considered in developing a market view. Global macro sub-advisers establish opportunistic long or short market positions to seek to benefit from anticipated market moves. Global macro sub-advisers tend to make significant use of derivatives and leverage. These strategies include, among others, the following:
Discretionary: Discretionary macro strategy involves constructing long and short market positions around fundamental macro-economic or technical views. The main distinction of this strategy is that it tends to be focused on one or two subsets of global capital markets. For example, a discretionary sub-adviser may focus on foreign exchange and bond trading in the Group of Ten (G-10) markets. Other sub-advisers in this category may focus on less efficient markets, such as emerging markets, where they believe that it is possible to maintain an information edge over the market.
Systematic: Systematic macro strategy involves the quantitative trading of listed financial or commodity futures and currencies in markets around the world. Systematic sub-advisers tend to utilize sophisticated technical models to analyze price and market data to identify trends or price reversals across a broad range of markets. Derivative instruments are generally used by systematic sub-advisers to leverage their portfolios.
Relative Value Strategies
Relative value strategies include a range of different investment styles. These strategies seek to generate profits by exploiting the difference in price between related instruments, rather than because of the direction of the market. Generally, relative value sub-advisers buy a position in one instrument and sell an equivalent amount of another instrument with the expectation that the prices of the two instruments are not only historically related but also that they have deviated from their historical trading patterns. Profits may be generated if this unusual price deviation diminishes, and the prices of the two related instruments return to their historical trading patterns. Relative value strategies, among others include the following:
Equity Market Neutral: Equity market neutral strategy seeks to generate profits through the successful selection of equity securities while reducing or eliminating the effects of market-wide or, in some cases, industry- or sector-wide price movements by simultaneously taking long and short positions in or with respect to "matched" equities in approximately equal volumes.
Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible arbitrage strategy generally involves the simultaneous purchase and short sale of convertible bond issues of the same issuer. Often, the arbitrage involves the purchase of a convertible bond issued by the issuer and the short sale of that issuer's common stock. Sub-advisers may also seek to hedge out any interest rate risk as needed.
We may actively trade portfolio securities, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund's performance. In addition, active trading of portfolio securities may lead to higher taxes if your shares are held in a taxable account.
The Fund may hold some of its assets in cash or in money market instruments, including U.S. Government obligations, shares of other mutual funds and repurchase agreements, or make other short-term investments for purposes of maintaining liquidity or for short-term defensive purposes when we believe it is in the best interests of the shareholders to do so. During these periods, the Fund may not achieve its objective.
Principal Risk Factors
The Fund is primarily subject to the risks mentioned below.
|
Borrowing Risk Convertible Securities Risk Credit Risk Derivatives Risk Emerging Markets Risk Event Driven Strategies Risk Foreign Currency Contracts Risk Foreign Investment Risk Futures Contracts Risk High Yield Securities Risk Interest Rate Risk |
Investment Style Risk Loan Risk Management Risk Market Risk Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk Multi-Manager Management Risk Options Risk Short Sales Risk Smaller Company Securities Risk Swaps Risk U.S. Government Obligations Risk |
These and other risks could cause you to lose money in your investment in the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund's net asset value and total return. These risks are described in the "Description of Principal Investment Risks" section.
Portfolio Asset Allocation
The following table provides the Fund's current target allocation ranges. The Fund may change these allocation ranges at any time, may choose to not allocate to one or more investment strategies and may add additional strategies in the future.
|
|
|
|
Investment Strategies |
Target Allocation |
|
Equity Hedged |
25-55% |
|
Event Driven |
10-40% |
|
Global Macro |
10-25% |
|
Relative Value |
10-35% |
Description of Principal Investment Risks
Understanding the risks involved in mutual fund investing will help you make an informed decision that takes into account your risk tolerance and preferences. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on the Fund as a whole are called "principal risks." The principal risks for the Fund have been previously identified and are described below. Additional information about the principal risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Borrowing Risk
If a Fund borrows money to purchase securities or to cover a short position and the Fund's investments decrease in value or
the securities the Fund has shorted increase in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money
for investment purposes. In addition, if the return on an investment purchased with borrowed funds, or shorted and covered
with borrowed funds, is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowing, then the net income of the Fund would be less than
if borrowing were not used.
Convertible Securities Risk
A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are
typically associated with both types of securities. The market value of a convertible security tends to decline as interest
rates increase but also tends to reflect changes in the market price of the common stock of the issuing company. A convertible
security is also exposed to the risk that an issuer is unable to meet its obligation to make dividend or interest and principal
payments when due as a result of changing financial or market conditions. In the event of a liquidation of the issuer, holders
of a convertible security would generally be paid only after holders of any senior debt obligations. A Fund may be forced
to convert a convertible security before it would otherwise choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Credit Risk
The issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by a Fund may be unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay
principal when they become due. In these instances, the value of an investment could decline and the Fund could lose money.
Credit risk increases as an issuer's credit quality declines.
Derivatives Risk
The use of derivatives, such as futures, options and swap agreements, presents risks different from, and possibly greater
than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because
of adverse movements in the price or value of the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the derivatives themselves,
which may be magnified by certain features of the derivatives. These risks are heightened when derivatives are used to enhance
a Fund's return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or mitigate) the risk of a position
or security held by the Fund. The success of the adviser's derivative strategies will be affected by its ability to assess
and predict market or economic developments and their impact on the derivatives' underlying assets, indexes or rates and the
derivatives themselves. Certain derivative instruments may become illiquid and, as a result, may be difficult to sell when
the adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so. Certain derivatives create leverage, which can magnify the impact of
a decline in the value of their underlying assets, indexes or rates and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
Certain derivatives (e.g., over-the-counter swaps) are also subject to the risk that the counterparty to the derivative contract
will be unwilling or unable to fulfill its contractual obligations. Changes in laws or regulations may make the use of derivatives
more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the use, value or performance of
derivatives.
Emerging Markets Risk
Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under "Foreign Investment Risk"
and may be particularly sensitive to global economic conditions. For example, emerging market countries are typically more
dependent on exports and are therefore more vulnerable to recessions in other countries. Emerging markets tend to have less
developed legal and financial systems and a smaller market capitalization than markets in developed countries. Some emerging
markets are subject to greater political instability. Additionally, emerging markets may have more volatile currencies and
be more sensitive than developed markets to a variety of economic factors, including inflation. Emerging market securities
are also typically less liquid than securities of developed countries and could be difficult to sell, particularly during
a market downturn.
Event Driven Strategies Risk
A Fund that invests in securities based on anticipated events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations or other events,
may incur losses if the events do not occur as anticipated (including on the terms originally proposed), when anticipated,
or at all, or if they are perceived to be less likely to occur. For example, if the Fund invests in securities in anticipation
of a merger and the deal is terminated prior to closing, the Fund is likely to suffer losses.
Foreign Currency Contracts Risk
A Fund that enters into foreign currency contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that the adviser
may be incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate changes. The Fund's gains from positions in foreign currency contracts
may accelerate and/or lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income or gains and its distributions to shareholders. The
Fund's losses from such positions may also lead to recharacterization of the Fund's income and its distributions to shareholders
and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders.
Foreign Investment Risk
Foreign investments may be subject to lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory,
market or economic developments. Foreign companies may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies,
including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies.
Foreign investments involve exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Such changes may reduce the U.S. dollar
value of the investments. Foreign investments may be subject to additional risks such as potentially higher withholding and
other taxes, and may also be subject to greater trade settlement, custodial, and other operational risks than domestic investments.
Certain foreign markets may also be characterized by less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards.
Futures Contracts Risk
A Fund that uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk of loss caused by unanticipated
market movements. In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures
contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market
for certain futures contracts.
High Yield Securities Risk
High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as "junk bonds") have a much greater
risk of default (or in the case of bonds currently in default, of not returning principal) and their values tend to be more
volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities. Additionally, these securities tend to be less liquid and more
difficult to value than higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk
When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. The longer the terms of the debt securities held by
a Fund, the more the Fund is subject to this risk. If interest rates decline, interest that the Fund is able to earn on its
investments in debt securities may also decline, which could cause the Fund to reduce the dividends it pays to shareholders,
but the value of those securities may increase. Some debt securities give the issuers the option to call, redeem or prepay
the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls, redeems or prepays a debt security during a time of declining
interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in a security offering a lower yield, and therefore might not
benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies
may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the debt securities market, reduced liquidity for certain Fund investments
and an increase in Fund redemptions. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden
and unpredictable.
Investment Style Risk
Securities of a particular investment style, such as a growth style or value style, tend to perform differently and shift
into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions. As a result, a
Fund's performance may at times be worse than the performance of other mutual funds that invest more broadly or in securities
of a different investment style.
Loan Risk
Loans may be unrated, less liquid and more difficult to value than traditional debt securities. Loans may be made to finance
highly leveraged corporate operations or acquisitions. The highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in such transactions
may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in financial, economic or market conditions. Loans generally
are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell such loans in secondary markets.
As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell loans at a desired time or price. If the Fund acquires only an assignment or a participation
in a loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control amendments, waivers or the exercise of any remedies that
a lender would have under a direct loan and may assume liability as a lender.
Management Risk
Investment decisions made by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective may not
produce the returns expected, may cause the Fund's shares to lose value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds
with similar investment objectives.
Market Risk
The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by a Fund may decline due to general market conditions or other
factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline
significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market
and different security types may react differently to such developments.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during
periods of economic downturn. Defaults on the underlying mortgages or assets may cause such securities to decline in value
and become less liquid. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive
to changes in interest rates than instruments with fixed payment schedules. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates,
these securities may exhibit additional volatility. When interest rates decline or are low, borrowers may pay off their mortgage
or other debts sooner than expected, which can reduce the returns of a Fund.
Multi-Manager Management Risk
A Fund with multiple sub-advisers is subject to the risk that the investment decisions made by a sub-adviser may conflict
with those of another sub-adviser. For example, at any particular time a sub-adviser may purchase a security being sold by
another sub-adviser, resulting in transaction costs with potentially no change to the Fund's overall portfolio.
Options Risk
A Fund that purchases options, which are a type of derivative, is subject to the risk that gains, if any, realized on the
position, will be less than the amount paid as premiums to the writer of the option. A Fund that writes options receives a
premium that may be small relative to the loss realized in the event of adverse changes in the value of the underlying instruments.
A Fund that writes covered call options gives up the opportunity to profit from any price increase in the underlying security
above the option exercise price while the option is in effect. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments.
In addition, there may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in values of options and their underlying
securities and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options.
Short Sales Risk
Short selling is generally considered speculative, has the potential for unlimited loss and may involve leverage, which can
magnify a Fund's exposure to assets that decline in value and increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. If the
price of a security which the Fund has sold short increases between the time of the short sale and when the position is closed
out, the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time of the short sale plus any related interest payments,
dividends, transaction or other costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short position
at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price
of the security to rise, potentially exacerbating a loss or reducing a gain. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risk
that the lender of a security will terminate the loan at a time when the Fund is unable to borrow the same instrument from
another lender. A Fund that uses short sales is subject to the risk that its prime broker will be unwilling or unable to perform
its contractual obligations. Regulatory restrictions limit the extent to which the Fund may engage in short sales.
Smaller Company Securities Risk
Securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger
companies. Smaller companies may have no or relatively short operating histories, limited financial resources or may be newly
public companies. Some of these companies have aggressive capital structures, including high debt levels, or are involved
in rapidly growing or changing industries and/or new technologies.
Swaps Risk
Depending on their structure, swap agreements and options to enter into swap agreements ("swaptions"), both of which are types
of derivatives, may increase or decrease a Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values,
mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or credit events or other reference points such as security prices
or inflation rates.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk
U.S. Government obligations may be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates, and securities issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
If a government-sponsored entity is unable to meet its obligations or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a
Fund that holds securities issued or guaranteed by the entity will be adversely impacted.
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. In addition, Funds Management will, from time to time, include portfolio holdings information in periodic commentaries for the Fund. The substance of the information contained in such commentaries will also be posted to the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Organization and Management of the Fund
About Wells Fargo Funds Trust
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 10, 1999. The Board of Trustees of the Trust ("Board") supervises the Fund's activities, monitors its contractual arrangements with various service providers and decides on matters of general policy.
The Board supervises the Fund and approves the selection of various companies hired to manage the Fund's operations. Except for the Fund's advisers, which generally may be changed only with shareholder approval, other service providers may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Adviser
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), headquartered at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as adviser for the Fund. Funds Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, a publicly traded diversified financial services company that provides banking, insurance, investment, mortgage and consumer financial services. Funds Management is a registered investment adviser that provides advisory services for registered mutual funds, closed-end funds and other funds and accounts.
As adviser, Funds Management is responsible for implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund. To assist Funds Management in performing these responsibilities, Funds Management has contracted with one or more sub-advisers to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. Funds Management employs a team of investment professionals who identify and recommend the initial hiring of the Fund's sub-adviser(s) and supervise and monitor the activities of the sub-adviser(s) on an ongoing basis. Funds Management retains overall responsibility for the management of the Fund.
Funds Management's investment professionals review and analyze the Fund's performance, including relative to peer funds, and monitor the Fund's compliance with its investment objective and strategies. Funds Management is responsible for reporting to the Board on investment performance and other matters affecting the Fund. When appropriate, Funds Management recommends to the Board enhancements to Fund features, including changes to Fund investment objectives, strategies and policies. Funds Management also communicates with shareholders and intermediaries about Fund performance and features.
For providing these advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive the fees disclosed in the row captioned "Management Fees" in the Fund's table of Annual Fund Operating Expenses. Funds Management compensates the sub-adviser(s) from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as adviser to the Fund.
Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has not yet paid an advisory fee to Funds Management.
As compensation for its advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive a monthly fee at the annual rates indicated below of the Fund's average daily net assets:
|
Fund |
Fee |
|
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
First $500M |
1.80% |
|
Next $500M |
1.75% |
|
|
Next $1B |
1.70% |
|
|
Next $2B |
1.68% |
|
|
Over $4B |
1.65% |
The Sub-Advisers and Portfolio Managers
Subject to the direction of the Board and overall supervision and control of Funds Management and the Trust, The Rock Creek Group, LP ("Rock Creek") makes recommendations regarding the selection of sub-advisers and allocates and reallocates the Fund's assets across investment strategies and sub-advisers. Subject to the direction of the Board and the overall supervision and control of Funds Management, Rock Creek and the Trust, the following sub-advisers (including Rock Creek) and portfolio managers provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. These services include making purchases and sales of securities and other investment assets for the Fund, selecting broker-dealers, negotiating brokerage commission rates and maintaining portfolio transaction records. Each sub-adviser is compensated for its services by Funds Management from the fees Funds Management receives for its services as investment adviser to the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.
Rock Creek, a registered investment adviser located at 1133 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. In addition to the Fund, Rock Creek, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advice to foundations, endowments, state and public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors.
|
Sudhir Krishnamurthi |
Dr. Krishnamurthi is Senior Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2002 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
|
Kenneth LaPlace |
Mr. LaPlace is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2003 and is a senior member of the Investment and Portfolio Management team. |
|
Ronald van der Wouden |
Mr. van der Wouden is a Managing Director of Rock Creek. He joined Rock Creek in 2005 and is a member of the Investment Committee and Co-Chair of the Risk Committee. |
Chilton Investment Company, LLC ("Chilton Investment Company"), a registered investment adviser located at 1290 East Main Street, Stamford, CT, 06902, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Chilton Investment Company manages registered funds, private investment funds, and private accounts for foundations, endowments, high net worth individuals or families, pension plans or institutional investors. The firm's investment philosophy is to seek to produce superior investment returns by aggessiverly pursuing capital appreciation in rising markets and aiming to preserve capital in declining markets.
|
Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
Mr. Chilton founded Chilton Investment Company, Inc. in 1992 and its subsidairy, Chilton Investment Company, in 2005, where he currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. |
Mellon Capital Management Corporation ("Mellon Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Mellon Capital has been providing investment advisory services since 1983 and provides investment advisory services primarily to institutional clients principally through separate accounts and a variety of commingled funds. Mellon Capital is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a publicly traded company, and is affiliated with a number of other investment organizations through BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
|
Vassilis Dagioglu |
Mr. Dagioglu joined Mellon Capital in 2000, where he currently serves as a Managing Director and Head of Asset Allocation Portfolio Management. He is a member of the Risk Management, Investment Management, Fiduciary, and Senior Management committees. |
Passport Capital, LLC ("Passport Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at One Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Passport has been managing client assets since August 2000 and primarily manages privately offered pooled investment vehicles, managed accounts and non-discretionary accounts. Passport Capital seeks to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns through a combination of macroeconomic analysis, fundamental research and quantitative tools.
|
John Burbank |
Mr. Burbank founded Passport Capital in 2000 where he currently serves as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. |
|
Tim Garry |
Mr. Garry joined Passport Capital in 2008 where he currently serves as Chairman of the Risk Committee and Portfolio Manager. |
Pine River Capital Management L.P. ("Pine River"), a registered investment adviser located at 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Pine River, an affiliate of Pine River Domestic Management L.P. and certain other subadvisory affiliates including Pine River Capital Partners (UK) LLP, and Pine River Capital Management (HK) Limited, is a global asset management firm focusing on relative value strategies across a full range of financial markets and providing investment solutions to institutional clients across three actively managed platforms: hedge funds, separate accounts and listed investment vehicles.
|
Brad Berning |
Mr. Berning joined Pine River in 2011, where he currently serves as a Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Brad served as an Analyst, an Assistant Portfolio Manager and a Co-Founding Partner at FrontPoint Financial Services from 2004 to 2010. |
River Canyon Fund Management LLC ("River Canyon"), a registered investment adviser located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. River Canyon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canyon Capital Advisors LLC, was formed in 2013 for the purpose of advising registered investment companies.
|
Soon Pho |
Mr. Pho joined River Canyon or an affiliate in 2001, where he currently serves as a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager. |
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. ("Sirios"), a registered investment adviser located at One International Place, Boston, MA 02110, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Sirios provides investment management services to clients including collective investment vehicles, accounts held by single investors and registered funds. Sirios is a fundamentally-driven investment firm that concentrates its investments in the consumer, energy/industrials, financials, healthcare and technology/telecommunications sectors.
|
John F. Brennan, Jr. |
Mr. Brennan co-founded Sirios in 1999, where he currently serves as its Managing Director. |
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management"), a registered investment adviser located at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, serves as a sub-adviser and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years.
|
Kent M. Stahl, CFA |
Mr. Stahl joined Wellington Management in 1998, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Investments and Risk Management. |
|
Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Mr. Thomas joined Wellington Management in 2002, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Risk Management. |
Multi-Manager Arrangement
The Fund and Funds Management have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits Funds Management, subject to the
approval of the Board, to select or replace certain sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets and enter
into or amend a sub-advisory agreement with certain sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval ("Multi-Manager Structure").
The Multi-Manager Structure applies to sub-advisers that are not affiliated with Funds Management or the Fund, except to the
extent that affiliation arises solely because such sub-advisers provide sub-advisory services to the Fund ("Non-Affiliated
Sub-Advisers"), as well as sub-advisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Funds Management or of another
company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Funds Management ("Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers").
Pursuant to the SEC order, Funds Management, with the approval of the Board, has the discretion to select and allocate and
reallocate the Fund's assets among any other Non-Affiliated Sub-Advisers or Wholly-Owned Sub-Advisers. Funds Management, subject
to oversight and supervision by the Board, has responsibility to oversee any sub-adviser to the Fund and to recommend the
removal and replacement of sub-advisers for the Fund. In the event that a new sub-adviser is hired pursuant to the Multi-Manager
Structure, the Fund is required to provide notice to shareholders within 90 days.
Compensation to Dealers and Shareholder Servicing Agents
Additional Payments to Dealers
In addition to dealer reallowances and payments made by the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing, the Fund's adviser,
the distributor or their affiliates make additional payments ("Additional Payments") to certain selling or shareholder servicing
agents for the Fund, which include broker-dealers and 401(k) service providers and recordkeepers. These Additional Payments
are made in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Fund or for services to the Fund and its shareholders.
These Additional Payments, which may be significant, are paid by the Fund's adviser, the distributor or their affiliates,
out of their revenues, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the entire Fund complex.
In return for these Additional Payments, the Fund's adviser and distributor expect the Fund to receive certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments. Such advantages are expected to include, without limitation, placement of the Fund on a list of mutual funds offered as investment options to the selling agent's clients (sometimes referred to as "Shelf Space"); access to the selling agent's registered representatives; and/or ability to assist in training and educating the selling agent's registered representatives.
Certain selling or shareholder servicing agents receive these Additional Payments to supplement amounts payable by the Fund under the shareholder servicing plans. In exchange, these agents may provide services including, but not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records; answering inquiries regarding purchases, exchanges and redemptions; processing and verifying purchase, redemption and exchange transactions; furnishing account statements and confirmations of transactions; processing and mailing monthly statements, prospectuses, shareholder reports and other SEC-required communications; and providing the types of services that might typically be provided by the Fund's transfer agent (e.g., the maintenance of omnibus or omnibus-like accounts, the use of the National Securities Clearing Corporation for the transmission of transaction information and the transmission of shareholder mailings).
The Additional Payments may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a selling agent who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial consultant and review carefully any disclosure by the selling agent as to what monies they receive from mutual fund advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial consultant is compensated.
The Additional Payments are typically paid in fixed dollar amounts, or based on the number of customer accounts maintained by the selling or shareholder servicing agent, or based on a percentage of sales and/or assets under management, or a combination of the above. The Additional Payments are either up-front or ongoing or both. The Additional Payments differ among selling and shareholder servicing agents. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on its customers' assets typically range between 0.05% and 0.30% in a given year of assets invested in the Fund by the selling agent's customers. Additional Payments to a selling agent that is compensated based on a percentage of sales typically range between 0.10% and 0.15% of the gross sales of the Fund attributable to the selling agent. In addition, representatives of the Fund's distributor visit selling agents on a regular basis to educate their registered representatives and to encourage the sale of Fund shares. The costs associated with such visits may be paid for by the Fund's adviser, distributor, or their affiliates, subject to applicable FINRA regulations.
More information on the FINRA member firms that have received the Additional Payments described in this section is available in the Statement of Additional Information, which is on file with the SEC and is also available on the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.
Pricing Fund Shares
The share price ("net asset value per share" or "NAV") for a Fund is calculated each business day as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4 p.m. ET). To calculate a Fund's NAV, the Fund's assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The price at which a purchase or redemption of Fund shares is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the order is placed. The Fund does not calculate its NAV on days the NYSE is closed for trading, which include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets that may be invested in other mutual funds, the Fund's NAV is calculated based upon the net asset values of the other mutual funds in which the Fund invests, and the prospectuses for those companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
With respect to any portion of a Fund's assets invested directly in securities, the Fund's investments are generally valued at current market prices. Securities are generally valued based on the last sale price during the regular trading session if the security trades on an exchange (closing price). Securities that are not traded primarily on an exchange generally are valued using latest quoted bid prices obtained by an independent pricing service. Securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., however, are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price ("NOCP"), and if no NOCP is available, then at the last reported sales price.
We are required to depart from these general valuation methods and use fair value pricing methods to determine the values of certain investments if we believe that the closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security, including securities that trade primarily on a foreign exchange, does not accurately reflect its current value when the Fund calculates its NAV. In addition, we use fair value pricing to determine the value of investments in securities and other assets, including illiquid securities, for which current market quotations are not readily available. The closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security may not reflect its current value if, among other things, a significant event occurs after the closing price or latest quoted bid price but before a Fund calculates its NAV that materially affects the value of the security. We use various criteria, including a systematic evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in deciding whether a foreign security's market price is still reliable and, if not, what fair market value to assign to the security.
In light of the judgment involved in fair value decisions, there can be no assurance that a fair value assigned to a particular security is accurate or that it reflects the price that the Fund could obtain for such security if it were to sell the security as of the time of fair value pricing. Such fair value pricing may result in NAVs that are higher or lower than NAVs based on the closing price or latest quoted bid price. See the Statement of Additional Information for additional details regarding the pricing of Fund shares.
How to Buy Shares
Institutional Class shares are generally available through financial intermediaries for the accounts of their customers and directly to institutional investors and individuals. Institutional investors may include corporations; private banks; trust companies; endowments and foundations; defined contribution, defined benefit and other employer sponsored retirement plans; institutional retirement plan platforms; insurance companies; registered investment advisor firms; bank trusts; 529 college savings plans; family offices; and fund of funds including those managed by Funds Management. Specific eligibility requirements that apply to these entities include:
Employee benefit plan programs;
Broker-dealer managed account or wrap programs that charge an asset-based fee;
Registered investment adviser mutual fund wrap programs or other accounts that are charged a fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services;
Private bank and trust company managed accounts or wrap programs or other accounts that charge an asset-based fee;
Internal Revenue Code Section 529 college savings plan accounts;
Fund of Funds including those advised by Funds Management;
Investment Management and Trust Departments of Wells Fargo purchasing shares on behalf of their clients;
Endowments, non-profits, and charitable organizations who invest a minimum initial amount of $1 million in a Fund;
Any other institutions or customers of financial intermediaries who invest a minimum initial amount of $5 million in a Fund;
Individual investors who invest a minimum initial amount of $5 million directly with a Fund; and
Certain investors and related accounts as detailed in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Any of the minimum initial investment waivers listed above may be modified or discontinued at any time.
|
Institutions Purchasing |
Opening an Account |
Adding to an Account |
|
By Telephone or Online |
A new account may not be opened by telephone or online unless the institution has another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund account. If the institution does not currently have an account, contact your investment representative. |
To buy additional shares or to buy
Call Investor Services at Call 1-800-368-7550 for the Visit our Web site at |
|
By Wire |
Complete and sign the Institutional Class Bank ABA/routing number: 011000028 Bank account number: 9905-437-1 For credit to: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds For further credit to: [Your name (as registered on your fund account) and your fund and account number] |
To buy additional shares, instruct |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes for Buying Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your new account application or purchase request in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your new account application or purchase request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to process your transaction.
Earning Distributions. You are eligible to earn distributions beginning on the business day after the transfer agent receives your purchase in proper form.
U.S. Dollars Only. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars and all checks must be drawn on U.S. banks.
Right to Refuse an Order. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if we believe that doing so would be in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders.
Other Share Classes. You may be eligible to invest in one or more classes of shares offered by a Fund. Each of the Fund's share classes bears varying expenses and may differ in other features. Consult your financial intermediary for more information regarding the Fund's available share classes.
Special Considerations When Investing Through Financial Intermediaries:
If a financial intermediary purchases Institutional Class shares on your behalf, you should understand the following:
Minimum Investments and Other Terms of Your Account. Share purchases are made through a customer account at your financial intermediary following that firm's terms. Financial intermediaries may require different minimum investment amounts. Please consult an account representative from your financial intermediary for specifics.
Records are Held in Financial Intermediary's Name. Financial intermediaries are usually the holders of record for Institutional Class shares held through their customer accounts. The financial intermediaries maintain records reflecting their customers' beneficial ownership of the shares.
Purchase/Redemption Orders. Financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting their customers' purchase and redemption orders to a Fund and for delivering required payment on a timely basis.
Shareholder Communications. Financial intermediaries are responsible for delivering shareholder communications and voting information from a Fund, and for transmitting shareholder voting instructions to a Fund.
The information provided in this Prospectus is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would subject Fund shares to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country.
The Fund is distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC, and an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC") information and brochure are available at SIPC.org or by calling SIPC at (202) 371-8300.
How to Sell Shares
Institutional Class shares must be redeemed according to the terms of your customer account with your financial intermediary. You should contact your investment representative when you wish to sell Fund shares.
|
Institutions Selling Shares Directly |
To Sell Some or All of Your Shares |
|
By Telephone / Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) |
To speak with an investor services representative call 1-800-222-8222 or use the automated phone system at 1-800-368-7550. Redemptions processed by EFT to a linked Wells Fargo Bank account occur same day for Wells Fargo Advantage money market funds,
and next day for all other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Transfers made to a Wells Fargo Bank account are made available sooner than transfers to an unaffiliated institution. Redemptions to any other linked bank account may post in two business days, please check with your financial institution for
funds posting and availability. |
|
By Wire |
To arrange for a Federal Funds wire, call 1-800-222-8222. Be prepared to provide information on the commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. Redemption proceeds are usually wired to the financial intermediary the following business day. |
|
Online |
Visit our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. |
|
Through Your Investment Representative |
Contact your investment representative. |
General Notes for Selling Shares
Proper Form. If the transfer agent receives your request to sell shares in proper form before the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that day's NAV. If your request to sell shares is received in proper form after the close of trading on the NYSE, it will be priced at the next business day's NAV. If your request is not in proper form, additional documentation may be required to sell your shares.
Earning Distributions. Your shares are eligible to earn distributions through the date of redemption. If you redeem shares on a Friday or prior to a holiday, your shares will continue to be eligible to earn distributions until the next business day.
Right to Delay Payment. We normally will send out checks within one business day, and in any event no more than seven days, after we accept your request to redeem. If you redeem shares recently purchased by check or through Electronic Funds Transfer, you may be required to wait up to seven business days before we will send your redemption proceeds. Our ability to determine with reasonable certainty that investments have been finally collected is greater for investments coming from accounts with banks affiliated with Funds Management than it is for investments coming from accounts with unaffiliated banks. Redemption payments also may be delayed under extraordinary circumstances or as permitted by the SEC in order to protect remaining shareholders. Such extraordinary circumstances are discussed further in the Statement of Additional Information.
Redemption in Kind. Although generally we pay redemption requests in cash, we reserve the right to determine in our sole discretion, whether to satisfy redemption requests by making payment in securities (known as a redemption in kind). In such case, we may pay all or part of the redemption in securities of equal value as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder. The redeeming shareholders should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received.
Retirement Plans and Other Products. If you purchased shares through a packaged investment product or retirement plan, read the directions for selling shares provided by the product or plan. There may be special requirements that supersede the directions in this Prospectus.
How to Exchange Shares
Exchanges between Wells Fargo Advantage Funds involve two transactions: (1) a sale of shares of one Fund; and (2) the purchase of shares of another. In general, the same rules and procedures that apply to sales and purchases apply to exchanges. There are, however, additional factors you should keep in mind while making or considering an exchange:
In general, exchanges may be made between like share classes of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund offered to the general public for investment (i.e., a Fund not closed to new accounts), with the following exception: Class A shares of non-money market funds may also be exchanged for Service Class shares of any money market fund.
Same-fund exchanges between share classes are permitted subject to the following conditions: (1) exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares would not be allowed if shares are subject to a CDSC; (2) for exchanges into Class A shares, the shareholder must meet all qualifications to purchase Class A shares at net asset value based on current prospectus guidelines; and (3) the shareholder must meet the eligibility guidelines of the class being purchased in the exchange.
An exchange request will be processed on the same business day, provided that both Funds are open at the time the request is received. If one or both Funds are closed, the exchange will be processed on the following business day.
You should carefully read the prospectus for the Wells Fargo Advantage Fund into which you wish to exchange.
Every exchange involves selling Fund shares, which may produce a capital gain or loss for tax purposes.
If you are making an initial investment into a Fund through an exchange, you must exchange at least the minimum initial purchase amount for the new Fund, unless your balance has fallen below that amount due to investment performance.
Any exchange between two Wells Fargo Advantage Funds must meet the minimum subsequent purchase amounts.
Class B and Class C share exchanges will not trigger the CDSC. The new shares will continue to age according to their original schedule and will be charged the CDSC applicable to the original shares upon redemption.
Generally, we will notify you at least 60 days in advance of any changes in our exchange policy.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. Purchases or exchanges that a Fund determines could harm the Fund may be rejected.
Excessive trading by Fund shareholders can negatively impact a Fund and its long-term shareholders in several ways, including disrupting Fund investment strategies, increasing transaction costs, decreasing tax efficiency, and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Excessive trading in Fund shares can negatively impact a Fund's long-term performance by requiring it to maintain more assets in cash or to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time. Certain Funds may be more susceptible than others to these negative effects. For example, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in non-U.S. securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities resulting from pricing variations due to time zone differences across international financial markets. Similarly, Funds that have a greater percentage of their investments in small company securities may be more susceptible than other Funds to arbitrage opportunities due to the less liquid nature of small company securities. Both types of Funds also may incur higher transaction costs in liquidating portfolio holdings to meet excessive redemption levels. Fair value pricing may reduce these arbitrage opportunities, thereby reducing some of the negative effects of excessive trading.
Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, other than the Adjustable Rate Government Fund, Conservative Income Fund, Ultra Short-Term Income Fund and Ultra Short-Term Municipal Income Fund ("Ultra-Short Funds") and the money market funds, (the "Covered Funds"). The Covered Funds are not designed to serve as vehicles for frequent trading. The Covered Funds actively discourage and take steps to prevent the portfolio disruption and negative effects on long-term shareholders that can result from excessive trading activity by Covered Fund shareholders. The Board has approved the Covered Funds' policies and procedures, which provide, among other things, that Funds Management may deem trading activity to be excessive if it determines that such trading activity would likely be disruptive to a Covered Fund by increasing expenses or lowering returns. In this regard, the Covered Funds take steps to avoid accommodating frequent purchases and redemptions of shares by Covered Fund shareholders. Funds Management monitors available shareholder trading information across all Covered Funds on a daily basis. If a shareholder redeems more than $5,000 (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) from a Covered Fund, that shareholder is "blocked" from purchasing shares of that Covered Fund (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction) for 30 calendar days after the redemption. This policy does not apply to:
Money market funds;
Ultra-Short Funds;
Dividend reinvestments;
Systematic investments or exchanges where the financial intermediary maintaining the shareholder account identifies the transaction as a systematic redemption or purchase at the time of the transaction;
Rebalancing transactions within certain asset allocation or "wrap" programs where the financial intermediary maintaining a shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as part of an asset allocation program approved by Funds Management;
Transactions initiated by a "fund of funds" or Section 529 Plan into an underlying fund investment;
Permitted exchanges between share classes of the same Fund;
Certain transactions involving participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, including: participant withdrawals due to mandatory distributions, rollovers and hardships, withdrawals of shares acquired by participants through payroll deductions, and shares acquired or sold by a participant in connection with plan loans; and
Purchases below $5,000 (including purchases that are part of an exchange transaction).
The money market funds and the Ultra-Short Funds. Because the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds are often used for short-term investments, they are designed to accommodate more frequent purchases and redemptions than the Covered Funds. As a result, the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not anticipate that frequent purchases and redemptions, under normal circumstances, will have significant adverse consequences to the money market funds or Ultra-Short Funds or their shareholders. Although the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds do not prohibit frequent trading, Funds Management will seek to prevent an investor from utilizing the money market funds and Ultra-Short Funds to facilitate frequent purchases and redemptions of shares in the Covered Funds in contravention of the policies and procedures adopted by the Covered Funds.
All Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. In addition, Funds Management reserves the right to accept purchases, redemptions and exchanges made in excess of applicable trading restrictions in designated accounts held by Funds Management or its affiliate that are used at all times exclusively for addressing operational matters related to shareholder accounts, such as testing of account functions, and are maintained at low balances that do not exceed specified dollar amount limitations.
In the event that an asset allocation or "wrap" program is unable to implement the policy outlined above, Funds Management may grant a program-level exception to this policy. A financial intermediary relying on the exception is required to provide Funds Management with specific information regarding its program and ongoing information about its program upon request.
A financial intermediary through whom you may purchase shares of the Fund may independently attempt to identify excessive trading and take steps to deter such activity. As a result, a financial intermediary may on its own limit or permit trading activity of its customers who invest in Fund shares using standards different from the standards used by Funds Management and discussed in this Prospectus. Funds Management may permit a financial intermediary to enforce its own internal policies and procedures concerning frequent trading rather than the policies set forth above in instances where Funds Management reasonably believes that the intermediary's policies and procedures effectively discourage disruptive trading activity. If you purchase Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact the intermediary for more information about whether and how restrictions or limitations on trading activity will be applied to your account.
Account Policies
Advance Notice of Large Transactions
We strongly urge you to begin all purchases and redemptions as early in the day as possible and to notify us at least one
day in advance of transactions in excess of $5,000,000. This will allow us to manage your Fund most effectively. When you
give us this advance notice, you must provide us with your name and account number.
Householding
To help keep Fund expenses low, a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report may be sent to shareholders of the same
household. If your household currently receives a single copy of a prospectus or shareholder report and you would prefer to
receive multiple copies, please contact your financial intermediary.
Retirement Accounts
We offer prototype documents for a variety of retirement accounts for individuals and small businesses. Please call 1-800-222-8222
for information on:
Individual Retirement Plans, including Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.
Qualified Retirement Plans, including Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs, Keoghs, Pension Plans, Profit-Sharing Plans, and 401(k) Plans.
There may be special distribution requirements for a retirement account, such as required distributions or mandatory Federal income tax withholdings. For more information, call the number listed above. For retirement accounts held directly with the Fund, certain fees may apply, including an annual account maintenance fee.
Small Account Redemptions
We reserve the right to redeem certain accounts that fall below the minimum initial investment amount as the result of shareholder
redemptions (as opposed to market movement). Before doing so, we will give you approximately 60 days to bring your account
above the minimum investment amount. Please call Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 or contact your selling agent for further
details.
Statements and Confirmations
Statements summarizing activity in your account are mailed quarterly. Confirmations are mailed following each purchase, sale,
exchange, or transfer of Fund shares, except generally for Automatic Investment Plan transactions, Systematic Withdrawal Plan
transactions using Electronic Funds Transfer, and purchases of new shares through the automatic reinvestment of distributions.
Upon your request and for the applicable fee, you may obtain a reprint of an account statement. Please call Investor Services
at 1-800-222-8222 for more information.
Electronic Delivery of Fund Documents
You may elect to receive your Fund prospectuses, shareholder reports and other Fund documents electronically in lieu of paper
form by enrolling on the Fund's Web site at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery. If you make this election, you will be notified
by e-mail when the most recent Fund documents are available for electronic viewing and downloading.
To receive Fund documents electronically, you must have an e-mail account and an internet browser that meets the requirements described in the Privacy & Security section of the Fund's Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. You may change your electronic delivery preferences or revoke your election to receive Fund documents electronically at any time by visiting wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery.
Statement Inquiries
Contact us in writing regarding any errors or discrepancies noted on your account statement within 60 days after the date
of the statement confirming a transaction. We may deny your ability to refute a transaction if we do not hear from you within
those 60 days.
Transaction Authorizations
Telephone, electronic, and clearing agency privileges allow us to accept transaction instructions by anyone representing
themselves as the shareholder and who provides reasonable confirmation of their identity. Neither we nor Wells Fargo Advantage Funds will be liable for any losses incurred if we follow such instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. For transactions
through the automated phone system and our Web site, we will assign personal identification numbers (PINs) and/or passwords
to help protect your account information. To safeguard your account, please keep your PINs and passwords confidential. Contact
us immediately if you believe there is a discrepancy on your confirmation statement or if you believe someone has obtained
unauthorized access to your account, PIN or password.
USA PATRIOT Act
In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, all financial institutions (including mutual funds) at the time an account is opened,
are required to obtain, verify and record the following information for all registered owners or others who may be authorized
to act on the account: full name, date of birth, taxpayer identification number (usually your Social Security Number), and
permanent street address. Corporate, trust and other entity accounts require additional documentation. This information will
be used to verify your identity. We will return your application if any of this information is missing, and we may request
additional information from you for verification purposes. In the rare event that we are unable to verify your identity, we
reserve the right to redeem your account at the current day's NAV. You will be responsible for any losses, taxes, expenses,
fees, or other results of such a redemption.
Distributions
The Fund generally makes distributions of any net investment income and any realized net capital gains at least annually. Please contact your institution for distribution options. Remember, distributions have the effect of reducing the NAV per share by the amount distributed.
Taxes
The following discussion regarding federal income taxes is based on laws that were in effect as of the date of this Prospectus and summarizes only some of the important federal income tax considerations affecting a Fund and you as a shareholder. It does not apply to foreign or tax-exempt shareholders or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) Plan or IRA. This discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. You should consult your tax adviser about your specific tax situation. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional federal income tax information.
We will pass on to a Fund's shareholders substantially all of the Fund's net investment income and realized net capital gains, if any. Distributions from a Fund's ordinary income and net short-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from a Fund's net long-term capital gain, if any, generally will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain.
Corporate shareholders may be able to deduct a portion of their distributions when determining their taxable income.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended certain tax rates except those that applied to individual taxpayers with taxable incomes above $400,000 ($450,000 for married taxpayers, $425,000 for heads of households). Taxpayers that are not in the new highest tax bracket continue to be subject to a maximum 15% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. For taxpayers in the new highest tax bracket, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends will be 20%. Beginning in 2013, U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), a new 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will apply on "net investment income," including interest, dividends, and capital gains.
Distributions from a Fund normally will be taxable to you when paid, whether you take distributions in cash or automatically reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Following the end of each year, we will notify you of the federal income tax status of your distributions for the year.
If you buy shares of a Fund shortly before it makes a taxable distribution, your distribution will, in effect, be a taxable return of part of your investment. Similarly, if you buy shares of a Fund when it holds appreciated securities, you will receive a taxable return of part of your investment if and when the Fund sells the appreciated securities and distributes the gain. The Fund has built up, or has the potential to build up, high levels of unrealized appreciation.
Your redemptions (including redemptions in-kind) and exchanges of Fund shares ordinarily will result in a taxable capital gain or loss, depending on the amount you receive for your shares (or are deemed to receive in the case of exchanges) and the amount you paid (or are deemed to have paid) for them. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your redeemed or exchanged Fund shares for more than one year at the time of redemption or exchange. In certain circumstances, losses realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares may be disallowed.
In certain circumstances, Fund shareholders may be subject to backup withholding taxes.
Financial Highlights
Since the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this prospectus, financial highlights are not available for the Fund.
| FOR MORE INFORMATION More information on the Fund is available free upon request, including the following documents: Statement of Additional Information
("SAI") Supplements the disclosures made by this Prospectus. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and therefore is legally part of this Prospectus. Annual/Semi-Annual Reports Provide financial and other important information, including a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected Fund performance over the reporting period. To obtain copies of the above documents or for more information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, contact us: By telephone: Individual Investors: 1-800-222-8222 Retail Investment Professionals: 1-888-877-9275 Institutional Investment Professionals: 1-866-765-0778 |
By e-mail: wfaf@wellsfargo.com By mail: Wells Fargo Advantage Funds P.O. Box 8266 Boston, MA 02266-8266 Online: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com From the SEC: Visit the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (phone 1-202-551-8090 for operational information for the SEC's Public Reference Room) or the SEC's Internet site at sec.gov. To obtain information for a fee, write or email: SEC's Public Reference Section 100 "F" Street, NE Washington, DC 20549-0102 publicinfo@sec.gov |
| © 2014 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved | 054ALIT/P704 5-14 ICA Reg. No. 811-09253 |
|
WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Statement of Additional Information
May 1, 2014
| Wells Fargo Advantage Funds |
| Alternative Funds |
Alternative Strategies Fund
Class A - WALTX; Class C - WACTX; Administrator Class - WADTX; Institutional Class - WAITX
Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end, management investment company. This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") contains additional information about a series of the Trust in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds - the above referenced Fund (the "Fund"). The Fund is considered diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The Fund offers certain classes of shares as indicated above. This SAI relates to all such classes of shares.
This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's Prospectuses (each, a "Prospectus") dated May 1, 2014. The Prospectus may be obtained free of charge by visiting our Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com, calling 1-800-222-8222 or writing to Wells Fargo Advantage Funds®, P.O. Box 8266, Boston, MA 02266-8266.
ALTS/FASAI30 (5/14)
Table of Contents
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
Permitted Investment Activities and Certain Associated Risks |
12 |
|
23 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
32 |
|
|
44 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
47 |
|
|
47 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
54 |
|
|
54 |
|
|
66 |
|
|
Policies and Procedures for Disclosure of Fund Portfolio Holdings |
68 |
|
70 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
72 |
|
HISTORICAL FUND INFORMATION
On March 25, 1999, the Board of Trustees of Norwest Advantage Funds ("Norwest"), the Board of Directors of Stagecoach Funds, Inc. ("Stagecoach") and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for, among other things, the transfer of the assets and stated liabilities of various predecessor Norwest and Stagecoach portfolios to certain Funds of the Trust (the "Reorganization"). Prior to November 5, 1999, the effective date of the Reorganization, the Trust had only nominal assets.
On December 16, 2002, the Boards of Trustees of The Montgomery Funds and The Montgomery Funds II ("Montgomery") approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for, among other things, the transfer of the assets and stated liabilities of various predecessor Montgomery portfolios into various Funds of the Trust. The effective date of the reorganization was June 9, 2003.
On February 3, 2004, the Board and on February 18, 2004, the Board of Trustees of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund ("AIC Trust") approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for, among other things, the transfer of the assets and stated liabilities of various predecessor AIC Trust portfolios into various Funds of the Trust. The effective date of the reorganization was July 26, 2004.
In August and September 2004, the Boards of Directors of the Strong family of funds ("Strong") and the Board approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for, among other things, the transfer of the assets and stated liabilities of various predecessor Strong mutual funds into various Funds of the Trust. The effective date of the reorganization was April 8, 2005.
On December 30, 2009, the Board of Trustees of Evergreen Funds ("Evergreen") and on January 11, 2010 the Board approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for, among other things, the transfer of the assets and stated liabilities of various predecessor Evergreen portfolios and Wells Fargo Advantage Funds portfolios to certain Funds of the Trust. The effective date of the reorganization was July 12, 2010 for certain Evergreen Funds and July 19, 2010 for the remainder of the Evergreen Funds.
The Alternative Strategies Fund commenced operations on April 30, 2014.
Fundamental Investment Policies
The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment policies; that is, they may not be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
(1) purchase the securities of issuers conducting their principal business activity in the same industry if, immediately after the purchase and as a result thereof, the value of the Fund's investments in that industry would equal or exceed 25% of the current value of the Fund's total assets, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund's investments in (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, (ii) securities of other investment companies, or (iii) repurchase agreements;
(2) purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, with respect to 75% of the Fund's total assets, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of any one issuer or the Fund's ownership would be more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund's investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, or investments in securities of other investment companies;
(3) borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any exemptive orders obtained thereunder;
(4) issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any exemptive orders obtained thereunder;
(5) make loans to other parties if, as a result, the aggregate value of such loans would exceed one-third of the Fund's total assets. For the purposes of this limitation, entering into repurchase agreements, lending securities and acquiring any debt securities are not deemed to be the making of loans;
(6) underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the purchase of permitted investments directly from the issuer thereof or from an underwriter for an issuer and the later disposition of such securities in accordance with the Fund's investment program may be deemed to be an underwriting;
(7) purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business); or
(8) purchase or sell commodities, provided that (i) currency will not be deemed to be a commodity for purposes of this restriction, (ii) this restriction does not limit the purchase or sale of futures contracts, forward contracts or options, or other financial instruments subject to the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended ("CEA"), and (iii) this restriction does not limit the purchase or sale of securities or other instruments backed by commodities or the purchase or sale of commodities acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.
Non-Fundamental Investment Policies
The Fund has adopted the following non-fundamental policies; that is, it may be changed by the Trustees at any time without approval of such Fund's shareholders.
(1) The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any exemptive orders obtained thereunder, provided however, that no Fund that has knowledge that its shares are purchased by another investment company investor pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act will acquire any securities of registered open-end management investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.
(2) The Fund may not invest or hold more than 15% of the Fund's net assets in illiquid securities. For this purpose, illiquid securities include, among others, (a) securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale, (b) fixed time deposits that are subject to withdrawal penalties and that have maturities of more than seven days, and (c) repurchase agreements not terminable within seven days.
(3) The Fund may invest in financial instruments subject to the CEA, including futures, options on futures, and swaps ("commodity interests"), consistent with its investment policies and the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") thereunder or any exemptive orders obtained thereunder, and consistent with investment in commodity interests that would allow the Fund's investment adviser to claim an exclusion from being a "commodity pool operator" as defined by the CEA.
(4) The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to approved brokers, dealers and financial institutions, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and exemptions thereunder, which currently limit such activities to one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of the collateral received). Any such loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.
(5) The Fund may not make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund's investments in securities of other investment companies or investments in entities created under the laws of foreign countries to facilitate investment in securities of that country.
(6) The Fund may purchase securities on margin (including for short-term credits necessary for the clearance of transactions) to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Further Explanation of Investment Policies
Notwithstanding the foregoing policies, any other investment companies in which the Fund may invest have adopted their own investment policies, which may be more or less restrictive than those listed above, thereby allowing the Fund to participate in certain investment strategies indirectly that are prohibited under the fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies listed above.
For purposes of the Fund's fundamental investment policy with respect to making loans, bank loans and participations are considered debt securities rather than loans. In addition, for purposes of the Fund's non-fundamental investment policy with respect to investing in financial instruments subject to the CEA, exchange-traded funds that invest directly in or have exposure to commodities are considered securities backed by commodities.
With respect to repurchase agreements, the Fund invests only in repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. For purposes of the Fund's fundamental investment policy with respect to concentration, the Fund does not consider such repurchase agreements to constitute an industry or group of industries because the Fund chooses to look through such securities to the underlying collateral, which is itself excepted from the Fund's concentration policy.
ADDITIONAL APPROVED INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
In addition to the principal investment strategies set forth in the Prospectus, the Fund may also use futures, options or swap agreements, as well as other derivatives, to manage risk or to enhance return. Please refer to the Fund's Prospectus for information regarding the Fund's anticipated use of derivatives, if any, as a principal investment strategy. Please note that even if a Fund's Prospectus does not currently include information regarding derivatives, or only includes information regarding certain derivative instruments, the Fund may use any of the derivatives described below, at any time, and to any extent consistent with the Fund's other principal investment strategies.
DERIVATIVES
Derivative Securities
Derivative securities are securities that derive their value, at least in part, from the price of another security or asset, or the level of an index, such as the S&P 500 Index, or a rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), including structured notes, bonds or other instruments with interest rates that are determined by reference to changes in the value of other interest rates, indices or financial indicators ("References") or the relative change in two or more References. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indices, are traded on regulated exchanges. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market values are determined and published daily. Non-standardized derivatives, on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex, and may be harder to value. Futures contracts and options are also considered types of derivative securities, and are described more fully under the heading "Futures and Options Contracts" below. Other common types of derivatives include forward foreign currency exchange contracts, forward contracts on securities and securities indices, linked securities and structured products, collateralized mortgage obligations, stripped securities, warrants, swap agreements, and swaptions.
An investment is often made in derivative securities as a "hedge" against fluctuations in the market value of the other securities in the Fund's portfolio due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or other factors in the securities markets, although the Fund may also invest in certain derivative securities for investment purposes only. Other reasons why the Fund may use derivative securities include protecting its unrealized gains reflected in the value of its portfolio of securities, facilitating the sale of such securities for investment purposes, reducing transaction costs, and/or managing the effective maturity or duration of its portfolio.
While derivative securities are useful for hedging and investment, they also carry additional risks. A hedging policy may fail if the correlation between the value of the derivative securities and the other investments in the Fund's portfolio does not follow the adviser's expectations. If the adviser's expectations are not met, it is possible that the hedging strategy will not only fail to protect the value of the Fund's investments, but the Fund may also lose money on the derivative security itself. In addition, some derivative securities represent relatively recent innovations in the bond markets. The trading market for these instruments is less developed than the markets for traditional types of debt instruments. It is uncertain how these derivative securities will perform under different economic interest-rate scenarios. Because certain of these instruments are leveraged, their market values may be more volatile than other types of securities and may present greater potential for capital gain or loss. Derivative securities and their underlying instruments may experience periods of illiquidity, which could cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell or the Fund could be forced to sell a security at inopportune times or for prices that do not reflect current market value. The possibility of default by the issuer or the issuer's credit provider may be greater for structured and derivative instruments than for other types of instruments. As new types of derivative securities are developed and offered to investors, the adviser will, consistent with the Fund's investment objective, policies, restrictions and quality standards, consider making investments in such new types of derivative securities.
Additional risks of derivative securities include, but are not limited to: the risk of disruption of the Fund's ability to trade in derivative securities because of regulatory compliance problems or regulatory changes; credit risk of counterparties to derivative contracts, and market risk (i.e., exposure to adverse price changes).
The adviser uses a variety of internal risk management procedures to ensure that derivatives are closely monitored and that their use is consistent with a particular Fund's investment objective, policies, restrictions and quality standards, and does not expose such Fund to undue risk.
The Fund's use of derivatives also is subject to broadly applicable investment policies. For example, the Fund may not invest more than a specified percentage of its assets in "illiquid securities," including those derivatives that do not have active secondary markets. The Fund also may not use certain derivatives without establishing adequate "cover" in compliance with the SEC rules limiting the use of leverage. Consistent with SEC staff guidance, the Fund will consider its obligations involving such derivatives as "covered" when the Fund (i) maintains an offsetting financial position, (ii) segregates liquid assets (which may include, but are not limited to, cash, cash equivalents, equities and debt securities) equal in value to the Fund's potential economic exposure relating to the derivative, as determined on a daily basis, or (iii) otherwise "covers" the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. If a Fund chooses to establish a "covered" position by segregating liquid assets, the amount that must be segregated will be determined in accordance with current SEC staff guidance, and will thus vary based on the specific derivative instrument being used. For example, for futures and forward contracts and related agreements that require only cash settlement, and swap agreements that call for periodic netting between a Fund and its counterparty, the segregated amount will be the net amount due under the contract, as determined daily on a mark-to-market basis. For other kinds of futures, forwards and swaps, a Fund must segregate a larger amount of assets to cover its obligations, which essentially limits a Fund's ability to use these instruments.
Both equity and credit derivatives include options, futures and options on futures, which may be used to hedge the Fund's portfolio, increase returns or maintain exposure to a market without buying individual securities. These investments may pose risks in addition to those associated with investing directly in securities or other investments. Such risks may include illiquidity of the derivative and imperfect correlation of the derivative with underlying investments for which it is being substituted or the Fund's other portfolio holdings. Accordingly, there is the risk that such practices may fail to serve their intended purposes, and may reduce returns or increase volatility. These practices also entail transactional expenses.
Additionally, the use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying security, asset, index or reference rate, which may be magnified by certain features of the derivatives. These risks are heightened when the Fund uses derivatives to enhance its return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge or offset the risk of a position or security held by the Fund. The Fund's use of derivatives to leverage risk also may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than if it had invested in the underlying security, or limit a potential gain.
The success of management's derivative strategies will depend on its ability to assess and predict the impact of market or economic developments on the underlying security, asset, index or reference rate and the derivative itself, without necessarily the benefit of observing the performance of the derivative under all possible market conditions. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or sell its derivative positions as a liquid secondary market for such positions may not exist at times when the Fund may wish to terminate or sell them. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid. Derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. Also, with some derivative strategies, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to find a suitable counterparty for the derivative transaction, and therefore may be unable to invest in derivatives altogether. The use of derivatives may also increase the amount and accelerate the timing of taxes payable by shareholders.
A Fund that is authorized to invest in derivatives may use any or all of the above investment techniques and may purchase different types of derivative instruments at any time and in any combination. There is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique over another, as the use of derivatives is a function of numerous variables, including market conditions.
Credit Derivatives. A credit derivative is a form of derivative that is divided into two categories: credit default swaps and total return swaps. Both such categories of credit derivatives are usually governed by the standard terms and conditions of an ISDA Master Agreement.
A credit default swap involves a protection buyer and a protection seller. A Fund may be either a protection buyer or seller. The protection buyer makes periodic premium payments to the protection seller during the swap term in exchange for the protection seller agreeing to make certain defined payments to the protection buyer in the event certain defined credit events occur with respect to a particular security, issuer or basket of securities. A total return swap involves a total return receiver and a total return payor. A Fund may either be a total return receiver or payor. Generally, the total return payor sells to the total return receiver an amount equal to all cash flows and price appreciation on a defined security or asset payable at periodic times during the swap term (i.e., credit risk) in return for a periodic payment from the total return receiver based on designated index (e.g., LIBOR) and spread plus the amount of any price depreciation on the reference security or asset. The total return payor does not need to own the underlying security or asset to enter into a total return swap. The final payment at the end of the swap term includes final settlement of the current market price of the underlying reference security or asset, and payment by the applicable party for any appreciation or depreciation in value. Usually, collateral must be posted by the total return receiver to secure the periodic interest-based and market price depreciation payments depending on the credit quality of the underlying reference security and creditworthiness of the total return receiver, and the collateral amount is marked-to-market daily equal to the market price of the underlying reference security or asset between periodic payment dates.
Other types of credit derivatives include credit-linked notes and other forms of debt obligations having an embedded credit default swap component. In such type of credit derivative, payments of principal and interest are tied to the performance of one or more reference obligations or assets.
In all of the above-referenced credit derivative transactions, the same general risks inherent to derivative transactions are present. However, credit derivative transactions also carry with them greater risks of imperfect correlation between the performance and price of the underlying reference security or asset, and the general performance of the designated interest rate or index which is the basis for the periodic payment. If a Fund writes a credit default swap, it receives an up-front premium. A Fund's exposure under a credit default swap, though, is a form of leverage and will be subject to the restrictions on leveraged derivatives.
Inverse Floaters. A Fund may invest in inverse floating rate municipal securities or "inverse floaters," sometimes also referred to as a "residual interest certificates." Inverse floaters are issued by tender option bond trusts ("trusts") that are established by a third party sponsor in connection with the transfer of municipal bonds to the trusts. In addition to inverse floaters, these trusts typically issue short-term floating rate notes which are usually sold to money market funds ("floating rate notes"). An inverse floater is a type of "derivative" debt instrument with a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of the interest rate on another security, normally the floating rate note. Because changes in the interest rate on the note inversely affect the rate of interest received on an inverse floater, and because inverse floaters essentially represent a leveraged investment in a long-term bond, the value of an inverse floater is generally more volatile than that of a conventional fixed-rate municipal bond having similar credit quality, redemption provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters may have interest rate adjustment formulas which generally reduce or eliminate the interest paid to a Fund when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to a Fund when short-term interest rates fall. The value of inverse floaters also tends to fall faster than the value of fixed rate municipal bonds when interest rates rise, and conversely, their value tends to rise more rapidly when interest rates fall. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity, and the market for these securities is relatively volatile. Inverse floaters tend to underperform the market for fixed rate municipal bonds in a rising long-term interest rate environment, but tend to outperform that market when long-term interest rates decline.
An investment in inverse floaters may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed-rate municipal security. All inverse floaters entail some degree of leverage. The interest rate on inverse floaters varies inversely at a pre-set multiple of the change in short-term rates. An inverse floater that has a higher multiple, and therefore more leverage, will be more volatile with respect to both price and income than an inverse floater with a lower degree of leverage or than the underlying security. The markets for inverse floating rate securities may be less developed and have less liquidity than the markets for conventional securities.
Under applicable financial accounting standards, inverse floater transactions in which a Fund has transferred a municipal security it owned to a trust are considered a form of secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. This accounting treatment does not apply to any inverse floaters acquired by a Fund that were created by a third-party's transfer of a municipal security to the issuing trust.
Futures and Options Contracts
In General. A futures transaction involves a firm agreement to buy or sell a commodity or financial instrument at a particular price on a specified future date, while an option transaction generally involves a right, which may or may not be exercised, to buy or sell a commodity or financial instrument at a particular price on a specified future date. Futures contracts and options are standardized and exchange-traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts. Consequently, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange. Futures contracts, however, are subject to market risk (i.e., exposure to adverse price changes).
Initially, when purchasing or selling futures contracts, the Fund will be required to deposit with the Fund's custodian in the broker's name an amount of cash or cash equivalents up to approximately 10% of the contract amount. This amount is subject to change by the exchange or board of trade on which the contract is traded, and members of such exchange or board of trade may impose their own higher requirements. This amount is known as "initial margin" and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures position, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, known as "variation margin," to and from the broker will be made daily as the price of the index or securities underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, at the then prevailing price, thereby terminating its existing position in the contract.
Although the Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an active market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting a Fund to substantial losses. If it is not possible, or the Fund determines not to close a futures position in anticipation of adverse price movements, the Fund will be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.
An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the option exercise period. The writer (i.e., seller) of the option is required upon exercise to assume an offsetting futures position (a short position if the option is a call and a long position if the option is a put). Upon exercise of the option, the assumption of offsetting futures positions by both the writer and the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated cash balance in the writer's futures margin account in the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential loss related to the purchase of options on futures contracts is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs). Because the value of the option is fixed at the time of sale, there are no daily cash payments to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option may change daily, and that change would be reflected in the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund.
The Fund may trade futures contracts and options on futures contracts in U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of Trade and the International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the SEC, the Fund may be required to segregate cash or high-quality money-market instruments in connection with its futures transactions in an amount generally equal to the entire value of the underlying security.
The Fund's adviser has filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" ("CPO") under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund's operation. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the Fund's adviser is subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool or CPO.
The Fund may engage in futures contracts sales to maintain the income advantage from continued holding of a long-term security while endeavoring to avoid part or all of the loss in market value that would otherwise accompany a decline in long-term security prices. If, however, securities prices rise, the Fund would realize a loss in closing out its futures contract sales that would offset any increases in prices of the long-term securities they hold.
Another risk in employing futures contracts and options thereon to protect against cash market price volatility is the possibility that futures prices will correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the prices of the securities in such portfolio (the portfolio securities will not be identical to the debt instruments underlying the futures contracts).
Options Trading. The Fund may purchase or sell (write) options on individual securities or options on indices of securities. The purchaser of an option risks a total loss of the premium paid for the option if the price of the underlying security does not increase or decrease sufficiently to justify the exercise of such option. The seller of an option, on the other hand, will recognize the premium as income if the option expires unrecognized but foregoes any capital appreciation in excess of the exercise price in the case of a call option and may be required to pay a price in excess of current market value in the case of a put option.
A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and a writer the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the option to buy, the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
The Fund may sell both "covered" and "naked" call options. In the case of a call option on a security or currency, the option is "covered" if the Fund owns the instrument underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid high-grade debt obligations, in such amount are held in a segregated account by such Fund's custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by it. For a call option on an index, the option is covered if the Fund maintains with its custodian a diversified portfolio of securities comprising the index or liquid assets equal to the contract value. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds an offsetting call on the same instrument or index as the call written. "Naked" call options are those which are not "covered."
Options trading is a highly specialized activity which entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves. Purchasing options is a specialized investment technique that entails a substantial risk of a complete loss of the amounts paid as premiums to the writer of the option. If the adviser is incorrect in its forecast of market value or other factors when writing options, the Fund would be in a worse position than it would have been had if it had not written the option.
Below is a description of some of the types of futures and options in which the Fund may invest.
Stock Index Options. The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options on stock indices. A stock index fluctuates with changes of the market values of the stocks included in the index. The effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index options will depend upon the extent to which price movements of the securities in the Fund's portfolio correlate with price movements of the stock index selected. Because the value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the index rather than the price of a particular stock, whether the Fund will realize a gain or loss from purchasing or writing stock index options depends upon movements in the level of stock prices in the stock market generally or, in the case of certain indices, in an industry or market segment, rather than movements in the price of particular stock.
Stock Index Futures and Options on Stock Index Futures. The Fund may invest in stock index futures and options on stock index futures. A stock index future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take), effectively, an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying stocks in the index is made. With respect to stock indices that are permitted investments, each Fund intends to purchase and sell futures contracts on the stock index for which it can obtain the best price with consideration also given to liquidity.
Interest Rate Futures Contracts and Options on Interest Rate Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in interest rate futures contracts and options on interest rate futures contracts as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying securities or to speculate on the direction of interest rates. The Fund may also sell options on interest rate futures contracts as part of closing purchase transactions to terminate its options positions. No assurance can be given that such closing transactions can be effected or as to the degree of correlation between price movements in the options on interest rate futures and price movements in the Fund's portfolio securities which are the subject of the transaction.
Future Developments. The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the areas of options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts and any other derivative investments which are not presently contemplated for use by the Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's investment objective and legally permissible for the Fund.
Foreign Currency Contracts
To the extent that the Fund may invest in securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits or other money market investments denominated in foreign currencies, and may engage in foreign currency contract transactions, it may be affected favorably or unfavorably by exchange control regulations or changes in the exchange rate between such currencies and the dollar. The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets. The international balance of payments and other economic and financial conditions, market interest rates, government intervention, speculation and other factors affect these forces. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions in order to hedge its portfolio and to protect it against possible variations in foreign exchange rates pending the settlement of securities transactions. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency transactions to speculate on the movement of a particular currency.
Foreign currency contracts may be either futures contracts or forward contracts. Similar to other futures contracts, a foreign currency futures contract is an agreement for the future delivery of a specified currency at a specified time and at a specified price that will be secured by margin deposits, is regulated by the CFTC and is traded on designated exchanges. The Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases and sells foreign currency futures contracts. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are also contracts for the future delivery of a specified currency at a specified time and at a specified price. However, these transactions differ from futures contracts in that they are usually conducted on a principal basis instead of through an exchange, and therefore there are no brokerage fees, margin deposits are negotiated between the parties, and the contracts are settled through different procedures. The Adviser considers on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of the institutions with which the Fund enters into such forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
The use of foreign currency contracts involves the risk of imperfect correlation between movements in contract prices and movements in the price of the currencies to which the contracts relate. The successful use of foreign currency transaction strategies also depends on the ability of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to correctly forecast interest rate movements, currency rate movements and general stock market price movements. There can be no assurance that the Adviser or Sub-adviser's forecasts will be accurate. When such contracts are used for hedging purposes, they are intended to reduce the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, but at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currency increase.
Swap Agreements and Swaptions
Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to address exposure to a variety
of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease
the Fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing
rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. The Fund may enter into a variety of swap agreements,
including interest rate, index, commodity, equity, credit default and currency exchange rate swap agreements, and other types
of swap agreements such as caps, collars and floors. The Fund also may enter into swaptions, which are options to enter into
a swap agreement. In a swaption, in exchange for an option premium, the purchaser of the swaption acquires the right, but
not the obligation, to enter into a specified swap agreement with a counterparty on a specified future date. If there is a
default by the other party to a swap agreement or swaption, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements
related to the transaction.
The use of swaps and swaptions is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from
those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of
securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements and swaptions
generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. There is also a risk
of a default by the other party to a swap agreement or swaption, in which case the Fund may not receive the net amount of
payments that such Fund contractually is entitled to receive.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements. In a typical interest rate swap, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a "notional
principal amount," in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for a specified period of time. The
exchange commitment can involve payments to be made in the same currency or in different currencies. The Fund will usually
enter into swap agreements on a net basis. In so doing, the two payment streams under the swap agreement are netted out, with
the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. If the Fund enters into a swap
agreement, it will maintain a segregated account on a gross basis, unless the contract provides for a segregated account on
a net basis. If a swap agreement provides for payments in different currencies, the parties might agree to exchange notional
principal amount as well. In a total return swap agreement, the non-floating rate side of the swap is based on the total return
of an individual security, a basket of securities, an index or another reference asset. Swaps may also depend on other prices
or rates, such as the value of an index or mortgage prepayment rates.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return
for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments
to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated
to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. Caps and floors have an effect
similar to buying or writing options. A collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund's investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if
the Fund agreed to pay fixed rates in exchange for floating rates while holding fixed-rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease the
Fund's exposure to long-term interest rates. Another example is if the Fund agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments
in foreign currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the Fund's exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its
exposure to foreign currency and interest rates.
Swap agreements are sophisticated hedging instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude
of risks assumed. As a result, swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on the Fund's performance.
Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund's investments
and its share price and yield. Additionally, whether the Fund's use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its
investment objective will depend on the adviser's ability correctly to predict whether certain types of investments likely
are to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms
of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of
the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.
The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or
other factor that determines the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the
Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty's creditworthiness declines,
the value of a swap agreement likely would decline, potentially resulting in losses for the Fund. The Fund will closely monitor
the credit of a swap agreement counterparty in order to attempt to minimize this risk. The Fund may also suffer losses if
it is unable to terminate outstanding swap agreements (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through
offsetting transactions (i.e., by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy
party).
Credit Default Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more securities or
a basket of securities that are or are not currently held by the Fund. The protection "buyer" in a credit default contract
is generally obligated to pay the protection "seller" an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract
provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller
generally must pay the buyer the "par value" (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable
obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount,
if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no
credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event
occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount
of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund generally
receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event.
As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the
Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Credit default swap agreements may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly
since, in addition to risks relating to the reference obligation, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty
risk and credit risk. The Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements generally with counterparties that meet certain
standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event
occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation
received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional
value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller.
Equity Swaps. The Fund may engage in equity swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to the swap agreement to exchange components of return on one equity investment (e.g., a basket of equity securities or an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or equity investment, including an exchange of differential rates of return. Equity swaps may be used to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances where direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impractical. Equity swaps also may be used for other purposes, such as hedging or seeking to increase total return.
The values of equity swaps can be very volatile. To the extent that the adviser does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative fluctuation on the components swapped with the other party, the Fund may suffer a loss. The value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividend on a common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, during the period a swap is outstanding, the Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty defaults.
Total Return Swap Agreements. Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to the Fund's portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Total return swap agreements are subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations to the Fund thereunder, and conversely, that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligation to the counterparty. Generally, the Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted against one another with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's obligations over its entitlements with respect to each total return swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be segregated by the Fund. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund's obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of the Fund's obligations will be segregated by the Fund in an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the total return swap agreement or the amount it would have cost the Fund initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount the Fund is obligated to pay or is to receive under the total return swap agreement.
Variance, Volatility and Correlation Swap Agreements. Variance and volatility swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the volatility of certain referenced assets. Correlation swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the correlation between the prices of different assets or different market rates.
PERMITTED INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES AND CERTAIN ASSOCIATED RISKS
Set forth below are descriptions of permitted investment activities for the Fund and certain of its associated risks. The activities are organized into various categories. To the extent that an activity overlaps two or more categories, the activity is referenced only once in this section. The Fund is subject to the limitations as described in this section and elsewhere in this SAI and/or the Prospectus(es). The Fund does not necessarily participate in all of the investment activities described below. For purposes of monitoring the investment policies and restrictions of the Fund (with the exception of the loans of portfolio securities policy described below), the amount of any securities lending collateral held by the Fund will be excluded in calculating total assets. Unless otherwise noted or required by applicable law, the percentage limitations and qualitative investment policies included in this SAI or the Prospectus apply at the time of purchase of a security. To the extent a security type is described in this SAI that is not referenced in the Prospectus(es), the Fund under normal circumstances will not invest more than 15% of its assets in the security type unless otherwise specified.
The Prospectus(es) identify and summarize the types of securities and assets in which the Fund may invest as part of its principal investment strategies, and the principal risks associated with such investments. This SAI identifies and summarizes other types of securities and assets in which the Fund may invest, each of which is subject to the same kinds of risks as are described in the Prospectus(es). Certain additional risks associated with each type of investment are identified and described below.
DEBT SECURITIES
Bank Obligations
Bank obligations include certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and other short-term obligations of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, domestic savings and loan associations and other banking institutions. With respect to such obligations issued by foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks, and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, the Fund may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those incurred by the Fund that invests only in debt obligations of domestic issuers. Such risks include possible future political, regulatory or economic developments, the possible imposition of foreign withholding and other taxes (at potentially confiscatory levels) on amounts realized on such obligations, the possible establishment of exchange controls or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions that might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these obligations and the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits. In addition, foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping standards than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate. Time deposits that may be held by the Fund will not benefit from insurance from the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). Bankers' acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity. The other short-term obligations may include uninsured, direct obligations, bearing fixed, floating or variable interest rates.
Commercial Paper
Commercial paper (including variable amount master demand notes, see "Floating and Variable Rate Obligations" below), refers to short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations to finance short-term credit needs. Commercial paper is usually sold on a discount basis and typically has a maturity at the time of issuance not exceeding nine months. Variable amount master demand notes are demand obligations which permit the investment of fluctuating amounts at varying market rates of interest pursuant to arrangements between the issuer and a commercial bank acting as agent for the payee of such notes whereby both parties have the right to vary the amount of the outstanding indebtedness on the notes.
Asset-Backed Commercial Paper. Securities that are issued from commercial paper conduits are called asset-backed commercial paper securities. Credit support for such securities falls into two categories: liquidity protection and protection against ultimate default under the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that scheduled payments on the securities or underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against ultimate default ensures payment on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction, such as by issuing senior and subordinated instruments or through a combination of these approaches. The degree of credit support provided on each issue is based generally on historical information relating to the level of credit risk associated with the payments. Delinquency or loss that exceeds the anticipated amount or a downgrade or loss of credit support could adversely impact the value of or return on an investment in an asset-backed commercial paper security.
Commercial paper is also subject to the risks generally associated with debt securities discussed elsewhere in this SAI and the Prospectus(es).
Convertible Securities
A convertible security is generally a debt obligation or preferred stock that may be converted within a specified period of time into a certain amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security provides a fixed-income stream and the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation resulting from a market price advance in its underlying common stock. As with a straight fixed-income security, a convertible security tends to increase in market value when interest rates decline and decrease in value when interest rates rise. Like a common stock, the value of a convertible security also tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, and it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying stock declines. Because its value can be influenced by both interest-rate and market movements, a convertible security tends not to be as sensitive to interest rates as a similar fixed-income security, and tends not to be as sensitive to changes in share price as its underlying stock.
Investing in convertible securities is subject to certain risks in addition to those generally associated with debt securities discussed elsewhere in this SAI and the Prospectus(es). Certain convertible securities, particularly securities that are convertible into securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the convertible security, may be or become illiquid and, therefore, may be more difficult to resell in a timely fashion or for a fair price, which could result in investment losses.
The creditworthiness of the issuer of a convertible security is important because the holder of a convertible security will have recourse only to the issuer. In addition, a convertible security may be subject to conversion or redemption by the issuer, but only after a specified date and under circumstances established at the time the security is issued. This feature may require a holder to convert the security into the underlying common stock, even if the value of the underlying common stock has declined substantially. In addition, companies that issue convertible securities frequently are small- and mid-capitalization companies and, accordingly, carry the risks associated with investments in such companies.
While the Fund uses the same criteria to evaluate the credit quality of a convertible debt security that it would use for a more conventional debt security, a convertible preferred stock is treated like a preferred stock for the Fund's credit evaluation, as well as financial reporting and investment limitation purposes. Preferred stock is subordinated to all debt obligations in the event of insolvency, and an issuer's failure to make a dividend payment is generally not an event of default entitling the preferred shareholders to take action. Preferred stock generally has no maturity date, so its market value is dependent on the issuer's business prospects for an indefinite period of time. In addition, distributions on preferred stock generally are taxable as dividend income, rather than interest payments, for federal income tax purposes.
Custodial Receipts for Treasury Securities
These securities are typically represented by participations in trusts that hold U.S. Treasury securities, such as Treasury Investors Growth Receipts and Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities, or other obligations where the trust participations evidence ownership in either the future interest payments or the future principal payments on the obligations. These participations are normally issued at a discount to their "face value," and can exhibit greater price volatility than ordinary debt securities because of the way in which their principal and interest are returned to investors.
Dollar Roll Transactions
Dollar roll transactions are transactions wherein the Fund sells fixed-income securities, typically mortgage-backed securities,and makes a commitment to purchase similar, but not identical, securities at a later date from the same party. Like a forward commitment, during the roll period no payment is made for the securities purchased and no interest or principal payments on the security accrue to the purchaser, but the Fund assumes the risk of ownership. The Fund is compensated for entering into dollar roll transactions by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Like other when-issued securities or firm commitment agreements, dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund is committed to purchase similar securities. In the event the buyer of securities from the Fund under a dollar roll transaction becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds of the transaction may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities. The Fund will engage in dollar roll transactions for the purpose of acquiring securities for its portfolio and not for investment leverage.
Floating- and Variable-Rate Obligations
Floating- and variable-rate obligations include obligations such as demand notes and bonds. Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes that are obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, which may change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and the borrower. The interest rate on a floating-rate demand obligation is based on a referenced lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is adjusted automatically each time such rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable-rate demand obligation is adjusted automatically at specified intervals. The issuer of such obligations ordinarily has a right, after a given period, to prepay at its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified number of days notice to the holders of such obligations. Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks.
There generally is no established secondary market for these obligations because they are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the Fund is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. Such obligations frequently are not rated by credit rating agencies and the Fund may invest in obligations which are not so rated only if the adviser determines that at the time of investment the obligations are of comparable quality to the other obligations in which such Fund may invest. The adviser, on behalf of the Fund, monitors the creditworthiness of the issuers of the floating- and variable-rate demand obligations in such Fund's portfolio. Floating- and variable-rate instruments are subject to interest-rate and credit risks and other risks generally associated with debt securities. The floating- and variable-rate instruments that the Fund may purchase include certificates of participation in such instruments.
Letters of Credit
Certain of the debt obligations (including certificates of participation, commercial paper and other short-term obligations) which a Fund may purchase may be backed by an unconditional and irrevocable letter of credit of a bank, savings and loan association or insurance company which assumes the obligation for payment of principal and interest in the event of default by the issuer. Only banks, savings banks and insurance companies which, in the opinion of the adviser, are of comparable quality to issuers of other permitted investments of the Fund, may be used for letter of credit-backed investments.
Loans
Loans in which a Fund may invest are subject generally to the same risks as debt securities in which the Fund may invest. Loans in which a Fund invests may be made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions. The highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in such transactions may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Loans generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell such participations in secondary markets. As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell loans at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them only at a price that is less than their fair market value. Market bids may be unavailable for loans from time to time; a Fund may find it difficult to establish a fair value for loans held by it. If a Fund only acquires an assignment or a participation in a loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the lender would have under the corporate loan. In addition, a Fund may have to rely on the assignor(s) or participating institution(s) to demand and receive payments in respect of the loans, and to pay those amounts on to the Fund; the Fund will be subject to the risk that the assignor(s) may be unwilling or unable to do so. Many loans in which a Fund invests may be unrated, and the portfolio manager will be required to rely exclusively on its analysis of the borrower in determining whether to acquire, or to continue to hold, a loan. In addition, under legal theories of lender liability, a Fund potentially might be held liable as a co-lender.
Synthetic Convertible Securities
"Synthetic" convertible securities, are derivative positions composed of two or more different securities whose investment characteristics, taken together, resemble those of convertible securities. For example, a Fund may purchase a non-convertible debt security and a warrant or option, which enables a Fund to have a convertible-like position with respect to a company, group of companies or stock index. Synthetic convertible securities are typically offered by financial institutions and investment banks in private placement transactions. Upon conversion, a Fund generally receives an amount in cash equal to the difference between the conversion price and the then current value of the underlying security. Unlike a true convertible security, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the market value of a synthetic convertible is the sum of the values of its fixed-income component and its convertible component. For this reason, the values of a synthetic convertible and a true convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations. A Fund only invests in synthetic convertibles with respect to companies whose corporate debt securities are rated "A" or higher by Moody's or S&P and will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in such synthetic securities and other illiquid securities.
Unrated Investments
The Fund may purchase instruments that are not rated if, in the opinion of the adviser, such obligations are of investment quality comparable to other rated investments that are permitted to be purchased by such Fund. After purchase by a Fund, a security may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by such Funds. Neither event will require a sale of such security by the Fund. To the extent the ratings given by Moody's, Fitch, or S&P may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their rating systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for investments in accordance with the investment policies contained in its Prospectus and in this SAI. The ratings of Moody's, Fitch, and S&P are more fully described in the section entitled "Credit Ratings."
U.S. Government Obligations
U.S. Government obligations include securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government-sponsored entities. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. Government, securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), a wholly owned U.S. Government corporation, is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection or scheduled payment of principal, but its participation certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. If a government-sponsored entity is unable to meet its obligations, the performance of the Fund that holds securities of the entity will be adversely impacted. U.S. Government obligations are subject to low but varying degrees of credit risk, and are still subject to interest rate and market risk.
EQUITY SECURITIES
Initial Public Offerings
Smaller companies may offer initial public offerings which typically have additional risks including more limited product lines, markets and financial resources than larger, more seasoned companies and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volume than those of larger, more mature companies.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pay dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bond take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred securities and common stock.
Smaller Company Securities
Investments in smaller capitalization companies carry greater risk than investments in larger capitalization companies. Smaller capitalization companies generally experience higher growth rates and higher failure rates than do larger capitalization companies; and the trading volume of smaller capitalization companies' securities is normally lower than that of larger capitalization companies and, consequently, generally has a disproportionate effect on market price (tending to make prices rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure).
Securities owned by a Fund that are traded in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of securities trading on a national securities exchange. As a result, disposition by a Fund of a portfolio security, to meet redemption requests by other investors or otherwise, may require the Fund to sell these securities at a discount from market prices, to sell during periods when disposition is not desirable, or to make many small sales over a lengthy period of time.
Investments in smaller, less seasoned issuers generally carry greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more seasoned companies. Such issuers often have products and management personnel that have not been tested by time or the marketplace and their financial resources may not be as substantial as those of more established companies. Their securities (which a Fund may purchase when they are offered to the public for the first time) may have a limited trading market that can adversely affect their sale by a Fund and can result in such securities being priced lower than otherwise might be the case. If other institutional investors were to engage in trading this type of security, a Fund may be forced to dispose of its holdings in this type of security at prices lower than might otherwise be obtained in the absence of institutional trading in such security.
FOREIGN SECURITIES AND CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
Emerging Market Securities
The Funds consider countries with emerging markets to include the following: (i) countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; and (ii) countries with low- to middle-income economies according to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (more commonly referred to as the World Bank). Examples of countries that are commonly considered to have emerging markets include, but are not limited to, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey.
Equity securities of emerging market issuers may include common stock, preferred stocks (including convertible preferred stocks) and warrants, bonds, notes and debentures convertible into common or preferred stock, equity interests in foreign investment funds or trusts and real estate investment trust ("REIT") securities. The Funds may invest in American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Canadian Depositary Receipts ("CDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") and International Depositary Receipts ("IDRs") of such issuers.
There are special risks involved in investing in emerging-market countries. Many investments in emerging markets can be considered speculative, and their prices can be much more volatile than in the more developed nations of the world. This difference reflects the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. The financial markets of emerging markets countries are generally less well capitalized and thus securities of issuers based in such countries may be less liquid. Most are heavily dependent on international trade, and some are especially vulnerable to recessions in other countries. Many of these countries are also sensitive to world commodity prices. Some countries may still have obsolete financial systems, economic problems or archaic legal systems. The currencies of certain emerging market countries, and therefore the value of securities denominated in such currencies, may be more volatile than currencies of developed countries. In addition, many of these nations are experiencing political and social uncertainties.
Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries, taxes may be withheld at the source under foreign tax laws, and there is a possibility of expropriation or potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, political, social and monetary instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect investments in, the liquidity of, and the ability to enforce contractual obligations with respect to, securities of issuers located in those countries. Amounts realized on foreign securities in which a Fund may invest may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Applicable tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Funds would otherwise be subject.
Foreign Obligations and Securities
The Fund considers equity securities of foreign issuers (or foreign securities) to be equity securities: (1) issued by companies with their principal place of business or principal office or both, as determined in the adviser's reasonable discretion, in a country, other than the U.S.; or (2) issued by companies for which the principal securities trading market is a country other than the U.S. Foreign company stocks may lose value or be more difficult to trade as a result of adverse changes in currency exchange rates or other developments in the issuer's home country. Concentrated investment by the Fund in any single country, especially a less developed country, would make such Fund's value more sensitive to economic, currency and regulatory changes within that country.
Investments in foreign obligations and securities include high-quality, short-term debt obligations of foreign issuers, including foreign branches of U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks, and short-term debt obligations of foreign governmental agencies and foreign companies that are denominated in and pay interest in U.S. dollars. Investments in foreign obligations involve certain considerations that are not typically associated with investing in domestic obligations. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a domestic issuer and the available information may be less reliable. Foreign issuers also are not generally subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or governmental supervision as domestic issuers. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, taxes may be withheld at the source under foreign tax laws, and there is a possibility of expropriation or potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect investments in, the liquidity of, and the ability to enforce contractual obligations with respect to, obligations of issuers located in those countries. Amounts realized on certain foreign securities in which the Fund may invest may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would otherwise be subject.
Foreign securities include, among others, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and similar investments, including Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs). ADRs, CDRs, EDRs, GDRs, and IDRs are depositary receipts for foreign company stocks issued by a bank and held in trust at that bank, and which entitle the owner of such depositary receipts to any capital gains or dividends from the foreign company stocks underlying the depositary receipts. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs (sponsored or unsponsored) are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and traded on a U.S. stock exchange, and CDRs are receipts typically issued by a Canadian bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities. Issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not contractually obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. and, therefore, such information may not correlate to the market value of the unsponsored ADR. EDRs and IDRs are receipts typically issued by European banks and trust companies, and GDRs are receipts issued by either a U.S. or non-U.S. banking institution, that evidence ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in U.S. securities markets and EDRs and IDRs in bearer form are designed primarily for use in Europe.
Foreign securities also include securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits or other money market investments denominated in foreign currencies. Therefore, the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by exchange control regulations or changes in the exchange rate between such currencies and the dollar.
Because the Fund may invest in securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits or other money market investments denominated in foreign currencies, it may be affected favorably or unfavorably by exchange control regulations or changes in the exchange rate between such currencies and the dollar. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates influence values within the Fund from the perspective of U.S. investors. The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by a wide range of political and economic factors, including the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets. The international balance of payments and other economic and financial conditions, government intervention and stability, speculation and other factors also affect exchange rates.
Participation Notes
The Funds may purchase participation notes, also known as participation certificates. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to replicate the performance of foreign companies or foreign securities markets and can be used by a Fund as an alternative means to access the securities market of a country. The performance results of participation notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. There can be no assurance that the trading price of participation notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. Participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter. Participation notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, the counterparty, and the Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying security. Participation notes involve transaction cost. Participation notes may be illiquid and therefore subject to the Fund's percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities. Participation notes offer a return linked to a particular underlying equity, debt or currency.
For temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may invest in fixed-income securities of non-U.S. governmental and private issuers. Such investments may include bonds, notes, debentures and other similar debt securities, including convertible securities.
OTHER INVESTMENTS AND TECHNIQUES
Borrowing
Money may be borrowed for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests, to purchase additional securities or to maintain cash to offset short positions. Borrowing involves special risk considerations. Interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds (or on the assets that were retained rather than sold to meet the needs for which funds were borrowed). Under adverse market conditions, a Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. Reverse repurchase agreements, dollar roll transactions and other similar investments that involve a form of leverage have characteristics similar to borrowings, but are not considered borrowings if the Fund maintains a segregated account.
Closed-End Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in the securities of closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in foreign securities. Because of restrictions on direct investment by U.S. entities in certain countries, other investment companies may provide the most practical or only way for the Fund to invest in certain markets.
The Fund will invest in such companies when, in the adviser's judgment, the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any applicable premium or sales charge. Other investment companies incur their own fees and expenses.
Forward Commitments, When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
Securities may be purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and contracts to purchase or sell securities
for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time may also be made. Delivery and payment on such transactions
normally take place within 120 days after the date of the commitment to purchase. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued,
delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines,
or the value of the security to be sold increases, before the settlement date.
The Fund has a segregated account in which they may maintain cash, U.S. Government obligations or other high-quality debt
instruments in an amount at least equal in value to the Fund's commitments to purchase when-issued securities. If the value
of these assets declines, the Fund will place additional liquid assets in the account on a daily basis so that the value of
the assets in the account is at least equal to the amount of such commitments.
Illiquid Securities
Securities not registered under the 1933 Act, and other securities subject to legal or other restrictions on resale may be less liquid than other investments and may be difficult to sell promptly at an acceptable price. Delay or difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or be costly to the Fund. The Fund may not invest or hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Master Limited Partnerships
Master limited partnerships ("MLPs") are publicly traded partnerships primarily engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of minerals and natural resources. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund. MLPs are subject to various risks related to the underlying operating companies they control, including dependence upon specialized management skills and the risk that such companies may lack or have limited operating histories. The success of the Fund's investments also will vary depending on the underlying industry represented by the MLP's portfolio.
The Fund must recognize income that it receives from underlying MLPs for tax purposes, even if the Fund does not receive cash distributions from the MLPs in an amount necessary to pay such tax liability. In addition, a percentage of a distribution received by the Fund as the holder of an MLP interest may be treated as a return of capital, which would reduce the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP, which will result in an increase in the amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which the Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.
Other Investment Companies
A Fund may invest in shares of other open-end and closed-end management investment companies, including exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and private funds registered under the 1940 Act, up to the limits prescribed in Section 12(d) under the 1940 Act, subject to the Fund's non-fundamental investment policies. Currently, under the 1940 Act, a fund that invests directly in a portfolio of securities is limited to, subject to certain exceptions: (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company; (ii) 5% of such fund's total assets with respect to any one investment company; and (iii) 10% of such fund's total assets. A Fund may purchase shares of other unaffiliated investment companies to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any exemptive orders obtained thereunder, subject to certain conditions. Other investment companies in which the Fund invests can be expected to charge fees for operating expenses, such as investment advisory and administration fees, that would be in addition to those charged by the Fund.
ETFs are shares of publicly traded unit investment trusts, open-end funds or depositary receipts that seek to track the performance of specific indexes or companies in related industries. ETFs generally are subject to the same risks as the underlying securities the ETFs are designed to track and to the risks of the specific sector or industry tracked by the ETF. ETFs also are subject to the risk that their prices may not totally correlate to the prices of the underlying securities the ETFs are designed to track and the risk of possible trading halts due to market conditions or for other reasons. Although ETFs that track broad market indexes are typically large and their shares are fairly liquid, ETFs that track more specific indexes tend to be newer and smaller, and all ETFs have limited redemption features. Pursuant to certain exemptive relief granted by the SEC, the Fund's investments in certain ETFs may exceed certain of the limits described above.
Under the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder, a Fund may purchase shares of other affiliated Funds, including the money market Funds, subject to certain conditions. Investing in affiliated Funds may present certain actual or potential conflicts of interest.
Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities
Private placement securities are not registered under the 1933 Act. Private placements often may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market. However, private placement and other "restricted" securities typically cannot be resold without registration under the 1933 Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A (a "Rule 144A Security")), and may not be readily marketable.
Private placement and other restricted securities typically may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a privately negotiated transaction, or to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met for an exemption from registration. Investing in private placement and other restricted securities is subject to certain additional risks. They may be considered illiquid securities as they typically are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when it may be advisable to do so or it may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held and traded. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing a Fund's net asset value due to the absence of an active trading market. Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to a Fund. Restricted securities, including Rule 144A Securities, that are "illiquid" are subject to a Fund's policy of not investing or holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. The adviser will evaluate the liquidity characteristics of each Rule 144A Security proposed for purchase by a Fund on a case-by-case basis and will consider the following factors, among others, in its evaluation: (i) the frequency of trades and quotes for the Rule 144A Security; (ii) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the Rule 144A Security and the number of other potential purchasers; (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market in the Rule 144A Security; and (iv) the nature of the Rule 144A Security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the Rule 144A Security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer). The adviser will apply a similar process to evaluating the liquidity characteristics of other restricted securities. There can be no assurance that a restricted security that is deemed to be liquid when purchased will continue to be liquid for as long as it is held by a Fund.
Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase agreements are agreements wherein the seller of a security to a Fund agrees to repurchase that security from a Fund at a mutually agreed upon time and price. All repurchase agreements will be fully "collateralized," as defined under the 1940 Act. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to securities that could otherwise be purchased by such Fund. The maturities of the underlying securities in a repurchase agreement transaction may be greater than twelve months, although the maximum term of a repurchase agreement will always be less than twelve months. Repurchase agreements generally are subject to counterparty risk. If the seller defaults and the value of the underlying securities has declined, a Fund may incur a loss. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, a Fund's disposition of the underlying securities may be delayed or limited.
A Fund may not enter into a repurchase agreement with a maturity of more than seven days, if, as a result, more than 15% of the market value of such Fund's net assets would be invested in repurchase agreements with maturities of more than seven days, and other illiquid securities. A Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with broker-dealers and commercial banks that meet guidelines established by the Board and that are not affiliated with the Fund's adviser. The Funds may participate in pooled repurchase agreement transactions with other funds advised by the adviser.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
A reverse repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a Fund sells a portfolio security and agrees to repurchase it at an agreed-upon date and price. At the time a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will place in a segregated custodial account liquid assets such as U.S. Government securities or other liquid high-grade debt securities having a value equal to or greater than the repurchase price (including accrued interest) and will subsequently monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund may decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase the securities. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a Fund's use of proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce a Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing.
Short Sales
A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in market price. When a Fund makes a short sale, the proceeds it receives are retained by the broker until a Fund replaces the borrowed security. In order to deliver the security to the buyer, a Fund must arrange through a broker to borrow the security and, in so doing, a Fund becomes obligated to replace the security borrowed at its market price at the time of replacement, whatever that price may be. Short sales "against the box" means that a Fund owns the securities, which are placed in a segregated account until the transaction is closed out, or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short. Short sales that are not against the box occur when a Fund makes short sales of securities it does not own. A Fund's ability to enter into short sales transactions is limited by the requirements of the 1940 Act.
If a Fund makes a short sale "against the box," a Fund would not immediately deliver the securities sold and would not receive the proceeds from the sale. The seller is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers the securities sold, at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale. A Fund's decision to make a short sale "against the box" may be a technique to hedge against market risks when the investment manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. In such case, any future losses in the Fund's long position would be reduced by a gain in the short position. Short sale transactions may have adverse tax consequences to the Fund and its shareholders.
To complete a short sale of a security that is not against the box, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or prior to termination of the loan. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund, and purchasing such security to close out a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating any losses. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to repay the lender any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The net proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out. The Fund also will incur transaction costs in effecting short sales that are not against the box.
The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the price of the security declines between those dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. Short sales that are not against the box involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on such a short sale is theoretically unlimited. Under adverse market conditions, the Fund may have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and may have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when it would be unfavorable to do so. If a request for return of borrowed securities occurs at a time when other short sellers of the securities are receiving similar requests, a "short squeeze" can occur, and the Fund may be compelled to replace borrowed securities previously sold short with purchases on the open market at the most disadvantageous time, possibly at prices significantly in excess of the proceeds received in originally selling the securities short. In addition, the Fund may have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its delivery obligations in the case of less liquid securities sold short by the Fund. The Fund may also take short positions in securities through various derivative products. These derivative products will typically expose the Fund to economic risks similar to those associated with shorting securities directly.
In the view of the SEC, a short sale involves the creation of a "senior security" as such term is defined under the 1940 Act, unless the sale is "against the box" and the securities sold are placed in a segregated account (not with the broker), or unless the Fund's obligation to deliver the securities sold short is "covered" by segregating (not with the broker) cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid debt or equity securities in an amount equal to the difference between the market value of the securities sold short at the time of the short sale and any cash or securities required to be deposited as collateral with a broker in connection with the sale, which difference is adjusted daily for changes in the value of the securities sold short. The total value of the cash and securities deposited with the broker and otherwise segregated may not at any time be less than the market value of the securities sold short at the time of the short sale.
To avoid limitations under the 1940 Act on borrowing by investment companies, all short sales by a Fund will be "against the box," or the Fund's obligation to deliver the securities sold short not "against the box" will be "covered" by segregating cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid debt or equity securities in an amount equal to the market value of its delivery obligation.
Warrants
Warrants are instruments, typically issued with preferred stock or bonds, that give the holder the right to purchase a given number of shares of common stock at a specified price, usually during a specified period of time. The price usually represents a premium over the applicable market value of the common stock at the time of the warrant's issuance. Warrants have no voting rights with respect to the common stock, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer. Warrants do not pay a fixed dividend. Investments in warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for the resale of the warrants, potential price fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors and failure of the price of the common stock to rise. A warrant becomes worthless if it is not exercised within the specified time period.
MANAGEMENT
The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the section in the Prospectus entitled "Organization and Management of the Fund."
General
The following table provides basic information about the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. Each of the Trustees and Officers listed below acts in identical capacities for the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds which consists of, as of December 31, 2013, 131 series comprising the Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the "Fund Complex" or the "Trusts"). The business address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, with the Trustees subject to retirement from service as required pursuant to the Trust's retirement policy at the end of the calendar year in which a Trustee turns 75.
Information for Trustees, all of whom are not "interested" persons of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act (each, an "Independent Trustee" and collectively, the "Independent Trustees"), appears below. In addition to the Officers listed below, the Fund has appointed an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.
|
Name and Year of Birth |
Position Held with Registrant/Length of Service1 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Other Public Company or Investment Company Directorships During Past 5 Years |
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES |
|||
|
Peter G. Gordon |
Trustee, since 1998, Chairman since 2005 |
Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Isaiah Harris, Jr. |
Trustee, since 2009 |
Retired. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant. |
CIGNA Corporation; Deluxe Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Judith M. Johnson |
Trustee, since 2008 |
Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Leroy Keith, Jr. |
Trustee, since 2010 |
Chairman, Bloc Global Services (development and construction). Trustee of the Evergreen Funds from 1983 to 2010. Former Managing Director, Almanac Capital Management (commodities firm), former Partner, Stonington Partners, Inc. (private equity fund), former Director, Obagi Medical Products Co. and former Director, Lincoln Educational Services. |
Trustee, Virtus Fund Complex (consisting of 50 portfolios as of 12/16/13); Asset Allocation Trust |
|
David F. Larcker |
Trustee, since 2009 |
James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Olivia S. Mitchell |
Trustee, since 2006 |
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton's Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Timothy J. Penny |
Trustee, since 1996 |
President and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Michael S. Scofield |
Trustee, since 2010 |
Served on the Investment Company Institute's Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield. |
Asset Allocation Trust |
|
Donald C. Willeke |
Trustee, since 1996 |
Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation). |
Asset Allocation Trust |
| 1 | Length of service dates reflect the Trustee's commencement of service with the Trust's predecessor entities, where applicable. |
|
Name and Year of Birth |
Position Held with Registrant/Length of Service |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
|
OFFICERS |
||
|
Karla M. Rabusch |
President, since 2003 |
Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003. |
|
Jeremy DePalma1 |
Treasurer, since 2012; Assistant Treasurer, since 2009 |
Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Vice President, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. from 2004 to 2007. Head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010. |
|
Nancy Wiser2 |
Treasurer, since 2012 |
Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011. Owned and operated a consulting business providing services to various hedge funds including acting as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for a hedge fund from 2007 to 2008. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of GMN Capital LLC from 2006 to 2007. |
|
C. David Messman |
Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003 |
Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. from 1996 to 2013. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013. |
|
Debra Ann Early |
Chief Compliance Officer, since 2007 |
Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2007. Chief Compliance Officer of Parnassus Investments from 2005 to 2007. Chief Financial Officer of Parnassus Investments from 2004 to 2007. |
|
David Berardi |
Assistant Treasurer, since 2009 |
Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Assistant Vice President of Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. from 2004 to 2008. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010. |
| 1 | Currently serves as Treasurer to the Allocation Funds, Alternative Funds, Dow Jones Target Date Funds, International Equity Funds, Large Cap Stock Funds, WealthBuilder Portfolios and the International Value Fund. Also serves as Assistant Treasurer for the remaining series of the Trust. |
| 2 | Currently serves as Treasurer to the CoreBuilder Shares, Equity Gateway Funds (except International Value Fund), Income Funds, Money Market Funds, Municipal Income Funds and Small to Mid Cap Stock Funds. |
The Trust's Declaration of Trust does not set forth any specific qualifications to serve as a Trustee other than that no person shall stand for initial election or appointment as a Trustee if such person has already reached the age of 72. The Charter and the Statement of Governance Principles of the Governance Committee also do not set forth any specific qualifications, but do set forth certain factors that the Governance Committee may take into account in considering Trustee candidates and a process for evaluating potential conflicts of interest, which identifies certain disqualifying conflicts. All of the current Trustees are Independent Trustees. Among the attributes or skills common to all Trustees are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, Funds Management, sub-advisers, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. Each Trustee's ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained through the Trustee's business, consulting, public service, professional and/or academic positions and through experience from service as a board member of the Trust and the other Trusts in the Fund Complex (and/or in other capacities, including for any predecessor funds), other registered investment companies, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations as set forth below. Each Trustee's ability to perform his or her duties effectively also has been enhanced by his or her educational background, professional training, and/or other life experiences.
Peter G. Gordon. Mr. Gordon has been a Trustee since 1998, Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2005, Chairman of the Governance Committee
since 2005, and was the Lead Independent Trustee from 2001 through 2005, with respect to all of the Trusts in the Fund Complex.
He has also served as a Trustee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Governance Committee of Asset Allocation
Trust since 2010. In addition, he has over 30 years of executive and business experience as the co-founder, and retired Chairman,
President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company.
Isaiah Harris, Jr. Mr. Harris has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2009 and was an Advisory Board Member from 2008
to 2009. He has also served as a Trustee of Asset Allocation Trust since 2010. He has been the Chairman of the Board of CIGNA
Corporation since 2009, and has been a director of CIGNA Corporation since 2005. He also has been a director of Deluxe Corporation
since 2003. As a director of these and other public companies, he has served on board committees, including Governance, Audit
and Compensation Committees. Mr. Harris served in senior executive positions, including as president, chief executive officer,
vice president of finance and/or chief financial officer, of operating companies for approximately 20 years.
Judith M. Johnson. Ms. Johnson has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2008 and as Chair of the Audit Committee since
2009. She has also served as a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of Asset Allocation Trust since 2010. She served as
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund for twelve years until
her retirement in 2008. Ms. Johnson is a licensed attorney, as well as a certified public accountant and a certified managerial
accountant. Ms. Johnson has been determined by the Board to be an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined
in the applicable rules of the SEC.
Leroy Keith, Jr. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2010. He has also served as a Trustee of Asset
Allocation Trust since 2005. He previously served as a Trustee of the Evergreen fund complex from 1983 to 2010. He is a Trustee
of the Virtus fund complex, Former Managing Director of Almanac Capital Management, Former Director of Diversapack Co., Former
Partner of Stonington Partners, Inc. and Former Director of Obagi Medical Products, Inc. He is also Chairman of Bloc Global
Services, a development and constructions firm.
David F. Larcker. Mr. Larcker has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2009 and was an Advisory Board Member from 2008
to 2009. He has also served as a Trustee of Asset Allocation Trust since 2010. Mr. Larcker is the James Irvin Miller Professor
of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. He is also the Morgan Stanley Director of the Center
for Leadership Development and Research and Co-director of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University.
He has been a professor of accounting for over 30 years. He has written numerous articles on a range of topics, including
managerial accounting, financial statement analysis and corporate governance.
Olivia S. Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2006. She has also served as a Trustee of Asset
Allocation Trust since 2010. Ms. Mitchell is the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor at the Wharton
School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also Professor of Insurance/Risk Management and Business Economics/Policy.
She also serves in senior positions with academic and policy organizations that conduct research on pensions, retirement,
insurance, risk management, and related topics including as Executive Director of the Pension Research Council and Director
of the Boettner Center on Pensions and Retirement Research, both at the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught on and
served as a consultant on economics, insurance, and risk management, served as Department Chair, advised numerous governmental
entities, and written numerous articles and books on topics including retirement systems, private and social insurance, and
health and retirement policy.
Timothy J. Penny. Mr. Penny has been a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex and their predecessor funds since 1996. He has also served
as a Trustee of Asset Allocation Trust since 2010. He has been President and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
since 2007 and a Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. He also serves
as a member of the board of another non-profit organization. Mr. Penny was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for
12 years representing Southeastern Minnesota's First Congressional District.
Michael S. Scofield. Mr. Scofield has served as a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex since 2010. He has also served as a Trustee of Asset
Allocation Trust since 2005. He previously served on the Investment Company Institute's Board of Governors and Executive Committee.
Mr. Scofield previously served as a Trustee of the Evergreen fund complex from 1984 to 2010, where he served as Chairman of
the Board. He also served as a member and former chairman of the Independent Directors Counsel, an organization dedicated
to serving the independent investment company director community, and other leadership positions in the investment company
industry. He previously worked as an attorney with the Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.
Donald C. Willeke. Mr. Willeke has been a Trustee of the Trusts in the Fund Complex and their predecessor funds since 1996. He has also served
as a Trustee of Asset Allocation Trust since 2010. He is an attorney in private practice and served as General Counsel of
the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund for more than 25 years.
Board of Trustees - Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for oversight of the Trust and the Fund rests with the Board of Trustees. The Board has engaged Funds
Management to manage the Fund on a day-to day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing Funds Management and other service
providers in the operation of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of Delaware
law, other applicable laws and the Fund's charter. The Board is currently composed of nine members, each of whom is an Independent
Trustee. The Board currently conducts regular meetings five times a year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person
or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular
meetings. The Independent Trustees have engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman's role is to preside at all
meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally between
meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. In order
to assist the Chairman in maintaining effective communications with the other Trustees and Funds Management, the Board has
appointed a Chair Liaison to work with the Chairman to coordinate Trustee communications and to assure timely responses to
Trustee inquiries, board governance and fiduciary matters. The Chair Liaison serves for a one-year term, which may be extended
with the approval of the Board. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust's charter document, the designation
of Chairman or Chair Liaison does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that are greater
than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board generally.
The Board also has established a Governance Committee, an Audit Committee and a Dividend Committee to assist the Board in
the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Trust, and from time to time may establish informal working
groups to review and address the policies and practices of the Trust with respect to certain specified matters. Additionally,
the Board has established investment teams to review in detail the performance of the Fund, in light of the Fund's investment
objectives and strategies, to meet with portfolio managers, and to report back to the full Board. The Board occasionally engages
independent consultants to assist it in evaluating initiatives or proposals. The Board believes that the Board's current leadership
structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its
purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances
effective oversight. The leadership structure of the Board may be changed, at any time and in the discretion of the Board,
including in response to changes in circumstances or the characteristics of the Trust.
The Fund and Trust are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks,
among others. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of Funds Management, the subadvisers
and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), who carry out the Fund's investment management and business
affairs. Each of Funds Management, the sub-advisers and other service providers have their own, independent interest in risk
management, and their policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on their individual
priorities, resources and controls.
Risk oversight forms part of the Board's general oversight of the Fund and Trust and is addressed as part of various Board
and Committee activities. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect a Fund
or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. As part of its regular oversight
of the Trusts, the Board, directly or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Funds Management,
subadvisers, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds, and
internal auditors for Funds Management or its affiliates, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund and relevant risk
functions. The Board, with the assistance of its investment teams, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with
its review of the Funds' performance. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and
testing of the Funds' compliance program and regularly reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Funds and
their principal service providers. In addition, as part of the Board's periodic review of the Funds' advisory, subadvisory
and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions
for which they are responsible. With respect to valuation, the Board oversees a management valuation team comprised of officers
of Funds Management, has approved and periodically reviews valuation policies and procedures applicable to valuing the Fund
shares and has established a valuation committee of Trustees. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the
manner in which it conducts its risk oversight role.
Committees.
As noted above, the Board has established a standing Governance Committee, a standing Audit Committee, a standing Valuation Committee and a standing Dividend Committee to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Trust. Each such Committee operates pursuant to a charter approved by the Board and is chaired by an Independent Trustee. Each Independent Trustee is a member of the Trust's Governance Committee, Audit Committee and Valuation Committee.
(1) Governance Committee. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Governance Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board persons to be appointed as Trustees by the Board, and persons to be nominated for election as Trustees in circumstances where a shareholder vote is required by or under the 1940 Act. Generally, the Governance Committee selects the candidates for consideration to fill Trustee vacancies, or considers candidates recommended by the other Trustees or by the Trust's management. Pursuant to the Trust's charter document, only Independent Trustees may nominate and select persons to become Independent Trustees for the Trust, so long as the Trust has in effect one or more plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Governance Committee meets only as necessary and held no meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year for the Fund because the Fund did not begin operations until on or around the date of this SAI. Peter Gordon serves as the chairman of the Governance Committee.
The Governance Committee has adopted procedures by which a shareholder may properly submit a nominee recommendation for the Committee's consideration, which are set forth in the Trusts' Governance Committee Charter. The shareholder must submit any such recommendation (a "Shareholder Recommendation") in writing to the Trust, to the attention of the Trust's Secretary, at the address of the principal executive offices of the Trust. The Shareholder Recommendation must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Trust not less than forty-five calendar days nor more than seventy-five calendar days prior to the date of the Governance Committee meeting at which the nominee would be considered. The Shareholder Recommendation must include: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A) the name, age, date of birth, business address, residence address, and nationality of the person recommended by the shareholder (the "candidate"), (B) the series (and, if applicable, class) and number of all shares of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by the candidate, as reported to such shareholder by the candidate; (C) any other information regarding the candidate called for with respect to director nominees by paragraphs (a), (d), (e), and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101 (Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), adopted by the SEC (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the SEC or any successor agency applicable to the Trust); (D) any other information regarding the candidate that would be required to be disclosed if the candidate were a nominee in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether the recommending shareholder believes that the candidate is or will be an "interested person" of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and, if not an "interested person," information regarding the candidate that will be sufficient for the Trust to make such determination; (ii) the written and signed consent of the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as a Trustee if elected; (iii) the recommending shareholder's name as it appears on the Trust's books; (iv) the series (and, if applicable, class) and number of all shares of the Trust owned beneficially and of record by the recommending shareholder; and (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the recommending shareholder and the candidate and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made by the recommending shareholder. In addition, the Governance Committee may require the candidate to interview in person or furnish such other information as it may reasonably require or deem necessary to determine the eligibility of such candidate to serve as a Trustee of the Trust. The Governance Committee has full discretion to reject nominees recommended by shareholders, and there is no assurance that any such person properly recommended and considered by the Committee will be nominated for election to the Board.
The Governance Committee may from time-to-time propose nominations of one or more individuals to serve as members of an "advisory board," as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the 1940 Act ("Advisory Trustees"). An individual may be eligible to serve as an Advisory Trustee only if that individual meets the requirements to be an Independent Trustee and does not otherwise serve the Trust in any other capacity. Any Advisory Trustee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed, at any time, with or without cause, by the Board. An Advisory Trustee may be nominated and elected as a Trustee, at which time he or she shall cease to be an Advisory Trustee. Advisory Trustees shall perform solely advisory functions. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee or the Board, Advisory Trustees are invited to attend meetings of the Board and all committees of the Board. Advisory Trustees shall participate in meeting discussions but do not have a vote upon any matter presented to the Board or any committee of the Board, nor do they have any power or authority to act on behalf of or to bind the Board, any committee of the Board or the Trust. Advisory Trustees shall not have any responsibilities or be subject to any liabilities imposed upon Trustees by law or otherwise. Advisory Trustees shall be entitled, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to be indemnified by the Trust and shall be covered by any liability insurance coverage that extends to Trustees and officers of the Trust. Advisory Trustees shall be paid the same meeting fees payable to Trustees and shall have their expenses reimbursed in accordance with existing Board expense reimbursement policies. Advisory Trustees shall not receive any retainer fees.
(2) Audit Committee. The Audit Committee oversees the Funds' accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, reviews the results of the annual audits of the Funds' financial statements, and interacts with the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm on behalf of the full Board. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a separate charter, and held no meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year for the Fund because the Fund did not begin operations until on or around the date of this SAI. Judith M. Johnson serves as the chairperson of the Audit Committee.
(3) Valuation Committee. The Board has delegated to the Valuation Committee the authority to take any necessary or appropriate action and address any issues regarding the valuation of Fund portfolio securities under the Trust's valuation procedures, including determining the fair value of securities between Board regularly scheduled meetings in instances where that determination has not otherwise been delegated to the valuation team ("Management Valuation Team") of Funds Management. The Board considers for ratification at each quarterly meeting any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Management Valuation Team during the previous quarter that require ratification. Any one member of the Valuation Committee may constitute a quorum for a meeting of the committee. The Valuation Committee held no meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year for the Fund because the Fund did not begin operations until on or around the date of this SAI.
(4) Dividend Committee. The Board has delegated to the Dividend Committee the responsibility to review and approve certain dividend amount determinations made by a separate committee composed of representatives from Funds Management and certain sub-advisers ("Management Open-End Dividend Committee"). The Board also has delegated to the Management Open-End Dividend Committee the authority to determine periodic dividend amounts subject to certain Board-approved thresholds ("Thresholds") to be paid by each of the Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Emerging Markets Local Bond Fund, International Bond Fund, Inflation-Protected Bond Fund and Strategic Income Fund. To the extent the Management Open-End Dividend Committee makes a dividend amount determination that does not comply with the Thresholds, the Dividend Committee must review and approve, as it deems appropriate, such determination. The Dividend Committee is composed of three Independent Trustees and did not meet during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year because the Fund did not begin operations until on or around the date of this SAI.
Compensation. The Trustees do not receive any retirement benefits or deferred compensation from the Trust or any other member of the Fund Complex. The Trust's Officers are not compensated by the Trust for their services. The Fund has not yet paid compensation to the Trustees because the Fund did not begin operations until on or around the date of this SAI.
The below table lists the compensation estimated to be paid to each Trustee by the Fund for the fiscal period ending July 31, 2015 and the total compensation paid to each Trustee by the Fund Complex for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013:
|
Trustee Compensation |
|||
|
Trustee |
|
Estimated Compensation From the Fund for the Fiscal Period Ending July 31, 2015 |
Total Compensation from the Fund Complex for the Calendar Year Ending December 31, 2013 |
|
Peter G. Gordon |
$2,220 |
$299,000 |
|
|
Isaiah Harris, Jr. |
$1,884 |
$254,000 |
|
|
Judith M. Johnson |
$2,108 |
$284,000 |
|
|
Leroy Keith, Jr. |
$1,884 |
$254,000 |
|
|
David F. Larcker |
$1,884 |
$252,500 |
|
|
Olivia S. Mitchell |
$1,884 |
$254,000 |
|
|
Timothy J. Penny |
$1,929 |
$260,000 |
|
|
Michael S. Scofield |
$1,884 |
$254,000 |
|
|
Donald C. Willeke |
$1,884 |
$254,000 |
|
Beneficial Equity Ownership Information. As of the calendar year ended December 31, 2013, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The table below shows for each Trustee, the dollar value of the Fund equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Fund Complex, stated as one of the following ranges: $0; $1-$10,000; $10,001- $50,000; $50,001-$100,000; and over $100,000.
|
Independent Trustees |
|||
|
Trustee |
|
Dollar Range |
Aggregate Dollar |
|
Peter G. Gordon |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Isaiah Harris, Jr. |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Judith M. Johnson |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Leroy Keith. Jr. |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
David F. Larcker |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Olivia S. Mitchell |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Timothy J. Penny |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Michael S. Scofield |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Donald C. Willeke |
$0 |
Over $100,000 |
|
Ownership of Securities of Certain Entities. As of the calendar year ended December 31, 2013, none of the Independent Trustees and/or their immediate family members owned securities of the adviser, any sub-advisers, or the distributor, or any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser, any sub-advisers, or the distributor.
Adviser
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and an affiliate of Wells Fargo Bank, is the adviser for the Fund. Funds Management is responsible for implementing the investment policies and guidelines for the Fund, and for supervising the sub-advisers.
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investment, mortgage and consumer financial services. The involvement of various subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company, including Funds Management, in the management and operation of the Fund and in providing other services or managing other accounts gives rise to certain actual and potential conflicts of interest.
For example, certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by Funds Management and its affiliates, and there may be market or regulatory limits on the amount of such investments, which may cause competition for limited positions. Also, various clients and proprietary accounts of Funds Management and its affiliates may at times take positions that are adverse to a Fund. Funds Management applies various policies to address these situations, but a Fund may nonetheless incur losses or underperformance during periods when Wells Fargo & Company, its affiliates and their clients achieve gains or outperformance.
Wells Fargo & Company may have interests in or provide services to portfolio companies or Fund shareholders or intermediaries that may not be fully aligned with the interests of all investors. Funds Management and its affiliates serve in multiple roles, including as adviser and, for most Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, sub-adviser, as well as administrator and principal underwriter.
These are all considerations of which an investor should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could disadvantage a Fund. Funds Management has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate such conflicts of interest.
As compensation for its advisory services, Funds Management is entitled to receive a monthly fee at the annual rates indicated below of the Fund's average daily net assets:
|
Fund |
Fee |
|||
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
First $500M |
1.80% |
||
|
Next $500M |
1.75% |
|||
|
Next $1B |
1.70% |
|||
|
Next $2B |
1.68% |
|||
|
Over $4B |
1.65% |
|||
Sub-Advisers
Funds Management has engaged The Rock Creek Group, LP, an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and an affiliate of Funds Management ("Rock Creek"), Chilton Investment Company, LLC ("Chilton Investment Company"), Mellon Capital Management Corporation ("Mellon Capital"), Passport Capital, LLC ("Passport Capital"), Pine River Capital Management L.P. ("Pine River"), River Canyon Fund Management LLC ("River Canyon"), Sirios Capital Management, L.P. ("Sirios") and Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management") to serve as sub-advisers to the Fund (each a "Sub-Adviser" and, collectively, the "Sub-Advisers"). Subject to the direction of the Board and overall supervision and control of Funds Management and the Trust, Rock Creek makes recommendations regarding the selection of sub-advisers other than Rock Creek and allocates and reallocates the Fund's assets across investment strategies and Sub-Advisers. Subject to the direction of the Board and the overall supervision and control of Funds Management, Rock Creek and the Trust, each Sub-Adviser (including Rock Creek) provides day-to-day portfolio management for the Fund. Each Sub-Adviser furnishes to Funds Management periodic reports on the investment activity and performance of the Fund. Each Sub-Adviser also furnishes such additional reports and information as Funds Management and the Board and Officers may reasonably request. Funds Management may, from time to time and in its sole discretion, allocate and reallocate services provided by and fees paid to an affiliated Sub-Adviser.
The Fund received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser to engage additional sub-advisers, and to enter into and materially amend an existing or future subadvisory agreement with a sub-adviser, upon the approval of the Board, without obtaining shareholder approval. The exemptive order also exempts the Fund from certain requirements applicable to the disclosure of subadvisory fees.
Additional Information Regarding Rock Creek's Ownership Structure. An affiliate of Funds Management owns a majority interest in Rock Creek and The Rock Creek Group, LLC, which serves as the general partner of Rock Creek (together with Rock Creek, the "Rock Creek Companies"). The affiliate of Funds Management has an option to acquire the remaining minority interests in the Rock Creek Companies, and the holders of the minority interests have an option to sell such interests to this affiliate if it does not exercise its acquisition option. The foregoing options are generally exercisable in the first half of calendar year 2018 (or, in limited circumstances, beforehand). If the either of the foregoing options is fully exercised and consumated in accordance with its terms, Rock Creek will become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company.
For providing investment sub-advisory services to the Fund, Rock Creek is entitled to receive monthly fees at the annual rates indicated below of the Fund's average daily net assets.
|
Fund |
Sub-Adviser |
Fee |
|
|||
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
Rock Creek |
|||||
|
First $750 million |
0.720% |
|||||
|
Next $750 million |
0.620% |
|||||
|
Over $1.5 billion |
0.600% |
Portfolio Managers
The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the section in the Prospectus entitled "Portfolio Managers." The information in this section is provided as of February 28, 2014 for the Fund managed by the portfolio managers listed below (each a "Portfolio Manager" and together, the "Portfolio Managers").
The Portfolio Managers manage the investment activities of the Fund on a day-to-day basis as follows:
|
Fund |
Sub-Advisers |
Portfolio Managers |
||
|
Alternative Strategies Fund |
Rock Creek Group |
Sudhir Krishnamurthi, Ronald van der Wouden, Kenneth LaPlace |
||
|
Chilton Investment Company |
Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
|||
|
Mellon Capital |
Vassilis Dagioglu |
|||
|
Passport Capital |
John Burbank, Tim Garry |
|||
|
Pine River |
Brad Berning |
|||
|
River Canyon |
Soon Pho |
|||
|
Sirios |
John F. Brennan, Jr. |
|||
|
Wellington Management |
Kent M. Stahl, CFA, Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Management of Other Accounts. The following table(s) provide information relating to other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s). The table(s) do not include the Fund or any personal brokerage accounts of the Portfolio Manager(s) and their families.
|
Sudhir Krishnamurthi |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
6 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$1.75B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
3 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$335M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
29 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$7.67B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
6 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$3.035B |
|
Ronald van der Wouden |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
6 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$1.75B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
3 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$335M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
29 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$7.67B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
6 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$3.035B |
|
Kenneth LaPlace |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
1 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$460M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
1 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$42M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
2 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$795M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
1 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$230M |
|
Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
4 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$164.20M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
16 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$1,025.79M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
10 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$931.20M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
102 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$700.83M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
1 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$303.43M |
|
Vassilis Dagioglu |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
12 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
1.51B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
49 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
9.21B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
5 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
253.34M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
42 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
4.34B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
14 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
2.83B |
|
John Burbank |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
10 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$3.16B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
10 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$3.16B |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
2 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$153.50M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
2 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$153.50M |
|
Tim Garry |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
4 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$1.03B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
4 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$1.03B |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
1 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$93.32M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
1 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$93.32M |
|
Brad Berning |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
7 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$324.81M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
7 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$324.81M |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
Soon Pho |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
1 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$6.34M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
John F. Brennan, Jr. |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
1 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$80.25M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
5 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$3.03B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
5 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$3.03B |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
Kent M. Stahl, CFA |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
9 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$26.53B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
2 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$677.98M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
1 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$210.00M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
Number of Accounts |
9 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$26.53B |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
2 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$677.98M |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
|
|
Other Accounts |
||
|
Number of Accounts |
0 |
|
|
Total Assets Managed |
$0 |
|
|
Number of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
0 |
|
|
Assets of Accounts Subject to Performance Fee |
$0 |
Material Conflicts of Interest. The Portfolio Managers face inherent conflicts of interest in their day-to-day management of the Funds and other accounts because the Funds may have different investment objectives, strategies and risk profiles than the other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers. For instance, to the extent that the Portfolio Managers manage accounts with different investment strategies than the Funds, they may from time to time be inclined to purchase securities, including initial public offerings, for one account but not for a Fund. Additionally, some of the accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers may have different fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher or lower, in some cases significantly higher or lower, than the fees paid by the Funds. The differences in fee structures may provide an incentive to the Portfolio Managers to allocate more favorable trades to the higher-paying accounts.
To minimize the effects of these inherent conflicts of interest, each Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that it believes address the potential conflicts associated with managing portfolios for multiple clients and are designed to ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equitably. Accordingly, security block purchases are allocated to all accounts with similar objectives in a fair and equitable manner. Furthermore, each Sub-Adviser has adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act") to address potential conflicts associated with managing the Funds and any personal accounts the Portfolio Managers may maintain.
Rock Creek. Rock Creek manages multiple accounts, including other collective investment vehicles, which inherently involves actual and potential conflicts of interest. In recognition, Rock Creek has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that all of its clients are treated fairly and that these inherent conflicts are minimized. Specific potential conflicts include:
Allocation of Investment Opportunities: Rock Creek intends to allocate investment opportunities between the Fund and any other funds and clients managed by Rock Creek, which may have different fees including incentive fees, by applying such considerations as it deems appropriate, including relative size of such entities, amount of available capital, size of existing positions in the same or similar securities, leverage and tax considerations and other factors. Although such allocations may be pro rata among the Fund and other such entities and clients, they will not necessarily be so. The Fund will not be entitled to investment priority and may not necessarily participate in every investment opportunity presented to Rock Creek. In cases where a limited amount of a security or other instrument is available for purchase, the allocation of such security, as between the Fund and any such other funds and clients, may necessarily reduce the amount thereof available for purchase by the Fund.
Access to Material Nonpublic Information: In evaluating investments, Rock Creek may receive, whether intentionally or inadvertently, material non-public information ("MNPI"). Consistent with federal securities laws and confidentiality obligations, receipt of MNPI may limit or restrict Rock Creek's ability to recommend certain investments that otherwise would be appropriate for the Fund's portfolio.
Allocation of Time: Neither Rock Creek nor its personnel are obligated to devote any specific amount of time to managing the affairs of the Fund. Rock Creek and its affiliates are not restricted from forming additional investment funds, from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Fund and/or may involve substantial time and resources of Rock Creek and/or its personnel.
Similar Objectives and Conflicting Incentives: Rock Creek manages, and expects to continue to manage other client accounts, some of which have objectives similar to the Fund, including collective investment vehicles in which Rock Creek Group or its affiliates may have an interest, as general partner, investor, managing member, or otherwise.
Relationships with Other Sub-Advisers: Rock Creek personnel may have personal and professional relationships with personnel of the other Sub-Advisers. These relationships have the potential to influence Rock Creek's allocation among the various Sub-Advisers. Similarly, Rock Creek personnel may have personal and professional relationships with personnel of the investment managers that manage Rock Creek's other investment vehicles. These relationships have the potential to influence the manner in which Rock Creek allocates an investment among the Fund and its other investment vehicles.
Chilton Investment Company. The employees and principals of Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates are not obligated to devote their full time to the Fund, but will devote such time as Chilton Investment Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to carry out the operations of the Fund effectively.
Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates and their employees and principals act as investment managers for other investment funds and accounts, and may conduct any other business activities, including any business with respect to securities.
In connection with managing certain funds and accounts, Chilton Investment Company receives performance-based compensation. This may create a conflict of interest for Chilton Investment Company in rendering advice because it may have an incentive to choose riskier investments for and/or favor the funds and accounts for which it is entitled to performance-based compensation over those funds or accounts which charge only an asset-based fee. Chilton Investment Company endeavors to design, implement and consistently apply procedures, including detailed allocation procedures, to ensure that, over time, all funds and accounts are treated fairly and equitably and to prevent conflicts from unduly influencing the allocation of investment opportunities among client accounts. Further, Chilton Investment Company from time to time reviews the allocations among funds and accounts and the performance of funds and accounts in an effort to ensure that higher fee paying funds and accounts are not unfairly favored.
Certain of the employees and principals of Chilton Investment Company may acquire substantial investments in certain other investment funds managed by Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates and conflicts of interest may arise in allocating management time, services or functions among the Fund, on the one hand, and such other funds, including ones in which Chilton Investment Company's employees and/or principals may have a greater financial interest, on the other hand.
There may also be a conflict of interest in the allocation of investment opportunities among the Fund and any other investment funds or accounts (including proprietary accounts) managed by Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates. For example, there may be instances where an investment opportunity is limited or the availability of an investment at an acceptable price may be limited. Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates will attempt to allocate investment opportunities in a manner that is in the best interests of all the investment funds or accounts involved in light of the circumstances prevailing at that time and Chilton Investment Company's and its affiliates' applicable fiduciary duties. However, there can be no assurance that an investment opportunity that comes to the attention of Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates will not be allocated (i) wholly or primarily to another fund or account (including a proprietary account) managed by Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates, with the Fund being unable to participate in such investment opportunity or participating only on a limited basis, or (ii) wholly or primarily to the Fund, with any other fund or account (including a proprietary account) managed by Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates not sharing the risks of such investment.
Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates may on occasion give advice or take action with respect to other investment funds or accounts that differs from the advice given with respect to the Fund (especially where the investment policies differ). For example, the Fund could take a long position on a security while another fund or account managed by Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates, whether for hedging or other purposes, takes a short position on such security. Thus, the transactions and portfolio strategies Chilton Investment Company and its affiliates may use for other clients could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by Chilton Investment Company in managing the Fund and affect the prices and availability of the securities and other financial instruments in which the Fund invests. Further, the Fund may, from time to time, make an investment in a company in which one or more other clients of Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates invests in a different part of the capital structure of such company. There may be instances where such a portfolio company becomes insolvent or bankrupt and where the interest of the Fund and the other clients of Chilton Investment Company and/or its affiliates conflict. It is possible that in a bankruptcy proceeding, the Fund's interest may be subordinated or otherwise adversely affected by virtue of such other clients' involvement and actions relating to its investment taken by Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates. In addition, certain principals and employees of Chilton Investment Company or its affiliates may serve on creditor or equity committees or in an advisory role for a company that is anticipating filing or has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (or similar non-U.S. law). Under these circumstances, Chilton Investment Company or its affiliate may be limited in making investment decisions on behalf of the Fund if the Fund holds an interest in such company, and the Fund may be adversely affected by the actions taken by the principals or employees of Chilton Investment Company or the affiliate in connection with carrying out their duties on such committees or in such roles.
Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates or their employees or principals may come into possession of material nonpublic information (including in connection with managing other clients' accounts). The possession of such information may limit the ability of the Fund to buy or sell a security or otherwise to participate in an investment opportunity.
The Fund may participate in transactions in which Chilton Investment Company (or any of its affiliates or their employees and principals) or any shareholder is directly or indirectly interested. In connection with such transactions, the Fund, on the one hand, and Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates, their employees and principals or shareholders, on the other hand, may have conflicting interests.
Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates, their employees or principals are not prohibited from investing for their own account (although Chilton Investment Company's policies generally prohibit employees from purchasing equity securities after they join Chilton Investment Company). As a result, Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates and their employees and principals may hold positions in securities that are owned by the Fund or considered by the Fund. In such circumstances, liquidity and concentration considerations may limit Chilton Investment Company's ability to add to the position on behalf of the Fund or to dispose of the position readily.
With respect to their personal or proprietary accounts, Chilton Investment Company, its affiliates and their employees and principals might take or hold investment positions different from, or contrary to, those taken by the Fund.
Mellon Capital. It is Mellon Capital's policy to continuously evaluate the products under its management and to strive to identify potential conflicts of interest that may exist among different investment styles. Mellon Capital will adopt written policies and procedures as necessary to address any identified potential conflicts of interest regarding our diverse products and investment strategies.
Mellon Capital has adopted various policies and procedures including, but not limited to, trading operations, best execution, trade order aggregation and allocation, short sales, cross-trading, media communications, code of conduct, personal securities trading, proxy voting and purchases of securities from affiliate underwriters to help all employees and management to identify and review potential conflicts of interest among certain types of accounts. In addition, Mellon Capital utilizes several of its committees as forums for reviewing and identifying potential or actual conflicts of interest.
Passport Capital. Certain of the accounts for which Passport Capital provides investment advisory services may have performance-based fee arrangements. Such arrangements may potentially create an incentive to favor such accounts that pay a performance-based fee over other accounts, including the Fund, in the allocation of investment opportunities. Passport Capital has designed and implemented allocation procedures designed to ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equitably and to prevent this potential conflict from influencing the allocation of investment opportunities among clients.
Pine River. Pine River's portfolio managers often provide investment management services for other clients advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to the Fund, including accounts of clients in which Pine River or its affiliated persons have a beneficial interest. Pine River may give advice and take action in the performance of its duties with respect to any of its other clients (including private funds and accounts, such as hedge funds, which pay performance fees or other higher fees to Pine River or in which a Portfolio Manager may have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or differ from the advice given, or the timing or nature of action taken, with respect to the assets of the Fund. Nothing shall be deemed to impose upon Pine River any obligation to purchase or sell for the Fund any security or other property that it purchases or sells for its own accounts or for the account of any other client. Pine River may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies about which Pine River's (or its affiliates') officers directors or employees possess material non-public information. Additionally, Pine River's portfolio managers may also manage funds or accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy used for the Fund. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, Pine River has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and equitably and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.
River Canyon. River Canyon and its affiliates currently sponsor a number of private investment vehicles, partnerships, and companies and act as the investment adviser to registered investment companies and managed accounts, and trade on behalf of themselves and their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest among River Canyon and its Clients. River Canyon may also have a conflict of interest in rendering advice to multiple Clients because the benefit from managing one Client account may exceed the benefit of managing another Client account(s) and, therefore, may provide an incentive to favor such other account(s). Moreover, if River Canyon makes investment decisions for multiple accounts at or about the same time it makes decisions for other Client accounts, Clients may be competing for the same or similar positions. River Canyon also must take into account the varying investment objectives and limitations, tax considerations, available cash, investment horizons and other factors which may affect its Clients. There can be no assurance that a single Client will receive as large an allocation in respect of limited investment opportunities as it might otherwise have absent these considerations. River Canyon's allocation policy is discussed in greater detail below.
River Canyon is not obligated by contract to buy, sell or recommend for one Client any security or other investment that may be bought, sold or recommended for other Clients or for River Canyon's own or related persons' account, but River Canyon will endeavor to fairly allocate the investment opportunity or dispose of the investment in the event of an actual conflict.
River Canyon will not enter into transactions in which it knowingly and deliberately favors itself or a single Client over another Client; however, the Adviser is given considerable discretion to trade for other accounts, and intends to do so to a significant extent.
River Canyon attempts to act in a fair and reasonable manner in allocating investment and trading opportunities among River Canyon's Clients. River Canyon's allocation procedures seek to allocate investment opportunities among the accounts over time in the fairest possible way, considering both the best interests and specific restrictions of the accounts. River Canyon intends to ensure that each investment is appropriate for each account in light of the characteristics of the specific security and the overall portfolio composition of such account. Although the allocation of investment opportunities among Clients may create potential conflicts of interest because of the interests of River Canyon or because River Canyon may receive different fees or compensation from its Clients, the allocation decisions will not be based on such interests, fees or compensation.
Within the overall parameters, consideration is given to account investment objectives, strategies and guidelines, account constraints and restrictions, account size, diversification, cash availability (including anticipated contributions and redemptions), tax issues, exposure to asset classes, ramp-up or ramp-down status, investment time horizon and other factors, including, where appropriate, the value of having round lots in the portfolio. River Canyon will not be obligated to allocate an investment opportunity across all of its Clients and may at times sell a position of an investment for one or more of its Clients, while it continues to hold the same investment for other Clients. For example, if any Client is prohibited from purchasing a particular security due to any legal or other regulatory reason, such Client will not be allocated any portion of such security irrespective of the pre-existing formula described herein. Similarly, certain River Canyon Clients may not fully participate in equity IPOs. Allocations of equity IPOs will generally be made among eligible Clients on a pro rata basis.
From time to time, River Canyon may recommend securities to one or more accounts and it or its affiliates may purchase securities for their own accounts as well. Conflicts of interest may arise among the accounts, or among River Canyon and the accounts, or as a result of some other securities investment activity or business in which one or more accounts may be engaged. In addition, River Canyon is not obligated by contract to buy, sell or recommend for an account any security or other investment that may be bought, sold or recommended for any other accounts.
On occasions where a number of accounts and affiliates are attempting to purchase the same securities, River Canyon may aggregate orders to purchase or sell securities with those of its other accounts in order to facilitate execution and minimize transaction costs. River Canyon receives no additional compensation or remuneration for such aggregation. The manner of aggregation is consistent with River Canyon's duty to seek best execution for its accounts and with the terms of its investment advisory agreements. Each account participates in aggregated orders at the average share price for each completed transaction in a security with a given broker on a given business day, with transaction costs borne by each account participating in the transaction. If all such orders cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, River Canyon allocates on an equitable basis among all of its accounts the purchases or sales which can be made after taking into account the size of the order placed for the various accounts and such other factors as it deems appropriate. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by River Canyon's accounts or the size of the position obtained by such accounts. In addition, due to certain minimum investment thresholds, certain smaller accounts may not participate in all transactions. This may, over time, result in such accounts holding fewer overall positions than larger accounts.
River Canyon and its affiliates may also cause the accounts to share on a fair and equitable basis in the legal fees and other expenses it incurs in investigating and negotiating potential transactions for the accounts, whether or not such transactions are consummated.
Sirios. In addition to the Fund, Sirios also provides investment management services to other entities and clients, including collective investment vehicles, accounts held by single investors and registered funds, which may or may not utilize similar investment programs. The management of multiple clients, including but not limited to clients in which Sirios holds a beneficial interest and/or clients that pay performance-based incentive fees and/or higher aggregate fees than the Fund, could lead to inherent conflicts of interest. Sirios will devote to each client only as much of its time as is necessary or appropriate, in its judgment, to manage client activities. Sirios has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.
Wellington Management. Individual investment professionals at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. The Fund's managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of the Fund. The Portfolio Managers make investment decisions for each account, including the Fund, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Portfolio Managers may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of the Fund.
A Portfolio Manager or other investment professionals at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, a Portfolio Manager may purchase the same security for the Fund and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Fund's holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Fund. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Portfolio Managers are tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by a given Portfolio Manager. Finally, the Portfolio Managers may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above.
Wellington Management's goal is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management's investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional's various client mandates.
Compensation. The Portfolio Managers are compensated by the Sub-Advisers from the fees Funds Management pays the Sub-Advisers using the following compensation structure:
Rock Creek. Rock Creek's compensation plan for the Portfolio Managers includes a base salary and discretionary bonus. The base salary is generally fixed and the discretionary bonus is based on the revenues earned by the Firm from the funds managed by the Portfolio Managers. The Portfolio Managers generally participate in a Management Equity Plan that includes a profit interest based on the revenues earned by the Firm. The Portfolio Managers are also eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to the firm's business.
Chilton Investment Company. Investment professionals are compensated with salary, performance bonus and, in some cases, share ownership in Chilton Investment Company. Bonuses are based on numerous factors including the profit and loss of long and short ideas contributed, the overall performance of the strategy and the firm, and consideration of a professional's long-term potential at the firm. Other employees are compensated with salary, performance bonus and, in some cases, share ownership in Chilton Investment Company. Bonuses are generally based on individual performance and the overall performance of the firm. In all categories above, a significant portion of the bonus compensation may be subject to a three year deferral period.
Mellon Capital. The primary objectives of the Mellon Capital compensation plans are to motivate and reward continued growth and profitability, attract and retain high-performing individuals critical to the on-going success of Mellon Capital, motivate and reward superior business/investment performance and create an ownership mentality for all plan participants.
The investment professionals' cash compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based base salary and (variable) incentives (cash and deferred). An investment professional's base salary is determined by the employees' experience and performance in the role, taking into account the ongoing compensation benchmark analyses. A portfolio manager's base salary is generally a fixed amount that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties, or when a market adjustment of the position occurs. Funding for the Mellon Capital Annual and Long Term Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall Mellon Capital profitability. Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on Mellon Capital's financial performance. Annual incentive opportunities are pre-established for each individual, expressed as a percentage of base salary ("target awards"). These targets are derived based on a review of competitive market data for each position annually. Annual awards are determined by applying multiples to this target award. Awards are 100% discretionary. Factors considered in awards include individual performance, team performance, investment performance of the associated portfolio(s) including both short and long term returns and qualitative behavioral factors. Other factors considered in determining the award are the asset size and revenue growth/retention of the products managed. Awards are paid partially in cash with the balance deferred through the Long Term Incentive Plan.
These positions that participate in the Long Term Incentive Plan have a high level of accountability and a large impact on the success of the business due to the position's scope and overall responsibility. This plan provides for an annual award, payable in cash after a three-year cliff vesting period as well as a grant of BNY Mellon Restricted Stock for senior level roles.
Mellon Capital's portfolio managers responsible for managing mutual funds are paid by Mellon Capital and not by the mutual funds. The same methodology described above is used to determine portfolio manager compensation with respect to the management of mutual funds and other accounts. Mutual fund portfolio managers are also eligible for the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Mellon Capital employees. Certain portfolio managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Mellon Capital provides to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of certain limits due to the tax laws. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement benefits. In addition, mutual fund portfolio managers whose compensation exceeds certain limits may elect to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonus under Bank of New York Mellon Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees.
Passport Capital. All investment professionals earn a base salary and are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, which typically includes an allocation from the applicable Fund's incentive allocation. Allocations are determined by the Compensation Committee and the lead portfolio manager of the strategy or business arm. A portion of the compensation may be deferred and subject to a clawback. Typically, any carry paid must stay invested in the funds for at least one year. John Burbank does not personally retain any of the firm's management fees.
Pine River. Each portfolio manager is paid a fixed salary and is eligible to receive a performance-based bonus calculated on the basis of pre-tax returns of the funds and accounts serviced by the portfolio manager, which is typically paid in cash annually in February for services performed in the prior calendar year. Other perquisites include company-paid medical and dental premiums, HSA contributions, 401(k) matching and annual profit sharing.
Each portfolio manager receives a single blended performance-based bonus calculated pursuant to all of the funds and accounts managed on bahalf of Pine River, which performance-based bonus is considerate of strategy/fund performance, personal performance, and the overall performance of Pine River. In determining a portfolio manager's performance-based bonus with respect to services performed for Pine River's private funds and accounts, which pay incentive fees, Pine River generally pays the portfolio manager pursuant to a baseline percentage of the incentive compensation earned from the Portfolio Manager's strategy returns in that fund or account. In determining a portfolio manager's performance-based bonus with respect to services performed on bahalf of the Fund, Pine River may consider the portfolio manager's strategy returns and the amount of the Fund's assets managed by the portfolio manager. However, because the Fund does not pay Pine River any incentive fees, a portfolio manager's percentage of performance-based bonus due to services performed on behalf of the Fund will very likely be materially lower than the Portfolio Manager's performance-based bonus due to services performed on bahalf of Pine River's other private funds and accounts.
River Canyon. Managing Partners are compensated by salary and ownership/division of the profits of the firm. Employees are compensated by salary plus discretionary bonus. River Canyon has established an Equity Plan for certain investment professionals and members of senior management who have been named partners, including Mr. Soon Pho. Participants will generally receive 25% of the firm's incentive allocation and carried interest. There are currently 8 partners. Partners receive 75% of their share of incentive allocation from River Canyon's open-end funds in the relevant year, and the remaining 25% vests two years later. Partners receive 100% of their share of carried interest from River Canyon's closed-end funds as distributions are made by the applicable fund. Participants also have the right to participate in the proceeds of any capital event. No capital event is currently contemplated. Overall compensation is tied to several factors, including individual performance and River Canyon's performance. Senior employees participate in River Canyon's long term incentive program, a deferred compensation program in which a portion of compensation vests over three years and is paid at the end of five years.
Sirios. Investment professionals are compensated with a fixed base salary and a discretionary bonus based on individual and overall performance. In addition, senior investment professionals may receive a percentage of the incentive fee paid by certain clients.
Wellington Management. Wellington Management's compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. The base salary for each Portfolio Manager who is a partner of Wellington Management is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the Managing Partners of the firm.
The Portfolio Managers may also be eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to Wellington Management's business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each partner of Wellington Management is eligible to participate in a partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Messrs. Stahl and Thomas are partners of the firm.
Beneficial Ownership in the Fund. The following table shows for each Portfolio Manager the dollar value of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager, stated as one of the following ranges:
$0;
$1 - $10,000;
$10,001 - $50,000;
$50,001 - $100,000;
$100,001 - $500,000;
$500,001 - $1,000,000; and
over $1,000,000.
|
Sub-Adviser / Portfolio Manager |
Fund |
Beneficial Ownership |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
Rock Creek / Sudhir Krishnamurthi |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Rock Creek / Ronald van der Wouden |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Rock Creek / Kenneth LaPlace |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Chilton Investment Company / Richard L. Chilton, Jr. |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Mellon Capital / Vassilis Dagioglu |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Passport Capital / John Burbank |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Passport Capital / Tim Garry |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Pine River / Brad Berning |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
River Canyon / Soon Pho |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Sirios / John F. Brennan, Jr. |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Wellington Management / Kent M. Stahl, CFA |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
||
|
Wellington Management / Gregg R. Thomas, CFA |
Alternative Strategies Fund |
$0 |
Administrator
The Trust has retained Funds Management, the adviser for the Fund, located at 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, to also serve as administrator on behalf of the Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement. Under the Administration Agreement with the Trust, Funds Management provides, among other things: (i) general supervision of the Fund's operations, including communication, coordination, and supervision services with regard to the Fund's transfer agent, custodian, fund accountant and other service organizations that render record-keeping or shareholder communication services; (ii) coordination of the preparation and filing of reports and other information materials regarding the Fund, including prospectuses, proxies and other shareholder communications; (iii) development and implementation of procedures for monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements and compliance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions; and (iv) any other administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund other than those services that are provided by the Fund's transfer agent, custodian, and fund accountant. Funds Management also furnishes office space and certain facilities required for conducting the Fund's business together with ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services.
In addition, Funds Management has agreed to pay all of the Fund's fees and expenses for services provided by the Fund's transfer agent and various sub-transfer agents and omnibus account servicers and record-keepers out of the fees it receives as administrator. For providing administrative services, including paying the Fund's fees and expenses for services provided by the Fund's transfer agent and various sub-transfer agents and omnibus account servicers and record-keepers, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual fee at the rates indicated below, as a percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets:
|
|
|
Fund-Level Administrator Fee |
Class-Level Administrator Fee |
|
Total Administrator Fee |
|
||||||
|
Share Class |
Average Daily Net Assets |
% of Average Daily |
% of Average |
Average Daily Net Assets |
% of Average Daily |
|||||||
|
Class A and Class C |
First $5 billion |
0.05% |
0.26% |
First $5 billion |
0.31% |
|||||||
|
Administrator Class |
First $5 billion |
0.05% |
0.10% |
First $5 billion |
0.15% |
|||||||
|
Institutional Class |
First $5 billion |
0.05% |
0.08% |
First $5 billion |
0.13% |
|||||||
Distributor
Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of Funds Management located at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105, serves as the distributor to the Fund.
The Fund offers Class C shares and has adopted a distribution plan (the "Plan") under Section 12(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 12b-1 thereunder (the "Rule") for such shares. The Plan was adopted by the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who were not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Fund and who had no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreement related to the Plan (the "Non-Interested Trustees").
Under the Plan and pursuant to the related Distribution Agreement, the Class C shares of the Fund pay the Distributor, on a monthly basis, an annual fee of 0.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to the class as compensation for distribution-related services or as reimbursement for distribution-related expenses.
The actual fee payable to the Distributor by these Funds and classes is determined, within such limit, from time to time by mutual agreement between the Trust and the Distributor and will not exceed the maximum sales charges payable by mutual funds sold by members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") under the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The Distributor's distribution-related revenues from the Plan may be more or less than distribution-related expenses incurred during the period. The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with one or more broker-dealers under which such broker-dealers may receive compensation for distribution-related services from the Distributor, including, but not limited to, commissions or other payments to such agents based on the average daily net assets of Fund shares attributable to their customers. The Trustees believe that these relationships and distribution channels provide potential for increased Fund assets and ultimately corresponding economic efficiencies (i.e., lower per-share transaction costs and fixed expenses) that are generated by increased assets under management. The Distributor may use the fees payable by such shares under the Plan to make payments to selling or servicing agents for past sales and distribution efforts, as well as for the provision of ongoing services to shareholders. In addition to payments received from the Fund, selling or servicing agents may receive significant additional payments directly from Funds Management in connection with the sale of Fund shares. The Distributor may retain any portion of the total distribution fee payable thereunder to compensate it for distribution-related services provided by it or to reimburse it for other distribution-related expenses.
General. The Plan will continue in effect from year to year if such continuance is approved by a majority vote of both the Trustees of the Trust and the Non-Interested Trustees. Any Distribution Agreement related to the Plan also must be approved by such vote of the Trustees and the Non-Interested Trustees. Such agreement will terminate automatically if assigned, and may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees on not more than 60 days written notice. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amounts payable thereunder without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and no material amendment to the Plan may be made except by a majority of both the Trustees and the Independent Trustees.
The Plan provides that the Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees, and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended (and purposes therefor) under the Plan. The Rule also requires that the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust be made by such Non-Interested Trustees.
Shareholder Servicing Agent
The Fund has approved a Shareholder Servicing Plan and has entered into a related Shareholder Servicing Agreement with the Distributor and Funds Management. Under this agreement, the Distributor and Funds Management are authorized to perform services for customers, or to engage third parties to perform services for customers under Administrative and Shareholder Services Agreements. Under these agreements, third parties agree to perform, as agents for their customers, administrative services, with respect to Fund shares, which include aggregating and transmitting shareholder orders for purchases, exchanges and redemptions; maintaining shareholder accounts and records; and providing such other related services as the Trust or a shareholder may reasonably request. For providing these services, an agent is entitled to an annual fee from the applicable Fund of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A, Class C and Administrator Class shares owned of record or beneficially by the customers of the agent during the period for which payment is being made. The Shareholder Servicing Plan, related Shareholder Servicing Agreement, and form of Administrative and Shareholder Services Agreement were approved by the Trustees and provide that a Fund shall not be obligated to make any payments under such plans or related agreements that exceed the maximum amounts payable under the Conduct Rules enforced by FINRA.
General. The Shareholder Servicing Plan will continue in effect from year to year if such continuance is approved by a majority vote of the Trustees and the Independent Trustees. Any form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement related to the Shareholder Servicing Plan also must be approved by such vote of the Trustees and the Independent Trustees. Shareholder Servicing Agreements may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. No material amendment to the Shareholder Servicing Plan or related Shareholder Servicing Agreements may be made except by a majority of both the Trustees of the Trust and the Independent Trustees.
The Shareholder Servicing Plan requires that the Administrator of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees, and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended (and purposes therefore) under the Shareholder Servicing Plan.
Custodian and Fund Accountant
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), located at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, acts as Custodian and fund accountant for the Fund. As Custodian, State Street, among other things, maintains a custody account or accounts in the name of the Fund, handles the receipt and delivery of securities, selects and monitors foreign sub-custodians as the Fund's global custody manager, determines income and collects interest on the Fund's investments and maintains certain books and records. As fund accountant, State Street is responsible for calculating the Fund's daily net asset value per share and for maintaining its portfolio and general accounting records. For its services, State Street is entitled to receive certain transaction fees, asset-based fees and out-of-pocket costs.
Transfer and Distribution Disbursing Agent
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. ("BFDS"), located at Two Thousand Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169, acts as transfer and distribution disbursing agent for the Fund. For providing such services, BFDS is entitled to receive fees from the Administrator.
Underwriting Commissions
The Distributor serves as the principal underwriter distributing securities of the Fund on a continuous basis.
Code of Ethics
The Fund Complex, Funds Management, the Distributor and the Sub-Advisers each has adopted a code of ethics which contains policies on personal securities transactions by "access persons" as defined in each of the codes. These policies comply with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, as applicable. Each code of ethics, among other things, permits access persons to invest in certain securities, subject to various restrictions and requirements. To facilitate enforcement, the codes of ethics generally require that an access person submit reports to a designated compliance person regarding personal securities transactions. The codes of ethics for the Fund Complex, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Sub-Advisers are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The NAV per share for the Fund is determined as of the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time)) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business. Expenses and fees, including advisory fees, are accrued daily and are taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's investments are generally valued at current market prices. Securities are generally valued based on the last sales price during the regular trading session if the security trades on an exchange ("closing price"). Securities that are not traded primarily on an exchange generally are valued using latest quoted bid prices obtained by an independent pricing service. Securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., however, are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price ("NOCP"), and if no NOCP is available, then at the last reported sales price. The Fund is required to depart from these general valuation methods and use fair value pricing methods to determine the value of certain investments if it is determined that the closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security, including securities that trade primarily on a foreign exchange, does not accurately reflect its current value when the Fund calculates its NAV. In addition, we also use fair value pricing to determine the value of investments in securities and other assets, including illiquid securities, for which current market quotations are not readily available. The closing price or the latest quoted bid price of a security may not reflect its current value if, among other things, a significant event occurs after the closing price or latest quoted bid price but before a Fund calculates its NAV that materially affects the value of the security. We use various criteria, including a systematic evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in deciding whether a foreign security's market price is still reliable and, if not, what fair market value to assign to the security. With respect to any portion of the Fund's assets that are invested in other mutual funds, the Fund's NAV is calculated based upon the net asset values of the other mutual funds in which the Fund invests, and the prospectuses for those companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. In light of the judgment involved in fair value decisions, there can be no assurance that a fair value assigned to a particular security is accurate. Such fair value pricing may result in NAVs that are higher or lower than NAVs based on the closing price or latest quoted bid price.
Money market instruments and debt instruments maturing in 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost. Futures contracts will be marked to market daily at their respective settlement prices determined by the relevant exchange. Prices may be furnished by a reputable independent pricing service. Prices provided by an independent pricing service may be determined without exclusive reliance on quoted prices and may take into account appropriate factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data.
For a Fund that invests directly in foreign securities, portfolio securities are generally valued on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded. However, if, in the judgment of the Board, a security's value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or the market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market), that security may be valued by another method that the Board believes accurately reflects fair value. A security's valuation may differ depending on the method used to determine its value.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Shares of the Fund may be purchased on any day the Fund is open for business. Generally, the Fund is open for business each day the NYSE is open for trading (a "Business Day"). The NYSE is currently scheduled to be closed in observance of New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (each a "Holiday"). When any Holiday falls on a weekend, the NYSE typically is closed on the weekday immediately before or after such Holiday.
Purchase orders for the Fund received before the Fund's NAV calculation time, generally are processed at such time on that Business Day. Purchase orders received after the Fund's NAV calculation time generally are processed at the Fund's NAV calculation time on the next Business Day. Selling Agents may establish earlier cut-off times for processing your order. Requests received by a Selling Agent after the applicable cut-off time will be processed on the next Business Day. On any day the NYSE closes early, the Fund will close early. On these days, the NAV calculation time and the distribution, purchase and redemption cut-off times for the Fund may be earlier than their stated NAV calculation time described above.
Payment for shares may, in the discretion of the Adviser, be made in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Fund. For further information about this form of payment, please contact the Distributor. In connection with an in-kind securities payment, the Fund will require, among other things, that the securities be valued on the day of purchase in accordance with the pricing methods used by the Fund and that the Fund receives satisfactory assurances that (i) it will have good and marketable title to the securities received by it; (ii) that the securities are in proper form for transfer to the Fund; and (iii) adequate information will be provided concerning the basis and other matters relating to the securities.
The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase orders, and under the 1940 Act, may suspend the right of redemption or
postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend
and holiday closings), or during which trading is restricted, or during which, as determined by SEC rule, regulation or order,
an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for
such periods as the SEC may permit. The Fund may also redeem shares involuntarily or make payment for redemption in securities
or other property if it appears appropriate to do so in light of the Fund's responsibilities under the 1940 Act. In addition,
the Fund may redeem shares involuntarily to reimburse the Fund for any losses sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder
to make full payment for shares purchased or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a
shareholder which is applicable to shares of the Fund as provided from time to time in the Prospectuses.
The Dealer Reallowance for Purchases of Class A Shares is as Follows:
|
Amount of Purchase |
|
Front-End Sales Charge as % |
|
Front-End Sales Charge as % |
|
Dealer |
|
||||
|
Less than $50,000 |
5.75% |
6.10% |
5.00% |
||||||||
|
$50,000 - $99,999 |
4.75% |
4.99% |
4.00% |
||||||||
|
$100,000 - $249,999 |
3.75% |
3.90% |
3.00% |
||||||||
|
$250,000 - $499,999 |
2.75% |
2.83% |
2.25% |
||||||||
|
$500,000 - $999,999 |
2.00% |
2.04% |
1.75% |
||||||||
|
$1,000,000 and over1 |
0.00% |
0.00% |
1.00% |
| 1 | We will assess a 1.00% CDSC on Class A share purchases of $1,000,000 or more if they are redeemed within eighteen months from
the date of purchase. Certain exceptions apply (see "CDSC Waivers"). The CDSC percentage you pay is applied to the NAV of
the shares on the date of original purchase. |
Purchases and Redemptions for Existing Wells Fargo Advantage Funds Account Holders Via the Internet. All shareholders with an existing Wells Fargo Advantage Funds account may purchase additional shares of funds or classes of funds within the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds that they already own and redeem existing shares via the Internet. For purchases, such account holders must have a bank account linked to their Wells Fargo Advantage Funds account. Redemptions may be deposited into a linked bank account or mailed via check to the shareholder's address of record. Internet account access is available for institutional clients. Shareholders should contact Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 or log on at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com for further details. Shareholders who hold their shares in a brokerage account should contact their selling agent.
Extraordinary Circumstances Affecting Redemptions. Under the extraordinary circumstances discussed under Section 22(e) under the 1940 Act, we may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment of a redemption for longer than seven days for each Fund. Generally, those extraordinary circumstances are when: (i) the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the disposal by a Fund of securities it owns, or the fair determination of the value of the Fund's net assets not reasonable or practical; or (iii) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption for the protection of shareholders.
Purchases and Redemptions Through Brokers and/or Their Affiliates. A broker may charge transaction fees on the purchase and/or sale of Fund shares in addition to those fees described in the Prospectuses in the Summary of Expenses. The Trust has authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders, and such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Trust's behalf. The Trust will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order for Fund shares when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker's authorized designee, receives the order, and such orders will be priced at the Fund's NAV next calculated after they are received by the authorized broker or the broker's designee.
Waiver of Minimum Initial Investment Amount for Investor Class Shares for Eligible Investors. An eligible investor (as defined below) may purchase Investor Class shares of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds without meeting the minimum initial investment amount if the eligible investor participates in a $50 monthly automatic investment purchase plan. Eligible investors include: Current and retired employees, directors/trustees and officers of: (i) Wells Fargo Advantage Funds (including any predecessor funds) and (ii) Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates; and Family members, as defined in the prospectus, of any of the above.
Reduced Sales Charges for Former C&B Portfolio Shareholders. Shareholders who purchased shares of the C&B Portfolios directly from the C&B Portfolios, and who became Wells Fargo Advantage Fund shareholders in the reorganization between the Advisors' Inner Circle Fund and the Trust effective July 26, 2004 may purchase Class A shares of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund and any unnamed shares of WealthBuilder Portfolios at NAV. However, beginning on July 1, 2013, this privilege will only be available to those former C&B Portfolio shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund. Please see your account representative for details.
Reduced Sales Charges for Former Montgomery Fund Shareholders. Former Montgomery Fund Class P and Class R shareholders who purchased their shares directly from the Montgomery Funds and became Wells Fargo Advantage Fund shareholders in the reorganization, may purchase Class A shares of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund, and any unnamed shares of WealthBuilder Portfolios at NAV. However, beginning on July 1, 2013, this privilege will only be available to those former Montgomery Fund shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund. Shareholders who did not purchase such shares directly from the Montgomery Funds may purchase additional shares in the respective acquiring Wells Fargo Advantage Fund at NAV. However, beginning on July 1, 2013, this privilege will only be available to those former Montgomery Fund shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund.
Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Former Advisor Class Shareholders. Investors who held Advisor Class shares of a Wells Fargo Advantage Fund at the close of business on June 20, 2008 (the "Eligibility Time"), so long as the following conditions are met: (1) any purchases at NAV are limited to Class A shares of the same Fund in which the investor held Advisor Class shares at the Eligibility Time; (2) share purchases are made in the same account through which the investor held Advisor Class shares at the Eligibility Time; (3) the owner of the account remains the same as the account owner at the Eligibility Time; and (4) following the Eligibility Time, the account maintains a positive account balance at some time during a period of at least six months in length. Investors who held Advisor Class shares at the Eligibility Time are also eligible to exchange their Class A shares for Class A shares of another Wells Fargo Advantage Fund without imposition of any Class A sales charges and would be eligible to make additional purchases of Class A shares of such other Fund at NAV in the account holding the shares received in exchange. The eligibility of such investors that hold Fund shares through an account maintained by a financial institution is also subject to the following additional limitation. In the event that such an investor's relationship with and/or the services such investor receives from the financial institution subsequently change, such investor shall thereafter no longer be eligible to purchase Class A shares at NAV. Please consult with your financial representative for further details.
Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Former Evergreen Fund Shareholders. Former Evergreen Class IS shareholders who received Class A shares of a Fund as a result of a reorganization can continue to purchase Class A shares of that Fund and any other Wells Fargo Advantage Fund purchased subsequently by exchange at NAV, without paying the customary sales load, after which subsequent purchases of shares of the subsequent Fund may also be made at NAV. However, beginning on July 31, 2012, this privilege will only be available to those former Evergreen Fund shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund.
Former Evergreen Class R shareholders who received Class A shares of a Fund as a result of a reorganization can continue to purchase Class A shares of that Fund and any other Wells Fargo Advantage Fund purchased subsequently by exchange at NAV, without paying the customary sales load, after which subsequent purchases of shares of the subsequent Fund may also be made at NAV. However, beginning on July 31, 2012, this privilege will only be available to those former Evergreen Fund shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund.
Certain investors in acquired funds who became investors in the Evergreen Funds and subsequently became Wells Fargo Advantage Fund shareholders in a reorganization, including former Class IS shareholders of Evergreen Strategic Value Fund and Evergreen Limited Duration Fund, former Investor Class shareholders of Undiscovered Managers Funds, former shareholders of the GMO Global Balanced Allocation Fund, the GMO Pelican Fund and America's Utility Fund, former shareholders of an Atlas Fund and shareholders of record on October 12, 1990 (and members of their immediate families) in any series of the Salem Funds in existence on that date, may purchase Class A shares of any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund, and any unnamed shares of WealthBuilder Portfolios at NAV. However, beginning on July 1, 2013, this privilege will only be available to those former Evergreen Fund shareholders whose shares are held directly with the Fund.
Reduced Sales Charges for Affiliated Funds. Any affiliated fund that invests in a Wells Fargo Advantage Fund may purchase Class A shares of such Fund at NAV.
Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Holders of Class C Shares. No CDSC is imposed on redemptions of Class C shares where a Fund did not pay a sales commission at the time of purchase.
Investors Eligible to Acquire Class B Shares. Class B shares are closed to new investors and additional investments from existing shareholders, except that existing shareholders of Class B shares may reinvest any distributions into Class B shares and exchange their Class B shares for Class B shares of other Wells Fargo Advantage Funds (as permitted by current exchange privilege rules, except specified persons may acquire Class B shares of a Fund in connection with the closing of a reorganization and except specified persons may acquire Class B shares of a Fund in connection with the closing of a reorganization). No new or subsequent investments, including through automatic investment plans, will be allowed in Class B shares of the Funds, except through a distribution reinvestment or permitted exchange, or in connection with the closing of a reorganization.
Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for certain Class B Shareholders. For Class B shares purchased after May 18, 1999, for former Norwest Advantage Funds shareholders and after July 17, 1999 for former Stagecoach Funds shareholders, for all Class B shares purchased after November 8, 1999, no CDSC is imposed on withdrawals that meet both of the following circumstances:
withdrawals are made by participating in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan; and
withdrawals do not exceed 10% of your Fund assets (limit for Class B shares calculated annually based on your anniversary date in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan).
Elimination of Minimum Initial Investment Amount for Administrator Class Shares for Eligible Investors. An "Eligible Investor" (as defined below) may purchase Administrator Class shares of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds without meeting the minimum initial investment amount. Eligible Investors include:
Clients of sub-advisers to those Funds which offer an Administrator Class who are clients of such subadvisers at the time of their purchase of such Administrator Class shares;
Clients of Wells Capital Management who are clients of Wells Capital Management at the time of their purchase of Administrator Class shares; and
Clients of Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement Trust (IRT) who are clients of IRT at the time of their purchase of Administrator Class shares.
Related shareholders or shareholder accounts may be aggregated in order to meet the minimum initial investment requirement for Administrator Class shares. The following are examples of relationships that may qualify for aggregation:
Related business entities, including: (i) corporations and their subsidiaries; (ii) general and limited partners; and (iii) other business entities under common ownership or control.
Shareholder accounts that share a common tax-id number.
Accounts over which the shareholder has individual or shared authority to buy or sell shares on behalf of the account (i.e., a trust account or a solely owned business account).
Any of the minimum initial investment waivers listed above may be modified or discontinued at any time.
Elimination of Minimum Initial Investment Amount for Institutional Class Shares for Eligible Investors. An "Eligible Investor" (as defined below) may purchase Institutional Class shares of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds without meeting the minimum initial investment amount. Eligible Investors include:
Clients of sub-advisers to those Funds which offer an Institutional Class who are clients of such sub-advisers at the time of their purchase of such Institutional Class shares;
Clients of Wells Capital Management who are clients of Wells Capital Management at the time of their purchase of Institutional Class shares; and
Clients of Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement Trust (IRT) who are clients of IRT at the time of their purchase of Institutional Class shares.
Related shareholders or shareholder accounts may be aggregated in order to meet the minimum initial investment requirement for Institutional Class shares. The following are examples of relationships that may qualify for aggregation:
Related business entities, including: (i) corporations and their subsidiaries; (ii) general and limited partners; and (iii) other business entities under common ownership or control.
Shareholder accounts that share a common tax-id number.
Accounts over which the shareholder has individual or shared authority to buy or sell shares on behalf of the account (i.e., a trust account or a solely owned business account).
Former Institutional Class shareholders of an Evergreen Fund (including former Class Y shareholders of an Evergreen Fund, former SouthTrust shareholders and former Vestaur Securities Fund shareholders who became Institutional Class shareholders of an Evergreen Fund) who received Institutional Class shares of a Wells Fargo Advantage Fund in connection with the reorganization of their Evergreen Fund. Such investors may purchase Institutional Class shares at their former minimum investment amount.
Any of the minimum initial investment waivers listed above may be modified or discontinued at any time.
Waiver of Minimum Initial and Subsequent Investment Amounts for All Share Classes for Special Operational Accounts. Shares of any and all share classes of the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds may be acquired in special operational accounts (as defined below) without meeting the applicable minimum initial or subsequent investment amounts. Special operational accounts are designated accounts held by Funds Management or its affiliate that are used exclusively for addressing operational matters related to shareholder accounts, such as testing of account functions.
Compensation to Dealers and Shareholder Servicing Agents. Set forth below is a list of the member firms of FINRA to which the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates made payments
out of their revenues in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Funds or for services to the Funds and
their shareholders in the year ending December 31, 2013 ("Additional Payments"). (Such payments are in addition to any amounts
paid to such FINRA firms in the form of dealer reallowances or fees for shareholder servicing or distribution. The payments
are discussed in further detail in the Prospectuses under the title "Compensation to Dealers and Shareholder Servicing Agents").
Any additions, modifications, or deletions to the member firms identified in this list that have occurred since December 31,
2013, are not reflected:
FINRA member firms
ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Barclays Capital, Inc.
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
Boenning & Scattergood, Inc.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
Commonwealth Equity Services, Inc.
DWS Investments Distributors, Inc.
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GWFS Equities, Inc.
Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc.
H.D. Vest Investment Securities, Inc.
Hewitt Financial Services, LLC
Hightower Securities, LLC
ING Investment Advisors LLC
ING Investments Distributor, LLC
Investacorp, Inc.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
J.J.B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, LLC
J.P. Morgan Clearing Corp
Lazard Capital Markets LLC
Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.
LPL Financial LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated
Merriman Capital, Inc.
Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
MSCS Financial Services, LLC
Nationwide Investment Services, Corporation
Oak Tree Securities, Inc.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Pershing LLC
PNC Capital Markets LLC
Prudential Investment Management Services, LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, LLC
Securities America, Inc.
Security Distributors, Inc.
State Street Global Markets, LLC
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Treasury Curve, LLC
Triad Advisors, Inc.
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Wells Fargo Investments, LLC
In addition to member firms of FINRA, Additional Payments are also made to other selling and shareholder servicing agents, and to affiliates of selling and shareholder servicing agents that sell shares of or provide services to the Funds and their shareholders, such as banks, insurance companies and plan administrators. These firms are not included on the list above, although they may be affiliated with companies on the above list.
Also not included on the list above are other subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company who may receive revenue from the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates through intra-company compensation arrangements and for financial, distribution, administrative and operational services.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Trust has no obligation to deal with any broker-dealer or group of broker-dealers in the execution of transactions in portfolio securities. Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board and the supervision of the Adviser, each Sub-Adviser is responsible for the Fund's portfolio decisions and the placing of portfolio transactions. In placing orders, it is the policy of the Sub-Advisers to seek to obtain the best overall results taking into account various factors, including, but not limited to, the size and type of transaction involved; the broker-dealer's risk in positioning the securities involved; the nature and character of the market for the security; the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the broker-dealer; the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions; and the reasonableness of the spread or commission. While the Sub-Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive spreads or commissions, the Fund will not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or commission available.
Purchases and sales of equity securities on a securities exchange are effected through broker-dealers who charge a negotiated commission for their services. Orders may be directed to any broker-dealer including, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, affiliated broker-dealers. However, the Fund and Funds Management have adopted a policy pursuant to Rule 12b- 1(h) under the 1940 Act that prohibits the Fund from directing portfolio brokerage to brokers who sell Fund shares as compensation for such selling efforts. In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with brokerdealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the broker-dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price that includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount.
In placing orders for portfolio securities of the Fund, each Sub-Adviser seeks to obtain the most favorable price and efficient execution. This means that the Sub-Adviser will seek to execute each transaction at a price and commission, if any, that provide the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably attainable in the circumstances. Commission rates are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker-dealer based, in part, on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by the broker-dealer and in the light of generally prevailing rates. Furthermore, the Adviser oversees the trade execution procedures of the Sub-Adviser to ensure that such procedures are in place, that they are adhered to, and that adjustments are made to the procedures to address ongoing changes in the marketplace.
A Sub-Adviser may, in circumstances in which two or more broker-dealers are in a position to offer comparable results for a portfolio transaction, give preference to a broker-dealer that has provided statistical or other research services to the Sub-Adviser. In selecting a broker-dealer under these circumstances, the Sub-Adviser will consider, in addition to the factors listed above, the quality of the research provided by the broker-dealer.
A Sub-Adviser may pay higher commissions than those obtainable from other broker-dealers in exchange for such research services. The research services generally include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, and the advisability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto. By allocating transactions in this manner, a Sub-Adviser is able to supplement its research and analysis with the views and information of securities firms. Information so received will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Sub-Adviser under the advisory contracts, and the expenses of the Sub-Adviser will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of this supplemental research information. Furthermore, research services furnished by broker-dealers through which a Sub-adviser places securities transactions for a Fund may be used by the Sub-Adviser in servicing its other accounts, and not all of these services may be used by the Sub-Adviser in connection with advising the Fund.
Portfolio Turnover. The portfolio turnover rate is not a limiting factor when a Sub-Adviser deems portfolio changes appropriate. Changes may be made in the portfolios consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund's whenever such changes are believed to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a Fund's portfolio securities. For purposes of this calculation, portfolio securities exclude all securities having a maturity when purchased of one year or less. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and the reinvestment in other securities. Portfolio turnover may also result in adverse tax consequences to a Fund's shareholders.
Because the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this SAI, no history of the portfolio turnover rate is available.
Brokerage Commissions. Because the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this SAI, the Fund has no brokerage commissions to disclose as of the date of this SAI.
Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers. The Fund is required to identify any securities of its "regular brokers or dealers" (as defined under the 1940 Act) or of its parents that the Fund may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year. Because the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this SAI, this information is not yet available since the Fund has not completed a full fiscal year of operation.
FUND EXPENSES
From time to time, Funds Management may waive fees from the Fund in whole or in part. Any such waiver will reduce expenses and, accordingly, have a favorable impact on the Fund's performance.
Except for the expenses borne by Funds Management, the Trust bears all costs of its operations, including the compensation of the Independent Trustees; advisory, shareholder servicing and administration fees; payments pursuant to any Plan; interest charges; taxes; fees and expenses of its independent auditors, legal counsel, transfer agent and distribution disbursing agent; expenses of redeeming shares; expenses of preparing and printing prospectuses (except the expense of printing and mailing prospectuses used for promotional purposes, unless otherwise payable pursuant to a Plan), shareholders' reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to regulatory agencies; insurance premiums and certain expenses relating to insurance coverage; trade association membership dues (including membership dues in the Investment Company Institute allocable to the Fund); brokerage and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; fees and expenses of its custodian, including those for keeping books and accounts and calculating the NAV per share of the Fund; expenses of shareholders' meetings; expenses relating to the issuance, registration and qualification of the Fund's shares; pricing services, organizational expenses and any extraordinary expenses. Expenses attributable to the Fund are charged against Fund assets. General expenses of the Trust are allocated among all of the series of the Trust, including the Fund, in a manner proportionate to the net assets of the Fund, on a transactional basis, or on such other basis as the Trust's Board deems equitable.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in each Prospectus entitled "Taxes."
Each Prospectus generally describes the U.S. federal income tax treatment of distributions by the Funds. This section of the
SAI provides additional information concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), applicable Treasury Regulations, judicial authority, and administrative rulings and practice, all
as of the date of this SAI and all of which are subject to change, including changes with retroactive effect. Except as specifically
set forth below, the following discussion does not address any state, local or foreign tax matters.
A shareholder's tax treatment may vary depending upon the shareholder's particular situation. This discussion applies only
to shareholders holding Fund shares as capital assets within the meaning of the Code. A shareholder may also be subject to
special rules not discussed below if they are a certain kind of shareholder, including, but not limited to: an insurance company;
a tax-exempt organization; a financial institution or broker-dealer; a person who is neither a citizen nor resident of the
United States or entity that is not organized under the laws of the United States or political subdivision thereof; a shareholder
who holds Fund shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction; or an entity taxable as a partnership for U.S.
federal income tax purposes and investors in such an entity.
The Trust has not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") as to the
U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such
positions could be sustained. In addition, the following discussion and the discussions in each Prospectus applicable to each
shareholder address only some of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Funds.
Prospective shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers and financial planners regarding the U.S. federal tax
consequences of an investment in a Fund, the application of state, local or foreign laws, and the effect of any possible changes
in applicable tax laws on their investment in the Funds.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. It is intended that each Fund qualify as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter
1 of the Code. Each Fund will be treated as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, the provisions of
the Code applicable to RICs generally will apply separately to each Fund even though each Fund is a series of the Trust. Furthermore,
each Fund will separately determine its income, gains, losses and expenses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, each Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income
each taxable year generally from (i) dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the
sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, and other income attributable to its business of investing
in such stock, securities or foreign currencies (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts)
and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, as defined in the Code. Future U.S.
Treasury regulations may (possibly retroactively) exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains that are not directly
related to a Fund's principal business of investing in stock, securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities.
In general, for purposes of this 90% gross income requirement, income derived from a partnership, except a qualified publicly
traded partnership, will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income
of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the RIC.
Each Fund must also diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year: (i) at least 50%
of the fair market value of its assets consists of (A) cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities
and securities of other RICs, and (B) securities of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (A)) to the extent
such securities do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and do not exceed 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets consists of the securities of any one issuer
(other than those described in clause (i)(A)), the securities of two or more issuers the Fund controls and which are engaged
in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
In addition, for purposes of meeting this diversification requirement, the term "outstanding voting securities of such issuer"
includes the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership. The qualifying income and diversification requirements
applicable to a Fund may limit the extent to which it can engage in transactions in options, futures contracts, forward contracts
and swap agreements.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible
for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with
respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures
of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the applicable relief
provisions are not available or cannot be met, such Fund will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, described
below.
In addition, with respect to each taxable year, the Fund generally must distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income, which generally includes its ordinary income and the excess of any net short-term capital
gain over net long- term capital loss, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income earned for the taxable year.
If the Fund meets all of the RIC qualification requirements, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
any of the investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss) it distributes to its shareholders. For this purpose, the Fund generally must make the distributions
in the same year that it realizes the income and gain, although in certain circumstances, the Fund may make the distributions
in the following taxable year. Shareholders generally are taxed on any distributions from the Fund in the year they are actually
distributed. However, if the Fund declares a distribution to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one
year and pays the distribution by January 31 of the following year, the Fund and its shareholders will be treated as if the
Fund paid the distribution by December 31 of the first taxable year. The Fund intends to distribute its net income and gain
in a timely manner to maintain its status as a RIC and eliminate fund-level U.S. federal income taxation of such income and
gain. However, no assurance can be given that the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation.
Moreover, the Fund may retain for investment all or a portion of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital
gain, it will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may report the retained amount as
undistributed capital gain in a written statement furnished to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will
be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S.
federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal
income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the
difference between the amount of undistributed capital gain included in the shareholder's gross income and the tax deemed
paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance
that it will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.
If, for any taxable year, the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC, and is not eligible for relief as described above, it will
be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation without any deduction for its distributions to shareholders, and all
distributions from the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits (including any distributions of its net tax-exempt
income and net long-term capital gain) to its shareholders will be taxable as dividend income. To re-qualify to be taxed as
a RIC in a subsequent year, the Fund may be required to distribute to its shareholders its earnings and profits attributable
to non-RIC years reduced by an interest charge on 50% of such earnings and profits payable by the Fund to the IRS. In addition,
if the Fund initially qualifies as a RIC but subsequently fails to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable
years, the Fund generally would be required to recognize and pay tax on any net unrealized gain (the excess of aggregate gain,
including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively,
to be subject to tax on such unrealized gain recognized for a period of ten years, in order to re-qualify as a RIC in a subsequent
year.
Equalization Accounting. The Fund may use the so-called "equalization method" of accounting to allocate a portion of its "earnings and profits," which
generally equals the Fund's undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain, with certain adjustments,
to redemption proceeds. This method permits the Fund to achieve more balanced distributions for both continuing and redeeming
shareholders. Although using this method generally will not affect the Fund's total returns, it may reduce the amount that
the Fund would otherwise distribute to continuing shareholders by reducing the effect of redemptions of Fund shares on Fund
distributions to shareholders. However, the IRS may not have expressly sanctioned the particular equalization method used
by the Fund, and thus the Fund's use of this method may be subject to IRS scrutiny.
Capital Loss Carry-Forwards. For net capital losses realized in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011, the Fund is permitted to carry forward
a net capital loss to offset its capital gain, if any, realized during the eight years following the year of the loss, and
such capital loss carry-forward is treated as a short-term capital loss in the year to which it is carried. For net capital
losses realized in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, the Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital
loss to offset its capital gain indefinitely. For capital losses realized in taxable years beginning after January 1, 2011,
the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital loss over its net long-term capital gain is treated as a short-term capital
loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year and the excess of the Fund's net long-term capital loss over
its net short-term capital gain is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable
year. If future capital gain is offset by carried-forward capital losses, such future capital gain is not subject to fund-level
U.S. federal income tax, regardless of whether it is distributed to shareholders. Accordingly, the Fund does not expect to
distribute any such offsetting capital gain. The Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses.
If a Fund engages in a reorganization, either as an acquiring fund or acquired fund, its capital loss carry-forwards (if any),
its unrealized losses (if any), and any such losses of other funds participating in the reorganization may be subject to severe
limitations that could make such losses, in particular losses realized in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011,
substantially unusable. The Funds have engaged in reorganizations in the past and/or may engage in reorganizations in the
future.
Excise Tax. If a Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for that
year (excluding capital gains and losses), 98.2% of its capital gain net income (adjusted for certain net ordinary losses)
for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of that year, and any of its ordinary income and capital gain net income from
previous years that was not distributed during such years, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S federal excise
tax on the undistributed amounts (other than to the extent of its tax-exempt interest income, if any). For these purposes,
a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to corporate level U.S. federal income tax
for the taxable year ending within the calendar year. Each Fund generally intends to actually, or be deemed to, distribute
substantially all of its ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any, by the end of each calendar year and thus expects
not to be subject to the excise tax. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to the excise tax.
Moreover, each Fund reserves the right to pay an excise tax rather than make an additional distribution when circumstances
warrant (for example, the amount of excise tax to be paid by a Fund is determined to be de minimis).
Investment through Master Portfolio. A Fund that invests its assets through one or more master portfolios will seek to continue to qualify as a RIC. Each master
portfolio will be treated as a non-publicly traded partnership (or, in the event that a Fund is the sole investor in the corresponding
master portfolio, as disregarded from the Fund) for U.S. federal income tax purposes rather than as a RIC or a corporation
under the Code. Under the rules applicable to a non-publicly traded partnership (or disregarded entity), a proportionate share
of any interest, dividends, gains and losses of a master portfolio will be deemed to have been realized (i.e., "passed-through")
to its investors, including the corresponding Fund, regardless of whether any amounts are actually distributed by the master
portfolio. Each investor in a master portfolio will be taxed on such share, as determined in accordance with the governing
instruments of the particular master portfolio, the Code and U.S. Treasury regulations, in determining such investor's U.S.
federal income tax liability. Therefore, to the extent a master portfolio were to accrue but not distribute any income or
gains, the corresponding Fund would be deemed to have realized its proportionate share of such income or gains without receipt
of any corresponding distribution. However, each of the master portfolios will seek to minimize recognition by its investors
(such as a corresponding Fund) of income and gains without a corresponding distribution. Furthermore, each master portfolio
intends to manage its assets, income and distributions in such a way that an investor in a master portfolio will be able to
continue to qualify as a RIC by investing its assets through the master portfolio.
Taxation of Investments. In general, realized gains or losses on the sale of securities held by a Fund will be treated as capital gains or losses,
and long-term capital gains or losses if the Fund has held the disposed securities for more than one year at the time of disposition.
If a Fund purchases a debt obligation with original issue discount ("OID") (generally, a debt obligation with a purchase
price at original issuance less than its principal amount, such as a zero-coupon bond), which generally includes "payment-in-kind"
or "PIK" bonds, the Fund generally is required to annually include in its taxable income a portion of the OID as ordinary
income, even though the Fund may not receive cash payments attributable to the OID until a later date, potentially until maturity
or disposition of the obligation. A portion of the OID includible in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate discount
obligations may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Similarly, if a Fund purchases a debt obligation
with market discount (generally a debt obligation with a purchase price after original issuance less than its principal amount
(reduced by any OID)), the Fund generally is required to annually include in its taxable income a portion of the market discount
as ordinary income, even though the Acquiring Fund may not receive cash payments attributable to the market discount until
a later date, potentially until maturity or disposition of the obligation. A Fund generally will be required to make distributions
to shareholders representing the OID or market discount income on debt obligations that is currently includible in income,
even though the cash representing such income may not have been received by a Fund. Cash to pay such distributions may be
obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund which a Fund otherwise might have continued to hold; obtaining
such cash might be disadvantageous for the Fund.
If a Fund invests in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations
of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default, special tax issues may exist for the Fund. U.S. federal income
tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID, or market discount, when
and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, and how payments received on obligations
in default should be allocated between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a Fund when,
as, and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its
status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
If an option granted by a Fund is sold, lapses or is otherwise terminated through a closing transaction, such as a repurchase
by the Fund of the option from its holder, the Fund will realize a short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the
premium income is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund in the closing transaction. Some capital losses realized
by a Fund in the sale, exchange, exercise, or other disposition of an option may be deferred if they result from a position
that is part of a "straddle," discussed below. If securities are sold by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a covered call
option granted by it, the Fund generally will add the premium received to the sale price of the securities delivered in determining
the amount of gain or loss on the sale. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option granted
by it, the Fund generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased.
Some regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency contracts, and non-equity, listed options used by a Fund will
be deemed "Section 1256 contracts." A Fund will be required to "mark-to-market" any such contracts held at the end of the
taxable year by treating them as if they had been sold on the last day of that year at market value. Sixty percent of any
net gain or loss realized on all dispositions of Section 1256 contracts, including deemed dispositions under the "mark-to-market"
rule, generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the remaining 40% will be treated as short-term capital
gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary income or
loss (as described below). These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of
cash. Transactions that qualify as designated hedges are exempt from the mark-to-market rule and the "60%/40%" rule and may
require the Fund to defer the recognition of losses on certain futures contracts, foreign currency contracts and non-equity
options.
Foreign currency gains and losses realized by a Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-
denominated debt obligations, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and similar instruments relating to foreign
currency, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the
Code, which generally causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and
timing of recognition of the Fund's income. Under future U.S. Treasury regulations, any such transactions that are not directly
related to a Fund's investments in stock or securities (or its options contracts or futures contracts with respect to stock
or securities) may have to be limited in order to enable the Fund to satisfy the 90% income test described above. If the net
foreign currency loss exceeds a Fund's net investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a
taxable year, the resulting ordinary loss for such year will not be deductible by the Fund or its shareholders in future years.
Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as financial forward, futures, and options
contracts, may be considered, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to constitute "straddles." "Straddles" are defined to
include "offsetting positions" in actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of "straddles" is governed by Section
1092 of the Code which, in certain circumstances, overrides or modifies the provisions of Section 1256. If a Fund is treated
as entering into a "straddle" and at least one (but not all) of the Fund's positions in derivative contracts comprising a
part of such straddle is governed by Section 1256 of the Code, described above, then such straddle could be characterized
as a "mixed straddle." A Fund may make one or more elections with respect to "mixed straddles." Depending upon which election
is made, if any, the results with respect to a Fund may differ. Generally, to the extent the straddle rules apply to positions
established by a Fund, losses realized by the Fund may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions.
Moreover, as a result of the straddle rules, short-term capital loss on straddle positions may be recharacterized as long-term
capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be characterized as short-term capital gain. In addition, the existence of a
straddle may affect the holding period of the offsetting positions. As a result, the straddle rules could cause distributions
that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income (defined below) to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period
requirements (described below) and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income. Furthermore, the Fund may be required to capitalize,
rather than deduct currently, any interest expense and carrying charges applicable to a position that is part of a straddle,
including any interest expense on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry any positions that are part of a
straddle. Because the application of the straddle rules may affect the character and timing of gains and losses from affected
straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary
income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to the situation where a Fund had
not engaged in such transactions.
If a Fund enters into a "constructive sale" of any appreciated financial position in stock, a partnership interest, or certain
debt instruments, the Fund will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and must recognize gain
(but not loss) with respect to that position. A constructive sale of an appreciated financial position occurs when a Fund
enters into certain offsetting transactions with respect to the same or substantially identical property, including: (i) a
short sale; (ii) an offsetting notional principal contract; (iii) a futures or forward contract; or (iv) other transactions
identified in future U.S. Treasury regulations. The character of the gain from constructive sales will depend upon a Fund's
holding period in the appreciated financial position. Losses realized from a sale of a position that was previously the subject
of a constructive sale will be recognized when the position is subsequently disposed of. The character of such losses will
depend upon a Fund's holding period in the position and the application of various loss deferral provisions in the Code. Constructive
sale treatment does not apply to certain closed transactions, including if such a transaction is closed on or before the 30th
day after the close of the Fund's taxable year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged throughout the
60-day period beginning with the day such transaction was closed.
The amount of long-term capital gain a Fund may recognize from certain derivative transactions with respect to interests
in certain pass-through entities is limited under the Code's constructive ownership rules. The amount of long-term capital
gain is limited to the amount of such gain a Fund would have had if the Fund directly invested in the pass-through entity
during the term of the derivative contract. Any gain in excess of this amount is treated as ordinary income. An interest charge
is imposed on the amount of gain that is treated as ordinary income.
In addition, a Fund's transactions in securities and certain types of derivatives (e.g., options, futures contracts, forward
contracts, and swap agreements) may be subject to other special tax rules, such as the wash sale rules or the short sale rules,
the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments to the holding periods
of the Fund's securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, and/or convert short-term capital
losses into long- term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions
to shareholders.
Rules governing the U.S. federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements, are in a developing stage
and are not entirely clear in certain respects, particularly in light of IRS revenue rulings that held that income from a
derivative contract with respect to a commodity index is not qualifying income for a RIC. Accordingly, while each Fund intends
to account for such transactions in a manner it deems appropriate, the IRS might not accept such treatment. If it did not,
the status of a Fund as a RIC might be jeopardized. Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order for each
Fund to qualify as a RIC may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in derivatives transactions.
A Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). Investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to
accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may
be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have
continued to hold. A Fund's investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund's receipt of cash
in excess of the REIT's earnings if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital
to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute
qualified dividend income and will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction.
A Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs") or
in other interests that may be treated as taxable mortgage pools ("TMPs") for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under IRS
guidance, a Fund must allocate "excess inclusion income" received directly or indirectly from REMIC residual interests or
TMPs to its shareholders in proportion to dividends paid to such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders
had invested in the REMIC residual interests or TMPs directly.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a
limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) constitutes unrelated business taxable income to Keogh, 401(k) and
qualified pension plans, as well as investment retirement accounts and certain other tax exempt entities, thereby potentially
requiring such an entity, which otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on
such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, does not qualify for any reduction, by treaty or otherwise, in
the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a "disqualified organization" (as
defined in the Code) is a record holder of a share in a Fund, then the Fund will be subject to a tax equal to that portion
of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the
highest federal corporate income tax rate. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, a Fund may elect to specially allocate
any such tax to the applicable disqualified organization, and thus reduce such shareholder's distributions for the year by
the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder's interest in the Fund. The Funds have not yet determined whether such
an election will be made.
"Passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") are generally defined as foreign corporations with respect to which at least
75% of their gross income for their taxable year is income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents
and royalties, or capital gains) or at least 50% of their assets on average produce such passive income. If a Fund acquires
any equity interest in a PFIC, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and interest charges on "excess distributions"
received from the PFIC or on gain from the sale of such equity interest in the PFIC, even if all income or gain actually received
by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. Excess distributions will be characterized as ordinary income even
though, absent the application of PFIC rules, some excess distributions may have been classified as capital gain.
A Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for taxes and interest charges incurred
with respect to PFICs. Elections may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections
could require a Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash. Investments in PFICs could
also result in the treatment of associated capital gains as ordinary income. The Funds may attempt to limit and/or manage
their holdings in PFICs to minimize their tax liability or maximize their returns from these investments but there can be
no assurance that they will be able to do so. Moreover, because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation
as a PFIC in advance of acquiring shares in the corporation, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above
in some instances. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
In addition to the investments described above, prospective shareholders should be aware that other investments made by the
Funds may involve complex tax rules that may result in income or gain recognition by the Funds without corresponding current
cash receipts. Although the Funds seek to avoid significant non-cash income, such non-cash income could be recognized by the
Funds, in which case the Funds may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements
described above. In this regard, the Funds could be required at times to liquidate investments prematurely in order to satisfy
their minimum distribution requirements.
Taxation of Distributions. Except for exempt-interest dividends (defined below) paid out by "Tax-Free Funds", distributions paid out of a Fund's current
and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined at the end of the year), whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund,
generally are deemed to be taxable distributions and must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a U.S. federal
income tax return. Dividends and distributions on a Fund's shares are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax as described
herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund's realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions
may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder's investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect
of shares acquired at a time when the Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not
distributed. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Fund's earnings and profits, described above, are determined at the end
of the Fund's taxable year and are allocated pro rata to distributions paid over the entire year. Distributions in excess
of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of
a shareholder's tax basis in the shareholder's Fund shares and then as capital gain. A Fund may make distributions in excess
of its earnings and profits, from time to time.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions
of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions
properly designated by a Fund as capital gain dividends will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain (to the
extent such distributions do not exceed the Fund's net capital gain for the taxable year), regardless of how long a shareholder
has held Fund shares, and do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends-received deduction or as qualified dividend
income. Each Fund will report capital gain dividends, if any, in a written statement furnished to its shareholders after the
close of the Fund's taxable year.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may result in foreign exchange gain or loss on transactions in foreign currencies,
foreign currency-denominated debt obligations, and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts.
Such gains or losses are generally characterized as ordinary income or loss for tax purposes. The Fund must make certain distributions
in order to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company, and the timing of and character of transactions such as foreign currency-related
gains and losses may result in the fund paying a distribution treated as a return of capital. Such distribution is nontaxable
to the extent of the recipient's basis in its shares.
Some states will not tax distributions made to individual shareholders that are attributable to interest a Fund earned on
direct obligations of the U.S. government if the Fund meets the state's minimum investment or reporting requirements, if any.
Investments in GNMA or FNMA securities, bankers' acceptances, commercial paper and repurchase agreements collateralized by
U.S. government securities generally do not qualify for tax-free treatment. This exemption may not apply to corporate shareholders.
Sales and Exchanges of Fund Shares. If a shareholder sells, pursuant to a cash or in-kind redemption, or exchanges the shareholder's Fund shares, subject to
the discussion below, the shareholder generally will recognize a taxable capital gain or loss on the difference between the
amount received for the shares (or deemed received in the case of an exchange) and the shareholder's tax basis in the shares.
This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has held such Fund shares for more than one year
at the time of the sale or exchange, and short-term otherwise.
If a shareholder sells or exchanges Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, before January 31 of
the calendar year following the calendar year of the sale or exchange, as a result of having initially acquired those shares,
the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or a different RIC, the sales
charge previously incurred in acquiring the Fund's shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous
sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount
of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated as having been incurred in the new purchase. Also, if a
shareholder recognizes a loss on a disposition of Fund shares, the loss will be disallowed under the "wash sale" rules to
the extent the shareholder purchases substantially identical shares within the 61-day period beginning 30 days before and
ending 30 days after the disposition. Any disallowed loss generally will be reflected in an adjustment to the tax basis of
the purchased shares.
If a shareholder receives a capital gain dividend with respect to any Fund share and such Fund share is held for six months
or less, then (unless otherwise disallowed) any loss on the sale or exchange of that Fund share will be treated as a long-term
capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend. If such loss is incurred from the redemption of shares pursuant to
a periodic redemption plan then U.S. Treasury regulations may permit an exception to this six-month rule. No such regulations
have been issued as of the date of this SAI.
In addition, if a shareholder of a Tax-Free Fund holds such Fund shares for six months or less, any loss on the sale or exchange
of those shares will be disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends (defined below) received with
respect to the shares. If such loss is incurred from the redemption of shares pursuant to a periodic redemption plan then
U.S. Treasury regulations may permit an exception to this six-month rule. Such a loss will also not be disallowed where the
loss is incurred with respect to shares of a Fund that declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal
to at least 90% of its net-tax exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly, or more frequent, basis. Additionally,
where a Fund regularly distributes at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest, if any, the Treasury Department is authorized
to issue regulations reducing the six month holding period requirement to a period of not less than the greater of 31 days
or the period between regular distributions. No such regulations have been issued as of the date of this filing.
Foreign Taxes. Amounts realized by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by
such countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more
than 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations,
the Fund will be eligible to file an annual election with the IRS pursuant to which the Fund may pass-through to its shareholders
on a pro rata basis certain foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund, and such taxes may be claimed, subject to certain
limitations, either as a tax credit or deduction by the shareholders. However, even if a Fund qualifies for the election for
any year, it may not make the election for such year. If a Fund does not so elect, then shareholders will not be entitled
to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid or withheld. If a Fund does elect to "pass through" its
foreign taxes paid in a taxable year, the Fund will furnish a written statement to its shareholders reporting such shareholders
proportionate share of the Funds' foreign taxes paid.
Even if a Fund qualifies for the election, foreign income and similar taxes will only pass through to the Fund's shareholders
if the Fund and its shareholders meet certain holding period requirements. Specifically, (i) the shareholders must have held
the Fund shares for at least 16 days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the date upon which the shareholders
became entitled to receive Fund distributions corresponding with the pass through of such foreign taxes paid by the Fund,
and (ii) with respect to dividends received by the Fund on foreign shares giving rise to such foreign taxes, the Fund must
have held the shares for at least 16 days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the date upon which the Fund
became entitled to the dividend. These holding periods increase for certain dividends on preferred stock. A Fund may choose
not to make the election if the Fund has not satisfied its holding requirement.
If a Fund makes the election, the Fund will not be permitted to claim a credit or deduction for foreign taxes paid in that
year, and the Fund's dividends-paid deduction will be increased by the amount of foreign taxes paid that year. Fund shareholders
that have satisfied the holding period requirements and certain other requirements shall include their proportionate share
of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund in their gross income and treat that amount as paid by them for the purpose of the foreign
tax credit or deduction. If the shareholder claims a credit for foreign taxes paid, the credit will be limited to the extent
it exceeds the shareholder's federal income tax attributable to foreign source taxable income. If the credit is attributable,
wholly or in part, to qualified dividend income (as defined below), special rules will be used to limit the credit in a manner
that reflects any resulting dividend rate differential.
In general, an individual with $300 or less of creditable foreign taxes may elect to be exempt from the foreign source taxable
income and qualified dividend income limitations if the individual has no foreign source income other than qualified passive
income. This $300 threshold is increased to $600 for joint filers. A deduction for foreign taxes paid may only be claimed
by shareholders that itemize their deductions.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Rates. Noncorporate Fund shareholders (i.e., individuals, trusts and estates) are taxed at a maximum rate of 39.6% on ordinary income
and 20% on long-term capital gain for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.
In general, "qualified dividend income" realized by noncorporate Fund shareholders is taxable at the same rate as net capital
gain. Generally, qualified dividend income is dividend income attributable to certain U.S. and foreign corporations, as long
as certain holding period requirements are met. After this date, all dividend income generally will be taxed at the same rate
as ordinary income. If 95% or more of a Fund's gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital
loss) constitutes qualified dividend income, all of its distributions (other than capital gain dividends) will be generally
treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of individual shareholders, as long as they have owned their Fund shares
for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (or, in the case of certain
preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date). In general, if less than 95% of a
Fund's income is attributable to qualified dividend income, then only the portion of the Fund's distributions that is attributable
to qualified dividend income and designated as such in a timely manner will be so treated in the hands of individual shareholders.
Payments received by a Fund from securities lending, repurchase, and other derivative transactions ordinarily will not qualify.
The rules attributable to the qualification of Fund distributions as qualified dividend income are complex, including the
holding period requirements. Individual Fund shareholders therefore are urged to consult their own tax advisers and financial
planners. Income and bond Funds typically do not distribute significant amounts of "qualified dividend income" eligible for
reductions in individual U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to certain dividend income.
The maximum stated corporate U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and net capital gain is 35%. Actual
marginal tax rates may be higher for some shareholders, for example, through reductions in deductions. Distributions from
an Income Fund generally will not qualify for the "dividends-received deduction" applicable to corporate shareholders with
respect to certain dividends. Distributions from an Equity Fund may qualify for the "dividends-received deduction" applicable
to corporate shareholders with respect to certain dividends. Naturally, the amount of tax payable by any taxpayer will be
affected by a combination of tax laws covering, for example, deductions, credits, deferrals, exemptions, sources of income
and other matters. U.S. federal income tax rates are set to increase in future years under various "sunset" provisions of
U.S. federal income tax laws.
Under recently enacted legislation, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, noncorporate Fund shareholders generally
will be subject to a 3.8% tax on their "net investment income," which ordinarily includes taxable distributions received from
the Funds and taxable gain on the disposition of Fund shares.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on dividends and
proceeds of sales in respect of Fund shares received by Fund shareholders who own their shares through foreign accounts or
foreign intermediaries if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. The Funds
will not pay any additional amounts in respect to any amounts withheld.
Backup Withholding. A Fund is generally required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions (such as for certain
corporate or foreign shareholders), an amount equal to 28% of all distributions and redemption proceeds (including proceeds
from exchanges and redemptions in-kind) paid or credited to a Fund shareholder if (i) the shareholder fails to furnish the
Fund with a correct "taxpayer identification number" ("TIN"), (ii) the shareholder fails to certify under penalties of perjury
that the TIN provided is correct, (iii) the shareholder fails to make certain other certifications, or (iv) the IRS notifies
the Fund that the shareholder's TIN is incorrect or that the shareholder is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup
withholding is not an additional tax imposed on the shareholder. The shareholder may apply amounts withheld as a credit against
the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld, provided that
the required information is furnished to the IRS. If a shareholder fails to furnish a valid TIN upon request, the shareholder
can also be subject to IRS penalties. A shareholder may generally avoid backup withholding by furnishing a properly completed
IRS Form W-9. State backup withholding may also be required to be withheld by the Funds under certain circumstances.
Corporate Shareholders. Subject to limitation and other rules, a corporate shareholder of a Fund may be eligible for the dividends received deduction
on Fund distributions attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly
by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends-received
deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by a Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation
will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met. These requirements are complex;
therefore, corporate shareholders of the Funds are urged to consult their own tax advisers and financial planners.
Foreign Shareholders. For purposes of this discussion, "foreign shareholders" include: (i) nonresident alien individuals, (ii) foreign trusts (i.e.,
a trust other than a trust with respect to which a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over administration
of that trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control substantial decisions of that trust), (iii) foreign estates
(i.e., the income of which is not subject to U.S. tax regardless of source), and (iv) foreign corporations.
Generally, subject to certain exceptions described below, distributions made to foreign shareholders will be subject to non-
refundable U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or such lower rate provided under an applicable income tax treaty)
even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gain, or foreign-source dividend
and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, with respect
to certain distributions made to foreign shareholders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2014, no withholding will
be required and the distributions generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if (i) the distributions are reported
as "interest related dividends" or "short term capital gain dividends" in a written statement furnished to shareholders (ii)
the distributions are derived from sources specified in the Code for such dividends and (iii) certain other requirements are
satisfied. No assurance can be given that a Fund would designate any of its distributions as interest related dividends or
short term capital gain dividends, even if it is permitted to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, even
if a Fund makes a designation with respect to a payment, no assurance can be made that the intermediary will respect such
a designation. Capital gains dividends and gains recognized by a foreign shareholder on the redemption of Fund shares generally
will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding, provided that certain requirements are satisfied. Tax-exempt dividends
(described below) paid by a Tax-Free Fund to a foreign shareholders also should be exempt from U.S. federal income tax withholding.
With respect to payments made after December 31, 2013, a withholding tax of 30% will be imposed on dividends from, and the
gross proceeds of a disposition of, Fund shares paid to certain foreign entities unless various information reporting requirements
are satisfied. Such withholding tax will generally apply to non-U.S. financial institutions, which are generally defined for
this purpose as non-U.S. entities that (i) accept deposits in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business, (ii) are
engaged in the business of holding financial assets for the account of others, or (iii) are engaged or hold themselves out
as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, partnership interests, commodities,
or any interest in such assets. Prospective foreign shareholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the
implications of this legislation on their investment in a Fund.
Before investing in a Fund's shares, a prospective foreign shareholder should consult with its own tax advisors, including
whether the shareholder's investment can qualify for benefits under an applicable income tax treaty.
Tax-Deferred Plans. Shares of the Funds may be available for a variety of tax-deferred retirement and other tax-advantaged plans and accounts.
However, shares of a Tax-Free Fund may not be suitable for tax-deferred, retirement and other tax-advantaged plans and accounts,
since such plans and accounts are generally tax-exempt and, therefore, would not benefit from the tax-exempt status of certain
distributions from the Tax-Free Fund (discussed below). Such distributions may ultimately be taxable to the beneficiaries
when distributed to them. Prospective investors should contact their tax advisers and financial planners regarding the tax
consequences to them of holding Fund shares through such plans and/or accounts.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Shares of a Tax-Free Fund may not be suitable for tax-exempt shareholders since such shareholders generally would not benefit
from the tax-exempt status of distributions from the Tax-Free Funds (discussed below). Tax-exempt shareholders should contact
their tax advisers and financial planners regarding the tax consequences to them of an investment in the Funds.
Any investment in residual interests of a collateralized mortgage obligation that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can
create complex U.S. federal income tax consequences, especially if a Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt
organizations as shareholders.
Special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts ("CRTs") (as defined in Section 664 of the Code) that invest
in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. CRTs are urged to
consult their own tax advisers and financial planners concerning these special tax consequences.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Generally, under U.S. Treasury regulations, if an individual shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more or if a
corporate shareholder recognizes a loss of $10 million or more, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement
on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of securities are in many cases exempt from this reporting requirement, but under current
guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not exempt. Future guidance may extend the current exemption from this reporting requirement
to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal
determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers
to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Additional Considerations for the Tax-Free Funds. If at least 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable years consists of debt
obligations that generate interest exempt from U.S. federal income tax under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code, then
the Fund may qualify to pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of its income from such debt obligations
by paying exempt-interest dividends. The Tax-Free Funds intend to so qualify and are designed to provide shareholders with
income exempt from U.S. federal income tax in the form of exempt-interest dividends. "Exempt-interest dividends" are dividends
(other than capital gain dividends) paid by a RIC that are properly reported as such in a written statement furnished to shareholders.
Each Tax-Free Fund will report to its shareholders the portion of the distributions for the taxable year that constitutes
exempt-interest dividends. The designated portion cannot exceed the excess of the amount of interest excludable from gross
income under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code received by a Tax-Free Fund during the taxable year over any amounts
disallowed as deductions under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Interest on indebtedness incurred
to purchase or carry shares of the Tax-Free Funds will not be deductible to the extent that the Tax-Free Funds' distributions
are exempt from U.S. federal income tax. In addition, an investment in a Tax-Free Fund may result in liability for U.S. federal
alternative minimum tax ("AMT"). Certain deductions and exemptions have been designated "tax preference items" which must
be added back to taxable income for purposes of calculating the U.S. federal AMT. Tax preference items include tax-exempt
interest on certain "private activity bonds." To the extent a Tax-Free Fund invests in certain private activity bonds, its
shareholders will be required to report that portion of the Fund's distributions attributable to income from the bonds as
a tax preference item in determining their U.S. federal AMT, if any. Shareholders will be notified of the tax status of distributions
made by a Tax-Free Fund.
Persons who may be "substantial users" (or "related persons" of substantial users) of facilities financed by private activity
bonds should consult their tax advisers before purchasing shares in a Tax-Free Fund. Furthermore, shareholders will not be
permitted to deduct any of their share of a Tax-Free Fund's expenses in computing their U.S. federal AMT. In addition, exempt-interest
dividends paid by a Tax-Free Fund to a corporate shareholder are included in the shareholder's "adjusted current earnings"
as part of its U.S. federal AMT calculation, and may also affect its U.S. federal "environmental tax" liability. As of the
date of this filing, individuals are subject to the U.S. federal AMT at a maximum rate of 28% and corporations are subject
to the U.S. federal AMT at a maximum rate of 20%. Shareholders with questions or concerns about the U.S. federal AMT should
consult own their own tax advisers.
The IRS is paying increased attention to whether debt obligations intended to produce interest exempt from U.S. federal income
tax in fact meet the requirements for such exemption. Ordinarily, the Tax-Free Funds rely on opinions from the issuer's bond
counsel that interest on the issuer's debt obligation will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax. However, no assurance can
be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge such exemption, which could cause interest on the debt obligation to
be taxable and could jeopardize a Tax-Free Fund's ability to pay any exempt-interest dividends. Similar challenges may occur
as to state-specific exemptions.
A shareholder who receives Social Security or railroad retirement benefits should consult the shareholder's own tax adviser
to determine what effect, if any, an investment in a Tax-Free Fund may have on the U.S. federal taxation of such benefits.
Exempt-interest dividends are included in income for purposes of determining the amount of benefits that are taxable.
Distributions of a Tax-Free Fund's income other than exempt-interest dividends generally will be taxable to shareholders.
Gains realized by a Tax-Free Fund on the sale or exchange of investments that generate tax-exempt income will also be taxable
to shareholders.
Although exempt-interest dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax, there may not be a similar exemption
under the laws of a particular state or local taxing jurisdiction. Thus, exempt-interest dividends may be subject to state
and local taxes. You should consult your own tax advisor to discuss the tax consequences of your investment in a Tax-Free
Fund.
Legislative Proposals. Prospective shareholders should recognize that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Funds and their shareholders
may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative actions at any time, which may be retroactive in effect. The rules
dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by Congress, the IRS and the Treasury Department, and
statutory changes as well as promulgation of new regulations, revisions to existing statutes, and revised interpretations
of established concepts occur frequently. You should consult your advisors concerning the status of legislative proposals
that may pertain to holding Fund shares.
Cost Basis Reporting
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and provisions from the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 require each Fund or its delegate to report cost basis information to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service for 1099-B reportable redemptions of covered Fund shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012. Shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 are generally treated as covered shares. Shares purchased before January 1, 2012 or shares without complete cost basis information are generally treated as noncovered shares.
Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to obtain more information about how the new cost basis rules apply to them and determine which cost basis method allowed by the Internal Revenue Service is best for their tax situation. Methods allowed by the IRS include, but are not limited to:
Average Cost. The cost per share is determined by dividing the aggregate cost amount by the total shares in the account. The basis of the shares redeemed is determined by multiplying the shares redeemed by the cost per share. Starting in 2012, accounts may maintain two separate average costs: one average for covered shares and a separate average for noncovered shares. Under the Average Cost method, noncovered shares are generally depleted first.
First in first out (FIFO). Shares acquired first in the shareholder's account are the first shares depleted and determine the shareholder's cost basis. The basis of the shares redeemed is determined by the adjusted purchase price of each date the shares were acquired.
Specific Identification. A shareholder selects the shares to be redeemed from any of the purchase lots that still have shares remaining. The basis of the shares redeemed is determined by the adjusted purchase price of each date the shares were acquired.
In the absence of a shareholder method election, the Fund will apply its default method, Average Cost. If the Average Cost method is applied either by default or at the shareholder's election, the shareholder's ability to change such election once a sale occurs will be limited under the IRS rules. After an election has been made, but before a disposition of shares occurs, a shareholder may make a retroactive change to an alternate method. The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of shares after the settlement date of the redemption. At any time, a shareholder may designate a new election for future purchases.
Redemptions of noncovered shares (shares acquired prior to January 1, 2012) will continue to be reported using the Average Cost method, if available, and will not be reported to the IRS.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Trusts and Funds Management have adopted policies and procedures ("Proxy Voting Procedures") that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds of the Trusts. The Proxy Voting Procedures are designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of Fund shareholders, without regard to any relationship that any affiliated person of the Fund (or an affiliated person of such affiliated person) may have with the issuer of the security.
The responsibility for voting proxies relating to the Funds' portfolio securities has been delegated to Funds Management. In accordance with the Proxy Voting Procedures, Funds Management exercises its voting responsibility with the goal of maximizing value to shareholders consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each Fund. While each Fund does not purchase securities to exercise control or to seek to effect corporate change through share ownership, it supports sound corporate governance practices within companies in which it invests and reflects that support through its proxy voting process.
Funds Management has established a Proxy Voting Committee (the "Proxy Committee") that is responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process and ensuring that the voting process is implemented in conformance with the Proxy Voting Procedures. Funds Management has retained an independent, unaffiliated nationally recognized proxy voting company as proxy voting agent. The Proxy Committee monitors the proxy voting agent and the voting process and, in certain situations, votes proxies or directs the proxy voting agent how to vote.
The Proxy Voting Procedures set out guidelines regarding how Funds Management and the proxy voting agent will vote proxies. Where the guidelines specify a particular vote on a particular matter, the proxy voting agent handles the proxy, generally without further involvement by the Proxy Committee. Where the guidelines specify a case-by-case determination, the proxy voting agent forwards the proxy to the Proxy Committee for a vote determination by the Proxy Committee. To the extent the guidelines do not address a proxy voting proposal, Funds Management will vote pursuant to the proxy voting agent's current U.S. and International proxy voting guidelines. In addition, even where the guidelines specify a particular vote, the Proxy Committee may exercise a discretionary vote if it determines that a case-by-case review of a particular matter is warranted. As a general matter, proxies are voted consistently in the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by multiple Funds of the Trusts.
The Proxy Voting Procedures set forth Funds Management's general position on various proposals, such as:
Routine Items – Funds Management will generally vote for uncontested director or trustee nominees, changes in company name, and other procedural matters related to annual meetings.
Corporate Governance – Funds Management will generally vote for charter and bylaw amendments proposed solely to conform with modern business practices or for purposes of simplification or to comply with what management's counsel interprets as applicable law.
Anti-Takeover Matters – Funds Management generally will vote for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills, and on a case-by-case basis on proposals to redeem a company's poison pill.
Mergers/Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings – Funds Management's Proxy Committee will examine these items on a case-by-case basis.
Shareholder Rights – Funds Management will generally vote against proposals that may restrict shareholder rights.
Capital Structure Changes - Funds Management will follow the proxy voting agent's capital structure model in evaluating requested increases in authorized common stock. In addition, even if capital requests of less than or equal to 300% of outstanding shares fail the calculated allowable cap, Funds Management will vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.
Executive and Director Compensation Plans - Funds Management will analyze on a case-by-case basis proposals on executive or director compensation plans, with the view that viable compensation programs reward the creation of shareholder wealth by having high payout sensitivity to increases in shareholder value.
Disclosure on Executive or Director Compensation Cap or Restrict Executive or Director Compensation - Funds Management will generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring companies to report on their executive retirement benefits (deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, SERPs, and pension benefits. Funds Management will generally vote for shareholder proposals requesting to put extraordinary benefits contained in SERP agreements to a shareholder vote, unless the company's executive pension plans do not contain excessive benefits beyond what is offered under employee-wide plans. Funds Management will generally vote against proposals that seek to limit executive and director pay.
In all cases where the Proxy Committee makes the decision regarding how a particular proxy should be voted, the Proxy Committee
exercises its voting discretion in accordance with the voting philosophy of the Funds and in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
In deciding how to vote, the Proxy Committee may rely on independent research, input and recommendations from third parties
including independent proxy services, other independent sources, sub-advisers, company managements and shareholder groups
as part of its decision-making process.
In most cases, any potential conflicts of interest involving Funds Management or any affiliate regarding a proxy are avoided
through the strict and objective application of the Fund's voting guidelines. However, when the Proxy Committee is aware of
a material conflict of interest regarding a matter that would otherwise be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Proxy
Committee, the Proxy Committee shall address the material conflict by using any of the following methods: (i) instructing
the proxy voting agent to vote in accordance with the recommendation it makes to its clients; (ii) disclosing the conflict
to the Board and obtaining their consent before voting; (iii) submitting the matter to the Board to exercise its authority
to vote on such matter; (iv) engaging an independent fiduciary who will direct the Proxy Committee on voting instructions
for the proxy; (v) consulting with outside legal counsel for guidance on resolution of the conflict of interest; (vi) erecting
information barriers around the person or persons making voting decisions; (vii) voting in proportion to other shareholders;
or (viii) voting in other ways that are consistent with each Fund's obligation to vote in the best interests of its shareholders.
Additionally, the Proxy Committee does not permit its votes to be influenced by any conflict of interest that exists for any
other affiliated person of the Funds (such as a subadviser or principal underwriter) and the Proxy Committee votes all such
matters without regard to the conflict. The Proxy Voting Procedures may reflect voting positions that differ from practices
followed by other companies or subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company.
While Funds Management uses its best efforts to vote proxies, in certain circumstances it may be impractical or impossible
for Funds Management to vote proxies (e.g., limited value or unjustifiable costs). For example, in accordance with local law
or business practices, many foreign companies prevent the sales of shares that have been voted for a certain period beginning
prior to the shareholder meeting and ending on the day following the meeting ("share blocking"). Due to these restrictions,
Funds Management must balance the benefits to its clients of voting proxies against the potentially serious portfolio management
consequences of a reduced flexibility to sell the underlying shares at the most advantageous time. As a result, Funds Management
will generally not vote those proxies in the absence of an unusual, significant vote or compelling economic importance. Additionally,
Funds Management may not be able to vote proxies for certain foreign securities if Funds Management does not receive the proxy
statement in time to vote the proxies due to custodial processing delays.
As a general matter, securities on loan will not be recalled to facilitate proxy voting (in which case the borrower of the
security shall be entitled to vote the proxy). However, if the Proxy Committee is aware of an item in time to recall the security
and has determined in good faith that the importance of the matter to be voted upon outweighs the loss in lending revenue
that would result from recalling the security (i.e., if there is a controversial upcoming merger or acquisition, or some other
significant matter), the security will be recalled for voting.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent 12-month period
ended June 30 may be obtained on the Funds' Web site at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com or by accessing the SEC's Web site at
sec.gov.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF FUND PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
I. Scope of Policies and Procedures. The following policies and procedures (the "Portfolio Holdings Procedures") govern the disclosure of portfolio holdings and any ongoing arrangements to make available information about portfolio holdings for the separate series of Wells Fargo Funds Trust ("Funds Trust"), Wells Fargo Master Trust ("Master Trust"), Wells Fargo Variable Trust ("Variable Trust") and Asset Allocation Trust (each of Funds Trust, Master Trust, Variable Trust and Asset Allocation Trust referred to collectively herein in the Portfolio Holdings Procedures as the "Funds" or individually as the "Fund") now existing or hereafter created.
II. Disclosure Philosophy. The Funds have adopted these Portfolio Holdings Procedures to ensure that the disclosure of a Fund's portfolio holdings is accomplished in a manner that is consistent with a Fund's fiduciary duty to its shareholders. For purposes of these Portfolio Holdings Procedures, the term "portfolio holdings" means the stock, bonds and derivative positions held by a non-money market Fund and does not include the cash investments held by the Fund. For money market funds, the term "portfolio holdings" includes cash investments, such as investments in repurchase agreements.
Under no circumstances shall Funds Management or the Funds receive any compensation in return for the disclosure of information about a Fund's portfolio securities or for any ongoing arrangements to make available information about a Fund's portfolio securities.
III. Disclosure of Fund Portfolio Holdings. The complete portfolio holdings and top ten holdings information referenced below (except for the Funds of Master Trust, Variable Trust and Asset Allocation Trust) will be available on the Funds' website until updated for the next applicable period. Funds Management may withhold any portion of a Fund's portfolio holdings from online disclosure when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund. Once holdings information has been posted on the website, it may be further disseminated without restriction.
A. Complete Holdings. The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund (except for money market funds and funds that operate as fund of funds) shall be made publicly available monthly on the Funds' website (wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds), on a one-month delayed basis. Money market Fund portfolio holdings shall be made publicly available on the Fund's website, on a 1-day delayed basis. In addition to the foregoing, each money market Fund shall post on its website, for a period of not less than six months, beginning no later than the fifth business day of the month, a schedule of its investments, as of the last business day of the prior month, that includes the following information required by rule 2a-7(c)(12) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The categories of information included on the website may differ slightly from what is included in the Funds' Statement of Investments.
B. Top Ten Holdings. Top ten holdings information (excluding derivative positions) for each Fund (except for money market funds) shall be made publicly available on the Funds' website on a monthly, seven-day or more delayed basis.
C. Fund of Funds Structures.
1. The underlying funds held by a Fund that operates as a fund of funds and invests exclusively in unaffiliated underlying
funds or exclusively in a combination of affiliated and unaffiliated underlying funds (in both cases, an "unaffiliated fund
of funds") shall be posted to the Funds' website on a monthly, one-month delayed basis.
2. The individual holdings of the underlying funds held by a Fund that operates as a fund of funds and invests exclusively
in affiliated underlying funds (an "affiliated fund of funds") shall be posted to the Funds' website on a monthly, one-month
delayed basis.
3. A change to the underlying funds held by an affiliated or unaffiliated fund of funds or changes in an affiliated or unaffiliated
fund of funds' target allocations between or among its fixed-income and/or equity investments may be posted to the Funds'
website simultaneous with the occurrence of the change.
Furthermore, as required by the SEC each Fund shall file its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings made with the SEC on a quarterly basis. Each Fund is required to file its complete portfolio schedules for the second and fourth fiscal quarter on Form N-CSR, and each Fund is required to file its complete portfolio schedules for the first and third fiscal quarters on From N-Q, in each instance within 60 days of the end of the Fund's fiscal quarter. Through Form N-CSR and Form N-Q filings made with the SEC, the Funds' full portfolio holdings will be publicly available to shareholders on a quarterly basis. Such filings shall be made on or shortly before the 60th day following the end of a fiscal quarter. In addition, each money market Fund is required to file with the SEC by the fifth business day of each month, a report on Form N-MFP of portfolio holdings that is current as of the last business day of the previous month; the SEC makes each Form N-MFP publicly available on a delayed basis (presently 60 days after the end of the month to which the information in the report relates).
Each Fund's complete portfolio schedules for the second and fourth fiscal quarter, required to be filed on Form N-CSR, shall be delivered to shareholders in the Fund's semi-annual and annual reports. Each Fund's complete portfolio schedule for the first and third fiscal quarters, required to be filed on Form N-Q, will not be delivered to shareholders. Each Fund, however, shall include appropriate disclosure in its semi-annual and annual reports as to how a shareholder may obtain holdings information for the Fund's first and third fiscal quarters.
IV. List of Approved Recipients. The following list describes the limited circumstances in which a Fund's portfolio holdings may be disclosed to selected third parties in advance of the monthly release on the Funds' website. In each instance, a determination will be made by Funds Management that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipients, where feasible, are subject to an independent duty not to disclose or trade on the nonpublic information.
A. Sub-Advisers. Sub-advisers shall have full daily access to fund holdings for the Fund(s) for which they have direct management responsibility. Sub-advisers may also release and discuss portfolio holdings with various broker/dealers for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability/demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the purpose of assisting portfolio managers in the trading of such securities. A new Fund sub-adviser may periodically receive full portfolio holdings information for such Fund from the date of Board approval through the date upon which they take over day-to-day investment management activities. Such disclosure will be subject to confidential treatment.
B. Money Market Portfolio Management Team. The money market portfolio management team at Wells Capital Management Incorporated ("Wells Capital Management") shall have full daily access to daily transaction information across the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds for purposes of anticipating money market sweep activity which in turn helps to enhance liquidity management within the money market funds.
C. Funds Management/Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC.
1. Funds Management personnel that deal directly with the processing, settlement, review, control, auditing, reporting, and/
or valuation of portfolio trades shall have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings through access to PNC's Datapath
system.
2. Funds Management personnel that deal directly with investment review and analysis of the Funds shall have full daily access
to Fund portfolio holdings through Factset, a program that is used to, among other things, evaluate portfolio characteristics
against available benchmarks.
3. Funds Management and Funds Distributor personnel may be given advance disclosure of any changes to the underlying funds
in a fund of funds structure or changes in a Fund's target allocations that result in a shift between or among its fixed-income
and/or equity investments.
D. External Servicing Agents. Appropriate personnel employed by entities that assist in the review and/or processing of Fund portfolio transactions, employed by the fund accounting agent, the custodian and the trading settlement desk at Wells Capital Management (only with respect to the Funds that Wells Capital Management sub-advises), shall have daily access to all Fund portfolio holdings. In addition, certain of the sub-advisers utilize the services of software provider Advent to assist with portfolio accounting and trade order management. In order to provide the contracted services to the sub-adviser, Advent may receive full daily portfolio holdings information directly from the Funds' accounting agent however, only for those Funds in which such subadviser provides advisory services. Funds Management also utilizes the services of Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") to assist with proxy voting. ISS may receive full Fund portfolio holdings on a weekly basis for the Funds for which it provides services.
E. Rating Agencies. Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations ("NRSROs") may receive full Fund holdings for rating purposes.
F. Reorganizations. Entities hired as trading advisors that assist with the analysis and trading associated with transitioning portfolios may receive full portfolio holdings of both the target fund and the acquiring fund. In addition, the portfolio managers of the target fund and acquiring fund may receive full portfolio holdings of the acquiring fund and target fund, respectively, in order to assist with aligning the portfolios prior to the closing date of the reorganization.
G. Investment Company Institute. The Investment Company Institute may receive information about full money market Fund holdings concurrently at the time each money market Fund files with the SEC a report on Form N-MFP.
V. Additions to List of Approved Recipients. Any additions to the list of approved recipients requires approval by the President and Chief Legal Officer of the Funds based on a review of: (i) the type of fund involved; (ii) the purpose for receiving the holdings information; (iii) the intended use of the information; (iv) the frequency of the information to be provided; (v) the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information will be disclosed; (vi) the proposed recipient's relationship to the Funds; (vii) the ability of Funds Management to monitor that such information will be used by the proposed recipient in accordance with the stated purpose for the disclosure; (viii) whether a confidentiality agreement will be in place with such proposed recipient; and (ix) whether any potential conflicts exist regarding such disclosure between the interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund's adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund.
VI. Funds Management Commentaries. Funds Management may disclose any views, opinions, judgments, advice or commentary, or any analytical, statistical, performance or other information in connection with or relating to a Fund or its portfolio holdings (including historical holdings information), or any changes to the portfolio holdings of a Fund. The portfolio commentary and statistical information may be provided to members of the press, shareholders in the Funds, persons considering investment in the Funds or representatives of such shareholders or potential shareholders. The content and nature of the information provided to each of these persons may differ.
Certain of the information described above will be included in periodic fund commentaries (e.g. quarterly, monthly, etc.) and will contain information that includes, among other things, top contributors/detractors from fund performance and significant portfolio changes during the relevant period (e.g. calendar quarter, month, etc.). This information will be posted contemporaneously with their distribution on the Funds' website.
No person shall receive any of the information described above if, in the sole judgment of Funds Management, the information could be used in a manner that would be harmful to the Funds.
VII. Board Approval. The Board shall review and reapprove these Portfolio Holdings Procedures, including the list of approved recipients, as often as they deem appropriate, but not less often than annually, and make any changes that they deem appropriate.
VIII. Education Component. In order to promote strict compliance with these Portfolio Holdings Procedures, Funds Management has informed its employees, and other parties possessing Fund portfolio holdings information (such as sub-advisers, the fund accounting agent and the custodian), of the limited circumstances in which the Funds' portfolio holdings may be disclosed in advance of the monthly disclosure on the Funds' website and the ramifications, including possible dismissal, if disclosure is made in contravention of these Portfolio Holdings Procedures.
CAPITAL STOCK
The Fund is one series of the Trust in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 10, 1999.
Most of the Trust's series are authorized to issue multiple classes of shares, one class generally subject to a front-end sales charge and, in some cases, classes subject to a CDSC, that are offered to retail investors. Certain of the Trust's series also are authorized to issue other classes of shares, which are sold primarily to institutional investors. Each share in a series represents an equal, proportionate interest in the series with all other shares. Shareholders bear their pro rata portion of a series' operating expenses, except for certain class-specific expenses (e.g., any state securities registration fees, shareholder servicing fees or distribution fees that may be paid under Rule 12b-1) that are allocated to a particular class. Please contact Investor Services at 1-800-222-8222 if you would like additional information about other series or classes of shares offered.
With respect to matters affecting one class but not another, shareholders vote as a class; for example, the approval of a Plan. Subject to the foregoing, all shares of a Fund have equal voting rights and will be voted in the aggregate, and not by series, except where voting by a series is required by law or where the matter involved only affects one series. For example, a change in a Fund's fundamental investment policy affects only one series and would be voted upon only by shareholders of the Fund involved. Additionally, approval of an advisory agreement, since it affects only one Fund, is a matter to be determined separately by each series. Approval by the shareholders of one series is effective as to that series whether or not sufficient votes are received from the shareholders of the other series to approve the proposal as to those series.
As used in the Prospectus(es) and in this SAI, the term "majority," when referring to approvals to be obtained from shareholders of a class of shares of a Fund means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the class represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the class are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the class of the Fund. The term "majority," when referring to approvals to be obtained from shareholders of the Fund, means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The term "majority," when referring to the approvals to be obtained from shareholders of the Trust as a whole, means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the Trust's shares represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the Trust's outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Trust's outstanding shares.
Shareholders are not entitled to any preemptive rights. All shares are issued in uncertificated form only, and, when issued will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust. The Trust may dispense with an annual meeting of shareholders in any year in which it is not required to elect Trustees under the 1940 Act.
Each share of a class of the Fund represents an equal proportional interest in the Fund with each other share of the same class and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to the Fund as are declared in the discretion of the Trustees. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, shareholders of a Fund are entitled to receive the assets attributable to that Fund that are available for distribution, and a distribution of any general assets not attributable to a particular Fund that are available for distribution in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine.
Since the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this SAI, information relating to beneficial ownership of the Fund is not available.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, any person who owns directly or through one or more controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company is presumed to "control" such company. A controlling person's vote could have a more significant effect on matters presented to shareholders for approval than the vote of other Fund shareholders.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Trust's Registration Statement, including the Prospectus(es) and SAI for the Fund and the exhibits filed therewith, may be examined at the office of the SEC, located at 100 "F" Street NE, in Washington, D.C., 20549-0102. Statements contained in the Prospectus(es) or the SAI as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to herein or in the Prospectus(es) are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. KPMG LLP provides audit services, tax return preparation and assistance and consultation in connection with review of certain SEC filings. KPMG LLP's address is Two Financial Center, 60 South Street, Boston, MA 02111.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Since the Fund commenced operations on or around the date of this SAI, financial highlights are not available for the Fund.
CREDIT RATINGS
The ratings of Standard & Poor's ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Services ("Moody's"), Fitch Investor Services ("Fitch"), represent their opinion as to the quality of debt securities. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality, and debt securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields while debt securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield. Subsequent to purchase by the Funds, an issue of debt securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Funds. The adviser will consider such an event in determining whether the Fund involved should continue to hold the obligation.
The following is a description of the ratings given by S&P, Fitch, and Moody's to corporate and municipal bonds and corporate and municipal commercial paper and variable rate demand obligations.
Corporate Bonds
S&P
S&P rates the long-term debt obligations issued by various entities in categories ranging from "AAA" to "D," according to quality, as described below. The first four ratings denote investment-grade securities. The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
AA - Debt rated AA is considered to have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from AAA issues only in a small degree.
A - Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
BBB - Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than for those in higher-rated categories.
BB - Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
B - Debt rated B has greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC - Debt CCC is currently vulnerable and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely interest and principal payments.
CC - Debt rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. Debt rated CC is subordinate to senior debt rated CCC.
C - Debt rated C is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. Debt rated C is subordinate to senior debt rated CCC-. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. Debt rated C also will be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.
D - Debt rated D is currently in default, where payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
Moody's
Moody's rates the long-term debt obligations issued by various entities in categories ranging from "Aaa" to "C," according to quality, as described below. The first four denote investment-grade securities.
Aaa - Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk, and interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa - Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group, such bonds comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A - Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered upper to medium investment-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa - Bonds rated Baa are considered medium-grade (and still investment-grade) obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba - Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not as well safeguarded during both good times and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B - Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of a desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa - Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. Issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca - Bonds rated Ca are speculative in a high degree. Such bonds are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C - Bonds rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds. Such bonds can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers (1, 2 and 3) to rating categories. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond being rated ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the bond ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. With regard to municipal bonds, those bonds in the Aa, A and Baa groups which Moody's believes possess the strongest investment attributes are designated by the symbols Aal, A1 or Baal, respectively.
Fitch
National Long-Term Credit Ratings. A special identifier for the country concerned will be added at the end of all national ratings. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used, below.
AAA(xxx) - 'AAA' national ratings denote the highest rating assigned in its national rating scale for that country. This rating is assigned to the "best" credit risk relative to all other issuers or issues in the same country and will normally be assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state.
AA(xxx) - 'AA' national ratings denote a very strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. The credit risk inherent in these financial commitments differs only slightly from the country's highest rated issuers or issues.
A(xxx) - 'A' national ratings denote a strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment of these financial commitments to a greater degree than for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.
BBB(xxx) - 'BBB' national ratings denote an adequate credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions are more likely to affect the capacity for timely repayment.
BB(xxx) - 'BB' national ratings denote a fairly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Within the context of the country, payment of these financial commitments is uncertain to dome degree and capacity for timely repayment remains more vulnerable to adverse economic change over time.
B(xxx) - 'B' national ratings denote a significantly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Financial commitments are currently being met but a limited margin of safety remains and capacity for continued timely payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC(xxx), CC(xxx), C(xxx) - These categories of national ratings denote an extremely weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments.
DDD(xxx), DD(xxx), D(xxx) - These categories of national ratings are assigned to entities or financial commitments which are currently in default.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (including Commercial Paper)
S&P:
A-1 - Debt rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 - Debt rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3 - Debt rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B - Debt rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
C - Debt rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D - Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Moody's:
Prime-1: Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Prime-2: Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay senior short-term debt obligations, but earnings trends, while sound, will be subject to more variation.
Prime-3: Issuers rated Prime-3 have acceptable credit quality and an adequate capacity for timely payment of shortterm deposit obligations.
Not Prime: Issuers rated Not Prime have questionable to poor credit quality and an uncertain capacity for timely payment of short-term deposit obligations.
Fitch
National Short -Term Credit Ratings. A special identifier for the country concerned will be added at the end of all national ratings. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used, below.
F1(xxx) - Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Under their national rating scale, this rating is assigned to the"best" credit risk relative to all others in the same country and is normally assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state. Where the credit risk is particularly strong , a "+" is added to the assigned rating.
F2(xxx) - Indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3(xxx) - Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. However, such capacity is more susceptible to near-term adverse changes than for financial commitments in higher rated categories.
B(xxx) - Indicates an uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Such capacity is highly susceptible to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C(xxx) - Indicates a highly uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country. Capacity or meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
D(xxx) - Indicates actual or imminent payment default.
Note to National Short-Term ratings: In certain countries, regulators have established credit rating scales, to be used within their domestic markets, using specific nomenclature. In these countries, our National Short-Term Ratings definitions for F1+(xxx), F1(xxx), F2(xxx) and F3(xxx) may be substituted by those regulatory scales, e.g. A1+, A1, A2 and A3.
Variable Rate Demand Obligations
S&P:
SP-1 - Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 - Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 - Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Moody's:
VMIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST
FILE NOS. 333-74295; 811-09253
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
Unless otherwise indicated, each of the Exhibits listed below is filed herewith.
|
Number |
Exhibit Description |
Location |
|
(a) |
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 274, filed December 26, 2012. |
|
(b) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(c) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(d)(1) |
Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012; Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 343, filed April 24, 2014. |
|
(d)(2) |
Investment Management Agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (Absolute Return Fund) |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 235, filed February 29, 2012; Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 343, filed April 24, 2014. |
|
(d)(3) |
Amended and Restated Fee and Expense Agreement between Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 136, filed April 30, 2009; Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 343, filed April 24, 2014. |
|
(d)(4) |
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20, filed May 1, 2001; Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83, filed April 11, 2005. |
|
(d)(5) |
Amended and Restated Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Wells Capital Management Incorporated |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012; Appendix A and Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 310 filed on September 24, 2013. |
|
(d)(6) |
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with RCM Capital Management LLC (formerly Dresdner RCM Global Investors, LLC) and Novation of Sub-Advisory Agreement substituting Allianz Global Investors, U.S. LLC for RCM Capital Management LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, filed February 8, 2002; Appendix A and Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 307, filed July 26, 2013; Novation of Sub-Advisory Agreement, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 307, filed July 26, 2013. |
|
(d)(7) |
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Global Index Advisors, Inc. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93, filed June 26, 2006. Appendix A and Appendix B, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 194, filed April 1, 2011. |
|
(d)(8) |
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with LSV Asset Management |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 147, filed January 28, 2010; Appendix A and Appendix B, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 156, filed April 30, 2010. |
|
(d)(9) |
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Cooke & Bieler, L.P. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74, filed July 26, 2004; Appendix A and Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295, filed April 23, 2013. |
|
(d)(10) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Phocas Financial Corporation |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 122, filed March 21, 2008. |
|
(d)(11) |
Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement with First International Advisors, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012. |
|
(d)(12) |
Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement with Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012. |
|
(d)(13) |
Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement with Golden Capital Management, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012. |
|
(d)(14) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Crow Point Partners, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 169, filed July 16, 2010. |
|
(d)(15) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Artisan Partners, LP |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(16) |
Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. d/b/a Wells Capital Management Singapore |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012. |
|
(d)(17) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with The Rock Creek Group, LP |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(18) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Chilton Investment Company, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(19) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Mellon Capital Management Corporation |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(20) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Passport Capital, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(21) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with River Canyon Fund Management LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(22) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Sirios Capital Management, L.P. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(23) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(d)(24) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement with Pine River Capital Management L.P. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(e) |
Distribution Agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(f) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(g)(1) |
Securities Lending Agency Agreement by and among Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Goldman Sachs Bank USA |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 163, filed June 28, 2010; Fifth Amendment incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174, filed October 27, 2010; Schedule 2, First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Sixth Amendment incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177, filed January 28, 2011; Seventh Amendment, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 200, filed June 24, 2011; Eighth Amendment incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 filed March 16, 2012; Ninth Amendment incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 274, filed December 26, 2012; Tenth Amendment, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295, filed April 23, 2013; Eleventh Amendment, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 310 filed on September 24, 2013. Appendix A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 310 filed on September 24, 2013. |
|
(g)(2) |
Master Custodian Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 139, filed September 28, 2009; Appendix A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 324, filed December 24, 2013. |
|
(h)(1) |
Administration Agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65, filed August 15, 2003; Schedule A and Appendix A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 324, filed December 24, 2013. |
|
(h)(2) |
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 92, filed May 1, 2006; Schedule A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 324, filed December 24, 2013. |
|
(h)(3) |
Shareholder Servicing Plan |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(h)(4) |
Administrative and Shareholder Servicing Agreement, Form of Agreement |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(i) |
Legal Opinion |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(j)(A) |
Consent of Independent Auditors |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(j)(1) |
Power of Attorney, Peter G. Gordon |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(2) |
Power of Attorney, Timothy J. Penny |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(3) |
Power of Attorney, Donald C. Willeke |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(4) |
Power of Attorney, Karla M. Rabusch |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72, filed June 30, 2004. |
|
(j)(5) |
Power of Attorney, Olivia S. Mitchell |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(6) |
Power of Attorney, Judith M. Johnson |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(7) |
Power of Attorney, Isaiah Harris, Jr. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(8) |
Power of Attorney, David F. Larcker |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(9) |
Power of Attorney, Michael S. Scofield |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(10) |
Power of Attorney, Leroy J. Keith, Jr. |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172, filed September 28, 2010. |
|
(j)(11) |
Power of Attorney, Nancy Wiser |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 254, filed September 4, 2012. |
|
(j)(12) |
Power of Attorney, Jeremy DePalma |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 266, filed November 16, 2012. |
|
(k) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(l) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(m) |
Distribution Plan |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(n) |
Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 255, filed September 12, 2012; Appendix A, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 324, filed December 24, 2013. |
|
(o) |
Not applicable |
|
|
(p)(1) |
Joint Code of Ethics for Asset Allocation Trust, Wells Fargo Advantage Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Multi-Sector Income Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Utilities & High Income Fund, Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, and Wells Fargo Variable Trust |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(2) |
Joint Code of Ethics for Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(3) |
Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC (formerly RCM Capital Management, LLC) Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(4) |
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 320, filed November 22, 2013. |
|
(p)(5) |
Joint Code of Ethics of Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Bank N.A. d/b/a Wells Capital Management Singapore |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 255, filed September 12, 2012. |
|
(p)(6) |
LSV Asset Management Code of Ethics and Personal Trading Policy |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(7) |
Cooke & Bieler, L.P. Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(p)(8) |
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 310 filed on September 24, 2013. |
|
(p)(9) |
Global Index Advisors, Inc. Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 200, filed June 24, 2011. |
|
(p)(10) |
Phocas Financial Corporation, Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(11) |
First International Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 200, filed June 24, 2011. |
|
(p)(12) |
Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 304, filed June 26, 2013. |
|
(p)(13) |
Golden Capital Management, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 274, filed December 26, 2012. |
|
(p)(14) |
Crow Point Partners, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 200, filed June 24, 2011. |
|
(p)(15) |
The Rock Creek Group, LP Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
|
(p)(16) |
Chilton Investment Company, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(17) |
Mellon Capital Management Corporation Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(18) |
Passport Capital, LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(19) |
River Canyon Fund Management LLC Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(20) |
Sirios Capital Management, L.P. Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(21) |
Wellington Management Company, LLP Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, filed March 28, 2014. |
|
(p)(22) |
Pine River Capital Management L.P. Code of Ethics |
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 335, filed February 25, 2014. |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.
Registrant believes that no person is controlled by or under common control with Registrant.
Item 30. Indemnification.
Article IX of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust limits the liability and, in certain instances, provides for mandatory indemnification of the Registrant's Trustees, officers, employees, agents and holders of beneficial interests in the Trust. In addition, the Trustees are empowered under Article III, Section 1(t) of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust to obtain such insurance policies as they deem necessary.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser.
(a) Effective March 1, 2001, Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC ("Funds Management") assumed investment advisory responsibilities for each of the Funds. For providing these services, Funds Management is entitled to receive fees at the same annual rates as were applicable under the advisory contract with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo Bank"). Funds Management, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, was created to succeed to the mutual fund advisory responsibilities of Wells Fargo Bank in early 2001.
To the knowledge of Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Funds Management is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature, except that they also hold various positions with and engage in business for Wells Fargo Bank.
(b) Global Index Advisors, Inc. ("GIA"), serves as a sub-adviser to various Funds of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the "Trust"). The descriptions of GIA in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of GIA is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(c) Wells Capital Management Incorporated ("Wells Capital Management"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, serves as sub-adviser to various Funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Wells Capital Management in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Wells Capital Management is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(d) Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. ("Schroder"), serves as sub-adviser to various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Schroder in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. Schroder Capital Management International Limited ("Schroder Ltd.") is a United Kingdom affiliate of Schroder which provides investment management services to international clients located principally in the United States. Schroder Ltd. and Schroder p.l.c. are located at 31 Gresham St., London ECZV 7QA, United Kingdom. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Schroder is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(e) Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC ("Allianz") (formerly RCM Capital Management, LLC), serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Allianz in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Allianz is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(f) LSV Asset Management ("LSV") serves as sub-adviser to various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of LSV in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of LSV is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(g) Cooke & Bieler, L.P. ("Cooke & Bieler") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Cooke & Bieler in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Cooke & Bieler is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(h) Artisan Partners Limited Partnership ("Artisan") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Artisan in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Artisan is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(i) Phocas Financial Corporation ("Phocas") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Phocas in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Phocas is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(j) First International Advisors, LLC an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of First International Advisors in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of the sub-adviser is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(k) Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC ("MWCM") an indirect subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, serves as sub-adviser various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of MWCM in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of MWCM is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(l) Golden Capital Management, LLC ("Golden") an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Golden in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Golden is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(m) Crow Point Partners, LLC ("Crow Point") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Crow Point in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Crow Point is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(n) Wells Capital Management Singapore, a separately identifiable division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Wells Capital Management Singapore in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Wells Capital Management Singapore is or has been at any time during the last two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(o) The Rock Creek Group, LP ("Rock Creek") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Rock Creek in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Rock Creek is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(p) Chilton Investment Company, LLC ("Chilton Investment Company") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Chilton Investment Company in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Chilton Investment Company is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(q) Mellon Capital Management Corporation ("Mellon Capital") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Mellon Capital in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Mellon Capital is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(r) Passport Capital, LLC ("Passport Capital") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Passport Capital in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Passport Capital is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(s) River Canyon Fund Management LLC ("River Canyon") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of River Canyon in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of River Canyon is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(t) Sirios Capital Management, L.P. ("Sirios") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Sirios in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Sirios is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(u) Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Wellington Management in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Wellington Management is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
(v) Pine River Capital Management L.P. ("Pine River") serves as sub-adviser for various funds of the Trust. The descriptions of Pine River in Parts A and B of the Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Pine River is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature.
Item 32. Principal Underwriter.
(a) Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, distributor for the Registrant, also acts as principal underwriter for Wells Fargo Variable Trust, and is the exclusive placement agent for Wells Fargo Master Trust, both of which are registered open-end management investment companies.
(b) The following table provides information for each director and officer of Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC.
|
Name |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Fund |
|
Karla M. Rabusch |
Chairman of the Board |
President |
|
Wayne Badorf |
Director, President |
None |
|
A. Erdem Cimen |
Director, Financial Operations Officer (FINOP) |
None |
|
Samuel H. Hom |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer |
|
Andrew Owen |
Director |
None |
|
Debra Ann Early |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Michael H. Koonce |
Secretary |
None |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.
(a) The Registrant maintains accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder (collectively, "Records") at the offices of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(b) Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as investment adviser and administrator at 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(c) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. maintains all Records relating to its services as transfer agent at Two Heritage Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts 02171.
(d) Global Index Advisors, Inc. maintains all Records relating to their services as sub-adviser at 29 North Park Square NE, Suite 201, Marietta, GA 30060.
(e) Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as distributor at 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(f) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (formerly Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.) maintains all Records relating to its services as former custodian at 6th & Marquette, Minneapolis, MN 55479-0040.
(g) Wells Capital Management Incorporated maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 525 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(h) Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 875 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10022.
(i) Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC (formerly RCM Capital Management, LLC) maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 555 Mission Street Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(j) LSV Asset Management maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
(k) Cooke & Bieler, L.P. maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 1700 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
(l) Artisan Partners Limited Partnership maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 875 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
(m) Phocas Financial Corporation maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 980 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 106, Alameda, California 94501.
(n) First International Advisors, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at One Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch, London, England, EC3M 3BD.
(o) Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1000, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
(p) Golden Capital Management, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 5 Resource Square, Suite 150, 10715 David Taylor Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262.
(q) Crow Point Partners, LLC maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 10 The New Driftway, Scituate, Massachusetts 02066.
(r) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. d/b/a Wells Capital Management Singapore maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 26/F, 80 Raffles Place, 20/21, UOB Plaza, Singapore 048624.
(s) Rock Creek maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 1133 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036.
(t) Chilton Investment Company maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 1290 East Main Street, Stamford, CT, 06902.
(u) Mellon Capital maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(v) Passport Capital maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at One Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(w) River Canyon maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
(x) Sirios maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at One International Place, Boston, MA 02110.
(y) Wellington Management maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
(z) State Street Bank and Trust Company maintains all Records relating to its services as custodian and fund accountant at 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
(aa) Pine River Capital Management L.P. maintains all Records relating to its services as investment sub-adviser at 601 Carlson Parkway Suite, 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
Item 34. Management Services.
Other than as set forth under the captions "Organization and Management of the Funds" in the Prospectuses constituting Part A of this Registration Statement and "Management" in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this Registration Statement, the Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.
Item 35. Undertakings.
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized in the City of San Francisco, State of California on the 29th day of April, 2014.
WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST
By: /s/ C. David Messman
--------------------
C. David Messman
Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 344 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
|
/s/ Peter G. Gordon |
/s/ Isaiah Harris, Jr. |
/s/ Judith M. Johnson |
|
/s/ David F. Larcker |
/s/ Olivia S. Mitchell |
/s/ Timothy J. Penny |
|
/s/ Donald C. Willeke |
/s/ Michael S. Scofield |
/s/ Leroy J. Keith, Jr. |
|
/s/ Karla M. Rabusch |
/s/ Jeremy M. DePalma |
*By: /s/ C. David Messman
C. David Messman
As Attorney-in-Fact
April 29, 2014
|
Exhibit No. |
Exhibits |
|
N/A |
N/A |