N-CSR 1 d262586dncsr.htm ALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST ANNUAL REPORT ALLIANZ Variable Insurance Products Trust Annual Report

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-09491    

 

 

Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1297

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43219-8000

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 800-624-0197

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2021

 

 

 


Item 1.

Reports to Stockholders.

 


AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 7

Statement of Operations

Page 7

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 8

Financial Highlights

Page 9

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 10

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 17

Other Information

Page 18

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 19

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 22

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund (the “Fund”) returned (1.66)%. That compared to a (0.80)% total return for its benchmark, the FTSE World Government Bond Index, 1-5 Years, Currency Hedged in USD Terms.1

In global developed markets, yield curves were generally upwardly sloped, suggesting positive expected term premiums. Interest rates generally increased during the year. As a result, realized term premiums were generally negative across global developed markets, with longer-term bonds underperforming their shorter-term counterparts. Credit spreads also narrowed during the year, suggesting smaller expected credit premiums. Realized credit premiums, however, were generally positive across global developed markets.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark during the period. In response to upward-sloping yield curves, the Fund increased its duration during the period. This longer duration detracted from relative performance, as interest rates increased during the year and longer-term bonds underperformed shorter-term bonds. The Fund was also underweight euro-denominated bonds relative to the benchmark. This underweight position detracted from the Fund’s relative performance as euro-denominated bonds generally outperformed other foreign counterparts in the benchmark during the period.

The Fund’s average exposure to short-term bonds, specifically during the first half of the year, was above that of its benchmark during the period. This overweight position contributed positively to relative performance, as shorter-term bonds outperformed longer-term bonds during the period. Overweight positions in British pound and Canadian dollar-denominated bonds, which performed well during the period, also contributed positively to the Fund’s performance.

The Fund used currency forward contracts to hedge its foreign currency exposure during the period. Given that the Fund’s benchmark index is also currency hedged, this strategy did not affect the Fund’s relative performance.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide a market rate of return for a fixed income portfolio with low relative volatility of returns, and to seek to focus the eligible universe on securities with relatively less expected upward or downward movement in market value. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement.

Investment Concerns

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021    
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

         (1.66 )%          0.78 %          1.02 %          0.81 %

FTSE World Government Bond Index, 1-5 Years, Currency-Hedged in USD Terms

         (0.80 )%          2.07 %          1.89 %          1.68 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

         0.93 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.95% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the FTSE World Government Bond Index, 1-5 Years, Currency-Hedged in USD Terms, an unmanaged index that is designed to measure the performance of fixed-rate; local currency, investment-grade sovereign bonds, and currently comprises sovereign debt from over 20 countries. This index follows the same inclusion criteria and methodology as the FTSE (Non-USD) World Government Bond Index, which is a market capitalization-weighted index that tracks 10 government bond indexes, excluding the U.S. (“WGBI”), but only includes the securities from the WGBI with a weighted average life of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 5 years. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 984.40     $ 4.15       0.83 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.02     $ 4.23       0.83 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Yankee Debt Obligations

      49.4 %

Foreign Bonds

      19.5

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      17.6

Corporate Bonds

      12.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.7

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      1.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      101.9

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (1.9 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds (12.6%):       
Capital Markets (1.2%):       
$ 2,250,000      National Securities Clearing Corp., 0.75%, 12/7/25, Callable 11/7/25 @ 100^    $ 2,192,449  
  3,000,000      National Securities Clearing Corp., 0.75%, 12/7/25, Callable 11/7/25 @ 100^(a)      2,923,266  
     

 

 

 
        5,115,715  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.3%):       
  5,144,000      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.13%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      5,493,936  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.8%):       
  3,600,000      Walmart, Inc., 1.05%, 9/17/26, Callable 8/17/26 @ 100      3,565,397  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.6%):       
  2,550,000      Nestle Holdings, Inc., 0.63%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100(a)      2,470,427  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.1%):       
  4,827,000      Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 1.00%, 4/23/26      4,778,320  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.8%):       
  7,800,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 1.00%, 5/12/26, Callable 4/12/26 @ 100      7,717,531  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.4%):       
  1,400,000      Visa, Inc., 3.15%, 12/14/25, Callable 9/14/25 @ 100      1,494,018  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.3%):       
  1,000,000      Chevron Corp., 2.95%, 5/16/26, Callable 2/16/26 @ 100      1,058,111  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (2.2%):       
  1,000,000      Johnson & Johnson, 0.55%, 9/1/25, Callable 8/1/25 @ 100      977,573  
  2,200,000      Merck & Co., Inc., 0.75%, 2/24/26, Callable 1/24/26 @ 100^      2,152,152  
  2,000,000      Novartis Capital Corp., 3.00%, 11/20/25, Callable 8/20/25 @ 100      2,115,690  
  1,754,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 0.99%, 3/5/26, Callable 2/5/26 @ 100(a)      1,723,784  
  2,200,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 2.63%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100(a)      2,298,516  
     

 

 

 
        9,267,715  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & (0.4%):       
  2,000,000      Apple, Inc., 2.51%, 8/19/24, Callable 6/19/24 @ 100      1,620,114  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (2.5%):       
  3,376,000      Apple, Inc., 0.70%, 2/8/26, Callable 1/8/26 @ 100      3,298,372  
  6,701,000      Apple, Inc., 3.25%, 2/23/26, Callable 11/23/25 @ 100      7,166,204  
     

 

 

 
        10,464,576  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $53,492,690)

     53,045,860  
     

 

 

 
Foreign Bonds (19.5%):  
(1.7%):  
  4,500,000      New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bond, 2.25%, 4/15/24+      3,081,338  
  500,000      New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bond, 2.75%, 4/15/25+      345,007  
  4,000,000      Queensland Treasury Corp., 3.25%, 7/21/26+(a)      3,132,096  
  500,000      South Australian Government Financing Authority, 3.00%, 7/20/26+      387,686  
     

 

 

 
        6,946,127  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued  
Banks (3.2%):       
$ 3,000,000      Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd., 0.79%(BBSW3M+76bps), 1/16/25, MTN+    $ 2,203,868  
  600,000      Nordic Investment Bank, 3.40%, 2/6/26, MTN+      465,507  
  8,000,000      Royal Bank of Canada, 4.93%, 7/16/25+      7,037,445  
  600,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 1.03%(BBSW3M+100bps), 7/10/24+      442,646  
  2,000,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 1.18%(BBSW3M+114bps), 4/24/24, MTN+      1,481,422  
  2,400,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.13%, 6/4/26, MTN+      1,899,753  
     

 

 

 
        13,530,641  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.3%):       
  1,000,000      Canada Housing Trust NO 1, 1.25%, 6/15/26+(a)      781,831  
  3,500,000      International Finance Corp., 3.20%, 7/22/26, MTN+      2,712,223  
  2,600,000      PSP Capital, Inc., 0.90%, 6/15/26+      1,999,356  
     

 

 

 
        5,493,410  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.5%):       
  9,000,000      European Investment Bank, 0.75%, 9/9/24, MTN+      1,001,206  
  500,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 3.20%, 9/11/26, MTN+      387,857  
  1,100,000      Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, 4.75%, 5/6/26, MTN+      902,358  
     

 

 

 
        2,291,421  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (12.8%):       
  1,000,000      Asian Development Bank, 0.50%, 5/5/26, MTN+      691,372  
  9,000,000      Australia Government Bond, 0.25%, 11/21/25+      6,302,671  
  4,400,000      Australia Government Bond, 4.25%, 4/21/26+      3,598,100  
  1,000,000      Australia Government Bond, 0.50%, 9/21/26+      699,649  
  300,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 2.75%, 10/30/25, MTN+      227,979  
  277,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 4.40%, 1/26/26+      243,752  
  300,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 4.25%, 6/11/26, MTN+      241,962  
  1,000,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 1.00%, 6/29/26+      770,873  
  1,400,000      International Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 0.63%, 1/14/26+      1,068,773  
  2,500,000      International Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 0.50%, 5/18/26, MTN+      1,725,210  
  9,200,000      New South Wales Treasury Corp., 4.00%, 5/20/26+      7,408,062  
  2,000,000      New Zealand Government Bond, 0.50%, 5/15/24+      1,323,244  
  4,450,000      New Zealand Government Bond, 0.50%, 5/15/26+      2,829,936  
  12,000,000      Province of Alberta Canada, 2.20%, 6/1/26+      9,740,038  
  2,000,000      Province of British Columbia Canada, 2.30%, 6/18/26+      1,634,725  
  2,300,000      Province of Manitoba Canada, 2.55%, 6/2/26+      1,893,918  
  2,000,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 2.40%, 6/2/26+      1,637,856  
  2,000,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 1.35%, 9/8/26+      1,559,662  
  7,000,000      Province of Quebec Canada, 2.50%, 9/1/26+      5,770,794  
  1,500,000      Singapore Government Bond, 2.13%, 6/1/26+      1,152,872  
  4,200,000      Treasury Corp. of Victoria, 0.50%, 11/20/25, MTN+      2,948,762  
     

 

 

 
        53,470,210  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bonds (Cost $84,811,644)

     81,731,809  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (49.4%):       
Banks (9.3%):       
  1,000,000      Bank of New Zealand, 1.00%, 3/3/26(a)      972,504  
  2,400,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 1.13%, 6/15/26(a)      2,353,634  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 400,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 1.13%, 4/9/26(a)    $ 394,863  
  3,850,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 1.13%, 4/9/26      3,800,554  
  3,540,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.63%, 1/22/26      3,453,373  
  1,000,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd./New York, 3.38%, 1/14/26      1,076,757  
  3,000,000      Nordea Bank Abp, 0.75%, 8/28/25(a)      2,924,919  
  1,000,000      Nordic Investment Bank, 0.50%, 1/21/26^      969,853  
  2,000,000      Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, 0.38%, 9/17/25      1,938,536  
  2,000,000      Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, 0.50%, 2/2/26, MTN      1,937,706  
  2,000,000      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, 0.85%, 9/2/25(a)      1,956,200  
  7,100,000      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, 1.20%, 9/9/26(a)      6,964,028  
  3,860,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 0.75%, 1/6/26, MTN      3,729,316  
  19,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 1.20%, 6/3/26      18,664  
  1,891,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 2.35%, 2/19/25      1,951,866  
  1,000,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 2.85%, 5/13/26      1,055,113  
  3,490,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 1.15%, 6/3/26      3,434,111  
     

 

 

 
        38,931,997  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.6%):       
  2,681,000      PSP Capital, Inc., 1.00%, 6/29/26(a)      2,630,335  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (20.3%):       
  6,200,000      Agence Francaise de Developpement Epic, 0.63%, 1/22/26, MTN      6,041,528  
  2,894,000      Bng Bank NV, 0.50%, 11/24/25, MTN      2,813,315  
  668,000      Bng Bank NV, 0.88%, 5/18/26, MTN      656,343  
  1,000,000      BNG Bank NV, 2.38%, 3/16/26      1,042,680  
  7,300,000      BNG Bank NV, 0.88%, 5/18/26(a)      7,172,674  
  7,100,000      Caisse d’Amortissement de la Dette Sociale, 0.63%, 2/18/26      6,917,622  
  400,000      Caisse d’Amortissement de la Dette Sociale, 0.63%, 2/18/26(a)      389,725  
  9,650,000      Cppib Capital, Inc., 0.88%, 9/9/26(a)      9,405,546  
  12,177,000      European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 0.50%, 1/28/26^      11,817,462  
  7,413,000      European Investment Bank, 0.38%, 3/26/26      7,141,781  
  2,900,000      Finnvera Oyj, 1.13%, 10/27/26(a)      2,866,131  
  648,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 0.38%, 9/11/25      628,860  
  1,000,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 0.50%, 1/13/26, MTN      971,169  
  4,800,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 1.13%, 10/26/26(a)      4,752,830  
  4,758,000      Kommunekredit, 0.50%, 1/28/26, MTN      4,616,117  
  9,600,000      Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, 0.88%, 3/30/26      9,437,520  
  1,894,000      Nrw Bank, 0.88%, 3/9/26, MTN      1,862,406  
  6,750,000      Ontario Teachers’ Finance Trust, 0.88%, 9/21/26(a)      6,562,742  
  390,000      Shell International Finance BV, 2.88%, 5/10/26      413,975  
     

 

 

 
        85,510,426  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.0%):       
  4,000,000      Equinor ASA, 1.75%, 1/22/26, Callable 12/22/25 @ 100      4,027,116  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (18.2%):       
  6,050,000      African Development Bank, 0.88%, 3/23/26      5,955,426  
  5,400,000      African Development Bank, 0.88%, 7/22/26      5,299,749  
  4,200,000      Asian Development Bank, 0.50%, 2/4/26, MTN      4,078,834  
  7,700,000      Asian Development Bank, 1.00%, 4/14/26      7,621,152  
  7,687,000      Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (The), 0.50%, 1/27/26      7,457,312  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 4,000,000      Canada Government International Bond, 0.75%, 5/19/26    $ 3,908,984  
  9,850,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 0.88%, 4/20/26, MTN      9,689,287  
  489,000      Inter-American Investment Corp., 0.63%, 2/10/26, MTN      475,778  
  4,100,000      Kuntarahoitus OYJ, 0.63%, 3/20/26, MTN      3,987,521  
  7,200,000      Province of British Columbia Canada, 0.90%, 7/20/26      7,055,618  
  3,650,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 0.63%, 1/21/26      3,545,198  
  5,800,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 1.05%, 4/14/26      5,712,049  
  5,200,000      SFIL SA, 0.63%, 2/9/26, MTN      5,055,440  
  6,300,000      State of North Rhine-Westphalia Germany, 1.00%, 4/21/26, MTN      6,222,321  
     

 

 

 
        76,064,669  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $210,477,916)

     207,164,543  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (17.6%):  
U.S. Treasury Notes (17.6%)  
  4,000,000      2.25%, 3/31/26      4,173,750  
  13,750,000      0.75%, 3/31/26      13,494,336  
  16,500,000      0.75%, 4/30/26      16,180,312  
  5,000,000      2.38%, 4/30/26      5,246,875  
  19,000,000      1.63%, 5/15/26      19,329,531  
  15,500,000      0.75%, 5/31/26      15,190,000  
     

 

 

 
        73,614,804  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $74,776,631)

     73,614,804  
     

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.7%):  
  7,029,690      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(b)(c)      7,029,690  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $7,029,690)

     7,029,690  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (1.1%):  
Money Markets (1.1%):  
  4,647,557      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)    $ 4,647,557  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $4,647,557)

     4,647,557  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $435,236,128) — 101.9%(d)

     427,234,263  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (1.9)%

     (8,113,843
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 419,120,420  
     

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

BBSW3M—3 Month Bank Bill Swap Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $6,841,793.

 

+

The principal amount is disclosed in local currency and the fair value is disclosed in U.S. Dollars.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

(Unaudited)

 

Country   Percentage  

Australia

    9.3

Austria

    0.9

Canada

    17.6

Denmark

    1.1

Finland

    2.3

France

    5.3

Germany

    5.2

Netherlands

    2.8

New Zealand

    2.0

Norway

    2.4

Singapore

    0.3

Supernational

    16.3

Sweden

    2.1

United States

    32.4
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts    

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:    

 

Currency Purchased            Currency Sold            Counterparty    Settlement
Date
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Canadian Dollar

     3,512,784      U.S. Dollar      2,735,372      BNY Mellon      1/5/22      $ 41,975  

Canadian Dollar

     30,061,561      U.S. Dollar      23,657,795      HSBC      1/5/22        110,073  

U.S. Dollar

     34,976,652      Canadian Dollar      44,175,340      State Street      1/5/22        49,866  

Canadian Dollar

     9,526,840      U.S. Dollar      7,454,832      State Street      1/5/22        77,468  

U.S. Dollar

     1,214,537      Australian Dollar      1,634,993      HSBC      1/7/22        25,218  

U.S. Dollar

     434,846      Australian Dollar      587,643      State Street      1/7/22        7,385  

U.S. Dollar

     345,822      Australian Dollar      467,175      State Street      1/7/22        5,992  

Norwegian Krone

     1,529,399      U.S. Dollar      170,944      Bank of America      1/20/22        2,733  

Norwegian Krone

     1,950,849      U.S. Dollar      219,620      Barclays Bank      1/20/22        1,915  

Norwegian Krone

     1,042,449      U.S. Dollar      115,882      HSBC      1/20/22        2,497  

U.S. Dollar

     1,598,734      Norwegian Krone      13,402,402      HSBC      1/20/22        76,776  

U.S. Dollar

     809,719      Canadian Dollar      1,002,759      State Street      1/26/22        16,893  

U.S. Dollar

     7,569,938      New Zealand Dollar      11,031,180      Citigroup      2/3/22        20,753  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ 439,544  
                 

 

 

 

Canadian Dollar

     502,452      U.S. Dollar      398,380      Bank of America      1/5/22        (1,121

Canadian Dollar

     571,703      U.S. Dollar      462,221      Bank of America      1/5/22        (10,209

U.S. Dollar

     7,103,477      Canadian Dollar      8,986,318      BNY Mellon      1/26/22        (1,503

U.S. Dollar

     35,523,128      Australian Dollar      49,333,429      BNY Mellon      2/1/22        (365,457

U.S. Dollar

     4,235,724      Canadian Dollar      5,473,877      Bank of America      2/2/22        (92,144

U.S. Dollar

     23,561,644      Canadian Dollar      29,940,801      HSBC      2/9/22        (110,417

U.S. Dollar

     1,140,325      Singapore Dollar      1,560,510      HSBC      3/11/22        (17,503
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (598,354
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

 

               $ (158,810
                 

 

 

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Forward Currency Contracts

 

      Unrealized
Appreciation
   Unrealized
Depreciation

Forward currency contracts

     $ 439,544      $ (598,354 )

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 435,236,128
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 427,234,263

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,416,822

Foreign currency, at value (cost $55,170)

      55,909

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts

      439,544

Receivable for capital shares issued

      1,463

Prepaid expenses

      2,012
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      429,150,013
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts

      598,354

Payable for investments purchased

      2,045,429

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      43

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      7,029,690

Manager fees payable

      178,158

Administration fees payable

      63,822

Distribution fees payable

      89,079

Custodian fees payable

      6,135

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      815

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,275

Trustee fees payable

      4,578

Other accrued liabilities

      12,215
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      10,029,593
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 419,120,420
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 419,958,591

Total distributable earnings

      (838,171 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 419,120,420
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      44,150,014

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 9.49
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $6,841,793.

Statement of Operations    

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021    

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 3,006,524

Dividends

      533

Income from securities lending

      7,815
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      3,014,872
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,534,205

Administration fees

      161,416

Distribution fees

      1,055,914

Custodian fees

      35,297

Administrative and compliance services fees

      4,756

Transfer agent fees

      4,883

Trustee fees

      19,955

Professional fees

      17,559

Shareholder reports

      7,907

Other expenses

      7,362
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,849,254

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (422,362 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      3,426,892
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      (412,020 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      15,598,865

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

      (7,231,926 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      (26,587,759 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

      11,783,062
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      (6,437,758 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (6,849,778 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ (412,020 )     $ (1,349,356 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      8,366,939       (12,673,211 )

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (14,804,697 )       16,558,191
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (6,849,778 )       2,535,624
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

            (9,025,103 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

            (9,025,103 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      27,868,290       65,979,498

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

            9,025,103

Value of shares redeemed

      (12,268,944 )       (92,427,834 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      15,599,346       (17,423,233 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      8,749,568       (23,912,712 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      410,370,852       434,283,564
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 419,120,420     $ 410,370,852
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      2,894,674       6,746,246

Dividends reinvested

            935,244

Shares redeemed

      (1,276,633 )       (9,378,049 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,618,041       (1,696,559 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Amounts shown as “—” are either $0 or rounds to less than $1.    

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 9.65     $ 9.82     $ 10.06     $ 10.00     $ 9.96
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      (0.01 )(a)       (0.03 )(a)       0.01 (a)       0.06       0.11

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.15 )       0.09       0.34       0.06       0.05
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.16 )       0.06       0.35       0.12       0.16
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

            (0.23 )       (0.59 )       (0.06 )       (0.12 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

            (0.23 )       (0.59 )       (0.06 )       (0.12 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 9.49     $ 9.65     $ 9.82     $ 10.06     $ 10.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (1.66 )%       0.57 %       3.50 %       1.17 %       1.57 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 419,120     $ 410,371     $ 434,284     $ 460,894     $ 506,088

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      (0.10 )%       (0.34 )%       0.12 %       0.45 %       1.11 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.91 %       0.93 %       0.92 %       0.91 %       0.90 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.81 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %       0.80 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      122 %       62 %       35 %       69 %       83 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Foreign Currency Translation

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 3313% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral

 

10


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $777 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $7,029,690 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Forward Currency Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund entered into forward currency contracts in connections with planned purchases or sales of securities or to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in a particular currency. In addition to the foreign currency risk related to the use of these contracts, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In the event of default by the counterparty to the transaction, the Fund’s maximum amount of loss, as either the buyer or the seller, is the unrealized appreciation of the contract. The forward currency contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any gains or losses are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gains or losses until the contract settlement date. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $35.8 million and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $199.9 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts   $ 439,544   Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts   $ 598,354

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts/
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts
   $ (7,231,926 )    $ 11,783,062

The Fund is generally subject to master netting agreements that allow for amounts owed between the Fund and the counterparty to be netted. The party that has the larger payable pays the excess of the larger amount over the smaller amount to the other party. The master netting agreements do not apply to amounts owed to/from different counterparties. The amounts shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities do not take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements. The table below presents the gross and net amounts of these assets and liabilities with any offsets to reflect the Fund’s ability to transact net amounts in accordance with the master netting agreements at December 31, 2021. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. This table also summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021.

 

11


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Forward currency contracts

       $ 439,544        $ 598,354
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

         439,544          598,354

Derivatives not subject to a master netting agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

                 
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $ 439,544        $ 598,354
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty    Derivative Assets
Subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
   Non-cash
Collateral
Received*
   Cash
Collateral
Received*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets

Bank of America

     $ 2,733      $ (2,733 )      $      $      $

Barclays

       1,915                             1,915

BNY Mellon

       41,975        (41,975 )                     

Citigroup

       20,753                             20,753

HSBC

       214,564        (127,920 )                      86,644

State Street

       157,604                             157,604
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 439,544      $ (172,628 )      $      $      $ 266,916
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty    Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
   Non-cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities

Bank of America

     $ 103,474      $ (2,733 )      $      $      $ 100,741

BNY Mellon

       366,960        (41,975 )                      324,985

HSBC

       127,920        (127,920 )                     
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 598,354      $ (172,628 )      $      $      $ 425,726
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

The actual collateral received or pledged may be in excess of the amounts shown in the table. The table only reflects collateral amounts up to the amount of the financial instrument disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”), DFA provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

         0.60 %          0.95 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.50% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

 

12


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Forward currency contracts are generally valued at the forward foreign currency exchange rate as of the close of the NYSE and are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

13


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Corporate Bonds+

       $        $ 53,045,860        $        $ 53,045,860

Foreign Bonds+

                  81,731,809                   81,731,809

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  207,164,543                   207,164,543

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  73,614,804                   73,614,804

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         7,029,690                            7,029,690

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         4,647,557                            4,647,557
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         11,677,247          415,557,016                   427,234,263
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Forward Currency Contracts

                  (158,810 )                   (158,810 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 11,677,247        $ 415,398,206        $        $ 427,075,453
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as forward currency contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at the unrealized gain or loss on the investment.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 575,395,048        $ 482,100,190

For the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 186,635,519        $ 111,637,647

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business

 

14


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $435,242,727. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 172,673  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (8,181,137
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (8,008,464
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund had capital loss carry forwards (“CLCFs”) as summarized in the table below. The Board does not intend to authorize a distribution of any realized gain for the Fund until any applicable CLCF has been offset.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund utilized $1,035,176 in CLCFs to offset capital gains.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

       

Short-Term

Amount

    

Long-Term

Amount

    

Total

Amount

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 1,403,790        $ 5,911,737        $ 7,315,527

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ –          $ –          $ –  

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 9,025,103        $ –          $ 9,025,103

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

       

Undistributed

Ordinary

Income

    

Undistributed

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Accumulated

Capital and

Other Losses

    

Unrealized

Appreciation/

Depreciation(a)

    

Total

Accumulated

Earnings/

(Deficit)

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 14,502,306        $ –          $ (7,315,527 )        $ (8,024,950 )        $ (838,171 )

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, and other miscellaneous differences.

 

15


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 85% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

16


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

17


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

18


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

19


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

20


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

21


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM
Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen
for the
AIM
Complex
  Other
Directorships
Held Outside the
AIM Complex
During Past
5 Years
Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07  

Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd.,

2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present

  46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee
  Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM
Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen
for the
AIM
Complex
  Other
Directorships
Held Outside the
AIM Complex
During Past
5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

22


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM
Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

23


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 35

Statement of Operations

Page 35

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 36

Financial Highlights

Page 37

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 38

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 43

Other Information

Page 44

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 45

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 48

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”) returned 13.05%. That compared to an 11.78% and 13.17% total return for its benchmarks, the MSCI EAFE Index and the MSCI World Ex-USA Index, respectively, each gross of withholding taxes.1

Developed market equities outside the United States posted positive performance for the year and outperformed emerging markets while trailing U.S. markets. While most currencies in developed markets depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar, there were exceptions — such as the Israeli shekel and Canadian dollar — which appreciated relative to the U.S. dollar. Overall, these currency movements had a negative impact on the Fund’s relative returns in U.S. dollar-denominated terms.

Within the developed ex-U.S. equity universe, small-cap stocks underperformed large-cap stocks, and mid-cap stocks underperformed both small-cap and large-cap stocks. Value stocks outperformed growth stocks across all market cap sizes.

The Fund’s emphasis on value stocks contributed positively to relative performance. Compared to the MSCI EAFE Index, the portfolio’s inclusion of Canadian stocks benefited relative results, as these stocks generally performed well during the period.

At the global level, the Fund’s performance was largely in line with the MSCI World ex-USA Index.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmarks please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

Value-based investments are subject to the risk that the broad market may not recognize their intrinsic value.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund

         13.05 %          13.54 %          8.73 %          5.34 %

MSCI EAFE Index (gross of withholding taxes)

         11.78 %          14.08 %          10.07 %          5.96 %

MSCI EAFE Index (net of withholding taxes)

         11.26 %          13.54 %          9.55 %          5.46 %

MSCI World Ex-USA Index (gross of withholding taxes)

         13.17 %          14.64 %          10.18 %          6.09 %

MSCI World Ex-USA Index (net of withholding taxes)

         12.62 %          14.07 %          9.63 %          5.56 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund

         1.34 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.75% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 1.39% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Morgan Stanley Capital International, Europe, Australasia and Far East (“MSCI EAFE”) Index and the Morgan Stanley Capital International World Ex-USA (“MSCI World Ex-USA”) Index. The MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada. The MSCI World Ex-USA Index captures a large- and mid-capitalization representation across 22 of 23 developed markets countries, excluding the United States. The Indexes are unmanaged and do not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Index noted as “gross of withholding taxes” reflects the maximum possible reinvestment of dividends with no adjustment for withholding tax deductions or tax credits. The Index noted as “net of withholding taxes” reflects the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indexes) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,014.90     $ 5.79       1.14 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.46     $ 5.80       1.14 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Industrials

      19.6 %

Financials

      15.7

Consumer Discretionary

      13.4

Materials

      11.5

Consumer Staples

      7.8

Health Care

      7.6

Information Technology

      7.4

Communication Services

      5.7

Energy

      4.8

Utilities

      3.4

Real Estate

      2.4
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.3

Warrants

        
   

Rights

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.4

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.2
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      99.9

Net other assets (liabilities)

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.0%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.8%):       
  3,860      Airbus SE*    $ 492,930  
  512      Avon Rubber plc      7,771  
  48,629      BAE Systems plc      362,285  
  26,524      Bombardier, Inc., Class B*      35,231  
  1,189      CAE, Inc.*      29,998  
  3,081      Chemring Group plc      12,349  
  350      Dassault Aviation SA      37,815  
  223      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      38,654  
  89      Facc AG*      714  
  1,604      Kongsberg Gruppen ASA      52,077  
  9,452      Leonardo SpA*      67,440  
  1,132      LISI      36,541  
  19,535      Meggitt plc*      195,166  
  489      MTU Aero Engines AG      99,412  
  19,005      QinetiQ Group plc      68,395  
  84,719      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      141,266  
  2,553      Saab AB      64,946  
  527      Safran SA      64,719  
  15,312      Senior plc*      30,480  
  17,800      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      49,712  
  1,841      Thales SA      156,660  
  2,146      Ultra Electronics Holdings plc      92,332  
     

 

 

 
        2,136,893  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.7%):       
  4,417      BPOST SA*      38,567  
  2,399      Cia de Distribucion Integral Logista Holdings SA      47,768  
  6,355      CTT-Correios de Portugal SA      32,839  
  9,012      Deutsche Post AG      580,020  
  5,994      Freightways, Ltd.      52,716  
  73      ID Logistics Group*      30,528  
  37,500      Kerry Network, Ltd.      91,692  
  2,300      Kintetsu World Express, Inc.      59,803  
  1,800      Konoike Transport Co., Ltd.      19,284  
  1,428      Mainfreight, Ltd.      91,872  
  900      Maruwa Unyu Kikan Co., Ltd.      11,395  
  1,800      Mitsui-Soko Holdings Co., Ltd.      38,913  
  1,146      Oesterreichische Post AG      49,250  
  22,618      PostNL NV      98,193  
  26,724      Royal Mail plc      183,288  
  900      SBS Holdings, Inc.      25,553  
  3,000      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      70,254  
  27,700      Singapore Post, Ltd.      13,364  
  5,312      Wincanton plc      26,428  
  4,600      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      107,891  
     

 

 

 
        1,669,618  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  26,921      Air New Zealand, Ltd.*      27,839  
  1,200      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      25,091  
  33,347      Cathay Pacific Airways, Ltd.*      27,330  
  6,007      Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Registered Shares*      42,268  
  5,559      easyJet plc*      41,739  
  1,128      Exchange Income Corp.      37,582  
  2,400      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      45,831  
  2,549      JET2 plc*      38,303  
  6,700      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.*      24,839  
     

 

 

 
        310,822  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components (1.9%):       
  1,000      Aisan Industry Co., Ltd.    $ 6,661  
  3,500      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      134,224  
  7,300      Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.*      11,743  
  1,027      Akwel      25,434  
  1,375      Arb Corp., Ltd.      52,538  
  202      Autoneum Holding AG*      37,601  
  3,367      Brembo SpA      47,810  
  4,000      Bridgestone Corp.      172,143  
  1,647      Bulten AB      16,878  
  2,344      CIE Automotive SA      72,447  
  3,565      Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin SCA, Class B      584,315  
  1,922      Continental AG*      203,464  
  2,800      Daido Metal Co., Ltd.      14,755  
  2,400      Daikyonishikawa Corp.      12,209  
  1,600      Denso Corp.      132,141  
  8,224      Dometic Group AB(a)      107,497  
  1,800      Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.      17,281  
  673      Edag Engineering Group AG*      9,073  
  1,724      ElringKlinger AG*      21,778  
  1,500      Exco Technologies, Ltd.      12,227  
  1,700      Exedy Corp.      24,613  
  4,682      Faurecia SA      222,709  
  483      Faurecia SE      22,549  
  2,300      FCC Co., Ltd.      29,940  
  1,000      F-Tech, Inc.      5,165  
  4,000      Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.      15,131  
  1,400      G-Tekt Corp.      17,397  
  6,116      Gud Holdings, Ltd.      50,598  
  560      Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA      38,079  
  1,600      Hi-Lex Corp.      20,853  
  700      H-One Co., Ltd.      4,115  
  300      Imasen Electric Industrial      1,543  
  19,355      Johnson Electric Holdings, Ltd.      41,023  
  6,700      JTEKT Corp.      58,556  
  1,800      Kasai Kogyo Co., Ltd.*      4,586  
  258      Kendrion NV      6,169  
  900      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      47,664  
  25,060      Kongsberg Automotive ASA*      8,587  
  1,000      KYB Corp.      28,045  
  1,544      Leoni AG*      17,402  
  1,933      Linamar Corp.      114,516  
  3,438      Magna International, Inc.      278,272  
  2,811      Magna Internationl, Inc.      227,471  
  4,266      Martinrea International, Inc.      38,788  
  2,000      Mitsuba Corp.*      7,809  
  3,200      Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.      53,289  
  4,800      NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.      83,604  
  6,600      NHK SPRING Co., Ltd.      56,131  
  600      Nichirin Co., Ltd.      8,600  
  2,900      Nifco, Inc.      91,041  
  2,200      Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.      22,210  
  2,700      NOK Corp.      29,352  
  4,876      Nokian Renkaat OYJ      184,082  
  2,600      Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.      27,471  
  13,329      Pirelli & C SpA(a)      91,977  
  1,743      Plastic Omnium SA      45,323  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components, continued       
  6,300      Press Kogyo Co., Ltd.    $ 21,366  
  3,582      PWR Holdings, Ltd.      22,387  
  400      Riken Corp.      8,953  
  2,542      SAF-Holland SE*      35,610  
  1,900      Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd.      15,631  
  2,535      Schaeffler AG      21,025  
  1,200      Shoei Co., Ltd.      47,272  
  2,300      Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.      57,583  
  12,500      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      162,997  
  2,900      Sumitomo Riko Co., Ltd.      14,947  
  7,700      Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.      78,476  
  300      T RAD Co., Ltd.      7,294  
  1,400      Tachi-S Co., Ltd.      15,357  
  800      Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd.      5,649  
  8,119      TI Fluid Systems plc(a)      27,948  
  2,500      Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.      33,653  
  2,500      Topre Corp.      25,892  
  4,500      Toyo Tire Corp.      69,931  
  1,700      Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.      36,987  
  3,500      Toyota Boshoku Corp.      68,665  
  700      Toyota Industries Corp.      55,942  
  1,500      TPR Co., Ltd.      18,600  
  2,800      TS Tech Co., Ltd.      34,429  
  2,000      Unipres Corp.      13,983  
  5,637      Valeo SA      170,369  
  384      Vitesco Technologies Group AG*      18,837  
  5,200      Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (The)      83,339  
  600      Yorozu Corp.      5,598  
     

 

 

 
        4,895,599  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.3%):       
  6,553      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      660,298  
  12,614      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      968,537  
  822      Ferrari NV      212,750  
  630      Honda Motor Co., Ltd., ADR      17,923  
  11,100      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      311,770  
  8,600      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      107,020  
  7,900      Mazda Motor Corp.*      60,797  
  8,800      Mitsubishi Motors Corp.*      24,471  
  20,000      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.*      96,665  
  2,700      Nissan Shatai Co., Ltd.      16,552  
  8,981      Piaggio & C SpA      29,226  
  4,600      Renault SA*      159,730  
  538      Stellantis NV      10,101  
  41,274      Stellantis NV      782,241  
  11,600      Subaru Corp.      207,492  
  2,300      Suzuki Motor Corp.      88,584  
  89,620      Toyota Motor Corp.      1,654,661  
  504      Volkswagen AG      148,226  
  5,100      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      122,360  
     

 

 

 
        5,679,404  
     

 

 

 
Banks (7.7%):       
  3,000      77th Bank      34,827  
  5,339      ABN AMRO Group NV(a)      78,480  
  15,084      AIB Group plc*      36,753  
  500      Aichi Bank, Ltd. (The)      20,282  
  1,500      Akita Bank, Ltd. (The)      21,326  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  2,146      Aktia Bank OYJ    $ 29,982  
  1,200      Aomori Bank, Ltd. (The)      18,483  
  3,300      Aozora Bank, Ltd.      72,207  
  19,030      Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.      380,914  
  1,000      Awa Bank, Ltd. (The)      18,875  
  19,504      Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA*^      19,654  
  21,166      Banca Popolare di Sondrio SCPA      88,935  
  7,989      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      47,426  
  29,969      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, ADR      175,918  
  44,790      Banco Bpm SpA      134,261  
  106,975      Banco Comercial Portugues SA, Class R*      17,154  
  238,968      Banco de Sabadell SA*      158,412  
  107,881      Banco Santander SA      360,045  
  6,287      Banco Santander SA, ADR      20,684  
  8,101      Bank Hapoalim BM      83,497  
  14,148      Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corp.      152,162  
  36,738      Bank of East Asia, Ltd. (The)      52,735  
  974      Bank of Georgia Group plc      21,982  
  29,096      Bank of Ireland Group plc*      165,058  
  900      Bank of Iwate, Ltd. (The)      14,619  
  1,200      Bank of Kyoto, Ltd. (The)      55,556  
  6,126      Bank of Montreal      659,893  
  980      Bank of Montreal      105,524  
  500      Bank of Nagoya, Ltd. (The)      11,906  
  9,618      Bank of Nova Scotia      689,514  
  22,032      Bank of Queensland, Ltd.      129,692  
  2,000      Bank of The Ryukyus, Ltd.      13,270  
  16,597      Bankinter SA      84,148  
  71      Banque Cantonale de Geneve      12,503  
  916      Banque Cantonale Vaudois, Registered Shares      71,163  
  23,543      Barclays plc, ADR      243,670  
  9,188      Barclays plc      23,350  
  943      BAWAG Group AG(a)      57,987  
  18,959      Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, Ltd.      125,593  
  218      Berner Kantonalbank AG      48,499  
  6,853      BNP Paribas SA      473,458  
  38,542      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      126,321  
  34,804      BPER Banca      71,678  
  72,467      CaixaBank SA      198,701  
  5,594      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      652,037  
  200      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      23,316  
  4,227      Canadian Western Bank      121,316  
  8,600      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      49,209  
  6,200      Chugoku Bank, Ltd. (The)      48,576  
  700      Chukyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,038  
  31,551      Commerzbank AG*      240,413  
  7,457      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      547,992  
  12,500      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      45,437  
  7,042      Credit Agricole SA      100,576  
  5,165      Credito Emiliano SpA      34,190  
  16,000      Dah Sing Banking Group, Ltd.      13,666  
  5,600      Dah Sing Financial Holdings, Ltd.      16,950  
  1,900      Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group, Inc.      41,918  
  10,124      Danske Bank A/S      173,045  
  7,992      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      193,539  
  6,142      DNB Bank ASA      140,773  
  1,600      Ehime Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,597  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  2,450      Erste Group Bank AG    $ 115,161  
  650      Fidea Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,541  
  4,911      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA      85,518  
  3,600      First Bank of Toyama, Ltd. (The)      9,235  
  1,816      First International Bank of Israel      75,675  
  1,000      Fukui Bank, Ltd. (The)      12,207  
  5,800      Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc.      99,409  
  13,200      Gunma Bank, Ltd. (The)      40,349  
  9,200      Hachijuni Bank, Ltd. (The)      31,416  
  5,105      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      93,468  
  30,196      Heartland Group Holdings Npv      52,152  
  11,800      Hirogin Holdings, Inc.      70,697  
  1,000      Hokkoku Financial Holdings, Inc.*      22,140  
  6,000      Hokuhoku Financial Group, Inc.      47,688  
  23,429      HSBC Holdings plc, ADR^      706,384  
  9,400      Hyakugo Bank, Ltd. (The)      28,112  
  1,000      Hyakujushi Bank, Ltd. (The)      13,092  
  757      Illimity Bank SpA*      11,283  
  17,920      ING Groep NV      249,683  
  93,838      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      242,421  
  15,332      Isreal Discount Bank      103,078  
  9,500      Iyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      47,567  
  620      Jimoto Holdings, Inc.      3,477  
  1,200      Juroku Financial Group, Inc.*      22,578  
  2,048      Jyske Bank A/S*      105,508  
  2,491      KBC Group NV      213,931  
  5,800      Keiyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      23,459  
  400      Kita-Nippon Bank, Ltd. (The)      5,531  
  2,500      Kiyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      30,674  
  16,490      Kyushu Financial Group, Inc.      59,952  
  1,296      Laurentian Bank of Canada      41,161  
  562      Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG      32,434  
  35,782      Lloyds Banking Group plc      23,064  
  96,996      Lloyds TSB Group plc, ADR      247,340  
  113      Luzerner Kantonalbank AG      51,441  
  24,670      Mebuki Financial Group, Inc.      50,778  
  11,475      Mediobanca SpA      131,157  
  700      Michinoku Bank, Ltd. (The)      4,985  
  62,500      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      339,618  
  800      Miyazaki Bank, Ltd. (The)      14,475  
  2,075      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      80,068  
  12,880      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      163,852  
  1,300      Musashino Bank, Ltd. (The)      20,337  
  1,300      Nanto Bank, Ltd. (The)      21,940  
  25,880      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      543,077  
  3,432      National Bank of Canada      261,687  
  27,268      Natwest Group plc      83,073  
  4,800      Nishi-Nippon Holdings, Inc.      31,051  
  19,269      Nordea Bank AB      234,749  
  7,300      North Pacific Bank, Ltd.      15,860  
  1,800      Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd. (The)      30,234  
  1,000      Oita Bank, Ltd. (The)      15,895  
  820      Okinawa Financial Group, Inc.*      15,742  
  17,046      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      144,338  
  28,000      Public Financial Holdings, Ltd.      9,332  
  6,482      Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG      190,615  
  33,575      Resona Holdings, Inc.      130,621  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,156      Ringkjoebing Landbobank A/S    $ 155,300  
  5,197      Royal Bank of Canada      551,627  
  12,263      Royal Bank of Canada      1,301,595  
  1,190      San Ju San Financial Group, Inc.      15,232  
  6,200      San-In Godo Bank, Ltd. (The)      34,925  
  4,451      Sbanken ASA(a)      47,310  
  11,600      Senshu Ikeda Holdings, Inc.      17,147  
  24,500      Seven Bank, Ltd.      50,702  
  1,300      Shiga Bank, Ltd. (The)      23,389  
  1,000      Shikoku Bank, Ltd. (The)      6,748  
  400      Shimizu Bank, Ltd. (The)      5,537  
  5,900      Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The)      42,173  
  7,610      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      105,463  
  11,180      Societe Generale      383,881  
  4,543      Spar Nord Bank A/S      58,130  
  2,847      Sparebank 1 Sr-Bank ASA      43,041  
  121      St. Galler Kantonalbank AG      57,730  
  36,263      Standard Chartered plc      219,129  
  7,000      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      239,311  
  3,300      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      110,192  
  8,000      Suruga Bank, Ltd.      35,316  
  10,144      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      109,546  
  4,382      Swedbank AB, Class A      88,034  
  2,561      Sydbank A/S      81,036  
  6,500      Toho Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,982  
  1,100      Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Inc.      14,520  
  7,500      Tomony Holdings, Inc.      20,676  
  2,200      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      168,688  
  7,456      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      571,726  
  2,100      Towa Bank, Ltd. (The)      9,897  
  6,200      Tsukuba Bank, Ltd.      9,543  
  92,944      Unicaja Banco SA(a)      91,982  
  31,288      Unicredit SpA      481,597  
  7,627      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      152,343  
  405      Valiant Holding AG      40,514  
  764      Van Lanschot Kempen NV      19,096  
  34,734      Virgin Money UK plc*      83,290  
  239      Walliser Kantonalbank, Registered Shares      26,502  
  25,814      Westpac Banking Corp.      401,253  
  1,600      Yamagata Bank, Ltd. (The)      12,077  
  7,200      Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc.      42,115  
  1,800      Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Ltd. (The)      13,436  
  6      Zuger Kantonalbank AG      44,389  
     

 

 

 
        19,449,115  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.2%):       
  1,900      Andrew Peller, Ltd.      12,258  
  7,966      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      482,244  
  3,300      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      128,092  
  10,973      Britvic plc      136,583  
  13,700      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.(a)      35,934  
  14,772      C&C Group plc*      46,319  
  1,168      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      200,660  
  2,200      Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings, Inc.      25,252  
  3,492      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      194,534  
  3,318      Coca-Cola HBC AG      114,371  
  5,510      David Campari-Milano NV      80,214  
  2,815      Diageo plc, ADR      619,694  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  812      Fevertree Drinks plc    $ 29,716  
  1,642      Heineken NV      184,615  
  300      ITO EN, Ltd.      15,757  
  8,500      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      136,341  
  109      Laurent-Perrier      12,839  
  653      Olvi OYJ      38,046  
  412      Pernod Ricard SA      99,117  
  4,250      Primo Water Corp.      75,000  
  194      Remy Cointreau SA      47,219  
  1,549      Royal Unibrew A/S      174,714  
  1,600      Sapporo Breweries, Ltd.      30,372  
  2,800      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      101,286  
  2,800      Takara Holdings, Inc.      29,729  
  6,474      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      58,353  
     

 

 

 
        3,109,259  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.4%):       
  569      Abcam plc*      13,345  
  143      Argenx SE*      50,537  
  1,271      Bavarian Nordic A/S*      52,132  
  291      Biogaia AB      16,658  
  2,049      CSL, Ltd.      433,816  
  225      Galapagos NV*      12,431  
  573      Genmab A/S*      229,458  
  634      Genus plc      42,291  
  3,433      Grifols SA      65,680  
  5,747      Knight Therapeutics, Inc.*      24,082  
  6,442      Mesoblast, Ltd.*      6,465  
  1,000      Peptidream, Inc.*      22,131  
  475      Pharma Mar SA      30,740  
  1,829      Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB*      37,422  
  1,155      Zealand Pharma A/S*      25,535  
     

 

 

 
        1,062,723  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.4%):       
  4,100      AGC, Inc.      195,733  
  1,100      AICA Kogyo Co., Ltd.      31,805  
  2,028      Arbonia AG      45,862  
  1,049      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      31,878  
  203      Belimo Holding AG, Class R      128,531  
  2,400      Bunka Shutter Co., Ltd.      22,413  
  1,800      Central Glass Co., Ltd.      33,371  
  8,611      Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA      605,645  
  1,200      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      272,272  
  114      dorma kaba Holding AG      75,206  
  484      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      394,130  
  5,784      Genuit Group plc      45,813  
  12,753      Gwa Group, Ltd.      25,531  
  3,298      Inrom Construction Industries, Ltd.      16,367  
  2,938      Inwido AB      60,377  
  2,479      Kingspan Group plc      296,690  
  2,801      Lindab International AB      99,635  
  3,900      Lixil Corp.      103,947  
  600      Maeda Kosen Co., Ltd.      20,479  
  2,700      Nichias Corp.      65,132  
  1,100      Nichiha Corp.      29,137  
  1,552      Nordic Waterproofing Holding AB      38,138  
  1,500      Noritz Corp.      21,887  
  1,400      Okabe Co., Ltd.      8,826  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Building Products, continued       
  5,708      Reliance Worldwide Corp., Ltd.    $ 26,043  
  144      Rockwool International A/S      52,911  
  232      ROCKWOOL International A/S, Class B      101,556  
  1,900      Sankyo Tateyama, Inc.      11,940  
  7,800      Sanwa Holdings Corp.      83,228  
  47      Schweiter Technologies AG      69,604  
  900      Shin Nippon Air Technologies Co., Ltd.      18,747  
  1,800      Sinko Industries, Ltd.      31,477  
  3,824      Systemair AB      43,092  
  1,800      Takara Standard Co., Ltd.      22,068  
  1,000      TOTO, Ltd.      46,004  
  7,093      Tyman plc      38,417  
  2,971      Uponor OYJ      70,799  
  32,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      80,130  
  533      Zehnder Group AG      54,277  
     

 

 

 
        3,419,098  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.1%):       
  10,264      3i Group plc      200,778  
  24,792      ABG Sundal Collier Holding ASA      25,981  
  3,200      AGF Management, Ltd.      21,126  
  1,600      Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd.      14,205  
  2,242      AJ Bell plc      11,485  
  143      Alantra Partners SA      2,483  
  903      Altamir      26,104  
  817      Amundi SA(a)      67,436  
  7,128      Anima Holding SpA(a)      36,133  
  5,351      Ashmore Group plc      21,005  
  670      ASX, Ltd.      45,292  
  2,129      Avanza Bank Holding AB      77,985  
  4,260      Azimut Holding SpA      118,902  
  2,458      Banca Generali SpA      107,666  
  521      Bellevue Group AG      23,501  
  8,900      Brewin Dolphin Holdings plc      44,453  
  800      Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., Class A      48,318  
  614      Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., Class A      37,073  
  2,383      Bure Equity AB      115,311  
  2,497      Canaccord Genuity Group, Inc.      29,771  
  7,682      CI Financial Corp.      160,588  
  118      Cie Financiere Tradition SA      13,528  
  5,230      Close Brothers Group plc      99,082  
  20,849      Credit Suisse Group AG      202,286  
  4,319      Credit Suisse Group AG, ADR      41,635  
  18,300      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      103,231  
  4,462      Dea Capital SpA      6,651  
  10,467      Deutsche Bank AG, Registered Shares*      130,838  
  12,602      Deutsche Bank AG, Registered Shares*      158,161  
  552      Deutsche Beteiligungs AG      25,061  
  1,924      Deutsche Boerse AG      322,279  
  5,622      EFG International AG      42,806  
  258,000      Emperor Capital Group, Ltd.*      2,584  
  1,872      Euronext NV(a)      194,356  
  2,000      Fiera Capital Corp.      16,588  
  1,900      Flow Traders(a)      69,685  
  10,649      GAM Holding AG*      15,843  
  2,674      Georgia Capital plc*      25,809  
  824      Gimv NV      49,994  
  2,400      GMO Financial Holdings, Inc.      17,635  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  1,175      Guardian Capital Group, Ltd., Class A    $ 32,422  
  142,000      Guotai Junan International Hol      19,670  
  135,243      Haitong International Securities      29,145  
  5,422      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      99,480  
  7,894      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      461,413  
  2,100      iFAST Corp., Ltd.      13,093  
  11,954      IG Group Holdings plc      131,577  
  1,732      IGM Financial, Inc.      62,471  
  647      Impax Asset Management Group plc      12,888  
  218      Ina Invest Holding AG*      4,476  
  28,134      Insignia Financial, Ltd.      74,163  
  2,872      IntegraFin Holdings plc      21,780  
  2,456      Intermediate Capital Group plc      72,654  
  22,533      Investec plc      122,433  
  60,525      IP Group plc      101,259  
  1,700      IwaiCosmo Holdings, Inc.      20,030  
  1,400      JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.      80,596  
  4,800      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      105,103  
  4,910      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      328,222  
  17,082      Jupiter Fund Management plc      59,248  
  138,000      Kingston Financial Group, Ltd.*      6,750  
  800      Kyokuto Securities Co., Ltd.      5,203  
  957      London Stock Exchange Group plc      89,557  
  500      M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.*      22,914  
  2,174      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      324,916  
  2,194      Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.      33,911  
  50,276      Man Group plc/Jersey      154,683  
  2,300      Marusan Securities Co., Ltd.      10,380  
  1,180,000      Mason Group Holdings, Ltd.*      3,024  
  2,600      Matsui Securities Co., Ltd.      17,884  
  2,900      Mito Securities Co., Ltd.      6,885  
  3,035      MLP SE      29,589  
  5,700      Monex Group, Inc.      34,750  
  4,265      Navigator Global Investments, Ltd.      5,765  
  3,008      Netwealth Group, Ltd.      38,724  
  11,266      Ninety One plc      42,202  
  5,431      Nomura Holdings, Inc., ADR      23,516  
  19,100      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      83,312  
  13,975      NZX, Ltd.      17,323  
  3,800      Okasan Securities Group, Inc.      12,590  
  253      Partners Group Holding AG      417,212  
  9,039      Pendal Group, Ltd.      36,637  
  1,616      Perpetual, Ltd.      42,296  
  11,593      Platinum Asset Management, Ltd.      22,802  
  2,595      Polar Capital Holdings plc      27,844  
  45,397      Quilter plc(a)      91,031  
  565      Rathbones Group plc      15,143  
  9,785      Ratos AB, Class B      62,635  
  1,549      Rothschild & Co.      71,069  
  4,200      SBI Holdings, Inc.      114,499  
  1,029      Schroders plc      32,112  
  1,783      Schroders plc      85,645  
  11,400      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      78,739  
  5,446      St. James Place plc      124,037  
  700      Strike Co., Ltd.      30,981  
  667      Swissquote Group Holding SA      146,447  
  2,584      Tamburi Investment Partners SP      29,011  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  375      Tikehau Capital SCA    $ 9,925  
  531      TMX Group, Ltd.      53,843  
  8,500      Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, Inc.      29,172  
  4,000      Toyo Securities Co., Ltd.      5,148  
  30,858      TP ICAP Group plc      63,799  
  15,471      UBS Group AG      277,766  
  19,229      Uob-Kay Hian Holdings, Ltd.      22,690  
  1,000      Uzabase, Inc.*      12,783  
  1,325      Vontobel Holding AG      115,975  
  245      Vp Bank AG, Registered Shares      25,943  
  550      VZ Holding AG      58,891  
     

 

 

 
        7,693,724  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (4.1%):       
  900      Achilles Corp.      9,774  
  3,300      Adeka Corp.      73,667  
  3,982      Air Liquide SA      694,303  
  7,800      Air Water, Inc.      120,461  
  2,028      Akzo Nobel NV      223,221  
  700      Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.      7,256  
  2,785      Arkema SA      392,769  
  26,600      Asahi Kasei Corp.      250,049  
  1,100      ASAHI YUKIZAI Corp.      16,471  
  8,770      BASF SE      616,785  
  2,422      Borregaard ASA      61,064  
  52,400      China Sunsine Chemical Holdings, Ltd.      18,868  
  1,815      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      142,713  
  1,600      CI Takiron Corp.      7,833  
  10,241      Clariant AG      213,800  
  2,199      Corbion NV      103,397  
  4,872      Covestro AG(a)      300,599  
  444      Croda International plc      60,884  
  1,000      Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd.      7,191  
  7,200      Daicel Corp.      49,775  
  900      Dainichiseika Color & Chemical      18,346  
  4,300      Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.      108,487  
  4,000      Denka Co., Ltd.      130,789  
  18,377      Elementis plc*      32,803  
  28      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      31,257  
  8,516      Ercros SA*      28,801  
  9,485      Essentra plc      44,228  
  2,424      Evonik Industries AG      78,556  
  1,653      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      75,120  
  701      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      24,630  
  300      Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd.      10,684  
  700      Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd.      29,553  
  37      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      194,754  
  20      Gurit Holding AG      33,938  
  5,393      Hexpol AB      72,466  
  700      Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.      35,921  
  3,950      ICL Group, Ltd.      37,982  
  37,389      Incitec Pivot, Ltd.      88,392  
  1,500      Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.      15,523  
  1,000      JCU Corp.      47,568  
  2,680      Johnson Matthey plc      74,431  
  700      Jsp Corp.      9,952  
  1,200      JSR Corp.      45,653  
  5,723      K+S AG, Registered Shares*      98,918  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  2,000      Kaneka Corp.    $ 65,654  
  3,300      Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.      32,514  
  4,999      Kemira OYJ      75,414  
  1,400      Kh Neochem Co., Ltd.      38,717  
  1,500      Koatsu Gas Kogyo Co., Ltd.      10,291  
  1,175      Koninklijke DSM NV      263,796  
  1,000      Konishi Co., Ltd.      15,061  
  11,800      Kuraray Co., Ltd.      102,507  
  800      Kureha Corp.      57,186  
  3,486      Lanxess AG      216,287  
  379      Lenzing AG*      52,654  
  1,300      Lintec Corp.      29,787  
  929      Methanex Corp.      36,742  
  700      Methanex Corp.      27,695  
  19,000      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      140,772  
  3,000      Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc.      50,820  
  3,800      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      102,108  
  800      Nihon Kagaku Sangyo Co., Ltd.      9,635  
  2,300      Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd.      9,880  
  2,600      Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.      25,436  
  600      Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.      14,202  
  5,500      Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.      56,627  
  2,100      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      22,900  
  1,400      Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.      45,112  
  3,000      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      65,559  
  700      Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.      32,382  
  800      Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.      23,027  
  1,900      Nissan Chemical Corp.      110,373  
  1,900      Nitto Denko Corp.      146,883  
  700      NOF Corp.      35,255  
  1,377      Novozymes A/S, Class B      112,774  
  8,438      Nufarm, Ltd.      29,872  
  4,481      Nutrien, Ltd.      336,971  
  2,255      Nutrien, Ltd.      169,517  
  1,600      OCI NV*      41,736  
  500      Okamoto Industries, Inc.      18,369  
  600      Okura Industrial Co., Ltd.      11,421  
  3,258      Orica, Ltd.      32,488  
  900      Osaka Organic Chemical Industry, Ltd.      25,985  
  2,613      Recticel SA      52,115  
  2,800      Riken Technos Corp.      12,661  
  500      Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.      9,965  
  2,400      Sakata Inx Corp.      20,745  
  700      Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.      32,505  
  900      Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.      3,756  
  1,100      Shikoku Chemicals Corp.      13,497  
  1,800      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.      311,805  
  1,800      Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.      17,328  
  5,000      Showa Denko K.K.      105,001  
  1,005      Sika AG      417,309  
  1,754      SOL SpA      41,961  
  1,805      Solvay SA      210,413  
  400      Stella Chemifa Corp.      9,200  
  1,500      Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.      76,050  
  23,200      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      109,347  
  300      Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co. Ltd.      8,178  
  1,462      Symrise AG      216,840  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  13,110      Synthomer plc    $ 70,871  
  700      T Hasegawa Co., Ltd.      16,460  
  1,200      T&K Toka Co., Ltd.      8,682  
  600      Taiyo Holdings Co., Ltd.      18,157  
  600      Takasago International Corp.      15,078  
  600      Tayca Corp.      6,750  
  7,900      Teijin, Ltd.      97,204  
  500      Tenma Corp.      11,478  
  625      Tessenderlo Group SA*      23,731  
  4,900      Toagosei Co., Ltd.      49,257  
  6,900      Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.      72,485  
  2,900      Tokuyama Corp.      46,098  
  600      Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.      35,481  
  27,700      Toray Industries, Inc.      164,230  
  5,100      Tosoh Corp.      75,660  
  1,200      Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.      20,087  
  5,000      Toyobo Co., Ltd.      54,609  
  4,800      Ube Industries, Ltd.      83,396  
  3,116      Umicore SA      127,123  
  1,051      Victrex plc      34,861  
  329      Wacker Chemie AG      49,259  
  1,428      Yara International ASA      72,170  
  2,900      Zeon Corp.      33,466  
     

 

 

 
        10,289,310  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.2%):       
  800      AEON Delight Co., Ltd.      23,389  
  23,247      Babcock International Group plc*      100,299  
  748      Befesa SA(a)      57,370  
  1,800      Bell System24 Holdings, Inc.      19,581  
  13,069      Biffa plc(a)      63,265  
  896      Bilfinger SE      30,475  
  1,670      Black Diamond Group, Ltd.      5,849  
  14,490      Brambles, Ltd.      112,063  
  4,517      Bravida Holding AB(a)      63,480  
  200      Calian Group, Ltd.      9,731  
  1,476      Cardno, Ltd.*      2,075  
  2,850      Caverion Corp.      20,729  
  300      Central Security Patrols Co., Ltd.      6,295  
  338      Cewe Stiftung & Co. KGAA      49,408  
  46,000      Cleanaway Waste Management, Ltd.      104,829  
  10,948      Collection House, Ltd.*      1,036  
  1,829      Coor Service Management Holding AB(a)      16,734  
  2,400      CTS Co., Ltd.      17,552  
  3,200      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      80,502  
  6,041      De La Rue plc*      12,686  
  3,731      Derichebourg SA*      43,045  
  2,180      Dexterra Group, Inc.      14,806  
  30,713      Downer EDI, Ltd.      133,218  
  1,100      Duskin Co., Ltd.      26,887  
  1,700      EF-ON, Inc.      9,136  
  8,596      Elis SA*      148,794  
  435      GL Events*      8,618  
  12,057      HomeServe plc      142,441  
  900      Inaba Seisakusho Co., Ltd.      10,721  
  2,297      Intrum AB      59,339  
  5,989      ISS A/S*      113,612  
  1,800      Itoki Corp.      5,588  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  800      Japan Elevator Service Holdings Co., Ltd.    $ 14,943  
  3,300      Kokuyo Co., Ltd.      49,184  
  400      Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd.      9,965  
  2,302      Lassila & Tikanoja OYJ      35,221  
  3,325      Loomis AB      88,598  
  700      Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.      14,799  
  5,449      Mears Group plc      13,898  
  51,653      Mitie Group plc      45,135  
  1,400      NAC Co., Ltd.      11,697  
  15,900      Nippon Parking Development Co., Ltd.      19,080  
  1,600      Okamura Corp.      17,851  
  1,100      Oyo Corp.      20,525  
  2,700      Park24 Co., Ltd.*      37,003  
  2,696      PayPoint plc      24,255  
  1,400      Pilot Corp.      53,565  
  2,400      Prestige International, Inc.      13,942  
  13,654      Prosegur Cia de Seguridad SA      35,642  
  1,158      Renewi plc*      11,843  
  23,855      Rentokil Initial plc      188,670  
  2,500      Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.      153,008  
  3,299      RPS Group plc      5,520  
  900      Sato Holdings Corp.      17,169  
  700      SECOM Co., Ltd.      48,610  
  7,978      Securitas AB, Class B      109,693  
  3,267      Smartgroup Corp., Ltd.      18,439  
  787      Societe BIC SA      42,376  
  400      Sohgo Security Services Co., Ltd.      15,896  
  4,477      Spie SA      115,688  
  696      Tomra Systems ASA      49,860  
  3,280      TOPPAN, INC.      61,495  
  4,470      Transcontinental, Inc.      71,779  
  1,612      TRE Holdings Corp.*      24,731  
  200      Waste Connections, Inc.      27,261  
  580      Waste Connections, Inc.      79,037  
     

 

 

 
        3,059,931  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.3%):       
  2,792      Adva Optical Networking Se*      44,749  
  700      Aiphone Co., Ltd.      12,922  
  700      DKK Co., Ltd.      15,254  
  440      HMS Networks AB      27,166  
  500      Icom, Inc.      10,556  
  36,947      Nokia OYJ*      232,083  
  10,200      Quarterhill, Inc.      21,774  
  418      RTX A/S      12,639  
  600      Sierra Wireless, Inc.*      10,579  
  10,363      Spirent Communications plc      38,798  
  684      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class A      7,586  
  27,309      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      300,064  
  8,100      VTech Holdings, Ltd.      63,541  
     

 

 

 
        797,711  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (2.0%):       
  4,873      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      130,689  
  3,353      Aecon Group, Inc.      44,749  
  1,894      AF Gruppen ASA      41,667  
  4,317      Arcadis NV      208,550  
  300      Asanuma Corp.      14,327  
  1,130      Ashtrom Group, Ltd.      30,703  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  1,410      Badger Infrastructure Solutions, Ltd.    $ 35,440  
  20,372      Balfour Beatty plc      72,058  
  519      Bauer AG*      5,825  
  1,831      Boskalis Westminster      53,462  
  16,800      Boustead Singapore, Ltd.      12,409  
  7,647      Bouygues SA      273,966  
  209      Burkhalter Holding AG      14,457  
  4,600      Chiyoda Corp.*      14,080  
  1,700      Chudenko Corp.      31,427  
  494      CIE d’Entreprises CFE SA      69,072  
  1,103      Cimic Group, Ltd.      13,564  
  1,721      ComSys Holdings Corp.      38,326  
  6,098      Costain Group plc*      4,407  
  500      Dai-Dan Co., Ltd.      9,991  
  900      Daiho Corp.      31,051  
  3,606      Eiffage SA      371,910  
  2,783      Elecnor SA      33,162  
  44      Electra, Ltd./Israel      30,515  
  7,737      Eltel AB*(a)      13,362  
  37,002      Empresas ICA SAB de C.V.*      156  
  2,127      Ferrovial SA      66,701  
  1,664      FLSmidth & Co. A/S      62,212  
  2,002      Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA      25,042  
  440      Fudo Tetra Corp.      6,405  
  4,141      Fugro NV*      32,531  
  200      Fukuda Corp.      7,506  
  4,363      Galliford Try Holdings plc      10,596  
  6,000      Hazama Ando Corp.      45,042  
  1,803      Heijmans NV      30,401  
  600      Hibiya Engineering, Ltd.      10,707  
  1,093      Implenia AG*      24,799  
  8,036      INFRONEER Holdings, Inc.*      73,045  
  7,400      JGC Holdings Corp.      61,840  
  10,188      Johns Lyng Group, Ltd.      67,818  
  8,000      Kajima Corp.      91,898  
  3,000      Kandenko Co., Ltd.      22,357  
  3,807      Keller Group plc      50,733  
  4,100      Kinden Corp.      61,607  
  15,900      Koninklijke BAM Groep NV*      48,788  
  1,600      Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd.      39,945  
  2,500      Kyowa Exeo Corp.      52,696  
  1,700      Kyudenko Corp.      52,479  
  9,546      Maire Tecnimont SpA      44,809  
  1,700      Meisei Industrial Co., Ltd.      11,220  
  3,300      Mirait Holdings Corp.      54,437  
  1,922      Morgan Sindall Group plc      65,395  
  1,375      NCC AB, Class B      25,524  
  1,000      Nichireki Co., Ltd.      12,365  
  1,900      Nippo Corp.      65,896  
  1,600      Nippon Densetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      23,123  
  700      Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.      19,418  
  200      Nippon Road Co., Ltd. (The)      14,330  
  1,900      Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd.      60,222  
  20,879      NRW Holdings, Ltd.      26,859  
  9,100      Obayashi Corp.      70,428  
  6,495      Obrascon Huarte Lain SA*      7,532  
  1,100      Okumura Corp.      30,848  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  8,600      Oriental Shiraishi Corp.    $ 17,409  
  10,581      Peab AB      133,124  
  14,700      Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.      83,088  
  726      Per Aarsleff Holding A/S      33,933  
  2,400      Raiznext Corp.      24,356  
  22,988      Sacyr SA      59,812  
  1,900      Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd.      23,774  
  1,700      Seikitokyu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      11,976  
  40,165      Service Stream, Ltd.      23,523  
  3,211      Shapir Engineering And Indus      28,424  
  4,339      Shikun & Binui, Ltd.*      27,821  
  10,100      Shimizu Corp.      62,620  
  1,500      Shinnihon Corp.      10,656  
  4,094      Skanska AB, Class B      105,489  
  3,001      SNC-Lavalin Group, Inc.      73,340  
  881      Strabag Se      36,642  
  6,980      Sumitomo Mitsui Construction      25,913  
  3,299      Sweco AB      62,141  
  700      Taihei Dengyo Kaisha, Ltd.      17,488  
  800      Taikisha, Ltd.      21,711  
  3,500      Taisei Corp.      106,370  
  1,400      Takamatsu Construction Group C      23,964  
  400      Tekken Corp.      6,233  
  900      TOA Corp.      18,939  
  400      TOA Road Corp.      16,870  
  1,630      Tobishima Corp.      14,443  
  6,900      Toda Corp.      43,681  
  400      Toenec Corp.      11,756  
  1,000      Tokyo Energy & Systems, Inc.      9,496  
  5,100      Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd.      29,462  
  1,100      Totetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      23,979  
  4,300      Toyo Construction Co., Ltd.      21,724  
  2,100      Toyo Engineering Corp.*      12,929  
  3,109      Veidekke ASA      46,744  
  5,116      Vinci SA      542,010  
  555      WSP Global, Inc.      80,578  
  1,700      Yahagi Construction Co., Ltd.      11,309  
  3,849      YIT OYJ      18,898  
  1,200      Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp.      22,915  
  1,200      Yurtec Corp.      7,012  
     

 

 

 
        5,029,431  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.8%):       
  13,883      Adbri, Ltd.      28,546  
  1,800      Asia Pile Holdings Corp.      7,033  
  2,976      Brickworks, Ltd.      52,314  
  2,431      Buzzi Unicem SpA      52,182  
  12,721      CRH plc, ADR      671,669  
  22,791      CSR, Ltd.      97,634  
  13,792      Fletcher Building, Ltd.      69,219  
  1,160      H+H International A/S, Class B*      40,846  
  2,326      HeidelbergCement AG      157,575  
  6,293      Holcim, Ltd.      320,368  
  13,005      Ibstock plc(a)      35,802  
  1,243      Imerys SA      51,801  
  3,763      James Hardie Industries SE      151,429  
  400      Krosaki Harima Corp.      15,333  
  5,422      Marshalls plc      50,664  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials, continued       
  2,500      Nippon Concrete Industries Co., Ltd.    $ 6,065  
  500      Shinagawa Refractories Co., Ltd.      17,261  
  123      STO SE & Co KGaA      30,939  
  1,500      Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.      46,109  
  5,700      Taiheiyo Cement Corp.      112,748  
  1,300      TYK Corp.      3,484  
  998      Vicat      40,862  
  527      Wienerberger AG      19,372  
     

 

 

 
        2,079,255  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.2%):       
  3,600      ACOM Co., Ltd.      10,362  
  3,700      AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd.      39,962  
  7,800      Aiful Corp.      24,147  
  8,198      Axactor SE*      7,013  
  974      Cembra Money Bank AG      70,897  
  1,607      Credit Corp. Group, Ltd.      39,152  
  6,600      Credit Saison Co., Ltd.      69,388  
  18,226      Eclipx Group, Ltd.*      29,320  
  873      Gruppo MutuiOnline SpA      43,654  
  2,616      H&T Group plc      10,440  
  5,740      Hoist Finance AB*(a)      18,562  
  17,800      Hong Leong Finance, Ltd.      31,570  
  14,415      International Personal Finance      25,164  
  577      Isracard, Ltd.      2,849  
  4,300      J Trust Co., Ltd.      21,276  
  1,300      Jaccs Co., Ltd.      33,484  
  8,490      Money3 Corp., Ltd.      21,946  
  15,200      Orient Corp.      16,487  
  213,600      Oshidori International Holdings, Ltd.*      15,350  
  4,742      Provident Financial plc*      23,059  
  4,452      Resurs Holding AB(a)      18,651  
  38,000      Sun Hung Kai & Co., Ltd.      20,276  
     

 

 

 
        593,009  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  3,618      BillerudKorsnas AB      67,959  
  4,231      Cascades, Inc.      46,732  
  1,780      CCL Industries, Inc.      95,460  
  28,702      DS Smith plc      149,350  
  1,600      FP Corp.      54,537  
  1,900      Fuji Seal International, Inc.      34,994  
  1,000      Hokkan Holdings, Ltd.      12,609  
  3,405      Huhtamaki OYJ      149,902  
  3,327      Intertape Polymer Group, Inc.      69,234  
  276      Mayr Melnhof Karton AG      55,511  
  36,741      Orora, Ltd.      93,715  
  6,607      Pact Group Holdings, Ltd.      12,163  
  8,600      Rengo Co., Ltd.      65,058  
  8,406      SIG Combibloc Group AG      235,082  
  8,090      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      447,188  
  500      Taisei Lamick Co., Ltd.      11,887  
  600      Tomoku Co., Ltd.      9,329  
  4,000      Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.      47,658  
  659      Verallia SA(a)      23,220  
  750      Vetropack Holding AG      47,401  
  753      Vidrala SA      74,179  
  300      Winpak, Ltd.      8,816  
     

 

 

 
        1,811,984  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Distributors (0.3%):       
  600      Arata Corp.    $ 22,982  
  11,493      Bapcor, Ltd.      58,627  
  1,300      Canon Marketing Japan, Inc.      25,833  
  500      Chori Co., Ltd.      7,944  
  564      D’ieteren Group      109,970  
  1,000      Doshisha Co., Ltd.      13,617  
  4,313      Headlam Group plc      24,979  
  20,473      Inchcape plc      251,641  
  3,000      Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Ltd.      45,907  
  3,365      John Menzies plc*      14,073  
  400      Paltac Corp.      16,433  
  85      Tadiran Group, Ltd.      11,902  
  3,025      Uni-Select, Inc.*      61,562  
     

 

 

 
        665,470  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  3,986      Academedia AB(a)      24,439  
  2,000      Benesse Holdings, Inc.      39,203  
  3,227      Dignity plc*      25,778  
  8,000      EC Healthcare      11,434  
  44,648      G8 Education, Ltd.*      36,098  
  1,700      IBJ, Inc.      13,393  
  2,783      IDP Education, Ltd.      70,166  
  400      Park Lawn Corp.      13,125  
  900      QB Net Holdings Co., Ltd.*      14,076  
  2,600      Riso Kyoiku Co., Ltd.      8,885  
  700      Studio Alice Co., Ltd.      13,044  
  900      Take And Give Needs Co., Ltd.*      7,553  
     

 

 

 
        277,194  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  1,439      ABC arbitrage      11,696  
  863      Ackermans & Van Haaren NV      165,837  
  182      Aker ASA, Class A Shares      17,029  
  84,183      AMP, Ltd.*      61,870  
  3,396      Banca Farmafactoring SpA(a)      27,421  
  5,878      Banca Mediolanum SpA      57,615  
  4,759      Burford Capital, Ltd.      49,649  
  21,477      Challenger, Ltd.      102,050  
  5,800      Ecn Capital Corp.      24,488  
  16,244      Element Fleet Management Corp.      165,420  
  521      Eurazeo SE      45,542  
  900      Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd.      62,376  
  20,600      G-Resources Group, Ltd.*      7,398  
  88      Hypoport SE*      51,238  
  156      Industrivarden AB, Class A      4,953  
  140      Jackson Financial, Inc., Class A      5,856  
  800      Japan Investment Adviser Co., Ltd.      9,051  
  4,600      Japan Securities Finance Co., Ltd.      38,400  
  63,712      M&G plc      171,964  
  24,220      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      119,838  
  1,800      Mizuho Leasing Co., Ltd.      49,931  
  900      NEC Capital Solutions, Ltd.      15,730  
  16,085      Ofx Group, Ltd.*      27,080  
  7,289      Omni Bridgeway, Ltd.*      19,521  
  2,247      Onex Corp.      176,377  
  14,700      ORIX Corp.      300,079  
  4,583      Plus500, Ltd.      84,287  
  1,100      Ricoh Leasing Co., Ltd.      36,922  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Financial Services, continued       
  45,834      Standard Life Aberdeen plc    $ 149,359  
  1,500      Tokyo Century Corp.      72,789  
  2,200      Zenkoku Hosho Co., Ltd.      95,848  
     

 

 

 
        2,227,614  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication (0.0%):       
  3,751      Uniti Group, Ltd.*      12,148  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (2.2%):       
  14,353      Airtel Africa plc(a)      25,929  
  44      BCE, Inc.      2,289  
  974      BCE, Inc.      50,687  
  36,348      Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd. (The)*      60,166  
  258,528      BT Group plc      591,053  
  1,146      Cellnex Telecom SAU(a)      66,531  
  20,039      Chorus, Ltd.      98,389  
  90,000      CITIC Telecom International Holdings, Ltd.      30,375  
  46,971      Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered Shares      872,882  
  3,546      Elisa OYJ      217,762  
  2,209      Gamma Communications plc      49,339  
  27,500      HKBN, Ltd.      33,753  
  82,295      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      110,628  
  3,856      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA(a)      46,682  
  2,000      Internet Initiative Japan, Inc.      82,616  
  121,735      Koninklijke KPN NV      377,987  
  41,300      NetLink NBN Trust      30,647  
  5,800      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      158,611  
  48,762      Orange SA      522,342  
  174,202      PCCW, Ltd.      88,263  
  5,067      Proximus SADP      98,798  
  14,900      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      25,658  
  16,483      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      51,028  
  13,084      Speedcast International, Ltd.*(b)       
  12,209      Superloop, Ltd.*      10,571  
  893      Swisscom AG, Registered Shares      503,945  
  210,041      Telecom Italia SpA      99,418  
  334,376      Telecom Italia SpA      164,417  
  45,006      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      124,500  
  90,151      Telefonica SA      392,417  
  4,768      Telekom Austria AG      41,335  
  4,475      Telenor ASA      70,444  
  40,221      Telia Co AB      157,324  
  41,906      Telstra Corp., Ltd.      127,440  
  4,669      TPG Telecom, Ltd.      20,017  
  7,091      Tuas, Ltd.*      10,553  
  4,427      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      175,593  
     

 

 

 
        5,590,389  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.5%):       
  994      Acciona SA      189,413  
  17,641      AusNet Services      32,971  
  334      BKW AG      43,367  
  5,400      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      57,024  
  2,800      Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      22,727  
  7,000      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      44,575  
  9,564      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      96,595  
  3,804      Contact Energy, Ltd.      21,081  
  21,672      EDP - Energias de Portugal SA      118,867  
  4,908      Electricite de France      57,672  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
  633      Elia Group SA/NV    $ 83,464  
  2,200      Emera, Inc.      109,965  
  4,746      Endesa SA      109,397  
  47,239      Enel SpA      376,175  
  240      Energiedienst Holding AG, Registered Shares      12,206  
  1,538      EVN AG      46,421  
  1,708      Fortis, Inc.      82,445  
  900      Fortis, Inc.      43,427  
  4,799      Fortum OYJ      146,567  
  14,936      Genesis Energy, Ltd.      29,243  
  30,000      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      29,437  
  7,700      Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.      34,315  
  3,500      Hokuriku Electric Power Co.      17,803  
  1,200      Hydro One, Ltd.(a)      31,224  
  67,020      Iberdrola SA      785,300  
  12,913      Infratil, Ltd.      70,717  
  3,500      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      32,762  
  7,200      Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.      53,738  
  1,800      Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      22,807  
  24,174      Origin Energy, Ltd.      92,338  
  730      Orsted A/S(a)      93,755  
  11,500      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      71,681  
  8,090      Red Electrica Corp SA      175,088  
  11      Romande Energie Holding SA, Registered Shares      16,484  
  15,382      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      342,942  
  3,300      Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc.      23,320  
  13,794      Terna SpA      111,284  
  3,900      Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.      27,730  
  20,300      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      52,546  
  284      Verbund AG, Class A      32,050  
     

 

 

 
        3,840,923  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.2%):       
  7,265      ABB, Ltd.      276,897  
  600      Chiyoda Integre Co., Ltd.      10,514  
  1,300      Denyo Co., Ltd.      20,877  
  2,000      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      109,229  
  12,400      Fujikura, Ltd.*      60,926  
  3,100      Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (The)      62,454  
  1,200      Futaba Corp.      7,294  
  485      GARO AB      11,521  
  38      Gavazzi Carlo Holding AG      11,467  
  3,000      GS Yuasa Corp.      66,734  
  400      Hirakawa Hewtech Corp.      4,351  
  553      Huber & Suhner AG      52,608  
  1,600      Idec Corp./Japan      38,778  
  3,691      Legrand SA      431,935  
  800      Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.      26,481  
  346      Mersen      14,546  
  9,100      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      115,414  
  1,227      Nexans SA      120,082  
  1,000      Nidec Corp.      117,571  
  500      Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd.      18,131  
  1,500      Nitto Kogyo Corp.      20,678  
  1,094      NKT A/S*      52,838  
  3,878      Nordex Se*^      61,415  
  17      Phoenix Mecano AG      7,568  
  2,550      PNE AG      24,320  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electrical Equipment, continued       
  2,643      Prysmian SpA    $ 99,574  
  400      Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.      20,975  
  942      Schneider Electric SA      184,661  
  200      SEC Carbon, Ltd.      10,157  
  2,150      SGL Carbon SE*      18,804  
  4,069      Siemens Energy AG*      104,170  
  701      Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy*      16,624  
  5,642      Signify NV(a)      260,042  
  1,000      Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.      11,409  
  355      Somfy SA      71,258  
  1,500      SwCC Showa Holdings Co., Ltd.      21,693  
  900      Takaoka Toko Co., Ltd.      11,121  
  1,055      Tera Light, Ltd.*      2,546  
  1,933      TKH Group NV      122,259  
  600      Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd.      16,696  
  3,300      Ushio, Inc.      54,813  
  140      Varta AG      18,247  
  6,780      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      205,059  
  527      XP Power, Ltd.      36,400  
     

 

 

 
        3,031,137  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.4%):       
  600      Ai Holdings Corp.      10,039  
  7,060      Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.      66,614  
  288      ALSO Holding AG, Registered Shares      94,217  
  2,300      Amano Corp.      52,783  
  2,100      Anritsu Corp.      32,449  
  1,200      Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      10,299  
  1,280      Austria Technologie & Systemte      62,761  
  225      Basler AG      40,600  
  900      Canon Electronics, Inc.      12,412  
  5,004      Celestica, Inc.*      55,785  
  157      Cicor Technologies, Ltd.      9,091  
  13,600      Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.      58,769  
  3,400      CMK Corp.      20,490  
  3,981      Codan, Ltd./Australia      27,029  
  1,300      Conexio Corp.      16,685  
  5,000      Daiwabo Holdings Co., Ltd.      80,005  
  2,500      Dexerials Corp.      90,334  
  1,100      Elematec Corp.      10,331  
  700      Evertz Technologies, Ltd.      7,272  
  7,452      Fingerprint Cards AB*      16,910  
  2,100      Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.      22,116  
  400      Hagiwara Electric Co., Ltd.      7,290  
  500      Hakuto Co., Ltd.      11,461  
  511      Halma plc      22,065  
  400      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      25,531  
  2,429      Hexagon AB, Class B      38,255  
  200      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      33,636  
  1,200      Hochiki Corp.      13,586  
  700      Horiba, Ltd.      41,149  
  2,600      Hosiden Corp.      26,063  
  400      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      23,647  
  47      Inficon Holding AG      68,577  
  400      I-PEX, Inc.      6,804  
  300      Iriso Electronics Co., Ltd.      11,309  
  2,300      Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.      39,669  
  1,100      Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd.*      6,476  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  21,200      Japan Display, Inc.*    $ 6,636  
  1,679      Jenoptik AG      70,891  
  1,000      Kaga Electronics Co., Ltd.      28,436  
  100      Keyence Corp.      62,857  
  1,200      Koa Corp.      16,833  
  1,800      Kyocera Corp.      112,497  
  3,500      Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      14,091  
  5,505      Lagercrantz Group AB      80,807  
  365      Landis+Gyr Group AG      24,617  
  26      Lem Holding SA, Registered Shares      72,491  
  2,200      Macnica Fuji Electronics Holdings      52,653  
  400      Maruwa Co., Ltd./Aichi      56,699  
  900      Meiko Electronics Co., Ltd.      37,257  
  978      Micronic Mydata AB      22,754  
  2,156      Midwich Group plc      18,348  
  4,600      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      365,278  
  267      Nederland Apparatenfabriek      19,026  
  2,800      Nichicon Corp.      30,753  
  600      Nippon Chemi-Con Corp.*      9,330  
  3,000      Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.      76,932  
  3,400      Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.      26,978  
  1,800      Nissha Co., Ltd.      26,141  
  600      Nohmi Bosai, Ltd.      11,744  
  3,600      OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.      28,235  
  3,000      Osaki Electric Co., Ltd.      12,209  
  1,627      Oxford Instruments plc      57,890  
  3,149      Pricer AB      8,525  
  324      Renishaw plc      20,952  
  1,100      Restar Holdings Corp.      19,283  
  1,400      Ryoden Corp.      22,230  
  1,100      Ryosan Co., Ltd.      21,742  
  102      Sensirion Holding AG*(a)      14,812  
  400      Shibaura Electronics Co., Ltd.      30,235  
  900      Shimadzu Corp.      37,998  
  1,200      Shinko Shoji Co., Ltd.      9,559  
  2,000      Siix Corp.      24,627  
  3,154      Smart Metering Systems plc      35,857  
  1,318      Spectris plc      65,227  
  6,120      Strix Group plc      25,166  
  2,000      Sumida Corp.      22,036  
  700      Tachibana Eletech Co., Ltd.      9,745  
  2,200      Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.      125,825  
  2,500      Tamura Corp.      14,495  
  7,900      TDK Corp.      308,466  
  1,300      Topcon Corp.      18,755  
  1,300      Toyo Corp.      12,616  
  7,103      TT Electronics plc      24,611  
  100      V Technology Co., Ltd.      3,126  
  312      Vaisala OYJ, Class A      18,915  
  6,100      Venture Corp., Ltd.      82,966  
  44,000      Vstecs Holdings, Ltd.      41,258  
  2,800      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      50,501  
  1,100      Yokowo Co., Ltd.      28,313  
     

 

 

 
        3,612,733  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.3%):       
  7,314      Akastor ASA*      4,428  
  5,393      Aker Solutions ASA*      14,286  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  2,991      BW Offshore, Ltd.    $ 9,053  
  5,874      Ces Energy Solutions Corp.      9,428  
  29,491      CGG SA*      21,347  
  4,726      Computer Modelling Group, Ltd.      15,918  
  6,058      Enerflex, Ltd.      36,689  
  8,606      Ensign Energy Services, Inc.*      11,431  
  106,730      Ezion Holdings, Ltd.*      642  
  6,704      Hunting plc      15,353  
  18,612      John Wood Group plc*      48,114  
  8,257      Lamprell plc*      3,991  
  1,000      Modec, Inc.      11,951  
  2,400      North American Construction Group, Ltd.      36,414  
  7,269      Odfjell Drilling, Ltd.*      16,690  
  1,450      Pason Systems, Inc.      13,230  
  7,745      Petrofac, Ltd.*      12,081  
  18,993      Petroleum Geo-Services ASA*      7,902  
  818      Precision Drilling Corp.*      28,903  
  15,278      Saipem SpA*^      32,038  
  5,417      SBM Offshore NV      80,724  
  174      Schoeller-Blackman Oilfield Equipment AG*      6,129  
  8,377      Secure Energy Services, Inc.      34,838  
  3,900      ShawCor, Ltd.*      15,140  
  5,516      Subsea 7 SA      39,495  
  3,219      Technip Energies NV*      46,995  
  1,677      Tecnicas Reunidas SA*      13,254  
  2,634      Tenaris SA, ADR      54,945  
  1,938      Tenaris SA      20,225  
  2,965      TGS ASA      28,427  
  421      The Drilling Co of 1972 A/S*      16,492  
  900      Total Energy Services, Inc.*      4,291  
  400      Toyo Kanetsu KK      8,713  
  13,311      Trican Well Service, Inc.*      29,152  
  1,489      Vallourec SA*      14,910  
  7,807      Worley, Ltd.      60,483  
     

 

 

 
        824,102  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.4%):       
  800      Akatsuki, Inc.      20,056  
  900      Avex, Inc.      11,285  
  11,278      Bollore, Inc.      63,101  
  2,427      Borussia Dortmund GMBH & Co. KGaA*      12,045  
  2,800      Capcom Co., Ltd.      65,936  
  21,158      Cineworld Group plc*^      9,117  
  268      CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA*      19,662  
  1,900      DeNA Co., Ltd.      29,261  
  2,590      Event Hospitality And Entertainment, Ltd.*      27,889  
  1,590      Gungho Online Enetertainment, Inc.      35,782  
  38,000      IGG, Inc.      33,789  
  82      Kinepolis Group NV*      5,115  
  1,300      KLab, Inc.*      5,607  
  1,600      Konami Holdings Corp.      76,804  
  1,100      Nexon Co., Ltd.      21,217  
  700      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      326,563  
  200      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,261  
  510      Technicolor SA*      1,642  
  100      Toei Animation Co., Ltd.      9,921  
  200      Toei Co., Ltd.      30,503  
  2,585      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      126,766  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment, continued       
  2,949      Universal Music Group NV    $ 83,138  
  700      UUUM, Inc.*      4,882  
  2,949      Vivendi Universal SA      39,893  
  5,570      WildBrain, Ltd.*      15,149  
     

 

 

 
        1,085,384  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (2.2%):       
  5,600      AEON Co., Ltd.      131,916  
  500      Ain Holdings, Inc.      24,913  
  3,200      Alcanna, Inc.*      17,305  
  8,272      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.      346,629  
  702      Amsterdam Commodities NV*      19,862  
  2,400      Arcs Co., Ltd.      44,514  
  1,537      Axfood AB      44,206  
  800      Axial Retailing, Inc.      23,443  
  600      Belc Co., Ltd.      29,373  
  19,813      Carrefour SA      363,106  
  1,395      Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA*      36,750  
  1,100      Cawachi, Ltd.      21,062  
  9,262      Coles Group, Ltd.      120,891  
  1,589      Colruyt SA      67,403  
  200      Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp.      29,387  
  1,300      Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.      35,933  
  500      Daikokutenbussan Co., Ltd.      22,391  
  4,900      Dairy Farm International Holdings, Ltd.      14,017  
  3,491      Empire Co., Ltd., Class A      106,375  
  9,117      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      44,711  
  500      Fuji Co., Ltd./Ehime      8,491  
  1,600      Heiwado Co., Ltd.      26,866  
  200      Itochu-Shokuhin Co., Ltd.      8,676  
  38,289      J Sainsbury plc      142,733  
  600      JM Holdings Co., Ltd.      8,593  
  600      Kato Sangyo Co., Ltd.      17,478  
  2,778      Kesko OYJ, Class A      85,770  
  8,384      Kesko OYJ, Class B      278,099  
  2,400      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      92,869  
  19,653      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      673,343  
  400      Kusuri NO Aoki Holdings Co., Ltd.      25,302  
  900      LAWSON, Inc.      42,597  
  800      Life Corp.      23,687  
  2,011      Loblaw Cos., Ltd.      164,785  
  1,380      Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd.      50,975  
  38,026      Metcash, Ltd.      124,501  
  7,078      METRO AG      74,264  
  3,317      Metro, Inc.      176,550  
  600      Ministop Co., Ltd.      7,330  
  900      Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd.      21,618  
  1,200      Nihon Chouzai Co., Ltd.      14,347  
  1,801      North West Co., Inc.      48,756  
  10,925      Olam International, Ltd.      14,191  
  1,200      Qol Holdings Co., Ltd.      14,609  
  1,094      Rallye SA*      6,274  
  337      Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikm      25,318  
  1,000      Retail Partners Co., Ltd.      11,921  
  600      San-A Co., Ltd.      21,808  
  12,300      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      540,765  
  28,900      Sheng Siong Group, Ltd.      31,311  
  4,880      Shufersal, Ltd.      40,624  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  1,454      Sligro Food Group NV*    $ 35,250  
  38,447      Sonae SGPS SA      43,871  
  500      Sugi Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,256  
  1,800      Sundrug Co., Ltd.      46,977  
  57,657      Tesco plc      226,012  
  400      Tsuruha Holdings, Inc.      38,359  
  2,100      United Supermarkets Holdings      19,301  
  2,200      Valor Holdings Co., Ltd.      41,054  
  1,400      Watahan & Co., Ltd.      15,400  
  1,400      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      43,649  
  1,493      Weston (George), Ltd.      173,121  
  9,117      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      252,125  
  800      YAKUODO Holdings Co., Ltd.      15,624  
  700      Yamatane Corp.      9,811  
  700      Yaoko Co., Ltd.      42,487  
  2,800      Yokorei Co., Ltd.      20,330  
     

 

 

 
        5,422,265  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (3.1%):       
  5,898      A2 Milk Co., Ltd.*      23,958  
  509      AAK AB      10,998  
  364      Agrana Beteiligungs AG      7,124  
  4,500      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.      136,839  
  44,180      Aryzta AG*      55,241  
  1,867      Associated British Foods plc      50,632  
  772      Atria OYJ      10,122  
  2,327      Austevoll Seafood ASA      28,081  
  363      Bakkafrost P/F      24,016  
  58      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      140,972  
  8,561      Bega Cheese, Ltd.      35,315  
  125      Bell AG      39,998  
  854      Bonduelle S.C.A.      20,272  
  2,000      Calbee, Inc.      46,416  
  1      Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG      134,096  
  800      Chubu Shiryo Co., Ltd.      6,852  
  12,278      Cloetta AB      35,533  
  15,071      Costa Group Holdings, Ltd.      33,226  
  2,030      Cranswick plc      101,602  
  4,274      Danone SA      265,456  
  1,700      Delfi, Ltd.      965  
  10,007      Devro plc      27,887  
  500      DyDo Group Holdings, Inc.      20,575  
  2,372      Ebro Foods SA      45,564  
  4,736      Elders, Ltd.      42,214  
  80      Emmi AG      94,253  
  400      Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.      12,710  
  108,669      First Pacific Co., Ltd.      40,012  
  27,100      First Resources, Ltd.      30,384  
  1,616      Forfarmers NV      7,426  
  9,500      Fraser & Neave, Ltd.      9,944  
  1,000      Fuji Oil Holdings, Inc.      20,174  
  3,286      Glanbia plc      46,031  
  260,400      Golden Agri-Resources, Ltd.      47,374  
  11,957      GrainCorp, Ltd.      71,922  
  17,127      Greencore Group plc*^      30,008  
  1,100      High Liner Foods, Inc.      12,967  
  1,923      Hilton Food Group plc      29,647  
  1,600      Hokuto Corp.      26,545  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  700      House Foods Group, Inc.    $ 17,624  
  15,498      Inghams Group, Ltd.      39,466  
  2,700      Itoham Yonekyu Holdings, Inc.      15,429  
  300      Iwatsuka Confectionery Co., Ltd.      10,225  
  368      JDE Peet’s NV      11,338  
  600      J-Oil Mills, Inc.      8,713  
  800      Kagome Co., Ltd.      20,779  
  800      Kakiyasu Honten Co., Ltd.      19,533  
  400      Kameda Seika Co., Ltd.      14,851  
  700      Kenko Mayonnaise Co., Ltd.      8,137  
  506      Kerry Group plc, Class A      65,221  
  2,800      Kewpie Corp.      60,270  
  400      Kikkoman Corp.      33,636  
  163      KWS Saat SE      13,542  
  500      Kyokuyo Co., Ltd.      13,381  
  147      Lassonde Industries, Inc.      18,287  
  3,154      Leroy Seafood Group ASA      24,615  
  17      Lotus Bakeries      108,198  
  2,349      Maple Leaf Foods, Inc.      54,342  
  1,200      Marudai Food Co., Ltd.      15,902  
  2,600      Maruha Nichiro Corp.      54,276  
  1,700      Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd.      29,360  
  41      Mehadrin, Ltd.*      2,375  
  2,300      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      137,193  
  800      Mitsui Sugar Co., Ltd.      13,481  
  1,300      Morinaga & Co., Ltd.      42,407  
  1,900      Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.      90,030  
  1,241      Mowi ASA      29,382  
  23,355      Nestle SA, Registered Shares      3,265,914  
  389      Neto Malinda Trading, Ltd.*      13,825  
  2,400      NH Foods, Ltd.      86,399  
  2,600      Nichirei Corp.      60,207  
  1,200      Nippn Corp.      17,279  
  800      Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      11,867  
  12,400      Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      58,550  
  1,200      Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd. (The)      30,249  
  2,700      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      38,864  
  300      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      21,856  
  326      Orior AG      32,158  
  1,732      Orkla ASA, Class A      17,373  
  30,027      Premier Foods plc      45,454  
  688      Premium Brands Holdings Corp.      68,778  
  1,300      Prima Meat Packers, Ltd.      28,037  
  11,830      Ridley Corp., Ltd.      12,870  
  600      S Foods, Inc.      18,119  
  482      Salmar ASA      33,261  
  2,346      Sanford, Ltd.*      7,787  
  1,853      Saputo, Inc.      41,754  
  127      Savencia SA      8,847  
  3,496      Scales Corp., Ltd.      13,402  
  3,767      Scandi Standard AB      17,096  
  619      Schouw & Co.      53,902  
  2,867      Select Harvests, Ltd.      12,961  
  800      Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.      18,496  
  306      Sipef SA      19,821  
  600      Starzen Co., Ltd.      10,434  
  1,353      Strauss Group, Ltd.      42,199  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  2,659      Suedzucker AG    $ 40,116  
  2,839      Synlait Milk, Ltd.*      6,725  
  11,672      Tassal Group, Ltd.      29,659  
  14,193      Tate & Lyle plc      126,813  
  1,700      Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      71,918  
  58      United International Enterprises      16,516  
  13,688      United Malt Grp, Ltd.      43,450  
  1,635      Viscofan SA      105,661  
  22,000      Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.^      44,437  
  400      Warabeya Nichiyo Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,176  
  253,915      WH Group, Ltd.(a)      159,278  
  23,800      Wilmar International, Ltd.      73,187  
  200      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      10,420  
  3,700      Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd.      49,159  
     

 

 

 
        7,687,618  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.4%):       
  7,684      AltaGas, Ltd.      165,916  
  12,578      APA Group      92,134  
  1,714      Brookfield Infrastructure Corp., Class A      116,990  
  7,379      Enagas SA      170,649  
  17,850      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      27,791  
  14,289      Italgas SpA      97,994  
  800      K&O Energy Group, Inc.      9,989  
  5,000      Nippon Gas Co., Ltd.      66,306  
  2,900      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      48,029  
  1,181      Rubis SCA      35,293  
  1,300      Saibu Gas Co., Ltd.      24,021  
  1,300      Shizuoka Gas Co. Ltd.      11,134  
  14,036      Snam SpA      84,355  
  4,491      Superior Plus Corp.      46,160  
  1,100      Toho Gas Co., Ltd.      28,002  
  2,200      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      39,550  
     

 

 

 
        1,064,313  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.5%):       
  644      Alcon, Inc.^      56,105  
  4,403      Alcon, Inc.      388,054  
  1,070      Ambu A/S, Class B      28,010  
  3,762      Ansell, Ltd.      86,130  
  2,637      Arjo AB, Class B      32,281  
  1,200      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      25,712  
  425      BioMerieux      60,406  
  84      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG      17,674  
  246      Cellavision AB      8,826  
  304      Cochlear, Ltd.      47,718  
  600      Coloplast A/S, Class B      104,980  
  251      Coltene Holding AG      30,906  
  15,016      Convatec Group plc(a)      39,218  
  1,762      Demant A/S*      89,399  
  419      DiaSorin SpA      79,701  
  509      Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA      32,017  
  238      Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA      14,639  
  458      Eckert & Ziegler AG      49,014  
  2,223      Elekta AB, Class B      28,094  
  3,206      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      71,874  
  300      Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd.      22,407  
  2,253      Getinge AB, Class B      97,895  
  4,399      GN Store Nord A/S      274,908  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  405      Guerbet    $ 17,185  
  800      Hogy Medical Co., Ltd.      22,678  
  2,500      HOYA Corp.      370,751  
  500      Jeol, Ltd.      39,740  
  710      Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, NYS      26,164  
  5,281      Koninklijke Philips NV      196,273  
  700      Mani, Inc.      9,709  
  849      Medmix AG*(a)      41,960  
  1,000      Menicon Co., Ltd.      29,478  
  1,200      Nakanishi, Inc.      22,101  
  1,100      Nihon Kohden Corp.      30,097  
  7,000      Nipro Corp.      66,171  
  7,100      Olympus Corp.      163,110  
  1,800      Paramount Bed Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,538  
  457      Revenio Group OYJ      28,861  
  215      Sartorius AG      145,508  
  645      Siemens Healthineers AG(a)      48,328  
  1,648      Smith & Nephew plc      28,840  
  974      Smith & Nephew plc, ADR      33,720  
  386      Sonova Holding AG, Registered Shares      150,809  
  360      Stratec Se      56,460  
  56      Straumann Holding AG, Registered Shares, Class R      118,370  
  1,200      Sysmex Corp.      161,704  
  2,300      Terumo Corp.      97,205  
  180      Ypsomed Holding AG      36,720  
     

 

 

 
        3,658,448  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.9%):       
  3,400      Alfresa Holdings Corp.      45,324  
  3,260      Amplifon SpA      175,159  
  18,541      Arvida Group, Ltd.      25,028  
  200      As One Corp.      13,408  
  6,164      Attendo AB*(a)      26,220  
  18,377      Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.      23,132  
  700      BML, Inc.      21,761  
  3,715      CareTech Holdings plc      28,957  
  862      CVS Group plc      26,124  
  2,198      Ebos Group, Ltd.      62,036  
  1,000      Elan Corp.      9,653  
  4,012      Extendicare, Inc.      23,156  
  3,112      Fagron      52,370  
  1,400      France Bed Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,224  
  3,799      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      246,074  
  5,366      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      216,334  
  2,800      H.U. Group Holdings, Inc.      70,965  
  27,126      Healius, Ltd.      104,223  
  2,572      Humana AB*      20,687  
  1,400      Hygeia Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.(a)      8,770  
  1,746      Integral Diagnostics, Ltd.      6,276  
  2,000      Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.      19,061  
  1,000      Japan Medical Dynamic Marketing, Inc.      16,278  
  2,704      Korian SA      85,651  
  225      Lna Sante      12,884  
  3,204      Medical Facilities Corp.      23,685  
  15,698      Mediclinic International plc*      67,781  
  1,044      Medicover AB, Class B      42,588  
  3,300      Medipal Holdings Corp.      61,839  
  1,110      NMC Health plc*(b)       
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  21,704      Oceania Healthcare, Ltd.    $ 19,921  
  6,310      Oriola Oyj, Class B      14,387  
  1,066      Orpea      106,603  
  24,015      Raffles Medical Group, Ltd.      24,427  
  1,997      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      103,648  
  2,814      Ryman Healthcare, Ltd.      23,592  
  3,400      Ship Healthcare Holdings, Inc.      79,236  
  59,044      Sigma Healthcare, Ltd.      20,620  
  1,900      Solasto Corp.      20,405  
  3,465      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.      117,675  
  8,887      Spire Healthcare Group plc*(a)      30,089  
  8,438      Summerset Group Holdings, Ltd.      79,062  
  1,500      Suzuken Co., Ltd.      43,230  
  1,422      Terveystalo OYJ(a)      19,097  
  1,800      Toho Holdings Co., Ltd.      27,469  
  500      Tokai Corp./Gifu      8,587  
  3,655      Virtus Health, Ltd.      18,215  
  2,800      Vital Ksk Holdings, Inc.      19,648  
     

 

 

 
        2,322,559  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  7,980      AGFA-Gevaert NV*      34,414  
  1,026      Ascom Holding AG*      13,238  
  857      CompuGroup Medical SE & Co KgaA      69,339  
  2,389      Emis Group plc      43,838  
  2,400      M3, Inc.      120,907  
  700      MedPeer, Inc.*      21,823  
  800      Nnit A/S(a)      14,027  
  94      Pharmagest Interactive      10,050  
  1,258      Pro Medicus, Ltd.      57,168  
  1,213      Raysearch Laboratories AB*      7,567  
  3,335      Sectra AB, Class B*      73,306  
     

 

 

 
        465,677  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.5%):       
  2,190      888 Holdings plc      8,925  
  3,592      Accor SA*      116,231  
  600      AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd.      9,716  
  1,000      Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.      19,687  
  23,206      Ardent Leisure Group, Ltd.*      22,766  
  4,661      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      147,795  
  1,059      Basic-Fit NV*(a)      50,436  
  3,095      Betsson AB, Class B*      18,616  
  20,000      Cafe de Coral Holdings, Ltd.      35,654  
  1,533      Carnival plc, ADR*      28,345  
  72,000      Century City International Holdings, Ltd.*      3,740  
  970      CIE des Alpes*      15,219  
  4,935      Collins Foods, Ltd.      48,008  
  700      Colowide Co., Ltd.      9,916  
  2,726      Compass Group plc*      60,714  
  1,300      Create Restaurants Holdings In^      8,156  
  4,576      Crown Resorts, Ltd.*      39,899  
  799      Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Ltd.      68,616  
  13,489      Domino’s Pizza Group plc      83,720  
  1,600      Doutor Nichires Holdings Co., Ltd.      22,289  
  4,906      Elior Group*(a)      35,453  
  253      Evolution AB(a)      35,605  
  6,500      Fairwood Holdings, Ltd.      12,926  
  1,821      Flight Centre Travel Group, Ltd.*      23,393  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  495      Flutter Entertainment plc*    $ 78,100  
  2,342      Flutter Entertainment plc*      371,503  
  2,000      Food & Life Cos., Ltd.      75,365  
  200      Fuji Kyuko Co., Ltd.      7,081  
  557      Fuller Smith & Turner plc, Class A      5,376  
  7,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.*      36,273  
  200      Genki Sushi Co., Ltd.      4,430  
  38,700      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      22,262  
  3,888      Greggs plc      175,019  
  4,228      GVC Holdings plc*      95,979  
  18,230      Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels (The)*      16,017  
  1,499      InterContinental Hotels Group plc, ADR*      97,750  
  2,484      JD Wetherspoon plc*      32,288  
  868      Jumbo Interactive, Ltd.      12,160  
  1,100      KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd.      27,671  
  6,856      Kindred Group plc      81,087  
  1,700      Komeda Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,304  
  1,196      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM(a)      52,985  
  33,812      Marston’s plc*      35,130  
  200      Matsuyafoods Holdings Co., Ltd.      6,295  
  500      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      22,129  
  23,000      Melco International Development Ltd.*      28,057  
  5,571      Melia Hotels International SA*      37,880  
  14,000      Miramar Hotel & Investment      23,001  
  14,923      Mitchells & Butlers plc*      51,579  
  400      Monogatari Corp. (The)      23,479  
  46,000      NagaCorp, Ltd.      40,121  
  200      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      33,709  
  2,702      Pandox AB*      43,446  
  900      Pizza Pizza Royalty Corp.      8,553  
  10,182      PlayTech plc*      100,912  
  600      Pollard Banknote, Ltd.      18,904  
  12,439      Rank Group plc*      26,280  
  1,500      Resorttrust, Inc.      24,509  
  2,049      Restaurant Brands International, Inc.^      124,333  
  3,018      Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.*      28,516  
  19,755      Restaurant Group plc (The)*      25,105  
  1,200      Saint Marc Holdings Co., Ltd.      15,266  
  3,788      Sands China, Ltd.*      8,824  
  5,463      Scandic Hotels Group AB*(a)      21,981  
  44,000      Shangri-La Asia, Ltd.*      36,738  
  78,868      SJM Holdings, Ltd.*      53,111  
  1,360      SkiStar AB      25,560  
  28,026      Sky City Entertainment Group, Ltd.      59,877  
  6,100      Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd.      80,146  
  700      Sodexo SA      61,373  
  13,126      SSP Group plc*      42,527  
  30,737      Star Entertainment Group, Ltd. (The)*      81,948  
  21,530      Tabcorp Holdings, Ltd.      78,735  
  581      The Gym Group plc*(a)      1,992  
  137      Tivoli A/S*      16,938  
  800      Tokyotokeiba Co., Ltd.      29,617  
  2,200      Toridoll Holding Corp.      47,560  
  2,341      Whitbread plc*      94,541  
  500      Young & Co.’s Brewery plc, Class A      10,538  
  2,700      Zensho Holdings Co., Ltd.      63,411  
     

 

 

 
        3,680,096  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables (1.9%):       
  5,875      Azorim-Investment Development & Construction Co., Ltd.*    $ 35,165  
  4,812      Bang & Olufsen A/S*      20,493  
  12,573      Barratt Developments plc      126,987  
  3,181      Bellway plc      143,252  
  1,957      Berkeley Group Holdings plc      126,129  
  1,566      Bigben Interactive      28,815  
  3,728      Bonava AB      32,122  
  6,992      Bovis Homes Group plc      112,155  
  1,520      Breville Group, Ltd.      35,065  
  27,975      Cairn Home plc      35,957  
  1,700      Casio Computer Co., Ltd.      21,864  
  600      Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.      10,625  
  9,695      Countryside Properties plc*(a)      58,850  
  6,556      Crest Nicholson Holdings plc      32,928  
  1,076      De’Longhi      38,442  
  7,507      DFS Furniture plc      26,864  
  1,000      Dorel Industries, Inc.*      16,200  
  2,152      Duni AB*      27,843  
  4,630      Electrolux AB, Class B      111,971  
  1,200      Es-Con Japan, Ltd.      8,170  
  2,053      Fiskars OYJ Abp      53,751  
  36      Forbo Holding AG      73,626  
  1,600      Fuji Corp., Ltd.      9,642  
  900      Fujitsu General, Ltd.      21,374  
  10,300      Haseko Corp.      127,723  
  2,710      Henry Boot plc      10,415  
  700      Hoosiers Holdings      4,133  
  679      Husqvarna AB, Class A Shares      10,766  
  6,964      Husqvarna AB, Class B      110,918  
  2,100      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      48,730  
  2,147      JM AB      96,871  
  5,000      JS Global Lifestyle Co., Ltd.(a)      8,429  
  10,600      Jvc Kenwood Corp.      16,222  
  958      Kaufman & Broad SA      40,260  
  1,300      LEC, Inc.      9,778  
  540      Leifheit AG      22,626  
  43,200      Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.      66,926  
  10      Metall Zug AG      22,612  
  1,363      Neinor Homes SA(a)      16,253  
  6,900      Nikon Corp.      74,404  
  5,576      Nobia AB      33,608  
  39,400      Panasonic Corp.      433,418  
  4,180      Persimmon plc      161,193  
  1,200      Pressance Corp.      21,799  
  6,708      Redrow plc      63,499  
  200      Rinnai Corp.      17,993  
  1,300      Sangetsu Corp.      18,342  
  864      SEB SA      134,562  
  5,900      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      98,611  
  4,600      Sekisui House, Ltd.      98,762  
  3,000      Sharp Corp.      34,383  
  11,300      Sony Group Corp.      1,428,673  
  2,500      Space Value Holdings Co., Ltd.      24,924  
  1,800      Starts Corp., Inc.      39,303  
  4,800      Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.      92,917  
  328      Surteco Group SE      14,160  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  1,100      Tamron Co., Ltd.    $ 27,310  
  42,121      Taylor Wimpey plc      99,749  
  805      The Vitec Group plc      15,474  
  1,000      TOA Corp.      7,026  
  3,468      TomTom NV*      35,680  
  100      V-ZUG Holding AG*      13,498  
     

 

 

 
        4,810,240  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.3%):       
  4,370      Essity AB, Class B      142,645  
  407      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      31,819  
  4,900      Lion Corp.      65,486  
  14,255      Mcbride plc*      11,570  
  2,700      Pigeon Corp.      51,604  
  5,635      PZ Cussons plc      15,675  
  3,635      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      311,782  
  800      Unicharm Corp.      34,774  
     

 

 

 
        665,355  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.4%):
      
  1,528      Albioma SA      59,641  
  892      Boralex, Inc., Class A      24,458  
  1,800      Capital Power Corp.      56,157  
  4,606      ContourGlobal plc(a)      11,914  
  18,267      Drax Group plc      149,715  
  2,483      EDP Renovaveis SA      61,567  
  1,300      Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.      17,261  
  1,200      Encavis AG      21,243  
  2,646      Energix-Renewable Energies, Ltd.      11,246  
  1,000      eRex Co., Ltd.      17,749  
  1,756      ERG SpA      56,553  
  49      Greenvolt-Energias Renovaveis SA*      353  
  3,655      Innergex Renewable Energy, Inc.      53,750  
  690      Kenon Holdings, Ltd.      35,076  
  2,800      New Energy Solar, Ltd.      1,670  
  4,718      Northland Power, Inc.      141,562  
  2,264      OPC Energy, Ltd.*      25,362  
  1,500      Polaris Infrastructure, Inc.      19,995  
  500      Renova, Inc.*      9,053  
  438      Scatec ASA(a)      7,536  
  604      Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente SA*      11,587  
  14,446      Transalta Corp.      160,473  
  2,200      Transalta Renewables, Inc.      32,614  
  1,431      Uniper SE      68,053  
  910      West Holdings Corp.      45,132  
     

 

 

 
        1,099,720  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.9%):       
  1,137      Bonheur ASA      45,833  
  8,000      Chevalier International Holdings Ltd.      9,593  
  12,732      CIR SpA-Compagnie Industriali*      6,809  
  28,430      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.      183,466  
  1,581      DCC plc      129,261  
  2,000      Guoco Group, Ltd.      21,802  
  8,100      Hitachi, Ltd.      438,829  
  822      Indus Holding AG      30,630  
  515      Italmobiliare SpA      19,009  
  1,500      Katakura Industries Co., Ltd.      32,152  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates, continued       
  1,700      Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd.    $ 39,115  
  18,500      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      70,306  
  2,235      Lifco AB, Class B      66,949  
  51,933      Melrose Industries plc      112,668  
  5,400      Nisshinbo Holdings, Inc.      41,008  
  6,522      Nolato AB, Class B      77,165  
  23,000      NWS Holdings, Ltd.      21,564  
  1,821      Rheinmetall AG      172,202  
  3,900      Seibu Holdings, Inc.*      36,491  
  70,000      Shun Tak Holdings, Ltd.*      19,316  
  2,187      Siemens AG, Registered Shares      380,115  
  6,191      Smiths Group plc      131,948  
  5,400      Tokai Holdings Corp.      40,804  
  1,300      Toshiba Corp.      53,469  
     

 

 

 
        2,180,504  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.6%):       
  2,838      Admiral Group plc      121,311  
  33,091      AEGON NV      164,903  
  3,360      Ageas NV      174,175  
  69,040      AIA Group, Ltd.      696,043  
  41,090      Alm Brand A/S      80,017  
  5,951      ASR Nederland NV      273,580  
  11,584      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      244,464  
  1,203      AUB Group, Ltd.      22,551  
  51,290      Aviva plc      284,779  
  10,959      AXA SA      326,571  
  999      Baloise Holding AG, Registered Shares      163,154  
  12,901      Beazley plc*      81,384  
  4      Brookfield Asset Management Reinsurance Partners, Ltd., Class A      250  
  7,384      Chesnara plc      28,468  
  2,213      Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings, Ltd.*      56,827  
  2,983      CNP Assurances SA      73,868  
  5,028      Coface SA      71,667  
  4,900      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      99,013  
  39,884      Direct Line Insurance Group plc      150,322  
  82      E-L Financial Corp., Ltd.      58,852  
  598      Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd.      294,196  
  1,054      FBD Holdings plc*      8,811  
  1,341      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      32,585  
  500      Great Eastern Holdings, Ltd.      7,481  
  1,464      Great-West Lifeco, Inc.      43,938  
  1,465      Grupo Catalana Occidente SA      49,821  
  539      Hannover Rueck SE      102,625  
  5,987      Harel Insurance Investments &      67,913  
  1,758      Helvetia Holding AG      206,779  
  6,718      Hiscox, Ltd.      78,075  
  3,319      IA Financial Corp., Inc.      189,935  
  506      IDI Insurance Co., Ltd.      18,490  
  18,382      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      56,969  
  875      Intact Financial Corp.      113,747  
  6,700      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      52,303  
  1,900      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      30,535  
  52,851      Just Group plc*      59,663  
  7,487      Lancashire Holdings, Ltd.      53,609  
  58,863      Legal & General Group plc      236,907  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  16,597      Linea Directa Aseguradora SA Cia de Seguros y Reaseguros    $ 30,203  
  13,095      Manulife Financial Corp.      249,722  
  1,683      Manulife Financial Corp.      32,082  
  25,567      Mapfre SA      51,997  
  40,419      Medibank Private, Ltd.      98,516  
  1,055      Menora Mivtachim Holdings, Ltd.      24,998  
  16,641      Migdal Insurance & Financial Holding, Ltd.      27,452  
  2,100      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      64,808  
  702      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      208,240  
  17,124      NIB Holdings, Ltd.      87,290  
  4,192      NN Group NV      226,542  
  4,541      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      40,046  
  7,577      Phoenix Holdings, Ltd. (The)      97,991  
  5,968      Poste Italiane SpA(a)      78,311  
  1,147      Protector Forsikring ASA      14,099  
  2,817      Prudential plc, ADR      96,989  
  20,613      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      170,241  
  3,005      Sabre Insurance Group plc(a)      7,467  
  3,822      Saga plc*      14,748  
  3,323      Sampo Oyj, Class A      165,769  
  5,815      SCOR SA      181,581  
  445      Solid Forsakring AB*      2,894  
  2,600      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      109,856  
  11,137      Steadfast Group, Ltd.      42,538  
  5,818      Storebrand ASA      58,397  
  3,075      Sun Life Financial, Inc.      171,247  
  15,987      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      128,810  
  434      Swiss Life Holding AG, Registered Shares      265,717  
  2,645      Swiss Re AG      261,336  
  5,900      T&D Holdings, Inc.      75,522  
  974      Talanx AG      47,196  
  3,700      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      205,656  
  1,470      Topdanmark A/S      82,431  
  92      Trisura Group, Ltd.*      3,469  
  2,023      Tryg A/S      50,008  
  15,269      Unipol Gruppo Finanziario SpA      82,479  
  14,182      UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA      39,855  
  6,313      Uniqa Insurance Group AG      57,805  
  54      Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA      26,375  
  2,033      Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe      57,497  
  1,796      Wuestenrot & Wuerttembergische AG      35,945  
  967      Zurich Insurance Group AG      423,906  
     

 

 

 
        9,074,612  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.3%):       
  13,958      Auto Trader Group plc(a)      139,497  
  400      Bengo4.com, Inc.*      21,184  
  4,616      Carsales.com, Ltd.      84,283  
  1,200      Dip Corp.      40,856  
  5,012      Domain Holdings Australia, Ltd.      20,606  
  2,200      Kakaku.com, Inc.      58,734  
  2,000      mixi, Inc.      35,044  
  135      New Work SE      33,360  
  437      REA Group, Ltd.      53,308  
  14,661      Rightmove plc      157,402  
  897      Scout24 AG(a)      62,876  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services, continued       
  1,561      Seek, Ltd.    $ 37,236  
  2,124      Solocal Group*      2,968  
  6,000      Z Holdings Corp.      34,824  
     

 

 

 
        782,178  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.4%):       
  1,600      ASKUL Corp.      21,342  
  1,900      Belluna Co., Ltd.      11,714  
  621      BHG Group AB*      6,532  
  18,446      Boohoo Group plc*      30,671  
  1,898      Cazoo Group, Ltd.*      11,447  
  264      Delivery Hero SE*(a)      29,472  
  4,443      Dustin Group AB(a)      51,936  
  2,462      eDreams ODIGEO SA*      26,937  
  800      Enigmo, Inc.      5,294  
  1,765      HelloFresh SE*      135,753  
  10,000      Hong Kong Technology Venture Co., Ltd.      10,902  
  788      Just Eat Takeaway.com NV*(a)      43,288  
  500      Media Do Co., Ltd.      17,768  
  22,749      Moneysupermarket.com Group plc      66,346  
  6,515      N Brown Group plc*      3,802  
  821      Ocado Group plc*      18,624  
  5,176      On The Beach Group plc*(a)      19,859  
  1,785      Prosus NV      148,879  
  3,300      Rakuten, Inc.      33,115  
  1,817      Takkt AG      31,679  
  6,523      Webjet, Ltd.*      24,545  
  1,397      Zalando SE*(a)      113,275  
  1,200      ZOZO, Inc.      37,372  
     

 

 

 
        900,552  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.8%):       
  1,006      AddNode Group AB      47,620  
  45      Adyen NV*(a)      117,719  
  370      Allgeier SE      23,493  
  725      Alten SA      130,260  
  776      Amadeus IT Group SA*      52,262  
  733      Appen, Ltd.      5,928  
  3,282      Atea ASA      61,002  
  2,869      Atos SE      121,845  
  180      Aubay      12,794  
  1,677      Bechtle AG      120,202  
  1,490      Bouvet ASA      12,756  
  2,289      Capgemini SA      559,037  
  2,893      CGI, Inc.*      256,031  
  700      CGI, Inc.*      61,903  
  4,933      Columbus A/S      7,181  
  2,733      Computacenter plc      107,694  
  5,121      Computershare, Ltd.      74,522  
  1,100      Comture Corp.      34,346  
  7,824      Data#3, Ltd.      33,472  
  500      Densan System Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,878  
  100      Digital Garage, Inc.      4,257  
  1,400      DTS Corp.      30,728  
  8,624      Econocom Group SA/NV      35,725  
  2,927      Edenred      135,076  
  1,000      E-Guardian, Inc.      29,501  
  558      Enea AB*      16,767  
  3,891      Fdm Group Holdings plc      67,095  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  457      Formula Systems 1985, Ltd.    $ 55,737  
  700      Fujitsu, Ltd.      119,957  
  1,332      GFT Technologies SE      69,950  
  6,665      Global Dominion Access SA(a)      35,506  
  2,200      GMO Internet, Inc.      51,610  
  400      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      49,595  
  1,200      ID Holdings Corp.      9,308  
  4,290      Indra Sistemas SA*      46,156  
  1,200      Infocom Corp.      22,770  
  900      Information Services Internati      30,327  
  2,776      Iomart Group plc      6,361  
  1,100      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      35,392  
  4,018      Kainos Group plc      104,359  
  400      Kanematsu Electronics, Ltd.      13,775  
  1,231      Knowit AB      50,987  
  19,489      Link Administration Holdings, Ltd.      79,009  
  896      Matrix It, Ltd.      27,228  
  300      Mitsubishi Research Institute      10,539  
  370      Nagarro SE*      85,066  
  7,286      NCC Group plc      22,975  
  600      NEC Networks & System Integrat      9,369  
  1,300      NET One Systems Co., Ltd.      34,905  
  2,520      NEXTDC, Ltd.*      23,398  
  3,000      Nihon Unisys, Ltd.      83,862  
  2,056      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      87,571  
  800      NS Solutions Corp.      24,609  
  2,200      Nsd Co., Ltd.      39,984  
  5,500      NTT Data Corp.      117,945  
  4,539      Ordina NV      21,174  
  1,400      Otsuka Corp.      66,833  
  1,200      Poletowin Pitcrew Holdings, Inc.      10,793  
  9,052      Pushpay Holdings, Ltd.*      8,173  
  2,400      Relia, Inc.      20,348  
  663      Reply SpA      133,820  
  2,400      SCSK Corp.      47,772  
  65      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      89,530  
  800      Softbank Technology Corp.      17,828  
  3,194      Softcat plc      77,926  
  795      Sopra Steria Group      142,058  
  16,000      Sunevision Holdings, Ltd.      15,144  
  1,200      TDC Soft, Inc.      12,053  
  1,700      TechMatrix Corp.      28,031  
  2,278      Tieto OYJ      70,839  
  3,000      TIS, Inc.      89,045  
  315      Wavestone      19,501  
  2,243      Worldline SA*(a)      124,979  
     

 

 

 
        4,515,191  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.4%):       
  1,179      Accell Group*      64,356  
  1,700      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.      132,960  
  1,496      Beneteau SA*      24,221  
  606      BRP, Inc.      53,087  
  891      Games Workshop Group plc      120,200  
  1,000      Globeride, Inc.      27,480  
  72,000      Goodbaby International Holdings, Ltd.*      9,241  
  178      Harvia OYJ      11,842  
  2,500      Heiwa Corp.      41,110  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Leisure Products, continued       
  500      Mars Group Holdings Corp.    $ 7,326  
  1,659      Maytronics, Ltd.      40,948  
  342      MIPS AB      44,857  
  800      Mizuno Corp.      15,570  
  26,132      Photo-Me International plc*      22,275  
  1,200      Sankyo Co., Ltd.      31,105  
  3,600      Sega Sammy Holdings, Inc.      56,567  
  200      Shimano, Inc.      53,161  
  700      Spin Master Corp.*(a)      26,532  
  1,169      Technogym SpA(a)      11,185  
  1,995      Thule Group AB (The)(a)      120,628  
  4,700      Tomy Co., Ltd.      44,917  
  385      Trigano SA      74,818  
  700      Universal Entertainment Corp.*      14,858  
  500      Yamaha Corp.      24,653  
     

 

 

 
        1,073,897  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.5%):       
  1,444      Addlife AB, Class B      60,767  
  55      Bachem Holding AG, Class B      43,100  
  840      Biotage AB      24,314  
  223      Chemometec A/S      28,294  
  2,446      Clinigen Group plc      30,276  
  600      Cmic Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,988  
  2,245      Eurofins Scientific SE      277,925  
  1,196      Gerresheimer AG      115,365  
  124      Lonza Group AG, Registered Shares      103,331  
  2,345      Qiagen NV*      130,335  
  225      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      123,215  
  1,600      Shin Nippon Biomedical Laborat      19,709  
  97      Siegfried Holding AG      94,578  
  153      Tecan Group AG      93,067  
     

 

 

 
        1,152,264  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.4%):       
  3,060      Aalberts NV      201,319  
  2,600      Aichi Corp.      18,290  
  2,100      Aida Engineering, Ltd.      19,522  
  781      Alfa Laval AB      31,259  
  1,607      Alimak Group AB(a)      20,327  
  900      Alinco, Inc.      7,677  
  907      Alstom SA      32,300  
  10,200      Amada Holdings Co., Ltd.      101,032  
  2,314      Andritz AG      119,219  
  2,000      Anest Iwata Corp.      15,461  
  2,700      Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.      15,371  
  2,774      Atlas Copco AB      161,973  
  4,369      Atlas Copco AB, Class A      302,545  
  1,149      ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc.*      45,640  
  1,300      Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.      10,095  
  2,296      Beijer Alma AB      69,762  
  183      Bobst Group SA*      16,652  
  4,886      Bodycote plc      57,108  
  243      Bucher Industries AG      119,883  
  66      Burckhardt Compression Holding AG      31,261  
  56      Bystronic AG      78,701  
  459      Cargotec OYJ      22,666  
  17,240      CNH Industrial NV      331,076  
  1,560      Concentric AB      48,229  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  1,110      Construcc y Aux de Ferrocarr SA    $ 45,912  
  103      Daetwyler Holding AG      45,445  
  600      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      49,046  
  6,307      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      231,838  
  2,100      Daiwa Industries, Ltd.      23,034  
  745      Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA      22,840  
  1,585      Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA      30,926  
  3,954      Deutz AG*      29,570  
  4,700      DMG Mori Co., Ltd.      80,806  
  694      Duerr AG      31,705  
  800      Ebara Corp.      44,456  
  4,630      Electrolux Professional AB, Class B*      32,054  
  3,120      Epiroc AB, Class A      79,129  
  1,755      Epiroc AB, Class B      37,231  
  200      FANUC Corp.      42,405  
  114      Feintool International Holding AG*      7,233  
  19,282      Fincantieri SpA*^      13,244  
  1,579      Fluidra SA      63,236  
  13,800      Frencken Group, Ltd.      20,210  
  2,000      Fuji Corp.      44,722  
  1,700      Furukawa Co., Ltd.      18,774  
  1,887      GEA Group AG      103,314  
  152      Georg Fischer AG      229,898  
  371      Gesco AG*      10,752  
  2,000      Glory, Ltd.      38,070  
  2,253      Haldex AB*      13,217  
  600      Harmonic Drive Systems, Inc.      25,270  
  4,700      Hino Motors, Ltd.      38,747  
  1,200      Hisaka Works, Ltd.      8,979  
  1,700      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      49,157  
  9,200      Hitachi Zosen Corp.      63,843  
  1,000      Hosokawa Micron Corp.      29,572  
  6,200      IHI Corp.      124,870  
  13,720      IMI plc      321,508  
  791      Interpump Group SpA      57,573  
  17      Interroll Holding AG, Registered Shares      76,394  
  1,300      Iseki & Co., Ltd.      15,623  
  1,500      Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (The)      50,352  
  885      JOST Werke AG(a)      49,867  
  2,512      Jungheinrich AG      128,321  
  197      Kardex Holding AG      64,868  
  900      Kato Works Co., Ltd.      6,488  
  5,700      Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.      103,000  
  3,102      Kion Group AG      340,741  
  400      Kitagawa Iron Works Co., Ltd.      5,207  
  1,400      Kito Corp.      24,178  
  5,100      Kitz Corp.      31,576  
  572      Koenig & Bauer AG*      20,383  
  5,900      Komatsu, Ltd.      138,196  
  115      Komax Holding AG*      31,876  
  2,900      Komori Corp.      17,368  
  2,297      Kone OYJ, Class B      163,326  
  1,994      Konecranes OYJ      78,950  
  362      Krones AG      39,524  
  4,000      Kubota Corp.      88,822  
  900      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      42,560  
  1,000      Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      13,259  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  1,200      Maezawa Kyuso Industries Co., Ltd.    $ 11,117  
  700      Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.      25,019  
  600      Makita Corp.      25,478  
  586      Manitou Bf SA      18,380  
  800      Max Co., Ltd.      13,320  
  1,800      Meidensha Corp.      42,890  
  800      Metawater Co., Ltd.      14,044  
  18,989      Metso Outotec Oyj      201,952  
  5,732      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.      162,758  
  900      Misumi Group, Inc.      36,941  
  6,500      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      150,478  
  1,000      Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.      9,218  
  700      Mitsuboshi Belting Co., Ltd.      13,124  
  2,900      Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.*      9,612  
  1,100      Miura Co., Ltd.      37,881  
  12,954      Morgan Advanced Materials plc      62,941  
  1,500      Morita Holdings Corp.      17,061  
  2,400      Nabtesco Corp.      71,067  
  800      Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.      28,662  
  2,000      Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.*      3,635  
  3,340      Neles OYJ      51,860  
  1,456      NFI Group, Inc.      23,323  
  2,500      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      42,264  
  2,300      Nikkiso Co., Ltd.      16,058  
  1,267      Nilfisk Holding A/S*      41,697  
  3,900      Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.      23,097  
  400      Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.      10,993  
  800      Nitta Corp.      20,501  
  500      Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.      7,961  
  1,900      Nitto Seiko Co., Ltd.      10,739  
  300      Noritake Co., Ltd.      13,060  
  995      Norma Group SE      38,354  
  7,700      NSK, Ltd.      49,415  
  14,800      NTN Corp.*      30,888  
  7,984      OC Oerlikon Corp. AG      81,721  
  1,700      Oiles Corp.      24,968  
  600      Okuma Corp.      26,716  
  400      Organo Corp.      30,087  
  2,800      OSG Corp.      43,487  
  692      Palfinger AG      27,006  
  174      Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG      42,787  
  150      Plasson Industries, Ltd.      10,606  
  118      Rational AG      120,962  
  70      Rieter Holding AG*      13,545  
  16,905      Rotork plc      81,536  
  1,800      Ryobi, Ltd.      17,155  
  8,822      Sandvik AB      246,572  
  364      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      97,229  
  188,100      SembCorp Marine, Ltd.*      11,456  
  388      SFS Group AG      53,487  
  1,000      Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.      32,697  
  1,200      Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.      20,610  
  1,900      Shinmaywa Industries, Ltd.      14,456  
  78,000      Singamas Container Holdings, Ltd.      11,706  
  2,200      Sintokogio, Ltd.      13,583  
  3,528      Skellerup Holdings, Ltd.      15,318  
  892      SKF AB      21,543  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  7,963      SKF AB, Class B    $ 187,785  
  100      SMC Corp.      67,474  
  2,300      Sodick Co., Ltd.      16,381  
  995      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      216,461  
  891      Stabilus SA      65,449  
  1,600      Star Micronics Co., Ltd.      21,552  
  849      Sulzer AG, Registered Shares      83,720  
  3,700      Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.      89,740  
  3,900      Tadano, Ltd.      37,579  
  900      Takeuchi Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      21,359  
  1,300      Takuma Co., Ltd.      16,110  
  478      Technotrans SE      16,053  
  10,187      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      202,786  
  1,500      THK Co., Ltd.      36,174  
  2,100      Tocalo Co., Ltd.      26,936  
  1,400      Torishima Pump Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      11,650  
  3,641      Trelleborg AB      95,179  
  1,098      Troax Group AB      56,334  
  1,100      Tsubaki Nakashima Co., Ltd.      14,052  
  1,400      Tsubakimoto Chain Co.      38,471  
  1,800      Tsugami Corp.      27,378  
  1,200      Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.      11,833  
  600      Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      8,640  
  5,533      Valmet Corp.      235,535  
  803      VAT Group AG(a)      397,152  
  1,074      VBG Group AB, Class B      22,296  
  6,862      Vesuvius plc      41,710  
  4,198      Volvo AB, Class A      98,167  
  27,553      Volvo AB, Class B      635,477  
  229      Vossloh AG      11,772  
  1,416      Wacker Neuson SE      40,683  
  7,232      Wartsila OYJ Abp, Class B      100,707  
  560      Washtec AG      35,049  
  4,095      Weir Group plc (The)      94,456  
  3,000      Yamabiko Corp.      32,504  
  48,300      Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, Ltd.      48,084  
  7,188      Zardoya Otis SA      58,175  
     

 

 

 
        11,132,717  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.6%):       
  22      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class A      73,345  
  30      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class B      107,682  
  1,600      Algoma Central Corp.      21,543  
  3,578      American Shipping Co. ASA      13,095  
  556      Clarkson plc      29,152  
  1,333      D/S Norden A/S      33,837  
  1,307      DFDS A/S*      69,826  
  371      Hapag-Lloyd AG(a)      116,676  
  3,300      Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.      15,681  
  5,897      Irish Continental Group*      30,353  
  2,300      Japan Transcity Corp.      14,181  
  600      Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.*      36,107  
  725      Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Registered Shares      233,233  
  1,600      Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.      118,823  
  3,100      Nippon Yusen KK      236,156  
  600      NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.      18,236  
  3,500      Orient Overseas International, Ltd.      85,872  
  215,000      Pacific Basin Shipping, Ltd.      78,969  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Marine, continued       
  26,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.    $ 94,110  
  1,962      Stolt-Nielsen, Ltd.      30,315  
     

 

 

 
        1,457,192  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.0%):       
  1,334      Aclara Resources, Inc.*      1,171  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.5%):       
  1,008      4imprint Group plc      38,403  
  3,715      Aimia, Inc.*      14,539  
  65      APG SGA SA*      14,192  
  14,475      Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA*      33,410  
  2,124      Ascential plc*      11,550  
  4,886      Atresmedia Corp. de Medios de Comuicacion SA      18,546  
  1,951      Bloomsbury Publishing plc      9,492  
  401      Cogeco Communications, Inc.      31,936  
  400      Cogeco, Inc.      25,689  
  5,394      Corus Entertainment, Inc.      20,300  
  5,200      Cyberagent, Inc.      86,551  
  3,302      Daily Mail & General Trust plc      12,060  
  1,800      Dentsu Group, Inc.      64,176  
  3,391      Euromoney Institutional Investor plc      42,415  
  8,672      Eutelsat Communications SA      106,096  
  1,700      F@n Communications, Inc.      5,736  
  2,800      Fuji Media Holdings, Inc.      26,911  
  1,123      Future plc      58,141  
  2,700      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.      44,988  
  8,376      HT&E, Ltd.      12,802  
  8,773      Hyve Group plc*      11,127  
  9,435      Informa plc*      65,682  
  2,000      Intage Holdings, Inc.      30,574  
  1,711      Ipsos      80,309  
  119,144      ITV plc*      177,669  
  9,582      Ive Group, Ltd.      12,141  
  3,439      JCDecaux SA*      86,162  
  1,600      Kadokawa Corp.      41,700  
  2,312      Kin And Carta plc*      9,079  
  1,467      Lagardere SCA*      40,705  
  1,449      Liberty Global plc, Class A*      40,195  
  3,548      Liberty Global plc, Class C*      99,663  
  1,664      M6 Metropole Television SA      32,492  
  1,300      Macromill, Inc.      12,515  
  8,183      Mediaset Espana Comunicacion SA*      38,162  
  10,230      MFE-MediaForEurope NV, Class A*      10,429  
  10,230      MFE-MediaForEurope NV, Class B      14,499  
  3,270      Modern Times Group MTG AB, Class B*      33,264  
  64,511      Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings, Ltd.      136,381  
  961      Nordic Entertainment Group AB, Class B*      49,882  
  12,519      NOS SGPS SA      48,620  
  1,307      NRJ Group      8,361  
  19,083      Ooh!media, Ltd.*      23,500  
  30      Otello Corp. ASA*      92  
  5,688      Pearson plc      47,090  
  2,872      Pearson plc, ADR      24,125  
  68,000      PICO Far East Holdings, Ltd.      11,076  
  1,050      ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE      16,762  
  1,300      Proto Corp.      15,482  
  6,455      Publicis Groupe SA      434,552  
  4,026      Quebecor, Inc., Class B      90,878  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media, continued       
  4,571      RAI Way SpA(a)    $ 27,098  
  12,118      Reach plc      46,366  
  1,406      RTL Group      74,693  
  1,116      S4 Capital plc*      9,572  
  4,177      Sanoma OYJ      64,867  
  214      Schibsted ASA, Class A      8,272  
  239      Schibsted ASA, Class B      8,006  
  16,754      SES Global, Class A      133,017  
  60,999      Seven West Media, Ltd.*      28,626  
  7,456      Shaw Communications, Inc.      226,215  
  44,700      Singapore Press Holdings, Ltd.      77,304  
  7,455      Sky Network Television, Ltd.*      13,794  
  7,900      SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings, Inc.      28,851  
  4,175      Societe Television Francaise 1      41,452  
  15,013      Southern Cross Media Group, Ltd.      21,190  
  1,167      Stroeer SE & Co. KGaA      92,107  
  1,900      TBS Holdings, Inc.      27,495  
  1,294      Telenet Group Holding NV      47,227  
  15,000      Television Broadcasts, Ltd.*      9,062  
  1,400      TV Asahi Holdings Corp.      17,403  
  500      TV Tokyo Holdings Corp.      8,878  
  232      TX Group AG*      39,812  
  1,000      ValueCommerce Co., Ltd.      38,873  
  500      Wowow, Inc.      7,631  
  10,008      WPP plc      151,248  
  700      Zenrin Co., Ltd.      6,044  
     

 

 

 
        3,676,204  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (5.1%):       
  3,860      Acerinox SA      49,620  
  500      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      26,562  
  1,039      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      55,212  
  400      Aichi Steel Corp.      8,664  
  17,686      Alamos Gold, Inc., Class A      136,057  
  16,230      Allkem, Ltd.*      123,479  
  25,386      Alumina, Ltd.      34,561  
  723      Amg Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.      23,272  
  11,811      Anglo American plc      483,372  
  6,056      Antofagasta plc      110,059  
  1,842      Aperam SA      100,110  
  4,677      ArcelorMittal      150,424  
  3,007      ArcelorMittal SA, NYS      95,713  
  12,400      Argonaut Gold, Inc.*      23,529  
  2,200      Asahi Holdings, Inc.      39,217  
  16,100      Ascot Resources, Ltd.*      15,402  
  85,942      Aurelia Metals, Ltd.*      25,665  
  1,613      Aurubis AG      161,718  
  38,815      B2Gold Corp.      152,829  
  13,914      Barrick Gold Corp.      264,573  
  1,875      Bekaert NV      83,563  
  28,371      BHP Group, Ltd.      858,470  
  11,591      Billiton plc, ADR      692,794  
  11,697      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      178,652  
  4,883      Boliden AB      189,360  
  10,300      Capstone Mining Corp.*      45,441  
  65,537      Centamin plc      78,825  
  8,200      Centerra Gold, Inc.      63,212  
  4,374      Central Asia Metals plc      15,284  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  16,254      China Gold International Resources Corp., Ltd.    $ 43,565  
  1,300      Daido Steel Co., Ltd.      47,141  
  1,400      Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd.      19,443  
  5,323      Deterra Royalties, Ltd.      16,654  
  1,900      DOWA Mining Co.      79,887  
  7,500      Dundee Precious Metals, Inc.      46,371  
  4,662      Eldorado Gold Corp.*      43,715  
  10,499      Endeavour Mining plc      230,184  
  1,907      Equinox Gold Corp.*      12,906  
  539      Eramet*      44,265  
  2,899      Ero Copper Corp.*      44,237  
  30,536      Evolution Mining, Ltd.      90,338  
  7,778      EVRAZ plc      63,477  
  15,230      Ferrexpo plc      61,684  
  11,370      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.      272,114  
  20,837      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      292,328  
  400      Franco-Nevada Corp.      55,326  
  2,189      Fresnillo plc      26,409  
  8,215      Galiano Gold, Inc.*      5,911  
  99,934      Glencore plc      508,340  
  1,100      Godo Steel, Ltd.      13,210  
  20,162      Gold Road Resources, Ltd.      23,043  
  6,486      Granges AB      76,249  
  2,043      Hill & Smith Holdings plc      49,685  
  2,300      Hitachi Metals, Ltd.*      42,608  
  9,715      Hochschild Mining plc      17,056  
  8,995      Hudbay Minerals, Inc.      65,144  
  3,880      i-80 Gold Corp.*      9,479  
  15,631      IAMGOLD Corp.*      48,692  
  21,854      IGO, Ltd.      183,210  
  5,323      Iluka Resources, Ltd.      39,320  
  14,498      Imdex, Ltd.      31,106  
  3,605      Ivanhoe Mines, Ltd., Class A*      29,415  
  7,300      JFE Holdings, Inc.      93,128  
  50,009      Jupiter Mines, Ltd.      8,367  
  57,034      Kinross Gold Corp.      330,985  
  6,043      Kirkland Lake Gold, Ltd.      253,273  
  10,600      Kobe Steel, Ltd.      53,186  
  1,800      Kyoei Steel, Ltd.      22,148  
  800      Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp.      23,738  
  14,207      Lucara Diamond Corp.*      6,627  
  19,726      Lundin Mining Corp.      154,090  
  3,551      Lynas Rare Earths, Ltd.*      26,286  
  14,393      MACA, Ltd.      8,607  
  48,387      Macmahon Holdings, Ltd.      6,519  
  1,400      Maruichi Steel Tube, Ltd.      31,045  
  176,000      Midas Holdings, Ltd.*      4,703  
  4,298      Mineral Resources, Ltd.      175,167  
  3,300      Mitsubishi Materials Corp.      56,676  
  500      Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      4,579  
  2,500      Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.      68,157  
  27,183      Mount Gibson Iron, Ltd.      8,417  
  2,200      Neturen Co., Ltd.      11,153  
  27,410      New Gold, Inc.*      40,959  
  11,300      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      201,405  
  6,200      Nippon Denko Co., Ltd.      15,743  
  2,700      Nippon Light Metal Holdings Co.      40,511  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  8,595      Nippon Steel Corp.    $ 140,594  
  930      Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd.      18,334  
  200      Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd.      11,461  
  12,148      Norsk Hydro ASA      95,723  
  18,307      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      125,453  
  34,228      OceanaGold Corp.*      59,536  
  21,175      OM Holdings, Ltd.*      13,884  
  500      Osaka Steel Co., Ltd.      5,026  
  3,243      Osisko Gold Royalties, Ltd.      39,691  
  10,428      Outokumpu OYJ*      64,672  
  10,556      OZ Minerals, Ltd.      217,715  
  900      Pacific Metals Co., Ltd.      16,743  
  3,217      Pan American Silver Corp.      80,272  
  33,353      Perenti Global, Ltd.      22,445  
  55,326      Perseus Mining, Ltd.      65,278  
  78,541      Petropavlovsk plc*      20,332  
  15,210      Pilbara Minerals, Ltd.*      35,429  
  5,733      Pretium Resources, Inc.*      80,773  
  23,878      Ramelius Resources, Ltd.      27,323  
  38,407      Regis Resources, Ltd.      54,552  
  47,236      Resolute Mining, Ltd.*      13,407  
  731      Rio Tinto plc      48,187  
  13,055      Rio Tinto plc, Registered Shares, ADR      873,902  
  4,167      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      304,390  
  6,000      Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.*      6,879  
  1,335      Salzgitter AG*      47,755  
  16,356      Sandfire Resources, Ltd.      78,561  
  4,142      Sandstorm Gold, Ltd.*      25,707  
  21,718      Schmolz + Bickenbach AG*      8,163  
  32,896      Silver Lake Resources, Ltd.*      42,516  
  7,523      Sims, Ltd.      88,234  
  52,227      South32, Ltd.      153,055  
  6,151      SSAB AB, Class A*      35,481  
  16,700      SSAB AB, Class B*      83,769  
  7,749      SSR Mining, Inc.      137,176  
  30,000      St. Barbara, Ltd.      32,015  
  2,000      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      75,654  
  19,859      Syrah Resources, Ltd.*      26,212  
  6,862      Teck Cominco, Ltd., Class B      197,646  
  10,621      ThyssenKrupp AG*      116,988  
  1,900      Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.      15,584  
  700      Toho Zinc Co., Ltd.      13,873  
  300      Tokyo Rope Manufacturing Co. Ltd.*      2,275  
  4,200      Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      50,294  
  4,685      Torex Gold Resources, Inc.*      48,709  
  969      Trevali Mining Corp.*      1,318  
  3,324      Turquoise Hill Resources, Ltd.*      54,664  
  1,500      UACJ Corp.      34,685  
  3,908      Voestalpine AG      142,450  
  4,200      Wesdome Gold Mines, Ltd.*      38,221  
  16,249      Western Areas, Ltd.*      40,608  
  13,013      Westgold Resources, Ltd.      19,322  
  700      Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.      30,041  
  31,047      Yamana Gold, Inc.      130,590  
  1,600      Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd.      51,827  
  800      Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd.      17,704  
     

 

 

 
        12,846,718  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multiline Retail (0.7%):       
  13,107      B&M European Value Retail SA    $ 112,163  
  447      Canadian Tire Corp., Class A      64,124  
  2,909      Dollarama, Inc.      145,611  
  6,286      Europris ASA(a)      50,270  
  3,300      H2O Retailing Corp.      23,244  
  15,674      Harvey Norman Holdings, Ltd.      56,375  
  6,800      Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Ltd.      50,263  
  1,800      Izumi Co., Ltd.      50,480  
  6,000      J. Front Retailing Co., Ltd.      54,628  
  24,500      Lifestyle International Holdings, Ltd.*      13,488  
  73,250      Marks & Spencer Group plc*      228,656  
  1,300      Marui Group Co., Ltd.      24,475  
  30,000      Metro Holdings, Ltd.      16,923  
  47,139      Myer Holdings, Ltd.*      15,431  
  1,643      Next plc      180,735  
  3,600      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      49,590  
  4,800      Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.      73,212  
  1,000      Seria Co., Ltd.      28,997  
  4,800      Takashimaya Co., Ltd.      44,662  
  2,195      Tokmanni Group Corp.      49,042  
  3,646      Warehouse Group, Ltd. (The)      9,988  
  8,555      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      369,068  
  4,000      Wing On Company International, Ltd.      9,019  
     

 

 

 
        1,720,444  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.0%):       
  2,232      Acea SpA      47,543  
  5,356      AGL Energy, Ltd.      23,927  
  4,720      Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.      68,180  
  805      Atco, Ltd.      27,177  
  1,466      Canadian Utilities, Ltd., Class A      42,527  
  253,408      Centrica plc*      244,778  
  41,592      E.ON SE      576,887  
  22,269      Engie Group      329,709  
  23,363      Hera SpA      96,833  
  11,786      Iren SpA      35,437  
  33,157      ITL AEM SpA      64,554  
  110,123      Keppel Infrastructure Trust      44,553  
  1,915      National Grid plc, ADR^      138,493  
  11,914      Ren — Redes Energeticas Nacion      34,541  
  6,785      RWE AG      275,644  
  35,300      SembCorp Industries, Ltd.      52,425  
  2,389      Suez      53,877  
  3,114      Telecom Plus plc      66,705  
  5,040      Veolia Environnement SA      184,863  
     

 

 

 
        2,408,653  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.5%):       
  9,181      Advantage Energy, Ltd.*      53,788  
  24,155      Africa Oil Corp.*      34,185  
  1,242      Aker BP ASA      38,167  
  3,921      Ampol, Ltd.      84,619  
  7,200      Anglo Pacific Group plc      13,111  
  26,837      ARC Resources, Ltd.      244,011  
  18,809      Athabasca Oil Corp.*      17,697  
  2,064      Baytex Energy Corp.*      6,378  
  71,371      Beach Energy, Ltd.      65,554  
  17,741      Birchcliff Energy, Ltd.      90,613  
  25,767      BP plc, ADR      686,175  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  10,317      BP plc    $ 45,889  
  173,000      Brightoil Petroleum Holdings, Ltd.*      6,241  
  610      BW Energy, Ltd.*      1,389  
  2,656      BW LPG, Ltd.(a)      15,075  
  22,053      Cairn Energy plc*      56,036  
  2,686      Cameco Corp.      58,582  
  1,246      Cameco Corp.      27,170  
  7,637      Canacol Energy, Ltd.      19,382  
  2,732      Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.      115,453  
  13,622      Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.      575,529  
  3,012      Cardinal Energy, Ltd.*      10,169  
  14,453      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      177,234  
  2,956      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      36,300  
  13,100      China Aviation Oil Singapore Corp., Ltd.      9,141  
  40,015      Cooper Energy, Ltd.*      8,158  
  2,400      Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.      46,914  
  8,781      Crescent Point Energy      46,891  
  7,561      Crescent Point Energy Corp.      40,352  
  8,223      Crew Energy, Inc.*      18,594  
  854      CropEnergies AG      11,908  
  252      Delek Group, Ltd.*      20,621  
  20,320      DNO ASA      24,042  
  6,087      Enbridge, Inc.      237,791  
  67,100      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      251,214  
  7,800      Enerplus Corp.      82,268  
  26,541      ENI SpA      366,859  
  120,434      EnQuest plc*      30,364  
  10,152      Equinor ASA      267,963  
  1,004      Equital, Ltd.*      38,512  
  1,390      Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA*      3,607  
  9,112      Euronav NV      80,886  
  1,579      Exmar NV      7,720  
  1,267      FLEX LNG, Ltd.      28,318  
  3,700      Freehold Royalties, Ltd.      34,080  
  1,400      Frontera Energy Corp.*      11,335  
  3,784      Frontline, Ltd.*      26,995  
  3,100      Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.      6,893  
  9,184      Galp Energia SGPS SA      89,048  
  891      Gaztransport et Technigaz SA      83,341  
  6,249      Genel Energy plc      10,987  
  6,850      Gibson Energy, Inc.      121,424  
  19,607      Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.*      14,882  
  14,984      Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Ltd.      36,392  
  5,300      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      135,393  
  3,270      Imperial Oil, Ltd.      117,945  
  18,800      INPEX Corp.      163,965  
  2,244      International Petroleum Corp.*      12,544  
  2,823      International Petroleum Corp. / Sweden*      15,525  
  3,600      Itochu Enex Co., Ltd.      31,210  
  1,000      Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.      21,843  
  24,713      Karoon Energy, Ltd.*      30,219  
  7,300      Kelt Exploration, Ltd.*      27,819  
  2,001      Keyera Corp.      45,136  
  1,732      Koninklijke Vopak NV      60,721  
  2,011      Lundin Energy AB      72,145  
  10,707      MEG Energy Corp.*      99,045  
  1,700      Mitsuuroko Holdings Co., Ltd.      17,933  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  1,502      Naphtha Israel Petroleum Corp.*    $ 10,815  
  2,178      Neste Oyj      107,388  
  14,065      New Hope Corp., Ltd.      22,849  
  7,392      New Zealand Refining Co., Ltd. (The)*      4,758  
  64,000      NewOcean Energy Holdings, Ltd.*      476  
  21,200      Nippon Coke & Engineering Co., Ltd.      24,340  
  7,654      Nuvista Energy, Ltd.*      42,119  
  104,047      Oil Refineries, Ltd.*      29,906  
  1,896      OMV AG      107,721  
  37,853      Paladin Energy, Ltd.*      24,384  
  1,307      Paramount Resouces, Ltd., Class A      25,410  
  5,263      Parex Resources, Inc.      89,922  
  5,000      Parkland Corp.      137,453  
  300      Paz Oil Co., Ltd.*      37,307  
  6,783      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      205,775  
  1,584      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      48,043  
  6,660      Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.      49,760  
  12,892      Pharos Energy plc*      4,537  
  5,032      Prairiesky Royalty, Ltd.      54,227  
  24,044      Repsol SA      285,364  
  32,725      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Class B, ADR      1,418,629  
  1,600      Sala Corp.      8,793  
  3,100      San-Ai Oil Co., Ltd.      35,989  
  62,302      Santos, Ltd.      286,358  
  23,460      Saras SpA*      14,632  
  7,584      Senex Energy, Ltd.      25,510  
  8,575      Serica Energy plc      27,965  
  400      Sinanen Holdings Co., Ltd.      12,627  
  15,527      Stobart Group, Ltd.*      2,971  
  9,472      Suncor Energy, Inc.      237,084  
  9,141      Suncor Energy, Inc.      228,742  
  16,600      Tamarack Valley Energy, Ltd.*      50,530  
  403      TC Energy Corp.      18,745  
  3,152      TC Energy Corp.^      146,694  
  13,400      Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure, Ltd.      13,773  
  1,559      Torm plc*^      12,217  
  23,333      TotalEnergies SE      1,184,992  
  7,730      Tourmaline Oil Corp.      249,599  
  64,721      Tullow Oil plc*^      40,671  
  542      Verbio Vereinigte Bioenergie AG      37,184  
  5,883      Vermilion Energy, Inc.*      73,956  
  24,351      Viva Energy Group, Ltd.(a)      41,636  
  17,452      Whitecap Resources, Inc.      103,349  
  31,393      Whitehaven Coal, Ltd.*      59,749  
  12,482      Woodside Petroleum, Ltd.      199,330  
  12,631      Z Energy, Ltd.      30,707  
     

 

 

 
        11,262,676  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.8%):       
  2,718      Altri SGPS SA      17,262  
  3,929      Canfor Corp.*      99,592  
  600      Daiken Corp.      11,327  
  4,500      Daio Paper Corp.      74,739  
  8,317      Ence Energia y Celulosa S.A*      21,443  
  301      Hadera Paper, Ltd.      22,044  
  6,700      Hokuetsu Corp.      41,768  
  1,316      Holmen AB, Class B      63,001  
  4,627      Interfor Corp.      148,197  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Paper & Forest Products, continued       
  5,272      Metsa Board OYJ    $ 51,224  
  7,408      Mondi plc      182,514  
  11,089      Navigator Co. SA (The)      42,117  
  4,800      Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.      45,280  
  15,300      Oji Holdings Corp.      73,976  
  1,998      Stella-Jones, Inc.      63,204  
  12,930      Stora Enso OYJ, Registered Shares, Class R      235,115  
  6,842      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      121,242  
  600      Tokushu Tokai Paper Co., Ltd.      21,495  
  7,775      UPM-Kymmene OYJ      293,817  
  2,454      West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd.      234,147  
  24,618      Western Forest Products, Inc.      41,069  
     

 

 

 
        1,904,573  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.7%):       
  287      Beiersdorf AG      29,527  
  16,000      Best World International, Ltd.*      3,002  
  304      Blackmores, Ltd.      20,190  
  800      Fancl Corp.      23,861  
  1,514      Jamieson Wellness, Inc.(a)      48,049  
  3,900      Kao Corp.      204,117  
  300      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      23,582  
  200      Kose Corp.      22,696  
  465      L’Oreal SA      220,409  
  1,600      Mandom Corp.      19,701  
  400      Milbon Co., Ltd.      19,826  
  600      Noevir Holdings Co., Ltd.      28,122  
  2,645      Ontex Group NV*      21,047  
  1,200      Pola Orbis Holdings, Inc.      20,004  
  2,000      Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      60,435  
  800      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      44,620  
  14,440      Unilever plc, ADR      776,728  
  1,324      Unilever plc      70,920  
  1,300      Ya-Man, Ltd.      10,837  
     

 

 

 
        1,667,673  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (4.1%):       
  172      Alk-Abello A/S*      90,301  
  15,687      Alliance Pharma plc      23,094  
  1,934      Almirall SA      24,738  
  2,600      Astellas Pharma, Inc.      42,293  
  6,228      AstraZeneca plc, ADR      362,781  
  491      Aurora Cannabis, Inc.*      2,659  
  2,100      Bausch Health Cos., Inc.*      58,012  
  1,145      Bausch Health Cos., Inc.*      31,613  
  10,652      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      570,197  
  900      Canopy Growth Corp.*      7,856  
  1,800      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      58,391  
  900      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      22,890  
  300      Daito Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      7,731  
  305      Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc      21,978  
  500      Eisai Co., Ltd.      28,396  
  11,707      Faes Farma SA      46,315  
  700      Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.      6,251  
  500      Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries. Ltd.      11,304  
  1,668      Galenica AG(a)      125,187  
  14,120      GlaxoSmithKline plc, ADR      622,692  
  3,801      GlaxoSmithKline plc      82,635  
  1,384      H. Lundbeck A/S      35,694  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  3,600      Haw Par Corp., Ltd.    $ 30,334  
  1,551      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      46,510  
  800      Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.      27,653  
  26,202      Indivior plc*      90,975  
  943      Ipsen SA      86,224  
  900      JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.      17,405  
  1,000      Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      36,560  
  1,000      Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      19,600  
  166      Laboratorios Farmaceuticos Rovi SA      13,921  
  98,378      Mayne Pharma Group, Ltd.*      21,116  
  622      Merck KGaA      160,793  
  400      Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      12,104  
  3,200      Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      19,596  
  300      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      20,853  
  12,667      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      1,112,735  
  15,241      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      1,704,086  
  2,600      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      64,463  
  1,037      Orion OYJ      42,599  
  4,216      Orion OYJ, Class B      174,934  
  2,000      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      72,387  
  2,502      Recordati SpA      160,253  
  5,202      Roche Holding AG      2,157,123  
  216      Roche Holding AG      96,685  
  4,419      Sanofi      443,952  
  2,500      Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      30,508  
  800      Sawai Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,528  
  1,300      Seikagaku Corp.      10,637  
  500      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      35,326  
  3,200      Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.      36,871  
  800      Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd.      36,800  
  21,200      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      579,482  
  11,486      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      92,003  
  3,519      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.*      28,698  
  6,659      Tilray, Inc.*^      46,813  
  800      Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      20,021  
  1,200      Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      29,886  
  1,400      Tsumura & Co.      39,870  
  525      UCB SA      59,989  
  26,000      United Laboratories International Holdings, Ltd.      14,549  
  209      Vetoquinol SA      31,374  
  1,434      Vifor Pharma AG      256,846  
  146      Virbac SA      70,391  
     

 

 

 
        10,366,461  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (2.2%):       
  2,941      Adecco SA, Registered Shares      150,411  
  1,864      AFRY AB      52,195  
  1,278      Akka Technologies SA*      70,282  
  7,883      ALS, Ltd.      75,042  
  770      Altech Corp.      12,728  
  111      Amadeus Fire AG      22,998  
  1,825      Applus Services SA      16,784  
  200      Baycurrent Consulting, Inc.      77,068  
  1,100      Benefit One, Inc.      47,206  
  1,953      BeNEXT Group Inc.      28,751  
  372      Bertrandt AG      24,117  
  3,926      Bureau Veritas SA      130,302  
  26,624      Capita plc*      13,116  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services, continued       
  180      Danel Adir Yeoshua, Ltd.    $ 40,786  
  1,707      DKSH Holding, Ltd.      140,721  
  900      en Japan, Inc.      25,435  
  6,782      Experian plc      332,629  
  1,200      FULLCAST Holdings Co., Ltd.      25,612  
  900      Funai Soken Holdings, Inc.      20,505  
  175      Groupe Crit      12,348  
  22,373      Hays plc      44,406  
  2,376      Intertek Group plc      180,647  
  3,227      Intertrust NV*(a)      72,002  
  1,565      IPH, Ltd.      10,024  
  300      IR Japan Holdings, Ltd.      17,921  
  1,000      Jac Recruitment Co., Ltd.      18,122  
  1,497      LifeWorks, Inc.      30,217  
  3,994      McMillan Shakespeare, Ltd.      35,117  
  1,100      Meitec Corp.      64,758  
  4,300      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      105,148  
  3,000      Outsourcing, Inc.      40,437  
  8,516      Pagegroup plc      73,069  
  1,400      Pasona Group, Inc.      40,177  
  2,900      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      84,231  
  3,572      Randstad NV      244,686  
  7,800      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      472,910  
  7,938      RELX plc      258,666  
  5,236      RELX plc, ADR      170,746  
  2,833      Ricardo plc      17,194  
  3,902      Robert Walters plc      40,656  
  4,254      RWS Holdings plc      37,376  
  84      SGS SA, Registered Shares      279,898  
  2,400      SMS Co., Ltd.      94,143  
  2,421      Stantec, Inc.      136,181  
  1,000      Stantec, Inc.      56,191  
  7,669      SThree plc      48,088  
  1,100      Tanseisha Co., Ltd.      7,509  
  2,900      Technopro Holdings, Inc.      88,008  
  902      Teleperformance      402,115  
  2,878      Thomson Reuters Corp.      344,266  
  1,065      Tinexta SpA      45,896  
  1,100      UT Group Co., Ltd.      41,372  
  5,588      Wolters Kluwer NV      656,728  
     

 

 

 
        5,577,941  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (2.4%):       
  697      Aedas Homes SA(a)      19,031  
  1,700      AEON Mall Co., Ltd.      24,259  
  206      AFI Properties, Ltd.      13,662  
  1,001      Airport City, Ltd.*      22,463  
  2,300      Airport Facilities Co., Ltd.      11,000  
  372      Allreal Holding AG      82,248  
  1,972      Alony Hetz Properties & Invest      36,737  
  492      Alrov Properties And Lodgings, Ltd.*      30,297  
  700      Altus Group, Ltd.      39,278  
  2,393      Amot Investments, Ltd.      19,468  
  2,116      Annehem Fastigheter AB*      8,733  
  7,879      Aroundtown SA      47,718  
  28,100      Ascendas India Trust      29,630  
  46,000      Asia Standard International Group, Ltd.      5,013  
  3,626      Atrium European Real Estate, Ltd.      14,836  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  1,281      Atrium Ljungberg AB, Class B    $ 28,320  
  233      Azrieli Group      22,236  
  210      Big Shopping Centers, Ltd.      34,355  
  3,700      Bukit Sembawang Estates, Ltd.      13,759  
  4,800      Capitaland Investment, Ltd. / Singapore*      12,149  
  1,420      Castellum AB      38,095  
  626      Catena AB      39,086  
  2,946      Cedar Woods Properties, Ltd.      11,638  
  18,000      Chinese Estates Holdings, Ltd.      6,603  
  52,000      Chuang’s Consortium International, Ltd.      6,118  
  7,300      City Developments, Ltd.      36,927  
  1,684      Citycon OYJ      13,369  
  16,175      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      102,006  
  3,803      CLS Holdings plc      11,231  
  312      Colliers International Group      46,379  
  12,641      Corem Property Group AB, Class B      45,692  
  741      Corestate Capital Holding SA*^      9,516  
  340,000      CSI Properties, Ltd.      9,027  
  900      Daibiru Corp.      17,291  
  1,200      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      137,117  
  10,600      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      304,912  
  887      Deutsche Euroshop AG      14,783  
  1,139      Dic Asset AG      19,921  
  2,651      Dios Fastigheter AB      34,642  
  1,450      DREAM Unlimited Corp.      44,516  
  34,000      Emperor International Holdings      4,059  
  7,600      ESR Cayman, Ltd.*(a)      25,725  
  2,062      Fabege AB      34,413  
  73,677      Far East Consortium International, Ltd.      26,837  
  687      Fastighets AB Balder*      49,574  
  862      FastPartner AB, Class A      11,579  
  867      FirstService Corp.      170,340  
  11,092      Foxtons Group plc      5,926  
  16,000      Frasers Property, Ltd.      13,533  
  3,677      Gav-Yam Lands Corp., Ltd.      45,478  
  1,100      Goldcrest Co., Ltd.      15,486  
  17,039      Grainger plc      72,645  
  1,873      Grand City Properties SA      44,511  
  10,197      Great Eagle Holdings, Ltd.      28,512  
  17,100      GuocoLand, Ltd.      19,168  
  28,000      Hang Lung Group, Ltd.      59,831  
  29,984      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      61,685  
  1,200      Heiwa Real Estate Co., Ltd.      40,382  
  5,154      Helical plc      31,602  
  17,706      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      75,418  
  37,840      HKR International, Ltd.      15,045  
  9,400      Ho Bee Land, Ltd.      19,473  
  18,500      Hong Fok Corp., Ltd.      10,440  
  9,900      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      51,445  
  2,049      Hufvudstaden AB      30,668  
  6,800      Hulic Co., Ltd.      64,573  
  11,000      Hysan Development Co., Ltd.      34,001  
  12,900      Ichigo, Inc.      31,341  
  242      Immobel SA      20,085  
  1,302      IMMOFINANZ AG      33,409  
  1,253      Instone Real Estate Group AG(a)      23,725  
  29      Intershop Holdings AG      19,476  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  2,000      Invesque, Inc.*    $ 4,100  
  164      Investis Holding SA      18,815  
  29,717      IWG plc*      116,729  
  25,000      K Wah International Holdings Ltd.      9,651  
  1,500      Katitas Co., Ltd.      57,721  
  22,225      Kerry Properties, Ltd.      57,885  
  1,455      Kojamo Oyj      35,162  
  26,000      Kowloon Development Co., Ltd.      34,350  
  17,100      Lai Sun Development Co., Ltd.*      9,320  
  112,800      Landing International Development, Ltd.*      3,371  
  44,500      Langham Hospitality Investment*      4,796  
  944      LEG Immobilien SE      131,856  
  7,615      Lend Lease Group      59,235  
  883      Lifestyle Communities, Ltd.      13,386  
  8,000      Liu Chong Hing Investment, Ltd.      7,953  
  4,644      LSL Property Services plc      25,771  
  276      Mega Or Holdings, Ltd.      12,691  
  463      Melisron, Ltd.*      43,177  
  59,000      Mingfa Group International Co., Ltd.*      3,329  
  3,100      Mirainovate Co., Ltd.*      5,696  
  4,800      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.      66,552  
  5,100      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      101,045  
  9,306      Mivne Real Estate KD, Ltd.      39,990  
  255      Mobimo Holding AG, Registered Shares      85,454  
  100      Morguard Corp.      10,789  
  28,087      New World Development Co., Ltd.      111,188  
  1,967      Nexity SA      92,496  
  800      Nippon Commercial Development Co., Ltd.      11,958  
  1,700      Nisshin Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,495  
  3,200      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      73,656  
  3,463      Nyfosa AB      59,808  
  1,700      Open House Co., Ltd.      89,115  
  17,900      Oue, Ltd.      18,069  
  54,608      Oxley Holdings, Ltd.      7,619  
  25,655      Pacific Century Premium Developments, Ltd.*      1,974  
  522      PATRIZIA AG      12,126  
  1,195      Platzer Fastigheter Holding AB, Class B      17,931  
  779      PSP Swiss Property AG      97,005  
  700      Raysum Co., Ltd.      4,299  
  3,244      Real Matters, Inc.*      21,288  
  2,300      Relo Group, Inc.      41,582  
  556      Sagax AB, Class B      18,774  
  7,058      Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB      51,515  
  1,200      SAMTY Co., Ltd.      22,925  
  5,801      Savills plc      110,413  
  1,875      Selvaag Bolig ASA      10,856  
  2,600      Shinoken Group Co., Ltd.      20,958  
  795      Shurgard Self Storage SA      52,038  
  100,800      Sinarmas Land, Ltd.      18,344  
  55,980      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      69,738  
  11,926      Sirius Real Estate, Ltd.      22,824  
  5,000      Soundwill Holdings, Ltd.      4,926  
  200      SRE Holdings Corp.*      12,568  
  2,500      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      73,545  
  1,493      Summit Real Estate Holdings, Ltd.*      31,494  
  1,800      Sun Frontier Fudousan Co., Ltd.      15,700  
  5,921      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      71,880  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  10,646      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A    $ 60,579  
  17,500      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class B      17,149  
  8,600      Swire Properties, Ltd.      21,554  
  2,643      Swiss Prime Site AG      259,320  
  2,596      TAG Immobilien AG      72,728  
  21,000      TAI Cheung Holdings, Ltd.      12,937  
  4,200      Takara Leben Co., Ltd.      10,554  
  2,900      Toc Co., Ltd.      16,745  
  6,400      Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.      93,499  
  17,000      Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corp.      95,053  
  2,400      Tosei Corp.      21,078  
  4,220      Tricon Residential, Inc.      64,595  
  213      UBM Development AG      10,476  
  7,900      UOL Group, Ltd.      41,599  
  49      VGP NV      14,275  
  1,814      Vonovia SE      100,153  
  1,918      Wallenstam AB      35,672  
  6      Warteck Invest AG      15,614  
  6,203      Watkin Jones plc      21,930  
  9,829      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      49,931  
  2,034      Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB      46,131  
  20,700      Wing Tai Holdings, Ltd.      27,491  
  16,000      Wing Tai Properties, Ltd.      8,680  
  148      YH Dimri Construction & Development, Ltd.      14,406  
  17      Zug Estates Holding AG      36,955  
     

 

 

 
        6,058,481  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.3%):       
  52,525      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      133,366  
  4,552      Canadian National Railway Co.      559,259  
  4,751      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      341,787  
  600      Central Japan Railway Co.      80,061  
  1,200      Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings Co., Ltd.      17,584  
  41,300      ComfortDelGro Corp., Ltd.      42,916  
  789      DSV PANALPINA A/S      182,335  
  1,300      East Japan Railway Co.      79,955  
  16,195      FirstGroup plc*      22,460  
  1,200      Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd.      40,957  
  3,244      Go-Ahead Group plc*      29,312  
  1,000      Hamakyorex Co., Ltd.      25,253  
  2,400      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      68,140  
  1,100      Hitachi Transport System, Ltd.      51,721  
  1,100      Ichinen Holdings Co., Ltd.      12,760  
  206      Jungfraubahn Holding AG, Registered Shares*      30,343  
  2,500      Keikyu Corp.      25,000  
  700      Keio Corp.      30,861  
  1,200      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      32,454  
  1,500      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.*      41,942  
  1,000      Kyushu Railway Co.      20,800  
  400      Maruzen Showa Unyu Co., Ltd.      11,095  
  7,711      MTR Corp., Ltd.      41,389  
  4,500      Mullen Group, Ltd.      41,378  
  2,300      Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd.*      35,000  
  1,600      Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      30,261  
  13,705      National Express Group plc*      47,557  
  2,200      Nikkon Holdings Co., Ltd.      41,438  
  1,800      Nippon Express Co., Ltd.      108,147  
  1,300      Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.      29,512  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  5,199      Nobina AB(a)    $ 61,581  
  147      NTG Nordic Transport Group A/S*      12,014  
  2,000      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      37,148  
  11,036      Redde Northgate plc      65,053  
  500      Sakai Moving Service Co., Ltd.      18,826  
  2,300      Sankyu, Inc.      95,402  
  4,500      Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.      45,587  
  6,400      Senko Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      51,590  
  483      Sixt SE      47,729  
  368      Sixt SE*      65,190  
  1,000      Sotetsu Holdings, Inc.      18,319  
  31,768      Stagecoach Group plc*      38,595  
  278      Stef S.A.      32,283  
  2,098      TFI International, Inc.      235,328  
  1,500      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      34,226  
  3,400      Tokyu Corp.      45,176  
  300      Tonami Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,155  
  3,913      Tourism Holdings, Ltd.*      7,909  
  600      Trancom Co., Ltd.      46,643  
  15,330      Transport International Holdings, Ltd.      25,167  
  1,600      West Japan Railway Co.      66,769  
     

 

 

 
        3,315,733  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.2%):       
  1,500      Advantest Corp.      140,862  
  9,500      Aem Holdings, Ltd.      37,119  
  7,502      ams AG*      135,755  
  716      ASM International NV      314,387  
  7,219      ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd.      77,824  
  2,411      ASML Holding NV, NYS      1,919,494  
  2,670      BE Semiconductor Industries NV      226,161  
  25,000      BOE Varitronix, Ltd.      32,024  
  569      Camtek, Ltd./Israel*      25,948  
  300      Disco Corp.      91,703  
  1,700      Ferrotec Holdings Corp.      61,843  
  438      First Sensor AG      22,628  
  3,161      Infineon Technologies AG      146,559  
  2,200      Japan Material Co., Ltd.      36,235  
  500      Lasertec Corp.      152,025  
  879      Melexis NV      104,310  
  800      Mimasu Semiconductor Industry      18,436  
  500      Mitsui High-Tec, Inc.      49,006  
  473      Nordic Semiconductor ASA*      15,802  
  389      Nova Measuring Instruments, Ltd.*      55,794  
  1,100      Optorun Co., Ltd.      22,645  
  9,700      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      119,129  
  700      ROHM Co., Ltd.      63,344  
  900      Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.      49,386  
  500      SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.      53,372  
  300      Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.*      9,679  
  1,100      Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.      52,141  
  992      Siltronic AG      158,780  
  162      Soitec*      39,398  
  6,646      STMicroelectronics NV      325,737  
  409      SUESS MicroTec SE*      9,771  
  4,600      SUMCO Corp.      93,153  
  1,000      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.      572,555  
  800      Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.      35,230  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  1,000      Towa Corp.    $ 27,910  
  2,902      Tower Semiconductor, Ltd.*      115,151  
  1,200      Tri Chemical Laboratories, Inc.      37,835  
  144      u-blox Holding AG*      11,093  
  1,100      Ulvac, Inc.      68,879  
  1,200      Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.      24,273  
     

 

 

 
        5,553,376  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.1%):       
  1,800      Access Co., Ltd.*      11,035  
  2,147      Altium, Ltd.      70,299  
  50      Atoss Software AG      12,335  
  3,980      Avast plc(a)      32,701  
  1,040      AVEVA Group plc      47,722  
  4,889      BlackBerry, Ltd.*      45,689  
  10,573      Bravura Solutions, Ltd.      18,939  
  4,900      Broadleaf Co., Ltd.      18,577  
  500      Computer Engineering & Consulting, Ltd.      4,722  
  101      Constellation Software, Inc.      187,414  
  1,400      Cresco, Ltd.      25,455  
  1,200      Cybozu, Inc.      18,961  
  1,568      Dassault Systemes SE      93,009  
  564      Descartes Systems Group, Inc.*      46,631  
  300      Digital Arts, Inc.      21,906  
  1,000      Enghouse Systems, Ltd.      38,291  
  1,966      F-Secure Oyj      11,116  
  800      Fuji Soft, Inc.      38,610  
  8,509      Hansen Technology, Ltd.      33,113  
  690      Hilan, Ltd.      46,120  
  3,100      Infomart Corp.      25,090  
  16,011      Infomedia, Ltd.      17,831  
  7,858      Integrated Research, Ltd.*      7,146  
  3,230      IRESS, Ltd.      29,445  
  600      Justsystems Corp.      27,914  
  200      Kinaxis, Inc.*      28,041  
  1,361      Lectra      64,964  
  172      Linedata Services      7,637  
  1,195      Magic Software Enterprises, Ltd.      25,384  
  8,235      Micro Focus International plc, ADR      45,869  
  500      Miroku Jyoho Service Co., Ltd.      5,989  
  1,788      Nemetschek SE      229,346  
  340      Netcompany Group A/S(a)      36,260  
  145      NICE Systems, Ltd.*      44,054  
  400      OBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd.      16,824  
  3,485      Open Text Corp.      165,468  
  200      Open Text Corp.      9,494  
  400      Oracle Corp.      30,374  
  65      QT Group Oyj*      9,765  
  900      Rakus Co., Ltd.      23,984  
  7,104      Sage Group plc      81,705  
  2,503      SAP SE      357,448  
  1,391      SimCorp A/S      150,384  
  949      Sinch AB*(a)      11,972  
  1,484      Software AG      59,355  
  500      SRA Holdings      12,501  
  8,400      Systena Corp.      31,290  
  8,525      Technology One, Ltd.      79,173  
  1,295      Temenos AG      178,754  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  1,900      Trend Micro, Inc.    $ 105,121  
  12,001      Vista Group International, Ltd.*      19,651  
  568      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      24,113  
  423      Xero, Ltd.*      43,318  
     

 

 

 
        2,828,309  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (1.5%):       
  400      ABC-Mart, Inc.      17,148  
  16,866      Accent Group, Ltd.      30,087  
  10,400      Adairs, Ltd.      30,378  
  1,300      Adastria Co., Ltd.      18,282  
  900      Alpen Co., Ltd.      16,717  
  2,600      Aoki Holdings, Inc.      13,950  
  2,800      Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.*      16,289  
  3,236      AP Eagers, Ltd.      31,652  
  2,500      Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd.      30,499  
  613      Autocanada, Inc.*      20,695  
  2,300      BIC Camera, Inc.      19,260  
  4,193      Bilia AB, Class A      74,249  
  3,245      Byggmax Group AB      32,112  
  2,609      Carasso Motors, Ltd.      17,139  
  16,294      Card Factory plc*      13,170  
  3,919      Ceconomy AG*      16,901  
  800      Chiyoda Co., Ltd.      5,405  
  18,000      Chow Sang Sang Holdings International, Ltd.      25,165  
  31,200      Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.      56,122  
  1,435      Clas Ohlson AB, Class B      21,806  
  4,700      DCM Holdings Co., Ltd.      43,525  
  39,375      Dixons Carphone plc      60,746  
  2,720      Dufry AG, Registered Shares*      134,134  
  4,536      Dunelm Group plc      84,626  
  4,900      Edion Corp.      45,718  
  115,950      Esprit Holdings, Ltd.*      10,566  
  400      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.      227,175  
  1,157      Fielmann AG      77,894  
  878      Fnac Darty SA      57,441  
  7,248      Frasers Group plc*      75,474  
  2,300      Geo Holdings Corp.      24,739  
  130,000      Giordano International, Ltd.      24,824  
  10,860      Halfords Group plc      50,794  
  8,861      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B      173,842  
  300      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      46,200  
  483      Hornbach Baumarkt AG      26,195  
  634      Hornbach Holding AG & Co. KGaA      95,679  
  2,800      Idom, Inc.      17,603  
  5,629      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      182,410  
  3,860      JB Hi-Fi, Ltd.      135,708  
  40,720      JD Sports Fashion plc*      119,619  
  700      JINS Holdings, Inc.      42,659  
  1,500      Joshin Denki Co., Ltd.      27,914  
  26,469      Kathmandu Holdings, Ltd.      27,529  
  1,700      Keiyo Co., Ltd.      12,521  
  744      Kid ASA(a)      9,517  
  36,342      Kingfisher plc      166,129  
  900      Kohnan Shoji Co., Ltd.      26,491  
  1,600      Komeri Co., Ltd.      35,575  
  5,800      K’s Holding Corp.      56,321  
  1,766      Leon’s Furniture, Ltd.      34,697  
  15,750      L’occitane International SA      63,732  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  19,046      Lookers plc*    $ 17,118  
  14,000      Luk Fook Holdings International, Ltd.      37,716  
  531      Maisons du Monde SA(a)      12,297  
  2,347      Matas A/S      44,761  
  1,681      Mekonomen AB*      29,103  
  2,955      Mobilezone Holding AG      44,145  
  234      Musti Group OYJ      8,241  
  600      Nextage Co., Ltd.      12,402  
  3,966      Nick Scali, Ltd.      44,305  
  1,900      Nishimatsuya Chain Co., Ltd.      22,816  
  400      Nitori Co., Ltd.      59,830  
  1,800      Nojima Corp.      37,691  
  28,290      Oriental Watch Holdings      17,706  
  76,677      Pendragon plc*      24,085  
  19,618      Pets At Home Group plc      123,343  
  2,736      Premier Investments, Ltd.      60,215  
  600      Shimamura Co., Ltd.      50,399  
  800      Sleep Country Canada Holdings, Inc.(a)      23,738  
  8,071      Super Retail Group, Ltd.      73,273  
  3,968      Superdry plc*      14,919  
  900      T-Gaia Corp.      12,960  
  2,400      USS Co., Ltd.      37,482  
  240      Valora Holding AG*      40,989  
  13,891      Vertu Motors plc      12,930  
  8,200      VT Holdings Co., Ltd.      33,300  
  1,939      Watches of Switzerland Group plc*(a)      37,245  
  1,871      WHSmith plc*      37,335  
  8,059      Wickes Group plc      25,810  
  300      Workman Co., Ltd.      14,347  
  800      World Co., Ltd.*      8,264  
  700      Xebio Holdings Co., Ltd.      5,612  
  2,913      XXL ASA(a)      4,623  
  15,400      Yamada Holdings Co., Ltd.      52,627  
  800      Yellow Hat, Ltd.      11,499  
     

 

 

 
        3,818,149  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & (0.0%):       
  65,000      Razer, Inc.*(a)      20,184  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  4,600      Brother Industries, Ltd.      88,447  
  4,400      Canon, Inc.      107,170  
  700      EIZO Corp.      24,561  
  1,800      Elecom Co., Ltd.      23,622  
  700      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      51,899  
  16,000      Konica Minolta, Inc.      72,905  
  1,323      Logitech International SA, Class R      110,768  
  1,900      Maxell Holdings, Ltd.      22,602  
  4,000      Mcj Co., Ltd.      37,503  
  5,300      NEC Corp.      244,725  
  1,300      Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.      30,670  
  1,935      Quadient      42,091  
  10,400      Ricoh Co., Ltd.      96,857  
  600      Roland Dg Corp.      19,514  
  2,197      S&T AG      36,627  
  7,600      Seiko Epson Corp.      136,872  
  1,200      Toshiba Tec Corp.      49,097  
  4,400      Wacom Co., Ltd.      35,049  
     

 

 

 
        1,230,979  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.2%):       
  1,248      Adidas AG    $ 359,891  
  3,137      Aritzia, Inc.*      129,840  
  1,400      Asics Corp.      31,045  
  1,383      Brunello Cucinelli SpA*      94,968  
  5,577      Burberry Group plc      136,631  
  364      Calida Holding AG      19,403  
  600      Canada Goose Holdings, Inc.*      22,239  
  408      Canada Goose Holdings, Inc.*      15,121  
  973      Chargeurs SA      28,916  
  2,481      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      370,593  
  35,102      Coats Group plc      32,817  
  485      Delta-Galil Industries, Ltd.      33,350  
  1,146      EssilorLuxottica SA      243,926  
  449      Fox Wizel, Ltd.      80,865  
  1,142      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      48,409  
  2,431      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      103,079  
  400      Goldwin, Inc.      23,107  
  900      Gunze, Ltd.      31,552  
  189      Hermes International SA      329,996  
  2,296      Hugo Boss AG      139,908  
  473      Kering      379,497  
  1,500      Komatsu Matere Co., Ltd.      16,644  
  700      Kurabo Industries, Ltd.      11,882  
  1,826      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      1,506,677  
  2,248      Moncler SpA      162,461  
  3,560      New Wave Group AB      65,633  
  5,000      Onward Holdings Co., Ltd.      13,000  
  12,688      Ovs SpA*(a)      36,586  
  44,000      Pacific Textiles Holdings, Ltd.      20,768  
  3,344      Pandora A/S      416,251  
  8,500      Prada SpA      54,435  
  863      Puma SE      105,660  
  16,200      Samsonite International SA*(a)      32,915  
  2,100      Sankyo Seiko Co., Ltd.      10,159  
  500      Sanyo Shokai, Ltd.*      3,870  
  1,000      Seiren Co., Ltd.      21,887  
  17,500      Stella International Holdings, Ltd.      21,166  
  451      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      137,440  
  862      Swatch Group AG (The), Registered Shares      50,317  
  2,999      Ted Baker plc*      4,173  
  60,000      Texwinca Holdings, Ltd.      11,928  
  404      Tod’s SpA*^      22,485  
  3,200      Tsi Holdings Co., Ltd.*      9,434  
  5,500      Unitika, Ltd.*      14,348  
  377      Van de Velde NV      14,724  
  2,000      Wacoal Holdings Corp.      37,131  
  40,014      Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, Ltd.*      66,961  
     

 

 

 
        5,524,088  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.2%):       
  1,484      Aareal Bank AG      48,591  
  1,900      Aruhi Corp.      17,232  
  3,618      Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG(a)      43,443  
  1,230      Equitable Group, Inc.      67,014  
  1,100      Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.      12,480  
  16,190      Genworth Mortgage Insurance AU      27,340  
  2,112      Home Capital Group, Inc.*      65,240  
  4,785      MyState, Ltd.      17,641  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  9,478      OSB Group plc    $ 70,970  
  10,978      Paragon Banking Group plc      83,956  
  3,600      Timbercreek Financial Corp.      27,353  
     

 

 

 
        481,260  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  12,168      British American Tobacco plc      450,761  
  16,270      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      355,719  
  13,100      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      264,171  
  3,118      Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S(a)      65,430  
  9,940      Swedish Match AB      79,006  
     

 

 

 
        1,215,087  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (2.3%):       
  5,540      AddTech AB, Class B      131,006  
  1,000      Alconix Corp.      11,626  
  1,271      Alligo AB, Class B      26,991  
  5,848      Ashtead Group plc      468,560  
  653      BayWa AG      28,659  
  4,032      Beijer Ref AB      88,293  
  1,271      Bergman & Beving AB      21,088  
  9,600      BOC Aviation, Ltd.(a)      70,382  
  388      Bossard Holding AG      139,774  
  2,597      Brenntag AG      235,266  
  1,375      Bufab AB      67,470  
  4,067      Bunzl plc      158,565  
  70,000      China Strategic Holdings, Ltd.*      413  
  400      Daiichi Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.      17,228  
  1,506      Diploma plc      68,802  
  4,000      Doman Building Materials Group, Ltd.      24,573  
  14,169      Electrocomponents plc      230,597  
  2,293      Ferguson plc      407,258  
  7,400      Finning International, Inc.      186,521  
  7,815      Grafton Group plc      130,128  
  1,700      Hanwa Co., Ltd.      48,194  
  17,460      Howden Joinery Group plc      212,426  
  1,189      IMCD NV      263,943  
  1,800      Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd.      42,291  
  1,800      Inabata & Co., Ltd.      26,249  
  3,146      Indutrade AB      95,525  
  9,800      Itochu Corp.      299,803  
  2,000      Iwatani Corp.      100,871  
  616      Jacquet Metals SA      14,747  
  500      Japan Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.      17,912  
  700      Kamei Corp.      6,350  
  900      Kanaden Corp.      8,301  
  1,700      Kanamoto Co., Ltd.      35,627  
  3,100      Kanematsu Corp.      34,532  
  2,972      Kloeckner & Co. SE*      36,268  
  14,200      Marubeni Corp.      138,241  
  2,400      Mitani Corp.      42,407  
  6,700      Mitsubishi Corp.      212,771  
  8,600      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      203,678  
  3,600      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      64,895  
  4,300      Nagase & Co., Ltd.      69,662  
  600      Nichiden Corp.      12,237  
  500      Nippon Steel Trading Corp.      21,827  
  1,200      Nishio Rent All Co., Ltd.      29,969  
  700      Onoken Co., Ltd.      10,196  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

32


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
  1,494      Reece, Ltd.    $ 29,421  
  9,256      Rexel SA      188,144  
  1,992      Richelieu Hardware, Ltd.      68,715  
  1,404      Russel Metals, Inc.      37,331  
  600      Senshu Electric Co., Ltd.      31,044  
  2,458      Seven Group Holdings, Ltd.      38,671  
  7,700      Sojitz Corp.      115,699  
  409      Solar A/S      49,290  
  17,864      Speedy Hire plc      15,322  
  6,600      Sumitomo Corp.      97,595  
  117      Thermador Groupe      13,534  
  2,372      Toromont Industries, Ltd.      214,470  
  1,900      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      87,572  
  7,192      Travis Perkins plc      150,947  
  1,000      Trusco Nakayama Corp.      23,748  
  800      Wajax Corp.      15,351  
  2,700      Wakita & Co., Ltd.      25,263  
  2,700      Yamazen Corp.      25,263  
  800      Yuasa Trading Co., Ltd.      20,724  
     

 

 

 
        5,810,226  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.4%):       
  242      Aena SME SA*(a)      38,222  
  496      Aeroports de Paris*      64,080  
  4,161      Atlantia SpA*      82,650  
  13,785      Atlas Arteria, Ltd.      69,417  
  8,117      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      42,820  
  671      Flughafen Zuerich AG*      120,844  
  1,124      Fraport AG*      75,545  
  2,198      Getlink SE      36,460  
  1,618      Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG      37,872  
  182,200      Hutchison Port Holdings Trust      40,996  
  1,940      James Fisher & Sons plc*      9,702  
  400      Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.*      16,696  
  3,500      Kamigumi Co., Ltd.      66,135  
  1,400      Mitsubishi Logistics Corp.      35,123  
  400      Nissin Corp.      5,757  
  5,399      Port of Tauranga, Ltd.      24,666  
  32,939      Qube Holdings, Ltd.      76,081  
  2,100      Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd. (The)      35,464  
  11,723      Sydney Airport*      74,058  
  10,150      Transurban Group      102,115  
  2,729      Westshore Terminals Investment Corp.      57,868  
     

 

 

 
        1,112,571  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  4,740      Pennon Group plc      75,039  
  2,562      Severn Trent plc      102,300  
  45,000      Siic Environment Holdings, Ltd.      8,183  
  5,391      United Utilities Group plc      79,560  
     

 

 

 
        265,082  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.2%):       
  1,292      1&1 AG      35,309  
  3,670      Cellcom Israel, Ltd.*      20,612  
  5,583      Freenet AG      148,164  
  88,000      Hutchison Telecommunications Holdings, Ltd.      14,108  
  27,900      KDDI Corp.      815,628  
  5,186      Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR*      147,014  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
  1,000      Okinawa Cellular Telephone Co.    $ 44,433  
  1,324      Orange Belgium SA      29,993  
  5,106      Partner Communications Co.*      41,541  
  1,708      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      81,352  
  1,900      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      90,478  
  35,000      Smartone Telecommunications Ho      18,632  
  9,900      Softbank Corp.      125,211  
  19,200      SoftBank Group Corp.      907,345  
  21,800      StarHub, Ltd.      21,999  
  9,411      Tele2 AB      134,182  
  306,023      Vodafone Group plc      456,346  
     

 

 

 
        3,132,347  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $195,780,186)

     249,197,764  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.3%):       
Automobiles (0.3%):       
  1,167      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 2.62%, 5/15/20      97,398  
  1,645      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 2.65%, 5/20/20      156,095  
  2,660      Volkswagen AG, 2.74%, 5/8/20      537,508  
     

 

 

 
        791,001  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  588      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.60%, 4/21/20      47,614  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $744,381)

     838,615  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Warrants (0.0%):       
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  64,038      Ezion Holdings, Ltd., 4/6/23       
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  766      Cenovus Energy, Inc., 1/1/26      5,760  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Warrants (Cost $—)

     5,760  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Rights (0.0%):       
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  7      Faes Farma SA, Expires on 12/31/21*      1  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  1,173      CA Immobilien Anla, Expires on 12/31/49*(b)       
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $1)

     1  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.4%):
      
  997,213      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(c)(d)      997,213  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $997,213)

     997,213  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.2%):       
Money Markets (0.2%):       
  554,612      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(d)      554,612  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $554,612)

     554,612  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $198,076,393) — 99.9%(e)

     251,593,965  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.1%

     224,481  
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 251,818,446  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

33


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

NYS—New York Shares

SDR—Swedish Depository Receipt

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $959,018.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(b)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(c)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(e)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country    Percentage  

Australia

     6.0

Austria

     0.5

Belgium

     1.1

Bermuda

      % 

Cambodia

      % 

Canada

     10.2

Cayman Islands

      % 

China

     0.1

Colombia

      % 

Denmark

     2.5

Egypt

      % 

European Community

      % 

Faroe Islands

      % 

Finland

     1.7

France

     7.6

Germany

     7.1

Hong Kong

     2.1

India

      % 

Ireland

     1.3

Isle of Man

     0.1

Israel

     1.1
Country    Percentage  

Italy

     2.4

Japan

     21.8

Jersey

      % 

Liechtenstein

      % 

Luxembourg

     0.6

Malta

      % 

Mexico

      % 

Netherlands

     4.1

New Zealand

     0.5

Norway

     0.7

Peru

      % 

Portugal

     0.2

Singapore

     0.9

Spain

     2.1

Sweden

     3.6

Switzerland

     8.4

United Arab Emirates

      % 

United Kingdom

     12.5

United States

     0.8
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

34


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 198,076,393
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 251,593,965

Cash

      1,598

Interest and dividends receivable

      248,716

Foreign currency, at value (cost $514,979)

      517,909

Receivable for investments sold

      26,593

Reclaims receivable

      801,985

Prepaid expenses

      1,192
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      253,191,958
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      11,827

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      103,171

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      997,213

Manager fees payable

      156,562

Administration fees payable

      36,803

Distribution fees payable

      52,187

Custodian fees payable

      4,078

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      132

Transfer agent fees payable

      326

Trustee fees payable

      742

Other accrued liabilities

      10,471
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,373,512
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 251,818,446
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 177,790,086

Total distributable earnings

      74,028,360
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 251,818,446
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      20,439,512

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.32
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $959,018.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 7,825,633

Interest

      57

Income from securities lending

      44,489

Foreign withholding tax

      (786,832 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      7,083,347
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,478,023

Administration fees

      135,217

Distribution fees

      652,110

Custodian fees

      72,566

Administrative and compliance services fees

      3,054

Transfer agent fees

      4,825

Trustee fees

      12,717

Professional fees

      11,043

Shareholder reports

      4,878

Other expenses

      42,350
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,416,783

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (521,694 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      2,895,089
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      4,188,258
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      18,358,301

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      10,554,923
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      28,913,224
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 33,101,482
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

35


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 4,188,258     $ 3,194,467

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      18,358,301       (16,172 )

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      10,554,923       17,605,651
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      33,101,482       20,783,946
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (3,585,492 )       (6,243,472 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (3,585,492 )       (6,243,472 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,475,506       28,562,814

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      3,585,492       6,243,472

Value of shares redeemed

      (47,818,960 )       (60,172,623 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (42,757,962 )       (25,366,337 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (13,241,972 )       (10,825,863 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      265,060,418       275,886,281
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 251,818,446     $ 265,060,418
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      120,615       3,629,639

Dividends reinvested

      299,540       642,332

Shares redeemed

      (3,943,848 )       (6,396,250 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (3,523,693 )       (2,124,279 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

36


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.06     $ 10.58     $ 9.20     $ 11.46     $ 9.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.19 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.17       0.19

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.25       0.61       1.65       (2.16 )       2.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.44       0.73       1.86       (1.99 )       2.40
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.18 )       (0.25 )       (0.15 )       (0.21 )       (0.15 )

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.33 )       (0.06 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.18 )       (0.25 )       (0.48 )       (0.27 )       (0.15 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.32     $ 11.06     $ 10.58     $ 9.20     $ 11.46
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      13.05 %       7.25 %       20.72 %       (17.65 )%       26.09 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 251,818     $ 265,060     $ 275,886     $ 253,044     $ 258,959

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.61 %       1.29 %       2.09 %       1.63 %       1.48 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.31 %       1.34 %       1.33 %       1.38 %       1.41 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.11 %       1.14 %       1.13 %       1.18 %       1.21 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      7 %       14 %       6 %       20 %       4 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

37


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such

 

38


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $4,401 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $997,213 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”), DFA provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

         0.95 %          1.39 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.75% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

 

39


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 38,331,053        $ 210,866,711        $ #        $ 249,197,764

Preferred Stocks+

                  838,615                   838,615

Warrants+

         5,760                            5,760

Rights+

         1                   #          1

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         997,213                            997,213

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         554,612                            554,612
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $   39,888,639        $   211,705,326        $   —        $   251,593,965
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

       $ 18,744,015        $ 64,040,797

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

 

 

40


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $199,636,211. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 74,166,982  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (22,209,228
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $   51,957,754  
 

 

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund utilized $973,492 in capital loss carry forwards (“CLCFs”) to offset capital gains. As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund had no remaining CLCFs.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

       $ 3,585,492        $ —          $ 3,585,492

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

       $ 6,243,472        $ —          $ 6,243,472

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

41


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

       $ 5,881,660        $ 16,176,251        $ —          $ 51,970,449        $ 74,028,360

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, return of capital from underlying investments, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 80% of the Fund. Investment activities of these shareholders could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

42


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

43


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

44


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were

 

45


able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

46


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

47


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships
Held Outside
the AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years
Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14
(Trustee since 2/07)
  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee  

Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)

  Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica

Thematic Trust (2019-2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for
the AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships
Held Outside the
AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

48


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

49


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 25

Statement of Operations

Page 25

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 26

Financial Highlights

Page 27

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 28

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 33

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 34

Other Information

Page 35

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 36

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 39

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”) returned 27.31%. That compared to a 25.66% total return for its benchmark, the Russell 3000® Index.1

The ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic produced consistent growth in U.S. equities throughout the year. Fiscal and monetary stimulus, rising consumer confidence, and solid earnings performance fueled gains despite inflationary pressures late in the year.

Small-cap stocks underperformed large-cap stocks during the period. Large-cap value stocks underperformed large-cap growth stocks during the period. However, small-cap value stocks outperformed small-cap growth stocks.

In the large-cap universe, stocks with lower relative prices and higher profitability performed in line with stocks with higher relative prices and lower profitability. In the small-cap universe, however, stocks with lower relative prices

and higher profitability outperformed stocks with higher relative prices and lower profitability.

The Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmark was primarily driven by its emphasis on small-cap value stocks, which were among the benchmark’s best performers during the period. The Fund’s emphasis on stocks with higher profitability also contributed to relative results, as these stocks performed better than their lower-profitability peers during the period.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

Value-based investments are subject to the risk that the broad market may not recognize their intrinsic value.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

         27.31 %          24.69 %          16.64 %          13.56 %

Russell 3000® Index

         25.66 %          25.79 %          17.97 %          14.69 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

         1.11 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.54% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 1.20% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Russell 3000® Index, which is an unmanaged broad capitalization index of the top 3,000 U.S. stocks by market capitalization and covers 98% of the U.S. equity investable universe. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,085.80     $ 4.57       0.87 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.82     $ 4.43       0.87 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      25.2 %

Financials

      13.6

Consumer Discretionary

      12.4

Health Care

      12.1

Industrials

      12.0

Communication Services

      8.1

Consumer Staples

      5.7

Materials

      4.3

Energy

      3.5

Utilities

      2.4

Real Estate

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.6

Rights

        
   

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.5

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.5 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.3%):       
  1,210      AAR Corp.*    $ 47,226  
  2,968      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.      138,784  
  358      AeroVironment, Inc.*      22,207  
  712      Astronics Corp.*      8,544  
  415      Astronics Corp., Class B*      4,984  
  908      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*      142,556  
  3,878      Boeing Co. (The)*      780,719  
  2,720      BWX Technologies, Inc.      130,234  
  685      CPI Aerostructures, Inc.*      1,870  
  914      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      126,744  
  625      Ducommun, Inc.*      29,231  
  1,727      General Dynamics Corp.      360,028  
  569      HEICO Corp.      82,061  
  769      HEICO Corp., Class A      98,832  
  2,189      Hexcel Corp.*      113,390  
  5,511      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      175,415  
  1,188      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      221,847  
  2,947      Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.*      57,172  
  2,175      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      463,797  
  3,238      Lockheed Martin Corp.      1,150,818  
  1,378      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      75,873  
  913      Moog, Inc., Class A      73,926  
  343      National Presto Industries, Inc.      28,136  
  1,391      Northrop Grumman Corp.      538,414  
  953      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      12,580  
  10,908      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      938,742  
  2,265      Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A      97,599  
  2,800      Textron, Inc.      216,160  
  521      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      331,502  
  337      Vectrus, Inc.*      15,424  
     

 

 

 
        6,484,815  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.8%):       
  2,159      Air Transport Services Group, Inc.*      63,431  
  464      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      43,672  
  3,174      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      341,618  
  2,787      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      374,266  
  2,443      FedEx Corp.      631,857  
  619      Forward Air Corp.      74,955  
  1,805      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      163,948  
  766      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      64,528  
  3,266      Radiant Logistics, Inc.*      23,809  
  8,651      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      1,854,255  
  2,834      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      219,437  
     

 

 

 
        3,855,776  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  2,670      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      139,107  
  229      Allegiant Travel Co.*      42,832  
  7,999      American Airlines Group, Inc.*^      143,662  
  841      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      69,517  
  9,886      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      386,345  
  1,057      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      19,417  
  9,359      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      133,272  
  1,602      SkyWest, Inc.*      62,959  
  5,986      Southwest Airlines Co.*      256,440  
  2,445      Spirit Airlines, Inc.*      53,423  
  3,464      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      151,654  
     

 

 

 
        1,458,628  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components (0.5%):       
  2,780      Adient plc*    $ 133,106  
  4,269      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      39,830  
  1,883      Aptiv plc*      310,601  
  2,666      Autoliv, Inc.      275,691  
  6,004      BorgWarner, Inc.      270,600  
  1,256      Cooper-Standard Holding, Inc.*      28,147  
  3,513      Dana, Inc.      80,167  
  687      Dorman Products, Inc.*      77,638  
  798      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      135,740  
  6,025      Gentex Corp.      209,971  
  799      Gentherm, Inc.*      69,433  
  6,635      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      141,458  
  1,365      Horizon Global Corp.*      10,893  
  578      LCI Industries      90,093  
  1,505      Lear Corp.      275,340  
  3,637      Modine Manufacturing Co.*      36,697  
  1,190      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      20,313  
  856      Patrick Industries, Inc.      69,071  
  4,082      QuantumScape Corp.*^      90,580  
  616      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      32,272  
  587      Stoneridge, Inc.*      11,587  
  275      Strattec Security Corp.*      10,180  
  1,349      Tenneco, Inc.*      15,244  
  3,249      Veoneer, Inc.*      115,275  
  517      Visteon Corp.*      57,459  
  1,621      VOXX International Corp.*      16,486  
     

 

 

 
        2,623,872  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.1%):       
  31,520      Ford Motor Co.      654,670  
  20,655      General Motors Co.*      1,211,003  
  4,049      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      152,607  
  3,384      Tesla, Inc.*      3,576,143  
  375      Thor Industries, Inc.      38,914  
  729      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      54,617  
     

 

 

 
        5,687,954  
     

 

 

 
Banks (5.3%):       
  859      1st Source Corp.      42,606  
  504      ACNB Corp.      15,765  
  954      Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.      40,268  
  661      American National Bankshares, Inc.      24,906  
  1,776      Ameris Bancorp      88,232  
  704      Ames National Corp.      17,241  
  1,015      Arrow Financial Corp.      35,758  
  3,325      Associated Banc-Corp.      75,112  
  1,160      Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      33,373  
  2,280      Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.      85,021  
  2,056      Banc of California, Inc.      40,339  
  646      BancFirst Corp.      45,582  
  2,831      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      71,653  
  53,873      Bank of America Corp.      2,396,810  
  1,028      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      86,105  
  724      Bank of Marin Bancorp      26,955  
  1,592      Bank of Nt Butterfield & Son, Ltd. (The)      60,671  
  3,554      Bank OZK      165,368  
  2,950      BankUnited, Inc.      124,815  
  1,129      Banner Corp.      68,496  
  433      Bar Harbor Bankshares      12,527  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  842      BCB Bancorp, Inc.    $ 12,992  
  2,598      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      73,861  
  1,565      BOK Financial Corp.      165,092  
  2,707      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      43,826  
  578      Bryn Mawr Bank Corp.      26,016  
  977      Byline BanCorp, Inc.      26,721  
  74      C&F Financial Corp.      3,788  
  4,719      Cadence Bank      140,579  
  843      Camden National Corp.      40,599  
  489      Capital City Bank Group, Inc.      12,910  
  2,132      Cathay General Bancorp      91,655  
  1,225      CBTX, Inc.      35,525  
  1,402      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      39,494  
  933      Central Valley Community Bancorp      19,378  
  377      Chemung Financial Corp.      17,259  
  2,299      CIT Group, Inc.      118,031  
  20,877      Citigroup, Inc.      1,260,762  
  943      Citizens & Northern Corp.      24,631  
  5,111      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      241,495  
  552      Citizens Holding Co.      10,350  
  365      City Holding Co.      29,853  
  938      Civista Bancshares, Inc.      22,887  
  735      CNB Financial Corp.      19,478  
  85      Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.      1,836  
  56      Colony Bankcorp, Inc.      956  
  2,267      Columbia Banking System, Inc.      74,176  
  3,274      Comerica, Inc.      284,838  
  3,042      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      209,107  
  1,393      Community Bank System, Inc.      103,751  
  517      Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.      22,546  
  1,154      ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.      37,747  
  1,311      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      165,278  
  1,643      Customers Bancorp, Inc.      107,403  
  4,350      CVB Financial Corp.      93,134  
  1,876      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      65,960  
  1,065      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      62,132  
  3,269      East West Bancorp, Inc.      257,205  
  820      Enterprise Financial Services Corp.      38,614  
  682      Equity Bancshares, Inc.      23,140  
  312      Evans Bancorp, Inc.      12,574  
  8,341      F.N.B. Corp.      101,176  
  1,329      Farmers National Banc Corp.      24,653  
  1,408      FB Financial Corp.      61,699  
  9,314      Fifth Third Bancorp      405,625  
  1,053      Financial Institutions, Inc.      33,485  
  6,611      First Bancorp      91,100  
  814      First Bancorp, Inc.      25,560  
  1,262      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      57,699  
  611      First Bancshares, Inc. (The)      23,597  
  1,378      First Busey Corp.      37,371  
  664      First Business Financial Services, Inc.      19,369  
  221      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      183,395  
  2,520      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      40,547  
  512      First Community Bankshares      17,111  
  3,105      First Financial Bancorp      75,700  
  3,432      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      174,483  
  536      First Financial Corp.      24,275  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  733      First Financial Northwest, Inc.    $ 11,853  
  1,155      First Foundation, Inc.      28,713  
  1,512      First Hawaiian, Inc.      41,323  
  12,573      First Horizon Corp.      205,317  
  1,244      First Interstate BancSystem, Class A      50,593  
  1,606      First Merchants Corp.      67,275  
  660      First Mid Bancshares, Inc.      28,241  
  4,022      First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.      82,371  
  1,573      First of Long Island Corp. (The)      33,961  
  1,741      First Republic Bank      359,534  
  2,253      Flushing Financial Corp.      54,748  
  5,044      Fulton Financial Corp.      85,748  
  769      German American Bancorp, Inc.      29,976  
  3,614      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      204,914  
  397      Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.      23,522  
  2,353      Great Western Bancorp, Inc.      79,908  
  2,782      Hancock Whitney Corp.      139,156  
  2,408      Hanmi Financial Corp.      57,021  
  1,642      HarborOne BanCorp, Inc.      24,367  
  43      Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.      1,111  
  1,853      Heartland Financial USA, Inc.      93,780  
  1,197      Heritage Financial Corp.      29,255  
  2,010      Hertiage Commerce Corp.      23,999  
  2,750      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.      96,635  
  4,922      Home Bancshares, Inc.      119,851  
  484      Hometrust Bancshares, Inc.      14,994  
  4,470      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      65,754  
  1,071      Horizon Bancorp      22,330  
  17,788      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      274,291  
  1,236      Independent Bank Corp.      100,771  
  855      Independent Bank Corp.      20,409  
  1,169      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      84,343  
  1,836      International Bancshares Corp.      77,828  
  7,175      Investors Bancorp, Inc.      108,701  
  31,257      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      4,949,546  
  13,247      KeyCorp      306,403  
  1,465      Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.      27,820  
  582      Lakeland Financial Corp.      46,641  
  552      Landmark Bancorp, Inc.      15,732  
  712      LCNB Corp.      13,905  
  1,274      Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.      111,207  
  1,471      M&T Bank Corp.      225,916  
  2,571      Macatawa Bank Corp.      22,676  
  472      Mercantile Bank Corp.      16,534  
  241      Midland States BanCorp, Inc.      5,974  
  638      MidWestone Financial Group, Inc.      20,652  
  702      National Bank Holdings Corp.      30,846  
  514      National Bankshares, Inc.      18,638  
  1,264      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      48,689  
  373      Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.*      31,985  
  510      Northrim Bancorp, Inc.      22,165  
  511      Norwood Financial Corp.      13,281  
  2,292      OFG Bancorp      60,876  
  440      Ohio Valley Banc Corp.      12,782  
  4,797      Old National Bancorp      86,922  
  2,225      Old Second Bancorp, Inc.      28,013  
  550      Origin Bancorp, Inc.      23,606  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  638      Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.    $ 16,078  
  2,518      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      100,796  
  2,447      PacWest Bancorp      110,531  
  467      Park National Corp.      64,124  
  1,165      Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp.      41,241  
  546      Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc.      12,869  
  608      Peoples Bancorp of NC      16,775  
  1,117      Peoples Bancorp, Inc.      35,532  
  11,228      People’s United Financial, Inc.      200,083  
  1,752      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      167,316  
  3,044      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      610,383  
  1,986      Popular, Inc.      162,931  
  432      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      31,013  
  707      Primis Financial Corp.      10,633  
  2,191      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      158,409  
  606      QCR Holdings, Inc.      33,936  
  487      Rbb BanCorp      12,759  
  13,669      Regions Financial Corp.      297,984  
  1,373      Renasant Corp.      52,105  
  917      Republic Bancorp, Inc., Class A      46,620  
  869      S & T Bancorp, Inc.      27,391  
  148      Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.      7,826  
  1,366      Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.      65,677  
  1,366      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      48,343  
  1,110      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      94,283  
  1,113      Shore Bancshares, Inc.      23,206  
  1,028      Sierra Bancorp      27,910  
  784      Signature Bank      253,601  
  3,102      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      91,757  
  950      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      39,729  
  1,915      SouthState Corp.      153,411  
  5,238      Sterling Bancorp      135,088  
  527      Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.      33,665  
  557      Summit Financial Group, Inc.      15,290  
  702      SVB Financial Group*      476,125  
  3,723      Synovus Financial Corp.      178,220  
  1,633      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      98,388  
  490      Tompkins Financial Corp.      40,954  
  2,209      TowneBank      69,782  
  820      TriCo Bancshares      35,227  
  959      Tristate Capital Holdings, Inc.*      29,019  
  1,001      Triumph BanCorp, Inc.*      119,199  
  9,462      Truist Financial Corp.      554,000  
  1,695      Trustmark Corp.      55,020  
  14,586      U.S. Bancorp      819,296  
  1,375      UMB Financial Corp.      145,901  
  6,312      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      121,443  
  3,681      United Bankshares, Inc.      133,547  
  1,942      United Community Banks, Inc.      69,795  
  1,190      United Security Bancshares      9,663  
  42      Unity Bancorp, Inc.      1,103  
  850      Univest Financial Corp.      25,432  
  12,068      Valley National Bancorp      165,935  
  501      Washington Trust Bancorp      28,241  
  2,517      Webster Financial Corp.      140,549  
  29,728      Wells Fargo & Co.      1,426,349  
  1,645      WesBanco, Inc.      57,559  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,062      West Bancorp    $ 32,996  
  685      Westamerica Bancorp      39,545  
  2,129      Western Alliance Bancorp      229,187  
  1,524      Wintrust Financial Corp.      138,410  
  3,716      Zions Bancorp      234,703  
     

 

 

 
        26,550,312  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.3%):       
  145      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*      73,240  
  1,105      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      74,908  
  3,136      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      228,489  
  374      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      27,889  
  37,033      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      2,192,724  
  179      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      110,835  
  919      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class C      230,641  
  4,758      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      175,380  
  615      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      52,269  
  3,243      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      150,313  
  2,382      Monster Beverage Corp.*      228,767  
  1,621      National Beverage Corp.      73,480  
  15,698      PepsiCo, Inc.      2,726,900  
     

 

 

 
        6,345,835  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.3%):       
  489      2Seventy Bio, Inc.*      12,533  
  18,635      AbbVie, Inc.      2,523,179  
  2,144      ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      50,041  
  3,964      Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.*      6,977  
  436      Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      14,331  
  7,184      Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.*      16,236  
  1,908      Alector, Inc.*      39,400  
  1,012      Alkermes plc*      23,539  
  2,313      Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.*      34,510  
  471      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      79,872  
  6,716      Amgen, Inc.      1,510,899  
  955      AnaptysBio, Inc.*      33,186  
  990      Arcus Biosciences, Inc.*      40,065  
  984      Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      91,453  
  920      Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      60,996  
  1,907      Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      30,054  
  1,327      Biogen, Inc.*      318,374  
  535      Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co., Ltd.*      73,728  
  2,087      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      184,386  
  1,469      Bluebird Bio, Inc.*      14,675  
  1,208      Blueprint Medicines Corp.*      129,389  
  723      CareDx, Inc.*      32,882  
  1,101      Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.*      42,543  
  718      Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,262  
  906      CRISPR Therapeutics AG*      68,657  
  1,534      Denali Therapeutics, Inc.*      68,416  
  233      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      11,864  
  1,370      Editas Medicine, Inc.*      36,374  
  1,656      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      71,986  
  585      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      43,746  
  1,700      Exact Sciences Corp.*      132,311  
  6,966      Exelixis, Inc.*      127,338  
  567      Fate Therapeutics, Inc.*      33,175  
  522      Fibrogen, Inc.*      7,360  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  1,432      G1 Therapeutics, Inc.*^    $ 14,621  
  11,958      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      868,270  
  852      Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc.*      24,938  
  779      Glycomimetics Industries*      1,122  
  2,867      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      115,282  
  1,961      Incyte Corp.*      143,937  
  1,650      Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.*      195,096  
  1,964      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      59,765  
  2,315      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      44,193  
  2,568      Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      29,943  
  275      Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.*      36,025  
  200      Kodiak Sciences, Inc.*      16,956  
  1,263      Kura Oncology, Inc.*      17,682  
  757      Kymera Therapeutics, Inc.*      48,062  
  340      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      52,516  
  1,449      Macrogenics, Inc.*      23,256  
  194      Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      16,440  
  710      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      104,150  
  4,559      Moderna, Inc.*      1,157,895  
  2,351      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      64,888  
  876      Natera, Inc.*      81,810  
  715      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      60,897  
  464      Novavax, Inc.*^      66,384  
  10,235      OPKO Health, Inc.*      49,230  
  9,565      PDL BioPharma, Inc.      32,808  
  1,720      Prothena Corp. plc*      84,968  
  1,210      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      764,139  
  895      REGENXBIO, Inc.*      29,267  
  440      Repligen Corp.*      116,530  
  1,053      Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      10,509  
  1,042      Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      22,747  
  1,793      Sage Therapeutics, Inc.*      76,274  
  2,916      Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.*      21,870  
  660      Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.*      59,433  
  1,210      Seagen, Inc.*      187,066  
  2,126      Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,700  
  602      SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.*      37,312  
  874      Travere Therapeutics, Inc.*      27,129  
  1,104      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      92,835  
  882      United Therapeutics Corp.*      190,583  
  1,179      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      18,499  
  1,880      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      412,848  
  1,246      Xencor, Inc.*      49,990  
     

 

 

 
        11,497,602  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.0%):       
  2,754      A.O. Smith Corp.      236,431  
  1,062      AAON, Inc.      84,355  
  1,812      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.      246,668  
  1,795      Allegion plc      237,730  
  515      American Woodmark Corp.*      33,578  
  1,085      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.      52,243  
  1,778      Armstrong Flooring, Inc.*      3,520  
  1,537      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      178,476  
  3,106      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      143,621  
  4,473      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      383,381  
  7,509      Carrier Global Corp.      407,288  
  3,362      Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.*      58,633  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Building Products, continued       
  547      Csw Industrials, Inc.    $ 66,110  
  2,644      Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.      282,644  
  715      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      47,676  
  1,993      Griffon Corp.      56,761  
  1,209      Insteel Industries, Inc.      48,130  
  2,135      Jeld-Wen Holding, Inc.*      56,279  
  3,721      Johnson Controls International plc      302,555  
  617      Lennox International, Inc.      200,130  
  2,484      Masco Corp.      174,426  
  681      Masonite International Corp.*      80,324  
  2,995      Owens Corning      271,047  
  1,379      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      31,014  
  1,160      Quanex Building Products Corp.      28,745  
  3,728      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      97,040  
  1,119      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      155,619  
  1,810      Trane Technologies plc      365,674  
  1,485      Trex Co., Inc.*      200,520  
  1,914      UFP Industries, Inc.      176,107  
  3,709      Zurn Water Solutions Corp.      135,008  
     

 

 

 
        4,841,733  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.0%):       
  837      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      137,695  
  1,953      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      589,142  
  3,221      Apollo Asset Management, Inc.      233,297  
  1,834      Ares Management Corp., Class A      149,049  
  1,585      Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A      75,509  
  734      B Riley Financial, Inc.      65,223  
  6,009      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      349,003  
  9,837      BGC Partners, Inc., Class A      45,742  
  1,088      BlackRock, Inc., Class A      996,129  
  5,256      Blackstone Group, Inc. (The), Class A      680,074  
  2,377      Blucora, Inc.*      41,170  
  902      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      23,091  
  1,257      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      163,913  
  7,675      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      645,468  
  1,955      CME Group, Inc.      446,639  
  1,396      Cohen & Steers, Inc.      129,144  
  190      Diamond Hill Investment Group      36,904  
  1,791      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      84,428  
  566      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      275,082  
  3,404      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      127,922  
  5,820      Franklin Resources, Inc.      194,912  
  388      GAMCO Investors, Inc., Class A      9,692  
  3,428      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      1,311,381  
  255      Greenhill & Co., Inc.      4,572  
  569      Hamilton Lane, Inc.      58,960  
  211      Hennessy Advisors, Inc.      2,292  
  1,585      Houlihan Lokey, Inc.      164,079  
  693      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      55,038  
  3,163      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      432,604  
  9,972      Invesco, Ltd.      229,555  
  4,134      Janus Henderson Group plc      173,380  
  4,821      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      359,165  
  2,997      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      130,759  
  1,927      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      308,493  
  337      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      138,598  
  1,075      Moelis & Co., Class A      67,198  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  1,496      Moody’s Corp.    $ 584,308  
  13,808      Morgan Stanley      1,355,393  
  806      Morningstar, Inc.      275,644  
  583      MSCI, Inc., Class A      357,198  
  2,070      Nasdaq, Inc.      434,721  
  2,692      Northern Trust Corp.      321,990  
  365      Oppenheimer Holdings, Class A      16,925  
  613      Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc.      109,427  
  394      PJT Partners, Inc.      29,191  
  1,113      Pzena Investment Management, Inc.      10,540  
  2,866      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      287,746  
  2,231      S&P Global, Inc.      1,052,876  
  3,335      SEI Investments Co.      203,235  
  660      Silvercrest Asset Management Group, Inc., Class A      11,332  
  4,353      State Street Corp.      404,829  
  2,748      Stifel Financial Corp.      193,514  
  597      StoneX Group, Inc.*      36,566  
  2,023      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      397,803  
  800      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      80,112  
  1,429      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      41,198  
  154      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      45,753  
  425      Westwood Holdings, Inc.      7,200  
  3,476      WisdomTree Investments, Inc.      21,273  
     

 

 

 
        15,214,076  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (2.4%):       
  1,846      AdvanSix, Inc.      87,224  
  1,737      Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.      528,500  
  1,313      Albemarle Corp.      306,940  
  1,157      American Vanguard Corp.      18,963  
  1,489      Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.      160,306  
  2,333      Avient Corp.      130,531  
  7,753      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      256,779  
  838      Balchem Corp.      141,287  
  1,642      Cabot Corp.      92,280  
  2,236      Celanese Corp.      375,782  
  3,882      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      274,768  
  328      Chase Corp.      32,656  
  4,033      Chemours Co. (The)      135,347  
  578      Core Molding Technologies, Inc.*      4,919  
  8,592      Corteva, Inc.      406,230  
  17,492      Dow, Inc.      992,146  
  5,587      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      451,318  
  1,908      Eastman Chemical Co.      230,696  
  2,031      Ecolab, Inc.      476,452  
  1,630      Ecovyst, Inc.      16,691  
  7,787      Element Solutions, Inc.      189,068  
  1,912      Ferro Corp.*      41,739  
  2,273      FMC Corp.      249,780  
  3,222      Futurefuel Corp.      24,616  
  1,709      GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.*      54,107  
  1,438      H.B. Fuller Co.      116,478  
  5,566      Huntsman Corp.      194,142  
  962      Ingevity Corp.*      68,975  
  571      Innospec, Inc.      51,584  
  2,916      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      439,295  
  1,498      Intrepid Potash, Inc.*      64,010  
  783      Koppers Holdings, Inc.*      24,508  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  646      Kraton Corp.*    $ 29,923  
  2,011      Kronos Worldwide, Inc.      30,185  
  3,813      Linde plc      1,320,938  
  2,160      Livent Corp.*      52,661  
  1,603      LSB Industries, Inc.*      17,713  
  9,096      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      838,924  
  971      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      71,029  
  7,687      Mosaic Co. (The)      302,022  
  301      NewMarket Corp.      103,159  
  4,819      Olin Corp.      277,189  
  2,364      Orion Engineered Carbons SA*      43,403  
  3,040      PPG Industries, Inc.      524,218  
  3,631      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      20,733  
  2,581      RPM International, Inc.      260,681  
  1,131      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      182,091  
  1,042      Sensient Technologies Corp.      104,263  
  2,297      Sherwin Williams Co.      808,912  
  569      Stepan Co.      70,721  
  1,627      Trecora Resources*      13,146  
  1,070      Tredegar Corp.      12,647  
  1,279      Trinseo PLC*      67,096  
  4,906      Tronox Holdings plc, Class A      117,891  
  2,580      Valvoline, Inc.      96,208  
  4,276      Venator Materials plc*      10,861  
  2,150      Westlake Chemical Corp.      208,830  
     

 

 

 
        12,223,561  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.9%):       
  1,913      ABM Industries, Inc.      78,146  
  2,927      ACCO Brands Corp.      24,177  
  11,570      ADT, Inc.      97,304  
  1,067      Brady Corp., Class A      57,511  
  844      Brink’s Co. (The)      55,341  
  1,028      Casella Waste Systems, Inc.*      87,812  
  2,003      CECO Environmental Corp.*      12,479  
  518      Cimpress plc*      37,094  
  843      Cintas Corp.      373,592  
  433      Civeo Corp.*      8,301  
  1,794      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      178,987  
  3,043      Copart, Inc.*      461,380  
  859      Deluxe Corp.      27,582  
  1,613      Ennis, Inc.      31,502  
  2,148      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      38,213  
  1,042      Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.*      33,365  
  1,467      HNI Corp.      61,687  
  2,623      IAA, Inc.*      132,776  
  2,041      Interface, Inc.      32,554  
  5,118      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      79,943  
  2,829      Kimball International, Inc., Class B      28,941  
  919      Matthews International Corp., Class A      33,700  
  730      McGrath Rentcorp      58,590  
  1,866      MillerKnoll, Inc.      73,128  
  763      MSA Safety, Inc.      115,182  
  1,552      NL Industries, Inc.      11,485  
  4,238      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      28,098  
  2,606      Quad Graphics, Inc.*      10,424  
  4,992      Republic Services, Inc., Class A      696,134  
  5,020      Rollins, Inc.      171,734  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  2,114      RR Donnelley & Sons Co.*    $ 23,804  
  503      SP Plus Corp.*      14,195  
  2,563      Steelcase, Inc., Class A      30,038  
  2,286      Stericycle, Inc.*      136,337  
  1,534      Team, Inc.*      1,672  
  1,039      Tetra Tech, Inc.      176,422  
  542      UniFirst Corp.      114,037  
  1,141      US Ecology, Inc.*      36,444  
  1,003      Viad Corp.*      42,918  
  1,763      Vidler Water Resouces, Inc.*      21,297  
  824      Vse Corp.      50,215  
  5,622      Waste Management, Inc.      938,312  
     

 

 

 
        4,722,853  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.9%):       
  1,069      ADTRAN, Inc.      24,405  
  752      Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.*      3,865  
  2,864      Arista Networks, Inc.*      411,700  
  1,829      CalAmp Corp.*      12,913  
  644      Calix, Inc.*      51,501  
  2,888      Ciena Corp.*      222,289  
  38,576      Cisco Systems, Inc.      2,444,561  
  6,102      CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*      67,366  
  316      Communications Systems, Inc.      758  
  756      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.      17,910  
  1,262      Digi International, Inc.*      31,007  
  1,548      EchoStar Corp., Class A*      40,790  
  1,189      EMCORE Corp.*      8,299  
  868      F5, Inc.*      212,408  
  2,194      Harmonic, Inc.*      25,802  
  2,944      Infinera Corp.*      28,233  
  441      InterDigital, Inc.      31,589  
  5,828      Juniper Networks, Inc.      208,118  
  909      KVH Industries, Inc.*      8,354  
  1,533      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      162,145  
  1,630      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      442,871  
  1,010      NETGEAR, Inc.*      29,502  
  1,838      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      60,801  
  3,679      Ribbon Communications, Inc.*      22,258  
  181      Ubiquiti, Inc.      55,513  
  2,004      ViaSat, Inc.*      89,258  
  4,098      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      72,207  
     

 

 

 
        4,786,423  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.4%):       
  3,257      AECOM*      251,929  
  673      Ameresco, Inc., Class A*      54,809  
  1,062      Arcosa, Inc.      55,967  
  455      Argan, Inc.      17,604  
  1,049      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      103,788  
  1,213      Construction Partners, Inc., Class A*      35,674  
  710      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      66,570  
  1,291      EMCOR Group, Inc.      164,460  
  2,848      Fluor Corp.*      70,545  
  1,277      Granite Construction, Inc.      49,420  
  2,266      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.*      35,621  
  656      IES Holdings, Inc.*      33,220  
  1,326      Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.      184,619  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  2,313      MasTec, Inc.*    $ 213,444  
  1,750      Matrix Service Co.*      13,160  
  487      MYR Group, Inc.*      53,838  
  346      NV5 Global, Inc.*      47,789  
  2,101      Orion Group Holdings, Inc.*      7,921  
  2,465      Primoris Services Corp.      59,111  
  1,798      Quanta Services, Inc.      206,159  
  1,648      Tutor Perini Corp.*      20,386  
  568      Valmont Industries, Inc.      142,284  
  4,673      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      190,845  
     

 

 

 
        2,079,163  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  961      Eagle Materials, Inc., Class A      159,968  
  754      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      332,152  
  3,273      Summit Materials, Inc., Class A*      131,378  
  131      U.S. Lime & Minerals, Inc.      16,902  
  1,485      Vulcan Materials Co.      308,256  
     

 

 

 
        948,656  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.2%):       
  6,825      Ally Financial, Inc.      324,938  
  7,809      American Express Co.      1,277,552  
  6,833      Capital One Financial Corp.      991,400  
  1,912      Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.*      22,657  
  490      Credit Acceptance Corp.*      336,963  
  6,539      Discover Financial Services      755,647  
  950      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      59,004  
  1,657      Enova International, Inc.*      67,871  
  3,948      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      29,097  
  1,170      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      87,528  
  1,425      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      51,642  
  5,431      LendingClub Corp.*      131,322  
  5,938      Navient Corp.      126,004  
  543      Nelnet, Inc., Class A      53,040  
  750      Nicholas Financial, Inc.*      8,843  
  4,313      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      215,823  
  1,392      PRA Group, Inc.*      69,892  
  2,187      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      98,656  
  568      Regional Mgmt Corp.      32,637  
  7,521      Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.      316,032  
  10,574      SLM Corp.      207,991  
  12,153      Synchrony Financial      563,778  
  237      World Acceptance Corp.*      58,167  
     

 

 

 
        5,886,484  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  21,700      Amcor plc      260,617  
  1,523      AptarGroup, Inc.      186,537  
  1,735      Avery Dennison Corp.      375,749  
  3,835      Ball Corp.      369,195  
  4,390      Berry Global Group, Inc.*      323,894  
  3,087      Crown Holdings, Inc.      341,484  
  11,400      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      222,300  
  930      Greif, Inc., Class A      56,144  
  710      Greif, Inc., Class B      42,444  
  5,221      International Paper Co.      245,283  
  1,253      Myers Industries, Inc.      25,072  
  5,063      O-I Glass, Inc.*      60,908  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Containers & Packaging, continued       
  1,879      Packaging Corp. of America    $ 255,826  
  2,082      Sealed Air Corp.      140,473  
  3,830      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      164,077  
  2,780      Sonoco Products Co.      160,934  
  538      UFP Technologies, Inc.*      37,800  
  5,344      Westrock Co.      237,060  
     

 

 

 
        3,505,797  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  1,267      Funko, Inc., Class A*      23,820  
  1,853      Genuine Parts Co.      259,790  
  3,391      LKQ Corp.      203,562  
  472      Pool Corp.      267,152  
  811      Weyco Group, Inc.      19,415  
     

 

 

 
        773,739  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.3%):       
  1,249      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      36,921  
  541      American Public Education, Inc.*      12,037  
  1,282      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      161,378  
  418      Carriage Services, Inc.      26,936  
  1,372      Chegg, Inc.*      42,120  
  1,826      Frontdoor, Inc.*      66,923  
  112      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      70,541  
  1,296      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      111,080  
  3,465      H&R Block, Inc.      81,635  
  8,803      Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.*      141,728  
  3,406      Laureate Education, Inc.      41,689  
  2,522      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      29,659  
  1,309      Regis Corp.*      2,278  
  3,783      Service Corp. International      268,555  
  825      Strategic Education, Inc.      47,718  
  1,002      Stride, Inc.*      33,397  
  3,452      Terminix Global Holdings, Inc.*      156,134  
  1,696      Universal Technical Institute, Inc.*      13,263  
  1,419      WW International, Inc.*      22,889  
     

 

 

 
        1,366,881  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.0%):       
  13,725      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      4,103,775  
  2,704      Cannae Holdings, Inc.*      95,046  
  9,685      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      317,571  
  5,286      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      205,097  
  827      Marlin Business Services, Inc.      19,252  
  2,777      Voya Financial, Inc.      184,143  
     

 

 

 
        4,924,884  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication (0.0%):       
  143      Telesat Corp.*      4,100  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.1%):       
  398      Anterix, Inc.*      23,386  
  75,599      AT&T, Inc.      1,859,735  
  461      ATN International, Inc.      18,417  
  857      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      62,715  
  4,558      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      34,094  
  1,080      IDT Corp.*      47,693  
  3,009      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      124,242  
  26,553      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      333,240  
  63,605      Verizon Communications, Inc.      3,304,916  
     

 

 

 
        5,808,438  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities (1.2%):       
  925      ALLETE, Inc.    $ 61,374  
  2,285      Alliant Energy Corp.      140,459  
  4,294      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      382,037  
  1,163      Avangrid, Inc.      58,010  
  5,521      Duke Energy Corp.      579,153  
  3,306      Edison International      225,634  
  2,041      Entergy Corp.      229,919  
  2,102      Evergy, Inc.      144,218  
  3,330      Eversource Energy      302,963  
  7,030      Exelon Corp.      406,053  
  5,033      FirstEnergy Corp.      209,322  
  1,272      Genie Energy, Ltd., Class B*      7,085  
  2,581      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      107,111  
  1,176      IDACORP, Inc.      133,253  
  734      MGE Energy, Inc.      60,372  
  13,851      NextEra Energy, Inc.      1,293,129  
  3,897      OGE Energy Corp.      149,567  
  737      Otter Tail Corp.      52,637  
  16,446      PG&E Corp.*      199,654  
  1,787      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      126,144  
  2,755      PNM Resources, Inc.      125,656  
  2,036      Portland General Electric Co.      107,745  
  7,492      PPL Corp.      225,210  
  7,460      Southern Co. (The)      511,607  
  5,193      Xcel Energy, Inc.      351,566  
     

 

 

 
        6,189,878  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.8%):       
  888      Acuity Brands, Inc.      188,007  
  424      Allied Motion Technologies, Inc.      15,472  
  2,727      AMETEK, Inc.      400,978  
  1,155      Atkore, Inc.*      128,425  
  394      AZZ, Inc.      21,784  
  2,912      Eaton Corp. plc      503,252  
  5,507      Emerson Electric Co.      511,986  
  823      Encore Wire Corp.      117,771  
  1,180      EnerSys      93,291  
  736      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      259,013  
  5,506      GrafTech International, Ltd.      65,136  
  1,280      Hubbell, Inc.      266,586  
  1,831      LSI Industries, Inc.      12,561  
  3,947      nVent Electric plc      149,986  
  5,002      Plug Power, Inc.*      141,207  
  606      Powell Industries, Inc.      17,871  
  400      Preformed Line Products Co.      25,880  
  1,374      Regal-Beloit Corp.      233,827  
  1,364      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      475,831  
  3,842      Sensata Technologies Holding plc*      237,013  
  4,144      Sunrun, Inc.*      142,139  
  1,298      Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.*      21,975  
  742      Tpi Composites, Inc.*      11,100  
  348      Vicor Corp.*      44,189  
     

 

 

 
        4,085,280  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.3%):       
  4,881      Amphenol Corp., Class A      426,892  
  2,582      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      27,085  
  1,826      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      245,177  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  2,249      Avnet, Inc.    $ 92,726  
  724      Badger Meter, Inc.      77,150  
  550      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class B      7,112  
  1,417      Belden, Inc.      93,140  
  1,054      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      28,563  
  1,649      CDW Corp.      337,682  
  2,100      Cognex Corp.      163,296  
  687      Coherent, Inc.*      183,113  
  11,578      Corning, Inc.      431,049  
  1,576      CTS Corp.      57,871  
  2,838      Daktronics, Inc.*      14,332  
  1,561      Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A      148,639  
  784      ePlus, Inc.*      42,242  
  839      Fabrinet*      99,396  
  392      FARO Technologies, Inc.*      27,448  
  15,072      Flex, Ltd.*      276,270  
  640      Frequency Electronics, Inc.*      6,310  
  1,346      II-VI, Inc.*      91,972  
  1,048      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      111,717  
  959      IPG Photonics Corp.*      165,082  
  1,060      Itron, Inc.*      72,631  
  4,868      Jabil, Inc.      342,464  
  2,563      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      529,285  
  1,603      Kimball Electronics, Inc.*      34,881  
  2,737      Knowles Corp.*      63,909  
  546      Littlelfuse, Inc.      171,815  
  790      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      38,844  
  2,559      National Instruments Corp.      111,752  
  702      Novanta, Inc.*      123,784  
  594      OSI Systems, Inc.*      55,361  
  621      PC Connection, Inc.      26,784  
  800      Plexus Corp.*      76,712  
  438      Rogers Corp.*      119,574  
  1,757      Sanmina Corp.*      72,845  
  738      ScanSource, Inc.*      25,889  
  1,795      SYNNEX Corp.      205,276  
  2,600      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      419,484  
  542      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      236,794  
  2,694      Trimble, Inc.*      234,890  
  3,068      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      45,713  
  3,363      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      73,549  
  2,080      Vontier Corp.      63,918  
  630      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      374,976  
     

 

 

 
        6,675,394  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.4%):       
  4,779      Archrock, Inc.      35,747  
  10,629      Baker Hughes Co.      255,734  
  519      Bristow Group, Inc.*      16,437  
  5,397      ChampionX Corp.*      109,073  
  711      Core Laboratories NV      15,862  
  562      DMC Global, Inc.*      22,261  
  1,028      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      20,231  
  2,010      Exterran Corp.*      5,990  
  306      Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.*      4,911  
  1,095      Frank’s International NV*      15,713  
  760      Geospace Technologies Corp.*      5,107  
  1,086      Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.*      4,355  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  11,703      Halliburton Co.    $ 267,648  
  4,336      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      13,528  
  2,727      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      64,630  
  2,181      Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A*      21,156  
  1,436      Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.*      2,614  
  359      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      29,111  
  935      Natural Gas Services Group*      9,790  
  4,799      Newpark Resources, Inc.*      14,109  
  8,513      NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.*      30,221  
  8,395      NOV, Inc.      113,752  
  4,818      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      54,492  
  3,066      Oil States International, Inc.*      15,238  
  6,531      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      55,187  
  2,684      Propetro Holding Corp.*      21,740  
  4,475      RPC, Inc.*      20,317  
  15,357      Schlumberger, Ltd.      459,942  
  493      SEACOR Marine Holdings, Inc.*      1,676  
  3,974      Select Energy Services, Inc.*      24,758  
  13,590      TechnipFMC plc      80,453  
  4,086      TETRA Technologies, Inc.*      11,604  
  2,510      Tidewater, Inc.*      26,882  
  14,584      Transocean, Ltd.*^      40,252  
  4,546      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      42,732  
     

 

 

 
        1,933,253  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.1%):       
  5,649      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      375,828  
  2,561      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*^      41,283  
  2,791      Electronic Arts, Inc.      368,133  
  1,045      Imax Corp.*      18,643  
  247      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class A*      7,101  
  527      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class C*      14,809  
  619      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class A*      36,731  
  4,474      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      282,936  
  2,111      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class A*      35,127  
  2,411      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class B*      37,105  
  2,071      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      247,878  
  894      Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.*      62,884  
  1,459      Marcus Corp.*      26,058  
  3,160      Netflix, Inc.*      1,903,710  
  1,419      Reading International, Inc., Class A*      5,733  
  598      ROBLOX Corp.*      61,690  
  454      Roku, Inc.*      103,603  
  532      Spotify Technology SA*      124,504  
  1,270      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      225,704  
  9,527      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      1,475,637  
  1,420      Warner Music Group Corp.      61,315  
  1,208      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      59,603  
  24,922      Zynga, Inc.*      159,501  
     

 

 

 
        5,735,516  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.4%):       
  1,374      Albertsons Cos., Inc., Class A      41,481  
  3,262      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      218,456  
  998      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      196,955  
  3,697      Costco Wholesale Corp.      2,098,787  
  613      Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A      52,926  
  15,716      Kroger Co. (The)      711,306  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  1,720      Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.    $ 24,510  
  3,849      Performance Food Group Co.*      176,631  
  678      PriceSmart, Inc.      49,609  
  1,864      Rite Aid Corp.*      27,382  
  1,048      SpartanNash Co.      26,997  
  4,494      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      133,382  
  6,150      Sysco Corp.      483,083  
  1,610      The Andersons, Inc.      62,323  
  1,143      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      38,062  
  1,907      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      93,596  
  5,735      US Foods Holding Corp.*      199,750  
  738      Village Super Market, Inc., Class A      17,262  
  10,238      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      534,014  
  13,622      Walmart, Inc.      1,970,967  
  857      Weis Markets, Inc.      56,459  
     

 

 

 
        7,213,938  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.4%):       
  6,537      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      441,836  
  2,035      B&G Foods, Inc.^      62,535  
  4,205      Bunge, Ltd.      392,579  
  270      Calavo Growers, Inc.      11,448  
  1,477      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      54,634  
  5,711      Campbell Soup Co.      248,200  
  5,882      Conagra Brands, Inc.      200,870  
  3,472      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      240,575  
  1,004      Farmer Brothers Co.*      7,480  
  5,664      Flowers Foods, Inc.      155,590  
  1,375      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      37,950  
  640      Freshpet, Inc.*      60,973  
  9,939      General Mills, Inc.      669,690  
  2,709      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      115,430  
  1,995      Hershey Co. (The)      385,973  
  4,488      Hormel Foods Corp.      219,059  
  3,521      Hostess Brands, Inc.*      71,899  
  1,610      Ingredion, Inc.      155,590  
  376      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      59,393  
  1,263      JM Smucker Co. (The)      171,541  
  300      John B Sanfilippo And Son, Inc.      27,048  
  6,773      Kellogg Co.      436,317  
  10,751      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      385,961  
  2,371      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      150,274  
  736      Lancaster Colony Corp.      121,882  
  1,028      Landec Corp.*      11,411  
  2,911      McCormick & Co.      281,232  
  778      McCormick & Co., Inc.      74,213  
  9,925      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      658,127  
  4,222      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      119,060  
  1,836      Post Holdings, Inc.*      206,972  
  587      Sanderson Farms, Inc.      112,164  
  29      Seaboard Corp.      114,115  
  266      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      12,755  
  2,245      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      93,325  
  874      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      31,665  
  1,535      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      62,214  
  3,990      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      347,768  
     

 

 

 
        7,009,748  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Gas Utilities (0.2%):       
  2,386      Atmos Energy Corp.    $ 249,981  
  273      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      39,806  
  2,171      National Fuel Gas Co.      138,814  
  2,685      New Jersey Resources Corp.      110,246  
  620      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      30,244  
  1,069      ONE Gas, Inc.      82,944  
  232      RGC Resources, Inc.      5,338  
  1,202      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      31,396  
  1,143      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      80,067  
  912      Spire, Inc.      59,481  
  4,064      UGI Corp.      186,578  
     

 

 

 
        1,014,895  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.5%):       
  13,923      Abbott Laboratories      1,959,523  
  389      ABIOMED, Inc.*      139,717  
  2,269      Accuray, Inc.*      10,823  
  410      Align Technology, Inc.*      269,444  
  912      AngioDynamics, Inc.*      25,153  
  955      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      34,218  
  707      AtriCure, Inc.*      49,158  
  36      Atrion Corp.      25,376  
  991      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      34,358  
  744      Axonics, Inc.*      41,664  
  5,989      Baxter International, Inc.      514,096  
  1,924      Becton Dickinson & Co.      483,848  
  7,829      Boston Scientific Corp.*      332,576  
  629      CONMED Corp.      89,167  
  507      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      212,403  
  1,619      CryoLife, Inc.*      32,947  
  4,766      Danaher Corp.      1,568,062  
  3,528      Dentsply Sirona, Inc.      196,827  
  403      DexCom, Inc.*      216,391  
  3,086      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      399,791  
  2,838      Envista Holdings Corp.*      127,880  
  1,691      Globus Medical, Inc.*      122,090  
  1,463      Haemonetics Corp.*      77,598  
  149      Heska Corp.*      27,191  
  5,513      Hologic, Inc.*      422,075  
  473      ICU Medical, Inc.*      112,262  
  824      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      542,571  
  516      Inari Medical, Inc.*      47,095  
  433      Inogen, Inc.*      14,722  
  334      Insulet Corp.*      88,867  
  940      Integer Holdings Corp.*      80,455  
  1,679      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      112,476  
  1,614      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      579,910  
  2,327      Invacare Corp.*      6,329  
  1,705      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*      49,257  
  809      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      40,636  
  725      LENSAR, Inc.*      4,321  
  1,168      LivaNova plc*      102,118  
  509      Masimo Corp.*      149,025  
  6,947      Medtronic plc      718,667  
  1,464      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      29,866  
  1,136      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      70,773  
  982      Natus Medical, Inc.*      23,303  
  1,608      Neogen Corp.*      73,019  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  598      Novocure, Ltd.*    $ 44,898  
  1,066      NuVasive, Inc.*      55,944  
  2,205      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      19,161  
  566      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      17,597  
  466      Penumbra, Inc.*      133,891  
  1,007      Quidel Corp.*      135,935  
  1,401      ResMed, Inc.      364,933  
  624      SeaSpine Holdings Corp.*      8,499  
  176      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      31,386  
  1,032      Steris plc      251,199  
  1,764      Stryker Corp.      471,729  
  3,310      Surgalign Holdings, Inc.*      2,371  
  406      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      61,111  
  531      Teleflex, Inc.      174,423  
  227      Utah Medical Products, Inc.      22,700  
  1,100      Varex Imaging Corp.*      34,705  
  684      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      320,803  
  2,179      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      276,820  
     

 

 

 
        12,686,153  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.8%):       
  2,656      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      161,219  
  343      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      32,074  
  757      Amedisys, Inc.*      122,543  
  2,183      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      290,099  
  1,394      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      170,528  
  1,844      Anthem, Inc.      854,768  
  1,245      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      91,483  
  9,264      Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.*      47,802  
  7,153      Cardinal Health, Inc.      368,308  
  4,279      Centene Corp.*      352,590  
  394      Chemed Corp.      208,442  
  3,568      Cigna Corp.      819,320  
  5,028      Community Health Systems, Inc.*      66,923  
  318      CorVel Corp.*      66,144  
  3,891      Covetrus, Inc.*      77,703  
  1,177      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      32,673  
  14,231      CVS Health Corp.      1,468,070  
  3,006      DaVita, Inc.*      341,962  
  3,099      Encompass Health Corp.      202,241  
  1,585      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      133,077  
  78      Five Star Senior Living, Inc.*      230  
  958      Guardant Health, Inc.*      95,819  
  609      Hanger, Inc.*      11,041  
  1,772      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      455,262  
  786      HealthEquity, Inc.*      34,773  
  2,772      Henry Schein, Inc.*      214,913  
  975      Humana, Inc.      452,263  
  1,529      InfuSystems Holdings, Inc.*      26,039  
  1,433      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*      450,263  
  742      LHC Group, Inc.*      101,825  
  1,171      Magellan Health, Inc.*      111,233  
  1,512      McKesson Corp.      375,838  
  1,710      MEDNAX, Inc.*      46,529  
  564      ModivCare, Inc.*      83,636  
  835      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      265,597  
  575      National Healthcare Corp.      39,065  
  819      National Research Corp.      34,005  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  2,228      Option Care Health, Inc.*    $ 63,364  
  2,072      Owens & Minor, Inc.      90,132  
  3,095      Patterson Cos., Inc.      90,838  
  629      Petiq, Inc.*      14,285  
  2,269      Premier, Inc., Class A      93,415  
  861      Progyny, Inc.*      43,351  
  2,561      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      443,079  
  5,426      R1 RCM, Inc.*      138,309  
  1,355      RadNet, Inc.*      40,799  
  2,778      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      81,673  
  585      Surgery Partners, Inc.*      31,245  
  2,695      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      220,154  
  792      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      18,279  
  1,303      Triple-S Management Corp., Class B*      46,491  
  207      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      19,779  
  7,399      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      3,715,334  
  1,705      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      221,070  
     

 

 

 
        14,077,897  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  4,097      Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.*      75,590  
  5,194      Cerner Corp.      482,367  
  4,924      Change Healthcare, Inc.*      105,275  
  339      Computer Programs & Systems, Inc.*      9,933  
  1,873      Evolent Health, Inc., Class A*      51,826  
  1,357      HealthStream, Inc.*      35,770  
  1,430      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      25,440  
  574      Omnicell, Inc.*      103,573  
  394      Simulations Plus, Inc.^      18,636  
  1,470      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      134,975  
  705      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      180,113  
     

 

 

 
        1,223,498  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.7%):       
  4,796      Aramark      176,733  
  6      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class A*      4,170  
  67      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class B*      9,552  
  492      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      16,999  
  1,554      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.*      32,603  
  491      Bluegreen Vacations Holding Corp.*      17,234  
  1,059      Boyd Gaming Corp.*      69,439  
  970      Brinker International, Inc.*      35,492  
  1,468      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      137,302  
  9,118      Carnival Corp., Class A*      183,454  
  2,943      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.      8,711  
  665      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)*      26,035  
  207      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      361,888  
  767      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      119,644  
  611      Churchill Downs, Inc.      147,190  
  429      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      12,921  
  613      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.      78,856  
  1,913      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      288,174  
  1,410      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      54,144  
  2,144      Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.      26,693  
  1,239      Denny’s Corp.*      19,824  
  376      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      212,188  
  1,288      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.*      18,277  
  1,277      Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.*      14,060  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  1,551      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*    $ 80,823  
  2,611      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      407,290  
  1,051      Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A*      100,791  
  3,762      International Game Technology plc      108,759  
  323      Jack in the Box, Inc.      28,256  
  2,311      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      86,986  
  2,491      Marriott International, Inc., Class A*      411,613  
  844      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      142,619  
  5,177      McDonald’s Corp.      1,387,798  
  5,516      MGM Resorts International      247,558  
  341      Nathans Famous, Inc.      19,911  
  5,162      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*^      107,060  
  671      Papa John’s International, Inc.      89,558  
  2,176      Penn National Gaming, Inc.*      112,826  
  1,693      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      153,352  
  3,664      Playa Hotels & Resorts NV*      29,239  
  763      Potbelly Corp.*      4,258  
  878      Red Robin Gourmet Burgers*      14,513  
  1,400      Red Rock Resorts, Inc.      77,014  
  2,911      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      223,856  
  748      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.*      14,885  
  1,893      Scientific Games Corp., Class A*      126,509  
  1,359      SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.*      88,145  
  1,371      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      58,377  
  8,104      Starbucks Corp.      947,925  
  1,701      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      151,865  
  1,976      Travel + Leisure Co.      109,214  
  359      Vail Resorts, Inc.      117,716  
  6,284      Wendy’s Co. (The)      149,873  
  548      Wingstop, Inc.      94,694  
  1,326      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      118,876  
  1,374      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      116,845  
  2,639      Yum! Brands, Inc.      366,452  
     

 

 

 
        8,367,039  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (1.0%):       
  1,784      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      124,505  
  906      Beazer Homes USA, Inc.*      21,037  
  183      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      58,130  
  858      Century Communities, Inc.      70,176  
  5,611      DR Horton, Inc.      608,513  
  730      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      19,192  
  431      Flexsteel Industries, Inc.      11,577  
  2,269      Garmin, Ltd.      308,970  
  2,761      GoPro, Inc., Class A*      28,466  
  1,329      Green Brick Partners, Inc.*      40,309  
  484      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      118,323  
  500      Hooker Furnishings Corp.      11,640  
  830      Installed Building Products, Inc.      115,968  
  596      iRobot Corp.*      39,264  
  2,155      KB Home      96,393  
  1,350      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      49,019  
  4,086      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      168,180  
  3,605      Lennar Corp., Class A      418,757  
  119      Lennar Corp., Class B      11,379  
  585      LGI Homes, Inc.*      90,371  
  1,017      Lifetime Brands, Inc.      16,241  
  1,880      M/I Homes, Inc.*      116,898  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  1,985      MDC Holdings, Inc.    $ 110,823  
  1,004      Meritage Homes Corp.*      122,548  
  1,361      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      247,947  
  10,746      Newell Brands, Inc.      234,693  
  61      NVR, Inc.*      360,441  
  5,234      PulteGroup, Inc.      299,175  
  1,139      Skyline Champion Corp.*      89,958  
  1,307      Sonos, Inc.*      38,949  
  3,736      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*      130,611  
  3,449      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      162,206  
  2,183      Toll Brothers, Inc.      158,027  
  935      TopBuild Corp.*      257,976  
  3,273      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      91,284  
  905      Tupperware Brands Corp.*      13,837  
  320      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      13,040  
  1,418      Whirlpool Corp.      332,748  
     

 

 

 
        5,207,571  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.1%):       
  1,509      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      72,206  
  3,272      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      335,380  
  1,448      Clorox Co. (The)      252,473  
  7,616      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      649,950  
  1,114      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      44,671  
  3,022      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      431,904  
  333      Oil-Dri Corp of America      10,899  
  20,457      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      3,346,356  
  1,828      Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.      57,399  
  1,245      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      126,641  
  218      WD-40 Co.      53,332  
     

 

 

 
        5,381,211  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.2%):  
  7,504      AES Corp. (The)      182,347  
  2,247      Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc      80,353  
  2,755      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      101,467  
  1,323      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class A      44,294  
  2,153      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class C      77,572  
  6,130      NRG Energy, Inc.      264,080  
  1,462      Ormat Technologies, Inc.^      115,937  
  1,658      Sunnova Energy International, Inc.*      46,291  
  10,410      Vistra Corp.      237,036  
     

 

 

 
        1,149,377  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.7%):       
  7,811      3M Co.      1,387,468  
  1,213      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      300,970  
  5,892      General Electric Co.      556,617  
  5,457      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,137,839  
  584      Roper Technologies, Inc.      287,246  
     

 

 

 
        3,670,140  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.7%):       
  7,012      Aflac, Inc.      409,431  
  275      Alleghany Corp.*      183,587  
  5,498      Allstate Corp. (The)      646,840  
  1,297      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      20,817  
  3,511      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      136,648  
  2,196      American Financial Group, Inc.      301,555  
  6,164      American International Group, Inc.      350,485  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  409      American National Group , Inc.    $ 77,236  
  745      Amerisafe, Inc.      40,103  
  2,089      Aon plc, Class A      627,870  
  4,926      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      218,961  
  560      Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.      32,542  
  2,269      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      384,981  
  1,280      Assurant, Inc.      199,501  
  2,447      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      122,839  
  2,905      Athene Holding, Ltd., Class A*      242,074  
  2,351      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      128,059  
  2,603      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      134,835  
  3,292      Brown & Brown, Inc.      231,362  
  3,095      Chubb, Ltd.      598,294  
  2,130      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      242,671  
  2,176      Citizens, Inc.*      11,555  
  1,199      CNA Financial Corp.      52,852  
  2,354      Crawford & Co.      17,631  
  895      Crawford & Co., Class A      6,704  
  1,631      Donegal Group, Inc., Class A      23,307  
  800      eHealth, Inc.*      20,400  
  781      Employers Holdings, Inc.      32,318  
  447      Enstar Group, Ltd.*      110,673  
  887      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      170,889  
  748      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      204,892  
  1,054      FedNat Holding Co.*      1,486  
  6,172      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      322,055  
  3,103      First American Financial Corp.      242,748  
  14,957      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      60,576  
  695      Global Indemnity Group LLC, Class A      17,465  
  2,157      Globe Life, Inc.      202,154  
  318      Goosehead Insurance, Inc.      41,365  
  2,383      Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.*      18,683  
  1,469      Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.*      6,390  
  1,180      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      154,651  
  4,507      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      311,163  
  397      HCI Group, Inc.      33,165  
  387      Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.      2,276  
  1,293      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      50,039  
  497      Independence Holding Co.      28,170  
  153      Investors Title Co.      30,164  
  868      James River Group Holdings      25,007  
  2,246      Kemper Corp.      132,042  
  381      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      90,636  
  2,749      Lincoln National Corp.      187,647  
  3,441      Loews Corp.      198,752  
  5,556      Maiden Holdings, Ltd.*      17,001  
  182      Markel Corp.*      224,588  
  4,661      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      810,175  
  1,688      Mercury General Corp.      89,565  
  5,123      MetLife, Inc.      320,136  
  162      National Western Life Group, Inc., Class A      34,739  
  8,176      Old Republic International Corp.      200,966  
  1,239      Primerica, Inc.      189,902  
  3,562      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      257,639  
  1,399      ProAssurance Corp.      35,395  
  4,548      Progressive Corp. (The)      466,852  
  3,969      Prudential Financial, Inc.      429,605  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  1,379      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.    $ 150,987  
  830      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      140,544  
  1,252      RLI Corp.      140,349  
  321      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      27,295  
  1,898      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      155,522  
  5,145      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      41,829  
  1,277      State Auto Financial Corp.      66,008  
  612      Stewart Information Services Corp.      48,795  
  1,767      Tiptree, Inc., Class A      24,438  
  4,789      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      749,143  
  728      United Fire Group, Inc.      16,882  
  2,794      United Insurance Holdings Co.      12,126  
  1,869      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.      31,773  
  5,839      Unum Group      143,464  
  85      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      86,181  
  1,569      Willis Towers Watson plc      372,622  
  2,531      WR Berkley Corp.      208,529  
     

 

 

 
        13,631,596  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (4.2%):       
  2,397      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      6,944,205  
  2,278      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      6,591,598  
  2,370      Cargurus, Inc.*      79,727  
  1,955      Cars.com, Inc.*      31,456  
  2,881      DHI Group, Inc.*      17,977  
  2,717      Match Group, Inc.*      359,323  
  18,835      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      6,335,152  
  2,021      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      73,463  
  1,563      QuinStreet, Inc.*      28,431  
  2,381      Snap, Inc., Class A*      111,978  
  1,344      Travelzoo, Inc.*      12,661  
  2,514      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      68,532  
  2,857      TrueCar, Inc.*      9,714  
  6,686      Twitter, Inc.*      288,969  
  1,590      Yelp, Inc.*      57,622  
  664      Zedge, Inc., Class B*      5,644  
  642      Zillow Group, Inc., Class A*      39,945  
  1,617      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      103,245  
     

 

 

 
        21,159,642  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (3.0%):       
  893      1-800 Flowers.com, Inc., Class A*      20,869  
  3,893      Amazon.com, Inc.*      12,980,586  
  192      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      460,652  
  690      Chewy, Inc., Class A*^      40,689  
  7,298      eBay, Inc.      485,317  
  1,689      Etsy, Inc.*      369,790  
  757      Expedia Group, Inc.*      136,805  
  1,642      Lands’ End, Inc.*      32,232  
  1,736      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      38,331  
  588      PetMed Express, Inc.^      14,853  
  1,526      Quotient Technology, Inc.*      11,323  
  8,810      Qurate Retail, Inc., Class A      66,956  
  649      Revolve Group, Inc.*      36,370  
  764      Shutterstock, Inc.      84,712  
  838      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*^      159,195  
     

 

 

 
        14,938,680  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services (4.0%):       
  5,697      Accenture plc, Class A    $ 2,361,691  
  2,020      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      236,421  
  1,974      Alliance Data Systems Corp.      131,409  
  2,873      Amdocs, Ltd.      215,015  
  4,891      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      1,206,023  
  2,534      Black Knight, Inc.*      210,043  
  918      Block, Inc.*      148,266  
  252      BM Technologies, Inc.*^      2,321  
  1,706      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      311,891  
  687      Cass Information Systems, Inc.      27,013  
  6,097      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      540,926  
  1,091      Concentrix Corp.      194,874  
  6,347      Conduent, Inc.*      33,893  
  1,011      CSG Systems International, Inc.      58,254  
  6,526      DXC Technology Co.*      210,072  
  435      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      290,776  
  1,164      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      138,714  
  2,060      Evertec, Inc.      102,959  
  762      Exlservice Holdings, Inc.*      110,315  
  4,406      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      480,915  
  4,458      Fiserv, Inc.*      462,696  
  1,545      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      345,833  
  1,296      Gartner, Inc.*      433,279  
  5,428      Genpact, Ltd.      288,118  
  2,351      Global Payments, Inc.      317,808  
  3,037      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      257,720  
  1,357      Hackett Group, Inc. (The)      27,859  
  12,424      International Business Machines Corp.      1,660,592  
  1,582      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      264,178  
  2,484      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      44,960  
  2,160      Limelight Networks, Inc.*      7,409  
  1,456      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      69,815  
  8,053      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      2,893,604  
  1,540      MAXIMUS, Inc.      122,692  
  262      MongoDB, Inc.*      138,690  
  1,032      Okta, Inc.*      231,343  
  3,858      Paychex, Inc.      526,617  
  5,186      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      977,976  
  728      Perficient, Inc.*      94,123  
  840      PFSweb, Inc.*      10,819  
  3,035      Servicesource International, Inc.*      3,005  
  1,655      SolarWinds Corp.      23,484  
  1,603      Switch, Inc., Class A      45,910  
  2,880      Teradata Corp.*      122,314  
  1,284      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      116,266  
  891      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      234,636  
  2,221      Unisys Corp.*      45,686  
  1,083      VeriSign, Inc.*      274,887  
  3,457      Verra Mobility Corp.*      53,342  
  14,011      Visa, Inc., Class A      3,036,324  
  6,143      Western Union Co. (The.)      109,591  
  975      WEX, Inc.*      136,880  
     

 

 

 
        20,390,247  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.3%):       
  1,798      Acushnet Holdings Corp.      95,438  
  895      American Outdoor Brands, Inc.*      17,837  
  2,521      Brunswick Corp.      253,940  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Leisure Products, continued       
  1,330      Callaway Golf Co.*    $ 36,495  
  658      Escalade, Inc.      10,390  
  1,625      Hasbro, Inc.      165,392  
  303      Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Class A      28,388  
  531      Malibu Boats, Inc.*      36,496  
  662      Marine Products Corp.      8,275  
  8,660      Mattel, Inc.*      186,710  
  995      Nautilus Group, Inc.*      6,099  
  909      Peloton Interactive, Inc., Class A*      32,506  
  1,582      Polaris, Inc.      173,878  
  1,410      Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.      25,098  
  1,612      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      74,265  
  1,824      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      151,082  
     

 

 

 
        1,302,289  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.1%):       
  237      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*      35,303  
  1,835      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      292,958  
  7,162      Avantor, Inc.*      301,807  
  314      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      237,249  
  390      Bio-Techne Corp.      201,763  
  3,957      Bruker Corp.      332,032  
  534      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      201,200  
  1,979      Harvard Bioscience, Inc.*      13,952  
  816      Illumina, Inc.*      310,439  
  1,517      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      428,006  
  765      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      166,495  
  265      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      449,761  
  1,400      Neogenomics, Inc.*      47,768  
  1,490      PerkinElmer, Inc.      299,579  
  2,322      Syneos Health, Inc.*      238,423  
  2,803      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,870,274  
  670      Waters Corp.*      249,642  
     

 

 

 
        5,676,651  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (2.6%):       
  2,107      AGCO Corp.      244,454  
  228      Alamo Group, Inc.      33,557  
  737      Albany International Corp., Class A      65,188  
  3,881      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      141,074  
  1,335      Altra Industrial Motion Corp.      68,846  
  656      Astec Industries, Inc.      45,441  
  1,591      Barnes Group, Inc.      74,125  
  837      Blue Bird Corp.*      13,091  
  4,839      Caterpillar, Inc.      1,000,415  
  904      Chart Industries, Inc.*      144,179  
  468      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      12,720  
  3,170      Colfax Corp.*      145,725  
  653      Columbus McKinnon Corp.      30,208  
  707      Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.*      5,698  
  1,452      Crane Co.      147,712  
  2,397      Cummins, Inc.      522,882  
  3,976      Deere & Co.      1,363,331  
  2,678      Donaldson Co., Inc.      158,698  
  471      Douglas Dynamics, Inc.      18,397  
  2,058      Dover Corp.      373,733  
  1,250      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.      25,350  
  453      EnPro Industries, Inc.      49,862  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  372      ESCO Technologies, Inc.    $ 33,476  
  2,747      Evoqua Water Technologies Co.*      128,422  
  1,153      Federal Signal Corp.      49,971  
  3,181      Flowserve Corp.      97,339  
  3,638      Fortive Corp.      277,543  
  983      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      92,953  
  889      Gencor Industries, Inc.*      10,250  
  606      Gorman-Rupp Co. (The)      26,997  
  3,738      Graco, Inc.      301,358  
  2,503      Harsco Corp.*      41,825  
  650      Helios Technologies, Inc.      68,361  
  2,088      Hillenbrand, Inc.      108,555  
  490      Hurco Cos, Inc.      14,553  
  896      Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Class A      36,826  
  704      IDEX Corp.      166,369  
  2,868      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      707,822  
  4,169      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      257,936  
  1,926      ITT, Inc.      196,818  
  757      John Bean Technologies Corp.      116,245  
  286      Kadant, Inc.      65,917  
  2,377      Kennametal, Inc.      85,358  
  787      L.B. Foster Co., Class A*      10,821  
  1,490      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      207,810  
  221      Lindsay Corp.      33,592  
  1,213      Manitex International, Inc.*      7,715  
  2,529      Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)*      47,014  
  2,774      Meritor, Inc.*      68,740  
  1,184      Middleby Corp. (The)*      232,964  
  1,706      Mueller Industries, Inc.      101,268  
  4,883      Mueller Water Products, Inc., Class A      70,315  
  1,258      NN, Inc.*      5,158  
  656      Nordson Corp.      167,457  
  158      Omega Flex, Inc.      20,058  
  1,389      Oshkosh Corp.      156,554  
  3,878      Otis Worldwide Corp.      337,657  
  4,640      PACCAR, Inc.      409,526  
  1,980      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      629,878  
  1,058      Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.      22,398  
  3,448      Pentair plc      251,807  
  524      Proto Labs, Inc.*      26,907  
  660      RBC Bearings, Inc.*      133,300  
  3,787      REV Group, Inc.      53,586  
  612      Shyft Group, Inc. (The)      30,068  
  1,192      Snap-On, Inc.      256,733  
  1,232      SPX Corp.*      73,526  
  878      SPX FLOW, Inc.      75,929  
  340      Standex International Corp.      37,624  
  1,980      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      373,468  
  537      Tennant Co.      43,518  
  1,823      Terex Corp.      80,121  
  863      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      39,603  
  2,219      Timken Co.      153,755  
  3,046      Titan International, Inc.*      33,384  
  2,441      Toro Co. (The)      243,880  
  1,022      TriMas Corp.      37,814  
  3,242      Trinity Industries, Inc.      97,908  
  1,510      Wabash National Corp.      29,475  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  2,471      Wabtec Corp.    $ 227,604  
  615      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      119,415  
  4,275      Welbilt, Inc.*      101,617  
  1,534      Woodward, Inc.      167,912  
  1,831      Xylem, Inc.      219,574  
     

 

 

 
        13,007,033  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.1%):       
  3,979      Costamare, Inc.      50,334  
  239      Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc.      10,875  
  147      Eneti, Inc.      1,138  
  1,300      Genco Shipping & Trading, Ltd.      20,800  
  1,654      Kirby Corp.*      98,281  
  1,541      Matson, Inc.      138,736  
     

 

 

 
        320,164  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.5%):       
  3,595      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      58,167  
  1,413      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*      48,664  
  133      Cable One, Inc.      234,539  
  1,688      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      1,100,525  
  48,635      Comcast Corp., Class A      2,447,800  
  2,952      comScore, Inc.*      9,860  
  367      DallasNews Corp.      2,639  
  4,810      Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C*      110,149  
  3,389      Discovery, Inc., Class A*      79,777  
  4,832      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      156,750  
  2,931      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      56,715  
  8,164      Entercom Communications Corp.*      20,981  
  4,792      Entravision Communications Corp., Class A      32,490  
  4,335      Fox Corp., Class A      159,961  
  3,199      Fox Corp., Class B      109,630  
  7,573      Gannett Co, Inc.*      40,364  
  2,788      Gray Television, Inc.      56,206  
  8,756      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      327,912  
  864      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      49,481  
  192      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class B      10,959  
  334      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      53,741  
  1,855      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      298,841  
  1,489      Liberty Latin America, Ltd.*      17,362  
  5,752      Liberty Latin America, Ltd., Class C*      65,573  
  2,706      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      137,600  
  1,327      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      67,478  
  789      Loyalty Ventures, Inc.*      23,725  
  131      Marchex, Inc., Class B*      325  
  3,726      National CineMedia, Inc.      10,470  
  3,530      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      170,499  
  7,458      News Corp., Class A      166,388  
  2,563      News Corp., Class B      57,667  
  1,496      Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A      225,866  
  5,061      Omnicom Group, Inc.      370,819  
  1,853      Scholastic Corp.      74,046  
  10,861      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      68,967  
  474      TechTarget, Inc.*      45,343  
  7,839      Tegna, Inc.      145,492  
  445      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class A      14,850  
  7,704      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class B      232,507  
     

 

 

 
        7,361,128  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining (0.9%):       
  5,171      Alcoa Corp.    $ 308,088  
  4,528      Allegheny Technologies, Inc.*      72,131  
  799      Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.*      3,995  
  3,002      Arconic Corp.*      99,096  
  1,138      Carpenter Technology Corp.      33,218  
  2,210      Century Aluminum Co.*      36,598  
  13,357      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      290,782  
  5,449      Coeur Mining, Inc.*      27,463  
  3,300      Commercial Metals Co.      119,757  
  702      Compass Minerals International, Inc.      35,858  
  7,323      Ferroglobe plc*      45,476  
  9,823      Ferroglobe Unit*(a)       
  841      Fortitude Gold Corp.      5,567  
  13,761      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      574,246  
  2,945      Gold Resource Corp.      4,594  
  943      Haynes International, Inc.      38,031  
  14,180      Hecla Mining Co.      74,020  
  151      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      14,185  
  643      Materion Corp.      59,117  
  12,309      McEwen Mining, Inc.*      10,912  
  8,302      Newmont Corp.      514,890  
  6,998      Nucor Corp.      798,822  
  700      Olympic Steel, Inc.      16,450  
  1,439      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      233,435  
  1,422      Royal Gold, Inc.      149,609  
  1,500      Ryerson Holding Corp.      39,075  
  1,365      Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A      70,871  
  1,446      Southern Copper Corp.      89,233  
  6,814      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      422,945  
  3,673      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      24,205  
  760      Synalloy Corp.*      12,483  
  2,052      TimkenSteel Corp.*      33,858  
  7,629      United States Steel Corp.      181,646  
  548      Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.*      4,324  
  1,489      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.      38,282  
  1,135      Worthington Industries, Inc.      62,039  
     

 

 

 
        4,545,301  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.7%):       
  1,406      Big Lots, Inc.      63,340  
  1,248      Dillard’s, Inc., Class A^      305,785  
  3,023      Dollar General Corp.      712,914  
  3,862      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      542,688  
  4,069      Kohl’s Corp.      200,968  
  10,647      Macy’s, Inc.      278,739  
  1,842      Nordstrom, Inc.*      41,666  
  1,737      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      88,917  
  6,499      Target Corp.      1,504,129  
     

 

 

 
        3,739,146  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.6%):       
  2,267      Ameren Corp.      201,786  
  1,406      Avista Corp.      59,741  
  1,134      Black Hills Corp.      80,026  
  5,705      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      159,226  
  2,837      CMS Energy Corp.      184,547  
  3,188      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      272,000  
  5,986      Dominion Energy, Inc.      470,260  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multi-Utilities, continued       
  1,902      DTE Energy Co.    $ 227,365  
  5,409      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      166,814  
  6,003      NiSource, Inc.      165,743  
  993      NorthWestern Corp.      56,760  
  4,932      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      329,112  
  2,268      Sempra Energy      300,011  
  305      Unitil Corp.      14,027  
  3,038      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      294,899  
     

 

 

 
        2,982,317  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.2%):       
  332      Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.      9,233  
  5,915      Antero Midstream Corp.      57,257  
  7,652      Antero Resources Corp.*      133,910  
  7,688      APA Corp.      206,730  
  432      Arch Resources, Inc.      39,450  
  1,988      Berry Corp.      16,739  
  990      California Resources Corp.      42,283  
  2,819      Callon Petroleum Co.*      133,198  
  6,243      Centennial Resource Development, Inc., Class A*      37,333  
  2,557      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      259,331  
  1,134      Chesapeake Energy Corp.      73,166  
  16,620      Chevron Corp.      1,950,357  
  1,149      Civitas Resources, Inc.      56,267  
  7,534      Clean Energy Fuel Corp.*      46,183  
  6,372      CNX Resources Corp.*      87,615  
  7,595      Comstock Resources, Inc.*      61,444  
  14,126      ConocoPhillips      1,019,615  
  1,846      CONSOL Energy, Inc.*      41,923  
  3,878      Continental Resources, Inc.      173,579  
  17,881      Coterra Energy, Inc.      339,739  
  2,225      CVR Energy, Inc.      37,402  
  2,204      Delek US Holdings, Inc.*      33,038  
  823      Denbury, Inc.*      63,034  
  23,604      Devon Energy Corp.      1,039,756  
  5,705      DHT Holdings, Inc.      29,609  
  2,202      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      237,486  
  58      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      736  
  1,125      DT Midstream, Inc.      53,977  
  11,550      Enlink Midstream LLC      79,580  
  6,280      EOG Resources, Inc.      557,852  
  7,807      EQT Corp.*      170,271  
  7,111      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      73,528  
  43,767      Exxon Mobil Corp.      2,678,103  
  1,014      Green Plains, Inc.*      35,247  
  5,293      Hess Corp.      391,841  
  4,760      HollyFrontier Corp.      156,033  
  1,180      International Seaways, Inc.      17,322  
  23,295      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      369,459  
  17,233      Kosmos Energy, Ltd.*      59,626  
  609      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      36,619  
  4,177      Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A      78,820  
  17,859      Marathon Oil Corp.      293,245  
  7,572      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      484,532  
  3,899      Matador Resources Co.      143,951  
  4,219      Murphy Oil Corp.      110,158  
  17,900      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      518,921  
  7,181      ONEOK, Inc.      421,956  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  4,281      Ovintiv, Inc.    $ 144,270  
  2,936      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*      48,415  
  3,458      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A*      44,850  
  3,014      PDC Energy, Inc.      147,023  
  4,173      Peabody Energy Corp.*      42,022  
  4,501      Phillips 66      326,142  
  1,401      PHX Minerals, Inc.      3,040  
  1,849      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      336,296  
  6      PrimeEnergy Resources Corp.*      414  
  4,715      Range Resources Corp.*      84,068  
  787      Ranger Oil Corp.*      21,186  
  1,426      Renewable Energy Group, Inc.*      60,519  
  374      REX American Resources Corp.*      35,904  
  1,682      Scorpio Tankers, Inc.      21,546  
  3,507      SFL Corp., Ltd.      28,582  
  4,141      SM Energy Co.      122,077  
  24,131      Southwestern Energy Co.*      112,450  
  3,310      Talos Energy, Inc.*      32,438  
  5,703      Targa Resources Corp.      297,925  
  6,407      Teekay Shipping Corp.*      20,118  
  1,031      Teekay Tankers, Ltd., Class A*      11,238  
  141      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      176,091  
  4,537      Valero Energy Corp.      340,774  
  853      Whiting Petroleum Corp.*      55,172  
  14,709      Williams Cos., Inc.      383,022  
  1,790      World Fuel Services Corp.      47,381  
     

 

 

 
        15,900,417  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.1%):       
  545      Clearwater Paper Corp.*      19,985  
  2,520      Glatfelter Corp.      43,344  
  3,240      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      253,854  
  3,875      Mercer International, Inc.      46,461  
  617      Neenah, Inc.      28,555  
  2,344      Resolute Forest Products      35,793  
  665      Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.      19,883  
  474      Sylvamo Corp.*      13,220  
  2,251      Verso Corp.      60,822  
     

 

 

 
        521,917  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.2%):       
  12,350      Coty, Inc., Class A*      129,675  
  1,291      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      59,012  
  854      elf Beauty, Inc.*      28,361  
  1,689      Estee Lauder Co., Inc. (The), Class A      625,268  
  2,298      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      94,057  
  594      Inter Parfums, Inc.      63,498  
  186      Medifast, Inc.      38,954  
  1,236      Natures Sunshine Products, Inc.      22,866  
  1,116      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      56,637  
  340      United-Guardian, Inc.      5,576  
  645      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      65,274  
     

 

 

 
        1,189,178  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (3.1%):       
  2,003      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      46,650  
  900      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      41,472  
  885      Assembly Biosciences, Inc.*      2,062  
  20,544      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      1,280,918  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  2,125      Catalent, Inc.*    $ 272,064  
  1,951      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*      38,630  
  1,468      Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      6,856  
  1,054      Cymabay Therapeutics, Inc.*      3,563  
  6,155      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      174,679  
  7,636      Eli Lilly & Co.      2,109,216  
  8,827      Endo International plc*      33,189  
  1,104      Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.*      47,075  
  2,388      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      257,331  
  3,292      Innoviva, Inc.*      56,787  
  1,338      Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*      70,031  
  1,466      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      186,768  
  27,855      Johnson & Johnson      4,765,155  
  2,281      Lannett Co., Inc.*      3,695  
  22,984      Merck & Co., Inc.      1,761,494  
  3,567      Nektar Therapeutics*      48,190  
  4,552      Organon & Co.      138,608  
  1,317      Otonomy, Inc.*      2,739  
  3,223      Perrigo Co. plc      125,375  
  41,982      Pfizer, Inc.      2,479,037  
  793      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      16,193  
  1,580      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      95,827  
  4,082      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      162,668  
  1,789      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      52,167  
  923      Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.*      46,252  
  14,776      Viatris, Inc.      199,919  
  4,336      Zoetis, Inc.      1,058,114  
  1,297      Zogenix, Inc.*      21,076  
     

 

 

 
        15,603,800  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.0%):       
  1,184      ASGN, Inc.*      146,106  
  494      Barrett Business Services, Inc.      34,116  
  3,676      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      311,688  
  549      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      147,796  
  1,617      CBIZ, Inc.*      63,257  
  2,143      Clarivate plc*      50,403  
  3,570      CoStar Group, Inc.*      282,137  
  456      CRA International, Inc.      42,572  
  1,531      Equifax, Inc.      448,262  
  1,104      Exponent, Inc.      128,870  
  825      Forrester Research, Inc.*      48,452  
  723      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      110,923  
  421      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      18,410  
  466      Hill International, Inc.*      909  
  660      Huron Consulting Group, Inc.*      32,934  
  329      ICF International, Inc.      33,739  
  3,021      IHS Markit, Ltd.      401,551  
  514      Insperity, Inc.      60,709  
  3,410      KBR, Inc.      162,384  
  1,042      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      17,474  
  577      Kforce, Inc.      43,402  
  1,558      Korn Ferry      117,987  
  2,557      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      227,317  
  1,391      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      135,386  
  840      ManTech International Corp., Class A      61,261  
  659      Mistras Group, Inc.*      4,896  
  11,810      Nielsen Holdings plc      242,223  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services, continued       
  2,125      Resources Connection, Inc.    $ 37,910  
  3,000      Robert Half International, Inc.      334,560  
  1,873      Science Applications International Corp.      156,564  
  2,719      TransUnion      322,419  
  1,894      TriNet Group, Inc.*      180,423  
  1,029      Trueblue, Inc.*      28,473  
  1,755      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      401,421  
  633      Willdan Group, Inc.*      22,282  
     

 

 

 
        4,859,216  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Devel (0.0%):       
  1,549      Douglas Elliman, Inc.*      17,814  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.3%):       
  4,164      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      451,836  
  2,451      Cushman & Wakefield plc*      54,510  
  1,163      eXp World Holdings, Inc.      39,182  
  279      Forestar Group, Inc.*      6,068  
  232      FRP Holdings, Inc.*      13,410  
  1,280      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      130,278  
  323      Indus Realty Trust, Inc.      26,182  
  954      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      256,950  
  4,260      Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.      101,729  
  977      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.*      50,276  
  5,729      Newmark Group, Inc.      107,132  
  4,541      Opendoor Technologies, Inc.*      66,344  
  997      Rafael Holdings, Inc., Class B*      5,085  
  910      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      27,746  
  3,814      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      64,113  
  681      Redfin Corp.*      26,144  
  1,447      Tejon Ranch Co.*      27,609  
  357      The RMR Group, Inc., Class A      12,381  
  1,857      The St Joe Co.      96,657  
     

 

 

 
        1,563,632  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.4%):       
  346      AMERCO, Inc.      251,276  
  757      ArcBest Corp.      90,726  
  1,730      Avis Budget Group, Inc.*      358,750  
  4,150      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      298,551  
  419      Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.*      11,074  
  20,522      CSX Corp.      771,627  
  1,925      Heartland Express, Inc.      32,379  
  1,793      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      366,489  
  4,311      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      262,712  
  896      Landstar System, Inc.      160,402  
  1,740      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      74,350  
  2,410      Marten Transport, Ltd.      41,356  
  2,245      Norfolk Southern Corp.      668,359  
  1,887      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      676,263  
  800      P.A.M. Transportation SVCS*      56,808  
  1,902      Ryder System, Inc.      156,782  
  576      Saia, Inc.*      194,129  
  2,500      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      67,275  
  6,290      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      263,740  
  8,160      Union Pacific Corp.      2,055,749  
  586      Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.      11,052  
  1,023      USA Truck, Inc.*      20,337  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  2,378      Werner Enterprises, Inc.    $ 113,336  
  1,829      Yellow Corp.*      23,027  
     

 

 

 
        7,026,549  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (6.0%):       
  870      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.      79,222  
  9,116      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      1,311,792  
  1,120      Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.*      67,827  
  630      Ambarella, Inc.*      127,821  
  8,710      Amkor Technology, Inc.      215,921  
  5,357      Analog Devices, Inc.      941,600  
  7,890      Applied Materials, Inc.      1,241,570  
  608      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      45,333  
  1,701      AXT, Inc.*      14,986  
  1,411      Azenta, Inc.      145,488  
  4,534      Broadcom, Inc.      3,016,969  
  437      CEVA, Inc.*      18,896  
  1,136      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      104,535  
  697      CMC Materials, Inc.      133,608  
  2,261      Cohu, Inc.*      86,122  
  1,027      Diodes, Inc.*      112,775  
  1,101      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      201,417  
  1,512      Entegris, Inc.      209,533  
  2,177      First Solar, Inc.*      189,747  
  1,662      FormFactor, Inc.*      75,987  
  1,314      GSI Technology, Inc.*      6,084  
  948      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*      43,636  
  64,288      Intel Corp.      3,310,832  
  1,853      KLA Corp.      796,994  
  1,562      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      94,563  
  1,575      Lam Research Corp.      1,132,661  
  2,049      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      157,896  
  876      MA-COM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      68,591  
  10,107      Marvell Technology, Inc.      884,261  
  1,132      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      85,342  
  4,383      Microchip Technology, Inc.      381,584  
  11,595      Micron Technology, Inc.      1,080,074  
  1,341      MKS Instruments, Inc.      233,562  
  334      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      164,772  
  1,500      Neophotonics Corp.*      23,055  
  150      NVE Corp.      10,245  
  16,996      NVIDIA Corp.      4,998,694  
  592      NXP Semiconductors NV      134,846  
  5,936      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      403,173  
  1,334      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      135,041  
  1,438      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      45,714  
  2,358      Photronics, Inc.*      44,448  
  1,116      Power Integrations, Inc.      103,665  
  1,567      Qorvo, Inc.*      245,063  
  13,444      Qualcomm, Inc.      2,458,504  
  2,888      Rambus, Inc.*      84,878  
  1,305      Semtech Corp.*      116,054  
  867      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      178,966  
  2,322      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      360,235  
  1,151      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      81,710  
  371      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      104,091  
  1,754      SunPower Corp.*^      36,606  
  834      Synaptics, Inc.*      241,451  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  2,449      Teradyne, Inc.    $ 400,485  
  10,811      Texas Instruments, Inc.      2,037,549  
  1,251      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      71,757  
  885      Universal Display Corp.      146,052  
  1,442      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      41,054  
  1,114      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      124,512  
  3,065      Xilinx, Inc.      649,872  
     

 

 

 
        30,059,721  
     

 

 

 
Software (7.4%):       
  3,453      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      119,819  
  3,583      Adobe, Inc.*      2,031,776  
  695      Alarm.com Holding, Inc.*      58,943  
  583      Altair Engineering, Inc.*      45,078  
  591      Alteryx, Inc., Class A*      35,755  
  1,009      American Software, Inc., Class A      26,405  
  734      ANSYS, Inc.*      294,422  
  858      Asana, Inc.*      63,964  
  1,409      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      214,450  
  1,215      Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A*      463,267  
  2,154      Autodesk, Inc.*      605,683  
  813      Avalara, Inc.*      104,966  
  1,879      Avaya Holdings Corp.*      37,204  
  2,272      Aware, Inc.*      7,157  
  691      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      172,163  
  1,196      Blackbaud, Inc.*      94,460  
  3      Blackline, Inc.*      311  
  794      Bottomline Technologies, Inc.*      44,837  
  2,029      Box, Inc.*      53,139  
  2,111      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      393,385  
  2,601      CDK Global, Inc.      108,566  
  820      Cerence, Inc.*      62,845  
  1,198      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      125,143  
  1,606      Citrix Systems, Inc.      151,912  
  519      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      68,248  
  1,830      Cognyte Software, Ltd.*      28,676  
  505      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      34,805  
  491      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      28,414  
  639      Coupa Software, Inc.*      100,994  
  487      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      99,713  
  638      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      113,634  
  513      DocuSign, Inc.*      78,135  
  5,645      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      138,528  
  1,822      Dynatrace, Inc.*      109,958  
  1,380      Ebix, Inc.      41,952  
  622      Elastic NV*      76,562  
  990      Envestnet, Inc.*      78,547  
  429      Everbridge, Inc.*      28,885  
  519      Fair Isaac Corp.*      225,075  
  337      Five9, Inc.*      46,277  
  2,322      Fortinet, Inc.*      834,527  
  485      Globant SA*      152,334  
  1,145      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      129,992  
  179      HubSpot, Inc.*      117,988  
  2,145      Intuit, Inc.      1,379,707  
  1,474      J2 Global, Inc.*      163,408  
  1,784      Mandiant, Inc.*      31,291  
  1,094      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      170,106  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  62,637      Microsoft Corp.    $ 21,066,076  
  1,654      N-Able, Inc.*      18,359  
  600      New Relic, Inc.*      65,976  
  5,406      NortonLifeLock, Inc.      140,448  
  3,699      Nuance Communications, Inc.*      204,629  
  3,580      Nutanix, Inc., Class A*      114,059  
  879      OneSpan, Inc.*      14,881  
  11,328      Oracle Corp.      987,915  
  7,336      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      133,589  
  332      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      184,844  
  513      Paycom Software, Inc.*      212,992  
  443      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      104,619  
  565      Pegasystems, Inc.      63,178  
  947      Progress Software Corp.      45,712  
  1,146      PTC, Inc.*      138,838  
  389      Q2 Holdings, Inc.*      30,902  
  894      Qualys, Inc.*      122,675  
  2,745      RealNetworks, Inc.*      2,690  
  371      RingCentral, Inc., Class A*      69,507  
  899      Sailpoint Technologies Holdings, Inc.*      43,458  
  5,162      salesforce.com, Inc.*      1,311,819  
  1,200      Sapiens International Corp. NV      41,340  
  512      ServiceNow, Inc.*      332,344  
  1,163      Smartsheet, Inc., Class A*      90,074  
  710      Splunk, Inc.*      82,161  
  347      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      49,395  
  3,224      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      264,303  
  2,279      Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.*      5,561  
  851      Synopsys, Inc.*      313,593  
  2,670      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      244,679  
  328      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      176,448  
  1,103      Varonis Systems, Inc.*      53,804  
  1,022      Verint Systems, Inc.*      53,665  
  1,567      VMware, Inc., Class A      181,584  
  2,930      Vonage Holdings Corp.*      60,915  
  758      Workday, Inc., Class A*      207,070  
  295      Workiva, Inc.*      38,495  
  7,046      Xperi Holding Corp.      133,240  
  645      Zendesk, Inc.*      67,267  
  185      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      34,023  
  566      Zscaler, Inc.*      181,873  
     

 

 

 
        37,282,406  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.7%):       
  1,093      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      26,942  
  2,382      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      82,965  
  1,111      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      266,507  
  5,007      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      126,777  
  200      America’s Car Mart, Inc.*      20,480  
  793      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      136,975  
  2,111      AutoNation, Inc.*      246,670  
  211      AutoZone, Inc.*      442,338  
  3,164      Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.*      21,547  
  3,437      Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*      50,111  
  4,898      Best Buy Co., Inc.      497,637  
  1,657      Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.^      31,500  
  841      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      103,485  
  583      Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.      11,380  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  760      Burlington Stores, Inc.*    $ 221,548  
  2,280      Caleres, Inc.      51,710  
  2,685      CarMax, Inc.*      349,668  
  155      Carvana Co.*      35,927  
  1,987      Cato Corp., Class A      34,097  
  7,822      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      42,082  
  881      Citi Trends, Inc.*      83,475  
  1,572      Conn’s, Inc.*      36,973  
  3,425      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A*      48,669  
  2,039      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      234,465  
  1,302      Five Below, Inc.*      269,371  
  2,136      Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A*      277,701  
  3,374      Foot Locker, Inc.      147,208  
  8,563      Gap, Inc. (The)      151,137  
  435      Genesco, Inc.*      27,914  
  630      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      122,989  
  2,846      Guess?, Inc.      67,393  
  583      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      17,822  
  499      Hibbett, Inc.      35,893  
  8,873      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      3,682,384  
  717      Lithia Motors, Inc.      212,913  
  4,934      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      1,275,340  
  527      MarineMax, Inc.*      31,114  
  751      Monro, Inc.      43,761  
  877      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      174,734  
  1,200      National Vision Holdings, Inc.*      57,588  
  1,542      ODP Corp. (The)*      60,570  
  525      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      370,771  
  1,891      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      202,753  
  1,792      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      86,088  
  296      RH*      158,638  
  5,705      Ross Stores, Inc.      651,967  
  1,832      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      33,819  
  1,200      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      46,896  
  1,393      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      121,233  
  472      Sleep Number Corp.*      36,155  
  844      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A      41,736  
  1,606      Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc.*      18,951  
  1,722      The Buckle, Inc.      72,858  
  501      The Children’s Place, Inc.*      39,724  
  854      Tilly’s, Inc.      13,758  
  7,948      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      603,412  
  1,642      Tractor Supply Co.      391,781  
  1,068      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      440,379  
  2,187      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*      64,210  
  594      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      32,991  
  1,871      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      316,442  
  75      Winmark Corp.      18,622  
  729      Zumiez, Inc.*      34,985  
     

 

 

 
        13,657,929  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (5.5%):       
  2,378      3D Systems Corp.*      51,222  
  144,440      Apple, Inc.      25,648,211  
  728      AstroNova, Inc.*      9,828  
  1,682      Avid Technology, Inc.*      54,783  
  1,874      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C*      105,262  
  17,708      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      279,255  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals, continued       
  10,874      HP, Inc.    $ 409,624  
  4,627      NCR Corp.*      186,005  
  2,576      NetApp, Inc.      236,966  
  4,094      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      133,260  
  2,694      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      304,368  
  1,794      Stratasys, Ltd.*      43,935  
  4,585      Western Digital Corp.*      298,988  
  4,758      Xerox Holdings Corp.      107,721  
     

 

 

 
        27,869,428  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.0%):       
  3,367      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*      218,552  
  1,250      Carter’s, Inc.      126,525  
  1,677      Columbia Sportswear Co.      163,407  
  1,693      Crocs, Inc.*      217,077  
  810      Culp, Inc.      7,703  
  624      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      228,577  
  1,494      Fossil Group, Inc.*      15,373  
  2,480      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      68,547  
  9,857      Hanesbrands, Inc.      164,809  
  795      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      40,744  
  1,887      Levi Strauss & Co.      47,232  
  1,042      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      407,891  
  1,551      Movado Group, Inc.      64,878  
  10,808      Nike, Inc., Class B      1,801,369  
  405      Oxford Industries, Inc.      41,116  
  1,441      PVH Corp.      153,683  
  1,225      Ralph Lauren Corp.      145,604  
  570      Rocky Brands, Inc.      22,686  
  3,202      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      138,967  
  1,560      Steven Madden, Ltd.      72,493  
  700      Superior Group of Cos., Inc.      15,358  
  6,144      Tapestry, Inc.      249,446  
  3,369      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      71,389  
  3,746      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      67,578  
  1,027      Unifi, Inc.*      23,775  
  802      Vera Bradley, Inc.*      6,825  
  3,169      VF Corp.      232,034  
  1,153      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      33,218  
     

 

 

 
        4,846,856  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.4%):       
  1,866      Axos Financial, Inc.*      104,328  
  1,591      BankFinancial Corp.      16,976  
  3,362      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      38,091  
  2,223      Columbia Financial, Inc.*      46,372  
  855      ESSA Bancorp, Inc.      14,817  
  3,469      Essent Group, Ltd.      157,944  
  403      Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp.      49,944  
  408      First Capital, Inc.      16,300  
  1,989      Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.      95,353  
  8      Greene County Bancorp, Inc.      294  
  62      Hingham Institution for Savings      26,033  
  628      HomeStreet, Inc.      32,656  
  413      IF Bancorp, Inc.      10,255  
  2,442      Kearny Financial Corp.      32,357  
  1,249      Kentucky First Federal Bancorp      9,393  
  750      Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc.      11,310  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  194      LendingTree, Inc.*    $ 23,784  
  1,240      Meta Financial Group, Inc.      73,978  
  10,413      MGIC Investment Corp.      150,155  
  2,681      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      111,556  
  11,597      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      141,599  
  2,461      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      53,773  
  1,501      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      24,256  
  3,456      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      48,937  
  1,932      Oceanfirst Financial Corp.      42,890  
  503      Oconee Federal Financial Corp.      10,965  
  465      Ocwen Financial Corp.*      18,586  
  1,369      Premier Financial Corp.      42,316  
  679      Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.      11,237  
  2,256      Provident Financial Services, Inc.      54,640  
  5,556      Radian Group, Inc.      117,398  
  420      Riverview Bancorp, Inc.      3,230  
  561      Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.      29,267  
  1,764      Sterling Bancorp, Inc.*      10,143  
  733      Territorial Bancorp, Inc.      18,508  
  4,281      TFS Financial Corp.      76,502  
  559      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      18,620  
  2,436      Washington Federal, Inc.      81,314  
  728      Waterstone Financial, Inc.      15,914  
  1,074      Wawlker & Dunlop, Inc.      162,045  
  1,498      Western New England BanCorp, Inc.      13,123  
  1,389      WSFS Financial Corp.      69,617  
     

 

 

 
        2,086,776  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.3%):       
  13,165      Altria Group, Inc.      623,889  
  10,451      Philip Morris International, Inc.      992,845  
  518      Universal Corp.      28,449  
  3,098      Vector Group, Ltd.      35,565  
     

 

 

 
        1,680,748  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.8%):       
  3,334      Air Lease Corp.      147,463  
  948      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.      97,360  
  2,106      Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.*      120,779  
  1,071      Boise Cascade Co.      76,255  
  644      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      16,531  
  7,240      Fastenal Co.      463,794  
  876      GATX Corp.      91,270  
  977      Global Industrial Co.      39,959  
  1,243      GMS, Inc.*      74,717  
  1,047      H&E Equipment Services, Inc.      46,351  
  1,424      Herc Holdings, Inc.      222,927  
  1,307      Huttig Building Products, Inc.*      14,468  
  870      Kaman Corp., Class A      37,541  
  2,381      MRC Global, Inc.*      16,381  
  1,149      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      96,585  
  3,189      NOW, Inc.*      27,234  
  1,547      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class A      86,075  
  1,003      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      243,007  
  1,757      Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.      62,742  
  651      Titan Machinery, Inc.*      21,932  
  173      Transcat, Inc.*      15,990  
  2,472      Triton International, Ltd.      148,889  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
  1,712      United Rentals, Inc.*    $ 568,880  
  3,997      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      113,315  
  1,184      Veritiv Corp.*      145,123  
  744      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      385,571  
  662      Watsco, Inc.      207,127  
  84      Watsco, Inc., Class B      26,158  
  1,396      WESCO International, Inc.*      183,700  
     

 

 

 
        3,798,124  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.0%):       
  2,859      Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings LLC      10,435  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.2%):       
  830      American States Water Co.      85,855  
  1,750      American Water Works Co., Inc.      330,505  
  491      Artesian Resources Corp.      22,748  
  1,107      California Water Service Group      79,549  
  3,223      Essential Utilities, Inc.      173,043  
  355      Middlesex Water Co.      42,707  
  669      Pure Cycle Corp.*      9,767  
  498      SJW Group      36,454  
  372      York Water Co. (The)      18,518  
     

 

 

 
        799,146  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  1,333      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      33,990  
  1,649      Spok Holdings, Inc.      15,385  
  2,954      Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.      59,523  
  6,710      T-Mobile USA, Inc.*      778,226  
  1,151      United States Cellular Corp.*      36,280  
     

 

 

 
        923,404  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $261,709,957)

     501,964,060  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.0%):       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.0%):       
  264      Qurate Retail, Inc., 3/15/31      27,250  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.0%):       
  1,076      WESCO International, Inc., Series A      32,979  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $113,834)

     60,229  
  

 

 

 
Rights (0.0%):       
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  3,743      Achillion Pharm CVR, Expires on 1/29/49*      5,427  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.0%):       
  1,918      Zagg, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/2/49*      173  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  9,820      Media General, Inc. CVR, Expires on 12/31/49      1,215  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $3,216)

     6,815  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.3%):  
  1,388,640      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(b)(c)      1,388,640  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for
Securities on Loan (Cost $1,388,640)

     1,388,640  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.6%):       
Money Markets (0.6%):       
  3,050,996      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)    $ 3,050,996  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $3,050,996)

     3,050,996  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $266,266,643) — 100.5%(d)

     506,470,740  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.5)%

     (2,539,683
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets —100.0%

   $ 503,931,057  
     

 

 

 

    

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

CVR—Contingent Valued Rights

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $1,328,039.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 266,266,643
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 506,470,740

Interest and dividends receivable

      277,162

Reclaims receivable

      2,458

Prepaid expenses

      2,266
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      506,752,626
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      5,027

Payable for investments purchased

      552,093

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      461,119

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      1,388,640

Manager fees payable

      223,745

Administration fees payable

      69,404

Distribution fees payable

      103,586

Custodian fees payable

      2,245

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      650

Transfer agent fees payable

      890

Trustee fees payable

      3,651

Other accrued liabilities

      10,519
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,821,569
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 503,931,057
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 210,145,528

Total distributable earnings

      293,785,529
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 503,931,057
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      29,803,289

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.91
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,328,039.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 7,171,414

Interest

      1

Income from securities lending

      14,249

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,540 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      7,184,124
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      3,872,094

Administration fees

      181,589

Distribution fees

      1,210,027

Custodian fees

      15,274

Administrative and compliance services fees

      5,257

Transfer agent fees

      4,696

Trustee fees

      21,835

Professional fees

      19,335

Shareholder reports

      8,439

Other expenses

      9,749
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      5,348,295

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (1,258,434 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      4,089,861
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      3,094,263
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      52,255,025

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      62,514,091
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      114,769,116
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 117,863,379
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 3,094,263     $ 4,280,089

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      52,255,025       36,138,044

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      62,514,091       38,192,478
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      117,863,379       78,610,611
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (42,256,910 )       (37,601,702 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (42,256,910 )       (37,601,702 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      38,872,269       47,489,042

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      42,256,910       37,601,702

Value of shares redeemed

      (131,585,201 )       (143,637,221 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (50,456,022 )       (58,546,477 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      25,150,447       (17,537,568 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      478,780,610       496,318,178
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 503,931,057     $ 478,780,610
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      2,341,451       4,484,905

Dividends reinvested

      2,693,238       2,896,895

Shares redeemed

      (7,999,959 )       (11,296,601 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (2,965,270 )       (3,914,801 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.61     $ 13.53     $ 11.32     $ 12.76     $ 10.74
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.11 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.16       0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      3.76       2.13       3.08       (1.06 )       2.04
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.87       2.25       3.21       (0.90 )       2.19
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.16 )       (0.16 )       (0.15 )       (0.15 )       (0.14 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.41 )       (1.01 )       (0.85 )       (0.39 )       (0.03 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.57 )       (1.17 )       (1.00 )       (0.54 )       (0.17 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.91     $ 14.61     $ 13.53     $ 11.32     $ 12.76
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      27.31 %       17.70 %       29.36 %       (7.52 )%       20.45 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 503,931     $ 478,781     $ 496,318     $ 463,537     $ 584,221

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.64 %       0.95 %       1.03 %       1.00 %       1.02 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.10 %       1.11 %       1.10 %       1.10 %       1.10 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.84 %       0.85 %       0.84 %       0.84 %       0.84 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      9 %       11 %       4 %       4 %       2 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

28


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $1,368 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,388,640 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”), DFA provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

         0.80 %          1.20 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.54% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum

 

29


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 501,931,252        $ 32,808        $ #        $ 501,964,060

Preferred Stocks+

         60,229                            60,229

Rights+

                  6,815                   6,815

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,388,640                            1,388,640

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         3,050,996                            3,050,996
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $   506,431,117        $   39,623        $   —        $   506,470,740
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

 

30


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

       $ 42,662,531        $ 131,546,505

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Value Stocks Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Fund to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $267,288,229. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 256,942,899  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (17,760,388
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 239,182,511  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

       $ 5,012,752        $ 37,244,158        $ 42,256,910

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

31


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

       $ 5,306,235        $ 32,295,467        $ 37,601,702

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

       $ 3,464,909        $ 51,138,109        $        $ 239,182,511        $ 293,785,529

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, return of capital from underlying investments and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

32


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

33


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 100.00% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $678,774.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $37,244,158.

 

34


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling
800-624-0197.

 

35


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

36


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

37


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

38


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships

Held Outside the
AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14
(Trustee since 2/07)
  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds
(10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22
(Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)
  Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1
ETF Trust (2 Funds);
Esoterica Thematic Trust
(2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04  

Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and

Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015

  46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships

Held Outside the
AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

39


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/Length
of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

 

40


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 21

Statement of Operations

Page 21

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 22

Financial Highlights

Page 23

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 24

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 29

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 30

Other Information

Page 31

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 32

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 35

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund returned 29.02%. That compared to a 14.82% return for its benchmark, The Russell 2000® Index.1

The ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic produced consistent growth in U.S. equities throughout the year. Fiscal and monetary stimulus, rising consumer confidence, and solid earnings performance fueled gains despite inflationary pressures late in the year.

Small-cap stocks underperformed large-cap stocks during the period. In the small-cap universe, value stocks outperformed growth stocks. Small-cap stocks with lower relative prices and higher profitability outperformed stocks with higher relative prices and lower profitability.

The Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmark was primarily driven by its lesser exposure to stocks with the lowest profitability and highest relative prices. Such stocks

underperformed stocks with higher profitability and lower relative prices during the period. The Fund’s lesser exposure to stocks in the benchmark with the highest asset growth also contributed to its relative performance, as these stocks underperformed the smaller-cap stocks in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of small-capitalization U.S. companies.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

Value-based investments are subject to the risk that the broad market may not recognize their intrinsic value.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

         29.02 %          21.21 %          11.50 %          10.77 %

Russell 2000® Index

         14.82 %          20.02 %          12.02 %          10.60 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

         1.19 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.70% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 1.35% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Russell 2000® Index, which is an unmanaged market capitalization-weighted index comprised of the 2,000 smallest companies listed in the Russell 3000® Index, which contains the 3,000 largest companies in the U.S. based on market capitalization. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,039.20     $ 5.40       1.05 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.91     $ 5.35       1.05 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Financials

      20.2 %

Industrials

      18.6

Health Care

      13.6

Consumer Discretionary

      13.1

Information Technology

      13.1

Materials

      6.5

Energy

      4.4

Consumer Staples

      4.0

Utilities

      3.0

Communication Services

      2.3

Real Estate

      0.9
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.7

Rights

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.6

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.6

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.6 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.9%):       
  2,230      AAR Corp.*    $ 87,037  
  5,304      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.      248,015  
  1,350      AeroVironment, Inc.*      83,741  
  2,615      Astronics Corp.*      31,380  
  392      Astronics Corp., Class B*      4,708  
  869      BWX Technologies, Inc.      41,608  
  1,113      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      154,340  
  766      Ducommun, Inc.*      35,826  
  2,314      Hexcel Corp.*      119,865  
  3,376      Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.*      22,147  
  7,496      Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.*      145,422  
  1,825      Maxar Technologies, Inc.      53,892  
  1,336      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      73,560  
  1,513      Moog, Inc., Class A      122,508  
  516      National Presto Industries, Inc.      42,327  
  2,564      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      33,845  
  1,291      Parsons Corp.*      43,442  
  759      Vectrus, Inc.*      34,739  
     

 

 

 
        1,378,402  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.4%):       
  738      Air T, Inc.*      18,561  
  2,305      Air Transport Services Group, Inc.*      67,721  
  743      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      69,931  
  1,767      Forward Air Corp.      213,966  
  2,225      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      187,434  
  5,212      Radiant Logistics, Inc.*      37,995  
     

 

 

 
        595,608  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.6%):       
  3,632      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      189,227  
  974      Allegiant Travel Co.*      182,177  
  899      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      74,311  
  3,192      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      58,637  
  12,473      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      177,616  
  2,017      SkyWest, Inc.*      79,268  
  4,325      Spirit Airlines, Inc.*      94,501  
     

 

 

 
        855,737  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.4%):       
  4,444      Adient plc*      212,779  
  4,351      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      40,595  
  2,031      Cooper-Standard Holding, Inc.*      45,515  
  8,170      Dana, Inc.      186,439  
  1,611      Dorman Products, Inc.*      182,059  
  2,028      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      344,963  
  2,137      Gentherm, Inc.*      185,705  
  16,048      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      342,143  
  1,306      LCI Industries      203,566  
  5,052      Modine Manufacturing Co.*      50,975  
  1,911      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      32,621  
  928      Patrick Industries, Inc.      74,880  
  1,385      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      72,560  
  1,639      Stoneridge, Inc.*      32,354  
  1,139      Tenneco, Inc.*      12,871  
  472      Veoneer, Inc.*      16,746  
  1,448      Visteon Corp.*      160,931  
     

 

 

 
        2,197,702  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  3,678      Harley-Davidson, Inc.    $ 138,624  
  676      Thor Industries, Inc.      70,149  
  1,823      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      136,579  
     

 

 

 
        345,352  
     

 

 

 
Banks (11.5%):       
  1,584      1st Constitution Bancorp      40,693  
  1,859      1st Source Corp.      92,206  
  410      ACNB Corp.      12,825  
  880      Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.      37,145  
  600      Amalgamated Financial Corp.      10,062  
  846      Amerant Bancorp, Inc.      29,229  
  939      American National Bankshares, Inc.      35,382  
  3,750      Ameris Bancorp      186,300  
  1,149      Ames National Corp.      28,139  
  1,609      Arrow Financial Corp.      56,685  
  7,329      Associated Banc-Corp.      165,562  
  1,465      Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      42,148  
  3,631      Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.      135,400  
  13      Auburn National Bancorp, Inc.      412  
  3,921      Banc of California, Inc.      76,930  
  1,785      BancFirst Corp.      125,950  
  3,525      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      89,218  
  2,065      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      172,964  
  1,191      Bank of Marin Bancorp      44,341  
  2,982      Bank of Nt Butterfield & Son, Ltd. (The)      113,644  
  485      Bank of South Carolina Corp.      9,782  
  6,495      Bank OZK      302,212  
  4,913      BankUnited, Inc.      207,869  
  1,789      Banner Corp.      108,539  
  872      Bar Harbor Bankshares      25,227  
  1,217      Baycom Corp.*      22,831  
  595      BCB Bancorp, Inc.      9,181  
  2,938      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      83,527  
  2,278      BOK Financial Corp.      240,306  
  3,537      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      57,264  
  1,666      Bryn Mawr Bank Corp.      74,987  
  667      Business First Bancshares, Inc.      18,883  
  2,546      Byline BanCorp, Inc.      69,633  
  227      C&F Financial Corp.      11,620  
  10,635      Cadence Bank      316,817  
  436      Cambridge Bancorp      40,805  
  1,359      Camden National Corp.      65,449  
  1,471      Capital City Bank Group, Inc.      38,834  
  700      Capstar Financial Holdings, Inc.      14,721  
  3,988      Cathay General Bancorp      171,444  
  1,646      CBTX, Inc.      47,734  
  1,822      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      51,326  
  1,141      Central Valley Community Bancorp      23,699  
  668      Chemung Financial Corp.      30,581  
  6,348      CIT Group, Inc.      325,906  
  1,509      Citizens & Northern Corp.      39,415  
  718      Citizens Holding Co.      13,463  
  798      City Holding Co.      65,268  
  822      Civista Bancshares, Inc.      20,057  
  1,205      CNB Financial Corp.      31,932  
  85      Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.      1,836  
  56      Colony Bankcorp, Inc.      956  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  4,190      Columbia Banking System, Inc.    $ 137,097  
  2,562      Community Bank System, Inc.      190,818  
  1,343      Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.      58,568  
  525      Community West Bancshares      6,982  
  2,115      ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.      69,182  
  2,253      CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc.*      35,169  
  256      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      32,274  
  2,541      Customers Bancorp, Inc.      166,105  
  6,743      CVB Financial Corp.      144,368  
  2,220      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      78,055  
  609      Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc.      13,995  
  1,599      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      93,286  
  2,149      Enterprise Financial Services Corp.      101,196  
  924      Equity Bancshares, Inc.      31,351  
  534      Evans Bancorp, Inc.      21,520  
  15,713      F.N.B. Corp.      190,599  
  2,582      Farmers National Banc Corp.      47,896  
  2,391      FB Financial Corp.      104,774  
  1,568      Financial Institutions, Inc.      49,862  
  10,810      First Bancorp      148,962  
  1,491      First Bancorp, Inc.      46,817  
  1,761      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      80,513  
  1,053      First Bancshares, Inc. (The)      40,667  
  2,776      First Busey Corp.      75,285  
  940      First Business Financial Services, Inc.      27,420  
  41      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      34,023  
  4,622      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      74,368  
  1,099      First Community Bankshares      36,729  
  4,894      First Financial Bancorp      119,316  
  3,090      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      157,096  
  812      First Financial Corp.      36,775  
  1,717      First Financial Northwest, Inc.      27,764  
  2,543      First Foundation, Inc.      63,219  
  6,483      First Hawaiian, Inc.      177,180  
  402      First Internet BanCorp      18,910  
  1,968      First Interstate BancSystem, Class A      80,039  
  2,751      First Merchants Corp.      115,239  
  720      First Mid Bancshares, Inc.      30,809  
  5,629      First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.      115,282  
  1,367      First of Long Island Corp. (The)      29,514  
  84      First Savings Financial Group      2,218  
  234      First United Corp.      4,416  
  908      First US Bancshares, Inc.      9,607  
  2,675      Flushing Financial Corp.      65,002  
  8,311      Fulton Financial Corp.      141,287  
  1,937      German American Bancorp, Inc.      75,504  
  5,467      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      309,979  
  1,038      Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.      61,501  
  2,977      Great Western Bancorp, Inc.      101,099  
  440      Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.      16,535  
  4,491      Hancock Whitney Corp.      224,640  
  1,888      Hanmi Financial Corp.      44,708  
  3,865      HarborOne BanCorp, Inc.      57,357  
  43      Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.      1,111  
  2,024      Heartland Financial USA, Inc.      102,435  
  2,978      Heritage Financial Corp.      72,782  
  4,406      Hertiage Commerce Corp.      52,608  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  4,106      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.    $ 144,285  
  8,713      Home Bancshares, Inc.      212,162  
  1,139      Hometrust Bancshares, Inc.      35,286  
  5,930      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      87,230  
  3,456      Horizon Bancorp      72,058  
  511      Howard Bancorp, Inc.*      11,135  
  2,325      Independent Bank Corp.      189,557  
  2,159      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      155,772  
  3,151      International Bancshares Corp.      133,571  
  12,986      Investors Bancorp, Inc.      196,738  
  3,767      Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.      71,535  
  1,510      Lakeland Financial Corp.      121,011  
  950      Landmark Bancorp, Inc.      27,075  
  1,512      LCNB Corp.      29,529  
  2,612      Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.      228,001  
  3,707      Macatawa Bank Corp.      32,696  
  1,659      Mercantile Bank Corp.      58,115  
  400      Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.*      42,612  
  1,651      Midland States BanCorp, Inc.      40,928  
  1,041      MidWestone Financial Group, Inc.      33,697  
  300      MVB Financial Corp.      12,456  
  2,052      National Bank Holdings Corp.      90,165  
  769      National Bankshares, Inc.      27,884  
  2,224      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      85,668  
  974      Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.*      83,520  
  1,136      Northeast Bank      40,589  
  657      Northrim Bancorp, Inc.      28,553  
  609      Norwood Financial Corp.      15,828  
  2,428      OFG Bancorp      64,488  
  183      Ohio Valley Banc Corp.      5,316  
  8,328      Old National Bancorp      150,903  
  1,004      Old Point Financial Corp.      22,871  
  3,314      Old Second Bancorp, Inc.      41,723  
  1,182      Origin Bancorp, Inc.      50,731  
  1,208      Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.      30,442  
  4,752      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      190,223  
  6,187      PacWest Bancorp      279,467  
  534      Park National Corp.      73,324  
  1,636      Parke Bancorp, Inc.      34,814  
  1,540      Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp.      54,516  
  952      Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc.      22,439  
  434      Peoples Bancorp of NC      11,974  
  2,085      Peoples Bancorp, Inc.      66,324  
  3,628      People’s United Financial, Inc.      64,651  
  1,675      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      159,962  
  3,166      Popular, Inc.      259,739  
  977      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      70,139  
  2,309      Primis Financial Corp.      34,727  
  474      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      34,270  
  1,118      QCR Holdings, Inc.      62,608  
  351      Rbb BanCorp      9,196  
  309      Reliant Bancorp, Inc.      10,969  
  2,844      Renasant Corp.      107,930  
  1,482      Republic Bancorp, Inc., Class A      75,345  
  6,466      Republic First Bancorp, Inc.*      24,054  
  2,122      S & T Bancorp, Inc.      66,885  
  320      Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.      16,922  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  2,295      Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.    $ 110,344  
  552      SB Financial Group, Inc.      10,747  
  3,087      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      109,249  
  3,612      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      306,803  
  1,438      Shore Bancshares, Inc.      29,982  
  1,279      Sierra Bancorp      34,725  
  6,333      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      187,330  
  562      Southern First Bancshares, Inc.*      35,119  
  1,502      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      62,814  
  3,064      SouthState Corp.      245,457  
  1,629      Spirit of Texas Bancshares, Inc.      46,883  
  9,411      Sterling Bancorp      242,710  
  1,444      Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.      92,243  
  682      Summit Financial Group, Inc.      18,721  
  1,323      Summit State Bank      19,938  
  4,275      Synovus Financial Corp.      204,644  
  2,562      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      154,360  
  694      Tompkins Financial Corp.      58,005  
  3,635      TowneBank      114,830  
  1,824      TriCo Bancshares      78,359  
  2,571      Tristate Capital Holdings, Inc.*      77,798  
  1,894      Triumph BanCorp, Inc.*      225,538  
  3,236      Trustmark Corp.      105,041  
  2,867      UMB Financial Corp.      304,217  
  12,136      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      233,497  
  249      Union Bankshares, Inc.      7,236  
  450      United Bancshares, Inc.      13,725  
  8,109      United Bankshares, Inc.      294,195  
  4,792      United Community Banks, Inc.      172,224  
  916      United Security Bancshares      7,438  
  42      Unity Bancorp, Inc.      1,102  
  1,651      Univest Financial Corp.      49,398  
  21,320      Valley National Bancorp      293,150  
  1,563      Veritex Holdings, Inc.      62,176  
  1,461      Washington Trust Bancorp      82,357  
  4,406      Webster Financial Corp.      246,031  
  3,853      WesBanco, Inc.      134,816  
  1,569      West Bancorp      48,749  
  1,354      Westamerica Bancorp      78,166  
  3,352      Wintrust Financial Corp.      304,429  
     

 

 

 
        17,798,306  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.3%):       
  321      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      23,937  
  533      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      330,028  
  1,140      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      96,889  
  1,268      National Beverage Corp.      57,478  
  3,800      NewAge, Inc.*      3,914  
  985      Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc.*      8,550  
     

 

 

 
        520,796  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (4.3%):       
  308      2Seventy Bio, Inc.*      7,894  
  1,733      AC Immune SA*      8,578  
  1,950      ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      45,513  
  3,308      Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.*      5,822  
  3,984      Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.*      18,924  
  2,640      Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      86,777  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  13,598      Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.*    $ 30,732  
  2,076      Akero Therapeutics, Inc.*      43,907  
  1,262      Albireo Pharma, Inc.*      29,392  
  9,015      Alkermes plc*      209,689  
  2,613      Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.*      38,986  
  2,056      AnaptysBio, Inc.*      71,446  
  1,103      Applied Genetic Technologies Corp.*      2,096  
  629      Applied Therapeutics, Inc.*      5,630  
  283      Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.*      10,474  
  629      Arcus Biosciences, Inc.*      25,456  
  3,961      Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      82,151  
  6,613      Ardelyx, Inc.*      7,274  
  3,297      Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      306,423  
  4,656      Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      73,379  
  2,342      Atreca, Inc., Class A*^      7,096  
  2,657      Avid Bioservices, Inc.*      77,531  
  1,475      Avidity Biosciences, Inc.*      35,061  
  1,944      Axcella Health, Inc.*      4,063  
  1,038      Beyondspring, Inc.*      4,702  
  926      Bluebird Bio, Inc.*      9,251  
  1,718      Blueprint Medicines Corp.*      184,015  
  4,360      Calithera Biosciences, Inc.*      2,900  
  2,880      Cara Therapeutics, Inc.*      35,078  
  1,034      CareDx, Inc.*      47,026  
  1,421      CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,137  
  606      Castle Biosciences, Inc.*      25,979  
  1,053      Catalyst Biosciences, Inc.*      962  
  5,557      Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      37,621  
  236      ChemoCentryx, Inc.*      8,593  
  6,991      Chimerix, Inc.*      44,952  
  2,139      Chinook Therapeutics, Inc.*      34,887  
  3,561      Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      11,217  
  2,225      Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      63,212  
  407      CRISPR Therapeutics AG*      30,842  
  1,634      Cue Biopharma, Inc.*      18,481  
  2,539      Cytomx Therapeutics, Inc.*      10,994  
  1,720      Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      16,804  
  3,786      Denali Therapeutics, Inc.*      168,856  
  1,115      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      56,776  
  3,422      Editas Medicine, Inc.*      90,854  
  1,660      Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.*      8,615  
  2,263      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      98,373  
  1,500      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      112,170  
  11,564      Exelixis, Inc.*      211,390  
  1,575      Fibrogen, Inc.*      22,208  
  2,705      G1 Therapeutics, Inc.*      27,618  
  1,199      Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc.*      35,095  
  1,738      Glycomimetics Industries*      2,503  
  2,547      Gritstone bio, Inc.*      32,754  
  7,175      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      288,507  
  1,570      Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc.*      11,854  
  2,828      Heron Therapeutics, Inc.*      25,820  
  1,889      Ideaya Biosciences, Inc.*      44,656  
  196      IGM Biosciences, Inc.*      5,749  
  592      ImmuCell Corp.*      4,730  
  1,281      Immunovant, Inc.*      10,914  
  3,325      Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      7,481  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  1,583      Insmed, Inc.*    $ 43,121  
  4,290      Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.*      507,250  
  2,237      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      42,704  
  9,160      Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      106,806  
  422      iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.*      19,648  
  4,709      IVERIC Bio, Inc.*      78,734  
  3,800      Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.*      31,730  
  856      KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      11,325  
  1,550      Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.*      203,050  
  1,356      Kezar Life Sciences, Inc.*      22,672  
  514      Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., Class A*      6,050  
  1,081      Krystal Biotech, Inc.*      75,616  
  2,093      Kura Oncology, Inc.*      29,302  
  4,768      Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      18,786  
  830      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      128,202  
  3,472      Macrogenics, Inc.*      55,726  
  977      Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      82,791  
  2,522      Magenta Therapeutics, Inc.*      11,172  
  900      MediciNova, Inc.*^      2,412  
  2,101      MeiraGTx Holdings plc*      49,878  
  1,843      Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.*      11,463  
  1,300      Minerva Neurosciences, Inc.*      1,041  
  711      Molecular Templates, Inc.*^      2,787  
  710      Morphic Holding, Inc.*      33,640  
  5,011      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      138,304  
  326      Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.*      9,438  
  1,223      Oncocyte Corp.*      2,654  
  26,516      OPKO Health, Inc.*      127,542  
  14,857      PDL BioPharma, Inc.      50,960  
  2,083      Precision BioSciences, Inc.*      15,414  
  2,098      Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.*      71,752  
  3,479      Prothena Corp. plc*      171,863  
  1,221      RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.*      44,847  
  2,449      REGENXBIO, Inc.*      80,082  
  427      Repare Therapeutics, Inc.*      9,005  
  1,686      Replimune Group, Inc.*      45,691  
  667      REVOLUTION Medicines, Inc.*      16,788  
  1,106      Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      11,038  
  9,636      Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      25,535  
  2,920      Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      63,744  
  2,335      Sage Therapeutics, Inc.*      99,331  
  10,666      Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.*      79,995  
  1,550      Scholar Rock Holding Corp.*      38,502  
  9,500      Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      12,065  
  1,478      Spero Therapeutics, Inc.*      23,663  
  1,098      SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.*      68,054  
  954      Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.*      22,886  
  1,866      Surface Oncology, Inc.*      8,920  
  1,873      Sutro Biopharma, Inc.*      27,870  
  2,101      Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      45,991  
  905      Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,950  
  1,755      TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc.*      8,178  
  2,757      Travere Therapeutics, Inc.*      85,577  
  533      Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc.*      25,424  
  1,282      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      107,803  
  303      United Therapeutics Corp.*      65,472  
  3,525      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      55,307  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  2,332      Vaxart, Inc.*^    $ 14,622  
  3,366      VBI Vaccines, Inc.*      7,876  
  8,204      Verastem, Inc.*      16,818  
  2,783      Vericel Corp.*      109,372  
  4,488      Viking Therapeutics, Inc.*      20,645  
  737      Vir Biotechnology, Inc.*      30,858  
  1,685      Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.*      4,566  
  3,464      Xencor, Inc.*      138,976  
  1,840      Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.*      29,826  
     

 

 

 
        6,701,980  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.5%):       
  3,183      AAON, Inc.      252,826  
  447      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.      60,850  
  824      American Woodmark Corp.*      53,725  
  1,705      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.      82,096  
  3,226      Armstrong Flooring, Inc.*      6,388  
  2,574      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      298,893  
  1,277      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      59,048  
  3,446      Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.*      60,098  
  815      Csw Industrials, Inc.      98,501  
  1,452      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      96,819  
  1,043      Griffon Corp.      29,705  
  1,762      Insteel Industries, Inc.      70,145  
  3,941      Jeld-Wen Holding, Inc.*      103,885  
  871      Masonite International Corp.*      102,734  
  3,341      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      75,139  
  2,436      Quanex Building Products Corp.      60,364  
  3,705      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      96,441  
  2,222      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      309,014  
  2,113      UFP Industries, Inc.      194,417  
  6,630      Zurn Water Solutions Corp.      241,332  
     

 

 

 
        2,352,420  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.1%):       
  1,665      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      273,909  
  3,557      Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A      169,456  
  866      Assetmark Financial Holdings, Inc.*      22,698  
  16,135      BGC Partners, Inc., Class A      75,028  
  1,300      Blucora, Inc.*      22,516  
  2,455      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      62,848  
  3,094      Cohen & Steers, Inc.      286,226  
  300      Cowen, Inc., Class A      10,830  
  239      Diamond Hill Investment Group      46,421  
  2,638      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      124,355  
  4,076      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      153,176  
  989      GAMCO Investors, Inc., Class A      24,705  
  1,990      Greenhill & Co., Inc.      35,681  
  1,753      Hamilton Lane, Inc.      181,646  
  211      Hennessy Advisors, Inc.      2,292  
  2,282      Houlihan Lokey, Inc.      236,233  
  1,879      Janus Henderson Group plc      78,805  
  6,018      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      262,565  
  2,775      Manning & Napier, Inc.      23,060  
  3,592      Moelis & Co., Class A      224,536  
  853      Oppenheimer Holdings, Class A      39,554  
  671      Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc.      119,780  
  1,393      PJT Partners, Inc.      103,207  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  2,624      Pzena Investment Management, Inc.    $ 24,849  
  3,824      Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.*      28,106  
  1,619      Silvercrest Asset Management Group, Inc., Class A      27,798  
  2,267      Stifel Financial Corp.      159,642  
  984      StoneX Group, Inc.*      60,270  
  207      Value Line, Inc.      9,692  
  5,549      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      159,978  
  411      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      122,108  
  1,478      Westwood Holdings, Inc.      25,037  
  10,429      WisdomTree Investments, Inc.      63,826  
     

 

 

 
        3,260,833  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.4%):       
  1,064      Advanced Emmissions Solutions*      7,044  
  2,212      AdvanSix, Inc.      104,517  
  1,429      Agrofresh Solutions, Inc.*      2,844  
  2,805      American Vanguard Corp.      45,974  
  2,989      Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.      321,796  
  4,531      Avient Corp.      253,510  
  2,017      Balchem Corp.      340,066  
  2,535      Cabot Corp.      142,467  
  639      Chase Corp.      63,619  
  8,006      Chemours Co. (The)      268,681  
  1,403      Core Molding Technologies, Inc.*      11,940  
  6,378      Ecovyst, Inc.      65,311  
  13,666      Element Solutions, Inc.      331,811  
  4,923      Ferro Corp.*      107,469  
  2,318      Flotek Industries, Inc.*      2,619  
  3,777      Futurefuel Corp.      28,856  
  3,684      GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.*      116,635  
  3,215      H.B. Fuller Co.      260,415  
  1,565      Hawkins, Inc.      61,739  
  2,726      Huntsman Corp.      95,083  
  1,866      Ingevity Corp.*      133,792  
  1,207      Innospec, Inc.      109,040  
  1,047      Intrepid Potash, Inc.*      44,738  
  1,147      Koppers Holdings, Inc.*      35,901  
  1,259      Kraton Corp.*      58,317  
  5,083      Kronos Worldwide, Inc.      76,296  
  9,357      Livent Corp.*      228,124  
  5,685      LSB Industries, Inc.*      62,819  
  1,815      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      132,767  
  389      NewMarket Corp.      133,318  
  1,786      Northern Technologies International Corp.      27,326  
  5,689      Olin Corp.      327,231  
  2,431      Orion Engineered Carbons SA*      44,633  
  241      Quaker Chemical Corp.      55,618  
  5,893      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      33,649  
  2,468      Sensient Technologies Corp.      246,948  
  1,187      Stepan Co.      147,532  
  3,421      Trecora Resources*      27,642  
  2,589      Tredegar Corp.      30,602  
  2,135      Trinseo PLC*      112,002  
  8,671      Tronox Holdings plc, Class A      208,364  
  8,685      Valvoline, Inc.      323,864  
  8,372      Venator Materials plc*      21,265  
     

 

 

 
        5,254,184  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.9%):       
  3,277      ABM Industries, Inc.    $ 133,866  
  7,062      ACCO Brands Corp.      58,332  
  675      Acme United Corp.      22,748  
  1,342      ADT, Inc.      11,286  
  2,694      Brady Corp., Class A      145,207  
  3,882      BrightView Holdings, Inc.*      54,659  
  2,663      Brink’s Co. (The)      174,613  
  3,082      Casella Waste Systems, Inc.*      263,264  
  4,565      CECO Environmental Corp.*      28,440  
  1,426      Cimpress plc*      102,116  
  436      Civeo Corp.*      8,358  
  2,550      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      254,414  
  325      CompX International, Inc.      7,303  
  1,356      Deluxe Corp.      43,541  
  2,494      Ennis, Inc.      48,708  
  3,751      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      66,730  
  1,000      Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.*      32,020  
  2,059      HNI Corp.      86,581  
  3,774      Interface, Inc.      60,195  
  3,764      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      58,794  
  2,673      Kimball International, Inc., Class B      27,345  
  1,775      Matthews International Corp., Class A      65,089  
  1,489      McGrath Rentcorp      119,507  
  3,964      MillerKnoll, Inc.      155,349  
  276      MSA Safety, Inc.      41,665  
  2,566      NL Industries, Inc.      18,988  
  2,198      Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.*      13,913  
  10,503      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      69,635  
  5,379      Quad Graphics, Inc.*      21,516  
  8,004      RR Donnelley & Sons Co.*      90,125  
  1,749      SP Plus Corp.*      49,357  
  4,831      Steelcase, Inc., Class A      56,619  
  1,241      Stericycle, Inc.*      74,013  
  4,115      Team, Inc.*      4,485  
  620      Tetra Tech, Inc.      105,276  
  763      UniFirst Corp.      160,535  
  2,366      US Ecology, Inc.*      75,570  
  373      Viad Corp.*      15,961  
  2,566      Vidler Water Resouces, Inc.*      30,997  
  3,364      Virco Manufacturing Co.*      10,294  
  1,177      Vse Corp.      71,726  
     

 

 

 
        2,939,140  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.2%):       
  3,614      ADTRAN, Inc.      82,508  
  1,444      Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.*      7,422  
  682      Aviat Networks, Inc.*      21,879  
  900      BK Technologies Corp.      2,169  
  3,195      CalAmp Corp.*      22,557  
  4,175      Calix, Inc.*      333,875  
  3,508      Casa Systems, Inc.*      19,890  
  980      Clearfield, Inc.*      82,732  
  3,616      ClearOne, Inc.*      4,665  
  1,300      CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*      14,352  
  316      Communications Systems, Inc.      758  
  1,983      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.      46,977  
  2,559      Digi International, Inc.*      62,875  
  1,222      DZS, Inc.*      19,821  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Communications Equipment, continued       
  2,230      EchoStar Corp., Class A*    $ 58,761  
  3,157      EMCORE Corp.*      22,036  
  6,919      Harmonic, Inc.*      81,367  
  9,258      Infinera Corp.*      88,784  
  1,456      InterDigital, Inc.      104,293  
  2,325      KVH Industries, Inc.*      21,367  
  1,172      Lantronix, Inc.*      9,177  
  1,612      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      170,501  
  1,769      NETGEAR, Inc.*      51,672  
  4,188      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      138,539  
  2,391      Network-1 Technologies, Inc.      6,743  
  131      Optical Cable Corp.*      703  
  7,260      Ribbon Communications, Inc.*      43,923  
  3,617      ViaSat, Inc.*      161,101  
  9,904      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      174,508  
     

 

 

 
        1,855,955  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (1.7%):       
  2,549      Ameresco, Inc., Class A*      207,591  
  11,298      API Group Corp.*      291,149  
  2,497      Arcosa, Inc.      131,592  
  952      Argan, Inc.      36,833  
  1,799      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      177,993  
  1,234      Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.*      10,119  
  999      Construction Partners, Inc., Class A*      29,381  
  1,242      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      116,450  
  1,063      EMCOR Group, Inc.      135,416  
  2,210      Granite Construction, Inc.      85,527  
  4,498      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.*      70,708  
  1,679      IES Holdings, Inc.*      85,025  
  3,105      MasTec, Inc.*      286,529  
  3,068      Matrix Service Co.*      23,071  
  1,083      MYR Group, Inc.*      119,726  
  879      Northwest Pipe Co.*      27,952  
  949      NV5 Global, Inc.*      131,076  
  5,203      Orion Group Holdings, Inc.*      19,615  
  1,563      Primoris Services Corp.      37,481  
  2,151      Sterling Construction Co., Inc.*      56,571  
  2,090      Tutor Perini Corp.*      25,853  
  1,224      Valmont Industries, Inc.      306,612  
  6,257      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      255,536  
     

 

 

 
        2,667,806  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.4%):       
  1,908      Eagle Materials, Inc., Class A      317,606  
  1,261      Forterra, Inc.*      29,986  
  5,455      Summit Materials, Inc., Class A*      218,964  
  466      U.S. Lime & Minerals, Inc.      60,123  
     

 

 

 
        626,679  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.2%):       
  1,070      Atlanticus Holdings Corp.*      76,312  
  1,688      Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.*      20,003  
  3,041      Curo Group Holdings Corp.      48,687  
  1,249      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      77,575  
  1,566      Enova International, Inc.*      64,143  
  5,775      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      42,562  
  2,530      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      189,269  
  2,615      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      94,768  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Consumer Finance, continued       
  5,920      LendingClub Corp.*    $ 143,146  
  6,374      Navient Corp.      135,256  
  1,807      Nelnet, Inc., Class A      176,508  
  1,556      Nicholas Financial, Inc.*      18,345  
  964      Oportun Financial Corp.*      19,521  
  2,712      PRA Group, Inc.*      136,170  
  3,728      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      168,170  
  821      Regional Mgmt Corp.      47,175  
  11,202      SLM Corp.      220,343  
  475      World Acceptance Corp.*      116,579  
     

 

 

 
        1,794,532  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.6%):       
  13,394      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      261,183  
  1,645      Greif, Inc., Class A      99,309  
  874      Greif, Inc., Class B      52,248  
  2,948      Myers Industries, Inc.      58,989  
  7,172      O-I Glass, Inc.*      86,279  
  613      Ranpak Holdings Corp.*      23,037  
  4,885      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      209,273  
  357      Sonoco Products Co.      20,667  
  671      UFP Technologies, Inc.*      47,144  
     

 

 

 
        858,129  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  12      AMCON Distributing Co.      2,394  
  1,626      Educational Development Corp.      14,504  
  2,028      Funko, Inc., Class A*      38,126  
  1,655      Weyco Group, Inc.      39,621  
     

 

 

 
        94,645  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (1.0%):       
  2,828      2u, Inc.*      56,758  
  2,578      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      76,206  
  1,366      American Public Education, Inc.*      30,393  
  1,394      Carriage Services, Inc.      89,829  
  4,483      Frontdoor, Inc.*      164,302  
  201      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      126,596  
  2,210      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      189,419  
  8,298      H&R Block, Inc.      195,501  
  9,707      Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.*      156,283  
  2,311      Laureate Education, Inc.      28,286  
  2,747      OneSpaWorld Holdings, Ltd.*      27,525  
  4,264      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      50,145  
  2,561      Regis Corp.*      4,456  
  1,432      Strategic Education, Inc.      82,827  
  2,869      Stride, Inc.*      95,624  
  980      Terminix Global Holdings, Inc.*      44,325  
  5,156      Universal Technical Institute, Inc.*      40,320  
  2,647      WW International, Inc.*      42,696  
  3,362      Zovio, Inc.*      4,270  
     

 

 

 
        1,505,761  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
  500      Alerus Financial Corp.      14,640  
  646      A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc.      39,470  
  3,167      Cannae Holdings, Inc.*      111,320  
  1,617      Marlin Business Services, Inc.      37,644  
     

 

 

 
        203,074  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication (0.0%):       
  500      Telesat Corp.*    $ 14,335  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  1,146      Anterix, Inc.*      67,339  
  879      ATN International, Inc.      35,116  
  2,189      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      160,191  
  5,491      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      41,073  
  2,097      IDT Corp.*      92,603  
  6,317      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      260,829  
     

 

 

 
        657,151  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.8%):       
  1,005      ALLETE, Inc.      66,682  
  3,043      Genie Energy, Ltd., Class B*      16,950  
  5,125      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      212,687  
  817      IDACORP, Inc.      92,574  
  1,832      MGE Energy, Inc.      150,682  
  3,078      Otter Tail Corp.      219,831  
  6,951      PNM Resources, Inc.      317,035  
  2,371      Portland General Electric Co.      125,473  
     

 

 

 
        1,201,914  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.3%):       
  1,056      Acuity Brands, Inc.      223,576  
  1,513      Allied Motion Technologies, Inc.      55,209  
  2,221      American Superconductor Corp.*      24,165  
  634      Atkore, Inc.*      70,495  
  1,354      AZZ, Inc.      74,863  
  1,427      Encore Wire Corp.      204,204  
  2,640      EnerSys      208,719  
  411      Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp.*      5,840  
  9,534      GrafTech International, Ltd.      112,787  
  2,834      LSI Industries, Inc.      19,441  
  5,549      nVent Electric plc      210,862  
  569      Powell Industries, Inc.      16,780  
  690      Preformed Line Products Co.      44,643  
  2,341      Regal-Beloit Corp.      398,391  
  75      Servotronics, Inc.*      951  
  1,994      Sunrun, Inc.*      68,394  
  2,714      Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.*      45,948  
  3,104      Ultralife Corp.*      18,748  
  1,134      Vicor Corp.*      143,995  
     

 

 

 
        1,948,011  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (2.6%):       
  6,544      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      68,647  
  4,800      Avnet, Inc.      197,904  
  1,818      Badger Meter, Inc.      193,726  
  254      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class A      3,670  
  1,595      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class B      20,623  
  3,057      Belden, Inc.      200,937  
  1,596      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      43,252  
  543      Coherent, Inc.*      144,731  
  1,611      CTS Corp.      59,156  
  6,442      Daktronics, Inc.*      32,532  
  1,365      Data I/O Corp.*      6,293  
  662      ePlus, Inc.*      35,669  
  2,471      Fabrinet*      292,739  
  1,055      FARO Technologies, Inc.*      73,871  
  640      Frequency Electronics, Inc.*      6,310  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  2,112      II-VI, Inc.*    $ 144,313  
  1,899      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      202,433  
  2,324      Itron, Inc.*      159,241  
  1,856      Kimball Electronics, Inc.*      40,387  
  4,627      Knowles Corp.*      108,040  
  235      Littlelfuse, Inc.      73,950  
  1,600      Luna Innovations, Inc.*      13,504  
  1,993      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      97,996  
  1,643      Napco Security Technologies, Inc.*      82,117  
  3,997      National Instruments Corp.      174,549  
  1,187      nLight, Inc.*      28,429  
  2,576      Novanta, Inc.*      454,226  
  952      OSI Systems, Inc.*      88,726  
  844      PAR Technology Corp.*      44,538  
  1,367      PC Connection, Inc.      58,959  
  1,588      Plexus Corp.*      152,273  
  965      Rogers Corp.*      263,445  
  3,446      Sanmina Corp.*      142,871  
  1,880      ScanSource, Inc.*      65,950  
  5,308      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      79,089  
  7,337      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      160,460  
  999      Vishay Precision Group, Inc.*      37,083  
  311      Wayside Technology Group, Inc.      10,904  
  3,952      Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.*      8,694  
     

 

 

 
        4,072,237  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (1.1%):       
  7,188      Archrock, Inc.      53,766  
  2,431      Aspen Aerogels, Inc.*      121,040  
  1,091      Bristow Group, Inc.*      34,552  
  2,624      Cactus, Inc., Class A      100,053  
  6,189      ChampionX Corp.*      125,080  
  2,103      Core Laboratories NV      46,918  
  1,457      Dawson Geophysical Co.*      3,373  
  1,256      DMC Global, Inc.*      49,750  
  2,539      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      49,968  
  618      Expro Group Holdings NV*      8,868  
  4,307      Exterran Corp.*      12,835  
  2,694      Frank’s International NV*      38,659  
  455      FTS International, Inc.*      11,944  
  1,260      Geospace Technologies Corp.*      8,467  
  2,641      Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.*      10,590  
  7,520      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      23,462  
  5,207      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      123,406  
  5,674      Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A*      55,038  
  595      Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.*      1,083  
  494      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      40,058  
  2,925      National Energy Services Reunited Corp.*      27,641  
  1,299      Natural Gas Services Group*      13,601  
  11,883      Newpark Resources, Inc.*      34,936  
  12,860      NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.*      45,653  
  10,984      NOV, Inc.      148,833  
  5,737      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      64,885  
  3,039      Oil States International, Inc.*      15,104  
  9,819      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      82,971  
  7,231      Propetro Holding Corp.*      58,571  
  8,632      RPC, Inc.*      39,189  
  1,598      SEACOR Marine Holdings, Inc.*      5,433  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  4,229      Select Energy Services, Inc.*    $ 26,347  
  1,537      Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, Inc.      10,067  
  1,803      Technip Energies NV, ADR*      26,144  
  17,966      TechnipFMC plc      106,359  
  5,480      TETRA Technologies, Inc.*      15,563  
  1,075      Tidewater, Inc.*      11,513  
  20,620      Transocean, Ltd.*^      56,911  
  5,730      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      53,862  
  372      Weatherford International plc*      10,312  
     

 

 

 
        1,772,805  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.4%):       
  2,527      Ballantyne Strong, Inc.*      7,303  
  4,904      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*^      79,053  
  2,533      Imax Corp.*      45,189  
  783      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class A*      22,511  
  1,825      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class C*      51,283  
  5,074      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class A*      84,431  
  7,603      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class B*      117,010  
  614      Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.*      43,189  
  870      Marcus Corp.*      15,538  
  2,715      Reading International, Inc., Class A*      10,969  
  951      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      46,922  
  13,548      Zynga, Inc.*      86,707  
     

 

 

 
        610,105  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.0%):       
  5,498      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      368,201  
  118      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      23,287  
  2,742      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      77,544  
  661      Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A      57,071  
  2,814      Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.      40,100  
  769      Performance Food Group Co.*      35,289  
  1,654      PriceSmart, Inc.      121,023  
  1,602      Rite Aid Corp.*      23,533  
  2,176      SpartanNash Co.      56,054  
  4,696      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      139,377  
  1,855      The Andersons, Inc.      71,807  
  2,406      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      80,120  
  3,444      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      169,032  
  1,999      US Foods Holding Corp.*      69,625  
  1,419      Village Super Market, Inc., Class A      33,190  
  1,746      Weis Markets, Inc.      115,027  
     

 

 

 
        1,480,280  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.5%):       
  444      Alico, Inc.      16,441  
  2,325      B&G Foods, Inc.^      71,447  
  1,273      Calavo Growers, Inc.      53,975  
  2,146      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      79,381  
  1,318      Coffee Holding Co., Inc.*      5,733  
  2,061      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      142,807  
  2,411      Farmer Brothers Co.*      17,962  
  5,876      Flowers Foods, Inc.      161,414  
  2,300      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      63,480  
  3,206      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      136,608  
  6,361      Hostess Brands, Inc.*      129,892  
  842      Ingredion, Inc.      81,371  
  1,040      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      164,278  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  519      John B Sanfilippo And Son, Inc.    $ 46,793  
  1,489      Lancaster Colony Corp.      246,578  
  2,754      Landec Corp.*      30,569  
  2,175      Limoneira Co.      32,625  
  397      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      11,195  
  800      Post Holdings, Inc.*      90,184  
  1,220      Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.*      9,516  
  1,074      Sanderson Farms, Inc.      205,220  
  46      Seaboard Corp.      181,010  
  708      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      33,949  
  12      Seneca Foods Corp., Class B*      565  
  4,807      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      199,827  
  2,229      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      80,757  
  1,779      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      72,103  
     

 

 

 
        2,365,680  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.8%):       
  1,029      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      150,038  
  1,610      National Fuel Gas Co.      102,943  
  5,705      New Jersey Resources Corp.      234,247  
  1,406      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      68,585  
  2,413      ONE Gas, Inc.      187,225  
  873      RGC Resources, Inc.      20,088  
  6,748      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      176,258  
  2,172      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      152,149  
  2,974      Spire, Inc.      193,964  
     

 

 

 
        1,285,497  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.0%):       
  6,691      Accuray, Inc.*      31,916  
  3,324      AngioDynamics, Inc.*      91,676  
  1,309      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      46,902  
  5,744      Antares Pharma, Inc.*      20,506  
  2,193      Apyx Medical Corp.*      28,114  
  2,345      AtriCure, Inc.*      163,048  
  126      Atrion Corp.      88,817  
  3,108      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      107,754  
  2,841      Axogen, Inc.*      26,620  
  2,250      Axonics, Inc.*      126,000  
  3,014      Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*      56,603  
  1,799      CONMED Corp.      255,026  
  2,615      CryoLife, Inc.*      53,215  
  2,081      CytoSorbents Corp.*      8,719  
  1,118      Elctromed, Inc.*      14,534  
  5,890      Envista Holdings Corp.*      265,403  
  427      Fonar Corp.*      6,397  
  2,248      Glaukos Corp.*      99,901  
  331      Globus Medical, Inc.*      23,898  
  956      Haemonetics Corp.*      50,706  
  682      Heska Corp.*      124,458  
  1,271      ICU Medical, Inc.*      301,659  
  1,790      Inogen, Inc.*      60,860  
  1,778      Integer Holdings Corp.*      152,179  
  4,094      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      274,257  
  199      IntriCon Corp.*      3,218  
  4,509      Invacare Corp.*      12,265  
  850      iRadimed Corp.*      39,279  
  2,006      IRIDEX Corp.*      12,257  
  249      Kewaunee Scientific CP*      3,172  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  4,025      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*    $ 116,282  
  1,449      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      72,783  
  1,127      LENSAR, Inc.*      6,717  
  2,980      LivaNova plc*      260,541  
  3,167      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      64,607  
  3,244      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      202,101  
  186      Mesa Laboratories, Inc.      61,025  
  2,205      Natus Medical, Inc.*      52,325  
  5,233      Neogen Corp.*      237,631  
  216      Nevro Corp.*      17,511  
  2,684      NuVasive, Inc.*      140,856  
  5,745      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      49,924  
  1,375      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      42,749  
  1,025      Orthopediatrics Corp.*      61,357  
  1,517      Quidel Corp.*      204,780  
  2,363      SeaSpine Holdings Corp.*      32,184  
  200      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      35,666  
  1,010      SI-BONE, Inc.*      22,432  
  2,196      STAAR Surgical Co.*      200,495  
  10,930      Surgalign Holdings, Inc.*      7,830  
  879      Surmodics, Inc.*      42,324  
  1,169      Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.*      22,246  
  1,583      TransMedics Group, Inc.*      30,330  
  435      Utah Medical Products, Inc.      43,500  
  2,566      Varex Imaging Corp.*      80,957  
  8,600      ViewRay, Inc.*      47,386  
  686      Zynex, Inc.*      6,840  
     

 

 

 
        4,712,738  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.7%):       
  4,930      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      299,251  
  787      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      73,592  
  3,407      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      416,778  
  1,143      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      83,988  
  12,191      Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.*      62,906  
  7,998      Community Health Systems, Inc.*      106,453  
  1,310      CorVel Corp.*      272,480  
  8,309      Covetrus, Inc.*      165,931  
  2,958      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      82,114  
  1,589      Encompass Health Corp.      103,698  
  2,966      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      249,025  
  190      Five Star Senior Living, Inc.*      561  
  2,033      Hanger, Inc.*      36,858  
  4,724      HealthEquity, Inc.*      208,990  
  1,999      InfuSystems Holdings, Inc.*      34,043  
  1,190      Joint Corp. (The)*      78,171  
  1,634      LHC Group, Inc.*      224,234  
  1,078      Magellan Health, Inc.*      102,399  
  5,006      MEDNAX, Inc.*      136,213  
  624      ModivCare, Inc.*      92,533  
  887      National Healthcare Corp.      60,263  
  2,297      National Research Corp.      95,372  
  9,359      Option Care Health, Inc.*      266,170  
  5,522      Owens & Minor, Inc.      240,207  
  5,186      Patterson Cos., Inc.      152,209  
  1,785      Petiq, Inc.*      40,537  
  6,461      Premier, Inc., Class A      265,999  
  4,936      Progyny, Inc.*      248,528  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  1,080      Psychemedics Corp.    $ 7,495  
  15,289      R1 RCM, Inc.*      389,717  
  2,898      RadNet, Inc.*      87,259  
  7,290      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      214,326  
  4,347      Surgery Partners, Inc.*      232,173  
  5,287      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      431,895  
  1,764      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      40,713  
  1,778      Tivity Health, Inc.*      47,010  
  1,995      Triple-S Management Corp., Class B*      71,182  
  755      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      72,140  
     

 

 

 
        5,793,413  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.8%):       
  8,761      Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.*      161,640  
  3,434      Castlight Health, Inc., Class B*      5,288  
  1,296      Change Healthcare, Inc.*      27,709  
  766      Computer Programs & Systems, Inc.*      22,444  
  5,645      Evolent Health, Inc., Class A*      156,197  
  2,021      Health Catalyst, Inc.*      80,072  
  2,627      HealthStream, Inc.*      69,248  
  1,239      iCAD, Inc.*      8,921  
  4,136      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      73,579  
  2,303      Omnicell, Inc.*      415,553  
  445      OptimizeRx Corp.*      27,639  
  2,596      Vocera Communications, Inc.*      168,325  
     

 

 

 
        1,216,615  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.4%):       
  1,724      BBQ Holdings, Inc.*      27,377  
  3      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class A*      2,085  
  168      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class B*      23,952  
  1,766      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      61,015  
  4,676      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.*      98,102  
  950      Bluegreen Vacations Holding Corp.*      33,345  
  1,994      Brinker International, Inc.*      72,960  
  4,497      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.      13,311  
  700      Century Casinos, Inc.*      8,526  
  2,493      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)*      97,601  
  1,583      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      246,932  
  1,396      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      42,047  
  1,237      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.      159,128  
  2,431      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      93,350  
  2,980      Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.      37,101  
  3,256      Denny’s Corp.*      52,096  
  2,394      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.*      33,971  
  2,608      Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.*      28,714  
  100      Flanigan’s Enterprises, Inc.*      3,087  
  1,109      Full House Resorts, Inc.*      13,430  
  4,318      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*      225,011  
  5,547      International Game Technology plc      160,364  
  1,031      Jack in the Box, Inc.      90,192  
  672      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      113,555  
  597      Nathans Famous, Inc.      34,859  
  1,669      Noodles & Co.*      15,138  
  3,039      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*^      63,029  
  1,908      Papa John’s International, Inc.      254,661  
  3,630      Playa Hotels & Resorts NV*      28,967  
  1,540      Playags, Inc.*      10,457  
  300      RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.      23,364  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  1,368      Red Robin Gourmet Burgers*    $ 22,613  
  662      Red Rock Resorts, Inc.      36,417  
  2,239      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.*      44,556  
  3,369      Scientific Games Corp., Class A*      225,150  
  2,640      SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.*      171,230  
  1,613      Shake Shack, Inc., Class A*      116,394  
  2,192      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      195,702  
  3,865      Travel + Leisure Co.      213,619  
  10,098      Wendy’s Co. (The)      240,837  
  1,375      Wingstop, Inc.      237,600  
  449      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      40,253  
     

 

 

 
        3,712,098  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (2.3%):       
  608      Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.      10,196  
  738      Beazer Homes USA, Inc.*      17,136  
  582      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      184,872  
  1,854      Century Communities, Inc.      151,639  
  2,480      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      65,199  
  820      Flexsteel Industries, Inc.      22,025  
  1,624      Green Brick Partners, Inc.*      49,256  
  1,441      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      352,281  
  670      Hooker Furnishings Corp.      15,598  
  1,677      Installed Building Products, Inc.      234,311  
  1,482      iRobot Corp.*      97,634  
  4,791      KB Home      214,302  
  1,138      Koss Corp.*      12,154  
  2,637      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      95,750  
  230      Legacy Housing Corp.*      6,088  
  3,296      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      135,663  
  1,096      LGI Homes, Inc.*      169,310  
  2,522      Lifetime Brands, Inc.      40,276  
  1,910      M/I Homes, Inc.*      118,764  
  3,861      MDC Holdings, Inc.      215,560  
  1,818      Meritage Homes Corp.*      221,905  
  723      P & F Industries, Inc., Class A*      4,410  
  2,534      Purple Innovation, Inc.*      33,626  
  3,692      Skyline Champion Corp.*      291,594  
  4,300      Sonos, Inc.*      128,140  
  7,727      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*      270,136  
  2,280      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      107,228  
  219      TopBuild Corp.*      60,424  
  6,699      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      186,835  
  3,274      Tupperware Brands Corp.*      50,060  
  798      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      32,519  
     

 

 

 
        3,594,891  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.4%):       
  636      Central Garden & Pet Co.*      33,473  
  2,441      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      116,802  
  3,493      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      140,069  
  1,767      Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc.      15,373  
  640      Oil-Dri Corp of America      20,947  
  1,701      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      173,026  
  714      WD-40 Co.      174,673  
     

 

 

 
        674,363  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.4%):  
  4,220      Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc    $ 150,907  
  703      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class A      23,537  
  2,596      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class C      93,534  
  2,863      Ormat Technologies, Inc.^      227,036  
  5,158      Sunnova Energy International, Inc.*      144,011  
     

 

 

 
        639,025  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.1%):       
  2,802      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      44,972  
  3,895      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      151,593  
  1,583      American National Group , Inc.      298,934  
  1,428      Amerisafe, Inc.      76,869  
  1,862      Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.      108,201  
  4,486      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      225,197  
  2,314      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      126,044  
  4,299      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      222,688  
  5,374      Citizens, Inc.*      28,536  
  3,445      Crawford & Co.      25,803  
  2,876      Crawford & Co., Class A      21,541  
  2,691      Donegal Group, Inc., Class A      38,454  
  1,337      eHealth, Inc.*      34,094  
  1,475      Employers Holdings, Inc.      61,036  
  897      Enstar Group, Ltd.*      222,088  
  2,111      FedNat Holding Co.*      2,977  
  10,826      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      43,845  
  1,050      Global Indemnity Group LLC, Class A      26,387  
  3,055      Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.*      23,951  
  1,752      Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.*      7,621  
  1,817      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      238,136  
  489      HCI Group, Inc.      40,851  
  1,369      Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.      8,050  
  2,079      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      80,457  
  756      Independence Holding Co.      42,850  
  135      Investors Title Co.      26,615  
  1,855      James River Group Holdings      53,443  
  2,661      Kemper Corp.      156,440  
  1,473      Kingstone Co., Inc.      7,365  
  714      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      169,854  
  12,677      Maiden Holdings, Ltd.*      38,792  
  2,856      Mercury General Corp.      151,539  
  198      National Western Life Group, Inc., Class A      42,459  
  929      NI Holdings, Inc.*      17,567  
  1,205      Old Republic International Corp.      29,619  
  1,464      Primerica, Inc.      224,387  
  2,637      ProAssurance Corp.      66,716  
  2,224      RLI Corp.      249,310  
  797      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      67,769  
  2,998      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      245,656  
  6,247      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      50,788  
  3,755      State Auto Financial Corp.      194,096  
  1,966      Stewart Information Services Corp.      156,749  
  204      The National Security Group, Inc.      1,877  
  2,849      Tiptree, Inc., Class A      39,402  
  232      Trupanion, Inc.*      30,631  
  2,000      United Fire Group, Inc.      46,380  
  4,002      United Insurance Holdings Co.      17,369  
  2,274      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.      38,658  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  10,427      Unum Group    $ 256,191  
  184      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      186,558  
     

 

 

 
        4,767,405  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.4%):       
  3,144      ANGI, Inc., Class A*      28,956  
  5,278      Cargurus, Inc.*      177,552  
  4,413      Cars.com, Inc.*      71,005  
  6,181      DHI Group, Inc.*      38,569  
  3,238      QuinStreet, Inc.*      58,899  
  1,095      Travelzoo, Inc.*      10,315  
  3,646      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      99,390  
  11,137      TrueCar, Inc.*      37,866  
  3,909      Yelp, Inc.*      141,662  
  1,473      Zedge, Inc., Class B*      12,521  
     

 

 

 
        676,735  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.4%):       
  1,021      1-800 Flowers.com, Inc., Class A*      23,861  
  738      Duluth Holdings, Inc.*      11,203  
  1,300      Lands’ End, Inc.*      25,519  
  3,018      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      66,637  
  1,724      PetMed Express, Inc.^      43,548  
  3,615      Quotient Technology, Inc.*      26,823  
  16,641      Qurate Retail, Inc., Class A      126,472  
  2,713      Shutterstock, Inc.      300,818  
     

 

 

 
        624,881  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.9%):       
  2,157      Alliance Data Systems Corp.      143,591  
  622      BM Technologies, Inc.*^      5,729  
  1,700      Brightcove, Inc.*      17,374  
  1,100      Cantaloupe, Inc.*      9,768  
  962      Cass Information Systems, Inc.      37,826  
  289      Concentrix Corp.      51,621  
  9,103      Conduent, Inc.*      48,610  
  1,673      CSG Systems International, Inc.      96,398  
  758      CSP, Inc.*      6,663  
  1,282      DXC Technology Co.*      41,268  
  1,133      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      135,020  
  4,223      Evertec, Inc.      211,066  
  1,270      Evo Payments, Inc.*      32,512  
  2,415      Exlservice Holdings, Inc.*      349,620  
  1,053      Greensky, Inc.*      11,962  
  2,654      Hackett Group, Inc. (The)      54,487  
  439      I3 Verticals, Inc.*      10,005  
  1,300      Information Services Group, Inc.      9,906  
  1,362      International Money Express, Inc.*      21,737  
  10,373      Limelight Networks, Inc.*      35,579  
  3,634      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      174,250  
  2,575      MAXIMUS, Inc.      205,150  
  862      Paysign, Inc.*      1,379  
  2,404      Perficient, Inc.*      310,813  
  3,168      PFSweb, Inc.*      40,804  
  8,429      Servicesource International, Inc.*      8,346  
  1,555      StarTek, Inc.*      8,117  
  4,816      Switch, Inc., Class A      137,930  
  6,004      Teradata Corp.*      254,990  
  2,606      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      235,973  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  4,235      Unisys Corp.*    $ 87,114  
  3,544      Verra Mobility Corp.*      54,684  
  892      WEX, Inc.*      125,228  
     

 

 

 
        2,975,520  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.5%):       
  4,014      Acushnet Holdings Corp.      213,063  
  2,004      American Outdoor Brands, Inc.*      39,940  
  345      Brunswick Corp.      34,752  
  1,661      Clarus Corp.      46,043  
  1,402      Escalade, Inc.      22,138  
  723      Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Class A      67,738  
  1,065      Malibu Boats, Inc.*      73,197  
  2,419      Marine Products Corp.      30,238  
  850      Mastercraft Boat Holdings, Inc.*      24,080  
  2,805      Mattel, Inc.*      60,476  
  2,293      Nautilus Group, Inc.*      14,056  
  204      Polaris, Inc.      22,422  
  2,353      Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.      41,883  
  2,209      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      101,769  
  421      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      34,871  
     

 

 

 
        826,666  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.6%):       
  2,937      Codexis, Inc.*      91,840  
  7,407      Enzo Biochem, Inc.*      23,776  
  6,099      Fluidigm Corp.*^      23,908  
  5,439      Harvard Bioscience, Inc.*      38,345  
  447      Inotiv, Inc.*      18,805  
  1,848      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      402,199  
  2,010      NanoString Technologies, Inc.*      84,882  
  5,166      Neogenomics, Inc.*      176,264  
  647      Personalis, Inc.*      9,233  
  1,700      Quanterix Corp.*      72,080  
     

 

 

 
        941,332  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.7%):       
  617      Alamo Group, Inc.      90,810  
  1,494      Albany International Corp., Class A      132,144  
  5,903      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      214,574  
  1,910      Altra Industrial Motion Corp.      98,499  
  806      Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co.*      2,853  
  1,143      Astec Industries, Inc.      79,176  
  2,576      Barnes Group, Inc.      120,016  
  2,530      Blue Bird Corp.*      39,569  
  2,461      Chart Industries, Inc.*      392,505  
  1,959      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      53,246  
  2,632      Colfax Corp.*      120,993  
  1,556      Columbus McKinnon Corp.      71,981  
  3,325      Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.*      26,799  
  2,638      Crane Co.      268,364  
  1,713      Desktop Metal, Inc.*      8,479  
  1,772      Douglas Dynamics, Inc.      69,214  
  500      Eastern Co. (The)      12,580  
  3,670      Energy Recovery, Inc.*      78,868  
  2,752      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.      55,811  
  1,044      EnPro Industries, Inc.      114,913  
  1,258      ESCO Technologies, Inc.      113,207  
  5,060      Evoqua Water Technologies Co.*      236,555  
  3,137      Federal Signal Corp.      135,958  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  5,909      Flowserve Corp.    $ 180,815  
  2,736      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      258,716  
  5,795      Gates Industrial Corp. plc*      92,198  
  1,765      Gencor Industries, Inc.*      20,350  
  2,094      Gorman-Rupp Co. (The)      93,288  
  459      Graham Corp.      5,710  
  4,634      Harsco Corp.*      77,434  
  2,380      Helios Technologies, Inc.      250,305  
  2,413      Hillenbrand, Inc.      125,452  
  785      Hurco Cos, Inc.      23,314  
  1,014      Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Class A      41,675  
  219      ITT, Inc.      22,380  
  1,880      John Bean Technologies Corp.      288,693  
  472      Kadant, Inc.      108,787  
  3,498      Kennametal, Inc.      125,613  
  1,529      L.B. Foster Co., Class A*      21,024  
  238      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      33,194  
  578      Lindsay Corp.      87,856  
  1,597      Luxfer Holdings plc      30,838  
  3,228      Manitex International, Inc.*      20,530  
  2,653      Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)*      49,319  
  589      Mayville Engineering Co., Inc.*      8,782  
  2,606      Meritor, Inc.*      64,577  
  728      Miller Industries, Inc.      24,315  
  3,522      Mueller Industries, Inc.      209,066  
  8,533      Mueller Water Products, Inc., Class A      122,875  
  3,562      NN, Inc.*      14,604  
  738      Omega Flex, Inc.      93,689  
  383      Oshkosh Corp.      43,168  
  1,229      Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.      26,018  
  1,599      Proto Labs, Inc.*      82,109  
  758      RBC Bearings, Inc.*      153,093  
  3,472      REV Group, Inc.      49,129  
  2,311      Shyft Group, Inc. (The)      113,539  
  1,692      SPX Corp.*      100,979  
  1,560      SPX FLOW, Inc.      134,909  
  731      Standex International Corp.      80,892  
  466      Taylor Devices, Inc.*      5,075  
  1,044      Tennant Co.      84,606  
  3,752      Terex Corp.      164,900  
  1,867      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      85,677  
  962      Timken Co.      66,657  
  5,430      Titan International, Inc.*      59,513  
  2,053      TriMas Corp.      75,961  
  4,025      Trinity Industries, Inc.      121,555  
  1,747      Twin Disc, Inc.*      19,147  
  3,327      Wabash National Corp.      64,943  
  2,027      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      393,583  
  13,695      Welbilt, Inc.*      325,530  
  282      Woodward, Inc.      30,868  
     

 

 

 
        7,314,364  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.3%):       
  6,821      Costamare, Inc.      86,286  
  315      Eneti, Inc.      2,438  
  3,087      Genco Shipping & Trading, Ltd.      49,392  
  2,099      Kirby Corp.*      124,722  
  2,096      Matson, Inc.      188,703  
     

 

 

 
        451,541  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media (0.9%):       
  1,560      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*    $ 53,726  
  478      Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., Class A*      904  
  2,323      Boston Omaha Corp.*      66,740  
  7,836      comScore, Inc.*      26,172  
  144      Daily Journal Corp.*      51,369  
  976      DallasNews Corp.      7,018  
  4,222      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      81,696  
  6,123      Entercom Communications Corp.*      15,736  
  6,190      Entravision Communications Corp., Class A      41,968  
  5,880      Gannett Co, Inc.*      31,341  
  3,567      Gray Television, Inc.      71,911  
  2,892      Hemisphere Media Group*      21,025  
  1,608      iHeartMedia, Inc., Class A*      33,832  
  2,165      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      123,990  
  2,864      Liberty Latin America, Ltd.*      33,394  
  9,557      Liberty Latin America, Ltd., Class C*      108,950  
  862      Loyalty Ventures, Inc.*      25,920  
  348      Marchex, Inc., Class B*      863  
  294      Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A      44,388  
  1,732      Scholastic Corp.      69,211  
  2,093      TechTarget, Inc.*      200,216  
  10,206      Tegna, Inc.      189,423  
  1,095      Thryv Holdings, Inc.*      45,037  
     

 

 

 
        1,344,830  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.6%):       
  9,254      Alcoa Corp.      551,353  
  6,908      Allegheny Technologies, Inc.*      110,044  
  751      Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.*      45,849  
  2,124      Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.*      10,620  
  1,062      Arconic Corp.*      35,057  
  3,338      Carpenter Technology Corp.      97,436  
  3,900      Century Aluminum Co.*      64,584  
  8,414      Coeur Mining, Inc.*      42,407  
  6,250      Commercial Metals Co.      226,812  
  1,994      Compass Minerals International, Inc.      101,853  
  13,641      Ferroglobe plc*      84,711  
  13,641      Ferroglobe Unit*(a)       
  515      Fortitude Gold Corp.      3,409  
  1,805      Gold Resource Corp.      2,816  
  1,257      Haynes International, Inc.      50,695  
  25,965      Hecla Mining Co.      135,537  
  754      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      70,831  
  1,117      Materion Corp.      102,697  
  9,373      McEwen Mining, Inc.*      8,309  
  798      Royal Gold, Inc.      83,958  
  2,868      Ryerson Holding Corp.      74,711  
  1,487      Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A      77,205  
  3,318      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      21,866  
  1,939      Synalloy Corp.*      31,856  
  3,542      TimkenSteel Corp.*      58,443  
  6,784      United States Steel Corp.      161,527  
  1,458      Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.*      11,504  
  2,207      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.      56,742  
  2,997      Worthington Industries, Inc.      163,816  
     

 

 

 
        2,486,648  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multiline Retail (0.3%):       
  1,321      Big Lots, Inc.    $ 59,511  
  654      Dillard’s, Inc., Class A^      160,243  
  1,916      Kohl’s Corp.      94,631  
  4,638      Macy’s, Inc.      121,423  
  1,573      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      80,522  
  1,290      Tuesday Morning Corp.*      2,941  
     

 

 

 
        519,271  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.4%):       
  3,314      Avista Corp.      140,812  
  2,243      Black Hills Corp.      158,288  
  3,280      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      101,155  
  2,992      NorthWestern Corp.      171,023  
  1,043      Unitil Corp.      47,968  
  2,565      Via Renewables, Inc.      29,318  
     

 

 

 
        648,564  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.3%):       
  2,222      Alto Ingredients, Inc.*      10,688  
  17,054      Antero Midstream Corp.      165,083  
  11,771      Antero Resources Corp.*      205,992  
  1,071      Arch Resources, Inc.      97,804  
  1,954      Ardmore Shipping Corp.*      6,605  
  4,767      Berry Corp.      40,138  
  2,455      Brigham Minerals, Inc.      51,776  
  2,716      California Resources Corp.      116,000  
  2,330      Callon Petroleum Co.*      110,092  
  7,813      Centennial Resource Development, Inc., Class A*      46,722  
  1,598      Chesapeake Energy Corp.      103,103  
  1,822      Civitas Resources, Inc.      89,223  
  14,346      Clean Energy Fuel Corp.*      87,941  
  12,514      CNX Resources Corp.*      172,068  
  8,019      Comstock Resources, Inc.*      64,874  
  2,015      CONSOL Energy, Inc.*      45,761  
  4,374      CVR Energy, Inc.      73,527  
  5,022      Delek US Holdings, Inc.*      75,280  
  1,575      Denbury, Inc.*      120,629  
  8,834      DHT Holdings, Inc.      45,848  
  2,156      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      27,360  
  1,337      DT Midstream, Inc.      64,149  
  1,598      Earthstone Energy, Inc.*      17,482  
  17,427      Enlink Midstream LLC      120,072  
  5,958      EQT Corp.*      129,944  
  15,991      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      165,347  
  2,943      Evolution Petroleum Corp.      14,862  
  2,611      Green Plains, Inc.*      90,758  
  6,066      HollyFrontier Corp.      198,843  
  1,720      International Seaways, Inc.      25,250  
  27,996      Kosmos Energy, Ltd.*      96,866  
  725      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      43,594  
  4,991      Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A      94,180  
  8,515      Matador Resources Co.      314,374  
  6,809      Murphy Oil Corp.      177,783  
  9,513      Nordic American Tankers, Ltd.      16,077  
  128      Oasis Petroleum, Inc.      16,127  
  5,300      Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.*      9,964  
  2,838      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*      46,799  
  6,480      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A*      84,046  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  5,985      PDC Energy, Inc.    $ 291,948  
  5,636      Peabody Energy Corp.*      56,755  
  2,410      PHX Minerals, Inc.      5,230  
  6      PrimeEnergy Resources Corp.*      414  
  17,188      Range Resources Corp.*      306,462  
  523      Ranger Oil Corp.*      14,079  
  2,666      Renewable Energy Group, Inc.*      113,145  
  300      REX American Resources Corp.*      28,800  
  1,533      SandRidge Energy, Inc.*      16,035  
  3,705      Scorpio Tankers, Inc.      47,461  
  8,803      SFL Corp., Ltd.      71,744  
  400      SilverBow Resources, Inc.*      8,708  
  7,278      SM Energy Co.      214,555  
  29,966      Southwestern Energy Co.*      139,642  
  2,952      Talos Energy, Inc.*      28,930  
  1,980      Teekay Shipping Corp.*      6,217  
  2,363      Teekay Tankers, Ltd., Class A*      25,757  
  7,528      Tellurian, Inc.*      23,186  
  1,418      Whiting Petroleum Corp.*      91,716  
  3,425      World Fuel Services Corp.      90,660  
     

 

 

 
        5,064,475  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.6%):       
  1,565      Clearwater Paper Corp.*      57,388  
  3,299      Glatfelter Corp.      56,743  
  5,062      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      396,608  
  5,170      Mercer International, Inc.      61,988  
  1,100      Neenah, Inc.      50,908  
  6,201      Resolute Forest Products      94,689  
  2,103      Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.      62,880  
  3,241      Verso Corp.      87,572  
     

 

 

 
        868,776  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.6%):       
  4,160      Coty, Inc., Class A*      43,680  
  2,807      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      128,308  
  2,868      elf Beauty, Inc.*      95,246  
  1,964      Inter Parfums, Inc.      209,952  
  900      Lifevantage Corp.*      5,688  
  617      Medifast, Inc.      129,218  
  1,387      Natural Alternatives International, Inc.*      17,532  
  369      Natural Health Trends Corp.      2,498  
  2,257      Natures Sunshine Products, Inc.      41,754  
  1,929      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      97,897  
  340      United-Guardian, Inc.      5,576  
  1,070      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      108,284  
     

 

 

 
        885,633  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.2%):       
  900      Adicet Bio, Inc.*      15,741  
  9,876      Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      47,306  
  3,334      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      77,649  
  877      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      40,412  
  1,496      Aratana Therapeutics- CVR*(a)       
  358      Arvinas, Inc.*      29,406  
  1,561      Assembly Biosciences, Inc.*      3,637  
  4,700      BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.*      14,570  
  2,268      Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      42,366  
  6,217      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*^      123,097  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  3,415      Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*    $ 15,948  
  5,512      Cymabay Therapeutics, Inc.*      18,631  
  14,088      Endo International plc*      52,971  
  1,163      EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      14,235  
  1,224      Harrow Health, Inc.*^      10,575  
  4,514      Innoviva, Inc.*      77,867  
  4,438      Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*      232,285  
  1,144      Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,384  
  4,227      Lannett Co., Inc.*      6,848  
  10,744      Nektar Therapeutics*      145,151  
  882      NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.*      15,620  
  2,308      Otonomy, Inc.*      4,801  
  2,257      Pacira BioSciences, Inc.*      135,804  
  2,916      Perrigo Co. plc      113,432  
  800      Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      15,736  
  1,714      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      35,000  
  3,434      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      208,272  
  420      Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.*      9,463  
  911      scPharmaceuticals, Inc.*      4,573  
  6,222      SIGA Technologies, Inc.*      46,789  
  2,677      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      78,061  
  1,805      Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.*      90,449  
  3,530      Zogenix, Inc.*      57,363  
     

 

 

 
        1,785,442  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (2.4%):       
  1,888      Acacia Research Corp.*      9,685  
  3,722      ASGN, Inc.*      459,295  
  572      Barrett Business Services, Inc.      39,502  
  403      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      108,492  
  2,703      CBIZ, Inc.*      105,741  
  490      CRA International, Inc.      45,746  
  3,450      Exponent, Inc.      402,719  
  1,473      Forrester Research, Inc.*      86,509  
  1,282      Franklin Covey Co.*      59,434  
  1,796      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      275,542  
  1,280      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      55,974  
  1,154      Huron Consulting Group, Inc.*      57,585  
  1,116      ICF International, Inc.      114,446  
  1,783      Insperity, Inc.      210,590  
  6,887      KBR, Inc.      327,959  
  2,940      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      49,304  
  1,439      Kforce, Inc.      108,242  
  3,287      Korn Ferry      248,925  
  958      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      93,242  
  1,365      ManTech International Corp., Class A      99,549  
  1,332      Mastech Digital, Inc.*      22,737  
  3,943      Mistras Group, Inc.*      29,296  
  484      Nielsen Holdings plc      9,927  
  2,833      Resources Connection, Inc.      50,541  
  1,557      Science Applications International Corp.      130,150  
  4,127      TriNet Group, Inc.*      393,138  
  2,309      Trueblue, Inc.*      63,890  
  505      Willdan Group, Inc.*      17,776  
     

 

 

 
        3,675,936  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Devel (0.0%):       
  4,771      Douglas Elliman, Inc.*      54,867  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development (0.9%):       
  1,580      AMREP Corp.*    $ 24,016  
  395      CKX Lands, Inc.*      4,542  
  6,494      Cushman & Wakefield plc*      144,427  
  913      eXp World Holdings, Inc.      30,759  
  1,627      Five Point Holdings LLC, Class A*      10,641  
  1,972      Forestar Group, Inc.*      42,891  
  504      FRP Holdings, Inc.*      29,131  
  2,119      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      215,672  
  382      Indus Realty Trust, Inc.      30,965  
  10      J.W. Mays, Inc.*      406  
  7,966      Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.      190,228  
  2,463      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.*      126,746  
  1,035      Maui Land & Pineapple Co.*      10,309  
  8,443      Newmark Group, Inc.      157,884  
  1,207      Rafael Holdings, Inc., Class B*      6,156  
  688      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      20,977  
  3,740      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      62,869  
  308      Stratus Properties, Inc.*      11,263  
  2,279      Tejon Ranch Co.*      43,483  
  1,076      The RMR Group, Inc., Class A      37,316  
  2,980      The St Joe Co.      155,109  
     

 

 

 
        1,355,790  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.8%):       
  1,546      ArcBest Corp.      185,288  
  1,322      Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.*      34,940  
  4,045      Heartland Express, Inc.      68,037  
  279      Landstar System, Inc.      49,947  
  2,692      Marten Transport, Ltd.      46,195  
  440      P.A.M. Transportation SVCS*      31,244  
  1,507      Ryder System, Inc.      124,222  
  1,478      Saia, Inc.*      498,130  
  2,170      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      58,395  
  1,170      Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.      22,066  
  1,009      US Xpress Enterprises, Inc., Class A*      5,923  
  988      USA Truck, Inc.*      19,641  
  2,850      Werner Enterprises, Inc.      135,831  
  2,752      Yellow Corp.*      34,648  
     

 

 

 
        1,314,507  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (4.2%):       
  1,889      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.      172,012  
  2,013      Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.*      121,907  
  1,892      Ambarella, Inc.*      383,868  
  12,720      Amkor Technology, Inc.      315,329  
  1,301      Amtech Systems, Inc.*      12,854  
  2,581      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      192,439  
  2,777      AXT, Inc.*      24,465  
  3,138      Azenta, Inc.      323,559  
  1,210      CEVA, Inc.*      52,320  
  3,357      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      308,911  
  1,496      CMC Materials, Inc.      286,768  
  2,356      Cohu, Inc.*      89,740  
  522      Cyberoptics Corp.*      24,273  
  3,081      Diodes, Inc.*      338,325  
  4,503      FormFactor, Inc.*      205,877  
  4,679      GSI Technology, Inc.*      21,664  
  1,254      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*      57,722  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  1,349      inTest Corp.*    $ 17,159  
  2,631      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      159,281  
  6,048      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      466,059  
  1,636      MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp.*      34,307  
  4,167      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      314,150  
  4,238      Neophotonics Corp.*      65,138  
  557      NVE Corp.      38,043  
  2,709      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      274,232  
  2,739      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      87,073  
  5,140      Photronics, Inc.*      96,889  
  2,109      Pixelworks, Inc.*      9,280  
  3,729      Power Integrations, Inc.      346,387  
  6,953      Rambus, Inc.*      204,349  
  3,315      Semtech Corp.*      294,803  
  1,031      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      212,819  
  1,126      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      79,935  
  2,469      Synaptics, Inc.*      714,800  
  2,584      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      148,218  
  2,559      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      72,855  
     

 

 

 
        6,567,810  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.6%):       
  3,492      A10 Networks, Inc.      57,897  
  5,809      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      201,572  
  994      Agilysys, Inc.*      44,193  
  2,376      Alarm.com Holding, Inc.*      201,509  
  1,546      Altair Engineering, Inc.*      119,537  
  2,494      American Software, Inc., Class A      65,268  
  746      Appfolio, Inc.*      90,311  
  935      Asure Software, Inc.*      7,321  
  2,721      Avaya Holdings Corp.*      53,876  
  2,785      Aware, Inc.*      8,773  
  2,509      Blackbaud, Inc.*      198,161  
  2,226      Bottomline Technologies, Inc.*      125,702  
  2,350      BSQUARE Corp.*      4,019  
  1,046      Cerence, Inc.*      80,166  
  1,700      ChannelAdvisor Corp.*      41,956  
  3,799      Cognyte Software, Ltd.*      59,530  
  2,139      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      147,420  
  782      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      45,254  
  1,708      Duck Creek Technologies, Inc.*      51,428  
  2,276      Ebix, Inc.      69,190  
  1,929      Envestnet, Inc.*      153,047  
  2,347      J2 Global, Inc.*      260,188  
  402      Jamf Holding Corp.*      15,280  
  4,947      Mandiant, Inc.*      86,770  
  3,326      Mimecast, Ltd.*      264,650  
  2,038      Mitek Systems, Inc.*      36,175  
  1,064      New Relic, Inc.*      116,997  
  2,582      OneSpan, Inc.*      43,713  
  1,415      Ping Identity Holding Corp.*      32,375  
  2,333      Progress Software Corp.      112,614  
  2,317      Qualys, Inc.*      317,939  
  5,408      Sailpoint Technologies Holdings, Inc.*      261,423  
  1,169      Sapiens International Corp. NV      40,272  
  539      Shotspotter, Inc.*      15,911  
  1,900      Smith Micro Software, Inc.*      9,348  
  684      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      97,367  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  3,280      Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.*    $ 8,003  
  870      Upland Software, Inc.*      15,608  
  3,329      Verint Systems, Inc.*      174,806  
  5,538      Vonage Holdings Corp.*      115,135  
  7,970      Xperi Holding Corp.      150,713  
     

 

 

 
        4,001,417  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (3.2%):       
  2,730      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      67,294  
  3,147      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      109,610  
  10,208      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      258,466  
  422      America’s Car Mart, Inc.*      43,213  
  1,088      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      187,930  
  1,671      AutoNation, Inc.*      195,256  
  5,705      Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.*      38,851  
  6,210      Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*      90,542  
  1,634      Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.^      31,062  
  1,202      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      147,906  
  1,732      Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.      33,809  
  2,857      Caleres, Inc.      64,797  
  2,599      Cato Corp., Class A      44,599  
  12,553      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      67,535  
  757      Citi Trends, Inc.*      71,726  
  2,251      Conn’s, Inc.*      52,943  
  4,771      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A*      67,796  
  5,378      Foot Locker, Inc.      234,642  
  1,152      Genesco, Inc.*      73,924  
  753      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      147,001  
  3,762      Guess?, Inc.      89,084  
  1,284      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      39,252  
  849      Hibbett, Inc.      61,069  
  1,529      Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.*      26,100  
  1,251      MarineMax, Inc.*      73,859  
  1,923      Monro, Inc.      112,053  
  1,222      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      243,471  
  4,523      National Vision Holdings, Inc.*      217,059  
  2,762      ODP Corp. (The)*      108,491  
  443      OneWater Marine, Inc.      27,010  
  3,398      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      364,334  
  3,598      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      172,848  
  6,055      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      111,775  
  1,818      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      71,047  
  3,862      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      336,110  
  1,362      Sleep Number Corp.*      104,329  
  1,462      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A      72,296  
  2,363      Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc.*      27,883  
  3,031      The Buckle, Inc.      128,242  
  823      The Children’s Place, Inc.*      65,256  
  4,201      The Container Store Group, Inc.*      41,926  
  1,307      Tile Shop Holdings, Inc.      9,319  
  2,271      Tilly’s, Inc.      36,586  
  624      TravelCenters of America, Inc.*      32,211  
  5,052      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*      148,327  
  303      Winmark Corp.      75,232  
  1,549      Zumiez, Inc.*      74,336  
     

 

 

 
        4,898,407  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.6%):       
  6,969      3D Systems Corp.*    $ 150,112  
  1,308      AstroNova, Inc.*      17,658  
  3,465      Avid Technology, Inc.*      112,855  
  6,556      NCR Corp.*      263,551  
  3,811      Stratasys, Ltd.*      93,332  
  2,418      Super Micro Computer, Inc.*      106,271  
  1,590      TransAct Technologies, Inc.*      17,331  
  600      Turtle Beach Corp.*      13,356  
  3,587      Xerox Holdings Corp.      81,210  
     

 

 

 
        855,676  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.3%):       
  2,061      Carter’s, Inc.      208,614  
  2,038      Columbia Sportswear Co.      198,583  
  4,198      Crocs, Inc.*      538,268  
  2,291      Culp, Inc.      21,787  
  2,091      Fossil Group, Inc.*      21,516  
  2,571      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      71,062  
  1,322      Hanesbrands, Inc.      22,104  
  3,472      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      177,940  
  816      Lakeland Industries, Inc.*      17,707  
  844      Movado Group, Inc.      35,305  
  1,247      Oxford Industries, Inc.      126,595  
  830      PVH Corp.      88,520  
  674      Rocky Brands, Inc.      26,825  
  999      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      43,357  
  4,945      Steven Madden, Ltd.      229,794  
  418      Superior Group of Cos., Inc.      9,171  
  957      Unifi, Inc.*      22,155  
  1,916      Vera Bradley, Inc.*      16,305  
  4,779      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      137,683  
     

 

 

 
        2,013,291  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (2.2%):       
  3,407      Axos Financial, Inc.*      190,485  
  2,838      BankFinancial Corp.      30,281  
  2,024      Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.*      35,805  
  7,770      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      88,034  
  280      Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.      3,856  
  5,449      Columbia Financial, Inc.*      113,666  
  1,537      ESSA Bancorp, Inc.      26,636  
  4,677      Essent Group, Ltd.      212,944  
  696      Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp.      86,255  
  242      First Capital, Inc.      9,668  
  1,936      Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.      92,812  
  986      FS Bancorp, Inc.      33,159  
  195      Guaranty Federal Bankshares, Inc.      6,228  
  206      Hingham Institution for Savings      86,495  
  629      HMN Financial, Inc.*      15,335  
  973      Home Bancorp, Inc.      40,389  
  86      Home Federal Bancorp, Inc.      1,704  
  1,829      HomeStreet, Inc.      95,108  
  869      IF Bancorp, Inc.      21,577  
  3,933      Kearny Financial Corp.      52,112  
  390      Kentucky First Federal Bancorp      2,933  
  289      LendingTree, Inc.*      35,431  
  1,892      Luther Burbank Corp.      26,564  
  940      Malvern Bancorp, Inc.*      14,730  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  1,234      Merchants BanCorp    $ 58,405  
  1,842      Meta Financial Group, Inc.      109,894  
  2,242      MGIC Investment Corp.      32,330  
  3,941      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      163,985  
  18,699      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      228,315  
  4,642      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      101,428  
  3,578      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      57,821  
  6,541      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      92,621  
  3,132      Oceanfirst Financial Corp.      69,530  
  198      Oconee Federal Financial Corp.      4,316  
  1,129      Ocwen Financial Corp.*      45,126  
  2,010      PCSB Financial Corp.      38,270  
  1,668      Premier Financial Corp.      51,558  
  1,677      Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.      27,754  
  3,721      Provident Financial Services, Inc.      90,123  
  1,685      Prudential Bancorp, Inc.      22,882  
  4,780      Radian Group, Inc.      101,001  
  1,982      Riverview Bancorp, Inc.      15,242  
  3,418      Security National Financial Corp., Class A*      31,446  
  707      Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.      36,884  
  1,053      Sterling Bancorp, Inc.*      6,055  
  1,409      Territorial Bancorp, Inc.      35,577  
  3,100      TFS Financial Corp.      55,397  
  1,462      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      48,699  
  3,395      Washington Federal, Inc.      113,325  
  1,247      Waterstone Financial, Inc.      27,259  
  1,850      Wawlker & Dunlop, Inc.      279,128  
  3,601      Western New England BanCorp, Inc.      31,545  
  2,314      WSFS Financial Corp.      115,978  
  35      WVS Financial Corp.      539  
     

 

 

 
        3,414,640  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.1%):       
  763      Turning Point Brands, Inc.      28,826  
  975      Universal Corp.      53,547  
  9,542      Vector Group, Ltd.      109,542  
     

 

 

 
        191,915  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (2.0%):       
  6,404      Air Lease Corp.      283,249  
  1,077      Alta Equipment Group, Inc.*      15,767  
  1,927      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.      197,903  
  3,172      Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.*      181,914  
  569      BlueLinx Holdings, Inc.*      54,487  
  1,324      Boise Cascade Co.      94,269  
  2,002      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      51,391  
  1,463      EVI Industries, Inc.*      45,690  
  1,550      GATX Corp.      161,495  
  2,503      Global Industrial Co.      102,373  
  573      GMS, Inc.*      34,443  
  1,299      H&E Equipment Services, Inc.      57,507  
  1,516      Herc Holdings, Inc.      237,330  
  1,475      Kaman Corp., Class A      63,646  
  989      Lawson Products, Inc.*      54,148  
  4,569      MRC Global, Inc.*      31,435  
  2,121      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      178,291  
  7,964      NOW, Inc.*      68,013  
  200      Rush Enterprises, Inc.      10,794  
  1,839      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class A      102,322  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
  89      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*    $ 21,563  
  2,140      Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.      76,419  
  1,548      Titan Machinery, Inc.*      52,152  
  577      Transcat, Inc.*      53,332  
  3,118      Triton International, Ltd.      187,797  
  5,651      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      160,206  
  1,034      Veritiv Corp.*      126,737  
  3,051      WESCO International, Inc.*      401,481  
     

 

 

 
        3,106,154  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.0%):       
  4,399      Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings LLC      16,056  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.6%):       
  2,746      American States Water Co.      284,046  
  824      Artesian Resources Corp.      38,176  
  3,117      California Water Service Group      223,988  
  1,256      Consolidated Water Co., Ltd.      13,364  
  1,143      Middlesex Water Co.      137,503  
  2,502      Pure Cycle Corp.*      36,529  
  1,615      SJW Group      118,218  
  1,259      York Water Co. (The)      62,673  
     

 

 

 
        914,497  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  2,895      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      73,822  
  2,722      Spok Holdings, Inc.      25,396  
  6,578      Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.      132,547  
  2,003      United States Cellular Corp.*      63,135  
     

 

 

 
        294,900  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $105,615,859)

     154,416,145  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.1%):       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.0%):       
  161      Qurate Retail, Inc., 3/15/31      16,618  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  430      Liberty Broadband Corp., Series A      12,535  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  2,540      WESCO International, Inc., Series A      77,851  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $81,328)

     107,004  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Rights (0.0%):       
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  8,857      Achillion Pharm CVR, Expires on 1/29/49*    $ 12,843  
  2,004      Chinook Therapeutics-CVR, Expires on 12/31/49*      3,627  
  1,429      Pfenex, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/3/22*^      1,072  
  4,400      Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Expires on 12/31/22*      1,672  
     

 

 

 
        19,214  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.0%):       
  4,044      Zagg, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/2/49*      364  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  21,894      Media General, Inc. CVR, Expires on 12/31/49      2,708  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  8,452      Xeris BioPharma Hold CVR, Expires on 10/6/49*      1,183  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $8,221)

     23,469  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.6%):
      
  878,871      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 0.03%(b)(c)      878,871  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $878,871)

     878,871  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.3%):       
Money Markets (0.3%):       
  492,136      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)      492,136  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $492,136)

     492,136  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $107,076,415) — 100.6%(d)

     155,917,625  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.6)%

     (933,407
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 154,984,218  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

CVR—Contingent Valued Rights

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $849,287.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 107,076,415
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 155,917,625

Cash

      661

Interest and dividends receivable

      78,095

Receivable for investments sold

      231,205

Prepaid expenses

      775
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      156,228,361
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      119,173

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      91,163

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      878,871

Manager fees payable

      90,720

Administration fees payable

      24,181

Distribution fees payable

      32,400

Custodian fees payable

      1,429

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      218

Transfer agent fees payable

      806

Trustee fees payable

      1,225

Other accrued liabilities

      3,957
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,244,143
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 154,984,218
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 74,592,300

Total distributable earnings

      80,391,918
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 154,984,218
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      10,481,607

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 14.79
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $849,287.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 2,334,784

Interest

      31

Income from securities lending

      17,899

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,616 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      2,351,098
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,404,840

Administration fees

      79,115

Distribution fees

      413,187

Custodian fees

      11,331

Administrative and compliance services fees

      1,932

Transfer agent fees

      4,663

Trustee fees

      7,970

Professional fees

      7,042

Shareholder reports

      3,071

Other expenses

      4,286
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      1,937,437

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (247,913 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      1,689,524
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      661,574
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      30,812,302

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      12,016,166
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      42,828,468
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 43,490,042
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 661,574     $ 827,180

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      30,812,302       11,486,293

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      12,016,166       12,542,256
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      43,490,042       24,855,729
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (12,429,190 )       (5,590,083 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (12,429,190 )       (5,590,083 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      663,840       24,620,324

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      12,429,190       5,590,083

Value of shares redeemed

      (56,959,304 )       (52,022,348 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (43,866,274 )       (21,811,941 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (12,805,422 )       (2,546,295 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      167,789,640       170,335,935
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 154,984,218     $ 167,789,640
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      44,285       3,060,070

Dividends reinvested

      881,503       536,476

Shares redeemed

      (3,908,653 )       (5,166,278 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (2,982,865 )       (1,569,732 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 12.46     $ 11.33     $ 10.19     $ 12.40     $ 11.42

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.06 (a)       0.05 (a)       0.05 (a)       0.07       0.07

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      3.50       1.46       2.00       (1.53 )       1.16
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.56       1.51       2.05       (1.46 )       1.23
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.09 )       (0.05 )       (0.06 )       (0.07 )       (0.07 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.14 )       (0.33 )       (0.85 )       (0.68 )       (0.18 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.23 )       (0.38 )       (0.91 )       (0.75 )       (0.25 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 14.79     $ 12.46     $ 11.33     $ 10.19     $ 12.40
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      29.02 %       13.97 %       21.10 %       (12.64 )%       10.87 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 154,984     $ 167,790     $ 170,336     $ 149,873     $ 198,419

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.40 %       0.54 %       0.46 %       0.48 %       0.55 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.17 %       1.19 %       1.17 %       1.16 %       1.16 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.02 %       1.04 %       1.02 %       1.01 %       1.01 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      12 %       22 %       10 %       9 %       9 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

24


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $1,776 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $878,871 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”), DFA provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

         0.85 %          1.35 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.70% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide

 

25


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 154,365,185        $ 50,960        $ #        $ 154,416,145

Preferred Stocks+

         107,004                            107,004

Rights+

                  23,469                   23,469

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         878,871                            878,871

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         492,136                            492,136
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $ 155,843,196        $ 74,429        $        $ 155,917,625
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

       $ 18,905,518        $ 74,133,877

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

 

26


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Value Stocks Risk — Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Fund to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

Capitalization Risk — Investing in small- to mid-sized companies creates risk because smaller companies may have unpredictable or limited earnings, and their securities may be less liquid or experience more volatile prices than those of large companies.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $107,010,830. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 61,729,193  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (12,822,398
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 48,906,795  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

       $ 6,931,703        $ 5,497,487        $ 12,429,190

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

       $ 1,043,366        $ 4,546,717        $ 5,590,083

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

27


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

       $ 4,705,355        $ 26,779,768        $        $ 48,906,795        $ 80,391,918

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, investments in real estate investment trusts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 60% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

29


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 31.28% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $6,008,307.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $5,497,487.

 

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Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (``Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

31


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the

 

32


renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

33


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

34


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years
Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

35


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

36


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 32

Statement of Operations

Page 32

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 33

Financial Highlights

Page 34

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 35

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 43

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 44

Other Information

Page 45

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 46

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 49

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. serves as Subadviser to the Fund. BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited serve as Sub-subadvisers to the Fund, effective December 1, 2021.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned (1.94)%. That compared to a (1.54)% total return for its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.I

The year began amid expectations of strong growth in 2021. In January and February, yields rose higher as Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate, the vaccine rollout accelerated, and Congress passed a $1.9 trillion fiscal stimulus package. These events helped drive government bond yields higher, which rattled investors despite the Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) stated intentions to maintain low interest rates through the end of 2021. The Fed’s dovish tone helped anchor the long end of the yield curve even as inflation concerns rose, leading to a flattening of the yield curve.

The flattening trend continued into the summer as the risks around COVID-19 fell and the economy reopened. Amid this optimism, riskier assets performed well through the middle of the year, only faltering later in the period with the rise of the Delta and Omicron variants and concerns over slowing growth in China. The Fed’s shift to a more hawkish tone late in the year due to higher inflation put additional pressure on bond prices, which further boosted yields.

In absolute terms, U.S. Treasuries, agency mortgages and investment grade credit were the largest contributors to the Fund’s negative returns. Prices on these assets fell under pressure from rising interest rates and higher inflation.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark due to fees along with its positioning within agency mortgages. Mortgages came under pressure as the market factored in the potential for a faster-than-expected tapering of the Fed’s asset purchase stimulus efforts. This downward pressure

occurred despite ongoing purchases of these same assets by domestic banks, which otherwise helped support demand.

The Fund benefited from its duration and yield-curve positioning. The Fund generally held an underweight duration position throughout 2021, which added to relative performance as interest rates moved higher, particularly early in the year. The Fund’s curve positioning benefited as the market priced in a more hawkish tone by the Fed. The Fund also benefited from its decision to hold above-benchmark exposure to spread duration for most of the year, with a switch to below-benchmark exposure later in the year among investment grade credit as spreads tightened.

The Fund held derivatives in the form of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the portfolio’s currency exposure to non-dollar bonds. The portfolio also held Treasury futures to manage duration and yield curve exposures. These derivative positions benefited the portfolio by giving managers the ability to more precisely manage duration and yield curve risk, and to hedge currency risk from non-dollar bonds.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to exceed the total return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in investment-grade debt securities (those of medium and high quality) of all types and repurchase agreements for those securities.

Investment Concerns

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.

Emerging market investing may be subject to additional economic, political, liquidity, and currency risks not associated with more developed countries.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Although the Fund seeks to provide a total return in excess of the Index, market conditions or implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy may result in losses, and the Fund may not achieve the desired correlation with and/or may not outperform the Index.

Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

    

10

Year

AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

         (1.94 )%          4.55 %          3.19 %          2.55 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (1.54 )%          4.79 %          3.57 %          2.90 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio    Gross

AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       0.66 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.70% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is an unmanaged market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 998.40     $ 3.43       0.68 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.78     $ 3.47       0.68 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      31.8 %

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      27.6

Corporate Bonds

      24.0

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      8.5

Certificates of Deposit

      7.0

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      6.0

Yankee Debt Obligations

      5.8

Asset Backed Securities

      3.7

Foreign Bonds

      2.8

Commercial Paper

      2.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.0

Municipal Bonds

      0.2
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      121.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (21.0 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (3.7%):       
$ 11,370,000      American Express Credit Account Master Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1, 0.90%, 11/15/26    $ 11,284,385  
  2,292,581      American Homes 4 Rent LLC, Class A, Series 2014-SFR3, 3.68%, 12/17/36(a)      2,397,582  
  1,640,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-B7, 4.51%, 11/15/51, Callable 10/15/28 @ 100      1,886,853  
  885,000      Citibank Credit Card Issuance Trust, Class A7, Series 2018-A7, 3.96%, 10/15/30      1,017,175  
  190,114      College Ave Student Loans LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 1.20%(US0001M+110bps), 7/25/51, Callable 2/25/32 @ 100(a)      190,727  
  1,153,000      College Ave Student Loans LLC, Class A2, Series 2021-C, 2.32%, 7/26/55(a)      1,152,344  
  1,318,874      College Avenue Student Loans LLC, Class A2, Series 2021-B, 1.76%, 6/25/52, Callable 1/25/34 @ 100(a)      1,306,022  
  3,400,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-4, 1.26%, 10/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100(a)      3,370,968  
  3,640,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 0.96%, 2/15/30, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(a)      3,613,853  
  160,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 20-2A, 1.37%, 7/16/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(a)      160,664  
  1,880,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-3A, 1.00%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 100(a)      1,864,588  
  529,882      EDvestinU Private Education Loan Issue No 3 LLC, Class A, Series 2021-A, 1.80%, 11/25/45(a)      521,049  
  1,053,000      GoodLeap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2021-5CS, 2.31%, 10/20/48(a)      1,050,502  
  1,893,907      GoodLeap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2021-4GS, 1.93%, 7/20/48, Callable 3/20/36 @ 100(a)      1,852,107  
  2,960,000      GPMT, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL4, 1.45%(US0001M+135bps), 12/15/36, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100(a)      2,959,027  
  2,900,000      Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust, Class A3, Series 2021-C, 0.74%, 5/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      2,879,856  
  1,390,000      Lendmark Funding Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.90%, 11/20/31, Callable 5/20/26 @ 100(a)      1,375,145  
  711,963      LoanCore Issuer, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-CRE1, 1.24%(US0001M+113bps), 5/15/28, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(a)      711,612  
  1,200,000      Mariner Finance Issuance Trust, Class A, Series 2021-AA, 1.86%, 3/20/36, Callable 3/20/26 @ 100(a)      1,179,807  
  1,307,276      Navient Private Education Loan Trust, Class A1B, Series 2020-lA, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/69, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100(a)      1,319,082  
  2,984,558      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-DA, 1.26%(PRIME-(199)bps), 4/15/60, Callable 5/15/32 @ 100(a)      2,976,155  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 8,027,880      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-EA, 0.97%, 12/16/69, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100(a)    $ 7,801,504  
  618,867      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-A, 0.84%, 5/15/69, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(a)      608,687  
  2,911,969      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 20-FA, 1.22%, 7/15/69, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100(a)      2,904,797  
  1,000,000      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2020-CA, 1.71%(US0001M+160bps), 11/15/68, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100(a)      1,029,579  
  223,841      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2, Series 2018-EA, 4.00%, 12/15/59, Callable 5/15/25 @ 100(a)      230,480  
  2,095,642      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2019-D, 1.16%(US0001M+105bps), 12/15/59, Callable 9/15/30 @ 100(a)      2,106,759  
  4,932,882      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFL, Series 2021-CA, 0.84%(US0001M+74bps), 4/20/62, Callable 12/20/30 @ 100(a)      4,943,630  
  4,169,896      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class APT2, Series 2021-A, 1.36%, 4/20/62, Callable 9/20/29 @ 100(a)      4,100,229  
  7,974,715      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFL, Series 2021-BA, 0.88%(US0001M+78bps), 4/20/62, Callable 7/20/29 @ 100(a)      7,982,432  
  3,420,092      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFX, Series 2021-DA, 1.63%, 4/20/62, Callable 6/20/31 @ 100(a)      3,386,724  
  1,400,000      PFS Financing Corp., Class A, Series 2021-A, 0.71%, 4/15/26(a)      1,380,538  
  1,025,157      Prodigy Finance CM2021-1 DAC, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.35%(US0001M+125bps), 7/25/51, Callable 2/25/27 @ 100(a)      1,025,313  
  2,009,000      Regional Management Issuance Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2, 0.02%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100(a)      1,970,786  
  1,619,070      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class APT1, Series 2021-C, 1.39%, 1/15/53(a)      1,589,062  
  29,080      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2A, Series 2015-B, 2.98%, 7/15/27, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100(a)      29,148  
  2,317,615      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A1A, Series BA, 1.29%, 7/15/53(a)      2,296,159  
  386,956      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2020-A, 0.94%(US0001M+83bps), 9/15/37(a)      388,702  
  4,250,000      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2A1, Series 2021-A, 0.84%(US0001M+73bps), 1/15/53(a)      4,250,981  
  464,834      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2017-B, 0.86%(US0001M+75bps), 10/15/35(a)      462,950  
  490,000      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class B, Series 2021-A, 2.31%, 1/15/53(a)      485,613  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 810,174      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class AFX, Series 2020-C, 1.95%, 2/15/46, Callable 4/15/28 @ 100(a)    $ 721,729  
  707,430      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2019-B, 3.09%, 8/17/48, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100(a)      722,163  
  19,796      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2B, Series 2016-D, 2.34%, 4/25/33, Callable 3/25/24 @ 100(a)      19,922  
  493,935      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2, Series 2015-d, 2.72%, 10/27/36, Callable 3/25/22 @ 100(a)      494,492  
  2,121,149      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2017-F, 2.84%, 1/25/41, Callable 5/25/25 @ 100(a)      2,153,405  
  1,683,698      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2020-A, 2.54%, 5/15/46, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,713,618  
  831,883      Westlake Automobile Receivables Trust, Class A2, Series 2020-1A, 1.44%, 9/15/23, Callable 9/15/23 @ 100(a)      832,669  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $100,878,130)

     100,701,574  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (6.0%):       
  1,930,000      ACRES Commercial Realty, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL2, 1.49%(US0001M+140bps), 1/15/37, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,930,001  
  2,000,000      AIMCO CLO, Class AR, Series 2017-AA, 1.18%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      1,990,184  
  2,810,000      Alen Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ACEN, 1.26%(US0001M+115bps), 4/15/38(a)      2,806,431  
  1,000,000      Anchorage Capital CLO 7, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2015-7A, 1.23%(US0003M+109bps), 1/28/31, Callable 1/28/22 @ 100(a)      999,991  
  1,735,000      Arbor Multifamily Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A5, Series 2020-MF1, 2.76%, 5/15/53, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(a)      1,810,440  
  4,240,000      Arbor Realty Commercial Real Estate Notes, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL4, 1.44%(US0001M+135bps), 11/15/36, Callable 6/15/24 @ 100(a)      4,243,287  
  500,000      Ares XXXIIR CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2014-32RA, 1.10%(US0003M+94bps), 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/22 @ 100(a)      500,087  
  3,830,000      BANK, Class A5, Series 2021-BN38, 2.52%, 12/15/64, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      3,937,404  
  3,850,000      Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2018-TALL, 0.83%(US0001M+72bps), 3/15/37(a)      3,806,687  
  1,250,000      Battalion CLO VIII, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-8A, 1.19%(US0003M+107bps), 7/18/30, Callable 1/18/22 @ 100(a)      1,249,972  
  2,290,000      Battalion CLO X, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2016-10A, 1.29%(US0003M+117bps), 1/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(a)      2,290,728  
  4,580,000      BDS, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL10, 1.45%(US0001M+135bps), 12/18/36, Callable 12/18/23 @ 100(a)      4,569,543  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 668,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-B15, 3.84%, 12/15/72    $ 687,646  
  2,920,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2021-B31, 2.67%, 12/15/54, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      3,035,043  
  1,250,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-B15, 3.56%, 12/15/72      1,325,238  
  1,332,000      BF Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-NYT, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 11/15/35(a)      1,329,669  
  1,540,000      BSPRT Issuer, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL7, 1.42%(US0001M+132bps), 12/15/38, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,540,000  
  1,120,000      BX, Class A, Series 2021-MFM1, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 1/15/34(a)      1,111,477  
  3,350,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-ViV4, 2.84%, 3/9/44(a)      3,425,944  
  2,705,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-XL2, 0.80%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/38(a)      2,691,989  
  3,444,544      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-BXLP, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 12/15/29(a)      3,442,512  
  2,007,175      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-XL, 1.03%(US0001M+92bps), 10/15/36(a)      2,006,613  
  2,110,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-CIP, 1.02%(US0001M+92bps), 12/15/28(a)      2,109,345  
  551,000      BX Trust, Class D, Series 2019-OC11, 4.08%, 12/9/41(a)      565,568  
  4,800,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ARIA, 1.01%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(a)      4,791,013  
  615,000      Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, Class A4, Series 2019-CF2, 2.62%, 11/15/52, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      632,306  
  603,000      Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, Class B, Series 2019-CF3, 3.50%, 1/15/53, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100(b)      641,146  
  3,225,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 1.18%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      3,203,599  
  760,000      CGRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2013-VN05, 3.37%, 3/13/35(a)      770,914  
  344,554      Chase Home Lending Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-ATR2, 1.00%(US0001M+90bps), 7/25/49, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(a)      345,611  
  3,320,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class A, Series 2021-RETL, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 8/15/36      3,311,833  
  1,047,105      CIM Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV3, 1.04%(US0001M+100bps), 8/25/49, Callable 3/25/24 @ 100(a)      1,048,274  
  3,360,000      Cityline Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2016-CLNE, 2.78%, 11/10/31(a)(b)      3,419,875  
  3,075,000      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-CCRE26, 3.63%, 10/10/48, Callable 8/10/25 @ 100      3,279,856  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 667,000      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A5, Series 2015-CR24, 3.70%, 8/10/48, Callable 7/10/25 @ 100    $ 711,029  
  1,279,058      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class AM, Series 2013-CR7, 3.31%, 3/10/46, Callable 4/6/23 @ 100(a)      1,306,238  
  1,015,000      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class D, Series 2013-WWP, 3.90%, 3/10/31, Callable 3/10/23 @ 100(a)      1,051,916  
  3,870,000      Cosmopolitan Hotel Trust, Class A, Series 2017-CSMO, 1.04%(US0001M+93bps), 11/15/36(a)      3,867,175  
  2,306,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(a)      2,326,039  
  210,000      CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-CX11, 4.03%, 4/15/51, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100(b)      230,341  
  1,195,000      CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-C15, 4.48%, 3/15/52      1,322,745  
  2,335,000      CSMC, Class B, Series 2021-BHAR, 1.61%(US0001M+150bps), 11/15/38(a)      2,336,083  
  2,011,600      CSMC, Class A1, Series 2021-NQM8, 1.84%, 10/25/66, Callable 11/25/24 @ 100(a)(b)      2,009,938  
  2,000,000      Dewolf Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 1.04%(US0003M+92bps), 10/15/30, Callable 4/15/22 @ 100(a)      1,999,516  
  2,095,000      Dryden 43 Senior Loan Fund, Class AR2, Series 2016-43A, 1.17%(US0003M+104bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      2,083,538  
  4,750,000      Elmwood CLO II, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-2A, 1.28%(US0003M+115bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      4,750,608  
  5,382,001      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 1.19%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(a)      5,382,001  
  715,112      Flagstar Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-1, 1.05%(US0001M+95bps), 10/25/49, Callable 6/25/23 @ 100(a)      715,730  
  1,147,438      FRESB Multifamily Mortgage Pass Through, Class A10H, Series 2019-SB60, 3.50%(US0001M+350bps), 1/25/39, Callable 12/25/28 @ 100      1,192,957  
  1,230,000      FS RIALTO, Class A, Series 2021-FL2, 1.33%(US0001M+122bps), 4/16/26, Callable 4/16/23 @ 100      1,227,566  
  4,345,000      GCAT Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-NQM7, 1.92%, 8/25/66, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(a)(b)      4,345,953  
  1,525,000      IMT Trust, Class BFX, Series 2017-APTS, 3.50%, 6/15/34(a)(b)      1,573,739  
  585,836      JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., Class A, Series 2021-MHC, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 4/15/38(a)      584,742  
  3,660,000      JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2021-NYAH, 0.87%(US0001M+76bps), 6/15/38      3,650,871  
  718,625      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV2, 1.00%(US0001M+90bps), 2/25/50, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(a)      719,416  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 271,883      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2020-LTV1, 1.09%(US0001M+100bps), 6/25/50, Callable 2/25/23 @ 100(a)    $ 271,981  
  634,538      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV3, 1.09%(US0001M+100bps), 5/25/50, Callable 7/25/24 @ 100(a)      635,116  
  508,852      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2019-LTV3, 3.50%, 2/25/50, Callable 12/25/22 @ 100(a)(b)      512,045  
  380,505      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-LTV3, 0.94%(US0001M+85bps), 2/25/50, Callable 12/25/22 @ 100(a)      380,783  
  234,277      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-7, 1.00%(US0001M+90bps), 2/25/50, Callable 12/25/22 @ 100(a)      234,502  
  700,000      JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A5, Series 2017-C5, 3.69%, 3/15/50, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100      756,945  
  842,619      JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., Class A4FX, Series 2012-CBX, 3.48%, 6/15/45, Callable 6/15/22 @ 100(a)      846,192  
  2,904,000      KNDL Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-KNSQ, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 5/15/36(a)      2,900,777  
  1,530,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(a)      1,518,540  
  1,875,000      LoanCore Issuer, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-CRE6, 1.41%(US0001M+130bps), 11/15/38, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,873,847  
  630,000      MF1, Class A, Series 2021-W10, 1.12%(SOFR30A+107bps), 12/15/34(a)      629,458  
  3,570,000      MHP, Class A, Series 2021-STOR, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 7/15/38(a)      3,552,896  
  1,279,462      Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Class A3, Series 2015-C24, 3.48%, 5/15/48, Callable 5/15/25 @ 100      1,342,719  
  1,563,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A, Series 2019-NUGS, 2.45%(US0001M+95bps), 12/15/36(a)      1,565,954  
  1,540,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2016-BNK2, 3.05%, 11/15/49, Callable 10/15/26 @ 100      1,626,009  
  3,100,000      Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 45, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-45A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 10/14/35, Callable 10/14/23 @ 100(a)      3,097,261  
  1,200,000      Octagon Investment Partners XVII, Ltd., Class A2R2, Series 2013-1A, 1.22%(US0003M+110bps), 1/25/31, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(a)      1,190,264  
  3,001,595      One Lincoln Street Commercial Mortgage, Class A1, Series 2004-C3, 5.72%, 10/15/30(a)(b)      3,170,044  
  1,510,000      One New York Plaza Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1NYP, 1.06%(US0001M+95bps), 1/15/26(a)      1,510,604  
  2,515,722      PRKCM Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-AFC2, 2.07%, 11/25/56, Callable 7/25/28 @ 100(a)(b)      2,512,254  
  1,250,000      RR 3, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2018-3A, 1.21%(US0003M+109bps), 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(a)      1,248,968  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 1,853,947      Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Class MA, Series 2019-2, 3.50%, 8/25/58, Callable 2/25/44 @ 100    $ 1,929,123  
  782,059      Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Class MA, Series 2018-2, 3.50%, 11/25/57, Callable 7/25/31 @ 100      805,291  
  125,000      SG Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A4, Series 2016-C5, 3.06%, 10/10/48, Callable 6/10/26 @ 100      129,776  
  1,000,000      Signal Peak CLO 8, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-8A, 1.40%(US0003M+127bps), 4/20/33, Callable 4/20/22 @ 100(a)      1,001,005  
  388,839      Tharaldson Hotel Portfolio Trust, Class A, Series 2018-THL, 1.15%(US0001M+75bps), 11/11/34(a)      388,395  
  1,000,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2017-3A, 1.17%(US0003M+104bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      992,919  
  8,980,590      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class XA, Series 2016-LC25, 0.84%, 12/15/59, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100(b)      301,927  
  775,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-C28, 3.54%, 5/15/48, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      820,555  
  1,015,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-NXS4, 3.72%, 12/15/48      1,088,638  
  940,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-C46, 4.15%, 8/15/51      1,053,872  
  1,250,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class AS, Series 2015-NXS1, 3.41%, 5/15/48, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      1,293,600  
  1,500,000      Whitebox CLO III, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-3A, 1.34%(US0003M+122bps), 10/15/34, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,501,594  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $160,583,349)

     160,922,221  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (24.0%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.1%):       
  2,642,000      BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 3.80%, 10/7/24(a)      2,803,566  
  647,000      BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 3.85%, 12/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100(a)      694,089  
  216,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100      299,004  
  1,062,000      General Dynamics Corp., 3.50%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      1,155,287  
  1,020,000      General Dynamics Corp., 3.75%, 5/15/28, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100      1,129,065  
  1,249,000      Harris Corp., 4.40%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,404,773  
  378,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 3.84%, 5/1/25, Callable 4/1/25 @ 100      400,672  
  821,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 3.48%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      869,234  
  1,197,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 2.04%, 8/16/28, Callable 6/16/28 @ 100(a)      1,171,676  
  1,315,000      L3Harris Technologies, Inc., 3.85%, 12/15/26, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100      1,427,813  
  1,383,000      L3Harris Technologies, Inc., 4.40%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,550,203  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Aerospace & Defense, continued       
$ 391,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., Series B, 6.15%, 9/1/36    $ 549,498  
  1,051,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 3.80%, 3/1/45, Callable 9/1/44 @ 100      1,206,665  
  325,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 4.09%, 9/15/52, Callable 3/15/52 @ 100      402,054  
  2,256,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 2.93%, 1/15/25, Callable 11/15/24 @ 100      2,352,821  
  214,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 4.75%, 6/1/43      270,845  
  217,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 3.85%, 4/15/45, Callable 10/15/44 @ 100      246,385  
  1,503,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 4.03%, 10/15/47, Callable 4/15/47 @ 100      1,778,150  
  115,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 7.00%, 11/1/28      146,775  
  2,427,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.13%, 11/16/28, Callable 8/16/28 @ 100      2,714,337  
  559,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 2.15%, 5/18/30, Callable 2/18/30 @ 100      697,905  
  415,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.20%, 12/15/44, Callable 6/15/44 @ 100      468,857  
  709,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.35%, 4/15/47, Callable 10/15/46 @ 100      862,283  
  1,426,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.63%, 11/16/48, Callable 5/16/48 @ 100      1,826,325  
  10,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 2.82%, 9/1/51, Callable 3/1/51 @ 100      9,691  
  875,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 3.03%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100      879,550  
  264,000      Textron, Inc., 3.65%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100      283,554  
  1,098,000      Textron, Inc., 3.90%, 9/17/29, Callable 6/17/29 @ 100      1,204,251  
     

 

 

 
        28,805,328  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.2%):       
  620,000      FedEx Corp., 0.45%, 5/4/29, Callable 2/4/29 @ 100      693,679  
  2,502,000      FedEx Corp., 4.25%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      2,847,364  
  2,000      FedEx Corp., 4.90%, 1/15/34      2,418  
  695,000      United Parcel Service, Inc., 0.38%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      799,420  
  1,246,000      United Parcel Service, Inc., 3.40%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      1,360,531  
  384,000      United Parcel Service, Inc., 4.45%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      451,542  
     

 

 

 
        6,154,954  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  869,401      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-2, Class B, 4.40%, 3/22/25      857,629  
  319,624      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-1, Class B, 5.25%, 7/15/25      316,428  
  74,538      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2017-1, Class B, 4.95%, 8/15/26      73,140  
  490,274      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-2, Class AA, 3.60%, 3/22/29      502,199  
  207,180      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class AA, 3.20%, 12/15/29      206,900  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Airlines, continued       
$ 411,386      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-3, Class AA, 3.00%, 4/15/30    $ 411,831  
  169,531      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2017-1, Class AA, 3.65%, 8/15/30      176,549  
  675,256      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-1, 3.15%, 8/15/33      679,893  
  420,000      Delta Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-1, Class AA, 3.20%, 10/25/25      432,980  
  122,000      Southwest Airlines Co., 2.75%, 11/16/22, Callable 10/16/22 @ 100      123,586  
  8,234      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2014-1, Class B, 4.75%, 10/11/23      8,284  
  44,912      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2014-2, Class B, 4.63%, 3/3/24      45,188  
  6,574      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class B, 3.65%, 4/7/27      6,514  
  269,404      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2018-1, Class B, 4.60%, 9/1/27      272,773  
  1,174,290      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2020-1, Class A, 5.88%, 4/15/29      1,282,912  
  11,011      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-1, Class AA, 3.45%, 6/1/29      11,481  
  386,041      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class B, 3.50%, 11/1/29      381,285  
  45,758      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class AA, 3.10%, 1/7/30      46,673  
  177,424      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class AA, 2.88%, 4/7/30      179,038  
  214,670      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2018-1, Class AA, 3.50%, 9/1/31      223,119  
  344,172      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-1, Class AA, 4.15%, 2/25/33      375,469  
  472,467      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class AA, 2.70%, 11/1/33      467,195  
     

 

 

 
        7,081,066  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  520,000      BorgWarner, Inc., 1.00%, 5/19/31, Callable 2/19/31 @ 100      581,748  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  687,000      Daimler Finance North America LLC, 3.40%, 2/22/22(a)      689,740  
  1,577,000      Daimler Finance North America LLC, 2.13%, 3/10/25(a)      1,607,165  
  1,263,000      Daimler Finance North America LLC, 3.30%, 5/19/25(a)      1,333,674  
  150,000      Daimler Finance North America LLC, 3.50%, 8/3/25(a)      159,928  
  1,017,000      Daimler Finance North America LLC, 1.45%, 3/2/26(a)      1,007,162  
  534,000      Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC, 2.45%, 9/15/28, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(a)      521,102  
     

 

 

 
        5,318,771  
     

 

 

 
Banks (3.7%):       
  3,067,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.55% (US0003M+78 bps), 3/5/24, Callable 3/5/23 @ 100      3,154,437  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 1,283,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.00%, 1/22/25, MTN    $ 1,369,491  
  913,000      Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95%, 4/21/25      976,828  
  2,857,000      Bank of America Corp., 0.98% (SOFR+69 bps), 4/22/25, Callable 4/22/24 @ 100      2,834,458  
  1,683,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.37% (US0003M+81 bps), 1/23/26, Callable 1/23/25 @ 100      1,771,257  
  597,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.01% (US0003M+64 bps), 2/13/26, Callable 2/13/25 @ 100, MTN      604,380  
  748,000      Bank of America Corp., Series G, 4.45%, 3/3/26      823,526  
  6,244,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.32% (SOFR+115 bps), 6/19/26, Callable 6/19/25 @ 100, MTN      6,180,511  
  6,920,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.20% (SOFR+101 bps), 10/24/26, Callable 10/24/25 @ 100, MTN      6,779,690  
  6,098,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.56% (US0003M+106 bps), 4/23/27, Callable 4/23/26 @ 100, MTN      6,515,963  
  1,447,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.73% (SOFR+96 bps), 7/22/27, Callable 7/22/26 @ 100      1,438,186  
  2,767,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.82% (US0003M+158 bps), 1/20/28, Callable 1/20/27 @ 100, MTN      2,995,125  
  556,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.42% (US0003M+104 bps), 12/20/28, Callable 12/20/27 @ 100      594,042  
  821,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+107 bps), 3/5/29, Callable 3/5/28 @ 100, MTN      898,799  
  1,535,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.27% (US0003M+131 bps), 7/23/29, Callable 7/23/28 @ 100      1,711,025  
  735,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+121 bps), 2/7/30, Callable 2/7/29 @ 100, MTN      809,382  
  1,510,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.19% (US0003M+118 bps), 7/23/30, Callable 7/23/29 @ 100, MTN      1,591,351  
  6,772,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.88% (US0003M+119 bps), 10/22/30, Callable 10/22/29 @ 100, MTN      6,991,758  
  472,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.50% (US0003M+99 bps), 2/13/31, Callable 2/13/30 @ 100, MTN      473,427  
  793,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.59% (SOFR+215 bps), 4/29/31, Callable 4/29/30 @ 100      800,211  
  295,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.90% (SOFR+153 bps), 7/23/31, Callable 7/23/30 @ 100, MTN      282,406  
  860,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.92% (SOFR+137 bps), 10/24/31, Callable 10/24/30 @ 100, MTN      822,129  
  580,000      Bank of America Corp., 0.65% (EUR003M+94 bps), 10/26/31, Callable 10/26/30 @ 100, MTN(a)      642,514  
  2,208,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.08% (US0003M+132 bps), 4/23/40, Callable 4/23/39 @ 100, MTN      2,538,259  
  1,180,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.68% (SOFR+193 bps), 6/19/41, Callable 6/19/40 @ 100, MTN      1,137,436  
  905,000      Bank of America Corp., 5.87% (US0003M+293 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,009,075  
  5,943,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.98% (US0003M+134 bps), 3/20/30, Callable 3/20/29 @ 100      6,558,630  
  4,621,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.98% (SOFR+142 bps), 11/5/30, Callable 11/5/29 @ 100      4,804,532  
  479,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.57% (SOFR+211 bps), 6/3/31, Callable 6/3/30 @ 100      482,709  
  480,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.00% (H15T5Y+4 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 12/10/25 @ 100      483,720  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 210,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.02% (US0003M+100 bps), 12/5/24, Callable 12/5/23 @ 100    $ 221,362  
  309,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.90%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      332,682  
  182,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.30% (SOFR+116 bps), 10/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      186,075  
  1,385,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.00% (SOFR+159 bps), 3/13/26, Callable 3/13/25 @ 100      1,402,940  
  2,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.20%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      2,124  
  2,230,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.96% (US0003M+125 bps), 1/29/27, Callable 1/29/26 @ 100      2,414,379  
  2,697,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.58% (SOFR+89 bps), 4/22/27, Callable 4/22/26 @ 100      2,669,164  
  5,311,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.78% (US0003M+134 bps), 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      5,753,406  
  1,750,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.01% (US0003M+112 bps), 4/23/29, Callable 4/23/28 @ 100      1,931,557  
  1,318,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.70% (US0003M+116 bps), 5/6/30, Callable 5/6/29 @ 100      1,435,531  
  977,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.74% (SOFR+151 bps), 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      1,003,268  
  1,346,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.11% (SOFR+246 bps), 4/22/41, Callable 4/22/40 @ 100      1,396,534  
  1,468,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.26% (US0003M+158 bps), 2/22/48, Callable 2/22/47 @ 100      1,802,173  
  400,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.03% (US0003M+146 bps), 7/24/48, Callable 7/24/47 @ 100      475,370  
  381,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.96% (US0003M+138 bps), 11/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100      447,722  
  254,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.90% (US0003M+122 bps), 1/23/49, Callable 1/23/48 @ 100      295,118  
  105,000      Synovus Financial Corp., 3.13%, 11/1/22, Callable 10/1/22 @ 100      106,623  
  1,676,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.00%, 2/19/25      1,747,776  
  290,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 1.34% (EUR003M+167 bps), 5/4/25, Callable 5/4/24 @ 100, MTN(a)      339,451  
  2,090,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.58% (US0003M+131 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100, MTN      2,247,331  
  2,835,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.88% (US0003M+117 bps), 10/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100, MTN      2,948,114  
  331,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 5.38%, 2/7/35      434,055  
  1,308,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.07% (SOFR+253 bps), 4/30/41, Callable 4/30/40 @ 100      1,341,736  
     

 

 

 
        99,009,748  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.4%):       
  7,123,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.70%, 2/1/36, Callable 8/1/35 @ 100      8,594,576  
  1,258,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.90%, 2/1/46, Callable 8/1/45 @ 100      1,594,781  
  275,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.60%, 4/15/48, Callable 10/15/47 @ 100      337,140  
  490,000      Coca-Cola Co. (The), 1.00%, 3/9/41      539,004  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Beverages, continued       
$ 923,000      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc., 3.20%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100    $ 976,253  
     

 

 

 
        12,041,754  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.4%):       
  160,000      AbbVie, Inc., 1.38%, 5/17/24, Callable 2/17/24 @ 100      187,558  
  140,000      AbbVie, Inc., 1.25%, 6/1/24, Callable 3/1/24 @ 100      163,804  
  2,680,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.55%, 3/15/35, Callable 9/15/34 @ 100      3,191,768  
  1,789,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.50%, 5/14/35, Callable 11/14/34 @ 100      2,139,057  
  864,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.63%, 10/1/42, Callable 4/1/42 @ 100      1,052,361  
  672,000      Amgen, Inc., 4.40%, 5/1/45, Callable 11/1/44 @ 100      803,140  
  612,000      Amgen, Inc., 4.56%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      759,346  
  700,000      Biogen, Inc., 3.15%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      684,494  
  1,178,000      Gilead Sciences, Inc., 4.80%, 4/1/44, Callable 10/1/43 @ 100      1,495,199  
  464,000      Gilead Sciences, Inc., 4.75%, 3/1/46, Callable 9/1/45 @ 100      589,871  
     

 

 

 
        11,066,598  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  897,000      Carrier Global Corp., 2.24%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100      917,415  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.5%):       
  2,221,000      Ares Capital Corp., 4.25%, 3/1/25, Callable 1/1/25 @ 100      2,353,882  
  1,042,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      1,098,348  
  704,000      Ares Capital Corp., 2.15%, 7/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      694,761  
  370,000      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The), 4.62% (US0003M+313 bps), 12/29/49, Callable 9/20/26 @ 100      390,861  
  1,150,000      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The), 3.70% (H15T5Y+335 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 3/20/26 @ 100      1,177,312  
  1,578,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 3.25%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,591,774  
  1,435,000      Charles Schwab Corp. (The), Series E, 4.62% (US0003M+332 bps), 12/29/49, Callable 3/1/22 @ 100      1,438,587  
  3,115,000      Charles Schwab Corp. (The), 4.00% (H15T5Y+317 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      3,185,087  
  1,460,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 0.00% (EUR003M+55 bps), 4/21/23, Callable 4/21/22 @ 100, MTN(a)      1,663,702  
  7,530,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.50%, 4/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      7,950,806  
  1,633,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.75%, 5/22/25, Callable 2/22/25 @ 100      1,738,796  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 730,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 0.86% (SOFR+61 bps), 2/12/26, Callable 2/12/25 @ 100    $ 714,080  
  849,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.75%, 2/25/26, Callable 11/25/25 @ 100      912,604  
  1,234,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.33% (US0003M+117 bps), 5/15/26, Callable 5/15/25 @ 100      1,254,240  
  2,302,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 4.41% (US0003M+143 bps), 4/23/39, Callable 4/23/38 @ 100      2,748,489  
  1,581,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.25%, 2/1/41      2,294,099  
  347,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.21% (SOFR+151 bps), 4/22/42, Callable 4/22/41 @ 100      360,772  
  309,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.91% (SOFR+147 bps), 7/21/42, Callable 7/21/41 @ 100      307,426  
  992,000      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 2.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      984,229  
  683,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.10%, 11/29/61, Callable 5/29/61 @ 100      677,458  
  3,423,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.63%, 1/20/27      3,704,182  
  9,921,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.59% (SOFR+88 bps), 5/4/27, Callable 5/4/26 @ 100      9,813,853  
  4,744,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.59% (US0003M+134 bps), 7/22/28, Callable 7/22/27 @ 100      5,110,536  
  1,102,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.77% (US0003M+114 bps), 1/24/29, Callable 1/24/28 @ 100      1,198,315  
  1,564,000      Morgan Stanley, Series G, 4.43% (US0003M+163 bps), 1/23/30, Callable 1/23/29 @ 100, MTN      1,777,680  
  6,959,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.70% (SOFR+114 bps), 1/22/31, Callable 1/22/30 @ 100, MTN      7,122,864  
  552,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.79% (SOFR+1 bps), 2/13/32, Callable 2/13/31 @ 100, MTN      521,525  
  1,111,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.97% (US0003M+146 bps), 7/22/38, Callable 7/22/37 @ 100      1,264,469  
  196,000      State Street Corp., 2.90% (SOFR+3 bps), 3/30/26, Callable 3/30/25 @ 100      205,398  
  661,000      State Street Corp., Series F, 3.80% (US0003M+360 bps), Callable 3/15/22 @ 100      664,305  
  1,415,000      State Street Corp., Series H, 5.63% (US0003M+254 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100      1,464,525  
     

 

 

 
        66,384,965  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.3%):       
  570,000      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 2.80%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      582,456  
  503,000      Dow Chemical Co. (The), 1.13%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      571,421  
  565,000      Dow Chemical Co. (The), 5.55%, 11/30/48, Callable 5/30/48 @ 100      796,010  
  3,116,000      DowDuPont, Inc., 4.49%, 11/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100      3,435,561  
  65,000      Ecolab, Inc., 2.70%, 12/15/51, Callable 6/15/51 @ 100      64,160  
  635,000      Ecolab, Inc., 2.75%, 8/18/55, Callable 2/18/55 @ 100      624,192  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
$ 663,000      LYB International Finance III LLC, 4.20%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100    $ 763,070  
  353,000      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The), 4.50%, 6/1/47, Callable 12/1/46 @ 100      439,211  
  493,000      Westlake Chemical Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/61, Callable 2/15/61 @ 100      475,763  
     

 

 

 
        7,751,844  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.0%):       
  640,000      Republic Services, Inc., 2.38%, 3/15/33, Callable 12/15/32 @ 100      636,810  
  472,000      Waste Management, Inc., 2.00%, 6/1/29, Callable 4/1/29 @ 100^      469,222  
  107,000      Waste Management, Inc., 2.95%, 6/1/41, Callable 12/1/40 @ 100      111,037  
     

 

 

 
        1,217,069  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.2%):       
  1,085,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 4.60%, 2/23/28, Callable 11/23/27 @ 100      1,225,565  
  1,662,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 4.60%, 5/23/29, Callable 2/23/29 @ 100      1,890,791  
  756,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 2.30%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      731,888  
  1,822,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 2.75%, 5/24/31, Callable 2/24/31 @ 100      1,823,363  
  27,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 5.50%, 9/1/44      35,323  
     

 

 

 
        5,706,930  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.5%):       
  740,000      American Honda Finance Corp., 1.38%, 11/10/22      854,703  
  110,000      American Honda Finance Corp., 0.55%, 3/17/23      126,405  
  1,000,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 1.65%, 6/12/29      1,189,543  
  1,394,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.00%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      1,483,090  
  2,801,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.35%, 4/9/25, Callable 2/9/25 @ 100      3,019,436  
  1,420,000      Hyundai Capital America, 3.95%, 2/1/22(a)      1,422,799  
  2,065,000      Hyundai Capital America, 2.38%, 2/10/23(a)      2,094,119  
  1,274,000      Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 3.00%, 4/1/25, MTN      1,339,334  
  1,166,000      Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 0.80%, 1/9/26, MTN^      1,134,902  
     

 

 

 
        12,664,331  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  1,876,000      Amcor Flexibles North America, Inc., 2.69%, 5/25/31, Callable 2/25/31 @ 100      1,895,949  
  349,000      International Paper Co., 4.80%, 6/15/44, Callable 12/15/43 @ 100      442,376  
  239,000      Packaging Corp. of America, 3.05%, 10/1/51, Callable 4/1/51 @ 100      238,946  
     

 

 

 
        2,577,271  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  145,000      California Institute of Technology, 4.32%, 8/1/45      186,866  
  360,000      Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4.68%, 7/1/14      532,802  
     

 

 

 
        719,668  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Financial Services (0.3%):       
$ 1,000,000      BP Capital Markets America, Inc., 3.00%, 3/17/52, Callable 9/17/51 @ 100    $ 981,091  
  267,000      DAE Funding LLC, 3.38%, 3/20/28, Callable 1/20/28 @ 100(a)      270,004  
  3,284,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 1.63%, 4/27/26, Callable 3/27/26 @ 100(a)      3,224,425  
  1,032,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 6/1/30 @ 100(a)      999,951  
  536,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.85%, 4/27/31, Callable 1/27/31 @ 100(a)      530,871  
  644,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.63%, 9/23/31, Callable 6/23/31 @ 100(a)      624,388  
  331,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 3.38%, 9/23/51, Callable 3/23/51 @ 100(a)      318,751  
     

 

 

 
        6,949,481  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.6%):       
  2,000,000      AT&T, Inc., 0.88%, 11/27/22(a)(c)      1,983,900  
  425,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.30%, 6/1/27, Callable 4/1/27 @ 100      432,455  
  435,000      AT&T, Inc., 1.65%, 2/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      425,643  
  375,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.10%, 2/15/28, Callable 11/15/27 @ 100      416,722  
  1,173,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.35%, 3/1/29, Callable 12/1/28 @ 100      1,319,054  
  2,753,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      3,100,610  
  935,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.50%, 5/15/35, Callable 11/15/34 @ 100      1,080,970  
  930,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.25%, 3/1/37, Callable 9/1/36 @ 100      1,152,518  
  490,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.60%, 5/19/38, Callable 11/19/37 @ 100      624,204  
  694,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.90%, 6/15/42      822,364  
  406,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.35%, 6/15/45, Callable 12/15/44 @ 100      457,807  
  1,116,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.75%, 5/15/46, Callable 11/15/45 @ 100      1,340,939  
  602,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.50%, 3/9/48, Callable 9/9/47 @ 100      706,170  
  1,808,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.15%, 2/15/50, Callable 8/14/49 @ 100      2,322,506  
  786,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      812,884  
  1,505,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.50%, 2/1/61, Callable 8/1/60 @ 100      1,467,979  
  289,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.13%, 3/16/27      321,076  
  276,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.00%, 3/22/27, Callable 1/22/27 @ 100      291,196  
  3,288,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.10%, 3/22/28, Callable 1/22/28 @ 100      3,291,397  
  807,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.33%, 9/21/28      915,568  
  3,102,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.02%, 12/3/29, Callable 9/3/29 @ 100      3,480,757  
  5,577,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.15%, 3/22/30, Callable 12/22/29 @ 100      5,892,050  
  466,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 1.50%, 9/18/30, Callable 6/18/30 @ 100      437,864  
  1,836,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 1.68%, 10/30/30, Callable 7/30/30 @ 100      1,741,584  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 1,673,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100    $ 1,686,372  
  3,900,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.65%, 11/20/40, Callable 5/20/40 @ 100      3,685,566  
  1,122,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.86%, 8/21/46      1,451,353  
  221,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.99%, 10/30/56, Callable 4/30/56 @ 100      206,911  
  417,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.00%, 11/20/60, Callable 5/20/60 @ 100      393,307  
     

 

 

 
        42,261,726  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (2.2%):       
  430,000      AEP Texas, Inc., 2.40%, 10/1/22, Callable 9/1/22 @ 100      434,261  
  527,000      AEP Texas, Inc., Series H, 3.45%, 1/15/50, Callable 7/15/49 @ 100      540,495  
  1,185,000      AEP Texas, Inc., 3.45%, 5/15/51, Callable 11/15/50 @ 100      1,220,418  
  221,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 3.75%, 12/1/47, Callable 6/1/47 @ 100      244,944  
  565,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 3.15%, 9/15/49, Callable 3/15/49 @ 100      580,218  
  780,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 2.75%, 8/15/51, Callable 2/15/51 @ 100      745,418  
  1,044,000      Alabama Power Co., 3.45%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      1,113,100  
  819,000      American Transmission Systems, Inc., 2.65%, 1/15/32, Callable 10/15/31 @ 100(a)      828,449  
  612,000      Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 3.50%, 8/15/46, Callable 2/15/46 @ 100      665,486  
  1,216,000      Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 3.75%, 8/15/47, Callable 2/15/47 @ 100      1,385,649  
  335,000      Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 3.20%, 9/15/49, Callable 3/15/49 @ 100      346,004  
  750,000      Commonwealth Edison Co., 3.13%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      778,424  
  119,000      DTE Electric Co., Series A, 4.05%, 5/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100      142,840  
  1,088,000      DTE Electric Co., 3.95%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      1,297,058  
  118,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.75%, 6/1/45, Callable 12/1/44 @ 100      129,719  
  718,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.88%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      799,487  
  259,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.45%, 4/15/51, Callable 10/15/50 @ 100      283,004  
  2,718,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 2.50%, 12/1/29, Callable 9/1/29 @ 100      2,784,991  
  955,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 1.75%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      920,275  
  397,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 3.40%, 10/1/46, Callable 4/1/46 @ 100      422,174  
  391,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 3.00%, 12/15/51, Callable 6/15/51 @ 100      397,308  
  555,000      Duke Energy Ohio, Inc., 3.65%, 2/1/29, Callable 11/1/28 @ 100      603,655  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 95,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 3.45%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100    $ 102,719  
  337,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 4.20%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      402,602  
  315,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 2.90%, 8/15/51, Callable 2/15/51 @ 100      316,915  
  220,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 5.70%, 4/1/35      287,945  
  471,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.10%, 5/15/42, Callable 11/15/41 @ 100      546,355  
  719,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.10%, 3/15/43, Callable 9/15/42 @ 100      834,645  
  2,153,000      Edison International, 2.40%, 9/15/22, Callable 8/15/22 @ 100      2,170,170  
  258,000      Edison International, 4.95%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      280,872  
  258,000      Entergy Arkansas LLC, 3.35%, 6/15/52, Callable 12/15/51 @ 100      273,346  
  754,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 1.60%, 12/15/30, Callable 9/15/30 @ 100      712,141  
  386,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 2.35%, 6/15/32, Callable 3/15/32 @ 100      383,232  
  511,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 2.90%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      500,361  
  382,000      Exelon Corp., 5.63%, 6/15/35      487,090  
  898,000      Exelon Corp., 4.70%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      1,131,326  
  193,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 2.05%, 3/1/25, Callable 2/1/25 @ 100      191,535  
  517,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 2.65%, 3/1/30, Callable 12/1/29 @ 100      511,441  
  203,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 7.38%, 11/15/31      274,441  
  636,000      FirstEnergy Corp., Series C, 3.40%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      618,121  
  505,000      FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 4.35%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100(a)      535,313  
  303,000      FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 5.45%, 7/15/44, Callable 1/15/44 @ 100(a)      380,265  
  990,000      FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 4.55%, 4/1/49, Callable 10/1/48 @ 100(a)      1,135,969  
  817,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.70%, 12/1/47, Callable 6/1/47 @ 100      940,961  
  783,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.95%, 3/1/48, Callable 9/1/47 @ 100      940,809  
  449,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.99%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      541,415  
  1,399,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.15%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      1,492,206  
  658,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.10%, 5/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      699,638  
  1,639,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.65%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      1,805,799  
  399,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.15%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      419,853  
  705,000      Northern States Power Co., 2.90%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      710,589  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 1,070,000      Northern States Power Co., 2.60%, 6/1/51, Callable 12/1/50 @ 100    $ 1,027,566  
  174,000      Northern States Power Co., 3.20%, 4/1/52, Callable 10/1/51 @ 100      186,920  
  2,318,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 4.45%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100(a)      2,520,825  
  451,000      Ohio Power Co., 1.63%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      424,576  
  362,000      Ohio Power Co., 4.00%, 6/1/49, Callable 12/1/48 @ 100      418,594  
  716,000      Ohio Power Co., 2.90%, 10/1/51, Callable 4/1/51 @ 100      696,442  
  1,406,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 3.70%, 11/15/28, Callable 8/15/28 @ 100      1,544,539  
  10,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 5.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      12,272  
  271,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 3.80%, 9/30/47, Callable 3/30/47 @ 100      316,711  
  383,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 4.10%, 11/15/48, Callable 5/15/48 @ 100      462,617  
  32,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 2.70%, 11/15/51, Callable 5/15/51 @ 100(a)      30,859  
  97,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 2.50%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      92,062  
  778,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 3.25%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100      779,989  
  1,167,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 7/1/50, Callable 1/1/50 @ 100      1,278,304  
  614,000      PECO Energy Co., 3.05%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      627,171  
  535,000      Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 3.65%, 9/1/28, Callable 6/1/28 @ 100      588,573  
  340,000      Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 2.05%, 8/1/50, Callable 2/1/50 @ 100, MTN      289,532  
  3,823,000      Southern California Edison Co., Series E, 3.70%, 8/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      4,061,559  
  813,000      Southern California Edison Co., Series 20C, 1.20%, 2/1/26, Callable 1/1/26 @ 100      796,855  
  869,000      Southwestern Public Service Co., 3.15%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      903,713  
  215,000      Tampa Electric Co., 4.20%, 5/15/45, Callable 11/15/44 @ 100      250,230  
  3,000      Tampa Electric Co., 4.45%, 6/15/49, Callable 12/15/48 @ 100      3,718  
  540,000      Tampa Electric Co., 3.63%, 6/15/50, Callable 12/15/49 @ 100      610,390  
  500,000      Virginia Electric & Power Co., 3.45%, 9/1/22, Callable 6/1/22 @ 100      505,923  
  381,000      Virginia Electric & Power Co., Series A, 6.00%, 5/15/37      523,370  
  451,000      Virginia Electric & Power Co., Series D, 4.65%, 8/15/43, Callable 2/15/43 @ 100      562,524  
  715,000      Virginia Electric and Power Co., Series B, 4.20%, 5/15/45, Callable 11/15/44 @ 100      849,172  
  2,301,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 4.30%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100(a)      2,464,946  
     

 

 

 
        59,121,403  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.0%):       
$ 198,000      Corning, Inc., 4.38%, 11/15/57, Callable 5/15/57 @ 100    $ 235,986  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.2%):       
  1,457,000      Activision Blizzard, Inc., 3.40%, 9/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      1,560,351  
  889,000      Activision Blizzard, Inc., 2.50%, 9/15/50, Callable 3/15/50 @ 100      782,428  
  2,344,000      Electronic Arts, Inc., 1.85%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100      2,246,065  
  744,000      ViacomCBS, Inc., 6.88%, 4/30/36      1,057,321  
     

 

 

 
        5,646,165  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment (0.1%):       
  682,000      American Tower Corp., 2.30%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      662,215  
  968,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 2.50%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      960,362  
     

 

 

 
        1,622,577  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.6%):       
  810,000      American Tower Corp., 0.40%, 2/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100      907,309  
  1,429,000      American Tower Corp., 1.50%, 1/31/28, Callable 11/30/27 @ 100      1,367,074  
  1,429,000      American Tower Corp., 3.80%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      1,552,911  
  1,206,000      American Tower Corp., 2.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      1,164,084  
  430,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 3.70%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      460,944  
  2,244,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 3.10%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      2,334,983  
  1,155,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 2.25%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      1,122,833  
  714,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 5.20%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100      919,149  
  362,000      Duke Realty LP, 4.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 6/15/28 @ 100      404,961  
  1,136,000      Duke Realty LP, 1.75%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      1,077,763  
  2,070,000      Equinix, Inc., 2.00%, 5/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      2,032,848  
  697,000      Equinix, Inc., 3.20%, 11/18/29, Callable 8/18/29 @ 100      731,849  
  329,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 2.30%, 11/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100      325,797  
  593,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.10%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      578,899  
  801,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.50%, 4/15/51, Callable 10/15/50 @ 100      833,836  
  92,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.00%, 4/15/52, Callable 10/15/51 @ 100      86,422  
  775,000      Prologis Euro Finance LLC, 1.50%, 9/10/49, Callable 3/10/49 @ 100      828,085  
  611,000      Realty Income Corp., 3.25%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      655,298  
     

 

 

 
        17,385,045  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Food Products (0.0%):       
$ 420,000      General Mills, Inc., 0.45%, 1/15/26, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100    $ 481,090  
  643,000      Mondelez International, Inc., 2.75%, 4/13/30, Callable 1/13/30 @ 100      665,713  
     

 

 

 
        1,146,803  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  262,000      Atmos Energy Corp., 4.13%, 10/15/44, Callable 4/15/44 @ 100      305,784  
  461,000      Piedmont Natural Gas Co, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/29, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      493,442  
  500,000      Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc., 2.50%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      495,840  
     

 

 

 
        1,295,066  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.1%):       
  525,000      Becton Dickinson & Co., 1.40%, 5/24/23, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      609,168  
  510,000      Becton Dickinson & Co., 0.03%, 8/13/25, Callable 7/13/25 @ 100      576,686  
  333,000      Boston Scientific Corp., 2.65%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      338,661  
  500,000      DH Europe Finance II Sarl, 1.80%, 9/18/49, Callable 3/18/49 @ 100      598,596  
  100,000      Medtronic Global Holdings SCA, 1.75%, 7/2/49, Callable 1/2/49 @ 100      116,722  
     

 

 

 
        2,239,833  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.0%):       
  275,000      AHS Hospital Corp., 2.78%, 7/1/51, Callable 1/1/51 @ 100      273,650  
  448,000      Anthem, Inc., 4.55%, 3/1/48, Callable 9/1/47 @ 100      563,577  
  2,140,000      Cigna Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100      2,322,225  
  1,520,000      Cigna Corp., 3.40%, 3/1/27, Callable 12/1/26 @ 100      1,634,538  
  350,000      CommonSpirit Health, 2.78%, 10/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      356,843  
  498,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.00%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      543,207  
  5,000      CVS Health Corp., 2.88%, 6/1/26, Callable 3/1/26 @ 100      5,234  
  1,539,000      CVS Health Corp., 3.00%, 8/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      1,622,648  
  1,470,000      CVS Health Corp., 3.63%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      1,594,534  
  587,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 12/25/27 @ 100      657,599  
  1,817,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.13%, 7/20/45, Callable 1/20/45 @ 100      2,376,727  
  7,636,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/25      8,456,870  
  2,570,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      2,891,250  
  90,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/49, Callable 12/15/48 @ 100      115,988  
  1,361,000      Humana, Inc., 1.35%, 2/3/27, Callable 1/3/27 @ 100      1,322,765  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 221,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.75%, 7/15/45    $ 290,339  
  957,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.20%, 1/15/47, Callable 7/15/46 @ 100      1,162,261  
  530,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 3.75%, 10/15/47, Callable 4/15/47 @ 100      606,002  
  427,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.25%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      532,502  
     

 

 

 
        27,328,759  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.3%):       
  610,000      Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.10%, 3/8/25, Callable 2/8/25 @ 100      694,497  
  626,000      Marriott International, Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      706,627  
  1,200,000      McDonald’s Corp., Series G, 1.00%, 11/15/23, MTN(a)      1,396,182  
  722,000      McDonald’s Corp., 2.13%, 3/1/30, Callable 12/1/29 @ 100      720,002  
  885,000      McDonald’s Corp., 4.88%, 12/9/45, Callable 6/9/45 @ 100, MTN      1,139,368  
  336,000      McDonald’s Corp., 4.45%, 9/1/48, Callable 3/1/48 @ 100, MTN      414,564  
  893,000      Starbucks Corp., 2.25%, 3/12/30, Callable 12/12/29 @ 100      890,416  
  844,000      Starbucks Corp., 2.55%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      860,552  
     

 

 

 
        6,822,208  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):       
  785,000      3M Co., Series E, 0.95%, 5/15/23      907,531  
  637,000      General Electric Co., Series A, 6.75%, 3/15/32, MTN      869,574  
  962,000      Georgia-Pacific LLC, 3.60%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100(a)      1,020,395  
  1,653,000      Georgia-Pacific LLC, 0.95%, 5/15/26, Callable 4/15/26 @ 100(a)      1,600,157  
     

 

 

 
        4,397,657  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.3%):       
  342,000      American International Group, Inc., 4.50%, 7/16/44, Callable 1/16/44 @ 100      420,408  
  1,013,000      American International Group, Inc., 4.80%, 7/10/45, Callable 1/10/45 @ 100      1,284,310  
  572,000      Aon Corp., 4.50%, 12/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100      653,119  
  1,903,000      Aon Corp., 2.80%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      1,962,539  
  103,000      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 4.30%, 4/15/43      121,913  
  480,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 1.35%, 9/21/26, Callable 6/21/26 @ 100      569,538  
  433,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 4.38%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      493,937  
  803,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 1.98%, 3/21/30, Callable 12/21/29 @ 100      996,905  
  833,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 2.25%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      829,539  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Insurance, continued       
$ 290,000      Metropolitan Life Global Funding I, 0.00%, 9/23/22(a)    $ 331,089  
  404,000      Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America, 4.90%, 9/15/44(a)      522,109  
     

 

 

 
        8,185,406  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.0%):       
  185,000      eBay, Inc., 1.40%, 5/10/26, Callable 4/10/26 @ 100      181,735  
  773,000      Expedia Group, Inc., 5.00%, 2/15/26, Callable 11/15/25 @ 100      861,523  
     

 

 

 
        1,043,258  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.5%):       
  793,000      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 3.10%, 3/1/41, Callable 9/1/40 @ 100      802,813  
  2,380,000      Fiserv, Inc., 3.50%, 7/1/29, Callable 4/1/29 @ 100      2,561,389  
  404,000      Global Payments, Inc., 2.15%, 1/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100      404,438  
  2,345,000      Global Payments, Inc., 3.20%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      2,444,060  
  315,000      Global Payments, Inc., 2.90%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      320,418  
  1,193,000      IBM Corp., 2.85%, 5/15/40, Callable 11/15/39 @ 100      1,170,936  
  1,053,000      International Business Machines Corp., 3.30%, 5/15/26      1,126,113  
  211,000      International Business Machines Corp., 4.15%, 5/15/39      243,927  
  175,000      International Business Machines Corp., 4.25%, 5/15/49      211,949  
  599,000      Mastercard, Inc., 2.95%, 6/1/29, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      640,510  
  1,725,000      MasterCard, Inc., 1.10%, 12/1/22, Callable 9/1/22 @ 100      1,983,682  
  934,000      Visa, Inc., 4.15%, 12/14/35, Callable 6/14/35 @ 100      1,119,599  
     

 

 

 
        13,029,834  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.2%):       
  866,000      Agilent Technologies, Inc., 2.30%, 3/12/31, Callable 12/12/30 @ 100      857,702  
  2,442,000      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., 2.00%, 10/15/31, Callable 7/15/31 @ 100      2,409,580  
  1,000,000      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Series E, 1.88%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100, MTN      1,166,058  
     

 

 

 
        4,433,340  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.0%):       
  663,000      Parker-Hannifin Corp., 3.25%, 6/14/29, Callable 3/14/29 @ 100      700,002  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.5%):       
  1,480,000      Comcast Corp., 0.30%, 9/14/26, Callable 8/14/26 @ 100      1,661,119  
  3,978,000      Comcast Corp., 2.65%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      4,115,110  
  937,000      Comcast Corp., 3.40%, 7/15/46, Callable 1/15/46 @ 100      988,771  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media, continued       
$ 850,000      Comcast Corp., 3.97%, 11/1/47, Callable 5/1/47 @ 100    $ 978,381  
  358,000      Comcast Corp., 2.89%, 11/1/51, Callable 5/1/51 @ 100(a)      348,069  
  2,255,000      Comcast Corp., 2.94%, 11/1/56, Callable 5/1/56 @ 100(a)      2,152,104  
  674,000      Cox Communications, Inc., 3.60%, 6/15/51, Callable 12/15/50 @ 100(a)      710,099  
  724,000      COX Communications, Inc., 3.15%, 8/15/24, Callable 6/15/24 @ 100(a)      753,758  
  1,153,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 1.90%, 3/19/27, Callable 12/19/26 @ 100      1,376,754  
  301,000      NBCUniversal Media LLC, 4.45%, 1/15/43      365,227  
     

 

 

 
        13,449,392  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  5,000      Ameren Illinois Co., 4.15%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      5,990  
  762,000      Ameren Illinois Co., 3.25%, 3/15/50, Callable 9/15/49 @ 100      811,784  
  245,000      Ameren Illinois Co., 2.90%, 6/15/51, Callable 12/15/50 @ 100      247,443  
  176,000      CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC, 3.95%, 3/1/48, Callable 9/1/47 @ 100      210,396  
  695,000      CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC, 3.35%, 4/1/51, Callable 10/1/50 @ 100      768,846  
  1,542,000      CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., 1.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100      1,460,902  
  301,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.80%, 11/15/28, Callable 8/15/28 @ 100      334,251  
  430,000      Consumers Energy Co., 4.05%, 5/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100      517,295  
  531,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.75%, 2/15/50, Callable 8/15/49 @ 100      611,454  
  778,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.10%, 8/15/50, Callable 2/15/50 @ 100      816,068  
  180,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.50%, 8/1/51, Callable 2/1/51 @ 100      201,923  
  318,000      Consumers Energy Co., 2.65%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      310,236  
     

 

 

 
        6,296,588  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.5%):       
  1,335,000      Cameron LNG LLC, 3.30%, 1/15/35, Callable 9/15/34 @ 100(a)      1,400,398  
  575,000      Cameron LNG LLC, 3.40%, 1/15/38, Callable 7/15/37 @ 100(a)      597,709  
  771,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 7.00%, 6/30/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      853,883  
  656,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 3/31/25, Callable 10/2/24 @ 100      727,373  
  3,247,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 5.13%, 6/30/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      3,665,051  
       Devon Energy Corp., 5.88%, 6/15/28, Callable 0 @ –       
  78,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.88%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.94      84,497  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 753,000      Diamondback Energy, Inc., 4.40%, 3/24/51, Callable 9/24/50 @ 100    $ 865,747  
  1,007,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.88%, 1/15/24, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100      1,085,042  
  1,064,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.95%, 12/1/25, Callable 9/1/25 @ 100      1,212,960  
  587,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.50%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      670,647  
  1,900,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      2,142,250  
  1,725,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      1,981,594  
  236,000      Energy Transfer LP, 8.25%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      311,000  
  1,329,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      1,531,673  
  857,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.05%, 3/15/25, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100      908,420  
  515,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 4.20%, 1/31/50, Callable 7/31/49 @ 100      580,735  
  497,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 3.30%, 2/15/53, Callable 8/15/52 @ 100      495,857  
  1,090,000      Exxon Mobil Corp., 1.41%, 6/26/39, Callable 12/26/38 @ 100      1,189,094  
  228,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, SERIES MTN, 6.95%, 1/15/38, MTN      311,841  
  37,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 7.50%, 11/15/40      54,525  
  1,313,000      NGPL PipeCo LLC, 3.25%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100(a)      1,335,374  
  1,292,000      NGPL PipeCo. LLC, 4.88%, 8/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,437,350  
  770,000      Northern Natural Gas Co., 4.30%, 1/15/49, Callable 7/15/48 @ 100(a)      890,678  
  2,523,000      Northwest Pipeline LLC, 4.00%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      2,746,866  
  1,268,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 5.63%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100      1,407,480  
  1,255,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 5.00%, 3/15/27, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100      1,411,247  
  2,286,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.20%, 3/15/28, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      2,500,312  
  220,000      Texas Eastern Transmission LP, 2.80%, 10/15/22, Callable 7/15/22 @ 100(a)      222,744  
  1,373,000      Texas Eastern Transmission LP, 3.50%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,478,268  
  1,119,000      Texas Eastern Transmission LP, 4.15%, 1/15/48, Callable 7/15/47 @ 100(a)      1,263,641  
  2,610,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 7.85%, 2/1/26, Callable 11/1/25 @ 100      3,187,141  
  2,198,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 4.00%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100      2,402,238  
  255,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 3.95%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      286,771  
  240,000      Williams Cos., Inc., Series A, 7.50%, 1/15/31      326,059  
     

 

 

 
        41,566,465  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
$ 257,000      Merck & Co., Inc., 2.75%, 12/10/51, Callable 6/10/51 @ 100    $ 252,931  
  538,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 2.61%, 12/13/51, Callable 6/13/51 @ 100(a)      526,388  
     

 

 

 
        779,319  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  4,169,000      Leidos, Inc., 4.38%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      4,658,858  
  3,657,000      RELX Capital, Inc., 3.50%, 3/16/23, Callable 2/16/23 @ 100      3,766,004  
  1,797,000      RELX Capital, Inc., 3.00%, 5/22/30, Callable 2/22/30 @ 100      1,884,765  
     

 

 

 
        10,309,627  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.2%):       
  3,340,000      CC Holdings GS V LLC, 3.85%, 4/15/23      3,452,855  
  915,000      Northwest Florida Timber Finance LLC, 4.75%, 3/4/29(a)      951,678  
     

 

 

 
        4,404,533  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.6%):       
  1,369,000      Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, 4.15%, 12/15/48, Callable 6/15/48 @ 100      1,686,661  
  313,000      Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, 2.88%, 6/15/52, Callable 12/15/51 @ 100      315,620  
  1,794,000      CSX Corp., 2.60%, 11/1/26, Callable 8/1/26 @ 100      1,869,791  
  540,000      CSX Corp., 3.25%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      579,010  
  534,000      CSX Corp., 4.10%, 3/15/44, Callable 9/15/43 @ 100      624,868  
  145,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 2.90%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      152,170  
  1,356,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 2.55%, 11/1/29, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100      1,389,135  
  243,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 3.40%, 11/1/49, Callable 5/1/49 @ 100      261,456  
  478,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 3.95%, 3/10/25, Callable 1/10/25 @ 100(a)      509,341  
  1,490,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 1.20%, 11/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(a)      1,455,088  
  397,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 4.45%, 1/29/26, Callable 11/29/25 @ 100(a)      436,114  
  633,000      Ryder System, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/25, Callable 5/1/25 @ 100, MTN      696,628  
  1,566,000      Ryder System, Inc., 3.35%, 9/1/25, Callable 8/1/25 @ 100, MTN      1,656,554  
  349,000      Ryder System, Inc., 2.90%, 12/1/26, Callable 10/1/26 @ 100      363,558  
  1,707,000      Union Pacific Corp., 2.89%, 4/6/36, Callable 1/6/36 @ 100      1,784,482  
  2,000      Union Pacific Corp., 4.50%, 9/10/48, Callable 3/10/48 @ 100      2,563  
  1,224,000      Union Pacific Corp., 3.25%, 2/5/50, Callable 8/5/49 @ 100      1,313,017  
  85,000      Union Pacific Corp., 2.95%, 3/10/52, Callable 9/10/51 @ 100      86,215  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
$ 383,397      Union Pacific Railroad Co., Series 2014-1, 3.23%, 5/14/26    $ 404,538  
     

 

 

 
        15,586,809  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.7%):       
  287,000      Applied Materials, Inc., 4.35%, 4/1/47, Callable 10/1/46 @ 100      365,617  
  1,271,000      Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd., 3.88%, 1/15/27, Callable 10/15/26 @ 100      1,378,426  
  1,085,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.70%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      1,185,631  
  288,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.46%, 9/15/26, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100      306,820  
  2,580,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      2,935,947  
  2,111,000      Broadcom, Inc., 5.00%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      2,459,163  
  2,025,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.15%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      2,246,284  
  5,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(a)      4,888  
  335,000      Intel Corp., 3.10%, 2/15/60, Callable 8/15/59 @ 100      337,792  
  797,000      Intel Corp., 3.20%, 8/12/61, Callable 2/12/61 @ 100      818,097  
  16,000      KLA Corp., 4.65%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      17,346  
  925,000      KLA Corp., 3.30%, 3/1/50, Callable 8/28/49 @ 100      986,648  
  2,110,000      KLA-Tencor Corp., 4.10%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      2,386,857  
  155,000      Lam Research Corp., 3.75%, 3/15/26, Callable 1/15/26 @ 100      168,933  
  303,000      Lam Research Corp., 4.88%, 3/15/49, Callable 9/15/48 @ 100      411,684  
  627,000      Lam Research Corp., 2.88%, 6/15/50, Callable 12/15/49 @ 100      630,024  
  1,249,000      NVIDIA Corp., 1.55%, 6/15/28, Callable 4/15/28 @ 100      1,233,842  
  685,000      QUALCOMM, Inc., 4.30%, 5/20/47, Callable 11/20/46 @ 100      855,079  
     

 

 

 
        18,729,078  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.0%):       
  1,438,000      Autodesk, Inc., 2.85%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      1,484,050  
  1,171,000      Citrix Systems, Inc., 3.30%, 3/1/30, Callable 12/1/29 @ 100      1,185,033  
  3,721,000      Oracle Corp., 2.80%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      3,837,605  
  3,274,000      Oracle Corp., 2.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      3,260,158  
  120,000      Oracle Corp., 4.30%, 7/8/34, Callable 1/8/34 @ 100      132,974  
  1,072,000      Oracle Corp., 3.90%, 5/15/35, Callable 11/15/34 @ 100      1,149,788  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Software, continued       
$ 1,560,000      Oracle Corp., 3.85%, 7/15/36, Callable 1/15/36 @ 100    $ 1,654,062  
  3,040,000      Oracle Corp., 3.80%, 11/15/37, Callable 5/15/37 @ 100      3,162,336  
  591,000      Oracle Corp., 6.13%, 7/8/39      781,035  
  2,111,000      Oracle Corp., 3.60%, 4/1/40, Callable 10/1/39 @ 100      2,127,147  
  3,356,000      Oracle Corp., 5.38%, 7/15/40      4,115,560  
  374,000      salesforce.com, Inc., 3.05%, 7/15/61, Callable 1/15/61 @ 100      385,828  
  1,499,000      ServiceNow, Inc., 1.40%, 9/1/30, Callable 6/1/30 @ 100      1,392,593  
  281,000      Vmware, Inc., 4.65%, 5/15/27, Callable 3/15/27 @ 100      316,996  
  427,000      Vmware, Inc., 3.90%, 8/21/27, Callable 5/21/27 @ 100      466,255  
  361,000      Vmware, Inc., 1.80%, 8/15/28, Callable 6/15/28 @ 100      351,714  
  1,164,000      Vmware, Inc., 2.20%, 8/15/31, Callable 5/15/31 @ 100      1,143,817  
     

 

 

 
        26,946,951  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.1%):       
  1,251,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.00%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      1,350,757  
  861,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 3.65%, 4/5/29, Callable 1/5/29 @ 100      943,081  
  486,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 2.80%, 9/15/41, Callable 3/15/41 @ 100      474,603  
     

 

 

 
        2,768,441  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.1%):       
  1,261,000      Apple, Inc., 4.65%, 2/23/46, Callable 8/23/45 @ 100      1,661,042  
  427,000      Apple, Inc., 3.85%, 8/4/46, Callable 2/4/46 @ 100      505,583  
  98,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 8.35%, 7/15/46, Callable 1/15/46 @ 100      163,805  
  541,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 3.45%, 12/15/51, Callable 6/15/51 @ 100(a)      517,320  
     

 

 

 
        2,847,750  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.6%):       
  415,000      Altria Group, Inc., 2.20%, 6/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      502,858  
  1,320,000      Altria Group, Inc., 3.13%, 6/15/31, Callable 3/15/31 @ 100      1,665,857  
  4,955,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.80%, 2/14/39, Callable 8/14/38 @ 100      5,991,977  
  84,000      Altria Group, Inc., 6.20%, 2/14/59, Callable 8/14/58 @ 100      108,744  
  1,549,000      BAT Capital Corp., 3.22%, 9/6/26, Callable 7/6/26 @ 100      1,608,319  
  567,000      BAT Capital Corp., 4.76%, 9/6/49, Callable 3/6/49 @ 100      608,758  
  900,000      Philip Morris International, Inc., 2.00%, 5/9/36, Callable 2/9/36 @ 100      1,045,415  
  700,000      Philip Morris International, Inc., 1.45%, 8/1/39, Callable 5/1/39 @ 100      736,601  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Tobacco, continued       
$ 1,411,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 4.45%, 6/12/25, Callable 3/12/25 @ 100    $ 1,523,141  
  1,732,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.85%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      2,101,728  
     

 

 

 
        15,893,398  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  1,405,000      Air Lease Corp., 2.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100, MTN      1,444,867  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.5%):       
  11,257,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      12,185,613  
  290,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.40%, 10/15/52, Callable 4/15/52 @ 100(a)      289,495  
     

 

 

 
        12,475,108  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $645,052,702)

     645,342,335  
  

 

 

 
Foreign Bonds (2.8%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  1,100,000      Airbus SE, 2.00%, 4/7/28, Callable 1/7/28 @ 100+(a)      1,361,116  
  1,000,000      Thales SA, 0.00%, 5/31/22, Callable 4/30/22 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,139,635  
  1,200,000      Thales SA, 0.75%, 6/7/23, Callable 3/7/23 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,382,480  
  100,000      Thales SA, 0.75%, 1/23/25, Callable 10/23/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      115,891  
     

 

 

 
        3,999,122  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  630,000      Conti-Gummi Finance BV, 1.13%, 9/25/24, Callable 6/25/24 @ 100+(a)      734,853  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  310,000      Daimler International Finance BV, Series E, 0.25%, 11/6/23, MTN+(a)      355,277  
  870,000      Stellantis NV, 1.25%, 6/20/33, Callable 3/20/33 @ 100, MTN+(a)      964,287  
  300,000      Volkswagen International Finance NV, 4.13%, 11/16/38+(a)      472,624  
     

 

 

 
        1,792,188  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.4%):       
  900,000      Banco de Sabadell SA, 1.12%(EUSA1+155bps), 3/11/27, Callable 3/11/26 @ 100+(a)      1,042,505  
  600,000      Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel SA, Series E, 0.75%, 6/15/23, MTN+(a)      692,633  
  920,000      Barclays plc, 0.58%(EUSA1+126bps), 8/9/29, Callable 8/9/28 @ 100+(a)      1,021,926  
  2,000,000      BNP Paribas SA, 0.25%(EUR003M+70bps), 4/13/27, Callable 4/13/26 @ 100, MTN+(a)      2,251,175  
  800,000      BNP Paribas SA, 0.50%(EUR0003M+83bps), 1/19/30, Callable 1/19/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      889,086  
  500,000      BPCE SA, 0.25%, 1/15/26+(a)      567,854  
  300,000      de Volksbank NV, 1.75%(EUSA5+2.1bps), 10/22/30, Callable 10/22/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      353,472  
  300,000      Erste Group Bank AG, 1.62%(EUAMDB05+210bps), 9/8/31, Callable 6/8/26 @ 100+(a)      350,832  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 540,000      FCA Bank SpA, 0.50%, 9/18/23, Callable 6/18/23 @ 100+(a)    $ 618,926  
  400,000      KBC Group NV, Series E, 1.13%, 1/25/24, MTN+(a)      466,883  
  440,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Series E, 0.52%, 6/10/24, MTN+(a)      507,355  
  435,000      Simon International Finance SCA, 1.38%, 11/18/22, Callable 8/18/22 @ 100+(a)      500,629  
  1,000,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), Series E, 0.38%, 4/25/24+(a)      1,148,822  
     

 

 

 
        10,412,098  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.1%):       
  180,000      Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., 0.01%, 4/19/24, Callable 3/19/24 @ 100+(a)      204,872  
  360,000      Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., 0.16%, 10/23/24, Callable 9/23/24 @ 100+(a)      410,720  
  600,000      Pernod Ricard SA, 0.00%, 10/24/23, Callable 9/24/23 @ 100+(a)      685,140  
     

 

 

 
        1,300,732  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.2%):       
  900,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.25%(EUAMDB01+350bps), 4/2/26, Callable 4/2/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,114,286  
  700,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 1.00%(EUR003M+1.6bps), 11/19/25, Callable 11/19/24 @ 100+(a)      810,256  
  670,000      SELP Finance Sarl, 0.88%, 5/27/29, Callable 2/27/29 @ 100+(a)      746,196  
  1,170,000      UBS Group AG, 0.25%(EUSA1+55bps), 1/29/26, Callable 1/29/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,333,333  
  240,000      UBS Group AG, 0.25%(EUSA1+0.77bps), 11/5/28, Callable 11/5/27 @ 100, MTN+(a)      268,256  
  1,140,000      Viterra Finance BV, 0.38%, 9/24/25, Callable 8/24/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,288,335  
     

 

 

 
        5,560,662  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  800,000      Air Liquide Finance SA, Series E, 0.38%, 4/18/22, Callable 1/24/22 @ 100+(a)      910,935  
  100,000      Arkema SA, 0.13%, 10/14/26, Callable 7/14/26 @ 100, MTN+(a)      113,877  
  390,000      Covestro AG, 0.88%, 2/3/26, Callable 11/3/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      452,640  
     

 

 

 
        1,477,452  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.1%):       
  1,110,000      Highland Holdings Sarl, 0.32%, 12/15/26, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100+      1,260,105  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.0%):       
  570,000      Toyota Motor Finance Netherlands BV, Series E, 0.25%, 1/10/22, MTN+(a)      648,898  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  320,000      Motability Operations Group plc, 0.13%, 7/20/28, MTN+(a)      356,196  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.3%):       
  660,000      BAT International Finance plc, Series E, 0.88%, 10/13/23, Callable 7/13/23 @ 100+(a)      760,710  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Diversified Financial Services, continued       
$ 515,000      BAT International Finance plc, 1.25%, 3/13/27, Callable 12/13/26 @ 100, MTN+(a)    $ 595,624  
  490,000      BP Capital Markets BV, 1.47%, 9/21/41+(a)      541,525  
  825,000      BP Capital Matkets plc, 3.25%(EUSA5+388bps), Callable 3/22/26 @ 100+(a)      993,178  
  330,000      Enel Finance International NV, 0.03%, 6/17/24, Callable 5/17/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      375,347  
  600,000      Holcim Finance Luxembourg SA, 0.13%, 7/19/27, MTN+(a)      670,046  
  390,000      Holcim Finance Luxembourg SA, 0.50%, 9/3/30, Callable 6/3/30 @ 100, MTN+(a)      426,828  
  320,000      Holcim Finance Luxembourg SA, 0.50%, 4/23/31, Callable 1/23/31 @ 100+(a)      345,595  
  600,000      PSA Banque France SA, 0.23%, 1/22/25, Callable 10/22/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      678,262  
  400,000      Total Capital International SA, Series E, 2.13%, 3/15/23, MTN+(a)      468,686  
  300,000      Volvo Treasury AB, 0.00%, 2/11/23, MTN+(a)      342,383  
  700,000      Vonovia Finance BV, 0.75%, 1/25/22, MTN+(a)      797,386  
  1,500,000      Vonovia Finance BV, Series E, 0.13%, 4/6/23, Callable 3/6/23 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,712,851  
     

 

 

 
        8,708,421  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  200,000      Orange SA, Series E, 0.75%, 9/11/23, Callable 6/11/23 @ 100, MTN+(a)      230,951  
  1,705,000      Telstra Corp., Ltd., Series E, 3.50%, 9/21/22, MTN+(a)      1,992,126  
     

 

 

 
        2,223,077  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  470,000      National Grid Electricity Transmission, 0.19%, 1/20/25, Callable 10/20/24 @ 100+(a)      536,067  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
  400,000      Schneider Electric SE, 0.00%, 6/12/23, Callable 5/12/23 @ 100, MTN+(a)      456,970  
  400,000      Schneider Electric SE, Series E, 0.25%, 9/9/24, Callable 6/9/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      459,356  
     

 

 

 
        916,326  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.0%):       
  750,000      Amphenol Technologies Holding GmbH, 0.75%, 5/4/26, Callable 2/4/26 @ 100+(a)      871,683  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.1%):       
  200,000      Icade Sante SAS, 1.38%, 9/17/30, Callable 6/17/30 @ 100+(a)      233,414  
  1,500,000      Merlin Properties Socimi SA, 1.88%, 12/4/34, Callable 9/4/34 @ 100+(a)      1,674,516  
     

 

 

 
        1,907,930  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.0%):       
  240,000      Tesco Corporate Treasury Services plc, 0.38%, 7/27/29, Callable 4/27/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      261,986  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.0%):       
  280,000      Mondelez International Holdings Netherlands BV, 1.25%, 9/9/41, Callable 6/9/41 @ 100+(a)      305,251  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):       
$ 730,000      DH Europe Finance II Sarl, 0.20%, 3/18/26, Callable 12/18/25 @ 100+    $ 829,661  
  320,000      Medtronic Global Holdings SCA, 1.38%, 10/15/40, Callable 4/15/40 @ 100+      362,541  
     

 

 

 
        1,192,202  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.0%):       
  390,000      Fresenius Finance Ireland plc, 0.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 7/1/31 @ 100, MTN+(a)      433,856  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.0%):       
  700,000      Amadeus IT Group SA, 2.88%, 5/20/27, Callable 2/20/27 @ 100, MTN+(a)      882,437  
  100,000      Amadeus IT Group SA, 1.88%, 9/24/28, Callable 6/24/28 @ 100, MTN+(a)      120,698  
     

 

 

 
        1,003,135  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.0%):       
  400,000      KION Group AG, 1.63%, 9/24/25, Callable 6/24/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      478,804  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  870,000      Informa plc, 2.13%, 10/6/25, Callable 7/6/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,036,972  
  610,000      SES SA, 2.00%, 7/2/28, Callable 4/2/28 @ 100+(a)      730,621  
  160,000      WPP Finance SA, 2.38%, 5/19/27, MTN+(a)      200,915  
     

 

 

 
        1,968,508  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  1,300,000      E.ON SE, 0.00%, 10/24/22, Callable 9/24/22 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,483,524  
  395,000      ESB Finance DAC, Series E, 3.49%, 1/12/24+(a)      481,628  
  280,000      Innogy Finance BV, Series E, 0.75%, 11/30/22, Callable 8/30/22 @ 100, MTN+(a)      320,950  
  200,000      Redexis Gas Finance BV, 1.88%, 5/28/25, Callable 2/28/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      238,692  
  100,000      Suez SA, 1.62%(EUAMDB05+215.1bps), Callable 6/1/26 @ 100+(a)      114,266  
  1,300,000      Veolia Environnement SA, Series E, 0.67%, 3/30/22, Callable 1/24/22 @ 100+(a)      1,480,564  
  200,000      Veolia Environnement SA, 1.59%, 1/10/28, Callable 10/10/27 @ 100, MTN+(a)      244,325  
  100,000      Veolia Environnement SA, 0.80%, 1/15/32, Callable 10/15/31 @ 100, MTN+(a)      114,154  
     

 

 

 
        4,478,103  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.2%):       
  330,000      Aker BP ASA, 1.13%, 5/12/29, Callable 2/12/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      372,744  
  720,000      Digital Dutch Finco BV, 1.50%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100+(a)      849,028  
  600,000      Digital Dutch Finco BV, 1.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 10/15/31 @ 100+(a)      661,487  
  800,000      Repsol Europe Finance Sarl, 0.88%, 7/6/33, Callable 1/6/33 @ 100, MTN+(a)      892,183  
  1,100,000      TotalEnergies SE, 1.75%(EUSA5+176.5bps), 12/31/99, Callable 4/4/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,274,148  
  1,600,000      TotalEnergies SE, 1.62%(EUSA5+199.3bps), 12/31/99, Callable 10/25/27 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,803,217  
     

 

 

 
        5,852,807  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Pharmaceuticals (0.2%):       
$ 475,000      Abbott Ireland Financing DAC, 0.88%, 9/27/23, Callable 8/27/23 @ 100+(a)    $ 550,914  
  490,000      Abbott Ireland Financing DAC, 0.10%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100+(a)      560,987  
  500,000      Merck Financial Services GmbH, 0.13%, 7/16/25, Callable 4/16/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      571,645  
  200,000      Merck KGaA, 1.62%(EUAMDB05+194.8bps), 6/25/79, Callable 9/18/24 @ 100+(a)      233,480  
  1,125,000      Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 2.00%, 7/9/40, Callable 1/9/40 @ 100+      1,381,690  
  840,000      Upjohn Finance BV, 1.02%, 6/23/24, Callable 5/23/24 @ 100+(a)      977,012  
     

 

 

 
        4,275,728  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  520,000      RELX Finance BV, 0.00%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100+(a)      592,812  
  220,000      Wolters Kluwer NV, 0.75%, 7/3/30, Callable 4/3/30 @ 100+(a)      251,160  
     

 

 

 
        843,972  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.1%):       
  2,100,000      Heimstaden Bostad Treasury BV, 0.25%, 10/13/24, Callable 9/13/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      2,393,689  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  280,000      Kojamo Oyj, 0.88%, 5/28/29, Callable 2/28/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      313,778  
  600,000      Vonovia SE, 0.63%, 12/14/29, Callable 9/14/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      671,596  
     

 

 

 
        985,374  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.1%):       
  600,000      Traton Finance Luxembourg SA, 0.12%, 6/14/24, Callable 5/14/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      680,995  
  600,000      Traton Finance Luxembourg SA, 0.13%, 11/10/24, Callable 10/10/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      681,732  
     

 

 

 
        1,362,727  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.2%):       
  4,165,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 1.45%, 10/25/33, Callable 7/25/33 @ 100, MTN+      4,393,820  
  714,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 2.13%, 10/25/51, Callable 4/25/51 @ 100+      670,726  
     

 

 

 
        5,064,546  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.0%):       
  100,000      Kering SA, 0.75%, 5/13/28, Callable 2/13/28 @ 100, MTN+(a)      117,426  
  690,000      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Series E, 0.38%, 5/26/22, Callable 2/26/22 @ 100, MTN+(a)      786,396  
     

 

 

 
        903,822  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.0%):       
  410,000      Imperial Brands Finance Netherlands BV, 1.75%, 3/18/33, Callable 12/18/32 @ 100, MTN+(a)      454,583  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bonds (Cost $75,380,497)

     74,964,903  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations (5.8%):       
Airlines (0.0%):       
$ 283,544      Air Canada Pass Through Trust, Series 2017-1, Class A, 3.30%, 7/15/31(a)    $ 286,727  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  1,122,000      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 4.81%, 9/17/30, Callable 6/17/30 @ 100(a)      1,256,406  
     

 

 

 
Banking (0.0%):       
  278,000      Banco Inbursa SA Institucion De Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Inbursa, 4.13%, 6/6/24(a)      289,719  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.6%):       
  290,000      Banco Nacional de Panama, 2.50%, 8/11/30, Callable 5/11/30 @ 100(a)      271,512  
  2,800,000      Banco Santander SA, 2.71%, 6/27/24      2,895,085  
  405,000      Barclays plc, 3.68%, 1/10/23, Callable 1/10/22 @ 100      405,021  
  1,576,000      Barclays plc, 4.61% (US0003M+140 bps), 2/15/23, Callable 2/15/22 @ 100      1,582,613  
  1,752,000      Barclays plc, 2.67% (H15T1Y+120 bps), 3/10/32, Callable 3/10/31 @ 100      1,735,475  
  2,084,000      BNP Paribas SA, 2.82% (US0003M+1 bps), 11/19/25, Callable 11/19/24 @ 100(a)      2,144,696  
  1,254,000      BPCE SA, 2.70%, 10/1/29(a)      1,278,002  
  331,000      Credicorp, Ltd., 2.75%, 6/17/25, Callable 5/17/25 @ 100(a)      334,310  
  772,000      Danske Bank A/S, 5.00%, 1/12/22(a)      772,753  
  854,000      Danske Bank A/S, 3.88%, 9/12/23(a)      889,478  
  1,102,000      Danske Bank A/S, 5.38%, 1/12/24(a)      1,186,419  
  3,787,000      Danske Bank A/S, 1.23%, 6/22/24, Callable 6/22/23 @ 100(a)      3,789,840  
  856,000      Danske Bank A/S, 3.24% (US0003M+159 bps), 12/20/25, Callable 12/20/24 @ 100(a)      890,091  
  681,000      Danske Bank A/S, 1.55%, 9/10/27, Callable 9/10/26 @ 100(a)      662,731  
  2,053,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 3.26% (US0003M+106 bps), 3/13/23, Callable 3/13/22 @ 100      2,062,372  
  527,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 1.59% (SOFR+129 bps), 5/24/27, Callable 5/24/26 @ 100      514,823  
  1,355,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.25% (SOFR+110 bps), 11/22/27, Callable 11/22/26 @ 100      1,352,775  
  828,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.58% (US0003M+153 bps), 6/19/29, Callable 6/19/28 @ 100      927,593  
  278,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.21% (SOFR+129 bps), 8/17/29, Callable 8/17/28 @ 100      272,238  
  623,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.80% (SOFR+119 bps), 5/24/32, Callable 5/24/31 @ 100      625,286  
  875,000      ING Groep NV, 4.63%, 1/6/26(a)      971,127  
  348,000      Intercorp Peru, Ltd., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100(a)      338,804  
  1,330,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 2.91% (US0003M+81 bps), 11/7/23, Callable 11/7/22 @ 100      1,351,300  
  1,751,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 4.38%, 3/22/28      1,969,805  
  3,161,000      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., 3.20%, 7/18/29      3,338,443  
  1,415,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 2.84% (US0003M+98 bps), 7/16/25, Callable 7/16/24 @ 100^      1,463,703  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 1,015,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 2.56% (US0003M+110 bps), 9/13/25, Callable 9/13/24 @ 100    $ 1,043,167  
  352,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 2.23% (US0003M+83 bps), 5/25/26, Callable 5/25/25 @ 100      356,976  
  2,242,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 1.98% (US0003M+127 bps), 9/8/31, Callable 9/8/30 @ 100      2,170,476  
  811,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 2.26% (H15T1Y+90 bps), 7/9/32, Callable 7/9/31 @ 100^      795,186  
  375,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 4.80% (US0003M+157 bps), 11/15/24, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100      398,038  
  1,586,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.09% (SOFR+79 bps), 3/15/25, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      1,567,991  
  1,539,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.53% (H15T1Y+125 bps), 8/21/26, Callable 8/21/25 @ 100      1,514,287  
  1,518,000      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc., 3.04%, 7/16/29      1,584,364  
  170,000      Uruguay Government International Bond, 5.10%, 6/18/50      225,250  
     

 

 

 
        43,682,030  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.1%):       
  260,000      Embotelladora Andina SA, 3.95%, 1/21/50, Callable 7/21/49 @ 100(a)      269,750  
  1,457,000      Suntory Holdings, Ltd., 2.25%, 10/16/24, Callable 9/16/24 @ 100(a)      1,485,952  
     

 

 

 
        1,755,702  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.2%):       
  3,546,000      Shire Acquisitions Investments, 3.20%, 9/23/26, Callable 6/23/26 @ 100      3,758,824  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.4%):       
  3,122,000      Credit Suisse AG, 1.25%, 8/7/26      3,044,240  
  395,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.09% (SOFR+173 bps), 5/14/32, Callable 5/14/31 @ 100(a)      401,526  
  1,640,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 1.45% (SOFR+113 bps), 4/1/25, Callable 4/1/24 @ 100      1,631,134  
  206,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 4.10%, 1/13/26^      220,713  
  1,921,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 1.69%, 3/19/26      1,916,290  
  2,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 4.65% (US0003M+173 bps), 3/27/29, Callable 3/27/28 @ 100(a)      2,247  
  958,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc., 2.68%, 7/16/30      955,887  
  475,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc., 2.61%, 7/14/31      469,062  
  650,000      SA Global Sukuk, Ltd., 2.69%, 6/17/31, Callable 3/17/31 @ 100(a)      654,551  
  1,888,000      UBS Group AG, 2.86% (US0003M+95 bps), 8/15/23, Callable 8/15/22 @ 100(a)      1,909,661  
     

 

 

 
        11,205,311  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  299,000      Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV, 1.88%, 5/11/26, Callable 4/11/26 @ 100(a)      293,847  
  255,000      Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, 4.25%, 1/22/50, Callable 7/22/49 @ 100(a)      274,444  
     

 

 

 
        568,291  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Consumer Finance (0.1%):       
$ 1,675,000      Hyundai Capital Services, Inc., 3.00%, 8/29/22(a)    $ 1,697,596  
  1,390,000      Hyundai Capital Services, Inc., 3.75%, 3/5/23(a)      1,430,602  
     

 

 

 
        3,128,198  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.5%):       
  270,000      Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior SA, 2.38%, 9/14/25, Callable 8/15/25 @ 100(a)      270,263  
  1,331,000      GE Capital International Funding, 4.42%, 11/15/35      1,595,190  
  55,000      nVent Finance Sarl, 2.75%, 11/15/31, Callable 8/15/31 @ 100      54,820  
  1,077,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 3.15%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100(a)      1,129,428  
  4,280,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 4.30%, 6/18/29, Callable 3/18/29 @ 100(a)      4,794,944  
  372,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 3.40%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100(a)      396,781  
  1,164,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 2.50%, 5/11/31, Callable 2/11/31 @ 100(a)      1,167,015  
  48,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 3.25%, 11/30/51, Callable 5/30/51 @ 100(a)      48,102  
  1,040,000      ORIX Corp., 2.90%, 7/18/22      1,051,639  
  1,755,000      Shell International Finance BV, 2.38%, 11/7/29, Callable 8/7/29 @ 100      1,791,820  
  289,000      Shell International Finance BV, 4.55%, 8/12/43      358,869  
     

 

 

 
        12,658,871  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication (0.0%):       
  250,000      Saudi Telecom Co., 3.89%, 5/13/29(a)      274,687  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.0%):       
  389,000      Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, 2.49%, 9/19/23, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(a)      396,732  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  327,000      Kallpa Generacion SA, 4.13%, 8/16/27, Callable 5/16/27 @ 100(a)      339,550  
  230,000      Saudi Electricity Global Sukuk Co. 2, 5.06%, 4/8/43(a)      291,928  
     

 

 

 
        631,478  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):       
  272,000      Cibanco SA Ibm/PLA Administradora Industrial S de RL de CV, 4.96%, 7/18/29, Callable 4/18/29 @ 100(a)      293,420  
  269,000      Trust Fibra Uno, 5.25%, 12/15/24, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100(a)      290,856  
  253,000      Trust Fibra Uno, 6.39%, 1/15/50, Callable 7/15/49 @ 100^(a)      296,638  
     

 

 

 
        880,914  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.0%):       
  260,000      SURA Asset Management SA, 4.88%, 4/17/24(a)      273,650  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.0%):       
  556,000      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., 3.44%, 5/13/41, Callable 11/13/40 @ 100(a)      573,199  
  250,000      Cencosud SA, 5.15%, 2/12/25, Callable 11/12/24 @ 100(a)      269,023  
     

 

 

 
        842,222  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Food Products (0.0%):       
$ 277,000      Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV, 4.00%, 9/6/49(a)    $ 300,125  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.0%):       
  302,000      Consorcio Transmantaro SA, 4.70%, 4/16/34(a)      332,200  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewabl (0.0%):       
  210,000      Colbun SA, 3.15%, 1/19/32, Callable 10/19/31 @ 100(a)      206,706  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.0%):
      
  280,000      Adani Electricity Mumbai, Ltd., 3.95%, 2/12/30(a)      276,850  
  270,000      AES Panama Generation Holdings SRL, 4.38%, 5/31/30, Callable 2/28/30 @ 100(a)      281,138  
     

 

 

 
        557,988  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  250,000      Raizen Fuels Finance SA, 5.30%, 1/20/27(a)      272,732  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.1%):       
  490,000      Baidu, Inc., 4.38%, 5/14/24, Callable 4/14/24 @ 100      521,160  
  475,000      Baidu, Inc., 4.38%, 3/29/28, Callable 12/29/27 @ 100      525,017  
  1,511,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 2.99%, 1/19/23, Callable 12/19/22 @ 100(a)      1,535,404  
  515,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 3.60%, 1/19/28, Callable 10/19/27 @ 100(a)      547,982  
     

 

 

 
        3,129,563  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.0%):       
  320,000      Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., 2.80%, 6/6/23, Callable 5/6/23 @ 100      327,534  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.0%):       
  670,000      Trane Technologies Luxembourg Finance SA, 3.50%, 3/21/26, Callable 1/21/26 @ 100      713,591  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.1%):       
  260,000      Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA, 4.20%, 1/29/30, Callable 10/29/29 @ 100(a)      277,740  
  366,000      Equate Petrochemical BV, 4.25%, 11/3/26(a)      398,155  
  240,000      Fibria Overseas Finance, Ltd., 5.50%, 1/17/27      268,800  
  250,000      Inversiones CMPC SA, 4.38%, 4/4/27^(a)      273,833  
  329,000      MEGlobal Canada ULC, 5.88%, 5/18/30(a)      398,501  
  540,000      Metalloinvest Finance DAC, 3.38%, 10/22/28, Callable 7/22/28 @ 100(a)      534,057  
  240,000      SABIC Capital II BV, 4.50%, 10/10/28(a)      270,690  
     

 

 

 
        2,421,776  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.2%):       
  2,622,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.75%, 4/10/27(a)      2,917,295  
  365,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.00%, 9/11/27(a)      392,909  
  297,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.50%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(a)      327,597  
  1,074,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 2.25%, 3/17/28, Callable 1/17/28 @ 100^(a)      1,058,555  
  290,000      Antofagasta plc, 2.38%, 10/14/30, Callable 7/14/30 @ 100^(a)      276,698  
  260,000      Corp Nacional del Cobre de Chile, 3.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100^(a)      276,250  
  260,000      Vale Overseas, Ltd., 3.75%, 7/8/30, Callable 4/8/30 @ 100      269,779  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
$ 200,000      Vale Overseas, Ltd., 6.88%, 11/10/39    $ 268,750  
     

 

 

 
        5,787,833  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.2%):       
  56,000      Cenovus Energy, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/52, Callable 8/15/51 @ 100      56,212  
  555,000      Ecopetrol SA, 4.13%, 1/16/25      565,406  
  230,000      Galaxy Pipeline Assets Bidco, Ltd., 2.94%, 9/30/40(a)      229,371  
  270,000      KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, 3.50%, 4/14/33, Callable 10/14/32 @ 100(a)      279,112  
  281,000      Lukoil Capital DAC, 2.80%, 4/26/27, Callable 1/26/27 @ 100(a)      276,806  
  259,000      Lukoil Securities BV, 3.88%, 5/6/30(a)      264,180  
  270,000      Pertamina Persero PT, 3.10%, 1/21/30, Callable 10/21/29 @ 100(a)      275,062  
  280,000      Pertamina Persero PT, 4.15%, 2/25/60, Callable 8/25/59 @ 100^(a)      280,350  
  260,000      Petronas Capital, Ltd., 3.50%, 4/21/30, Callable 1/21/30 @ 100(a)      281,455  
  230,000      Petronas Capital, Ltd., 4.55%, 4/21/50, Callable 10/21/49 @ 100(a)      285,961  
  275,000      Qatar Energy, 2.25%, 7/12/31, Callable 4/12/31 @ 100(a)      272,087  
  269,000      Qatar Energy, 3.30%, 7/12/51, Callable 1/12/51 @ 100(a)      278,267  
  280,000      Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 2.25%, 11/24/30, Callable 8/24/30 @ 100(a)      272,300  
  290,000      Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 3.25%, 11/24/50, Callable 5/24/50 @ 100(a)      282,388  
  290,000      Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 3.50%, 11/24/70, Callable 5/24/70 @ 100(a)      282,025  
  298,000      Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.80%, 5/15/38      417,061  
  250,000      Transportadora de Gas Internacional SA ESP, 5.55%, 11/1/28, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100(a)      276,250  
     

 

 

 
        4,874,293  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  240,000      Suzano Austria GmbH, 5.75%, 7/14/26(a)      273,650  
  270,000      Suzano Austria GmbH, 3.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      274,598  
     

 

 

 
        548,248  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.1%):       
  1,487,000      AstraZeneca plc, 1.38%, 8/6/30, Callable 5/6/30 @ 100      1,405,112  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.0%):       
  250,000      MAF Sukuk, Ltd., 3.93%, 2/28/30, MTN(a)      268,125  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  250,000      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., 2.95%, 1/23/23, Callable 12/23/22 @ 100(a)      254,657  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.9%):       
  200,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(a)      233,674  
  704,000      Chile Government International Bond, 3.24%, 2/6/28, Callable 11/6/27 @ 100      742,972  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 220,000      Chile Government International Bond, 2.45%, 1/31/31, Callable 10/31/30 @ 100    $ 219,201  
  1,780,000      Chile Government International Bond, 2.55%, 1/27/32, Callable 10/27/31 @ 100      1,778,307  
  2,563,000      Chile Government International Bond, 2.55%, 7/27/33, Callable 4/27/33 @ 100      2,492,518  
  200,000      Chile Government International Bond, 3.86%, 6/21/47      222,806  
  1,905,000      Colombia Government International Bond, 3.13%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100      1,711,713  
  860,000      Colombia Government International Bond, 3.25%, 4/22/32, Callable 1/22/32 @ 100      770,907  
  246,000      Hungary Government International Bond, 7.63%, 3/29/41      402,977  
  200,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 3.85%, 10/15/30^      224,752  
  236,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 7.75%, 1/17/38(a)      359,003  
  200,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 6.75%, 1/15/44(a)      296,010  
  200,000      Israel Government International Bond, 4.50%, 1/30/43      256,371  
  350,000      Kazakhstan Government International Bond, 4.88%, 10/14/44(a)      429,163  
  5,119,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 4.15%, 3/28/27      5,658,220  
  1,120,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 3.75%, 1/11/28      1,204,401  
  390,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 4.75%, 4/27/32, Callable 1/27/32 @ 100      442,296  
  210,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 4.60%, 2/10/48      225,348  
  370,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 5.75%, 10/12/10      428,592  
  589,561      Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.50%, 8/14/24^      624,140  
  2,175,000      Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.38%, 10/27/27      2,441,438  
  884,000      Panama Government International Bond, 3.16%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      914,940  
  2,295,000      Panama Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/1/56, Callable 10/1/55 @ 100      2,521,631  
  200,000      Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN Indonesia III, 4.15%, 3/29/27(a)      221,500  
  438,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 2.78%, 1/23/31, Callable 10/23/30 @ 100      436,287  
  55,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 3.00%, 1/15/34, Callable 10/15/33 @ 100      54,315  
  230,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 3.30%, 3/11/41, Callable 9/11/40 @ 100      231,762  
  230,000      Philippine Government International Bond, 1.65%, 6/10/31      222,335  
  1,725,000      Philippine Government International Bond, 1.95%, 1/6/32      1,698,985  
  210,000      Philippine Government International Bond, 3.70%, 2/2/42      229,097  
  689,000      Province of Manitoba, 3.05%, 5/14/24      721,721  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.00%, 3/14/29(a)    $ 225,219  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.75%, 4/16/30(a)      224,189  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 5.10%, 4/23/48(a)      271,297  
  3,516,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.88%, 4/25/27, Callable 1/25/27 @ 100      3,540,369  
  275,000      Republic of Colombia, 4.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      280,955  
  567,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.00%, 1/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100^      516,568  
  581,000      Republic of Indonesia, 4.10%, 4/24/28      647,823  
  2,840,000      Republic of Indonesia, 2.85%, 2/14/30      2,957,079  
  327,000      Republic of Panama, 4.00%, 9/22/24, Callable 6/22/24 @ 100      347,029  
  820,000      Republic of Panama, 3.88%, 3/17/28, Callable 12/17/27 @ 100      884,575  
  540,000      Republic of Panama, 4.50%, 5/15/47      595,350  
  1,180,000      Republic of Peru, 4.13%, 8/25/27      1,319,786  
  1,031,000      Republic of Peru, 5.63%, 11/18/50      1,456,291  
  3,200,000      Republic of Philippines, 3.00%, 2/1/28      3,433,747  
  220,000      Romanian Government International Bond, 3.00%, 2/14/31^(a)      223,193  
  420,000      Romanian Government International Bond, 4.00%, 2/14/51(a)      420,798  
  200,000      Russian Foreign Bond—Eurobond, 4.25%, 6/23/27(a)      215,790  
  200,000      Russian Foreign Bond—Eurobond, 4.38%, 3/21/29(a)      219,966  
  400,000      Russian Foreign Bond—Eurobond, 5.10%, 3/28/35(a)      473,484  
  200,000      Russian Foreign Bond—Eurobond, 5.25%, 6/23/47(a)      254,000  
  210,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 2.50%, 2/3/27(a)      216,315  
  212,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 2.75%, 2/3/32(a)      217,838  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 5.00%, 4/17/49(a)      254,564  
  236,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.75%, 1/21/55(a)      250,179  
  1,946,000      United Mexican States, 4.50%, 4/22/29      2,168,311  
  1,190,000      Uruguay Government International Bond, 4.38%, 1/23/31, Callable 10/23/30 @ 100      1,371,475  
     

 

 

 
        51,403,572  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.0%):       
  270,000      Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Ltd., 3.38%, 7/24/24(a)      277,386  
  256,000      DP World Crescent, Ltd., 3.75%, 1/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100(a)      270,450  
     

 

 

 
        547,836  
     

 

 

 
Utilities (0.1%):       
  208,000      Interchile SA, 4.50%, 6/30/56, Callable 12/30/55 @ 100(a)      221,790  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Utilities, continued       
$ 485,000      Israel Electric Corp., Ltd., 4.25%, 8/14/28, MTN(a)    $ 531,209  
  280,000      Saudi Electricity Global Sukuk Co. 5, 2.41%, 9/17/30(a)      279,701  
     

 

 

 
        1,032,700  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Ser (0.0%):       
  280,000      Bharti Airtel, Ltd., 3.25%, 6/3/31, Callable 3/5/31 @ 100(a)      283,904  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  892,000      Vodafone Group plc, 5.25%, 5/30/48      1,167,467  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $156,027,739)

     157,725,724  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.2%):       
California (0.1%):  
  905,000      California State University Revenue, Series B, 2.72%, 11/1/52      860,375  
  50,000      University of California Revenue, 4.86%, 5/15/12      74,645  
  347,000      University of California Revenue, 4.77%, 5/15/15      498,153  
     

 

 

 
        1,433,173  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.0%):  
  575,000      New Jersey State Transportation Authority Revenue, Build America Bonds, GO, 6.56%, 12/15/40      849,229  
  270,000      New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Revenue, 4.13%, 6/15/42      300,561  
  165,000      New Jersey Turnpike Authority Revenue, Series B, 2.78%, 1/1/40, Continuously Callable @100      161,898  
     

 

 

 
        1,311,688  
     

 

 

 
New York (0.1%):  
  1,160,000      New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue, 5.00%, 2/15/31, Continuously Callable @100      1,510,761  
     

 

 

 
Texas (0.0%):  
  430,000      State of Texas, GO, Series B, 2.75%, 10/1/41, Continuously Callable @100      436,213  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $4,321,622)

     4,691,835  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (27.6%):       
Government National Mortgage Association (5.8%)  
  10,262      4.50%, 9/15/33, Pool #615516      11,619  
  40,125      5.00%, 12/15/33, Pool #783571      45,616  
  12,381      6.50%, 8/20/38, Pool #4223      14,841  
  12,057      6.50%, 10/15/38, Pool #673213      13,685  
  6,849      6.50%, 11/20/38, Pool #4292      8,207  
  12,751      6.50%, 12/15/38, Pool #782510      14,478  
  138,480      5.00%, 1/15/39, Pool #782557      157,596  
  55,749      5.00%, 4/15/39, Pool #711939      63,408  
  83,926      5.00%, 4/15/39, Pool #782619      95,680  
  8,786      4.00%, 4/20/39, Pool #4422      9,424  
  8,094      5.00%, 6/15/39, Pool #782696      9,225  
  28,095      4.00%, 7/20/39, Pool #4494      30,133  
  50,067      5.00%, 10/20/39, Pool #4559      56,747  
  5,511      4.50%, 12/20/39, Pool #G24598      5,991  
  14,193      4.50%, 1/15/40, Pool #728627      15,902  
  6,750      4.50%, 1/20/40, Pool #4617      7,339  
  5,515      4.50%, 2/20/40, Pool #G24636      6,125  
  42,799      5.00%, 5/15/40, Pool #782958      48,640  
  355      4.50%, 5/20/40, Pool #G24696      386  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 28,212      5.00%, 6/15/40, Pool #697862    $ 32,895  
  33,620      4.50%, 7/15/40, Pool #745793      37,870  
  283,931      4.50%, 7/15/40, Pool #733795      321,816  
  13,659      4.50%, 7/20/40, Pool #4746      14,851  
  25,666      4.50%, 8/20/40, Pool #4771      27,906  
  15,393      4.50%, 9/20/40, Pool #748948      16,816  
  7,532      4.00%, 9/20/40, Pool #G24800      8,110  
  55,409      4.50%, 10/15/40, Pool #783609      62,332  
  25,151      4.50%, 10/20/40, Pool #4834      27,348  
  196,923      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      212,041  
  369,905      4.00%, 11/20/40, Pool #4853      405,098  
  179,734      4.00%, 12/20/40, Pool #G24882      193,538  
  92,257      4.00%, 1/15/41, Pool #759138      100,463  
  162,195      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      174,650  
  18,708      4.50%, 2/15/41, Pool #738019      21,290  
  591,632      4.00%, 2/20/41, Pool #742887      642,203  
  2,819      4.00%, 2/20/41, Pool #4945      3,035  
  51,498      4.00%, 3/15/41, Pool #762838      56,070  
  4,097      5.00%, 4/20/41, Pool #5018      4,643  
  63,961      4.50%, 6/20/41, Pool #783590      67,513  
  9,101      5.00%, 6/20/41, Pool #5083      10,315  
  4,789      5.00%, 7/20/41, Pool #5116      5,429  
  152,029      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #5115      170,295  
  23,329      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #754367      25,128  
  129,159      4.00%, 7/20/41, Pool #742895      140,228  
  45,109      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #783584      47,616  
  45,492      4.50%, 11/15/41, Pool #783610      51,572  
  121,819      3.50%, 1/15/42, Pool #553461      131,148  
  179,295      4.00%, 4/20/42, Pool #MA0023      193,078  
  77,631      5.00%, 7/20/42, Pool #MA0223      87,982  
  203,120      3.50%, 4/15/43, Pool #AD2334      221,173  
  339,663      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #MA0934      364,877  
  192,327      3.50%, 5/20/43, Pool #MA1012      206,595  
  16,629      4.00%, 7/20/43, Pool #MA1158      17,907  
  675,668      4.50%, 6/20/44, Pool #MA1997      734,642  
  16,390      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AI4167      18,101  
  1,663      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AI4166      1,753  
  12,091      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AJ4687      13,351  
  12,022      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AJ2723      13,256  
  555,071      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #MA2149      597,578  
  26,656      3.00%, 12/20/44, Pool #MA2444      28,056  
  308,884      5.00%, 12/20/44, Pool #MA2448      350,220  
  302,514      3.00%, 2/15/45, Pool #784439      311,834  
  1,444,608      3.50%, 5/20/45, Pool #MA2826      1,525,785  
  188,729      5.00%, 12/20/45, Pool #MA3313      213,966  
  7,356,241      3.50%, 3/20/46, Pool #MA3521      7,762,646  
  1,420,093      3.50%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3663      1,498,549  
  479,226      3.50%, 7/20/46, Pool #MA3803      505,703  
  1,946,142      3.50%, 9/20/46, Pool #MA3937      2,053,665  
  113,201      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4345      122,398  
  179,190      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4344      191,753  
  61,865      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4343      66,180  
  85,427      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4342      91,072  
  73,175      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4341      79,955  
  10,297      4.00%, 10/20/46, Pool #AQ0542      10,936  
  108,217      4.50%, 3/15/47, Pool #AZ8560      123,474  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 106,388      4.50%, 4/15/47, Pool #AZ8597    $ 121,442  
  129,950      4.50%, 4/15/47, Pool #AZ8596      144,587  
  70,546      4.50%, 5/15/47, Pool #BA7888      78,492  
  1,899,788      4.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4511      2,026,254  
  19,390      4.00%, 9/15/47, Pool #BC5919      20,917  
  22,001      4.00%, 10/15/47, Pool #BD3187      23,604  
  22,789      4.00%, 10/15/47, Pool #BE1031      24,568  
  18,461      4.00%, 11/15/47, Pool #BE1030      19,984  
  1,526,066      4.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4838      1,627,657  
  25,688      4.00%, 12/15/47, Pool #BE4664      27,700  
  737,105      4.00%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4901      786,174  
  20,152      4.00%, 1/15/48, Pool #BE0204      21,521  
  26,290      4.00%, 1/15/48, Pool #BE0143      28,352  
  368,671      4.50%, 9/20/48, Pool #BD0560      389,399  
  672,248      4.50%, 3/20/49, Pool #MA5818      712,508  
  28,212      4.50%, 4/20/49, Pool #MA5877      29,860  
  307,434      4.50%, 5/20/49, Pool #MA5932      326,140  
  825,935      3.00%, 4/20/50, Pool #MA6599      855,412  
  541,896      4.50%, 4/20/50, Pool #MA6602      574,870  
  104,183      3.00%, 5/20/50, Pool #MA6656      107,856  
  403,173      4.00%, 5/20/50, Pool #MA6658      425,539  
  1,856,027      3.00%, 10/20/50, Pool #MA6932      1,925,640  
  2,688,000      4.50%, 1/20/51, TBA      2,833,740  
  1,701,553      3.00%, 1/20/51, Pool #MA7137      1,762,279  
  3,782,000      4.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      3,977,009  
  9,492,797      3.50%, 1/20/51, TBA      9,871,026  
  25,713,000      3.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      26,620,990  
  6,600,000      2.50%, 2/20/51, TBA      6,748,758  
  30,675,000      2.50%, 7/20/51, TBA      31,432,289  
  41,834,000      2.00%, 1/20/52, TBA      42,232,730  
     

 

 

 
        156,811,043  
     

 

 

 
Federal National Mortgage Association (19.2%)  
  85,461      2.50%, 9/1/27, Pool #AB6194      88,951  
  58,238      2.50%, 9/1/27, Pool #AP5205      60,284  
  21,508      2.50%, 2/1/28, Pool #AB8446      22,265  
  34,149      3.00%, 4/1/28, Pool #AT3121      35,786  
  51,730      2.50%, 4/1/28, Pool #AB8870      53,765  
  37,118      3.00%, 5/1/28, Pool #AT6033      38,909  
  145,857      2.50%, 8/1/28, Pool #AS0190      151,599  
  8,404      3.00%, 10/1/28, Pool #AQ4132      8,797  
  86,088      3.00%, 10/1/28, Pool #AU8774      90,236  
  161,227      3.50%, 10/1/28, Pool #AV0198      169,996  
  9,386      3.00%, 11/1/28, Pool #AV0298      9,826  
  298,023      3.50%, 11/1/28, Pool #AV1360      314,335  
  209,360      3.00%, 4/1/29, Pool #AW0937      222,060  
  175,629      3.00%, 5/1/29, Pool #AW2544      184,179  
  302,680      3.00%, 6/1/29, Pool #AS2676      321,072  
  397,340      3.00%, 7/1/29, Pool #AW4229      416,594  
  73,210      3.00%, 7/1/29, Pool #AW1281      76,593  
  77,894      3.50%, 9/1/29, Pool #AX0105      82,306  
  188,308      3.00%, 9/1/29, Pool #AS3220      199,734  
  613,132      3.00%, 9/1/29, Pool #AL6897      641,179  
  24,311      3.50%, 10/1/29, Pool #AX2741      25,700  
  113,813      3.00%, 10/1/29, Pool #AS3594      119,332  
  435,583      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #AL6144      462,022  
  2,605,000      1.77%, 1/15/30(c)      2,275,944  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 16,355      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #AS4488    $ 16,964  
  56,561      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #BM3403      58,656  
  15,065      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #AS4485      15,679  
  87,078      3.00%, 3/1/30, Pool #AL6583      91,425  
  111,252      2.50%, 3/1/30, Pool #AS4688      115,917  
  46,283      2.50%, 4/1/30, Pool #AY3416      48,220  
  69,882      3.00%, 4/1/30, Pool #AL6584      73,506  
  42,406      3.00%, 5/1/30, Pool #AL6761      44,345  
  26,890      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #AY0828      27,950  
  3,901,000      1.80%, 5/15/30(c)      3,383,575  
  224,377      3.00%, 6/1/30, Pool #AL9381      234,758  
  59,126      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AL7139      62,197  
  75,056      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AX9701      78,960  
  27,800      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AZ2170      28,970  
  10,496      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AZ2297      11,019  
  15,921      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AS5405      16,600  
  90,838      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AS5403      94,523  
  15,280      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AX9700      16,040  
  13,511      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AZ7833      14,182  
  6,669      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AZ8597      7,002  
  60,724      3.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5708      64,384  
  43,303      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5548      45,048  
  103,281      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AL7225      108,624  
  58,126      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5614      60,565  
  169,477      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #BM3552      175,683  
  76,210      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5623      80,795  
  73,050      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5622      76,833  
  97,034      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5616      100,976  
  15,933      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AX3298      16,728  
  88,370      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AL7227      93,707  
  32,167      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AZ5719      33,775  
  76,217      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5728      80,020  
  69,509      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5872      72,430  
  20,326      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AL7320      21,312  
  55,443      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5786      57,694  
  60,967      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5714      64,132  
  57,764      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6142      60,101  
  9,006      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AL7800      9,374  
  69,345      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6141      72,257  
  54,567      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6116      56,884  
  60,248      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6115      62,702  
  1,109,619      3.00%, 1/1/31, Pool #BM3537      1,161,958  
  92,344      2.50%, 3/1/31, Pool #BM1595      95,707  
  104,088      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #AS7320      108,599  
  184,966      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #AS7617      192,983  
  172,331      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #AS7605      179,799  
  45,048      4.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AY4707      48,331  
  6,949      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #BC2777      7,250  
  1,282,024      3.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AL9376      1,348,282  
  22,757      4.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AY4688      24,099  
  115,463      3.00%, 9/1/31, Pool #AL9378      121,813  
  429,077      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8208      447,682  
  774,236      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8195      812,281  
  293,546      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8193      306,181  
  1,466,499      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #BC4773      1,538,050  
  59,803      2.00%, 10/1/31, Pool #MA2774      61,283  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 227,170      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8009    $ 236,968  
  98,931      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC9040      101,382  
  301,842      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8251      309,347  
  140,563      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2628      147,460  
  103,750      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2629      108,213  
  222,958      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2631      232,979  
  126,300      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8245      132,500  
  163,010      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8241      170,037  
  351,341      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #BM3054      360,088  
  18,748      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8291      19,213  
  251,711      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8240      262,602  
  83,802      2.00%, 12/1/31, Pool #MA2845      85,884  
  13,588      3.00%, 2/1/32, Pool #BE5670      14,360  
  22,247      2.50%, 2/1/32, Pool #BM1036      23,208  
  222,374      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9317      231,225  
  407,072      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9318      422,919  
  249,716      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9316      259,343  
  533,844      2.00%, 3/1/32, Pool #BM3061      547,128  
  434,247      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9319      451,090  
  347,198      3.00%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9327      366,855  
  391,124      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9321      410,386  
  1,718,026      3.50%, 4/1/32, Pool #BM3503      1,827,403  
  1,273,281      3.50%, 5/1/32, Pool #BM1602      1,346,081  
  1,797,842      3.00%, 6/1/32, Pool #BM1791      1,900,623  
  523,324      2.50%, 8/1/32, Pool #BM3578      545,247  
  213,869      3.00%, 9/1/32, Pool #BM3240      223,964  
  66,523      3.50%, 11/1/32, Pool #BJ2054      70,758  
  68,242      5.50%, 1/1/33, Pool #676661      77,985  
  42,903      3.50%, 1/1/33, Pool #BJ2096      45,916  
  1,057,019      2.50%, 2/1/33, Pool #BM3793      1,101,089  
  2,353,058      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #FM1880      2,468,692  
  49,168      5.50%, 5/1/33, Pool #555424      56,219  
  65,077      4.00%, 9/1/33, Pool #BK7642      70,176  
  199,503      4.00%, 10/1/33, Pool #CA2527      211,190  
  204,694      4.00%, 11/1/33, Pool #CA2555      219,417  
  404,845      2.50%, 12/1/33, Pool #FM1680      419,755  
  120,785      5.50%, 2/1/35, Pool #735989      135,948  
  370,611      5.00%, 2/1/35, Pool #735226      417,834  
  28,926      5.00%, 3/1/35, Pool #735288      32,892  
  11,350      6.00%, 4/1/35, Pool #735504      13,277  
  207,364      3.00%, 8/1/35, Pool #CA6849      219,427  
  206,065      3.00%, 8/1/35, Pool #CA6876      218,879  
  55,976      5.00%, 9/1/35, Pool #889974      63,799  
  1,127,848      2.50%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8387      1,177,593  
  1,246,458      2.50%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8388      1,298,477  
  122,382      3.00%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8389      130,030  
  64,253      3.00%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8391      67,827  
  135,051      4.00%, 1/1/36, Pool #AB0686      149,731  
  160,234      3.50%, 1/25/36, TBA      168,246  
  2,275,000      2.50%, 1/25/36, TBA      2,353,559  
  277,280      5.50%, 9/1/36, Pool #995113      316,657  
  30,296      3.00%, 10/1/36, Pool #AL9227      31,427  
  95,984      3.00%, 11/1/36, Pool #AS8349      101,027  
  238,425      3.00%, 11/1/36, Pool #AS8348      250,923  
  223,830      3.00%, 12/1/36, Pool #BE1896      238,392  
  308,318      3.00%, 12/1/36, Pool #AS8553      334,519  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 32,260,000      2.00%, 1/25/37, TBA    $ 33,051,378  
  22,524,000      1.50%, 1/25/37, TBA      22,597,907  
  17,562      5.50%, 2/1/38, Pool #961545      19,665  
  9,909      6.00%, 3/1/38, Pool #889529      11,805  
  29,212      6.00%, 5/1/38, Pool #889466      34,805  
  55,185      5.50%, 5/1/38, Pool #889441      62,169  
  64,242      5.50%, 5/1/38, Pool #889692      73,279  
  42,451      5.50%, 6/1/38, Pool #995018      48,384  
  12,206      5.50%, 9/1/38, Pool #889995      13,823  
  29,763      6.00%, 10/1/38, Pool #889983      35,417  
  156,087      5.50%, 1/1/39, Pool #AB0200      180,781  
  55,276      4.50%, 4/1/39, Pool #930922      60,713  
  69,820      4.50%, 5/1/39, Pool #AL1472      77,904  
  50,581      3.50%, 5/1/39, Pool #MA3660      53,807  
  676,156      5.00%, 6/1/39, Pool #AL7521      770,656  
  461,452      6.00%, 7/1/39, Pool #BF0056      542,873  
  32,116      5.50%, 10/1/39, Pool #AD0362      36,180  
  30,339      5.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #AD0571      34,306  
  211,377      5.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #AC6680      241,465  
  201,825      3.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #MA3869      213,120  
  90,880      3.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #MA3891      96,677  
  3,136,565      4.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #AC8568      3,436,779  
  153,460      3.50%, 2/1/40, Pool #MA3935      163,250  
  26,992      5.50%, 3/1/40, Pool #AL5304      30,693  
  21,841      4.50%, 4/1/40, Pool #AD4038      24,776  
  197,692      6.00%, 4/1/40, Pool #AL4141      233,365  
  37,661      6.50%, 5/1/40, Pool #AL1704      43,489  
  46,244      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #AD7127      50,722  
  37,345      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #AB1226      40,948  
  22,766      6.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #AE0823      26,556  
  2,680,000      Class CY, Series 2010-1364.00%, 12/25/40      2,910,027  
  23,974      4.00%, 1/1/41, Pool #AL7167      26,176  
  3,601,480      Class ZA, Series 2011-84.00%, 2/25/41      3,829,353  
  45,736      6.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #AL4142      52,905  
  337,431      5.00%, 7/1/41, Pool #AL7524      380,639  
  18,499      4.50%, 7/1/41, Pool #AB3314      20,269  
  580,735      5.50%, 9/1/41, Pool #AL8430      659,243  
  31,458      4.50%, 9/1/41, Pool #AI8961      34,485  
  701,077      4.00%, 1/1/42, Pool #AB4307      771,206  
  159,393      3.50%, 1/1/42, Pool #AW8154      173,417  
  69,752      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #AO0777      73,415  
  24,819      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #AK7510      26,486  
  13,207      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #AO2881      14,095  
  141,874      4.00%, 5/1/42, Pool #AO2961      152,820  
  45,005      4.00%, 5/1/42, Pool #A02114      48,447  
  10,694      3.50%, 6/1/42, Pool #AO3048      11,400  
  15,099      3.50%, 6/1/42, Pool #AK9225      16,098  
  31,260      3.50%, 7/1/42, Pool #AO9707      33,327  
  143,623      4.50%, 9/1/42, Pool #AL2482      159,019  
  883,758      4.50%, 1/1/43, Pool #AL8206      974,560  
  76,085      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR9218      80,213  
  65,306      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR7576      68,800  
  54,383      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR7568      58,030  
  752      3.50%, 4/1/43, Pool #CA1530      795  
  77,893      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AR8630      82,127  
  100,745      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2040      106,165  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 66,068      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AB8923    $ 69,660  
  74,220      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2043      78,195  
  58,970      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AB8924      62,120  
  27,276      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2037      29,096  
  8,980      3.00%, 6/1/43, Pool #AB9564      9,653  
  605,029      5.00%, 12/1/43, Pool #AL7777      681,639  
  312,699      5.00%, 11/1/44, Pool #AL8878      355,771  
  231,311      3.50%, 2/1/45, Pool #BM1100      250,728  
  734,837      3.50%, 2/1/45, Pool #FM5294      788,408  
  167,947      5.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #BM3784      188,995  
  121,369      4.50%, 9/1/45, Pool #AL7936      135,562  
  65,930      4.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #AL9501      74,037  
  7,168,172      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #FM6411      7,665,377  
  4,090      4.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #AS6233      4,470  
  176,175      4.50%, 12/1/45, Pool #BM1756      195,102  
  16,721      3.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #AS7365      17,640  
  413,270      4.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BM3053      467,371  
  512,034      4.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BM1920      573,402  
  1,313,121      3.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BA7748      1,421,797  
  22,196      3.00%, 8/1/46, Pool #AL9031      23,859  
  726,440      Class UF, Series 2016-480.50% (US0001M+40bps), 8/25/46      728,543  
  1,197,171      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BD1469      1,257,402  
  119,571      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9643      126,852  
  327,383      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9644      347,110  
  265,443      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9645      280,086  
  262,644      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BE2103      285,380  
  1,099,320      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #AS8486      1,154,622  
  383,566      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE1534      415,938  
  990,745      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9920      1,076,377  
  73,822      3.50%, 3/1/47, Pool #BH0158      80,054  
  319,087      4.00%, 5/1/47, Pool #BH0398      345,878  
  603,685      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BD2417      654,161  
  459,840      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BM1174      494,036  
  184,457      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BE9375      199,945  
  158,890      3.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH0567      172,120  
  305,133      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #BH3401      330,760  
  396,260      4.00%, 8/1/47, Pool #BM1619      429,620  
  200,170      4.50%, 10/1/47, Pool #BM3052      224,592  
  835,413      3.50%, 11/1/47, Pool #MA3182      884,971  
  253,175      4.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #BH7067      276,038  
  1,739,518      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #FM5293      1,866,679  
  503,891      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #MA3238      533,783  
  381,267      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #BH9277      402,906  
  101,359      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #BJ9058      110,383  
  84,559      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #BJ9057      92,172  
  180,504      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BK1958      190,748  
  489,549      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BJ4916      517,333  
  256,055      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BJ0648      270,588  
  288,408      3.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #FM5295      313,720  
  4,920,504      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #FM7783      5,324,742  
  191,031      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #BM3846      211,683  
  2,744,224      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1704      3,035,753  
  17,183      3.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #MA3356      18,159  
  209,207      5.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #CA2317      228,853  
  104,532      4.50%, 7/1/48, Pool #BK6113      115,787  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 15,125      4.50%, 7/1/48, Pool #BK4471    $ 16,726  
  1,084,678      5.00%, 9/1/48, Pool #MA3472      1,186,541  
  95,211      5.00%, 10/1/48, Pool #MA3501      104,152  
  212,060      5.00%, 10/1/48, Pool #BK7881      231,976  
  151,244      5.00%, 11/1/48, Pool #MA3527      165,447  
  11,102      3.50%, 11/1/48, Pool #FM1543      11,791  
  58,903      5.00%, 12/1/48, Pool #BN4404      64,206  
  1,617,294      4.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #FM5296      1,778,783  
  147,819      5.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #BN3949      161,599  
  54,754      5.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #BN4430      59,684  
  359,245      3.50%, 6/1/49, Pool #FM5315      381,555  
  834,844      3.50%, 12/1/49, Pool #MA3210      884,664  
  27,899,832      3.00%, 1/25/50, TBA      28,919,920  
  138,415,000      2.00%, 2/25/50, TBA      137,766,180  
  5,906,191      3.00%, 3/1/50, Pool #FM5290      6,231,855  
  398,000      4.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM7703      423,690  
  2,178,966      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM5292      2,267,835  
  442,107      2.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #BQ0697      441,293  
  369,434      2.00%, 11/1/50, Pool #BQ6334      368,864  
  3,483,000      2.00%, 1/25/51, TBA      3,474,292  
  3,452,000      2.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      3,524,276  
  19,963,055      3.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      21,007,996  
  23,702,000      1.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      22,894,651  
  8,700,000      3.00%, 2/25/51, TBA      9,005,520  
  104,120,000      2.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      106,039,712  
  7,213,411      3.00%, 6/1/51, Pool #CB0848      7,597,733  
  11,469,000      4.00%, 2/25/52, TBA      12,195,669  
     

 

 

 
        517,946,915  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (2.4%)  
  3,650,000      Class A2, Series KC023.37%, 7/25/25, Callable 7/25/25 @ 100.00      3,870,788  
  115,932      3.00%, 9/1/27, Pool #U70060      121,343  
  68,436      3.00%, 7/1/28, Pool #U79018      71,574  
  591,000      1.74%, 9/15/29(c)      520,042  
  4,510,000      Class XFX, Series KL061.36%, 12/25/29      383,305  
  25,989      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #V60696      27,244  
  31,660      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #V60724      33,249  
  54,827      2.50%, 3/1/30, Pool #V60770      57,008  
  117,709      3.00%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31689      123,450  
  58,489      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31418      60,940  
  139,941      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31728      145,471  
  87,194      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #V60796      90,782  
  224,950      3.00%, 6/1/30, Pool #V60840      236,733  
  110,965      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #G15520      117,707  
  5,656      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #V60905      5,886  
  14,872      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32181      15,595  
  19,374      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32209      20,185  
  20,933      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32204      21,696  
  5,095      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32491      5,294  
  97,703      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60886      101,829  
  14,849      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #J32436      15,756  
  82,107      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60902      85,573  
  24,231      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60909      25,506  
  235,773      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #V60904      245,496  
  76,364      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #V60903      79,254  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 7,286,322      Class X1, Series K1211.03%, 10/25/30, Callable 7/25/30 @ 100.00    $ 550,919  
  197,000      1.87%, 3/15/31(c)      167,699  
  190,000      6.75%, 3/15/31^      272,630  
  398,091      2.50%, 4/1/31, Pool #G16186      414,983  
  8,463      3.00%, 10/1/32, Pool #J37706      8,874  
  10,222      3.00%, 11/1/32, Pool #J37835      10,714  
  8,446      3.00%, 12/1/32, Pool #J38060      8,852  
  2,801,232      2.50%, 4/1/33, Pool #ZS8087      2,906,758  
  127,687      3.50%, 1/1/34, Pool #ZS9068      138,783  
  80,656      5.50%, 2/1/35, Pool #G04692      93,545  
  492,536      3.50%, 5/1/35, Pool #SC0063      525,231  
  55,820      3.00%, 9/1/37, Pool #ZA2471      58,796  
  1,141,457      3.00%, 6/1/38, Pool #SC0111      1,199,426  
  128,120      6.00%, 4/1/39, Pool #G07613      155,109  
  18,040      4.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #A90196      19,828  
  657,300      3.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #RB5028      694,086  
  77,197      3.50%, 2/1/40, Pool #RB5034      81,517  
  17,642      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #A93010      19,336  
  19,219      4.00%, 8/1/40, Pool #A93534      20,969  
  132,201      4.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #A93851      146,420  
  372,075      4.50%, 9/1/40, Pool #A93700      407,953  
  29,606      4.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #A95923      32,791  
  17,167      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A94779      19,019  
  19,683      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A94977      21,802  
  21,809      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A95144      24,137  
  1,228      4.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #Q00093      1,338  
  44,009      4.50%, 5/1/41, Pool #Q00804      48,225  
  51,186      4.50%, 5/1/41, Pool #Q00959      56,120  
  283,715      Class FL, Series 42480.56%(US0001M+45bps), 5/15/41      284,685  
  315,284      5.50%, 6/1/41, Pool #G07553      358,994  
  63,169      5.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #G07642      70,586  
  25,757      4.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #Q03841      28,875  
  32,639      4.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #Q04022      36,567  
  163,568      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #C03811      175,603  
  145,583      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #Q07417      156,295  
  14,494      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #Q08239      15,458  
  4,983      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #Q08306      5,316  
  138,637      3.50%, 8/1/42, Pool #G07106      148,879  
  21,220      3.50%, 8/1/42, Pool #Q12162      22,800  
  8,170      3.50%, 10/1/42, Pool #Q11909      8,776  
  192,482      3.00%, 1/1/43, Pool #Q14866      204,333  
  145,516      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #Q16673      153,429  
  92,242      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #Q16403      97,218  
  99,515      3.50%, 6/1/43, Pool #Q18718      108,481  
  134,614      3.50%, 7/1/43, Pool #Q20206      146,135  
  62,047      4.00%, 9/1/43, Pool #Q21579      68,405  
  122,269      4.50%, 12/1/43, Pool #G60018      132,197  
  175,782      4.50%, 12/1/43, Pool #Q23779      190,994  
  15,417      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #Q24368      16,741  
  984,377      Class XZ, Series 43164.50%, 3/15/44      1,130,400  
  67,837      4.00%, 4/1/44, Pool #Q25643      74,583  
  665,105      3.50%, 4/1/44, Pool #G07848      722,753  
  1,220,811      Class ZX , Series 43524.00%, 4/15/44      1,313,576  
  17,233      3.50%, 5/1/44, Pool #Q26218      18,795  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 78,273      3.50%, 6/1/44, Pool #Q28764    $ 84,024  
  2,141,858      3.00%, 6/1/44, Pool #SD0498      2,276,905  
  65,858      4.00%, 7/1/44, Pool #G60901      71,374  
  14,688      3.50%, 7/1/44, Pool #Q27319      16,018  
  24,943      3.50%, 9/1/44, Pool #Q28604      27,231  
  2,278,345      3.50%, 9/1/44, Pool #SD0481      2,476,202  
  2,276,767      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #SD0478      2,498,065  
  2,623,936      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #SD0490      2,861,093  
  8,688      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #Q31128      9,624  
  22,663      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #Q31338      25,108  
  3,359,038      4.00%, 9/1/45, Pool #SD0507      3,716,558  
  18,451      3.50%, 9/1/45, Pool #Q36302      20,145  
  25,183      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #Q37955      27,893  
  21,355      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #Q37957      23,600  
  1,545,539      3.50%, 3/1/46, Pool #SD0485      1,657,816  
  485,180      Class FB, Series 46060.61%(US0001M+50bps), 8/15/46      491,684  
  781,689      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q42979      825,150  
  272,313      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #G60718      287,295  
  307,881      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #SD0486      329,422  
  943,329      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #V82781      991,479  
  83,288      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45083      89,085  
  161,781      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45080      172,021  
  285,348      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45064      301,176  
  771,779      3.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #SD0496      821,821  
  484,333      3.50%, 3/1/47, Pool #G60968      540,389  
  1,127,678      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #G61047      1,239,922  
  849,630      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #SD0504      923,747  
  424,903      3.50%, 10/1/47, Pool #G61178      460,129  
  537,996      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G61208      582,613  
  114,517      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #Q53648      123,781  
  72,367      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #Q53630      78,364  
  515,870      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #ZS4751      545,873  
  499,760      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #ZT1353      530,796  
  753,412      4.00%, 4/1/48, Pool #SD0489      833,414  
  1,271,145      4.50%, 8/1/48, Pool #G67715      1,407,493  
  3,617,016      4.00%, 8/1/48, Pool #SD0492      3,988,775  
  2,996,166      4.00%, 5/1/49, Pool #SD0488      3,232,173  
  13,833      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1158      14,674  
  124,429      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1479      132,353  
  13,996      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1488      14,977  
  33,655      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1486      36,039  
  100,922      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #QB2339      108,064  
  994,814      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #RA3282      1,050,638  
  998,763      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #RA3313      1,037,841  
  1,256,055      3.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #SD0519      1,311,689  
  1,145,065      4.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #SD0520      1,244,852  
  3,741,998      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6071      3,736,180  
     

 

 

 
        63,554,005  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Bank (0.2%)  
  4,080,000      3.56%, 5/16/33      4,793,229  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $737,872,602)

     743,105,192  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (31.8%):       
U.S. Treasury Bills (5.0%)  
  134,310,000      , 1/25/22(c)      134,306,718  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Bonds (12.7%)  
$ 2,480,000      5.38%, 2/15/31    $ 3,317,000  
  14,025,000      4.75%, 2/15/37      19,919,883  
  10,000,000      5.00%, 5/15/37      14,581,250  
  16,745,000      1.13%, 8/15/40      14,662,341  
  35,585,000      1.88%, 2/15/41      35,329,233  
  36,860,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      35,846,350  
  8,765,000      2.00%, 11/15/41      8,890,997  
  29,385,000      3.13%, 11/15/41      35,436,473  
  7,022,500      3.63%, 8/15/43      9,141,320  
  1,205,000      3.13%, 8/15/44      1,468,782  
  15,000      2.50%, 2/15/45      16,566  
  955,000      3.00%, 5/15/45      1,146,895  
  1,770,000      2.88%, 8/15/45      2,086,111  
  12,235,000      3.00%, 11/15/45      14,762,292  
  22,700,000      2.25%, 8/15/46      24,090,375  
  6,855,000      2.88%, 11/15/46      8,142,455  
  3,293,000      3.00%, 2/15/47      4,002,024  
  3,105,000      2.75%, 11/15/47      3,629,939  
  5,645,000      3.00%, 2/15/48      6,917,771  
  30,570,000      3.13%, 5/15/48(d)      38,341,467  
  4,055,000      3.38%, 11/15/48      5,325,989  
  8,700,000      3.00%, 2/15/49      10,739,062  
  125,000      2.88%, 5/15/49      151,172  
  10,975,000      1.25%, 5/15/50      9,363,047  
  16,515,000      1.38%, 8/15/50      14,535,780  
  11,849,000      1.63%, 11/15/50      11,088,072  
  9,092,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      9,063,588  
     

 

 

 
        341,996,234  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (14.1%)  
  21,185,000      0.38%, 4/15/24      20,973,150  
  5,570,000      2.00%, 5/31/24      5,723,175  
  7,700,000      0.25%, 6/15/24      7,588,109  
  43,620,000      0.75%, 11/15/24      43,388,269  
  1,700,000      1.50%, 11/30/24      1,727,094  
  5,615,000      1.75%, 12/31/24      5,743,970  
  1,140,000      1.38%, 1/31/25      1,153,181  
  20,065,000      1.13%, 2/28/25      20,143,379  
  3,164,000      0.50%, 3/31/25      3,112,091  
  16,246,000      0.38%, 4/30/25      15,890,619  
  13,710,000      0.25%, 5/31/25      13,339,402  
  890,000      3.00%, 10/31/25      952,161  
  1,550,000      2.88%, 11/30/25      1,652,688  
  7,810,000      0.38%, 12/31/25      7,573,259  
  4,310,000      0.50%, 2/28/26      4,188,781  
  8,275,000      2.25%, 3/31/26      8,634,445  
  37,085,000      0.75%, 3/31/26      36,395,451  
  7,832,000      0.75%, 4/30/26      7,680,255  
  2,435,000      2.38%, 4/30/26      2,555,228  
  12,592,000      0.75%, 5/31/26      12,340,160  
  1,520,000      2.13%, 5/31/26      1,579,612  
  2,407,000      1.88%, 6/30/26      2,475,449  
  14,160,000      0.63%, 7/31/26      13,777,237  
  2,430,000      1.88%, 7/31/26      2,500,242  
  32,048,000      0.75%, 8/31/26      31,346,950  
  18,485,000      1.25%, 11/30/26^      18,487,888  
  8,900,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      8,897,219  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Notes, continued  
$ 10,580,000      0.38%, 7/31/27    $ 10,055,959  
  3,345,000      0.50%, 8/31/27      3,193,952  
  4,620,000      0.38%, 9/30/27      4,376,006  
  5,455,000      1.25%, 6/30/28      5,403,007  
  1,005,000      1.00%, 7/31/28      979,090  
  3,458,000      2.88%, 8/15/28      3,778,946  
  2,000,000      1.38%, 12/31/28      1,992,813  
  255,000      2.38%, 5/15/29      271,973  
  11,880,000      0.63%, 5/15/30      11,120,794  
  9,750,000      0.63%, 8/15/30      9,104,063  
  10,183,000      1.25%, 8/15/31      9,969,793  
  18,543,000      1.38%, 11/15/31^      18,334,391  
     

 

 

 
        378,400,251  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $838,651,439)

     854,703,203  
  

 

 

 
Certificates of Deposit (7.0%):       
  27,100,000      Bank of Nova Scotia, 0.25%, 5/31/22      27,096,233  
  26,945,000      Canadian Imperial Holding, 0.25%, 5/18/22      26,941,263  
  26,940,000      Credit Suisse AG, 0.30%, 6/1/22      26,941,805  
  25,800,000      Nordea Bank Abp New York, 0.21%, 6/17/22      25,788,571  
  27,100,000      Royal Bank of Canada NY, 0.25%, 6/1/22      27,096,097  
  27,100,000      Skandinav Enskilda BK NY, 0.25%, 5/31/22      27,096,233  
  26,960,000      Svenska Handelsbanken, 0.26%, 5/24/22      26,958,059  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Certificates of Deposit (Cost $187,945,529)

     187,918,261  
  

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

           Value  
Commercial Paper (2.6%):       
Banks (2.2%):       
$ 21,440,000      Banco Santander SA, 0.00%, 1/11/22(c)    $ 21,439,099  
  21,250,000      DBS Bank, Ltd., 0.00%, 6/1/22(c)      21,221,950  
  7,700,000      Macquarie Bank, Ltd., 0.00%, 2/2/22(c)      7,698,129  
  8,975,000      Santander UK plc, 0.00%, 2/1/22(c)      8,974,031  
     

 

 

 
        59,333,209  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.4%):       
  10,010,000      Sumitomo Trust & Bank NY, 0.13%, 2/4/22(c)      10,008,759  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Commercial Paper (Cost $69,348,176)

     69,341,968  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.0%):  
  25,879,541      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(c)(e)      25,879,541  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $25,879,541)

     25,879,541  
  

 

 

 
Shares           

Value

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (8.5%):       
Money Markets (8.5%):       
  229,213,158      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)      229,213,158  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $229,213,158)

     229,213,158  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $3,231,154,484) — 121.0%(f)

     3,254,509,915  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (21.0)%

     (564,777,359
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 2,689,732,556  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

EUR003M—3 Month EUR LIBOR

EUAMDB01—1 Year EUR LIBOR

EUSA1—Euro 1 Year Swap Rate

EUSA5—Euro 5 Year Swap Rate

GO—General Obligation

H15T1Y—1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

H15T5Y—5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TBA—To Be Announced Security

US0001M—1 Month US Dollar LIBOR

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $25,240,299.

 

+

The principal amount is disclosed in local currency and the fair value is disclosed in U.S. Dollars.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(b)

The rate for certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may vary based on factors relating to the pool of assets underlying the security. The rate presented is the rate in effect at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

All or a portion of this security has been pledged as collateral for open derivative positions.

 

(e)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(f)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country   Percentage  

Australia

    0.3

Austria

     % 

Belgium

     % 

Brazil

     % 

Canada

    2.7

Cayman Islands

    1.0

Chile

    0.2

China

     % 

Colombia

    0.2

Denmark

    0.3

Finland

    0.8

France

    0.6

Germany

    0.3

Hungary

     % 

India

     % 

Indonesia

    0.2

Ireland

    0.3

Israel

     % 

Italy

     % 

Japan

    0.9

Kazakstan

     % 

Kuwait

     % 

Luxembourg

    0.3
Country   Percentage  

Malaysia

     % 

Mexico

    0.5

Netherlands

    0.8

Norway

     % 

Panama

    0.2

Peru

    0.1

Philippines

    0.2

Qatar

     % 

Republic of Korea (South)

    0.1

Romania

     % 

Russian Federation

    0.1

Saudi Arabia

    0.1

Singapore

    0.7

South Africa

     % 

Spain

    0.9

Sweden

    1.8

Switzerland

    1.1

United Arab Emirates

     % 

United Kingdom

    1.1

United States

    84.1

Uruguay

    0.1
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Securities Sold Short (-0.1%):

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s securities sold short were as follows:

 

Security Description    Coupon
Rate
    Maturity
Date
    

Par

Amount

     Proceeds
Received
     Value  

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

             

Federal National Mortgage Association

 

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.00%       1/25/36      $ (124,000    $ (129,653    $ (129,619

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     4.00%       1/25/51        (277,000      (294,734      (294,572

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     4.50%       1/25/51        (1,270,000      (1,361,780      (1,361,083
          

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $ (1,786,167    $ (1,785,274
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Short Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Euro Buxl 30-Year Bond March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/22        42      $ (9,884,772    $ 446,704  

Euro Schatz Index March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/22        118        (15,049,053      17,976  

Euro-Bobl March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/22        147        (22,296,916      134,240  

Euro-Bund March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/22        145        (28,287,570      401,557  

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/22        434        (63,553,875      (744,996

U.S. Treasury 30-Year Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/22        56        (8,984,500      (72,281

U.S. Treasury 5-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/22        235        (28,429,492      98,732  

Ultra Long Term U.S. Treasury Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/22        78        (15,375,750      (321,335
           

 

 

 
            $ (39,403
           

 

 

 

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/22        870      $ 113,507,813      $ 162,863  

U.S. Treasury 2-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/22        944        205,954,250        (136,693
           

 

 

 
            $ 26,170  
           

 

 

 

Total Net Futures Contracts

            $ (13,233
           

 

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:

 

Currency Purchased            Currency Sold            Counterparty    Settlement
Date
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Dollar

     105,658,855      European Euro      93,290,000      Bank National Paribas      3/16/22      $ (697,581
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

 

         $ (697,581
        

 

 

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Forward Currency Contracts

 

      Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Forward currency contracts

   $      $ (697,581

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 3,231,154,484
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 3,254,509,915

Cash

      311

Interest and dividends receivable

      11,681,462

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,442,488)

      1,451,548

Receivable for investments sold

      41,707

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      408,307,836

Prepaid expenses

      13,265
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      3,676,006,044
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts

      697,581

Payable for investments purchased

      64,302,338

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      891,508,125

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      1,936

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      25,879,541

Securities sold short (Proceeds received $1,786,167)

      1,785,274

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      188,900

Manager fees payable

      801,506

Administration fees payable

      438,881

Distribution fees payable

      572,505

Custodian fees payable

      13,562

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,801

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,393

Trustee fees payable

      21,347

Other accrued liabilities

      56,798
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      986,273,488
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,689,732,556
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 2,637,658,467

Total distributable earnings

      52,074,089
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,689,732,556
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      240,814,453

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 11.17
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $25,240,299.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

    

Interest

     $ 35,487,077

Dividends

       31,075

Income from securities lending

       45,505

Foreign withholding tax

       (854 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       35,562,803
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       8,568,532

Administration fees

       962,130

Distribution fees

       6,120,392

Custodian fees

       80,274

Administrative and compliance services fees

       25,742

Transfer agent fees

       6,506

Trustee fees

       109,714

Professional fees

       102,677

Shareholder reports

       42,448

Other expenses

       41,730
    

 

 

 

Total expenses

       16,060,145
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       19,502,658
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

       (3,702,815 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

       8,681,809

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       10,138,751

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities held short

       85,930

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

       (76,838,039 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

       2,670,616

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       (615,338 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities held short

       147,204
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

       (59,431,882 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (39,929,224 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

32


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 19,502,658     $ 29,818,819

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      15,203,675       79,683,517

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (74,635,557 )       40,761,778
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (39,929,224 )       150,264,114
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (89,324,077 )       (46,897,494 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (89,324,077 )       (46,897,494 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      711,480,744       174,282,361

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      89,324,077       46,897,494

Value of shares redeemed

      (63,249,445 )       (482,673,018 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      737,555,376       (261,493,163 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      608,302,075       (158,126,543 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      2,081,430,481       2,239,557,024
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 2,689,732,556     $ 2,081,430,481
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      61,577,341       14,838,788

Dividends reinvested

      7,989,631       4,015,197

Shares redeemed

      (5,508,649 )       (41,915,324 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      64,058,323       (23,061,339 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

33


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.78     $ 11.21     $ 10.59     $ 10.89     $ 10.67
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.09 (a)       0.17 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.28       0.20

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.32 )       0.67       0.64       (0.35 )       0.12
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.23 )       0.84       0.89       (0.07 )       0.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.09 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )       (0.23 )       (0.10 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.29 )                        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.38 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )       (0.23 )       (0.10 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 11.17     $ 11.78     $ 11.21     $ 10.59     $ 10.89
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (1.94 )%       7.53 %       8.38 %       (0.58 )%       3.01 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 2,689,733     $ 2,081,430     $ 2,239,557     $ 1,936,318     $ 2,048,679

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.80 %       1.45 %       2.28 %       2.41 %       1.87 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.66 %       0.66 %       0.65 %       0.65 %       0.65 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.66 %       0.66 %       0.65 %       0.65 %       0.65 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      137 %       140 %       119 %       144 %       214 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

34


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Witholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. When-issued securities are securities purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield and thereby involve risk that the yield obtained in the transaction will be less than that available in the market when the delivery takes place. A Fund will not pay for such securities or start earning interest on them until they are received. When a Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in the value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. A Fund may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss.

Short Sales

The Fund may engage in short sales against the box (i.e., where the Fund owns or has an unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost a security substantially similar to the security sold short) for hedging purposes to limit exposure to a possible market decline in the value of its portfolio securities. In a short sale, the Fund sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The Fund may also incur an interest expense if a security that has been sold short has an interest

 

35


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

payment. When the Fund engages in a short sale, the Fund records a liability for securities sold short and records an asset equal to the proceeds received. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the market value of the securities sold short. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 3313 % of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $4,505 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $25,879,541 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

TBA Purchase and Sale Commitments

The Fund may enter into to-be-announced (TBA) purchase or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, mortgage-backed securities for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for such securities. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date; however, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate, and mortgage term, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The Fund may enter into TBA purchase transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying securities, may elect to extend the settlement by “rolling” the transaction, and/or may use TBAs to gain interim exposure to underlying securities. Until settlement, the Fund maintains liquid assets sufficient to settle its TBA commitments.

To mitigate counterparty risk, the Fund has entered into agreements with TBA counterparties that provide for collateral and the right to offset amounts due to or from those counterparties under specified conditions. Subject to minimum transfer amounts, collateral requirements are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all TBA commitments with a particular counterparty. At any time, the Fund’s risk of loss from a particular counterparty related to its TBA commitments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated TBAs in excess of unrealized loss on depreciated TBAs and collateral held, if any, by such counterparty. As of December 31, 2021, no collateral had been posted by the Fund to counterparties for TBAs.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund participated in the following cross-trade transactions:

 

        Purchases      Sales      Realized
Gains/(Losses)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 1,604,625        $        $

 

36


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Forward Currency Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund entered into forward currency contracts in connections with planned purchases or sales of securities or to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in a particular currency. In addition to the foreign currency risk related to the use of these contracts, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In the event of default by the counterparty to the transaction, the Fund’s maximum amount of loss, as either the buyer or the seller, is the unrealized appreciation of the contract. The forward currency contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any gains or losses are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gains or losses until the contract settlement date. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $16.0 million and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $150.7 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $309.3 million, and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $259.6 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Interest Rate Risk

       
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 1,262,072     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 1,275,305  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts         Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts     697,581

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation
on Derivatives Recognized
 

Interest Rate Risk

       
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ 10,138,751      $ (615,338

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts      8,681,809        2,670,616  

The Fund is generally subject to master netting agreements that allow for amounts owed between the Fund and the counterparty to be netted. The party that has the larger payable pays the excess of the larger amount over the smaller amount to the other party. The master netting agreements do not apply to amounts owed to/from different counterparties. The amounts shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities do not take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements. The table below presents the gross and net amounts of these assets and liabilities with any offsets to reflect the Fund’s ability to transact net amounts in accordance with the master netting agreements at December 31, 2021. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. This table also summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021.

 

37


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Forward currency contracts

       $        $ 697,581

Futures contracts

                  188,900
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

                  886,481

Derivatives not subject to a master netting agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

                  (188,900 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $        $ 697,581
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty   

Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MNA

by Counterparty

   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
  

Non-cash
Collateral

Pledged*

   Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities

Bank National Paribas

     $ 697,581      $      $      $      $ 697,581
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 697,581      $      $      $      $ 697,581
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

The actual collateral received or pledged may be in excess of the amounts shown in the table. The table only reflects collateral amounts up to the amount of the financial instrument disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock Financial”), which in turn has retained, effective December 1, 2021, BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (together, the “Sub-subadvisers”) to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to subadvisory agreements with the Manager and BlackRock Financial, BlackRock Financial and the Sub-subadvisers, respectively, provide investment advisory services as the Subadviser and Sub-subadvisers for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Sub-subadvisers are entitled to a fee payable by the Subadviser. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

         0.35 %          0.70 %

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

 

38


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Forward currency contracts are generally valued at the forward foreign currency exchange rate as of the close of the NYSE and are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Asset Backed Securities

       $                   —        $        100,701,574        $     —        $        100,701,574

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  160,922,221                   160,922,221

Corporate Bonds+

                  645,342,335                   645,342,335

Foreign Bonds+

                  74,964,903                   74,964,903

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  157,725,724                   157,725,724

Municipal Bonds

                  4,691,835                   4,691,835

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  743,105,192                   743,105,192

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  854,703,203                   854,703,203

Certificates of Deposit

                  187,918,261                   187,918,261

Commercial Paper

                  69,341,968                   69,341,968

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         25,879,541                            25,879,541

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         229,213,158                            229,213,158
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         255,092,699          2,999,417,216                   3,254,509,915
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Securities Sold Short

                  (1,785,274 )                   (1,785,274 )

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (13,233 )                            (13,233 )

Forward Currency Contracts

                  (697,581 )                   (697,581 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $     255,079,466        $     2,996,934,361        $     —        $     3,252,013,827
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

39


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts and forward currency contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin for futures contracts or at unrealized gain or loss on forward contracts.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 2,976,189,413        $ 2,759,823,766

For the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 1,741,046,508        $ 1,754,379,230

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives

may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, investments in mortgage-related securities may cause the Fund to exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to call risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are subordinated to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may receive payments only after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Fund as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. An unexpectedly high or low rate of prepayments on a pool’s underlying mortgages may have a similar effect on subordinated securities. A mortgage pool may issue securities subject to various levels of subordination. The risk of non-payment affects securities at each level, although the risk is greater in the case of more highly subordinated securities. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund may engage in short sales, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities borrowed from others with the expectation that the price of the security will fall before the Fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The Fund may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the Fund does not own declines in value. Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. 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 security sold short. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in

 

40


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

price between those dates. As a result, if the Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price at which the security was sold. The Fund may also pay transaction costs and borrowing fees in connection with short sales.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate otherpreexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $3,232,395,652. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 44,437,542  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (24,108,553
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 20,328,989  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 74,372,219        $ 14,951,858        $ 89,324,077

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 46,897,494        $        $ 46,897,494

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

       

Undistributed
Ordinary

Income

    

Undistributed

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Accumulated

Capital and

Other Losses

    

Unrealized

Appreciation/

Depreciation(a)

    

Total

Accumulated

Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 33,653,816        $ 892,325        $        $ 19,627,868        $ 54,174,009

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses and other miscellaneous differences.

 

41


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 25% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

42


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

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Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $53,721,461.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $14,951,858.

 

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Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

45


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that

 

46


reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

47


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

48


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
 

Since 10/14

(Trustee since 2/07)

  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc. (a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

49


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

50


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 30

Statement of Operations

Page 30

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 31

Financial Highlights

Page 32

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 33

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 41

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 42

Other Information

Page 43

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 44

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 47

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund. FIAM LLC and Geode Capital Management, LLC serve as the Subadviser and Sub-Subadviser, respectively, to the Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Fixed-Income Strategy and Geode Equity Strategy, respectively.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned 11.65%. That compared to a 28.71%, (1.54)% and a 9.91% total return for its benchmarks, the S&P 500® Index, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and the Income and Growth Composite Index, respectively.1

Approximately 60% of the Fund’s underlying assets are managed by its subadviser, FIAM, LLC, investing primarily in investment-grade fixed-income securities, and approximately 40% of the Fund’s underlying assets are managed by another subadviser, Geode Capital Management, LLC, investing primarily in large-cap common stocks.

U.S. equity markets performed well in 2021, with market sentiment improving as concerns fueled by the pandemic wound down, corporate earnings growth recovered, and monetary and fiscal government support remained abundant. Value-oriented stocks benefitted from normalizing economic conditions early in the year. As the period progressed, though, the rapid spread of the Delta variant led to new questions about the sustainability of the economic recovery. Growth-oriented companies regained momentum during the closing months of the year as markets remained resilient, balancing an outlook of general economic growth with the potential impact of rising inflation and subsequent monetary policy actions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bond market experienced negative returns in 2021. The vaccine rollout, as well as the substantial fiscal stimulus, boosted yields at the beginning of the year. As the economy followed an uneven path to recovery over the ensuing months, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) maintained relatively low interest rates, helping to flatten the yield curve. Rising inflation toward the end of the year led to a more hawkish tone from the Fed, pushing yields higher and keeping bond prices low for the year.

The Fund outperformed its composite benchmark during the period, and the Fund’s equity component outperformed its equity benchmark, the S&P 500® Index. With value-oriented stocks performing well during the early part of the year and growth-oriented stocks getting a boost in the closing months, the Fund’s diversified and balanced approach to stock selection across various factors translated into positive relative returns. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary, industrials and communication services sectors was the largest contributor to relative returns, while stock selection in information technology and financials was the largest detractor. An overweight position in energy also contributed positively to relative returns.

The Fund’s fixed-income component also outperformed its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. High-yield corporate bonds, which performed well over the year amid economic optimism, were a significant driver of relative returns. An underweight position in mortgage-backed securities also boosted relative returns, as this sector saw wider spreads after reaching historically high levels early in the year. In addition, the Fund’s holdings of Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) contributed to relative performance, as the market priced in much higher levels of inflation.

The Fund held futures to equitize its cash positions during the period. Exposure to this form of derivative did not materially impact the Fund’s performance.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that a ny sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmarks please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income while maintaining prospects for capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of subportfolios or strategies.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Emerging market investing may be subject to additional economic, political, liquidity, and currency risks not associated with more developed countries.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

The performance of investments in real estate depends on the overall strength of the real estate market, the management of real estate investments trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies (REOCs), and foreign real estate companies, and property management, all of which can be affected by a variety of factors, including national and regional economic conditions.

High-yield bonds have a higher risk of default or other adverse credit events, but have the potential to pay higher earnings over investment-grade bonds. The higher risk of default, or the inability of the creditor to repay its debt, is the primary reason for the higher interest rates on high-yield bonds.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

 

10

Year

  Since
Inception1

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      6/21/2021                               6.03 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      10/23/2009       11.65 %       14.11 %       10.10 %       8.47 %       7.79 %

S&P 500® Index

      10/23/2009       28.71 %       26.07 %       18.47 %       16.55 %       15.24 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

      10/23/2009       (1.54 )%       4.79 %       3.57 %       2.90 %       3.56 %

Income & Growth Composite Index

      10/23/2009       9.91 %       13.49 %       9.78 %       8.48 %       8.46 %

 

1 

Not annualized for periods less than one year.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.78 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         1.03 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.46% for Class 1 Shares and 0.71% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500®”), the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the Income & Growth Composite Index (“Composite”). The S&P 500® is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The Composite is a blended index comprised of (40%) S&P 500® and (60%) Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. These indexes are unmanaged and do not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount of the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,046.70     $ 2.37       0.46 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,045.60     $ 3.66       0.71 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.89     $ 2.35       0.46 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.63     $ 3.62       0.71 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Common Stocks

      42.0 %

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      21.4

Corporate Bonds

      16.9

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      8.7

Yankee Debt Obligations

      5.6

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      4.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      3.8

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      3.7

Asset Backed Securities

      0.5

Municipal Bonds

      0.2

Bank Loans

      0.1

Convertible Bonds

        
   

Preferred Stock

        
   

Warrants

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      107.5

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (7.5 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (42.0%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.4%):       
  1,708      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 268,156  
  13,250      Lockheed Martin Corp.      4,709,183  
  31,724      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      1,746,723  
  18,306      Moog, Inc., Class A      1,482,237  
     

 

 

 
        8,206,299  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.2%):       
  6,995      FedEx Corp.      1,809,187  
  5,410      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      1,159,579  
     

 

 

 
        2,968,766  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.0%):       
  96,716      Ford Motor Co.      2,008,791  
  15,611      Tesla, Inc.*      16,497,393  
  6,862      Thor Industries, Inc.      712,070  
     

 

 

 
        19,218,254  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.9%):       
  186,818      Bank of America Corp.      8,311,533  
  101,274      Citigroup, Inc.      6,115,937  
  2,335      Fifth Third Bancorp      101,689  
  4,617      First Republic Bank      953,457  
  8,290      Hancock Whitney Corp.      414,666  
  74,663      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      11,822,886  
  19,953      Regions Financial Corp.      434,975  
  30,824      U.S. Bancorp      1,731,384  
  103,925      Wells Fargo & Co.      4,986,321  
     

 

 

 
        34,872,848  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.4%):       
  108,025      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      6,396,160  
  5,961      Monster Beverage Corp.*      572,495  
  3,083      PepsiCo, Inc.      535,548  
     

 

 

 
        7,504,203  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.1%):       
  3,525      AbbVie, Inc.      477,285  
  21,136      Amgen, Inc.      4,754,966  
  3,323      Biogen, Inc.*      797,254  
  66,756      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      4,847,153  
  17,940      Incyte Corp.*      1,316,796  
  3,563      Moderna, Inc.*      904,931  
  3,213      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,029,074  
  8,574      United Therapeutics Corp.*      1,852,670  
  12,019      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,639,372  
     

 

 

 
        19,619,501  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.0%):       
  3,925      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      1,184,015  
  14,347      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      5,488,445  
  5,928      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      949,014  
  54,068      Morgan Stanley      5,307,315  
  2,195      MSCI, Inc., Class A      1,344,855  
  2,281      Northern Trust Corp.      272,830  
  8,310      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      834,324  
  3,565      S&P Global, Inc.      1,682,430  
  36,551      SEI Investments Co.      2,227,418  
     

 

 

 
        19,290,646  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.6%):       
  48,308      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      3,419,240  
  38,793      Chemours Co. (The)      1,301,893  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  9,040      Corteva, Inc.    $ 427,411  
  40,278      Dow, Inc.      2,284,568  
  12,939      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      1,045,212  
  2,006      Eastman Chemical Co.      242,546  
  13,305      FMC Corp.      1,462,087  
     

 

 

 
        10,182,957  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  1,205      Cintas Corp.      534,020  
  1,556      Copart, Inc.*      235,921  
  11,111      Republic Services, Inc., Class A      1,549,429  
     

 

 

 
        2,319,370  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.4%):       
  124,368      Cisco Systems, Inc.      7,881,200  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  12,453      EMCOR Group, Inc.      1,586,388  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  26,245      Capital One Financial Corp.      3,807,887  
  17,423      Discover Financial Services      2,013,402  
  12,950      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      648,018  
  4,072      Synchrony Financial      188,900  
     

 

 

 
        6,658,207  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  47,712      Westrock Co.      2,116,504  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  23,402      Genuine Parts Co.      3,280,960  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  49,349      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      14,755,351  
  65,938      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      2,558,394  
     

 

 

 
        17,313,745  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  1,791      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*      52,816  
  134,933      Verizon Communications, Inc.      7,011,119  
     

 

 

 
        7,063,935  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.4%):       
  6,850      Duke Energy Corp.      718,565  
  33,754      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      1,400,791  
  2,825      IDACORP, Inc.      320,101  
  51,006      NextEra Energy, Inc.      4,761,920  
  12,574      Portland General Electric Co.      665,416  
     

 

 

 
        7,866,793  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.5%):       
  27,725      AMETEK, Inc.      4,076,684  
  18,828      Atkore, Inc.*      2,093,485  
  33,811      Emerson Electric Co.      3,143,409  
     

 

 

 
        9,313,578  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.4%):  
  91,492      National Instruments Corp.      3,995,456  
  84,489      Vontier Corp.      2,596,347  
     

 

 

 
        6,591,803  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.2%):       
  52,758      Halliburton Co.      1,206,575  
  105,008      Schlumberger, Ltd.      3,144,990  
     

 

 

 
        4,351,565  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment (0.5%):       
  40,290      Activision Blizzard, Inc.    $ 2,680,494  
  25,986      Electronic Arts, Inc.      3,427,553  
  4,096      Netflix, Inc.*      2,467,594  
  9,331      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      1,445,279  
     

 

 

 
        10,020,920  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.1%):       
  27,861      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      1,215,018  
  6,783      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      370,827  
  5,156      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      1,302,354  
  19,549      Crown Castle International Corp.      4,080,658  
  5,368      CubeSmart      305,493  
  3,694      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      123,749  
  1,136      EastGroup Properties, Inc.      258,838  
  1,933      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      438,269  
  8,696      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.      575,675  
  18,324      National Storage Affiliates Trust      1,268,021  
  10,097      Public Storage, Inc.      3,781,932  
  53,024      Realty Income Corp.      3,795,988  
  3,106      SBA Communications Corp.      1,208,296  
  50,652      Weyerhaeuser Co.      2,085,850  
     

 

 

 
        20,810,968  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.7%):       
  9,643      Costco Wholesale Corp.      5,474,331  
  2,231      Kroger Co. (The)      100,975  
  55,443      Walmart, Inc.      8,022,048  
     

 

 

 
        13,597,354  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.5%):       
  104,842      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      3,763,828  
  41,889      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      2,777,659  
  22,181      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      1,933,296  
     

 

 

 
        8,474,783  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  1,490      UGI Corp.      68,406  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.2%):       
  48,633      Abbott Laboratories      6,844,608  
  33,055      Baxter International, Inc.      2,837,441  
  4,148      Danaher Corp.      1,364,733  
  29,223      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      3,785,840  
  54,203      Hologic, Inc.*      4,149,782  
  2,189      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      1,441,369  
  2,760      Medtronic plc      285,522  
  17,358      Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc*      371,288  
  2,315      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      1,085,758  
     

 

 

 
        22,166,341  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.2%):       
  11,172      Anthem, Inc.      5,178,669  
  13,527      Centene Corp.*      1,114,625  
  27,889      CVS Health Corp.      2,877,029  
  3,519      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*      1,105,705  
  1,868      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      594,174  
  14,485      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      425,859  
  21,374      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      10,732,740  
     

 

 

 
        22,028,801  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.0%):       
  2,172      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      554,903  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.9%):       
  37,008      International Game Technology plc    $ 1,069,901  
  28,477      McDonald’s Corp.      7,633,829  
  1,987      Papa John’s International, Inc.      265,205  
  21,595      Scientific Games Corp., Class A*      1,443,194  
  4,755      SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.*      308,409  
  23,800      Starbucks Corp.      2,783,886  
  4,561      Travel + Leisure Co.      252,086  
  44,395      Wendy’s Co. (The)      1,058,821  
  8,175      Yum! Brands, Inc.      1,135,181  
     

 

 

 
        15,950,512  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.3%):       
  19,964      DR Horton, Inc.      2,165,096  
  7,455      Lennar Corp., Class A      865,973  
  33      NVR, Inc.*      194,992  
  26,344      Toll Brothers, Inc.      1,907,042  
  1,827      Whirlpool Corp.      428,724  
     

 

 

 
        5,561,827  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.7%):       
  38,637      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      3,297,282  
  55,585      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      9,092,594  
     

 

 

 
        12,389,876  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.1%):       
  3,235      3M Co.      574,633  
  9,682      General Electric Co.      914,659  
  5,161      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,076,120  
     

 

 

 
        2,565,412  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.5%):       
  24,246      Brown & Brown, Inc.      1,704,009  
  4,875      First American Financial Corp.      381,371  
  1,295      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      225,097  
  23,111      MetLife, Inc.      1,444,206  
  18,718      Primerica, Inc.      2,868,908  
  8,032      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      1,256,446  
  12,750      WR Berkley Corp.      1,050,473  
     

 

 

 
        8,930,510  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (2.7%):       
  5,857      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      16,967,963  
  5,455      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      15,784,533  
  53,507      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      17,997,080  
     

 

 

 
        50,749,576  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.5%):       
  7,921      Amazon.com, Inc.*      26,411,307  
  14,414      eBay, Inc.      958,531  
  3,461      Expedia Group, Inc.*      625,472  
  1,786      Shutterstock, Inc.      198,032  
     

 

 

 
        28,193,342  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.8%):       
  3,111      Accenture plc, Class A      1,289,665  
  12,714      Alliance Data Systems Corp.      846,371  
  41,840      Amdocs, Ltd.      3,131,306  
  5,837      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      1,439,287  
  10,624      Black Knight, Inc.*      880,623  
  3,914      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      2,616,313  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  10,602      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*    $ 2,373,152  
  6,640      Gartner, Inc.*      2,219,885  
  19,043      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      1,615,989  
  10,410      International Business Machines Corp.      1,391,401  
  22,581      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      8,113,805  
  8,524      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      1,607,456  
  27,293      Visa, Inc., Class A      5,914,666  
  24,559      Western Union Co. (The.)      438,132  
     

 

 

 
        33,878,051  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  13,154      Brunswick Corp.      1,325,002  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.6%):       
  6,754      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      1,078,276  
  1,680      Bio-Techne Corp.      869,131  
  353      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      599,115  
  10,963      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      7,314,952  
  1,491      Waters Corp.*      555,547  
     

 

 

 
        10,417,021  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.5%):       
  10,223      AGCO Corp.      1,186,073  
  44,855      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      1,630,479  
  11,741      Caterpillar, Inc.      2,427,334  
  6,460      Cummins, Inc.      1,409,184  
  3,447      Deere & Co.      1,181,942  
  2,617      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      832,520  
     

 

 

 
        8,667,532  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.2%):       
  80,981      Comcast Corp., Class A      4,075,774  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  40,868      Alcoa Corp.      2,434,916  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):       
  8,350      Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., Class A      255,677  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.4%):       
  6,431      Dollar General Corp.      1,516,623  
  21,185      Target Corp.      4,903,056  
     

 

 

 
        6,419,679  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  57,069      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      1,760,008  
  6,441      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      429,808  
  19,747      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      1,916,841  
     

 

 

 
        4,106,657  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.5%):       
  12,003      APA Corp.      322,761  
  17,981      Chevron Corp.      2,110,070  
  80,363      ConocoPhillips      5,800,601  
  23,061      Continental Resources, Inc.      1,032,210  
  5,526      Denbury, Inc.*      423,236  
  12,475      Devon Energy Corp.      549,524  
  50,301      EOG Resources, Inc.      4,468,238  
  138,200      Exxon Mobil Corp.      8,456,458  
  7,983      Hess Corp.      590,982  
  37,050      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      587,613  
  109,275      Marathon Oil Corp.      1,794,296  
  5,210      Matador Resources Co.      192,353  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  13,689      Murphy Oil Corp.    $ 357,420  
  4,454      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      129,121  
  415      PDC Energy, Inc.      20,244  
  2,649      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      481,800  
  4,011      Sanchez Energy Corp.*(a)      144,324  
  699      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      872,960  
     

 

 

 
        28,334,211  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  6,627      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      519,226  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.8%):       
  107,108      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      6,678,184  
  5,497      Eli Lilly & Co.      1,518,381  
  66,396      Johnson & Johnson      11,358,364  
  89,123      Merck & Co., Inc.      6,830,386  
  132,557      Pfizer, Inc.      7,827,491  
     

 

 

 
        34,212,806  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.1%):       
  4,878      CoStar Group, Inc.*      385,508  
  93      IHS Markit, Ltd.      12,362  
  8,465      Korn Ferry      641,054  
  5,938      TriNet Group, Inc.*      565,654  
     

 

 

 
        1,604,578  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.5%):       
  67,295      CSX Corp.      2,530,292  
  1,496      Norfolk Southern Corp.      445,374  
  6,359      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      2,278,938  
  18,231      Union Pacific Corp.      4,592,936  
     

 

 

 
        9,847,540  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.8%):       
  15,896      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      2,287,434  
  29,681      Applied Materials, Inc.      4,670,602  
  13,815      Broadcom, Inc.      9,192,639  
  5,474      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      503,717  
  155,357      Intel Corp.      8,000,886  
  13,485      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      816,382  
  436      Micron Technology, Inc.      40,613  
  50,168      NVIDIA Corp.      14,754,911  
  1,384      NXP Semiconductors NV      315,248  
  44,689      Qualcomm, Inc.      8,172,277  
  9,263      Semtech Corp.*      823,759  
  17,796      Texas Instruments, Inc.      3,354,012  
  353      Xilinx, Inc.      74,847  
     

 

 

 
        53,007,327  
     

 

 

 
Software (4.3%):       
  11,717      Adobe, Inc.*      6,644,242  
  136      Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A*      51,855  
  108,267      Box, Inc.*      2,835,513  
  9,232      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      1,720,383  
  2,893      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      592,342  
  161,557      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      3,964,609  
  540      Intuit, Inc.      347,339  
  145,220      Microsoft Corp.      48,840,390  
  12,715      Nutanix, Inc., Class A*      405,100  
  13,517      Oracle Corp.      1,178,818  
  7,118      salesforce.com, Inc.*      1,808,897  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares,
Contracts or
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  3,756      ServiceNow, Inc.*    $ 2,438,057  
  19,535      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      1,601,479  
  14,704      Synopsys, Inc.*      5,418,424  
  24,471      VMware, Inc., Class A      2,835,700  
     

 

 

 
        80,683,148  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (1.1%):       
  4,090      AutoNation, Inc.*      477,916  
  555      AutoZone, Inc.*      1,163,496  
  15,218      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.^      1,749,918  
  9,660      Foot Locker, Inc.      421,466  
  22,354      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      9,277,134  
  10,843      Lithia Motors, Inc.      3,219,829  
  4,951      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      1,279,734  
  2,890      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      2,041,005  
  3,850      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      1,587,509  
     

 

 

 
        21,218,007  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (3.0%):  
  285,682      Apple, Inc.      50,728,553  
  86,439      HP, Inc.      3,256,157  
  16,418      NetApp, Inc.      1,510,292  
  12,856      Western Digital Corp.*      838,340  
     

 

 

 
        56,333,342  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.2%):       
  24,081      Nike, Inc., Class B      4,013,580  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.0%):       
  11,944      Altria Group, Inc.      566,026  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  13,409      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      1,127,160  
  3,216      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      1,666,660  
     

 

 

 
        2,793,820  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $682,315,202)

     784,984,973  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stock (0.0%):       
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  1,000      PG&E Corp., 5.50%, 8/16/23      115,680  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $117,395)

     115,680  
  

 

 

 
Warrants (0.0%):       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  63      California Resources Corp., 10/27/24      781  
  4,538      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8/3/27      57,224  
     

 

 

 
        58,005  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Warrants (Cost $50,290)

     58,005  
  

 

 

 
Asset Backed Securities (0.5%):       
$ 874,008      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2017-1A, 3.97%, 5/16/42(b)      788,119  
  198,709      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.35%, 1/16/40(b)      186,487  
  163,801      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.84%, 5/15/39(b)      146,767  
  220,161      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 3.84%, 1/16/38(b)      191,943  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 817,471      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.95%, 11/16/41(b)    $ 801,267  
  1,475,000      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 2.80%, 1/15/47(b)      1,464,095  
  244,877      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 1/16/40(b)      174,268  
  262,621      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-2, 3.38%, 10/16/39(b)      250,068  
  537,992      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2016-1A, 4.21%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      537,126  
  96,354      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class AA, Series 2016-1A, 2.49%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      96,479  
  1,146,349      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.44%, 7/15/46, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      1,131,398  
  186,315      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class B, Series 2019-1, 5.10%, 4/15/39(b)      175,374  
  243,533      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 4/15/39(b)      240,074  
  240,164      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 4.13%, 6/15/43(b)      235,250  
  231,566      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 3.47%, 1/15/46(b)      234,001  
  367,477      CF Hippolyta LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 1.53%, 3/15/61, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100(b)      361,531  
  354,200      DB Master Finance LLC, Class A2II, Series 2017-1A, 4.03%, 11/20/47, Callable 11/20/23 @ 100(b)      368,150  
  219,019      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.72%, 7/15/39(b)      214,601  
  200,632      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-1, 4.46%, 12/15/38(b)      194,634  
  215,600      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 1A, 3.86%, 12/5/49, Callable 12/5/25 @ 100(b)      221,594  
  243,372      Project Silver, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 7/15/44(b)      235,951  
  238,365      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.23%, 3/15/40(b)      231,465  
  233,783      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class B, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 3/15/40(b)      201,968  
  239,006      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2017-A, 4.21%, 5/17/32, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      236,878  
  344,435      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018, 4.15%, 9/15/38(b)(c)      338,074  
  348,821      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.67%, 11/15/39(b)      345,347  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $9,914,283)

     9,602,909  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (4.6%):       
  250,000      AIMCO CLO, Class AR, Series 2018-BA, 1.22%(US0003M+110bps), 1/15/32, Callable 7/15/22 @ 100(b)      250,406  
  523,000      Aimco CLO 11, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-11A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 10/17/34, Callable 1/17/24 @ 100(b)      521,775  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 310,000      Aimco CLO 12, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-12A, 1.33%(US0003M+121bps), 1/17/32, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)    $ 309,783  
  387,000      Aimco CLO 14, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-14A, 1.12%(US0003M+99bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      386,725  
  250,000      Allegany Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1A, 1.46%(US0003M+133bps), 1/20/33, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      250,040  
  250,000      Allegro CLO XIII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+114bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      249,576  
  2,812,000      Allegro CLO XIV, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-2A, 1.24%(US0003M+116bps), 10/15/34, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      2,810,363  
  256,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-54A, 1.44%(US0003M+132bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      256,039  
  853,000      Ares LV CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-55A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      852,522  
  476,000      Ares LVIII CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-58A, 1.34%(US0003M+122bps), 1/15/33, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      476,059  
  273,000      Ares XLI CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2016-41A, 1.19%(US0003M+107bps), 4/15/34, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100(b)      271,961  
  177,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class ANM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.11%, 11/5/32(b)      180,411  
  30,000      Bank, Class A5, Series 2019-BN21, 2.85%, 10/15/52, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100      31,581  
  310,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-4A, 1.35%(US0003M+122bps), 1/20/32, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      310,004  
  536,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/36, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      536,094  
  540,000      Beechwood Park CLO, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2019-1A, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 1/17/33, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)      540,099  
  34,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-B4, 4.12%, 7/15/51(c)      38,117  
  808,000      Bethpage Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+113bps), 1/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      807,520  
  139,000      BFLD Trust, Class A, Series 2020-OBRK, 2.16%(US0001M+205bps), 11/15/22(b)      139,748  
  309,000      Bristol Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2016-1A, 1.11%(US0003M+99bps), 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      308,432  
  5,017,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-IMC, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/34(b)      5,007,555  
  172,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-IMC, 1.41%(US0001M+130bps), 4/15/34(b)      170,930  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 113,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-IMC, 1.71%(US0001M+160bps), 4/15/34(b)    $ 111,866  
  127,761      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 12/15/29(b)      127,610  
  309,400      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2019-XL, 1.91%(US0001M+180bps), 10/15/36(b)      308,806  
  94,500      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class F, Series 2018-IND, 1.91%(US0001M+180bps), 11/15/35(b)      94,416  
  89,804      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2018-EXCL, 2.73%(US0001M+263bps), 9/15/37(b)      76,566  
  170,246      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-FOX, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 11/15/32(b)      170,182  
  119,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-IMC, 2.01%(US0001M+190bps), 4/15/34(b)      117,507  
  124,100      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-XL, 1.19%(US0001M+108bps), 10/15/36(b)      123,962  
  220,150      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-XL, 1.56%(US0001M+145bps), 10/15/36(b)      219,725  
  101,040      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.23%(US0001M+112bps), 12/15/29(b)      100,803  
  354,057      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-BXLP, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 12/15/29(b)      353,848  
  119,411      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.71%(US0001M+160bps), 12/15/29(b)      118,890  
  156,153      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 12/15/29(b)      155,559  
  155,550      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-XL, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 10/15/36(b)      155,292  
  730,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-PAC, 2.06%(US0001M+195bps), 10/15/36(b)      727,698  
  210,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-PAC, 1.41%(US0001M+130bps), 10/15/36(b)      209,615  
  1,081,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-PAC, 0.80%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/36(b)      1,078,991  
  162,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-PAC, 1.01%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(b)      161,626  
  216,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-PAC, 1.21%(US0001M+110bps), 10/15/36(b)      215,603  
  5,000,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2021-SOAR, 0.78%(US0001M+67bps), 6/15/38(b)      4,971,300  
  632,619      Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-HB6, 0.90%, 6/25/36, Callable 6/25/22 @ 100(b)(c)      631,722  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 17,105,000      Cedar Funding V CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2016-5A, 1.22%(US0003M+110bps), 7/17/31, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)    $ 17,104,978  
  235,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 1.18%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      233,441  
  643,000      Cedar Funding X CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-10A, 1.23%(US0003M+110bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/22 @ 100(b)      642,738  
  485,000      Cedar Funding XII CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-12A, 1.26%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      483,872  
  403,058      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-CHC, 1.23%(US0001M+112bps), 6/15/34(b)      402,572  
  99,275      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-CHC, 1.61%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/34(b)      98,650  
  99,275      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-CHC, 1.86%(US0001M+175bps), 6/15/34(b)      98,408  
  204,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class D, Series 2021-RETL, 3.16%(US0001M+305bps), 8/15/36(b)      202,001  
  222,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class B, Series 2021-RETL, 2.01%(US0001M+190bps), 8/15/36(b)      220,664  
  165,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class C, Series 2021-RETL, 2.41%(US0001M+230bps), 8/15/36(b)      163,796  
  721,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class A, Series 2021-RETL, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 8/15/36(b)      719,226  
  791,000      Columbia Cent CLO 29, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-29A, 1.32%(US0003M+117bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      790,998  
  410,000      Columbia Cent CLO 30, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2020-30A, 1.44%(US0003M+131bps), 1/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      410,747  
  310,000      Columbia Cent CLO 31, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-31A, 1.33%(US0003M+120bps), 4/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      310,143  
  57,000      Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2014-CR18, 3.83%, 7/15/47, Callable 6/15/24 @ 100      60,061  
  140,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class B, Series 2019-ICE4, 1.34%(US0001M+123bps), 5/15/36(b)      139,737  
  3,766,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(b)      3,798,727  
  860,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2017-PFHP, 2.36%(US0001M+225bps), 12/15/30(b)      856,182  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class B, Series 2018, 4.53%, 4/15/36(b)      101,472  
  205,000      CSMC Trust, Class A, Series 2018, 4.28%, 4/15/36(b)      210,045  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      98,219  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 100,000      CSMC Trust, Class C, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)    $ 100,646  
  527,000      Dryden 76 CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-76A, 1.31%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      526,787  
  577,000      Dryden 83 CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-83A, 1.34%(US0003M+122bps), 1/18/32, Callable 1/18/22 @ 100(b)      577,045  
  723,000      Dryden 85 CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-85A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      723,127  
  420,000      Dryden 90 Clo, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-90A, 1.29%(US0003M+113bps), 2/20/35(b)      419,743  
  250,000      Dryden CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-78A, 1.30%(US0003M+118bps), 4/17/33, Callable 4/17/22 @ 100(b)      250,097  
  363,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-1A, 1.22%(US0003M+110bps), 4/15/31, Callable 7/15/22 @ 100(b)      363,692  
  930,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-2A, 1.26%(US0003M+115bps), 1/15/35, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      929,214  
  250,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class A13R, Series 2013-1A, 1.37%(US0003M+125bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      250,495  
  1,469,000      ELP Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ELP, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 11/15/38(b)      1,460,568  
  447,671      Extended Stay America Trust, Class D, Series 2021-ESH, 2.36%(US0001M+225bps), 7/15/38(b)      447,671  
  223,836      Extended Stay America Trust, Class C, Series 2021-ESH, 1.81%(US0001M+170bps), 7/15/38(b)      223,835  
  303,421      Extended Stay America Trust, Class B, Series 2021-ESH, 1.49%(US0001M+138bps), 7/15/38(b)      303,421  
  532,231      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 1.19%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(b)      532,231  
  300,000      Flatiron CLO 20, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 1.46%(US0003M+130bps), 11/20/33, Callable 11/20/22 @ 100(b)      300,240  
  250,000      Flatiron CLO 21, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 1.26%(US0003M+111bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      249,155  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class C, Series 2021-IP, 1.66%(US0001M+155bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,847  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class B, Series 2021-IP, 1.26%(US0001M+115bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,891  
  643,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class A, Series 2021-IP, 1.06%(US0001M+95bps), 10/15/36(b)      642,592  
  556,000      Invesco CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-3A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 10/22/34, Callable 10/22/23 @ 100(b)      554,691  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 87,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class EFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.54%, 7/5/23(b)    $ 88,568  
  64,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class DFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.35%, 7/5/23(b)      65,821  
  41,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class CFX, Series 2018-WPT, 4.95%, 7/5/23(b)      42,290  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-BMR, 1.21%(US0001M+110bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,888  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-BMR, 0.99%(US0001M+88bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,923  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-BMR, 1.86%(US0001M+175bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,863  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-BMR, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,895  
  285,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(b)      282,865  
  250,000      Lucali CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 1.33%(US0003M+121bps), 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      250,026  
  320,000      Madison Park Funding L, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-50A, 1.26%(US0003M+114bps), 4/19/34, Callable 4/19/23 @ 100(b)      319,999  
  910,000      Madison Park Funding LII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-52A, 1.19%(US0003M+110bps), 1/22/35(b)      908,374  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding XLV, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-45A, 1.24%(US0003M+112bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      249,861  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-33A, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      250,062  
  236,276      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-19A, 1.05%(US0003M+92bps), 1/22/28, Callable 1/22/22 @ 100(b)      236,101  
  250,000      Magnetite XXI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-21A, 1.15%(US0003M+102bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/22 @ 100(b)      249,864  
  280,000      Magnetite Xxix, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-29A, 1.11%(US0003M+99bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      280,095  
  250,000      Magnetite XXVII, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-27A, 1.27%(US0003M+114bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      249,999  
  968,000      Magnetite Xxx, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-30A, 1.26%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      967,427  
  500,000      Magnetite, Ltd., Class A, Series 24, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 1/15/33, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      500,036  
  260,000      MHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MHC, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 4/15/38(b)      259,459  
  315,000      Milos CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 1.20%(US0003M+107bps), 10/20/30, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      315,001  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 132,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-H4, 4.31%, 12/15/51, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100    $ 149,336  
  385,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A, Series 2019-Mead, 3.17%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      395,002  
  56,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      56,618  
  53,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)(c)      52,941  
  236,041      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2018-BOP, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 6/15/35(b)      236,612  
  567,462      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2018-BOP, 1.61%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/35(b)      564,342  
  326,000      Peace Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+113bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      325,999  
  91,792      Prima Capital CRE Securitization, Class A, Series 2021-9A, 1.55%(US0001M+145bps), 12/15/37(b)      91,734  
  333,000      Rockland Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.25%(US0003M+112bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      332,821  
  237,000      SREIT Trust, Class D, Series 2021-MFP, 1.68%(US0001M+158bps), 11/15/38(b)      236,773  
  1,013,000      SREIT Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MFP, 0.83%(US0001M+73bps), 11/15/38(b)      1,007,602  
  580,000      SREIT Trust, Class B, Series 2021-MFP, 1.18%(US0001M+108bps), 11/15/38(b)      576,518  
  360,000      SREIT Trust, Class C, Series 2021-MFP, 1.43%(US0001M+133bps), 11/15/38(b)      355,657  
  250,000      Symphony CLO XXVI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2021-26A, 1.21%(US0003M+108bps), 4/20/33, Callable 4/20/22 @ 100(b)      249,454  
  10,250,000      Taconic Park CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2016-1A, 1.13%(US0003M+100bps), 1/20/29, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      10,244,260  
  20,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-LAB, 2.45%, 10/10/42(b)      20,002  
  285,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-LAB, 2.13%, 10/10/42(b)      283,336  
  551,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-2A, 1.28%(US0003M+116bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      550,999  
  335,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-2, 1.40%(US0003M+127bps), 7/20/32, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      335,008  
  564,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 7/16/34, Callable 7/16/23 @ 100(b)      563,368  
  1,073,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-3A, 1.28%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      1,071,745  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 155,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-C48, 4.30%, 1/15/52, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100    $ 176,185  
  185,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-FCMT, 1.31%(US0001M+120bps), 5/15/31(b)      184,772  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $85,335,033)

     85,111,493  
  

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds (0.0%):       
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  25,000      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 2.00%, 2/15/25      32,950  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  37,000      Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.75%, 5/1/25^      54,547  
  27,000      Vail Resorts, Inc., 0.00%, 1/1/26^      28,864  
     

 

 

 
        83,411  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  19,000      Callaway Golf Co., 2.75%, 5/1/26      32,897  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  54,000      DISH Network Corp., 2.38%, 3/15/24      51,763  
  146,000      DISH Network Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/26      136,746  
     

 

 

 
        188,509  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  30,543      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(d)      105,985  
  52,844      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)(d)      165,930  
     

 

 

 
        271,915  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  16,000      FTI Consulting, Inc., 2.00%, 8/15/23      24,718  
  23,000      KBR, Inc., 2.50%, 11/1/23      43,621  
     

 

 

 
        68,339  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):  
  8,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 1.63%, 10/15/23      26,386  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $451,898)

     704,407  
  

 

 

 
Bank Loans (0.1%):       
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  14,963      Consolidated Energy Term Incr B 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps)      14,588  
  20,000      Diversey Term B 1Ln, Amendment No 3 Refinancing TL 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps), 9/29/28      19,906  
     

 

 

 
        34,494  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.0%):       
  35,000      Convergint Tech Term 2Ln, 7.50% (LIBOR+675bps), 3/31/29      34,913  
  4,988      Convergint Tech Term B 1Ln, 4.25% (LIBOR+350bps), 3/31/28      4,981  
     

 

 

 
        39,894  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.0%):       
  34,254      Authentic Brands Term B2 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      33,997  
  5,373      Authentic Brands Term B3 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      5,333  
     

 

 

 
        39,330  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  15,000      Ascend Learning Term 2 Ln, 5.81% (LIBOR+575bps), 12/10/29      14,963  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Diversified Consumer Services, continued       
$ 165,000      Ascend Learning Term B 1 Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 11/18/28    $ 164,622  
     

 

 

 
        179,585  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.0%):       
  10,000      Intelsat Term B-4, 5.56% (LIBOR+550bps), 1/2/24      9,973  
  131,789      Intelsat Term Dip Dd Superpriority 1Ln, 5.75% (LIBOR+475bps), 10/13/22      131,583  
     

 

 

 
        141,556  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):       
  250,000      City Football Group Term B 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 7/21/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      248,125  
  174,555      Diamond Sports Broadcasting Term B 1Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps), 8/24/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      80,440  
  122,409      Golden Entertainment Term B 1Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps), 10/20/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      122,002  
     

 

 

 
        450,567  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  5,373      Authentic Brands Term B1 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      5,346  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  3,385      Ion Analytics Term 1 Ln, 4.06% (LIBOR+400bps), 2/16/28      3,393  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $912,458)

     894,165  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (16.9%):       
(0.0%):       
  70,000      Jane Street Group/JSG Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      70,875  
  190,000      Railworks Holdings LP/Railworks Rally, Inc., 8.25%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 104.13(b)      195,700  
     

 

 

 
        266,575  
     

 

 

 
Aerospace & Defense (0.4%):       
  1,145,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.04%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      1,289,871  
  145,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.15%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      169,239  
  1,100,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.71%, 5/1/40, Callable 11/1/39 @ 100      1,411,094  
  100,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.81%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      135,461  
  1,150,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100      1,591,918  
  310,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/23 @ 102.06(b)      313,875  
  445,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      451,675  
  5,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.95%, 2/1/37      5,956  
  145,000      Moog, Inc., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 103.19(b)      145,906  
  40,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.88%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16      41,750  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Aerospace & Defense, continued       
$ 40,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.19    $ 41,050  
  35,000      TransDigm, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/22 @ 103.75      36,531  
  1,655,000      TransDigm, Inc., 5.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 11/15/22 @ 102.75      1,700,513  
  310,000      TransDigm, Inc., 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44      310,000  
     

 

 

 
        7,644,839  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.0%):       
  255,000      Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38(b)      259,781  
  525,000      XPO Logistics, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 103.13(b)      547,313  
     

 

 

 
        807,094  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  125,000      Dana, Inc., 4.50%, 2/15/32, Callable 2/15/27 @ 102.25      122,656  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  40,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 5.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 11/1/23 @ 102.63(b)      40,000  
  270,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 7.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      265,275  
  165,000      Thor Industries, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102(b)      163,556  
  240,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 2.90%, 5/13/22(b)      241,895  
  209,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 3.13%, 5/12/23(b)      214,999  
     

 

 

 
        925,725  
     

 

 

 
Banking (0.0%):       
  70,000      BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      68,483  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.6%):       
  3,840,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.20%, 8/26/24, MTN      4,109,487  
  410,000      Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95%, 4/21/25, MTN      438,663  
  151,000      Bank of America Corp., Series G, 4.45%, 3/3/26      166,247  
  1,300,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.42% (US0003M+104 bps), 12/20/28, Callable 12/20/27 @ 100      1,388,946  
  980,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.30% (SOFR+122 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      962,401  
  70,000      CIT Group, Inc., 3.93% (SOFR+4 bps), 6/19/24, Callable 6/19/23 @ 100      72,537  
  165,000      CIT Group, Inc., 6.13%, 3/9/28      198,413  
  730,000      Citigroup, Inc., Series V, 4.05%, 7/30/22      744,300  
  2,455,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.35% (US0003M+90 bps), 4/24/25, Callable 4/24/24 @ 100      2,564,876  
  1,098,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.30%, 11/20/26      1,214,802  
  1,156,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.41% (SOFR+391 bps), 3/31/31, Callable 3/31/30 @ 100      1,318,256  
  4,105,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.88%, 9/10/24      4,361,029  
  2,500,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.49% (SOFR+379 bps), 3/24/31, Callable 3/24/30 @ 100      2,891,182  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 181,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.96% (SOFR+252 bps), 5/13/31, Callable 5/13/30 @ 100    $ 187,206  
  3,705,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.41% (US0003M+83 bps), 10/30/25, Callable 10/30/24 @ 100, MTN      3,795,917  
  2,645,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.48% (US0003M+4 bps), 4/4/31, Callable 4/4/30 @ 100, MTN      3,071,112  
  1,800,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 5.01% (US0003M+424 bps), 4/4/51, Callable 4/4/50 @ 100, MTN      2,471,996  
     

 

 

 
        29,957,370  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.6%):       
  2,400,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.70%, 2/1/36, Callable 8/1/35 @ 100      2,895,828  
  3,100,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      3,395,520  
  150,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.35%, 6/1/40, Callable 12/1/39 @ 100      176,536  
  400,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.50%, 6/1/50, Callable 12/1/49 @ 100      493,873  
  333,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/58, Callable 10/15/57 @ 100      420,747  
  2,445,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 5.80%, 1/23/59, Callable 7/23/58 @ 100      3,562,106  
  20,000      Triton Water Holdings, Inc., 6.25%, 4/1/29, Callable 4/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      19,300  
     

 

 

 
        10,963,910  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.1%):       
  1,050,000      AbbVie, Inc., 3.45%, 3/15/22, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100      1,053,692  
  120,000      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 101.94^(b)      114,900  
     

 

 

 
        1,168,592  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.1%):       
  795,000      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/30/27, Callable 9/30/22 @ 102.5(b)      823,819  
  35,000      Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      35,700  
     

 

 

 
        859,519  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.3%):       
  457,000      Ares Capital Corp., 4.20%, 6/10/24, Callable 5/10/24 @ 100      480,992  
  2,707,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      2,853,386  
  315,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.38%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.69(b)      294,525  
  315,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      289,800  
  2,880,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.80%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      3,165,517  
  1,263,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.38% (SOFR+125 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100, MTN      1,246,148  
  128,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.75%, 10/1/37      181,665  
  50,000      HAT Holdings I LLC / HAT Holdings II LLC, 3.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100(b)      50,750  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 55,000      LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44(b)    $ 56,238  
  55,000      ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      56,100  
  1,100,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.75%, 3/24/25, Callable 2/24/25 @ 100      1,175,731  
  1,100,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.25%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100      1,181,200  
  6,619,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.74% (US0003M+85 bps), 4/24/24, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      6,849,010  
  2,534,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.62% (SOFR+312 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      2,755,684  
  380,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 3.88%, 4/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      378,575  
  150,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 5.25%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      151,875  
  100,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/27 @ 101.63(b)      101,250  
  485,000      Navios South American Logistics, Inc. / Navios Logistics Finance US, Inc., 10.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 8/1/22 @ 108.06(b)      506,789  
  250,000      Olympus Water US Holding Corp., 4.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      244,375  
  2,296,000      Pine Street Trust I, 4.57%, 2/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100(b)      2,594,168  
  300,000      Pine Street Trust II, 5.57%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100(b)      395,192  
  15,000      Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc., 6.25%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      14,981  
  35,000      US Renal Care, Inc., 10.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/22 @ 105.31(b)      35,656  
  55,000      Victors Merger Corp., 6.38%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      51,700  
     

 

 

 
        25,111,307  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.2%):       
  430,000      CF Industries, Inc., 5.15%, 3/15/34      519,762  
  15,000      CF Industries, Inc., 4.95%, 6/1/43      18,038  
  660,000      CF Industries, Inc., 5.38%, 3/15/44      833,250  
  510,000      Chemours Co., 5.38%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^      545,062  
  915,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.75%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      961,894  
  60,000      Diamond BC BV, 4.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      59,475  
  75,000      LSB Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      77,625  
  375,000      Olin Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.5      393,750  
  135,000      Scotts Miracle-GRO Co. (The), 4.38%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.19(b)      134,662  
  25,000      Valvoline, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      25,500  
  350,000      Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/31, Callable 6/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      341,250  
  50,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 4.88%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      51,358  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
$ 125,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.81(b)    $ 127,500  
     

 

 

 
        4,089,126  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  125,000      ADT Security Corp. (The), 4.13%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100(b)      123,438  
  430,000      Aramark Services, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.5(b)      443,975  
  25,000      Legends Hospitality Holding Co. LLC / Legends Hospitality Co-Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.5(b)      25,187  
  25,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 6.88%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      25,875  
  45,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 7.25%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.63(b)      46,575  
  270,000      Stericycle, Inc., 3.88%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      265,950  
     

 

 

 
        931,000  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.0%):       
  205,000      CommScope, Inc., 7.13%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      202,438  
  200,000      CommScope, Inc., 4.75%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      198,250  
  250,000      Viavi Solutions, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.88(b)      249,375  
     

 

 

 
        650,063  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  25,000      Arcosa, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      25,250  
  740,000      Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 8.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25^(b)      738,150  
  270,000      Dycom Industries, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      274,725  
  55,000      Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., 5.63%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      56,375  
  25,000      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      25,750  
  660,000      Pike Corp., 5.50%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.75(b)      661,650  
     

 

 

 
        1,781,900  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.4%):       
  2,090,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 3.05%, 6/5/23, Callable 5/5/23 @ 100      2,142,561  
  90,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 1.45%, 10/2/23, Callable 9/2/23 @ 100      90,310  
  100,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.13%, 9/30/24      109,344  
  224,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.80%, 5/1/25, Callable 4/1/25 @ 100      252,810  
  1,837,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.75%, 11/20/25, Callable 10/21/25 @ 100      2,071,657  
  590,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 4.70% (H15T5Y+387 bps), Callable 5/15/26 @ 100      619,498  
  1,513,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 2.60%, 5/11/23, Callable 4/11/23 @ 100      1,543,124  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Finance, continued       
$ 2,665,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.65%, 5/11/27, Callable 4/11/27 @ 100    $ 2,873,813  
  343,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.80%, 1/31/28, Callable 12/31/27 @ 100      373,625  
  250,000      Discover Bank, Series B, 4.68% (USSW5+173 bps), 8/9/28, Callable 8/9/23 @ 100      261,249  
  1,000,000      Discover Financial Services, 5.20%, 4/27/22      1,014,398  
  2,253,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.50%, 1/30/26, Callable 11/30/25 @ 100      2,468,632  
  295,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.13%, 8/17/27, Callable 6/17/27 @ 100      318,524  
  550,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.00%, 11/13/30, Callable 8/13/30 @ 100      591,878  
  313,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.60%, 1/7/22      313,130  
  329,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.58%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100      353,199  
  968,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 4.06%, 11/1/24, Callable 10/1/24 @ 100      1,019,899  
  55,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.13%, 6/16/25, Callable 5/16/25 @ 100      59,800  
  620,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.11%, 5/3/29, Callable 2/3/29 @ 100      704,422  
  130,000      General Motors Acceptance Corp., 8.00%, 11/1/31      183,223  
  2,100,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.00%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      2,234,211  
  445,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 6.88%, 3/15/25      495,062  
  295,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.75      292,050  
  155,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.88%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/24 @ 101.94      152,094  
  430,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 4.00%, 9/15/30, Callable 9/15/25 @ 102      421,938  
  76,000      Synchrony Financial, 2.85%, 7/25/22, Callable 6/25/22 @ 100      76,814  
  244,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.38%, 3/19/24, Callable 2/19/24 @ 100      257,769  
  797,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.25%, 8/15/24, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100      843,664  
  3,605,000      Synchrony Financial, 3.95%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      3,879,020  
     

 

 

 
        26,017,718  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):       
  5,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.06(b)      5,106  
  190,000      Ball Corp., 3.13%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      187,863  
  65,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 3.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100(b)      65,650  
     

 

 

 
        258,619  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  445,000      Adtalem Global Education, Inc., 5.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      432,763  
  22,000      Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, 4.63%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      21,532  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Consumer Services, continued       
$ 350,000      APX Group, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)    $ 369,687  
  875,000      Sotheby’s, 7.38%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 103.69(b)      932,969  
     

 

 

 
        1,756,951  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
  185,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 6.00%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103(b)      181,300  
  38,000      AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 3.90%, 4/20/23, Callable 3/20/23 @ 100      39,377  
  565,000      Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., 6.88%, 1/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      565,000  
  496,000      Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., 7.88%, 7/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.94(b)      515,220  
  15,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.81(b)      14,287  
  130,000      OI European Group BV, 4.75%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      131,787  
  500,000      Peachtree Funding Trust, 3.98%, 2/15/25(b)      533,877  
  155,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      161,006  
  150,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 2/15/31 @ 100(b)      158,625  
  125,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 11/1/33, Callable 5/1/33 @ 100(b)      130,938  
     

 

 

 
        2,431,417  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Support Services (0.0%):       
  55,000      Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc., 4.75%, 12/15/31, Callable 12/15/26 @ 102.38(b)      57,406  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.5%):       
  28,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.45%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      29,819  
  138,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      155,425  
  76,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.55%, 12/1/33, Callable 9/1/33 @ 100      74,293  
  400,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.15%, 11/15/46, Callable 5/15/46 @ 100      505,825  
  1,200,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      1,241,045  
  310,000      CenturyLink, Inc., 5.63%, 4/1/25, Callable 1/1/25 @ 100      327,825  
  915,000      CenturyLink, Inc., 5.13%, 12/15/26, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.56(b)      952,744  
  10,000      CenturyLink, Inc., Series G, 6.88%, 1/15/28      11,125  
  55,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 3.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/1/26 @ 100(b)      56,306  
  25,000      Consolidated Communications, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.75^(b)      25,437  
  185,000      Front Range BidCo, Inc., 6.13%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      182,688  
  40,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.94(b)      42,300  
  45,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      46,181  
  45,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 6.75%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      46,744  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 5,496      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94    $ 5,496  
  155,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103^(b)      155,387  
  60,000      Lumen Technologies, Inc., 5.38%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.69^(b)      60,225  
  3,725,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.10%, 3/22/28, Callable 1/22/28 @ 100      3,728,848  
  209,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      210,671  
  1,250,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.99%, 10/30/56, Callable 4/30/56 @ 100      1,170,312  
  55,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102(b)      54,038  
     

 

 

 
        9,082,734  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.6%):       
  10,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(b)      10,000  
  941,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 103.38(b)      971,582  
  155,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      157,713  
  165,000      Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, 3.38%, 9/15/29, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100      168,558  
  54,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.53%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100(b)      52,681  
  587,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.78%, 1/7/32, Callable 10/7/31 @ 100(b)      583,808  
  1,000,000      Emera US Finance LP, 3.55%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      1,063,328  
  1,075,000      Exelon Corp., 4.05%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      1,196,515  
  2,000,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 7.38%, 11/15/31      2,703,852  
  255,000      Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 8.00%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104      262,012  
  136,000      IPALCO Enterprises, Inc., 3.70%, 9/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      142,290  
  17,000      NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP, 4.25%, 9/15/24, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100(b)      17,722  
  20,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.69(b)      19,575  
  40,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.63%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      39,000  
  369,722      NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 12/15/25(b)      395,140  
  795,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 7/1/50, Callable 1/1/50 @ 100      870,824  
  1,370,000      PG&E Corp., 5.00%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.5      1,440,212  
  311,000      PG&E Corp., 5.25%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.63      326,146  
  605,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.00%, 7/31/27, Callable 7/31/22 @ 102.5(b)      626,175  
     

 

 

 
        11,047,133  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
$ 55,000      PowerTeam Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/4/23 @ 104.52(b)    $ 57,888  
  65,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.00%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102(b)      66,219  
  310,000      Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      311,162  
     

 

 

 
        435,269  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instrume (0.0%):       
  80,000      II-VI, Inc., 5.00%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/14/24 @ 102.5(b)      82,000  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.3%):       
  780,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.88%, 4/15/28      889,200  
  25,000      Netflix, Inc., 6.38%, 5/15/29      31,156  
  25,000      Netflix, Inc., 5.38%, 11/15/29(b)      29,688  
  310,000      ROBLOX Corp., 3.88%, 5/1/30, Callable 11/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      313,487  
  3,000,000      Walt Disney Co. (The), 3.80%, 3/22/30      3,366,264  
     

 

 

 
        4,629,795  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.3%):       
  1,039,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.10%, 10/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      1,097,243  
  1,265,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 3.95%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      1,359,685  
  62,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.55%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      69,205  
  355,000      Brixmor Operating Partners LP, 3.85%, 2/1/25, Callable 11/1/24 @ 100      375,404  
  46,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.75%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100      45,745  
  68,000      Corporate Office Properties, LP, 2.25%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100      68,663  
  10,000      Corrections Corp. of America, 4.63%, 5/1/23, Callable 2/1/23 @ 100^      10,150  
  45,000      CTR Partnership LP / CareTrust Capital Corp., 3.88%, 6/30/28, Callable 3/30/28 @ 100(b)      46,290  
  40,000      Geo Group, Inc. (The), 5.88%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100.98      35,000  
  430,000      Global Net Lease, Inc. / Global Net Lease Operating Partnership LP, 3.75%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100(b)      419,996  
  66,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.50%, 8/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      70,319  
  63,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      65,360  
  400,000      Hudson Pacific Properties LP, 4.65%, 4/1/29, Callable 1/1/29 @ 100      454,045  
  735,000      Lexington Realty Trust, 4.40%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      772,830  
  25,000      MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      26,625  
  765,000      MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc., 4.50%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      818,550  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
$ 114,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.38%, 8/1/23, Callable 6/1/23 @ 100    $ 118,253  
  101,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      108,051  
  1,278,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      1,401,019  
  2,482,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      2,576,879  
  133,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.38%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      133,950  
  189,000      Piedmont Operating Partnership, LP, 2.75%, 4/1/32, Callable 1/1/32 @ 100      185,469  
  15,000      Retail Properties of America, Inc., 4.75%, 9/15/30, Callable 6/15/30 @ 100      16,583  
  1,214,000      Sabra Health Care, LP, 3.20%, 12/1/31, Callable 9/1/31 @ 100      1,185,795  
  297,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.84%, 1/15/25, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      305,549  
  97,000      SBA Tower Trust, 1.88%, 7/15/50, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      97,162  
  74,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.33%, 7/15/52, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100(b)      75,195  
  40,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 2/15/27, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100      38,791  
  40,000      Service Properties Trust, 5.50%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      41,102  
  45,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      42,861  
  310,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      285,949  
  96,000      STORE Capital Corp., 4.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      107,971  
  1,277,000      STORE Capital Corp., 2.75%, 11/18/30, Callable 8/18/30 @ 100      1,275,168  
  272,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.70%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      271,524  
  212,000      Sun Communities Operating, LP, 2.30%, 11/1/28, Callable 9/1/28 @ 100      211,113  
  2,200,000      Tanger Properties LP, 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      2,265,195  
  581,000      Tanger Properties LP, 2.75%, 9/1/31, Callable 6/1/31 @ 100      554,362  
  85,000      The Geo Group, Inc., 6.00%, 4/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103^      68,425  
  780,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 7.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/15/22 @ 103.94(b)      814,125  
  355,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103(b)      341,687  
  131,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.00%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      145,008  
  367,000      Ventas Realty LP, 3.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      380,709  
  1,430,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.75%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      1,670,856  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
$ 60,000      Vici Properties, 3.50%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/15/22 @ 101.75(b)    $ 61,050  
  335,000      Vici Properties, 4.25%, 12/1/26, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.13(b)      348,819  
  335,000      Vici Properties, 4.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      355,519  
  72,000      Vornado Realty LP, 2.15%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      72,075  
  400,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.60%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      424,932  
  3,000,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.25%, 10/1/26, Callable 7/1/26 @ 100      3,281,094  
  66,000      WP Carey, Inc., 3.85%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100      72,873  
     

 

 

 
        25,070,223  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.0%):  
  120,000      Cobra AcquisitionCo LLC, 6.38%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      118,800  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.1%):  
  25,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.63%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/23 @ 103.47(b)      26,313  
  50,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 3.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.75(b)      50,062  
  605,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.88%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.66(b)      653,400  
  445,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 103.44^(b)      466,138  
  335,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 5.50%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 102.75(b)      349,656  
  70,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      69,125  
  93,000      Sysco Corp., 5.95%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      116,209  
  140,000      Sysco Corp., 6.60%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      218,181  
  45,000      United Natural Foods, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      48,150  
  160,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      162,600  
  60,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      60,600  
     

 

 

 
        2,220,434  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.4%):  
  110,000      C&S Group Enterprises LLC, 5.00%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      103,675  
  1,380,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 2.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100^(b)      1,371,764  
  125,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 3.63%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 101.81(b)      125,781  
  850,000      JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(b)      923,313  
  151,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      163,080  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Food Products, continued  
$ 1,040,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.25(b)    $ 1,144,000  
  1,260,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.00%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      1,248,975  
  271,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 5.00%, 7/15/35, Callable 1/15/35 @ 100      331,825  
  10,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.38%, 6/1/46, Callable 12/1/45 @ 100      11,778  
  45,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.88%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      56,465  
  350,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 4.25%, 4/15/31, Callable 4/15/26 @ 102.13(b)      367,500  
  45,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.81(b)      47,644  
  405,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/31, Callable 9/15/26 @ 102.25(b)      401,963  
  270,000      TreeHouse Foods, Inc., 4.00%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102      259,200  
     

 

 

 
        6,556,963  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):  
  200,000      180 Medical, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/7/24 @ 101.94(b)      201,990  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):  
  350,000      Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 9/28/23 @ 101.63(b)      350,000  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Servic (0.0%):  
  170,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      170,850  
  140,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.38%, 1/15/30, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.19(b)      141,400  
     

 

 

 
        312,250  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.1%):  
  140,000      AHP Health Partners, Inc., 5.75%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      137,550  
  35,000      Cano Health LLC, 6.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      34,737  
  3,765,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.13      3,925,013  
  1,485,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      1,466,438  
  1,190,000      Centene Corp., 4.63%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/15/24 @ 102.31      1,279,250  
  245,000      Centene Corp., 3.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 101.69      250,513  
  610,000      Centene Corp., 2.63%, 8/1/31, Callable 5/1/31 @ 100      597,800  
  255,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.63%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      269,025  
  255,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103(b)      272,531  
  65,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.13%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 103.06(b)      64,513  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued  
$ 45,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 102.38(b)    $ 45,337  
  4,341,000      Cigna Corp., 4.38%, 10/15/28, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      4,931,202  
  1,000,000      Cigna Corp., 4.90%, 12/15/48, Callable 6/15/48 @ 100      1,296,481  
  605,000      Community Health Systems, Inc., 8.00%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/22 @ 104(b)      634,494  
  780,000      DaVita, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      798,525  
  20,000      HCA, Inc., 4.75%, 5/1/23      20,950  
  780,000      HCA, Inc., 5.38%, 2/1/25      854,100  
  660,000      HCA, Inc., 3.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      694,650  
  50,000      HealthEquity, Inc., 4.50%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      49,500  
  40,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(b)      41,350  
  25,000      Owens & Minor, Inc., 4.50%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.25(b)      25,625  
  416,000      Radiology Partners, Inc., 9.25%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 104.63(b)      431,080  
  590,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.13(b)      609,175  
  510,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.13%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      536,775  
  295,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      298,687  
  117,000      Toledo Hospital (The), Series B, 5.33%, 11/15/28      131,688  
  15,000      Vizient, Inc., 6.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.13(b)      15,656  
     

 

 

 
        19,712,645  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.4%):       
  15,000      Affinity Gaming, 6.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.44(b)      15,600  
  445,000      Boyd Gaming Corp., 4.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.38      456,125  
  145,000      Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      145,544  
  350,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.25(b)      397,250  
  565,000      Carnival Corp., 7.63%, 3/1/26, Callable 3/1/24 @ 101.91(b)      589,012  
  125,000      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94^(b)      111,875  
  680,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.69(b)      340,000  
  765,000      Golden Entertainment, Inc., 7.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/22 @ 103.81(b)      799,425  
  605,000      Golden Nugget, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/4/22 @ 100(b)      604,244  
  40,000      Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC / Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Esc, 5.00%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      41,000  
  45,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      46,631  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
$ 40,000      Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., 4.50%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.25(b)    $ 40,150  
  150,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 10.25%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.13(b)      172,875  
  20,000      NCL Finance, Ltd., 6.13%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      19,800  
  20,000      Peninsula Pacific Entert, 8.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 11/15/23 @ 104.25(b)      21,725  
  20,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 9.13%, 6/15/23, Callable 3/15/23 @ 100(b)      21,200  
  280,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 11.50%, 6/1/25, Callable 6/1/22 @ 108.63(b)      313,250  
  310,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.50%, 8/31/26, Callable 2/28/26 @ 100(b)      313,487  
  510,000      Station Casinos LLC, 4.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      512,550  
  255,000      Viking Cruises, Ltd., 13.00%, 5/15/25, Callable 5/15/22 @ 109.75(b)      287,513  
  255,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC, 5.50%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100(b)      263,925  
  390,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC, 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^(b)      398,775  
  510,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 7.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 4/1/22 @ 103.88(b)      536,775  
  350,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.63%, 1/31/32, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.31      370,563  
     

 

 

 
        6,819,294  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.1%):       
  65,000      Ambience Merger Sub, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      64,106  
  70,000      Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co., 4.63%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      69,475  
  150,000      Century Communities, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      151,500  
  160,000      LBM Acquisition LLC, 6.25%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      159,200  
  10,000      Newell Brands, Inc., 5.38%, 4/1/36, Callable 10/1/35 @ 100      12,250  
  90,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 4.75%, 4/30/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      88,875  
  15,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103^(b)      14,700  
  510,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 10.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/23 @ 105.38(b)      561,000  
  130,000      Tempur Sealy International, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/31, Callable 10/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      129,675  
  265,000      TopBuild Corp., 4.13%, 2/15/32, Callable 10/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      271,294  
     

 

 

 
        1,522,075  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  55,000      Central Garden & Pet Co., 4.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.06(b)      55,206  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.2%):  
$ 1,457,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.30%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100(b)    $ 1,515,357  
  1,412,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.95%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100(b)      1,495,268  
  30,000      Clearway Energy Operating LLC, 4.75%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      31,650  
  430,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.88      452,575  
  35,000      Pattern Energy Operations LP/Pattern Energy Operations, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      36,313  
  85,000      Sunnova Energy Corp., 5.88%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.94^(b)      86,275  
  20,000      TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 4.25%, 1/31/23, Callable 10/31/22 @ 100(b)      20,400  
  15,000      TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 5.00%, 1/31/28, Callable 7/31/27 @ 100(b)      15,938  
     

 

 

 
        3,653,776  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.1%):       
  550,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.13      572,000  
  1,165,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      1,194,125  
     

 

 

 
        1,766,125  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.5%):       
  600,000      American International Group, Inc., 2.50%, 6/30/25, Callable 5/30/25 @ 100      618,317  
  809,000      American International Group, Inc., 3.75%, 7/10/25, Callable 4/10/25 @ 100      866,182  
  1,600,000      American International Group, Inc., 3.40%, 6/30/30, Callable 3/30/30 @ 100      1,730,909  
  70,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      70,875  
  40,000      AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      38,900  
  2,597,000      Five Corners Funding Trust II, 2.85%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(b)      2,687,895  
  115,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 103.5(b)      118,019  
  105,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      107,362  
  436,000      Pacific Lifecorp, 5.13%, 1/30/43(b)      557,159  
  227,000      Unum Group, 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      250,914  
  1,000,000      Unum Group, 5.75%, 8/15/42      1,226,188  
  685,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.72(b)      690,994  
     

 

 

 
        8,963,714  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.0%):       
  190,000      Match Group Holdings II LLC, 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      184,300  
  25,000      Match Group, Inc., 4.13%, 8/1/30, Callable 5/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      25,281  
  525,000      Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.75(b)      498,750  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Interactive Media & Services, continued       
$ 60,000      Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., 5.38%, 12/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.69^(b)    $ 58,275  
     

 

 

 
        766,606  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.1%):       
  25,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      24,937  
  10,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 6.13%, 12/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      10,025  
  470,000      Black Knight Infoserv LLC, 3.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.81(b)      468,825  
  15,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 4.00%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102(b)      15,525  
  550,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 8.13%, 7/1/27, Callable 7/1/23 @ 104.06(b)      607,750  
  255,000      Gartner, Inc., 4.50%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.25(b)      266,475  
  45,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 101.88(b)      45,675  
  40,000      Square, Inc., 2.75%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100(b)      40,200  
  40,000      Square, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100(b)      41,200  
  35,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.81      35,350  
  35,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.88%, 3/15/31, Callable 3/15/26 @ 101.94      35,350  
     

 

 

 
        1,591,312  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  202,000      Hasbro, Inc., 3.00%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100      210,184  
  5,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 104.41(b)      5,369  
  8,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.45%, 11/1/41, Callable 5/1/41 @ 100      9,520  
     

 

 

 
        225,073  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.0%):       
  510,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      534,225  
  15,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      15,619  
  30,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 3.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.88(b)      30,375  
     

 

 

 
        580,219  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.0%):       
  55,000      GrafTech Finance, Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      55,756  
  170,000      ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      167,875  
  230,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      230,287  
  45,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 5.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.94(b)      44,944  
  45,000      Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102(b)      45,563  
     

 

 

 
        544,425  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media (0.9%):       
$ 255,000      Allen Media LLC / Allen Media Co-Issuer, Inc., 10.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 113(b)    $ 267,431  
  25,000      Austin BidCo, Inc., 7.13%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      25,813  
  20,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 3.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      19,400  
  15,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 5.63%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      14,775  
  65,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 4.50%, 8/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.25(b)      66,625  
  1,250,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.75%, 3/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      1,303,125  
  390,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 5/1/32, Callable 5/1/26 @ 102.25      401,212  
  270,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 6/1/33, Callable 6/1/27 @ 102.25(b)      275,063  
  1,500,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 4.91%, 7/23/25, Callable 4/23/25 @ 100      1,651,611  
  1,000,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.38%, 5/1/47, Callable 11/1/46 @ 100      1,192,648  
  1,130,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.88(b)      1,125,762  
  335,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.13%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      327,044  
  2,346,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 3.63%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100^      2,508,721  
  392,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 4.65%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      457,260  
  605,000      DISH DBS Corp., 7.75%, 7/1/26      638,275  
  65,000      Fox Corp., 4.03%, 1/25/24, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100      68,677  
  1,094,000      Fox Corp., 4.71%, 1/25/29, Callable 10/25/28 @ 100      1,249,192  
  93,000      Fox Corp., 5.48%, 1/25/39, Callable 7/25/38 @ 100      119,826  
  140,000      Gray Television, Inc., 4.75%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      139,300  
  430,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/26, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      433,225  
  525,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      525,000  
  95,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.56(b)      94,762  
  270,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 8/1/22 @ 102.5(b)      279,787  
  30,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.50%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      32,325  
  25,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 4.13%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      25,062  
  185,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.88%, 9/1/31, Callable 9/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      181,069  
  350,000      TEGNA, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      364,875  
  230,000      Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., 8.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 104.44(b)      248,400  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media, continued       
$ 1,620,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.55%, 5/1/37    $ 2,132,393  
  280,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 7.30%, 7/1/38      395,054  
  69,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 5.50%, 9/1/41, Callable 3/1/41 @ 100      83,085  
  35,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 6.63%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/23 @ 103.31(b)      37,625  
  245,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 4.50%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      247,450  
     

 

 

 
        16,931,872  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  45,000      Alcoa Nederland Holding BV, 4.13%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.06(b)      46,462  
  686,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.94      716,013  
  60,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 4.88%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.44      60,060  
  45,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.13%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.56^      45,169  
  45,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.63%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.31^(b)      46,237  
  45,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.88%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102.44^(b)      46,744  
  485,000      Kaiser Aluminun Corp., 4.63%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 102.31(b)      489,850  
  125,000      Novelis Corp., 3.88%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      124,375  
     

 

 

 
        1,574,910  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):       
  40,000      Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder Capital Finance Corp, 4.75%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      40,900  
  45,000      Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/25, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      47,138  
     

 

 

 
        88,038  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,100,000      NiSource, Inc., 2.95%, 9/1/29, Callable 6/1/29 @ 100      1,136,985  
  1,000,000      NiSource, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/43, Callable 8/15/42 @ 100      1,285,958  
  140,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      151,762  
     

 

 

 
        2,574,705  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.9%):       
  430,000      Antero Resources Corp., 5.00%, 3/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.5^      437,525  
  335,000      Apache Corp., 4.63%, 11/15/25, Callable 8/15/25 @ 100      358,450  
  45,000      Apache Corp., 5.10%, 9/1/40, Callable 3/1/40 @ 100      50,906  
  10,000      Apache Corp., 7.38%, 8/15/47      12,492  
  145,000      Cheniere Energy Partners LP, 4.00%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102      152,975  
  125,000      Cheniere Energy Partners, LP, 3.25%, 1/31/32, Callable 1/31/27 @ 101.63(b)      125,938  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 247,000      Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC/Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP, 5.13%, 4/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100(b)    $ 274,271  
  375,000      CITGO Petroleum Corp., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.19(b)      380,625  
  50,000      Cnx Midstream Partners, LP, 4.75%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      49,875  
  20,000      CNX Resources Corp., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104.5(b)      20,800  
  65,000      Colgate Energy Partners III LLC, 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      67,112  
  47,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 7.50%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.75(b)      48,527  
  55,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 6.75%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      59,537  
  25,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 5.88%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      25,719  
  485,000      Continental Resources, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100(b)      570,481  
  42,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.88      42,945  
  795,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103(b)      822,825  
  605,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/15/22 @ 102.63(b)      588,363  
  20,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.88^(b)      19,450  
  230,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.38%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      251,275  
  2,905,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      3,297,175  
  700,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.85% (US0003M+385 bps), 5/21/43, Callable 5/21/23 @ 100(b)      679,000  
  25,000      Delek Logistics Partners LP / Delek Logistics Finance Corp., 7.13%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.56(b)      26,063  
  26,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 102.63      27,429  
  40,000      DT Midstream, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      41,100  
  124,000      Enable Midstream Partners LP, 3.90%, 5/15/24, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100      129,544  
  20,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 6.63%, 7/15/25, Callable 7/15/22 @ 103.31(b)      21,150  
  295,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 1/30/28, Callable 1/30/23 @ 102.88(b)      311,963  
  2,229,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      2,513,197  
  106,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      121,768  
  1,743,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      2,008,807  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 52,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.25%, 3/15/23, Callable 12/15/22 @ 100    $ 53,495  
  65,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      68,981  
  109,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 3.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      115,540  
  73,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      94,991  
  67,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 4.20%, 9/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      69,847  
  128,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 5.80%, 6/15/38, Callable 12/15/37 @ 100      154,720  
  83,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 6.00%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      103,750  
  350,000      EnLink Midstream LLC, 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 7/15/27 @ 100(b)      363,562  
  50,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 6.50%, 7/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(b)      56,000  
  45,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 4.50%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      46,575  
  295,000      EQT Corp., 3.90%, 10/1/27, Callable 7/1/27 @ 100      314,175  
  30,000      EQT Corp., 5.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      33,225  
  650,000      Hess Corp., 4.30%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      708,500  
  71,000      Hess Corp., 7.30%, 8/15/31      94,519  
  50,000      Hess Corp., 7.13%, 3/15/33      66,813  
  1,869,000      Hess Corp., 5.60%, 2/15/41      2,296,534  
  1,166,000      Hess Corp., 5.80%, 4/1/47, Callable 10/1/46 @ 100      1,498,310  
  405,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.22(b)      417,150  
  80,000      Hess Midstream Operations, LP, 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      79,800  
  97,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 3.45%, 2/15/23, Callable 11/15/22 @ 100      99,182  
  125,000      Leeward Renewable Energy Operations LLC, 4.25%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      126,094  
  113,000      MPLX LP, 4.50%, 7/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      117,661  
  159,000      MPLX LP, 4.88%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      172,515  
  390,000      Murphy Oil Corp., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.94      405,600  
  400,000      New Fortress Energy, Inc., 6.75%, 9/15/25, Callable 9/15/22 @ 103.38(b)      404,000  
  375,000      NGL Energy Operating LLC / NGL Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/1/23 @ 103.75(b)      386,250  
  406,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 5.55%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      450,660  
  30,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.20%, 8/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      30,788  
  406,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      415,135  
  255,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8.88%, 7/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      344,250  
  1,464,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.50%, 5/1/31      1,919,670  
  16,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/31      21,440  
  78,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.45%, 9/15/36      99,450  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 44,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.30%, 8/15/39, Callable 2/15/39 @ 100    $ 43,615  
  25,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.20%, 3/15/40      30,656  
  410,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.60%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      534,025  
  295,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 4/15/46, Callable 10/15/45 @ 100      302,375  
  430,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.10%, 2/15/47, Callable 8/15/46 @ 100      421,400  
  55,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.20%, 3/15/48, Callable 9/15/47 @ 100      54,587  
  79,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 8/15/49, Callable 2/15/49 @ 100      79,889  
  605,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 9.25%, 5/15/25, Callable 5/15/22 @ 104.63^(b)      574,750  
  80,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103      51,400  
  20,000      PDC Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.31      20,700  
  20,000      Phillips 66, 3.70%, 4/6/23      20,675  
  26,000      Phillips 66, 3.85%, 4/9/25, Callable 3/9/25 @ 100      27,890  
  1,172,000      Plains All Amer Pipeline, 3.60%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      1,225,652  
  270,000      Range Resources Corp., 4.88%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/15/25 @ 100      279,450  
  335,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.50%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      378,131  
  278,000      Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/18/22 @ 101.81(a)(d)(e)       
  10,000      SM Energy Co., 5.63%, 6/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.88      10,075  
  50,000      SM Energy Co., 6.75%, 9/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.38^      51,250  
  130,000      Southwestern Energy Co., 4.75%, 2/1/32, Callable 2/1/27 @ 102.38      136,825  
  5,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/22 @ 103      5,200  
  242,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 5.88%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.94      255,915  
  430,000      Sunoco, LP / Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.25      434,300  
  350,000      Tallgrass Energy Partners LP / Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., 6.00%, 12/31/30, Callable 12/31/25 @ 103(b)      350,000  
  510,000      Targa Resources Partners LP, 5.38%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.69      525,300  
  25,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 102.75      27,312  
  445,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.88%, 2/1/31, Callable 2/1/26 @ 102.44      482,269  
  45,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 7/15/26 @ 102(b)      47,025  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 43,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 3.25%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100    $ 45,168  
  41,000      Valero Energy Corp., 2.85%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      42,596  
  390,000      Viper Energy Partners LP, 5.38%, 11/1/27, Callable 11/1/22 @ 102.69(b)      403,650  
  40,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 3.95%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      41,800  
  137,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.65%, 7/1/26, Callable 4/1/26 @ 100      148,645  
  1,000,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      1,090,000  
  66,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      73,013  
  1,000,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 4.35%, 2/1/25, Callable 1/1/25 @ 100      1,042,500  
  525,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 5.30%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      577,500  
  162,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.50%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      170,670  
  285,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.30%, 3/4/24, Callable 12/4/23 @ 100      300,981  
     

 

 

 
        35,473,658  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  100,000      Glatfelter Corp., 4.75%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      103,125  
  45,000      Mercer International, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.56      45,900  
     

 

 

 
        149,025  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.2%):       
  390,000      Bausch Health Cos, Inc., 5.25%, 1/30/30, Callable 1/30/25 @ 102.63(b)      343,200  
  1,000,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.25%, 12/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(b)      1,084,577  
  445,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.13%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      432,206  
  115,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.50%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 101.75(b)      113,275  
  180,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.27%, 8/28/23, Callable 7/28/23 @ 100      190,671  
  76,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.90%, 8/28/28, Callable 5/28/28 @ 100      88,730  
  30,000      Jazz Securities DAC, 4.38%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      30,900  
  30,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 4.13%, 4/30/28, Callable 4/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      30,562  
  50,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 5.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.56(b)      52,125  
  126,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.13%, 6/22/22      126,244  
  40,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.65%, 6/22/25, Callable 5/22/25 @ 100      39,796  
  1,406,000      Viatris, Inc., 2.70%, 6/22/30, Callable 3/22/30 @ 100      1,408,158  
  90,000      Viatris, Inc., 3.85%, 6/22/40, Callable 12/22/39 @ 100      95,869  
     

 

 

 
        4,036,313  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Professional Services (0.1%):       
$ 140,000      Asgn, Inc., 4.63%, 5/15/28, Callable 5/15/23 @ 102.31(b)    $ 144,900  
  335,000      Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., 5.63%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 102.81(b)      345,469  
  335,000      Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., 5.88%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 102.94(b)      351,331  
     

 

 

 
        841,700  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.1%):       
  210,000      CBRE Services, Inc., 2.50%, 4/1/31, Callable 1/1/31 @ 100      210,720  
  175,000      Kennedy-Wilson, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38      177,188  
  145,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      148,625  
  725,000      TK Elevator US Newco, Inc., 5.25%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.63(b)      761,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,297,783  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.0%):       
  135,000      Uber Technologies, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      137,700  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.4%):       
  65,000      Broadcom, Inc., 1.95%, 2/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      63,949  
  4,136,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(b)      4,043,019  
  564,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.60%, 2/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      548,609  
  1,648,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/41, Callable 8/15/40 @ 100(b)      1,684,408  
  210,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100(b)      219,237  
  310,000      Entegris, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/28, Callable 4/15/23 @ 102.19(b)      318,912  
  375,000      Entegris, Inc., 3.63%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.72(b)      378,750  
  50,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 3.88%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.94(b)      51,250  
     

 

 

 
        7,308,134  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.3%):       
  40,000      Acuris Finance Us Inc / Acuris Finance SARL, 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      39,800  
  35,000      Boxer Parent Co., Inc., 7.13%, 10/2/25, Callable 6/1/22 @ 103.56(b)      36,662  
  20,000      CDK Global, Inc., 5.25%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.63(b)      21,100  
  25,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(b)      25,125  
  25,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44^(b)      25,250  
  65,000      Elastic NV, 4.13%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      63,944  
  150,000      Fair Isaac Corp., 4.00%, 6/15/28, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102(b)      154,125  
  30,000      MicroStrategy, Inc., 6.13%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.06^(b)      30,038  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Software, continued       
$ 253,000      Oracle Corp., 1.65%, 3/25/26, Callable 2/25/26 @ 100    $ 250,737  
  2,200,000      Oracle Corp., 2.80%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      2,268,941  
  400,000      Oracle Corp., 2.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      398,309  
  2,990,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100      3,002,334  
     

 

 

 
        6,316,365  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.2%):       
  80,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      81,400  
  85,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 5.00%, 2/15/32, Callable 11/15/26 @ 102.5(b)      87,550  
  32,000      AutoNation, Inc., 4.75%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      36,586  
  49,000      AutoZone, Inc., 3.63%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      52,175  
  1,229,000      AutoZone, Inc., 4.00%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      1,373,690  
  120,000      Carvana Co., 5.88%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 104.41^(b)      120,000  
  65,000      Foot Locker, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102^(b)      64,594  
  125,000      Gap, Inc. (The), 3.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      123,281  
  565,000      L Brands, Inc., 6.63%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 103.31(b)      641,275  
  1,165,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      1,351,781  
  20,000      Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.75%, 2/15/26, Callable 8/15/23 @ 104.38(b)      20,650  
  15,000      Rent-A-Center, Inc., 6.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      15,581  
  85,000      Victoria’s Secret & Co., 4.63%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      86,700  
     

 

 

 
        4,055,263  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.0%):       
  320,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.45%, 6/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      338,012  
  55,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.85%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      62,421  
  83,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.02%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      96,222  
  101,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.10%, 7/15/27, Callable 5/15/27 @ 100      120,923  
  87,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.20%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100      110,047  
     

 

 

 
        727,625  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goo (0.0%):       
  40,000      Kontoor Brands, Inc., 4.13%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      40,050  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.0%):       
  130,000      Crocs, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      126,100  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued       
$ 45,000      Levi Strauss & Co., 3.50%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 101.75^(b)    $ 45,788  
  235,000      Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 4.00%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102(b)      226,187  
     

 

 

 
        398,075  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.1%):       
  294,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/9/42      297,022  
  191,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.50%, 5/2/43      198,076  
  175,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.38%, 1/31/44      203,610  
  72,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.95%, 2/14/49, Callable 8/14/48 @ 100      90,215  
  232,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 4.45%, 6/12/25, Callable 3/12/25 @ 100      250,438  
  120,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.70%, 8/15/35, Callable 2/15/35 @ 100      142,751  
  45,000      Turning Point Brands, Inc., 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      45,113  
     

 

 

 
        1,227,225  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  295,000      Air Lease Corp., 4.25%, 2/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      313,907  
  2,465,000      Air Lease Corp., 3.38%, 7/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      2,579,157  
  30,000      Foundation Building Materials, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103(b)      29,475  
  30,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 4.63%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      30,263  
  15,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.13%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 103.06^(b)      15,131  
  90,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.00%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 103(b)      90,450  
     

 

 

 
        3,058,383  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  1,155,000      Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 3/15/32      1,738,275  
  1,265,000      Sprint Communications, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/28      1,600,225  
  2,860,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      3,095,927  
  40,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38      42,100  
  45,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 101.69      45,950  
  430,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      469,926  
  56,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      63,739  
  110,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      128,384  
     

 

 

 
        7,184,526  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $312,558,128)

     315,599,681  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (5.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  2,000,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 2.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      2,042,500  
  10,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 12/1/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.75(b)      10,375  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Aerospace & Defense, continued       
$ 40,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.5(b)    $ 40,750  
  55,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.13%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      57,062  
  620,000      Bombardier, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)      621,550  
     

 

 

 
        2,772,237  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.6%):       
  585,000      Barclays plc, 4.38%, 1/12/26      638,432  
  2,543,000      Barclays plc, 2.85% (US0003M+245 bps), 5/7/26, Callable 5/7/25 @ 100      2,618,367  
  2,377,000      Barclays plc, 5.09% (US0003M+305 bps), 6/20/30, Callable 6/20/29 @ 100      2,690,716  
  200,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 3.61%, 9/12/34, Callable 9/12/29 @ 100(b)      209,269  
  530,000      Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, 4.38%, 8/4/25      574,904  
  205,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.25%, 3/14/24      216,426  
  1,000,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.95%, 3/31/30      1,171,857  
  200,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.02%, 6/26/24(b)      213,716  
  6,069,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.71%, 1/15/26(b)      6,710,724  
  3,200,000      Natwest Group plc, 5.13%, 5/28/24      3,447,888  
  2,550,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.13%, 12/15/22      2,669,024  
  547,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.10%, 6/10/23      583,155  
  2,625,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.00%, 12/19/23      2,850,624  
  680,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.04% (H15T1Y+75 bps), 6/18/25, Callable 6/18/24 @ 100^(b)      664,413  
  3,863,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.49% (H15T1Y+110 bps), 12/14/26, Callable 12/14/25 @ 100(b)      3,767,209  
  350,000      UniCredit SpA, 6.57%, 1/14/22(b)      350,531  
  186,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.11% (H15T5Y+200 bps), 7/24/34, Callable 7/24/29 @ 100      200,863  
     

 

 

 
        29,578,118  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  200,000      Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 4.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      204,250  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.9%):       
  4,009,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.59% (SOFR+156 bps), 9/11/25, Callable 9/11/24 @ 100(b)      4,085,660  
  2,514,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 4.19% (SOFR+373 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100(b)      2,775,051  
  670,000      Credit Suisse Group Fun, Ltd., 3.80%, 9/15/22      684,420  
  787,000      Credit Suisse Group Fun, Ltd., 3.80%, 6/9/23      815,621  
  470,000      Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey, Ltd., 3.75%, 3/26/25      498,596  
  487,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 5.00%, 2/14/22      489,174  
  860,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 3.30%, 11/16/22      877,773  
  4,610,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 4.50%, 4/1/25      4,901,947  
  774,000      UBS Group AG, 1.49% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 8/10/27, Callable 8/10/26 @ 100(b)      754,980  
     

 

 

 
        15,883,222  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  15,000      Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 3.95% (US0003M+375 bps), 6/15/22, Callable 1/18/22 @ 100(b)      14,962  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
$ 350,000      Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 6.50%, 5/15/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 104.88(b)    $ 357,000  
  510,000      Methanex Corp., 5.13%, 10/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      536,775  
  230,000      Methanex Corp., 5.25%, 12/15/29, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100      242,650  
  255,000      Methanex Corp., 5.65%, 12/1/44, Callable 6/1/44 @ 100      254,584  
  660,000      Nufarm Australia, Ltd., 5.75%, 4/30/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.88(b)      673,200  
  125,000      SPCM SA, 3.13%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      125,313  
     

 

 

 
        2,204,484  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):       
  15,000      Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Finco Inc./Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC, 6.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/22 @ 103(b)      15,431  
  25,000      Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., 4.38%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      25,032  
  740,000      Trivium Packaging Finance BV, 5.50%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.75(b)      772,375  
     

 

 

 
        812,838  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  33,000      Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, 4.63%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      32,959  
  980,000      GEMS MENASA Cayman, Ltd., 7.13%, 7/31/26, Callable 7/31/22 @ 103.56(b)      1,006,950  
     

 

 

 
        1,039,909  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.3%):       
  780,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.00%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      756,600  
  1,050,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.75%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      1,034,250  
  1,601,000      C&W Senior Financing Dac, 6.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/22 @ 103.44(b)      1,667,041  
  430,000      Dolya Holdco 18 DAC, 5.00%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      431,612  
  1,355,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(b)      1,451,544  
  780,000      Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc, 4.25%, 1/31/31, Callable 1/31/26 @ 102.13(b)      752,700  
     

 

 

 
        6,093,747  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  1,155,000      Altice France SA, 8.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/1/22 @ 106.09(b)      1,227,188  
  700,000      Altice France SA, 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103(b)      668,500  
  470,000      Altice France SA, 5.13%, 1/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.56(b)      455,313  
  55,000      Telecom Italia SpA, 6.00%, 9/30/34      57,887  
     

 

 

 
        2,408,888  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  405,000      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16(b)      390,825  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
$ 35,000      1011778 BC ULC New Red Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/25, Callable 4/15/22 @ 102.88(b)    $ 36,312  
  525,000      1011778 BC ULC New Red Finance, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102(b)      517,125  
  45,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.75%, 7/21/28, Callable 7/21/23 @ 102.88(b)      44,438  
  40,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.38%, 12/4/29, Callable 12/4/24 @ 102.69(b)      38,850  
     

 

 

 
        636,725  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.2%):       
  1,414,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.38%, 4/7/30, Callable 1/7/30 @ 100(b)      1,529,025  
  1,200,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.20%, 9/16/40, Callable 3/16/40 @ 100(b)      1,230,879  
  200,000      Swiss Re Finance Luxembourg SA, 5.00% (H15T5Y+358 bps), 4/2/49, Callable 4/2/29 @ 100(b)      224,066  
     

 

 

 
        2,983,970  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  590,000      Ziggo BV, 5.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/18/22 @ 102.75(b)      604,750  
  335,000      Ziggo BV, 5.13%, 2/28/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.56(b)      337,513  
     

 

 

 
        942,263  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.0%):       
  500,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 3/1/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 105.16(b)      519,375  
  35,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.44(b)      37,669  
  5,000      FMG Resources Pty, Ltd., 4.50%, 9/15/27, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100(b)      5,312  
  85,000      Infrabuild Australia Pty, Ltd., 12.00%, 10/1/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 109^(b)      87,550  
     

 

 

 
        649,906  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,373,000      InterGen NV, 7.00%, 6/30/23, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      1,355,838  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.0%):       
  2,502,000      Cenovus Energy, Inc., 4.25%, 4/15/27, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100      2,730,307  
  335,000      eG Global Finance plc, 6.75%, 2/7/25, Callable 1/18/22 @ 103.38(b)      337,513  
  510,000      eG Global Finance plc, 8.50%, 10/30/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25(b)      529,125  
  145,000      Enbridge, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/23, Callable 7/1/23 @ 100      151,315  
  565,000      Meg Energy Corp., 7.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      601,019  
  2,500,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 4.50%, 1/23/26      2,537,997  
  1,196,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.84%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      1,242,015  
  4,500,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 5.95%, 1/28/31, Callable 10/28/30 @ 100      4,386,537  
  2,228,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      1,979,594  
  5,000,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.35%, 2/12/48      4,292,610  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 336,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100    $ 299,115  
  45,000      Teine Energy, Ltd., 6.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      45,900  
     

 

 

 
        19,133,047  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  295,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 5.50%, 11/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.38(b)      298,688  
  313,000      VRX Escrow Corp., 6.13%, 4/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.04(b)      318,477  
     

 

 

 
        617,165  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  60,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      61,125  
  460,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      465,750  
     

 

 

 
        526,875  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.5%):       
  300,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.13%, 4/16/30(b)      324,494  
  300,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(b)      350,511  
  37,622      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.00%, 7/9/29, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      13,544  
  342,505      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.50%, 7/9/30, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      119,534  
  627,494      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.12%, 7/9/35, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      199,229  
  300,000      Corp. Andina de Fomento, 2.38%, 5/12/23      305,317  
  900,000      Dominican Republic, 5.50%, 1/27/25(b)      972,000  
  3,150,000      Dominican Republic, 6.00%, 7/19/28(b)      3,516,188  
  375,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 3.85%, 10/15/30^      421,410  
  375,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 4.20%, 10/15/50      428,431  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.40%, 4/16/25(b)      212,018  
  350,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.75%, 4/16/30(b)      392,330  
  350,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.40%, 4/16/50(b)      436,454  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 2.90%, 10/22/25(b)      209,497  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.25%, 10/22/30(b)      214,921  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/22/60(b)      247,471  
     

 

 

 
        8,363,349  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.0%):       
  462,000      Imperial Tobacco Finance, 3.75%, 7/21/22, Callable 5/21/22 @ 100(b)      467,174  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  2,200,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC / AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.88%, 8/14/24, Callable 7/14/24 @ 100      2,257,279  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
$ 320,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.88%, 1/16/24, Callable 12/16/23 @ 100    $ 340,335  
  1,379,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 1.65%, 10/29/24, Callable 9/29/24 @ 100      1,375,329  
  151,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 6.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      172,707  
  163,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.45%, 4/3/26, Callable 2/3/26 @ 100      176,985  
  503,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.45%, 10/29/26, Callable 9/29/26 @ 100      506,894  
  527,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.00%, 10/29/28, Callable 8/29/28 @ 100      532,492  
  564,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      572,640  
     

 

 

 
        5,934,661  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  330,000      Empresa Nacional del Pet, 4.38%, 10/30/24(b)      351,038  
  450,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 6.25%, 3/25/29, Callable 3/25/24 @ 103.13(b)      487,125  
  295,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 4.50%, 4/27/31, Callable 4/27/26 @ 102.25(b)      297,581  
     

 

 

 
        1,135,744  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $104,389,765)

     104,135,235  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.2%):       
California (0.0%):  
  140,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.55%, 4/1/39      234,683  
  10,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.35%, 11/1/39      15,860  
     

 

 

 
        250,543  
     

 

 

 
Illinois (0.2%):  
  3,235,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 5.10%, 6/1/33      3,731,152  
  63,636      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 4.95%, 6/1/23      66,120  
     

 

 

 
        3,797,272  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.0%):  
  339,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority Revenue, Build America Bonds, GO, Series A, 7.43%, 2/15/29      428,086  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $3,803,096)

     4,475,901  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (8.7%):       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (1.3%)  
  35,033      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #J34501      36,527  
  26,591      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #G18604      27,579  
  44,883      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #V61246      46,755  
  78,235      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #V61273      81,458  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 204,117      3.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #C91403    $ 217,484  
  607,803      3.50%, 7/1/32, Pool #C91467      647,773  
  159,794      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #G18669      165,702  
  38,128      2.50%, 3/1/33, Pool #G18680      39,528  
  23,768      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #K90336      24,665  
  151,911      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18684      159,114  
  48,201      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #G16550      50,501  
  25,769      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #C91709      26,743  
  26,254      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90684      27,240  
  61,425      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90632      63,753  
  40,738      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90806      42,276  
  121,287      3.00%, 7/1/33, Pool #C91714      125,882  
  120,670      2.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #G16661      125,278  
  34,818      3.00%, 4/1/34, Pool #G16829      36,491  
  174,121      3.50%, 10/1/34, Pool #C91793      186,097  
  465,538      4.00%, 5/1/37, Pool #C91938      502,981  
  204,681      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A95150      224,166  
  557,341      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G07922      603,014  
  279,520      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G60271      302,996  
  77,118      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #G07949      84,823  
  64,964      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q37467      70,310  
  7,112      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #Q39975      7,722  
  18,194      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #V82292      19,669  
  127,515      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q43257      135,870  
  207,649      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #G60989      217,543  
  9,408      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45028      10,464  
  7,194      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #Q45635      7,986  
  14,509      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #Q46222      15,842  
  24,470      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q47935      26,699  
  36,020      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q48095      39,324  
  11,040      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q47942      12,046  
  277,397      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #Q48877      301,912  
  43,621      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #Q48759      47,600  
  25,001      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #Q49393      27,279  
  98,632      4.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #Q53017      106,990  
  11,919      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #Q54499      12,945  
  30,192      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #G61343      32,458  
  56,432      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55500      61,455  
  49,383      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55660      53,810  
  47,669      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55724      51,891  
  75,788      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55839      82,559  
  127,824      4.00%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55992      138,628  
  181,960      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      198,142  
  56,690      4.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #Q59935      61,515  
  31,818      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #G67716      35,368  
  897,648      4.50%, 7/1/49, Pool #RA1171      991,638  
  6,490      3.00%, 10/1/49, Pool #QA3907      6,811  
  10,925      3.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #QA4483      11,466  
  11,254      3.00%, 12/1/49, Pool #QA5521      11,768  
  29,482      3.00%, 12/1/49, Pool #QA5154      30,948  
  380,006      2.00%, 6/1/50, Pool #RA2677      380,713  
  502,692      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #SD7530      517,940  
  2,501,188      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #SD7535      2,575,078  
  1,804,455      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #SD8134      1,801,111  
  2,396,186      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7540      2,469,332  
  1,445,505      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7541      1,442,821  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 47,882      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #QC1514    $ 47,971  
  29,162      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #QC4163      29,217  
  389,253      2.50%, 7/1/51, Pool #RA5574      399,588  
  1,083,802      2.50%, 8/1/51, Pool #QC5848      1,107,399  
  744,955      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6076      745,652  
  1,295,281      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6241      1,296,493  
  447,467      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6302      446,665  
  698,303      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6434      713,543  
  300,081      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6496      306,630  
  500,005      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6510      500,940  
  2,300,050      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6435      2,363,498  
     

 

 

 
        23,822,075  
     

 

 

 
Federal National Mortgage Association (5.3%)  
  41,543      2.50%, 5/1/31, Pool #BC0919      43,315  
  57,466      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #BC2778      59,915  
  40,643      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8010      42,462  
  302,525      2.50%, 1/1/32, Pool #BE3032      313,778  
  46,272      2.50%, 9/1/32, Pool #MA3124      47,972  
  172,761      3.00%, 9/1/32, Pool #BM5110      181,421  
  24,334      3.00%, 3/1/33, Pool #BM4614      25,735  
  25,030      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #AT3000      26,311  
  23,386      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #AT6090      24,577  
  109,853      3.00%, 7/1/33, Pool #MA1490      115,447  
  403,627      6.00%, 5/1/36, Pool #745512      475,207  
  2,200,000      2.00%, 1/25/37, TBA      2,253,969  
  2,400,000      1.50%, 1/25/37, TBA      2,407,875  
  15,711      3.50%, 12/1/40, Pool #AH1556      16,864  
  41,080      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #BM1167      45,095  
  262,290      4.50%, 3/1/44, Pool #AV0957      286,459  
  137,093      4.50%, 7/1/44, Pool #AS3062      150,741  
  218,473      4.50%, 12/1/44, Pool #AS4176      239,255  
  125,514      4.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AZ1207      135,722  
  133,614      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8096      144,288  
  110,169      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8126      119,128  
  282,227      3.50%, 7/1/45, Pool #AZ0814      305,205  
  199,851      3.50%, 8/1/45, Pool #AY8424      216,116  
  124,844      4.50%, 12/1/45, Pool #BA6997      134,832  
  30,091      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #AS6352      32,365  
  10,204      4.50%, 1/1/46, Pool #AY3890      10,980  
  78,310      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #BC1578      84,659  
  4,236      4.50%, 3/1/46, Pool #BC0287      4,710  
  25,946      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #AS7024      28,242  
  289,150      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #AL8468      317,712  
  53,203      4.50%, 6/1/46, Pool #BD1238      58,629  
  203,517      4.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #AL9282      220,017  
  113,217      4.00%, 7/1/46, Pool #BC1443      123,845  
  26,738      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BD1489      28,925  
  116,393      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BC2843      127,283  
  17,766      4.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #BD7599      19,217  
  95,794      3.50%, 10/1/46, Pool #AL9285      102,147  
  57,245      4.50%, 10/1/46, Pool #BE1671      62,500  
  110,621      4.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #BC4754      121,041  
  52,041      4.50%, 11/1/46, Pool #BE2386      57,867  
  102,686      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BE4488      114,190  
  6,224      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9079      6,908  
  296,443      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9077      320,767  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 30,678      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #BE6506    $ 33,804  
  36,419      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #BE7087      40,101  
  48,278      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE8498      52,694  
  418,733      4.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9779      460,447  
  55,624      4.00%, 5/1/47, Pool #BM1277      60,234  
  6,425      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH4269      6,954  
  8,755      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BE9387      9,625  
  60,380      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BE3663      66,397  
  19,445      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH0561      21,081  
  31,171      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #AS9968      33,742  
  53,701      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #BE3749      59,037  
  58,608      4.00%, 4/1/48, Pool #BM3700      63,443  
  33,754      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #BJ5454      36,684  
  6,174      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #BJ5507      6,700  
  324,744      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #CA2432      354,069  
  77,557      4.50%, 10/25/48, Pool #BM4548      85,728  
  368,958      4.50%, 12/1/48, Pool #CA2797      408,123  
  216,712      4.50%, 9/1/49, Pool #FM1534      238,644  
  307,658      4.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4628      332,548  
  49,485      3.50%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4557      52,794  
  10,309      3.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #BO8254      10,822  
  19,000,000      3.00%, 1/25/50, TBA      19,694,687  
  208,162      3.00%, 2/1/50, Pool #CA5126      217,970  
  5,700,000      2.00%, 2/25/50, TBA      5,673,281  
  94,626      2.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #FM3897      94,802  
  137,660      2.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6275      137,788  
  394,609      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #SD0430      404,977  
  3,236,953      3.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM7147      3,460,967  
  175,684      2.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #CA7229      181,084  
  144,417      2.00%, 10/1/50, Pool #CA7323      145,179  
  94,394      2.00%, 11/1/50, Pool #C47616      94,220  
  15,252,158      3.50%, 1/1/51, Pool #FM7599      16,051,707  
  9,600,000      2.00%, 1/25/51, TBA      9,576,000  
  3,700,000      1.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      3,573,969  
  5,975,000      2.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      6,100,102  
  845,865      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #CA8950      865,260  
  1,100,000      1.50%, 2/25/51      1,060,984  
  2,342,138      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #MA4281      2,337,797  
  1,185,782      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #FM6540      1,231,802  
  4,110,925      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #MA4305      4,103,300  
  22,349      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BT1461      22,390  
  47,408      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BQ1010      47,320  
  539,351      2.50%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1384      553,705  
  1,000,000      1.50%, 9/1/51, Pool #BQ6570      966,743  
  398,426      2.50%, 9/1/51, Pool #CB1549      409,774  
  690,875      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1801      692,167  
  522,170      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1799      524,125  
  199,999      1.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #MA4464      193,350  
  877,021      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9568      879,752  
  568,034      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9539      569,097  
  1,391,238      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9501      1,430,854  
  378,157      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2376      388,223  
  398,217      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2350      398,589  
  420,562      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2321      431,372  
  399,299      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2320      410,671  
  946,776      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2289      967,437  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 1,099,833      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2349    $ 1,101,890  
  299,623      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2348      300,183  
  299,696      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2347      300,629  
  1,700,172      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9865      1,748,587  
     

 

 

 
        99,430,098  
     

 

 

 
Government National Mortgage Association (2.1%)  
  20,983      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      22,593  
  63,045      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      67,886  
  65,770      4.00%, 8/15/41, Pool #430354      72,508  
  717,487      4.00%, 1/20/42, Pool #5280      772,660  
  97,311      4.00%, 11/20/42, Pool #MA0535      104,805  
  231,982      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #AA5872      241,447  
  1,613,017      3.50%, 1/20/43, Pool #MA0699      1,696,820  
  27,936      3.50%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8884      29,912  
  144,157      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AA6146      156,920  
  62,729      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8812      67,636  
  10,751      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AB9891      11,509  
  29,030      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AD9075      31,082  
  65,698      4.00%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3664      70,478  
  323,891      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      338,978  
  63,266      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5857      67,875  
  43,327      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5831      46,737  
  460,807      3.00%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4195      482,409  
  205,299      4.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4322      218,965  
  103,883      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784303      110,230  
  35,962      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #MA4383      38,356  
  109,454      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784304      116,139  
  38,330      4.00%, 5/20/47, Pool #MA4452      40,881  
  24,299      3.50%, 2/20/48, Pool #MA5019      25,404  
  18,758      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG7744      20,265  
  22,363      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG3507      24,159  
  8,932      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8985      9,408  
  3,819      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8984      4,008  
  4,712      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8987      5,075  
  400,000      3.00%, 2/20/50, TBA      413,422  
  337,320      3.50%, 4/20/50, Pool #MA6600      351,643  
  2,400,678      3.50%, 11/20/50, Pool #MA6997      2,502,615  
  11,900,000      3.50%, 1/20/51, TBA      12,374,141  
  750,000      2.00%, 2/20/51, TBA      755,742  
  1,370,478      3.00%, 5/20/51, Pool #MA7368^      1,419,559  
  973,988      3.00%, 6/20/51, Pool #MA7419      1,010,338  
  6,475,000      2.50%, 7/20/51, TBA      6,634,852  
  8,100,000      2.00%, 1/20/52, TBA      8,177,203  
     

 

 

 
        38,534,660  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $161,606,530)

     161,786,833  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations (21.4%):       
U.S. Treasury Bonds (6.0%)  
$ 32,428,000      1.75%, 8/15/41    $ 31,536,230  
  1,605,300      3.00%, 2/15/47      1,950,941  
  66,722,000      2.00%, 8/15/51      68,337,923  
  9,434,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      9,404,519  
     

 

 

 
        111,229,613  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Bonds (0.0%)  
  596,576      0.13%, 2/15/51      706,010  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (15.4%)  
  75,000,000      0.13%, 5/31/23      74,531,250  
  900,000      2.50%, 1/31/24      932,203  
  584,000      0.25%, 5/15/24      576,153  
  3,000,000      0.75%, 4/30/26      2,941,875  
  85,000,000      0.75%, 5/31/26      83,300,000  
  18,472,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      18,466,227  
  32,355,200      1.25%, 5/31/28      32,056,926  
  17,310,000      1.25%, 9/30/28      17,120,672  
  59,291,000      1.38%, 11/15/31^      58,623,976  
     

 

 

 
        288,549,282  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $401,988,008)

     400,484,905  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (3.8%):  
  70,498,007      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 0.03%(f)(g)      70,498,007  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $70,498,007)

     70,498,007  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (3.7%):       
Money Markets (3.7%):       
  69,371,678      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(g)      69,371,678  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $69,371,678)

     69,371,678  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,903,311,771) — 107.5%(h)

     2,007,823,872  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (7.5)%

     (140,113,826
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,867,710,046  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

GO—General Obligation

H15T1Y—1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

H15T5Y—5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

TBA—To Be Announced Security

US0001M—1 Month US Dollar LIBOR

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

USSW5—USD 5 Year Swap Rate

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $69,033,339.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.02% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(c)

The rate for certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may vary based on factors relating to the pool of assets underlying the security. The rate presented is the rate in effect at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be illiquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, these securities represent 0.01% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(e)

Defaulted bond.

 

(f)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(g)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(h)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

Securities Sold Short (0.0%):

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s securities sold short were as follows:

 

Security Description    Coupon
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Par
Amount
     Proceeds
Received
     Fair
Value
 

U.S. Government Agency Mortgage

Government National Mortgage Association

             

Government National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.00%       1/20/51      $ (400,000    $ (413,906    $ (414,125
          

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $ (413,906    $ (414,125
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        26      $ 6,186,050      $ (18,240
           

 

 

 
            $ (18,240
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 1,903,311,771
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 2,007,823,872

Interest and dividends receivable

      6,884,902

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1)

      1

Receivable for investments sold

      7,870,211

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      14,831,522

Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts

      404,146

Reclaims receivable

      40,053

Prepaid expenses

      9,980
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      2,037,864,687
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      1,239,271

Payable for investments purchased

      11,060,255

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      84,998,634

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      359,718

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      70,498,007

Securities sold short (Proceeds received $413,906)

      414,125

Due to Broker for futures contracts collateral

      92,000

Manager fees payable

      707,695

Administration fees payable

      371,300

Distribution fees payable

      371,735

Custodian fees payable

      16,549

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      316

Transfer agent fees payable

      3,412

Trustee fees payable

      1,776

Other accrued liabilities

      19,848
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      170,154,641
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,867,710,046
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,645,685,585

Total distributable earnings

      222,024,461
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,867,710,046
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 113,444,916

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      11,023,095

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 10.29
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,754,265,130

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      110,936,264

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 15.81
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $69,033,339.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 17,174,857

Dividends

      7,471,886

Income from securities lending

      46,892

Foreign withholding tax

      (110,821 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      24,582,814
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      6,117,912

Administration fees

      697,068

Distribution fees

      3,040,119

Custodian fees

      56,012

Administrative and compliance services fees

      11,249

Transfer agent fees

      23,507

Trustee fees

      48,576

Professional fees

      22,665

Shareholder reports

      23,395

Other expenses

      16,365
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      10,056,868

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (580,008 )

Less expenses contractually waived/reimbursed by the Manager

      (564,106 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      8,912,754
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      15,670,060
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      102,261,935

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      2,018,086

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities held short

      (32,459 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      19,386,624

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (72,472 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities held short

      4,843
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      123,566,557
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 139,236,617
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 15,670,060     $ 10,198,483

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      104,247,562       26,785,761

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      19,318,995       27,808,739
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      139,236,617       64,792,983
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (3,330,348 )      

Class 2

      (34,061,423 )       (28,810,320 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (37,391,771 )       (28,810,320 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1^

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      116,811,345      

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      3,330,348      

Value of shares redeemed

      (9,762,492 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      110,379,201      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,259,772,914       14,403,625

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      34,061,423       28,810,320

Value of shares redeemed

      (196,875,194 )       (79,696,573 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      1,096,959,143       (36,482,628 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      1,207,338,344       (36,482,628 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      1,309,183,190       (499,965 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      558,526,856       559,026,821
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,867,710,046     $ 558,526,856
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1^

       

Shares issued

      11,643,238      

Dividends reinvested

      336,739      

Shares redeemed

      (956,882 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      11,023,095      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      82,739,673       1,040,827

Dividends reinvested

      2,240,883       2,099,877

Shares redeemed

      (12,725,870 )       (6,007,621 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      72,254,686       (2,866,917 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      83,277,781       (2,866,917 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Amounts shown as “—” are either $0 or rounds to less than $1.

       

 

^

Class 1 activity is for the period June 21, 2021 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2021.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021^   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.00                
   

 

 

                 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.07 (a)                

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      0.52                
   

 

 

                 

Total from Investment Activities

      0.59                
   

 

 

                 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.08 )                

Net Realized Gains

      (0.22 )                
   

 

 

                 

Total Dividends

      (0.30 )                
   

 

 

                 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.29                
   

 

 

                 

Total Return(b)

      6.03 %(c)                

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 113,445                

Net Investment Income/(Loss)(d)

      1.35 %                

Expenses Before Reductions(d)(e)

      0.51 %                

Expenses Net of Reductions(d)

      0.46 %                

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      115 %                

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.44     $ 13.45     $ 12.26     $ 13.35     $ 12.43
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.19 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.31 (a)       0.34       0.28

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.48       1.51       1.76       (0.58 )       1.09
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.67       1.77       2.07       (0.24 )       1.37
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.08 )       (0.35 )       (0.33 )       (0.32 )      

Net Realized Gains

      (0.22 )       (0.43 )       (0.55 )       (0.53 )       (0.45 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.30 )       (0.78 )       (0.88 )       (0.85 )       (0.45 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 15.81     $ 14.44     $ 13.45     $ 12.26     $ 13.35
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      11.65 %       13.47 %       17.27 %       (2.02 )%       11.12 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,754,265     $ 558,527     $ 559,027     $ 539,355     $ 627,375

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.22 %       1.92 %       2.35 %       2.24 %       2.06 %

Expenses Before Reductions(e)

      0.80 %       1.03 %       1.02 %       1.01 %       1.00 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      115 %       77 %       77 %       66 %       82 %

 

^

Class 1 activity for the period June 21, 2021 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2021.

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

(d)

Annualized for periods less than one year.

 

(e)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(f)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

32


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Structured Notes

The Fund may invest in structured notes, the values of which are based on the price movements of a reference security or index. Structured notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. The terms of the structured notes may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and therefore, may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the reference may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured note at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the reference; therefore, the value of such security may be very volatile. Structured notes may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the reference. Structured notes may also be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.

Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. When-issued securities are securities purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield and thereby involve risk that the yield obtained in the transaction will be less than that available in the market when the delivery takes place. A Fund will not pay for such securities or start earning interest on them until they are received. When a Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in the value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. A Fund may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss.

 

33


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Short Sales

The Fund may engage in short sales against the box (i.e., where the Fund owns or has an unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost a security substantially similar to the security sold short) for hedging purposes to limit exposure to a possible market decline in the value of its portfolio securities. In a short sale, the Fund sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The Fund may also incur an interest expense if a security that has been sold short has an interest payment. When the Fund engages in a short sale, the Fund records a liability for securities sold short and records an asset equal to the proceeds received. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the market value of the securities sold short. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Bank Loans

The Fund may invest in bank loans, which generally have interest rates which are reset periodically by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate and, secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks and the certificate of deposit rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. Bank loans often require prepayments from excess cash flows or allow the borrower to repay at its election. The rate at which the borrower repays cannot be predicted with accuracy. Therefore, the anticipated or actual maturity may be considerably earlier than the stated maturity shown in the Schedule of Portfolio of Investments. All or a portion of any bank loans may be unfunded. The portfolio is obligated to fund any commitments at the borrower’s discretion. Therefore, the portfolio must have funds sufficient to cover its contractual obligation.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $4,653 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $70,498,007 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

TBA Purchase and Sale Commitments

The Fund may enter into to-be-announced (TBA) purchase or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, mortgage-backed securities for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for such securities. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be

 

34


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

delivered are not identified at the trade date; however, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate, and mortgage term, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The Fund may enter into TBA purchase transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying securities, may elect to extend the settlement by “rolling” the transaction, and/or may use TBAs to gain interim exposure to underlying securities. Until settlement, the Fund maintains liquid assets sufficient to settle its TBA commitments.

To mitigate counterparty risk, the Fund has entered into agreements with TBA counterparties that provide for collateral and the right to offset amounts due to or from those counterparties under specified conditions. Subject to minimum transfer amounts, collateral requirements are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all TBA commitments with a particular counterparty. At any time, the Fund’s risk of loss from a particular counterparty related to its TBA commitments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated TBAs in excess of unrealized loss on depreciated TBAs and collateral held, if any, by such counterparty. As of December 31, 2021, no collateral had been posted by the Fund to counterparties for TBAs.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $8.7 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 18,240  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure  

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ 2,018,086        $(72,472)  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), FIAM LLC (“FIAM”), which in turn has retained Geode Capital Management, LLC (“Geode” or the “Sub-subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to subadvisory agreements with the Manager and FIAM, FIAM and Geode, respectively, provide investment advisory services as the Subadviser and Sub-subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Sub-subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Subadviser. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees),

 

35


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 1

         0.43 %          0.46 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 2

         0.43 %          0.71 %

 

*

The annual rate due to the Manager is 0.43% of the first $20 billion of the Fund’s net assets and 0.40% of the Fund’s net assets over $20 billion. Prior to June 1, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager was 0.70% on all net assets, and the Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.45% on all assets in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.”

At December 31, 2021, the contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years were as follows:

 

       

Expires

12/31/2022

    

Expires

12/31/2023

    

Expires

12/31/2024

     Total

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 328,039        $ 353,628        $ 564,106        $ 1,245,773

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments. Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

36


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 784,840,649        $        $ 144,324        $ 784,984,973

Preferred Stock+

         115,680                            115,680

Warrants+

         58,005                            58,005

Asset Backed Securities

                  9,602,909                   9,602,909

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  85,111,493                   85,111,493

Convertible Bonds+

                  538,477          165,930          704,407

Bank Loans+

                  894,165                   894,165

Corporate Bonds+

                  315,599,681          #          315,599,681

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  104,135,235                   104,135,235

Municipal Bonds

                  4,475,901                   4,475,901

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  161,786,833                   161,786,833

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  400,484,905                   400,484,905

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         70,498,007                            70,498,007

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         69,371,678                            69,371,678
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         924,884,019          1,082,629,599          310,254          2,007,823,872
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Securities Sold Short

                  (414,125 )                   (414,125 )

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (18,240 )                            (18,240 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 924,865,779        $ 1,082,215,474        $ 310,254        $ 2,007,391,507
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 2,497,091,818        $ 1,375,377,872

For the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 914,306,302        $ 554,647,642

 

37


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

6. Restricted Securities

A restricted security is a security which has been purchased through a private offering and cannot be resold to the general public without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) or pursuant to the resale limitations provided by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Whether a restricted security is illiquid is determined pursuant to guidelines established by the Trustees. Not all restricted securities are considered illiquid. The illiquid restricted securities held as of December 31, 2021 are identified below.

 

Security      Acquisition
Date(a)
    

Acquisition

Cost

    

Shares or

Principal

Amount

     Value     

Percentage of

Net Assets

                                    

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

         7/10/20        $ 26,314          30,543        $ 105,985          0.00 %

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

         11/5/20          46,000          52,844          165,930          0.01 %

Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/18/22 @ 101.81

         10/30/18          256,808          278,000                   0.00 %

 

(a)

Acquisition date represents the initial purchase date of the security.

7. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Bank Loan Risk: There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations. The risk of holding bank loans is also directly tied to the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the issuing banks. These risks could cause the Fund to lose income or principal on a particular investment, which in turn could affect the Fund’s returns. The value of bank loans can be affected by and sensitive to changes in government regulation and to economic downturns in the United States and abroad. Bank loans generally are floating rate loans, which are subject to interest rate risk as the interest paid on the floating rate loans adjusts periodically based on changes in widely accepted reference rates.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may have less developed trading markets and exchanges which may make it more difficult to sell securities at an acceptable price and their prices may be more volatile than securities of companies in more developed markets. Settlements of trades may be subject to greater delays so that the Fund may not receive the proceeds of a sale of a security on a timely basis. Emerging countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems and investments may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, nationalization, or confiscation.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, investments in mortgage-related securities may cause the Fund to exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to call risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed

 

38


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

securities that are subordinated to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may receive payments only after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Fund as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. An unexpectedly high or low rate of prepayments on a pool’s underlying mortgages may have a similar effect on subordinated securities. A mortgage pool may issue securities subject to various levels of subordination. The risk of non-payment affects securities at each level, although the risk is greater in the case of more highly subordinated securities. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund may engage in short sales, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities borrowed from others with the expectation that the price of the security will fall before the Fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The Fund may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the Fund does not own declines in value. Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. 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 security sold short. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. As a result, if the Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price at which the security was sold. The Fund may also pay transaction costs and borrowing fees in connection with short sales.

8. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

9. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

10. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $1,905,510,267. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 117,633,634  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (15,734,154
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 101,899,480  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 14,482,331        $ 22,909,440        $ 37,391,771

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

39


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 15,135,367        $ 13,674,953        $ 28,810,320

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 42,139,842        $ 77,978,859        $        $ 101,905,760        $ 222,024,461

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, return of capital from underlying investments and other miscellaneous differences.

11. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 75% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

12. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

40


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

41


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 25.24% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $4,282,778.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $22,909,440.

 

42


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

43


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that

 

44


reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

45


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

46


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
   

Other

Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present     46     Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
 

Since 10/14

(Trustee since 2/07)

  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present    
46
 
  None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013    
46
 
  Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019     46     Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019     46    

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015     46     None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001     46     None
Interested Trustee(4)        
Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
   

Other

Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present     46     None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

47


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  President   Since 11/10   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Secretary   Since 12/20   Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
  Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer
and Principal Financial Officer
  Since 06/16   Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-
Money Laundering Compliance
Officer
  Since 02/14   Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Vice President   Since 02/16   Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Vice President   Since 04/09   Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

48


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management

Total Bond Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 27

Statement of Operations

Page 27

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 28

Financial Highlights

Page 29

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 30

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 37

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 38

Other Information

Page 39

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 40

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 43

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund and FIAM LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 shares) (the “Fund”) returned 0.31%. That compared to a (1.54)% total return for its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.1

The U.S. bond market experienced negative returns in 2021. The vaccine rollout, as well as a substantial fiscal stimulus, boosted yields at the beginning of the year. As the economy followed an uneven path to recovery over the ensuing months, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) maintained relatively low interest rates, helping to flatten the yield curve. Stocks and other riskier assets tended to perform better than bonds in this environment. Rising inflation toward the end of the year led to a more hawkish tone from the Fed, pushing yields higher and keeping bond prices low for the year.

The Fund outperformed its benchmark for the period. The Fund’s relative return was helped considerably by its position in high-yield corporate bonds, which appreciated significantly amid economic optimism. An underweight position in mortgage-backed securities also boosted relative returns, as this sector saw wider spreads after reaching historically high levels early in the year.

Additionally, the Fund’s holdings of Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) contributed to relative performance, as the market priced in much higher levels of inflation.

The Fund’s return relative to the benchmark was modestly hurt by an underweight position in the bonds of industrial companies within investment grade corporates.

The Fund did not hold derivatives during the period.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in investment-grade debt securities (those of medium and high quality) of all types and repurchase agreements for those securities.

Investment Concerns

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.

Emerging market investing may be subject to additional economic, political, liquidity, and currency risks not associated with more developed countries.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

The performance of investments in real estate depends on the overall strength of the real estate market, the management of real estate investments trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies (REOCs), and foreign real estate companies, and property management, all of which can be affected by a variety of factors, including national and regional economic conditions.

High-yield bonds have a higher risk of default or other adverse credit events, but have the potential to pay higher earnings over investment-grade bonds. The higher risk of default, or the inability of the creditor to repay its debt, is the primary reason for the higher interest rates on high-yield bonds. Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  Since
Inception

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       0.59 %       6.67 %       4.67 %       4.04 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      9/5/2012       0.31 %       6.39 %       4.39 %       3.22 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

      9/5/2012       (1.54 )%       4.79 %       3.57 %       2.70 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.58 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.83 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.70% for Class 1 Shares and 0.95% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is an unmanaged market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount of the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,005.00     $ 2.98       0.59 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,003.10     $ 4.24       0.84 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.23     $ 3.01       0.59 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.97     $ 4.28       0.84 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      31.8 %

Corporate Bonds

      31.0

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      14.8

Yankee Debt Obligations

      10.7

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      7.8

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      5.4

Asset Backed Securities

      2.2

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.0

Municipal Bonds

      0.7

Convertible Bonds

      0.2

Bank Loans

      0.2

Common Stocks

      0.1

Preferred Stock

        
   

Warrant

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      105.9

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (5.9 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (0.1%):       
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.0%):       
  1,287      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*    $ 37,954  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.1%):       
  22      Amplify Energy Corp.*      68  
  2,649      Denbury, Inc.*      202,887  
  5,889      Sanchez Energy Corp.*(a)      211,873  
     

 

 

 
        414,828  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  698      Micron Technology, Inc.      65,018  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $188,959)

     517,800  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stock (0.0%):       
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  600      PG&E Corp., 5.50%, 8/16/23      69,408  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $70,437)

     69,408  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Warrant (0.0%):       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  95      California Resources Corp., 10/27/24      1,178  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Warrant (Cost $–)

     1,178  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (2.2%):       
$ 1,299,413      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2017-1A, 3.97%, 5/16/42(b)      1,171,719  
  244,877      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 1/16/40(b)      174,268  
  243,461      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 3.84%, 1/16/38(b)      212,257  
  403,580      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-2, 3.38%, 10/16/39(b)      384,290  
  598,000      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 2.80%, 1/15/47(b)      593,579  
  198,709      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.35%, 1/16/40(b)      186,487  
  340,940      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.95%, 11/16/41(b)      334,182  
  252,403      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.84%, 5/15/39(b)      226,155  
  96,354      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class AA, Series 2016-1A, 2.49%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      96,479  
  562,257      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2016-1A, 4.21%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      561,352  
  486,005      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.44%, 7/15/46, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      479,667  
  366,161      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 4.13%, 6/15/43(b)      358,669  
  209,476      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 3.47%, 1/15/46(b)      211,678  
  186,315      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class B, Series 2019-1, 5.10%, 4/15/39(b)      175,374  
  375,594      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 4/15/39(b)      370,260  
  526,620      CF Hippolyta LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 1.53%, 3/15/61, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100(b)      518,100  
  551,513      DB Master Finance LLC, Class A2II, Series 2017-1A, 4.03%, 11/20/47, Callable 11/20/23 @ 100(b)      573,233  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 219,019      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.72%, 7/15/39(b)    $ 214,601  
  205,447      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-1, 4.46%, 12/15/38(b)      199,305  
  330,260      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 1A, 3.86%, 12/5/49, Callable 12/5/25 @ 100(b)      339,442  
  376,367      Project Silver, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 7/15/44(b)      364,891  
  233,783      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class B, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 3/15/40(b)      201,968  
  353,438      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.23%, 3/15/40(b)      343,206  
  361,973      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2017-A, 4.21%, 5/17/32, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      358,750  
  534,859      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.67%, 11/15/39(b)      529,532  
  525,220      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018, 4.15%, 9/15/38(b)(c)      515,521  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $10,057,522)

     9,694,965  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (7.8%):       
  250,000      Aimco CLO 11, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-11A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 10/17/34, Callable 1/17/24 @ 100(b)      249,414  
  440,000      Aimco CLO 12, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-12A, 1.33%(US0003M+121bps), 1/17/32, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)      439,692  
  460,000      Aimco CLO 14, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-14A, 1.12%(US0003M+99bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      459,673  
  250,000      Allegany Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1A, 1.46%(US0003M+133bps), 1/20/33, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      250,040  
  273,000      Allegro CLO XIII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+114bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      272,538  
  393,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-54A, 1.44%(US0003M+132bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      393,060  
  250,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2015-2A, 1.37%(US0003M+125bps), 4/17/33, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)      250,059  
  342,000      Ares LV CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-55A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      341,808  
  452,000      Ares LVIII CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-58A, 1.34%(US0003M+122bps), 1/15/33, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      452,056  
  387,000      Ares XLI CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2016-41A, 1.19%(US0003M+107bps), 4/15/34, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100(b)      385,527  
  273,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class ANM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.11%, 11/5/32(b)      278,261  
  100,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class BNM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.47%, 11/5/32(b)      98,205  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 43,000      Bank, Class A5, Series 2019-BN21, 2.85%, 10/15/52, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100    $ 45,267  
  440,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-4A, 1.35%(US0003M+122bps), 1/20/32, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      440,006  
  250,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/36, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      250,044  
  383,000      Beechwood Park CLO, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2019-1A, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 1/17/33, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(b)      383,070  
  49,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-B4, 4.12%, 7/15/51(c)      54,933  
  331,000      Bethpage Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+113bps), 1/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      330,803  
  201,000      BFLD Trust, Class A, Series 2020-OBRK, 2.16%(US0001M+205bps), 11/15/22(b)      202,081  
  461,000      Bristol Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2016-1A, 1.11%(US0003M+99bps), 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      460,153  
  177,029      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.71%(US0001M+160bps), 12/15/29(b)      176,257  
  339,150      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-XL, 1.56%(US0001M+145bps), 10/15/36(b)      338,495  
  519,396      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-BXLP, 0.91%(US0001M+80bps), 12/15/29(b)      519,089  
  248,627      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-FOX, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 11/15/32(b)      248,533  
  146,300      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class F, Series 2018-IND, 1.91%(US0001M+180bps), 11/15/35(b)      146,170  
  238,850      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-XL, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 10/15/36(b)      238,454  
  140,061      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2018-EXCL, 2.73%(US0001M+263bps), 9/15/37(b)      119,415  
  266,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-IMC, 1.41%(US0001M+130bps), 4/15/34(b)      264,345  
  476,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2019-XL, 1.91%(US0001M+180bps), 10/15/36(b)      475,086  
  150,307      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.23%(US0001M+112bps), 12/15/29(b)      149,956  
  189,554      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 12/15/29(b)      189,331  
  190,400      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-XL, 1.19%(US0001M+108bps), 10/15/36(b)      190,189  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 232,141      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2020-BXLP, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 12/15/29(b)    $ 231,259  
  400,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-IMC, 1.11%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/34(b)      399,247  
  185,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-IMC, 2.01%(US0001M+190bps), 4/15/34(b)      182,678  
  176,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-IMC, 1.71%(US0001M+160bps), 4/15/34(b)      174,234  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-PAC, 1.41%(US0001M+130bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,817  
  302,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-PAC, 2.06%(US0001M+195bps), 10/15/36(b)      301,048  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-PAC, 1.01%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,769  
  447,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-PAC, 0.80%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/36(b)      446,169  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-PAC, 1.21%(US0001M+110bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,816  
  268,411      Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-HB6, 0.90%, 6/25/36, Callable 6/25/22 @ 100(b)(c)      268,031  
  336,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 1.18%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      333,770  
  264,000      Cedar Funding X CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-10A, 1.23%(US0003M+110bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/22 @ 100(b)      263,892  
  250,000      Cedar Funding XII CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-12A, 1.26%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      249,419  
  122,109      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-CHC, 1.61%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/34(b)      121,339  
  137,993      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-CHC, 1.86%(US0001M+175bps), 6/15/34(b)      136,787  
  622,457      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-CHC, 1.23%(US0001M+112bps), 6/15/34(b)      621,706  
  291,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class A, Series 2021-RETL, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 8/15/36(b)      290,284  
  100,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class B, Series 2021-RETL, 2.01%(US0001M+190bps), 8/15/36(b)      99,398  
  100,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class D, Series 2021-RETL, 3.16%(US0001M+305bps), 8/15/36(b)      99,020  
  100,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class C, Series 2021-RETL, 2.41%(US0001M+230bps), 8/15/36(b)      99,270  
  328,000      Columbia Cent CLO 29, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-29A, 1.32%(US0003M+117bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      327,999  
  580,000      Columbia Cent CLO 30, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2020-30A, 1.44%(US0003M+131bps), 1/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      581,056  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 440,000      Columbia Cent CLO 31, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-31A, 1.33%(US0003M+120bps), 4/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)    $ 440,203  
  83,000      Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2014-CR18, 3.83%, 7/15/47, Callable 6/15/24 @ 100      87,458  
  205,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class B, Series 2019-ICE4, 1.34%(US0001M+123bps), 5/15/36(b)      204,615  
  119,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(b)      120,034  
  1,384,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2017-PFHP, 2.36%(US0001M+225bps), 12/15/30(b)      1,377,855  
  128,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      125,720  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class C, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      100,646  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class B, Series 2018, 4.53%, 4/15/36(b)      101,472  
  309,000      CSMC Trust, Class A, Series 2018, 4.28%, 4/15/36(b)      316,605  
  250,000      Dryden 76 CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-76A, 1.31%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      249,899  
  382,000      Dryden 83 CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-83A, 1.34%(US0003M+122bps), 1/18/32, Callable 1/18/22 @ 100(b)      382,030  
  296,000      Dryden 85 CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-85A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      296,052  
  250,000      Dryden 90 Clo, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-90A, 1.29%(US0003M+113bps), 2/20/35(b)      249,847  
  300,000      Dryden CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-78A, 1.30%(US0003M+118bps), 4/17/33, Callable 4/17/22 @ 100(b)      300,116  
  250,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class A13R, Series 2013-1A, 1.37%(US0003M+125bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      250,495  
  378,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-2A, 1.26%(US0003M+115bps), 1/15/35, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      377,681  
  612,000      ELP Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ELP, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 11/15/38(b)      608,487  
  134,301      Extended Stay America Trust, Class D, Series 2021-ESH, 2.36%(US0001M+225bps), 7/15/38(b)      134,301  
  121,369      Extended Stay America Trust, Class B, Series 2021-ESH, 1.49%(US0001M+138bps), 7/15/38(b)      121,369  
  99,482      Extended Stay America Trust, Class C, Series 2021-ESH, 1.81%(US0001M+170bps), 7/15/38(b)      99,482  
  213,887      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 1.19%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(b)      213,887  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 250,000      Flatiron CLO 19, Ltd., CLASS: AR, SERIES:19-1A CLASS: AR, 1.24%(US0003M+108bps), 11/16/34, Callable 11/16/22 @ 100(b)    $ 249,999  
  430,000      Flatiron CLO 20, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 1.46%(US0003M+130bps), 11/20/33, Callable 11/20/22 @ 100(b)      430,344  
  250,000      Flatiron CLO 21, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 1.26%(US0003M+111bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      249,155  
  264,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class A, Series 2021-IP, 1.06%(US0001M+95bps), 10/15/36(b)      263,833  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class B, Series 2021-IP, 1.26%(US0001M+115bps), 10/15/36(b)      99,891  
  250,000      Invesco CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-3A, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 10/22/34, Callable 10/22/23 @ 100(b)      249,411  
  63,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class CFX, Series 2018-WPT, 4.95%, 7/5/23(b)      64,982  
  97,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class DFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.35%, 7/5/23(b)      99,761  
  133,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class EFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.54%, 7/5/23(b)      135,397  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-BMR, 1.86%(US0001M+175bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,863  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-BMR, 1.51%(US0001M+140bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,895  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-BMR, 0.99%(US0001M+88bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,923  
  395,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 0.81%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(b)      392,041  
  100,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-BMR, 1.21%(US0001M+110bps), 3/15/38(b)      98,888  
  250,000      Lucali CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 1.33%(US0003M+121bps), 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      250,026  
  460,000      Madison Park Funding L, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-50A, 1.26%(US0003M+114bps), 4/19/34, Callable 4/19/23 @ 100(b)      459,999  
  369,000      Madison Park Funding LII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-52A, 1.19%(US0003M+110bps), 1/22/35(b)      368,341  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding XLV, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-45A, 1.24%(US0003M+112bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      249,861  
  278,806      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-19A, 1.05%(US0003M+92bps), 1/22/28, Callable 1/22/22 @ 100(b)      278,599  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-33A, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      250,062  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 325,000      Magnetite XXI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-21A, 1.15%(US0003M+102bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/22 @ 100(b)    $ 324,824  
  271,000      Magnetite Xxiii, Ltd., CLASS: AR, SERIES:19-23A CLASS: AR, 1.25%(US0003M+113bps), 1/25/35(b)      270,772  
  400,000      Magnetite Xxix, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-29A, 1.11%(US0003M+99bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      400,136  
  250,000      Magnetite XXVII, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-27A, 1.27%(US0003M+114bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      250,000  
  400,000      Magnetite Xxx, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-30A, 1.26%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      399,763  
  590,000      Magnetite, Ltd., Class A, Series 24, 1.45%(US0003M+133bps), 1/15/33, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100(b)      590,042  
  464,000      Milos CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 1.20%(US0003M+107bps), 10/20/30, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      464,001  
  200,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-H4, 4.31%, 12/15/51, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      226,266  
  870,944      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2018-BOP, 1.61%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/35(b)      866,154  
  82,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)(c)      81,908  
  86,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      86,949  
  593,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A, Series 2019-Mead, 3.17%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      608,406  
  361,287      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2018-BOP, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 6/15/35(b)      362,162  
  250,000      Peace Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+113bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      249,999  
  131,131      Prima Capital CRE Securitization, Class A, Series 2021-9A, 1.55%(US0001M+145bps), 12/15/37(b)      131,049  
  470,000      Rockland Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.25%(US0003M+112bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      469,747  
  410,000      SREIT Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MFP, 0.83%(US0001M+73bps), 11/15/38(b)      407,815  
  235,000      SREIT Trust, Class B, Series 2021-MFP, 1.18%(US0001M+108bps), 11/15/38(b)      233,589  
  146,000      SREIT Trust, Class C, Series 2021-MFP, 1.43%(US0001M+133bps), 11/15/38(b)      144,239  
  100,000      SREIT Trust, Class D, Series 2021-MFP, 1.68%(US0001M+158bps), 11/15/38(b)      99,904  
  350,000      Symphony CLO XXVI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2021-26A, 1.21%(US0003M+108bps), 4/20/33, Callable 4/20/22 @ 100(b)      349,235  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 304,000      Taconic Park CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2016-1A, 1.13%(US0003M+100bps), 1/20/29, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)    $ 303,830  
  370,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-LAB, 2.13%, 10/10/42(b)      367,839  
  20,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-LAB, 2.45%, 10/10/42(b)      20,002  
  250,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-2A, 1.28%(US0003M+116bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      250,000  
  444,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-3A, 1.28%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      443,481  
  516,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-2, 1.40%(US0003M+127bps), 7/20/32, Callable 1/20/22 @ 100(b)      516,013  
  250,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 7/16/34, Callable 7/16/23 @ 100(b)      249,720  
  261,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-FCMT, 1.31%(US0001M+120bps), 5/15/31(b)      260,678  
  234,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-C48, 4.30%, 1/15/52, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      265,983  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $34,977,078)

     34,958,049  
     

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds (0.2%):       
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  37,000      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 2.00%, 2/15/25      48,766  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  38,000      Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.75%, 5/1/25      56,021  
  40,000      Vail Resorts, Inc., 0.00%, 1/1/26^      42,762  
     

 

 

 
        98,783  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  28,000      Callaway Golf Co., 2.75%, 5/1/26      48,480  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  85,000      DISH Network Corp., 2.38%, 3/15/24      81,478  
  209,000      DISH Network Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/26      195,753  
     

 

 

 
     277,231  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.1%):  
  76,968      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)      241,680  
  45,151      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(d)      156,674  
     

 

 

 
        398,354  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):  
  23,000      FTI Consulting, Inc., 2.00%, 8/15/23      35,533  
  33,000      KBR, Inc., 2.50%, 11/1/23      62,586  
     

 

 

 
        98,119  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  13,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 1.63%, 10/15/23      42,878  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $642,156)

     1,012,611  
     

 

 

 
Bank Loans (0.2%):       
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  24,938      Consolidated Energy Term Incr B 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps)      24,314  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
$ 10,000      Diversey Term B 1Ln, Amendment No 3 Refinancing TL, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps), 9/29/28    $ 9,953  
     

 

 

 
        34,267  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.0%):  
  50,000      Convergint Tech Term 2Ln, 7.50% (LIBOR+675bps), 3/31/29      49,875  
  9,975      Convergint Tech Term B 1Ln, 4.25% (LIBOR+350bps), 3/31/28      9,963  
     

 

 

 
        59,838  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.0%):  
  15,224      Authentic Brands Term B2 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      15,110  
  2,388      Authentic Brands Term B3 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      2,370  
     

 

 

 
        17,480  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):  
  5,000      Ascend Learning Term 2 Ln, 5.81% (LIBOR+575bps), 12/10/29      4,988  
  75,000      Ascend Learning Term B 1 Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 11/18/28      74,828  
     

 

 

 
        79,816  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):  
  15,000      Intelsat Term B-4, 5.56% (LIBOR+550bps), 1/2/24      14,960  
  195,130      Intelsat Term Dip Dd Superpriority 1Ln, 5.75% (LIBOR+475bps), 10/13/22      194,825  
     

 

 

 
        209,785  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):  
  110,000      City Football Group Term B 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 7/21/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      109,175  
  76,048      Diamond Sports Broadcasting Term B 1Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps), 8/24/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      35,045  
  183,614      Golden Entertainment Term B 1Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps), 10/20/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      183,003  
     

 

 

 
        327,223  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):  
  2,388      Authentic Brands Term B1 1Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps), 1/31/29      2,376  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):  
  6,771      Ion Analytics Term 1 Ln, 4.06% (LIBOR+400bps), 2/16/28      6,785  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $743,268)

     737,570  
     

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (31.0%):  
Aerospace & Defense (0.6%):  
  214,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.04%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      241,076  
  214,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.15%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      249,774  
  200,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.71%, 5/1/40, Callable 11/1/39 @ 100      256,563  
  200,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.81%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      270,921  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Aerospace & Defense, continued  
$ 210,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100    $ 290,698  
  125,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/23 @ 102.06(b)      126,563  
  170,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      172,550  
  5,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.95%, 2/1/37      5,956  
  65,000      Moog, Inc., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 103.19(b)      65,406  
  60,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.88%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16      62,625  
  60,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.19      61,575  
  55,000      TransDigm, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/22 @ 103.75      57,406  
  610,000      TransDigm, Inc., 5.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 11/15/22 @ 102.75      626,775  
  115,000      TransDigm, Inc., 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44      115,000  
     

 

 

 
        2,602,888  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.1%):  
  100,000      Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38(b)      101,875  
  205,000      XPO Logistics, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 103.13(b)      213,712  
     

 

 

 
        315,587  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):  
  55,000      Dana, Inc., 4.50%, 2/15/32, Callable 2/15/27 @ 102.25      53,969  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.2%):  
  55,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 5.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 11/1/23 @ 102.63(b)      55,000  
  105,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 7.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      103,163  
  75,000      Thor Industries, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102(b)      74,344  
  354,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 2.90%, 5/13/22(b)      356,794  
  309,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 3.13%, 5/12/23(b)      317,870  
     

 

 

 
        907,171  
     

 

 

 
Banking (0.0%):  
  30,000      BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      29,350  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.5%):  
  656,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.20%, 8/26/24, MTN      702,037  
  612,000      Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95%, 4/21/25, MTN      654,785  
  128,000      Bank of America Corp., Series G, 4.45%, 3/3/26      140,924  
  930,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.30% (SOFR+122 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      913,299  
  100,000      CIT Group, Inc., 3.93% (SOFR+4 bps), 6/19/24, Callable 6/19/23 @ 100      103,625  
  245,000      CIT Group, Inc., 6.13%, 3/9/28      294,612  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Banks, continued  
$ 1,090,000      Citigroup, Inc., Series V, 4.05%, 7/30/22    $ 1,111,352  
  393,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.35% (US0003M+90 bps), 4/24/25, Callable 4/24/24 @ 100      410,589  
  1,642,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.30%, 11/20/26      1,816,671  
  200,000      Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 2.64%, 9/30/32, Callable 7/2/32 @ 100      197,593  
  2,994,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.88%, 9/10/24      3,180,736  
  267,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.96% (SOFR+252 bps), 5/13/31, Callable 5/13/30 @ 100      276,154  
  296,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.41% (US0003M+83 bps), 10/30/25, Callable 10/30/24 @ 100, MTN      303,264  
  938,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.48% (US0003M+4 bps), 4/4/31, Callable 4/4/30 @ 100, MTN      1,089,113  
     

 

 

 
        11,194,754  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.6%):  
  500,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      547,664  
  220,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.35%, 6/1/40, Callable 12/1/39 @ 100      258,920  
  500,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.50%, 6/1/50, Callable 12/1/49 @ 100      617,341  
  509,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/58, Callable 10/15/57 @ 100      643,124  
  523,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 5.80%, 1/23/59, Callable 7/23/58 @ 100      761,956  
  30,000      Triton Water Holdings, Inc., 6.25%, 4/1/29, Callable 4/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      28,950  
     

 

 

 
        2,857,955  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.3%):  
  1,489,000      AbbVie, Inc., 3.45%, 3/15/22, Callable 1/15/22 @ 100      1,494,235  
  50,000      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 101.94^(b)      47,875  
     

 

 

 
        1,542,110  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.1%):  
  255,000      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/30/27, Callable 9/30/22 @ 102.5(b)      264,244  
  15,000      Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      15,300  
     

 

 

 
        279,544  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.2%):  
  282,000      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/24      299,199  
  572,000      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 3.50%, 8/1/25      608,492  
  706,000      Ares Capital Corp., 4.20%, 6/10/24, Callable 5/10/24 @ 100      743,065  
  751,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      791,612  
  140,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.38%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.69(b)      130,900  
  140,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      128,800  
  1,140,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.80%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      1,253,017  
  510,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.38% (SOFR+125 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100, MTN      503,195  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Capital Markets, continued  
$ 194,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.75%, 10/1/37    $ 275,335  
  70,000      HAT Holdings I LLC / HAT Holdings II LLC, 3.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100(b)      71,050  
  25,000      LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44(b)      25,563  
  25,000      ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      25,500  
  2,124,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.74% (US0003M+85 bps), 4/24/24, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      2,197,809  
  632,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.62% (SOFR+312 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      687,290  
  170,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 3.88%, 4/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      169,363  
  70,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 5.25%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      70,875  
  45,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/27 @ 101.63(b)      45,563  
  190,000      Navios South American Logistics, Inc. / Navios Logistics Finance US, Inc., 10.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 8/1/22 @ 108.06(b)      198,536  
  200,000      Olympus Water US Holding Corp., 4.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      195,500  
  457,000      Pine Street Trust I, 4.57%, 2/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100(b)      516,348  
  500,000      Pine Street Trust II, 5.57%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100(b)      658,653  
  20,000      Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc., 6.25%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      19,975  
  50,000      US Renal Care, Inc., 10.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/22 @ 105.31(b)      50,937  
  80,000      Victors Merger Corp., 6.38%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      75,200  
     

 

 

 
        9,741,777  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.4%):  
  165,000      CF Industries, Inc., 5.15%, 3/15/34      199,444  
  16,000      CF Industries, Inc., 4.95%, 6/1/43      19,240  
  259,000      CF Industries, Inc., 5.38%, 3/15/44      326,988  
  170,000      Chemours Co., 5.38%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^      181,687  
  355,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.75%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      373,194  
  25,000      Diamond BC BV, 4.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      24,781  
  35,000      LSB Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      36,225  
  125,000      Olin Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.5      131,250  
  60,000      Scotts Miracle-GRO Co. (The), 4.38%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.19(b)      59,850  
  35,000      Valvoline, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      35,700  
  135,000      Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/31, Callable 6/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      131,625  
  80,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 4.88%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      82,172  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Chemicals, continued  
$ 55,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.81(b)    $ 56,100  
     

 

 

 
        1,658,256  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):  
  55,000      ADT Security Corp. (The), 4.13%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100(b)      54,312  
  165,000      Aramark Services, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.5(b)      170,363  
  35,000      Legends Hospitality Holding Co. LLC / Legends Hospitality Co-Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.5(b)      35,262  
  35,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 6.88%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      36,225  
  70,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 7.25%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.63(b)      72,450  
  120,000      Stericycle, Inc., 3.88%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      118,200  
     

 

 

 
        486,812  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.1%):  
  90,000      CommScope, Inc., 7.13%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      88,875  
  90,000      CommScope, Inc., 4.75%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      89,212  
  115,000      Viavi Solutions, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.88(b)      114,713  
     

 

 

 
        292,800  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.2%):  
  40,000      Arcosa, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      40,400  
  280,000      Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 8.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25^(b)      279,300  
  105,000      Dycom Industries, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      106,837  
  80,000      Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., 5.63%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      82,000  
  35,000      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      36,050  
  235,000      Pike Corp., 5.50%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.75(b)      235,588  
     

 

 

 
        780,175  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (2.7%):  
  578,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 3.05%, 6/5/23, Callable 5/5/23 @ 100      592,536  
  130,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 1.45%, 10/2/23, Callable 9/2/23 @ 100      130,448  
  148,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.13%, 9/30/24      161,829  
  330,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.80%, 5/1/25, Callable 4/1/25 @ 100      372,444  
  505,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.75%, 11/20/25, Callable 10/21/25 @ 100      569,508  
  200,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 4.70% (H15T5Y+387 bps), Callable 5/15/26 @ 100      209,999  
  462,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 2.60%, 5/11/23, Callable 4/11/23 @ 100      471,198  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Consumer Finance, continued  
$ 833,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.65%, 5/11/27, Callable 4/11/27 @ 100    $ 898,269  
  636,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.80%, 1/31/28, Callable 12/31/27 @ 100      692,786  
  250,000      Discover Bank, Series B, 4.68% (USSW5+173 bps), 8/9/28, Callable 8/9/23 @ 100      261,249  
  1,000,000      Discover Financial Services, 5.20%, 4/27/22      1,014,398  
  383,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.50%, 1/30/26, Callable 11/30/25 @ 100      419,657  
  355,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.10%, 2/9/27, Callable 11/9/26 @ 100      385,321  
  110,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.13%, 8/17/27, Callable 6/17/27 @ 100      118,772  
  215,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.00%, 11/13/30, Callable 8/13/30 @ 100      231,371  
  496,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.60%, 1/7/22      496,206  
  504,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.58%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100      541,071  
  1,490,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 4.06%, 11/1/24, Callable 10/1/24 @ 100      1,569,886  
  80,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.13%, 6/16/25, Callable 5/16/25 @ 100      86,981  
  240,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.11%, 5/3/29, Callable 2/3/29 @ 100      272,679  
  200,000      General Motors Acceptance Corp., 8.00%, 11/1/31      281,881  
  175,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 6.88%, 3/15/25      194,688  
  110,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.75      108,900  
  100,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.88%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/24 @ 101.94      98,125  
  170,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 4.00%, 9/15/30, Callable 9/15/25 @ 102      166,813  
  119,000      Synchrony Financial, 2.85%, 7/25/22, Callable 6/25/22 @ 100      120,274  
  381,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.38%, 3/19/24, Callable 2/19/24 @ 100      402,500  
  577,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.25%, 8/15/24, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100      610,783  
  663,000      Synchrony Financial, 3.95%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      713,395  
     

 

 

 
        12,193,967  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):  
  5,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.06(b)      5,106  
  85,000      Ball Corp., 3.13%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      84,044  
  30,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 3.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100(b)      30,300  
     

 

 

 
        119,450  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):  
  170,000      Adtalem Global Education, Inc., 5.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      165,325  
  32,000      Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, 4.63%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      31,320  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Diversified Consumer Services, continued  
$ 141,000      APX Group, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)    $ 148,931  
  275,000      Sotheby’s, 7.38%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 103.69(b)      293,219  
     

 

 

 
        638,795  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.3%):  
  85,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 6.00%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103(b)      83,300  
  59,000      AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 3.90%, 4/20/23, Callable 3/20/23 @ 100      61,137  
  200,000      Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., 6.88%, 1/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      200,000  
  200,000      Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., 7.88%, 7/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.94(b)      207,750  
  20,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.81(b)      19,050  
  55,000      OI European Group BV, 4.75%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      55,756  
  500,000      Peachtree Funding Trust, 3.98%, 2/15/25(b)      533,877  
  70,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      72,713  
  65,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 2/15/31 @ 100(b)      68,738  
  55,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 11/1/33, Callable 5/1/33 @ 100(b)      57,612  
     

 

 

 
        1,359,933  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Support Services (0.0%):  
  25,000      Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc., 4.75%, 12/15/31, Callable 12/15/26 @ 102.38(b)      26,094  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.7%):  
  42,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.45%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      44,729  
  215,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      242,147  
  109,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.55%, 12/1/33, Callable 9/1/33 @ 100      106,552  
  500,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.15%, 11/15/46, Callable 5/15/46 @ 100      632,281  
  351,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      363,006  
  125,000      CenturyLink, Inc., 5.63%, 4/1/25, Callable 1/1/25 @ 100      132,187  
  360,000      CenturyLink, Inc., 5.13%, 12/15/26, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.56(b)      374,850  
  10,000      CenturyLink, Inc., Series G, 6.88%, 1/15/28      11,125  
  80,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 3.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/1/26 @ 100(b)      81,900  
  40,000      Consolidated Communications, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.75^(b)      40,700  
  30,000      Front Range BidCo, Inc., 6.13%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      29,625  
  60,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.94(b)      63,450  
  65,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      66,706  
  70,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 6.75%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      72,712  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued  
$ 8,244      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94    $ 8,244  
  70,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103^(b)      70,175  
  85,000      Lumen Technologies, Inc., 5.38%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.69(b)      85,319  
  323,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.10%, 3/22/28, Callable 1/22/28 @ 100      323,334  
  299,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      301,390  
  85,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102(b)      83,513  
     

 

 

 
        3,133,945  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.2%):  
  326,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 103.38(b)      336,595  
  20,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(b)      20,000  
  70,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      71,225  
  255,000      Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, 3.38%, 9/15/29, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100      260,498  
  78,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.53%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100(b)      76,094  
  249,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.78%, 1/7/32, Callable 10/7/31 @ 100(b)      247,646  
  110,000      Exelon Corp., 4.05%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      122,434  
  2,306,000      FirstEnergy, Inc., Series B, 4.25%, 3/15/23      2,411,084  
  100,000      Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 8.00%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104      102,750  
  211,000      IPALCO Enterprises, Inc., 3.70%, 9/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      220,759  
  29,000      NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP, 4.25%, 9/15/24, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100(b)      30,233  
  30,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.69(b)      29,362  
  55,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.63%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      53,625  
  141,551      NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 12/15/25(b)      151,282  
  310,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 7/1/50, Callable 1/1/50 @ 100      339,567  
  575,000      PG&E Corp., 5.00%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.5^      604,469  
  140,000      PG&E Corp., 5.25%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.63      146,818  
  260,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.00%, 7/31/27, Callable 7/31/22 @ 102.5(b)      269,100  
     

 

 

 
        5,493,541  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Electrical Equipment (0.1%):  
$ 85,000      PowerTeam Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/4/23 @ 104.52(b)    $ 89,462  
  105,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.00%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102(b)      106,969  
  140,000      Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      140,525  
     

 

 

 
        336,956  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.0%):  
  35,000      II-VI, Inc., 5.00%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/14/24 @ 102.5(b)      35,875  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):  
  310,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.88%, 4/15/28      353,400  
  30,000      Netflix, Inc., 6.38%, 5/15/29      37,387  
  30,000      Netflix, Inc., 5.38%, 11/15/29(b)      35,625  
  140,000      ROBLOX Corp., 3.88%, 5/1/30, Callable 11/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      141,575  
     

 

 

 
        567,987  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (3.0%):  
  454,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.10%, 10/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      479,450  
  421,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 3.95%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      452,512  
  522,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.55%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      582,661  
  489,000      Brandywine Realty Trust, 3.95%, 2/15/23, Callable 11/15/22 @ 100      500,588  
  66,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.75%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100      65,634  
  98,000      Corporate Office Properties, LP, 2.25%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100      98,955  
  35,000      Corrections Corp. of America, 4.63%, 5/1/23, Callable 2/1/23 @ 100^      35,525  
  65,000      CTR Partnership LP / CareTrust Capital Corp., 3.88%, 6/30/28, Callable 3/30/28 @ 100(b)      66,864  
  146,000      Duke Realty LP, 3.75%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      154,897  
  55,000      Geo Group, Inc. (The), 5.88%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100.98      48,125  
  170,000      Global Net Lease, Inc. / Global Net Lease Operating Partnership LP, 3.75%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100(b)      166,045  
  102,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.50%, 8/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      108,674  
  98,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      101,672  
  615,000      Hudson Pacific Properties LP, 4.65%, 4/1/29, Callable 1/1/29 @ 100      698,095  
  135,000      Lexington Realty Trust, 4.40%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      141,948  
  40,000      MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      42,600  
  169,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.38%, 8/1/23, Callable 6/1/23 @ 100      175,306  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued  
$ 126,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.95%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100    $ 134,158  
  281,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      300,617  
  1,931,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      2,116,876  
  435,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      451,629  
  194,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.38%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      195,386  
  78,000      Piedmont Operating Partnership, LP, 2.75%, 4/1/32, Callable 1/1/32 @ 100      76,543  
  35,000      Post Apartment Homes LP, 3.38%, 12/1/22, Callable 9/1/22 @ 100      35,498  
  68,000      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., 5.00%, 12/15/23, Callable 9/15/23 @ 100      71,785  
  104,000      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., 4.00%, 12/15/24, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      109,283  
  22,000      Retail Properties of America, Inc., 4.75%, 9/15/30, Callable 6/15/30 @ 100      24,322  
  498,000      Sabra Health Care, LP, 3.20%, 12/1/31, Callable 9/1/31 @ 100      486,430  
  458,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.84%, 1/15/25, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      471,183  
  146,000      SBA Tower Trust, 1.88%, 7/15/50, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      146,243  
  111,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.33%, 7/15/52, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100(b)      112,793  
  65,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 2/15/27, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100      63,035  
  55,000      Service Properties Trust, 5.50%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      56,515  
  60,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      57,148  
  125,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      115,302  
  147,000      STORE Capital Corp., 4.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      165,331  
  112,000      STORE Capital Corp., 2.75%, 11/18/30, Callable 8/18/30 @ 100      111,839  
  232,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.70%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      231,594  
  87,000      Sun Communities Operating, LP, 2.30%, 11/1/28, Callable 9/1/28 @ 100      86,636  
  387,000      Tanger Properties LP, 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      398,468  
  237,000      Tanger Properties LP, 2.75%, 9/1/31, Callable 6/1/31 @ 100      226,134  
  95,000      The Geo Group, Inc., 6.00%, 4/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103^      76,475  
  300,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 7.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/15/22 @ 103.94(b)      313,125  
  160,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103(b)      154,000  
  199,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.00%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      220,279  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued  
$ 569,000      Ventas Realty LP, 3.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100    $ 590,255  
  631,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.75%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      737,280  
  135,000      Vici Properties, 4.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      143,269  
  103,000      Vornado Realty LP, 2.15%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      103,108  
  67,000      Weingarten Realty Investors, 3.38%, 10/15/22, Callable 7/15/22 @ 100      67,916  
  814,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.00%, 2/1/25, Callable 11/1/24 @ 100      867,683  
  101,000      WP Carey, Inc., 3.85%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100      111,517  
     

 

 

 
        13,549,206  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.0%):  
  60,000      Cobra AcquisitionCo LLC, 6.38%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      59,400  
  30,000      Jane Street Group/JSG Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      30,375  
     

 

 

 
        89,775  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.3%):  
  35,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.63%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/23 @ 103.47(b)      36,837  
  80,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 3.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.75(b)      80,100  
  240,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.88%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.66(b)      259,200  
  165,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 103.44^(b)      172,838  
  125,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 5.50%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 102.75(b)      130,469  
  30,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      29,625  
  140,000      Sysco Corp., 5.95%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      174,938  
  210,000      Sysco Corp., 6.60%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      327,272  
  65,000      United Natural Foods, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      69,550  
  90,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      91,463  
  25,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      25,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,397,542  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.7%):  
  170,000      C&S Group Enterprises LLC, 5.00%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      160,225  
  555,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 2.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100^(b)      551,688  
  50,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 3.63%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 101.81(b)      50,313  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Food Products, continued  
$ 290,000      JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(b)    $ 315,012  
  65,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      70,200  
  545,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.25(b)      599,500  
  510,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.00%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      505,538  
  101,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 5.00%, 7/15/35, Callable 1/15/35 @ 100      123,669  
  20,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.38%, 6/1/46, Callable 12/1/45 @ 100      23,555  
  65,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.88%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      81,561  
  135,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 4.25%, 4/15/31, Callable 4/15/26 @ 102.13(b)      141,750  
  55,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.81(b)      58,231  
  165,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/31, Callable 9/15/26 @ 102.25(b)      163,762  
  95,000      TreeHouse Foods, Inc., 4.00%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102      91,200  
     

 

 

 
        2,936,204  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):  
  140,000      Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 9/28/23 @ 101.63(b)      140,000  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Servic (0.0%):  
  75,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      75,375  
  65,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.38%, 1/15/30, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.19(b)      65,650  
     

 

 

 
        141,025  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.4%):  
  65,000      AHP Health Partners, Inc., 5.75%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      63,863  
  15,000      Cano Health LLC, 6.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      14,887  
  405,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.13      422,212  
  600,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      592,500  
  985,000      Centene Corp., 4.63%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/15/24 @ 102.31      1,058,875  
  360,000      Centene Corp., 3.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 101.69      368,100  
  245,000      Centene Corp., 2.63%, 8/1/31, Callable 5/1/31 @ 100      240,100  
  100,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.63%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      105,500  
  100,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103(b)      106,875  
  95,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.13%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 103.06(b)      94,288  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Health Care Providers & Services, continued  
$ 70,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 102.38(b)    $ 70,525  
  526,000      Cigna Corp., 4.38%, 10/15/28, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      597,515  
  315,000      Community Health Systems, Inc., 8.00%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/22 @ 104(b)      330,356  
  114,000      CVS Health Corp., 3.63%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      123,658  
  260,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.78%, 3/25/38, Callable 9/25/37 @ 100      317,082  
  310,000      DaVita, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      317,362  
  30,000      HCA, Inc., 4.75%, 5/1/23      31,425  
  235,000      HCA, Inc., 5.38%, 2/1/25      257,325  
  260,000      HCA, Inc., 3.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      273,650  
  25,000      HealthEquity, Inc., 4.50%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      24,750  
  60,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(b)      62,025  
  40,000      Owens & Minor, Inc., 4.50%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.25(b)      41,000  
  160,000      Radiology Partners, Inc., 9.25%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 104.63(b)      165,800  
  215,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.13(b)      221,987  
  195,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.13%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      205,238  
  110,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      111,375  
  181,000      Toledo Hospital (The), Series B, 5.33%, 11/15/28      203,723  
  20,000      Vizient, Inc., 6.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.13(b)      20,875  
     

 

 

 
        6,442,871  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.7%):  
  25,000      Affinity Gaming, 6.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.44(b)      26,000  
  175,000      Boyd Gaming Corp., 4.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.38      179,375  
  65,000      Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      65,244  
  130,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.25(b)      147,550  
  220,000      Carnival Corp., 7.63%, 3/1/26, Callable 3/1/24 @ 101.91(b)      229,350  
  55,000      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94^(b)      49,225  
  280,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.69(b)      140,000  
  100,000      Golden Entertainment, Inc., 7.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/22 @ 103.81(b)      104,500  
  240,000      Golden Nugget, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/4/22 @ 100(b)      239,700  
  55,000      Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC / Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Esc, 5.00%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      56,375  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued  
$ 70,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.88(b)    $ 72,538  
  55,000      Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., 4.50%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      55,206  
  126,000      McDonald’s Corp., 3.60%, 7/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      139,420  
  250,000      MGM Resorts International, 5.75%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100^      269,062  
  60,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 10.25%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.13(b)      69,150  
  25,000      NCL Finance, Ltd., 6.13%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      24,750  
  30,000      Peninsula Pacific Entert, 8.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 11/15/23 @ 104.25(b)      32,588  
  35,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 9.13%, 6/15/23, Callable 3/15/23 @ 100(b)      37,100  
  117,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 11.50%, 6/1/25, Callable 6/1/22 @ 108.63(b)      130,894  
  140,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.50%, 8/31/26, Callable 2/28/26 @ 100(b)      141,575  
  200,000      Station Casinos LLC, 4.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      201,000  
  100,000      Viking Cruises, Ltd., 13.00%, 5/15/25, Callable 5/15/22 @ 109.75(b)      112,750  
  100,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC, 5.50%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100(b)      103,500  
  150,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC, 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^(b)      153,375  
  135,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.63%, 1/31/32, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.31      142,931  
     

 

 

 
        2,923,158  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.2%):  
  30,000      Ambience Merger Sub, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      29,587  
  35,000      Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co., 4.63%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      34,738  
  65,000      Century Communities, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      65,650  
  90,000      LBM Acquisition LLC, 6.25%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      89,550  
  15,000      Newell Brands, Inc., 5.38%, 4/1/36, Callable 10/1/35 @ 100      18,375  
  40,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 4.75%, 4/30/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      39,500  
  25,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103^(b)      24,500  
  195,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 10.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/23 @ 105.38(b)      214,500  
  60,000      Tempur Sealy International, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/31, Callable 10/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      59,850  
  120,000      TopBuild Corp., 4.13%, 2/15/32, Callable 10/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      122,850  
     

 

 

 
        699,100  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Household Products (0.0%):  
$ 80,000      Central Garden & Pet Co., 4.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.06(b)    $ 80,300  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.3%):  
  528,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.30%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100(b)      549,148  
  461,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.95%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100(b)      488,186  
  45,000      Clearway Energy Operating LLC, 4.75%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      47,475  
  140,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.88      147,350  
  50,000      Pattern Energy Operations LP/Pattern Energy Operations, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      51,875  
  40,000      Sunnova Energy Corp., 5.88%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.94^(b)      40,600  
  40,000      TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 5.00%, 1/31/28, Callable 7/31/27 @ 100(b)      42,500  
     

 

 

 
        1,367,134  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):  
  205,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.13      213,200  
  510,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      522,750  
     

 

 

 
        735,950  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):  
  85,000      Railworks Holdings LP/Railworks Rally, Inc., 8.25%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 104.13(b)      87,550  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.2%):  
  900,000      American International Group, Inc., 2.50%, 6/30/25, Callable 5/30/25 @ 100      927,475  
  1,208,000      American International Group, Inc., 3.75%, 7/10/25, Callable 4/10/25 @ 100      1,293,384  
  35,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      35,438  
  55,000      AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      53,487  
  586,000      Five Corners Funding Trust II, 2.85%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(b)      606,510  
  55,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 103.5(b)      56,444  
  50,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      51,125  
  40,000      Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.25%, 6/15/23(b)      41,776  
  140,000      Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.57%, 2/1/29(b)      161,192  
  651,000      Pacific Lifecorp, 5.13%, 1/30/43(b)      831,905  
  463,000      Unum Group, 3.88%, 11/5/25      497,844  
  349,000      Unum Group, 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      385,767  
  260,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.72(b)      262,275  
     

 

 

 
        5,204,622  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Interactive Media & Services (0.1%):  
$ 85,000      Match Group Holdings II LLC, 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)    $ 82,450  
  40,000      Match Group, Inc., 4.13%, 8/1/30, Callable 5/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      40,450  
  205,000      Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.75(b)      194,750  
     

 

 

 
        317,650  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.2%):  
  40,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      39,900  
  15,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 6.13%, 12/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      15,037  
  175,000      Black Knight Infoserv LLC, 3.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.81(b)      174,563  
  20,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 4.00%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102(b)      20,700  
  215,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 8.13%, 7/1/27, Callable 7/1/23 @ 104.06(b)      237,575  
  100,000      Gartner, Inc., 4.50%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.25(b)      104,500  
  65,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 101.88(b)      65,975  
  55,000      Square, Inc., 2.75%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100(b)      55,275  
  55,000      Square, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100(b)      56,650  
  50,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.81      50,500  
  50,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.88%, 3/15/31, Callable 3/15/26 @ 101.94      50,500  
     

 

 

 
        871,175  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):  
  311,000      Hasbro, Inc., 3.00%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100      323,600  
  5,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 104.41(b)      5,369  
  10,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.45%, 11/1/41, Callable 5/1/41 @ 100      11,900  
     

 

 

 
        340,869  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):  
  195,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      204,263  
  20,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      20,825  
  45,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 3.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.88(b)      45,562  
     

 

 

 
        270,650  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.1%):  
  80,000      GrafTech Finance, Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      81,100  
  75,000      ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      74,062  
  40,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      40,050  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Machinery, continued  
$ 65,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 5.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.94(b)    $ 64,919  
  60,000      Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102(b)      60,750  
     

 

 

 
        320,881  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.6%):  
  100,000      Allen Media LLC / Allen Media Co-Issuer, Inc., 10.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 113(b)      104,875  
  35,000      Austin BidCo, Inc., 7.13%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      36,137  
  30,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 3.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      29,100  
  25,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 5.63%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      24,625  
  105,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 8/1/22 @ 102.5(b)      109,200  
  95,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 4.50%, 8/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.25(b)      97,375  
  395,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.75%, 3/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      411,787  
  155,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 5/1/32, Callable 5/1/26 @ 102.25      159,456  
  105,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 6/1/33, Callable 6/1/27 @ 102.25(b)      106,969  
  440,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.88(b)      438,350  
  130,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.13%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      126,913  
  215,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 3.63%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100^      229,913  
  580,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 4.65%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      676,558  
  230,000      DISH DBS Corp., 7.75%, 7/1/26      242,650  
  103,000      Fox Corp., 4.03%, 1/25/24, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100      108,827  
  149,000      Fox Corp., 4.71%, 1/25/29, Callable 10/25/28 @ 100      170,137  
  147,000      Fox Corp., 5.48%, 1/25/39, Callable 7/25/38 @ 100      189,403  
  65,000      Gray Television, Inc., 4.75%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      64,675  
  165,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/26, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      166,237  
  200,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      200,000  
  45,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.56(b)      44,887  
  105,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 8/1/22 @ 102.5(b)      108,806  
  45,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.50%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      48,487  
  40,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 4.13%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      40,100  
  85,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.88%, 9/1/31, Callable 9/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      83,194  
  140,000      TEGNA, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      145,950  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Media, continued  
$ 80,000      Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., 8.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 104.44(b)    $ 86,400  
  359,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.55%, 5/1/37      472,549  
  418,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 7.30%, 7/1/38      589,759  
  1,100,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.75%, 6/15/39      1,492,157  
  103,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 5.50%, 9/1/41, Callable 3/1/41 @ 100      124,025  
  55,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 6.63%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/23 @ 103.31(b)      59,125  
  65,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 4.50%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      65,650  
     

 

 

 
        7,054,276  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.2%):  
  70,000      Alcoa Nederland Holding BV, 4.13%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.06(b)      72,275  
  265,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.94      276,594  
  30,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 4.88%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.44      30,030  
  20,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.13%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.56^      20,075  
  70,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.63%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.31^(b)      71,925  
  70,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.88%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102.44^(b)      72,712  
  185,000      Kaiser Aluminun Corp., 4.63%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 102.31(b)      186,850  
  55,000      Novelis Corp., 3.88%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      54,725  
     

 

 

 
        785,186  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):  
  55,000      Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder Capital Finance Corp, 4.75%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      56,238  
  65,000      Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/25, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      68,087  
     

 

 

 
        124,325  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):  
  207,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      224,391  
  110,000      Sempra Energy, 6.00%, 10/15/39      152,010  
     

 

 

 
        376,401  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.4%):       
  170,000      Antero Resources Corp., 5.00%, 3/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.5^      172,975  
  130,000      Apache Corp., 4.63%, 11/15/25, Callable 8/15/25 @ 100      139,100  
  55,000      Apache Corp., 5.10%, 9/1/40, Callable 3/1/40 @ 100      62,219  
  25,000      Apache Corp., 7.38%, 8/15/47      31,229  
  70,000      Cheniere Energy Partners LP, 4.00%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102      73,850  
  55,000      Cheniere Energy Partners, LP, 3.25%, 1/31/32, Callable 1/31/27 @ 101.63(b)      55,413  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 361,000      Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC/Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP, 5.13%, 4/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100(b)    $ 400,858  
  145,000      CITGO Petroleum Corp., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.19(b)      147,175  
  25,000      Cnx Midstream Partners, LP, 4.75%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      24,937  
  30,000      CNX Resources Corp., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104.5(b)      31,200  
  30,000      Colgate Energy Partners III LLC, 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      30,975  
  71,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 7.50%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.75(b)      73,307  
  80,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 6.75%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      86,600  
  40,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 5.88%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      41,150  
  195,000      Continental Resources, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100(b)      229,369  
  167,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.88      170,757  
  305,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103(b)      315,675  
  230,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/15/22 @ 102.63(b)      223,675  
  25,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.88^(b)      24,312  
  163,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 3.88%, 3/15/23, Callable 12/15/22 @ 100      167,075  
  105,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.38%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      114,712  
  160,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      181,600  
  750,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.85% (US0003M+385 bps), 5/21/43, Callable 5/21/23 @ 100(b)      727,500  
  185,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.60%, 4/1/44, Callable 10/1/43 @ 100      225,700  
  35,000      Delek Logistics Partners LP / Delek Logistics Finance Corp., 7.13%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.56(b)      36,487  
  43,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 102.63      45,363  
  55,000      DT Midstream, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      56,512  
  124,000      Enable Midstream Partners LP, 3.90%, 5/15/24, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100      129,544  
  30,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 6.63%, 7/15/25, Callable 7/15/22 @ 103.31(b)      31,725  
  110,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 1/30/28, Callable 1/30/23 @ 102.88(b)      116,325  
  350,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      394,625  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 167,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100    $ 191,841  
  360,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      414,900  
  81,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.25%, 3/15/23, Callable 12/15/22 @ 100      83,329  
  103,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      109,309  
  161,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 3.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      170,660  
  115,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      149,644  
  103,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 4.20%, 9/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      107,378  
  195,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 5.80%, 6/15/38, Callable 12/15/37 @ 100      235,706  
  127,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 6.00%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      158,750  
  135,000      EnLink Midstream LLC, 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 7/15/27 @ 100(b)      140,231  
  80,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 6.50%, 7/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(b)      89,600  
  70,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 4.50%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      72,450  
  115,000      EQT Corp., 3.90%, 10/1/27, Callable 7/1/27 @ 100      122,475  
  45,000      EQT Corp., 5.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      49,837  
  311,000      Hess Corp., 4.30%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      338,990  
  109,000      Hess Corp., 7.30%, 8/15/31      145,106  
  78,000      Hess Corp., 7.13%, 3/15/33      104,228  
  847,000      Hess Corp., 5.60%, 2/15/41      1,040,751  
  302,000      Hess Corp., 5.80%, 4/1/47, Callable 10/1/46 @ 100      388,070  
  190,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.22(b)      195,700  
  35,000      Hess Midstream Operations, LP, 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      34,913  
  150,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 3.45%, 2/15/23, Callable 11/15/22 @ 100      153,375  
  63,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 6.55%, 9/15/40      85,290  
  55,000      Leeward Renewable Energy Operations LLC, 4.25%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      55,481  
  172,000      MPLX LP, 4.50%, 7/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      179,095  
  242,000      MPLX LP, 4.88%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      262,570  
  70,000      MPLX LP, 5.50%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100      89,075  
  150,000      Murphy Oil Corp., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 12/1/22 @ 102.94      156,000  
  135,000      NGL Energy Operating LLC / NGL Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/1/23 @ 103.75(b)      139,050  
  609,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 5.55%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      675,990  
  47,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.20%, 8/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      48,234  
  267,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      273,008  
  85,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8.88%, 7/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      114,750  
  1,047,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.50%, 5/1/31      1,372,879  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 25,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/31    $ 33,500  
  422,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.45%, 9/15/36      538,050  
  62,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.30%, 8/15/39, Callable 2/15/39 @ 100      61,457  
  40,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.20%, 3/15/40      49,050  
  712,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.60%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      927,380  
  120,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 4/15/46, Callable 10/15/45 @ 100      123,000  
  165,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.10%, 2/15/47, Callable 8/15/46 @ 100      161,700  
  80,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.20%, 3/15/48, Callable 9/15/47 @ 100      79,400  
  117,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 8/15/49, Callable 2/15/49 @ 100      118,316  
  235,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 9.25%, 5/15/25, Callable 5/15/22 @ 104.63^(b)      223,250  
  120,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103      77,100  
  35,000      PDC Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.31      36,225  
  30,000      Phillips 66, 3.70%, 4/6/23      31,013  
  39,000      Phillips 66, 3.85%, 4/9/25, Callable 3/9/25 @ 100      41,835  
  110,000      Plains All Amer Pipeline, 3.60%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      115,036  
  110,000      Range Resources Corp., 4.88%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/15/25 @ 100      113,850  
  493,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.50%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      556,474  
  408,000      Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/18/22 @ 101.81(a)(e)       
  20,000      SM Energy Co., 5.63%, 6/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.88      20,150  
  75,000      SM Energy Co., 6.75%, 9/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.38^      76,875  
  346,000      Southeast Supply Header LLC, 4.25%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100^(b)      355,051  
  55,000      Southwestern Energy Co., 4.75%, 2/1/32, Callable 2/1/27 @ 102.38      57,888  
  5,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/22 @ 103      5,200  
  95,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 5.88%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.94      100,463  
  165,000      Sunoco, LP / Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.25      166,650  
  135,000      Tallgrass Energy Partners LP / Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., 6.00%, 12/31/30, Callable 12/31/25 @ 103(b)      135,000  
  195,000      Targa Resources Partners LP, 5.38%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.69      200,850  
  30,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 102.75      32,775  
  185,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.88%, 2/1/31, Callable 2/1/26 @ 102.44      200,494  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 70,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 7/15/26 @ 102(b)    $ 73,150  
  200,000      Viper Energy Partners LP, 5.38%, 11/1/27, Callable 11/1/22 @ 102.69(b)      207,000  
  62,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 3.95%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      64,790  
  205,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.65%, 7/1/26, Callable 4/1/26 @ 100      222,425  
  900,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      981,000  
  101,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      111,731  
  205,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 5.30%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      225,500  
  242,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.50%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      254,951  
  426,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.30%, 3/4/24, Callable 12/4/23 @ 100      449,887  
     

 

 

 
        19,739,075  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):  
  45,000      Glatfelter Corp., 4.75%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      46,406  
  70,000      Mercer International, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.56      71,400  
     

 

 

 
        117,806  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.4%):  
  150,000      Bausch Health Cos, Inc., 5.25%, 1/30/30, Callable 1/30/25 @ 102.63(b)      132,000  
  170,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.13%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      165,112  
  50,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.50%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 101.75(b)      49,250  
  275,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.27%, 8/28/23, Callable 7/28/23 @ 100      291,303  
  116,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.90%, 8/28/28, Callable 5/28/28 @ 100      135,430  
  45,000      Jazz Securities DAC, 4.38%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      46,350  
  40,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 4.13%, 4/30/28, Callable 4/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      40,750  
  75,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 5.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.56(b)      78,188  
  187,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.13%, 6/22/22      187,362  
  60,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.65%, 6/22/25, Callable 5/22/25 @ 100      59,693  
  305,000      Viatris, Inc., 2.70%, 6/22/30, Callable 3/22/30 @ 100      305,468  
  133,000      Viatris, Inc., 3.85%, 6/22/40, Callable 12/22/39 @ 100      141,673  
     

 

 

 
        1,632,579  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):  
  60,000      Asgn, Inc., 4.63%, 5/15/28, Callable 5/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      62,100  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Professional Services, continued  
$ 125,000      Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., 5.88%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 102.94(b)    $ 131,094  
     

 

 

 
        193,194  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.2%):  
  301,000      CBRE Services, Inc., 2.50%, 4/1/31, Callable 1/1/31 @ 100      302,032  
  85,000      Kennedy-Wilson, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38      86,063  
  70,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      71,750  
  275,000      TK Elevator US Newco, Inc., 5.25%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.63(b)      288,750  
     

 

 

 
        748,595  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.0%):  
  60,000      Uber Technologies, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      61,200  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.7%):  
  92,000      Broadcom, Inc., 1.95%, 2/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      90,513  
  899,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(b)      878,790  
  797,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.60%, 2/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      775,251  
  633,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/41, Callable 8/15/40 @ 100(b)      646,984  
  297,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100(b)      310,064  
  135,000      Entegris, Inc., 3.63%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.72(b)      136,350  
  75,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 3.88%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.94(b)      76,875  
     

 

 

 
        2,914,827  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.4%):  
  55,000      Acuris Finance Us Inc / Acuris Finance SARL, 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      54,725  
  60,000      Boxer Parent Co., Inc., 7.13%, 10/2/25, Callable 6/1/22 @ 103.56(b)      62,850  
  35,000      CDK Global, Inc., 5.25%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.63(b)      36,925  
  40,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(b)      40,200  
  40,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      40,400  
  30,000      Elastic NV, 4.13%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      29,513  
  70,000      Fair Isaac Corp., 4.00%, 6/15/28, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102(b)      71,925  
  40,000      MicroStrategy, Inc., 6.13%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.06^(b)      40,050  
  351,000      Oracle Corp., 1.65%, 3/25/26, Callable 2/25/26 @ 100      347,861  
  555,000      Oracle Corp., 2.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      552,653  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Software, continued  
$ 690,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100    $ 692,846  
     

 

 

 
        1,969,948  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.3%):  
  35,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      35,613  
  40,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 5.00%, 2/15/32, Callable 11/15/26 @ 102.5(b)      41,200  
  47,000      AutoNation, Inc., 4.75%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      53,735  
  72,000      AutoZone, Inc., 3.63%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      76,666  
  333,000      AutoZone, Inc., 4.00%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      372,204  
  55,000      Carvana Co., 5.88%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 104.41^(b)      55,000  
  30,000      Foot Locker, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102(b)      29,812  
  55,000      Gap, Inc. (The), 3.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      54,244  
  220,000      L Brands, Inc., 6.63%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 103.31(b)      249,700  
  240,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      278,478  
  74,000      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., 4.20%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      83,621  
  30,000      Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.75%, 2/15/26, Callable 8/15/23 @ 104.38(b)      30,975  
  20,000      Rent-A-Center, Inc., 6.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      20,775  
  40,000      Victoria’s Secret & Co., 4.63%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      40,800  
     

 

 

 
        1,422,823  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.2%):  
  106,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.45%, 6/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      111,966  
  81,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.85%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      91,928  
  129,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.02%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      149,550  
  148,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.10%, 7/15/27, Callable 5/15/27 @ 100      177,195  
  128,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.20%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100      161,909  
     

 

 

 
        692,548  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goo (0.0%):  
  20,000      Kontoor Brands, Inc., 4.13%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      20,025  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.0%):  
  60,000      Crocs, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      58,200  
  70,000      Levi Strauss & Co., 3.50%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 101.75(b)      71,225  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued  
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued  
$ 105,000      Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 4.00%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102(b)    $ 101,062  
     

 

 

 
        230,487  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):  
  452,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/9/42      456,647  
  302,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.50%, 5/2/43      313,189  
  262,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.38%, 1/31/44      304,832  
  108,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.95%, 2/14/49, Callable 8/14/48 @ 100      135,323  
  179,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.70%, 8/15/35, Callable 2/15/35 @ 100      212,936  
  600,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 7.25%, 6/15/37      798,550  
  70,000      Turning Point Brands, Inc., 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      70,175  
     

 

 

 
        2,291,652  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):  
  467,000      Air Lease Corp., 4.25%, 2/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      496,931  
  393,000      Air Lease Corp., 3.38%, 7/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      411,200  
  40,000      Foundation Building Materials, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103(b)      39,300  
  45,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 4.63%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      45,394  
  25,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.13%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 103.06^(b)      25,219  
  40,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.00%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 103(b)      40,200  
     

 

 

 
        1,058,244  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.6%):  
  445,000      Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 3/15/32      669,725  
  300,000      Sprint Communications, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/28      379,500  
  380,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      411,347  
  65,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38      68,412  
  70,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 101.69      71,478  
  630,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      688,496  
  82,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      93,332  
  161,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      187,908  
     

 

 

 
        2,570,198  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $129,982,097)

     138,568,742  
     

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (10.7%):  
Aerospace & Defense (0.1%):  
  15,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 12/1/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.75(b)      15,562  
  65,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.5(b)      66,219  
  80,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.13%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      83,000  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Aerospace & Defense, continued  
$ 170,000      Bombardier, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)    $ 170,425  
     

 

 

 
        335,206  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.9%):  
  874,000      Barclays plc, 4.38%, 1/12/26      953,829  
  503,000      Barclays plc, 2.85% (US0003M+245 bps), 5/7/26, Callable 5/7/25 @ 100      517,907  
  580,000      Barclays plc, 5.09% (US0003M+305 bps), 6/20/30, Callable 6/20/29 @ 100      656,548  
  200,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 3.61%, 9/12/34, Callable 9/12/29 @ 100(b)      209,269  
  791,000      Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, 4.38%, 8/4/25      858,017  
  205,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.25%, 3/14/24      216,427  
  200,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.02%, 6/26/24(b)      213,716  
  1,432,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.71%, 1/15/26(b)      1,583,417  
  3,808,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.13%, 12/15/22      3,985,742  
  826,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.10%, 6/10/23      880,596  
  347,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 6.00%, 12/19/23      376,825  
  286,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 3.07% (H15T1Y+255 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100      297,158  
  980,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.04% (H15T1Y+75 bps), 6/18/25, Callable 6/18/24 @ 100(b)      957,537  
  513,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.49% (H15T1Y+110 bps), 12/14/26, Callable 12/14/25 @ 100(b)      500,279  
  454,000      UniCredit SpA, 6.57%, 1/14/22(b)      454,689  
  289,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.11% (H15T5Y+200 bps), 7/24/34, Callable 7/24/29 @ 100      312,093  
     

 

 

 
        12,974,049  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):  
  200,000      Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 4.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      204,250  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.9%):  
  788,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.59% (SOFR+156 bps), 9/11/25, Callable 9/11/24 @ 100(b)      803,068  
  602,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 4.19% (SOFR+373 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100(b)      664,511  
  1,000,000      Credit Suisse Group Fun, Ltd., 3.80%, 9/15/22      1,021,522  
  1,175,000      Credit Suisse Group Fun, Ltd., 3.80%, 6/9/23      1,217,731  
  720,000      Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey, Ltd., 3.75%, 3/26/25      763,808  
  742,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 5.00%, 2/14/22      745,312  
  1,284,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 3.30%, 11/16/22      1,310,535  
  1,462,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 4.50%, 4/1/25      1,554,587  
  314,000      UBS Group AG, 1.49% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 8/10/27, Callable 8/10/26 @ 100(b)      306,284  
     

 

 

 
        8,387,358  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):  
  25,000      Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 3.95% (US0003M+375 bps), 6/15/22, Callable 1/18/22 @ 100(b)      24,937  
  130,000      Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 6.50%, 5/15/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 104.88(b)      132,600  
  195,000      Methanex Corp., 5.13%, 10/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      205,238  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Chemicals, continued  
$ 95,000      Methanex Corp., 5.25%, 12/15/29, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100    $ 100,225  
  55,000      SPCM SA, 3.13%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      55,138  
     

 

 

 
        518,138  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):  
  25,000      Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Finco Inc./Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC, 6.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/22 @ 103(b)      25,719  
  35,000      Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., 4.38%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      35,044  
  255,000      Trivium Packaging Finance BV, 5.50%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.75(b)      266,156  
     

 

 

 
        326,919  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):  
  48,000      Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, 4.63%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      47,940  
  225,000      GEMS MENASA Cayman, Ltd., 7.13%, 7/31/26, Callable 7/31/22 @ 103.56(b)      231,187  
     

 

 

 
        279,127  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):  
  200,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.00%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      194,000  
  610,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.75%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      600,850  
  725,000      C&W Senior Financing Dac, 6.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/22 @ 103.44(b)      754,906  
  2,052,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(b)      2,198,205  
  305,000      Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc, 4.25%, 1/31/31, Callable 1/31/26 @ 102.13(b)      294,325  
     

 

 

 
        4,042,286  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.2%):  
  325,000      Altice France SA, 8.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/1/22 @ 106.09(b)      345,312  
  270,000      Altice France SA, 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103(b)      257,850  
  185,000      Altice France SA, 5.13%, 1/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.56(b)      179,219  
  80,000      Telecom Italia SpA, 6.00%, 9/30/34      84,200  
     

 

 

 
        866,581  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):  
  160,000      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16(b)      154,400  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):  
  55,000      1011778 BC ULC New Red Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/25, Callable 4/15/22 @ 102.88(b)      57,063  
  210,000      1011778 BC ULC New Red Finance, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102(b)      206,850  
  75,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.75%, 7/21/28, Callable 7/21/23 @ 102.88(b)      74,062  
  65,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.38%, 12/4/29, Callable 12/4/24 @ 102.69(b)      63,131  
     

 

 

 
        401,106  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Insurance (0.2%):  
$ 465,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.38%, 4/7/30, Callable 1/7/30 @ 100(b)    $ 502,826  
  200,000      Swiss Re Finance Luxembourg SA, 5.00% (H15T5Y+358 bps), 4/2/49, Callable 4/2/29 @ 100(b)      224,066  
     

 

 

 
        726,892  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.0%):  
  85,000      Seaspan Corp., 5.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      85,850  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):  
  250,000      Ziggo BV, 5.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/18/22 @ 102.75(b)      256,250  
  120,000      Ziggo BV, 5.13%, 2/28/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.56(b)      120,900  
     

 

 

 
        377,150  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):  
  170,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 3/1/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 105.16(b)      176,588  
  55,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.44(b)      59,194  
  5,000      FMG Resources Pty, Ltd., 4.50%, 9/15/27, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100(b)      5,312  
  105,000      Infrabuild Australia Pty, Ltd., 12.00%, 10/1/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 109(b)      108,150  
     

 

 

 
        349,244  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):  
  525,000      InterGen NV, 7.00%, 6/30/23, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100(b)      518,438  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.4%):  
  619,000      Cenovus Energy, Inc., 4.25%, 4/15/27, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100      675,484  
  115,000      eG Global Finance plc, 6.75%, 2/7/25, Callable 1/18/22 @ 103.38(b)      115,862  
  205,000      eG Global Finance plc, 8.50%, 10/30/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25(b)      212,688  
  223,000      Enbridge, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/23, Callable 7/1/23 @ 100      232,713  
  235,000      Meg Energy Corp., 7.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      249,981  
  1,505,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.84%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      1,562,903  
  295,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.70%, 2/16/32, Callable 11/16/31 @ 100(b)      297,213  
  2,762,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      2,454,056  
  502,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100      446,892  
  70,000      Teine Energy, Ltd., 6.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      71,400  
     

 

 

 
        6,319,192  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.1%):  
  115,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 5.50%, 11/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.38(b)      116,438  
  162,000      VRX Escrow Corp., 6.13%, 4/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.04(b)      164,835  
     

 

 

 
        281,273  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Software (0.0%):  
$ 95,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94(b)    $ 96,781  
  115,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      116,438  
     

 

 

 
        213,219  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.6%):  
  415,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.13%, 4/16/30(b)      448,884  
  355,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(b)      414,771  
  56,434      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.00%, 7/9/29, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      20,316  
  513,757      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.50%, 7/9/30, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      179,301  
  941,242      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.12%, 7/9/35, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      298,844  
  400,000      Corp. Andina de Fomento, 2.38%, 5/12/23      407,090  
  1,344,000      Dominican Republic, 5.50%, 1/27/25(b)      1,451,520  
  250,000      Dominican Republic, 6.00%, 7/19/28(b)      279,063  
  600,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 3.85%, 10/15/30^      674,255  
  600,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 4.20%, 10/15/50      685,490  
  230,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.40%, 4/16/25(b)      243,821  
  490,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.75%, 4/16/30(b)      549,262  
  470,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.40%, 4/16/50(b)      586,096  
  250,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 2.90%, 10/22/25(b)      261,871  
  230,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.25%, 10/22/30(b)      247,159  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/22/60(b)      247,471  
     

 

 

 
        6,995,214  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.5%):  
  412,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.88%, 1/16/24, Callable 12/16/23 @ 100      438,181  
  637,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 1.65%, 10/29/24, Callable 9/29/24 @ 100      635,304  
  217,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 6.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      248,194  
  251,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.45%, 4/3/26, Callable 2/3/26 @ 100      272,536  
  209,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.45%, 10/29/26, Callable 9/29/26 @ 100      210,618  
  219,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.00%, 10/29/28, Callable 8/29/28 @ 100      221,282  
  234,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      237,585  
     

 

 

 
        2,263,700  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):  
  330,000      Empresa Nacional del Pet, 4.38%, 10/30/24(b)      351,038  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued  
$ 630,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 6.25%, 3/25/29, Callable 3/25/24 @ 103.13(b)    $ 681,975  
  135,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 4.50%, 4/27/31, Callable 4/27/26 @ 102.25^(b)      136,181  
     

 

 

 
        1,169,194  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $46,945,160)

     47,788,786  
     

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.7%):  
California (0.2%):  
  10,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.35%, 11/1/39      15,860  
  460,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.30%, 10/1/39      722,522  
     

 

 

 
        738,382  
     

 

 

 
Illinois (0.4%):  
  310,000      Chicago Illinois, Taxable Project, Build America Bonds, GO, Series C1, 7.78%, 1/1/35      420,657  
  295,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 5.10%, 6/1/33      340,244  
  315,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 6.63%, 2/1/35      385,891  
  425,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, Series 3, 6.73%, 4/1/35      529,665  
  63,636      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 4.95%, 6/1/23      66,120  
     

 

 

 
        1,742,577  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.1%):  
  504,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority Revenue, Build America Bonds, GO, Series A, 7.43%, 2/15/29      636,446  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $2,705,355)

     3,117,405  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (14.8%):  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (3.1%)  
  26,591      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #G18604      27,579  
  44,883      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #V61246      46,755  
  78,235      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #V61273      81,458  
  278,341      3.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #C91403      296,569  
  828,823      3.50%, 7/1/32, Pool #C91467      883,327  
  7,299      2.50%, 8/1/32, Pool #G18654      7,569  
  7,945      2.50%, 11/1/32, Pool #G18665      8,239  
  239,691      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #G18669      248,553  
  38,128      2.50%, 3/1/33, Pool #G18680      39,528  
  14,398      2.50%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18683      14,930  
  34,332      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #K90336      35,628  
  89,793      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18684      94,051  
  7,586      2.50%, 5/1/33, Pool #G18687      7,865  
  37,221      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #C91709      38,629  
  58,844      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90806      61,066  
  37,923      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90684      39,346  
  88,726      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #K90632      92,087  
  160,894      2.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #G16661      167,038  
  175,192      3.00%, 7/1/33, Pool #C91714      181,830  
  34,818      3.00%, 4/1/34, Pool #G16829      36,491  
  304,712      3.50%, 10/1/34, Pool #C91793      325,670  
  581,922      4.00%, 5/1/37, Pool #C91938      628,727  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 25,322      3.50%, 4/1/40, Pool #V81744    $ 27,079  
  44,560      3.50%, 5/1/40, Pool #V81750      47,680  
  57,302      3.50%, 6/1/40, Pool #V81792      61,288  
  31,772      3.50%, 8/1/40, Pool #V81886      34,001  
  19,630      3.50%, 9/1/40, Pool #V81958      21,011  
  314,859      4.00%, 1/1/41, Pool #A96413      343,175  
  36,198      4.50%, 1/1/41, Pool #A96051      39,694  
  234,215      4.00%, 2/1/41, Pool #A96807      255,465  
  33,898      4.50%, 3/1/41, Pool #A97673      37,163  
  51,371      4.50%, 4/1/41, Pool #A97942      56,293  
  186,755      5.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #G06596      210,907  
  661,531      4.50%, 1/1/42, Pool #G60517      725,218  
  26,561      4.00%, 11/1/42, Pool #Q13121      28,607  
  85,843      3.00%, 12/1/42, Pool #C04320      90,859  
  33,498      4.00%, 5/1/43, Pool #Q18481      36,528  
  31,724      4.00%, 7/1/43, Pool #Q19597      34,642  
  27,861      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #Q22499      30,381  
  43,639      4.00%, 1/1/44, Pool #V80950      46,767  
  209,004      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G07922      226,131  
  104,819      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G60271      113,622  
  162,687      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #Q30720      177,090  
  115,677      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #G07949      127,235  
  30,319      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q32328      32,839  
  27,908      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q31974      30,201  
  49,311      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q32008      53,331  
  132,199      3.50%, 5/1/45, Pool #Q33547      142,465  
  18,988      3.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #Q33468      20,035  
  27,638      3.50%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q33791      29,810  
  137,020      3.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q34156      144,616  
  171,100      3.50%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q34164      184,474  
  10,631      3.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #Q34979      11,285  
  38,502      3.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #Q34759      40,904  
  89,357      4.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #Q35845      99,315  
  10,950      4.00%, 9/1/45, Pool #Q37853      12,132  
  5,234      4.00%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q38812      5,666  
  194,879      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q37467      210,914  
  4,397      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38879      4,777  
  12,338      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38782      13,405  
  14,773      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38783      15,910  
  34,065      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #V82292      36,827  
  7,112      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #Q39975      7,722  
  229,410      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #G60553      248,521  
  66,302      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #Q40647      71,155  
  73,730      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #G60603      78,586  
  191,273      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q43257      203,805  
  8,426      4.00%, 9/1/47, Pool #Q50433      9,247  
  14,954      4.00%, 10/1/47, Pool #Q51189      16,442  
  11,259      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #Q54192      12,218  
  134,874      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #G67710      144,161  
  157,413      4.00%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55992      170,717  
  473,095      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      515,170  
  56,690      4.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #Q59935      61,516  
  405,349      2.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #SD7525      419,681  
  586,475      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #SD7530      604,264  
  45,476      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #SD7535      46,820  
  780,429      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #SD8134      778,983  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 144,334      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7541    $ 144,066  
  14,581      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #QC4163      14,608  
  347,645      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6076      347,971  
  498,185      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6241      498,651  
  198,874      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6302      198,518  
  399,031      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6434      407,739  
  100,027      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6496      102,210  
  200,002      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6510      200,376  
  1,200,025      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6435      1,233,129  
     

 

 

 
        13,758,953  
     

 

 

 
Federal National Mortgage Association (8.4%)  
  107,001      2.50%, 6/1/29, Pool #MA3734      110,769  
  66,500      2.50%, 9/1/31, Pool #AS8012      69,062  
  344,609      3.00%, 4/1/32, Pool #BD9809      366,012  
  148,081      3.00%, 9/1/32, Pool #BM5110      155,503  
  438,912      3.00%, 12/1/32, Pool #BM5345      460,813  
  337,474      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #CA3748      349,976  
  24,334      3.00%, 3/1/33, Pool #BM4614      25,735  
  36,155      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #AT3000      38,005  
  33,780      3.00%, 6/1/33, Pool #AT6090      35,501  
  2,868      4.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #729327      3,119  
  158,676      3.00%, 7/1/33, Pool #MA1490      166,758  
  1,198      4.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #720240      1,347  
  20,208      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #729380      22,593  
  2,571      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #727029      2,889  
  8,747      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #726956      9,826  
  4,108      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #729713      4,616  
  5,202      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #723124      5,844  
  11,417      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #726928      12,830  
  3,829      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #727160      4,303  
  6,648      4.50%, 9/1/33, Pool #734922      7,463  
  18,406      4.50%, 9/1/33, Pool #727147      20,671  
  26,653      4.50%, 12/1/33, Pool #AL5321      29,949  
  492,268      2.50%, 6/1/34, Pool #BN7572      512,178  
  20,947      6.00%, 10/1/34, Pool #AL2130      24,909  
  41,836      4.50%, 9/1/35, Pool #AB8198      46,970  
  403,626      6.00%, 5/1/36, Pool #745512      475,206  
  204,168      6.00%, 1/1/37, Pool #932030      243,531  
  37,780      6.00%, 3/1/37, Pool #889506      44,578  
  53,319      6.00%, 1/1/38, Pool #889371      64,792  
  18,269      6.00%, 3/1/38, Pool #889219      21,328  
  8,975      6.00%, 7/1/38, Pool #889733      10,480  
  56,617      4.50%, 3/1/39, Pool #AB0051      63,036  
  283,914      4.50%, 4/1/39, Pool #AB0043      318,766  
  153,408      2.50%, 8/1/39, Pool #MA3761      157,074  
  23,401      4.50%, 11/1/39, Pool #AC5442      26,186  
  78,033      6.00%, 5/1/40, Pool #AL2129      91,737  
  28,077      4.00%, 12/1/40, Pool #AA4757      30,652  
  35,557      4.50%, 2/1/41, Pool #AH5580      38,988  
  5,937      6.00%, 1/1/42, Pool #AL2128      6,952  
  153,194      2.50%, 2/1/43, Pool #AB8465      159,248  
  41,080      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #BM1167      45,095  
  168,875      4.50%, 3/1/44, Pool #AL5082      184,042  
  7,574      4.00%, 12/1/44, Pool #AY0045      8,335  
  18,481      4.00%, 12/1/44, Pool #AW9502      20,045  
  87,700      4.00%, 12/1/44, Pool #AX8459      96,259  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 132,530      4.00%, 3/1/45, Pool #AL6541    $ 145,383  
  102,921      4.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AZ1207      111,292  
  28,219      4.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AZ1876      31,187  
  51,942      3.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AS4972      54,809  
  34,986      5.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ3448      41,021  
  33,349      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ3341      36,856  
  22,829      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ2719      25,252  
  90,339      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8126      97,686  
  109,563      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8096      118,317  
  294,389      3.50%, 7/1/45, Pool #AZ0814      318,357  
  100,700      4.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #AZ1783      108,747  
  137,614      4.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #AZ0833      151,955  
  116,705      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AS5634      123,151  
  43,075      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AZ8288      45,430  
  20,249      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AZ3728      21,365  
  60,867      4.00%, 10/1/45, Pool #AL7413      67,128  
  353,858      4.00%, 10/1/45, Pool #AL7593      390,420  
  14,555      4.00%, 11/1/45, Pool #AZ0560      15,718  
  22,277      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #AS6350      24,543  
  43,327      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #BA6404      46,834  
  9,571      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #BC0997      10,349  
  39,369      4.50%, 2/1/46, Pool #BM5199      43,436  
  371,245      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #BC1578      401,344  
  23,348      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #BC3920      25,141  
  11,259      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #BC7809      12,117  
  9,622      4.00%, 5/1/46, Pool #BC2276      10,567  
  279,888      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #BC0880      302,776  
  144,661      4.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #BC0960      156,389  
  228,956      4.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #AL9282      247,519  
  40,463      4.00%, 7/1/46, Pool #BC6148      43,743  
  121,384      4.00%, 7/1/46, Pool #BC1443      132,779  
  42,787      4.00%, 8/1/46, Pool #BD1451      46,310  
  37,624      4.50%, 8/1/46, Pool #AL9111      41,070  
  124,776      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BC2843      136,449  
  33,423      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BD1489      36,156  
  95,794      3.50%, 10/1/46, Pool #AL9285      102,147  
  22,087      4.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #BD7599      23,891  
  393,541      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9077      425,832  
  1,291,095      4.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9779      1,419,711  
  53,334      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE5696      57,187  
  519,596      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9846      569,527  
  6,425      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH4269      6,955  
  385,108      4.50%, 9/1/49, Pool #FM1534      424,083  
  98,970      3.50%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4557      105,587  
  475,471      4.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4628      513,937  
  5,675,000      3.00%, 1/25/50, TBA      5,882,492  
  118,950      3.00%, 2/1/50, Pool #CA5126      124,554  
  2,750,000      2.00%, 2/25/50, TBA      2,737,109  
  355,149      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #SD0430      364,479  
  2,975,000      2.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      3,037,289  
  4,650,000      2.00%, 1/25/51, TBA      4,638,375  
  1,000,000      1.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      965,938  
  187,970      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #CA8950      192,280  
  300,000      1.50%, 2/25/51      289,359  
  487,980      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #MA4281      487,076  
  296,446      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #FM6540      307,950  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 842,336      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #MA4305    $ 840,774  
  11,174      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BT1461      11,195  
  49,033      2.50%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1384      50,338  
  199,213      2.50%, 9/1/51, Pool #CB1549      204,887  
  261,085      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1799      262,062  
  345,437      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1801      346,083  
  198,809      3.00%, 11/1/51, POOL# FM9633      208,099  
  362,906      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9568      364,036  
  235,049      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9539      235,489  
  794,987      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9501      817,625  
  299,999      1.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #MA4464      290,026  
  149,848      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2347      150,315  
  548,133      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2289      560,095  
  141,809      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2376      145,584  
  1,200,121      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9865      1,234,296  
  149,331      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2350      149,471  
  199,649      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2320      205,335  
  549,916      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2349      550,944  
  157,711      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2321      161,764  
  99,875      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2348      100,061  
     

 

 

 
        37,779,804  
     

 

 

 
Government National Mortgage Association (3.3%)  
  6,171      5.00%, 6/15/34, Pool #629493      7,104  
  3,253      5.00%, 3/15/38, Pool #676766      3,696  
  1,648      5.00%, 4/15/38, Pool #672672      1,875  
  6,701      5.00%, 8/15/38, Pool #687818      7,615  
  57,890      5.00%, 1/15/39, Pool #705997      65,785  
  110,666      5.00%, 3/15/39, Pool #646746      125,687  
  663      5.00%, 3/15/39, Pool #697946      746  
  112,624      4.00%, 10/15/40, Pool #783143      122,335  
  31,474      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      33,890  
  94,568      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      101,830  
  258,923      4.50%, 3/20/41, Pool #4978      281,552  
  91,554      4.50%, 5/20/41, Pool #005055      99,561  
  194,297      4.00%, 5/20/41, Pool #5054      209,263  
  86,560      4.50%, 6/15/41, Pool #366975      98,756  
  60,190      4.50%, 6/20/41, Pool #005082      65,453  
  215,008      4.00%, 10/20/41, Pool #5203      231,533  
  239,960      3.50%, 12/20/41, Pool #5258      258,228  
  423,972      4.00%, 1/20/42, Pool #5280      456,574  
  284,315      3.50%, 10/20/42, Pool #MA0462      305,422  
  231,982      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #AA5872      241,447  
  146,899      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #MA0624      155,689  
  25,754      3.00%, 1/20/43, Pool #MA0698      27,280  
  1,472,755      3.50%, 1/20/43, Pool #MA0699      1,549,271  
  326,207      3.50%, 2/20/43, Pool #MA0783      350,411  
  144,157      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AA6146      156,920  
  41,904      3.50%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8884      44,868  
  62,729      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8812      67,636  
  16,126      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AB9891      17,264  
  43,545      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AD9075      46,623  
  260,295      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #783976      279,801  
  3,914      4.00%, 7/20/44, Pool #MA2074      4,214  
  58,157      4.00%, 5/20/45, Pool #MA2893      62,575  
  84,320      4.00%, 8/20/45, Pool #MA3035      90,719  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 3,164      4.00%, 9/20/45, Pool #MA3106    $ 3,404  
  3,368      4.00%, 10/20/45, Pool #MA3174      3,624  
  3,917      4.00%, 12/20/45, Pool #MA3311      4,214  
  3,811      4.00%, 1/20/46, Pool #MA3377      4,100  
  167,458      4.00%, 4/15/46, Pool #784232      185,785  
  229,945      4.00%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3664      246,674  
  24,952      3.50%, 7/20/46, Pool #784391      26,563  
  14,520      3.00%, 10/20/46, Pool #MA4003      15,201  
  751,477      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      786,480  
  59,575      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5831      64,263  
  86,991      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5857      93,327  
  237,172      3.00%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4195      248,290  
  140,751      3.00%, 2/20/47, Pool #MA4261      147,135  
  29,328      4.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4322      31,281  
  30,151      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #MA4383      32,158  
  240,799      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784304      255,506  
  228,545      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784303      242,507  
  19,165      4.00%, 5/20/47, Pool #MA4452      20,441  
  80,218      4.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4511      85,558  
  75,032      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG7744      81,059  
  89,452      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG3507      96,638  
  93,411      3.50%, 11/20/50, Pool #MA6997      97,377  
  50,000      3.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      51,766  
  500,000      3.50%, 1/20/51, TBA      519,922  
  350,000      2.00%, 2/20/51, TBA      352,680  
  159,465      3.00%, 6/20/51, Pool #MA7419      165,416  
  1,525,000      2.50%, 7/20/51, TBA      1,562,648  
  3,575,000      2.00%, 1/20/52, TBA      3,609,074  
     

 

 

 
        14,604,714  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $65,154,314)

     66,143,471  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (31.8%):  
U.S. Treasury Bonds (10.2%)  
  2,566,000      1.13%, 5/15/40      2,256,476  
  7,103,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      6,907,668  
  11,313,000      3.00%, 2/15/47      13,748,830  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, continued  
$ 18,386,000      2.00%, 8/15/51    $ 18,831,286  
  4,009,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      3,996,472  
     

 

 

 
        45,740,732  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Bonds (0.1%)  
  189,264      0.13%, 2/15/51      223,983  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (21.5%)  
  2,034,000      2.13%, 7/31/24      2,098,834  
  19,438,000      0.25%, 7/31/25      18,860,934  
  4,710,000      0.38%, 12/31/25      4,567,228  
  7,700,000      0.38%, 1/31/26      7,454,562  
  9,253,000      0.75%, 3/31/26      9,080,952  
  3,535,600      1.63%, 9/30/26      3,597,473  
  3,457,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      3,455,920  
  17,365,000      1.25%, 5/31/28      17,204,916  
  6,946,000      1.13%, 8/31/28      6,817,933  
  1,460,000      1.25%, 9/30/28      1,444,031  
  10,936,900      1.13%, 2/15/31      10,629,300  
  10,766,000      1.38%, 11/15/31      10,644,883  
     

 

 

 
        95,856,966  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $144,874,108)

     141,821,681  
     

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.0%):  
  4,390,782      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(f)(g)      4,390,782  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $4,390,782)

     4,390,782  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (5.4%):  
Money Markets (5.4%):  
  24,230,789      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(g)      24,230,789  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $24,230,789)

     24,230,789  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $464,962,025) — 105.9%(h)

     473,053,237  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (5.9)%

     (26,550,811
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 446,502,426  
     

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

GO—General Obligation

H15T1Y—1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

H15T5Y—5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TBA—To Be Announced Security

US0001M—1 Month US Dollar LIBOR

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

USSW5—USD 5 Year Swap Rate

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $4,236,716.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.10% of the net assets of the fund.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

(b)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(c)

The rate for certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may vary based on factors relating to the pool of assets underlying the security. The rate presented is the rate in effect at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be illiquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, these securities represent 0.04% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(e)

Defaulted bond.

 

(f)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(g)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(h)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country   Percentage  

Argentina

    0.1

Australia

    0.1

Canada

    0.6

Cayman Islands

    2.5

Chile

    0.1

Colombia

     % 

Dominican Republic

    0.4

France

    0.4

Germany

    0.8

Guernsey

    0.6

Hong Kong

    0.2

Indonesia

    0.3

Ireland

    0.6

Italy

    0.5
Country   Percentage  

Luxembourg

    0.5

Mexico

    1.0

Netherlands

    0.4

Qatar

    0.3

Saudi Arabia

    0.2

Spain

     % 

Supernational

    0.1

Switzerland

    0.4

United Arab Emirates

    0.2

United Kingdom

    1.8

United States

    87.9

Zambia

     % 
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 464,962,025
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 473,053,237

Cash

      52,756

Interest and dividends receivable

      2,998,992

Receivable for capital shares issued

      8,615

Receivable for investments sold

      570,976

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      7,375,965

Prepaid expenses

      2,158
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      484,062,699
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      5,680,670

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      27,110,190

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      711

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      4,390,782

Manager fees payable

      190,031

Administration fees payable

      73,710

Distribution fees payable

      90,489

Custodian fees payable

      1,744

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      624

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,736

Trustee fees payable

      3,507

Other accrued liabilities

      16,079
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      37,560,273
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 446,502,426
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 420,324,777

Total distributable earnings

      26,177,649
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 446,502,426
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 21,203,091

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      2,065,195

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 10.27
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 425,299,335

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      40,107,344

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 10.60
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $4,236,716.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 12,758,543

Dividends

      7,248

Income from securities lending

      13,076
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      12,778,867
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,296,611

Administration fees

      224,906

Distribution fees — Class 2

      1,093,303

Custodian fees

      12,092

Administrative and compliance services fees

      5,253

Transfer agent fees

      9,452

Trustee fees

      21,855

Professional fees

      19,104

Shareholder reports

      19,468

Other expenses

      8,182
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      3,710,226
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      9,068,641
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      9,160,321

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities held short

      7,064

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      (16,709,674 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities held short

      6,847
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      (7,535,442 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 1,533,199
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 9,068,641      $ 11,637,229

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       9,167,385        16,797,422

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (16,702,827 )        9,270,409
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       1,533,199        37,705,060
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Class 1

       (1,066,245 )        (814,539 )

Class 2

       (19,280,232 )        (13,970,449 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (20,346,477 )        (14,784,988 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       1,261,069        921,431

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       1,066,245        814,539

Value of shares redeemed

       (2,670,478 )        (3,164,372 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (343,164 )        (1,428,402 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       23,765,497        31,658,359

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       19,280,232        13,970,449

Value of shares redeemed

       (36,684,713 )        (101,509,337 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       6,361,016        (55,880,529 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       6,017,852        (57,308,931 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (12,795,426 )        (34,388,859 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       459,297,852        493,686,711
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 446,502,426      $ 459,297,852
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Shares issued

       118,697        87,272

Dividends reinvested

       104,227        77,723

Shares redeemed

       (254,331 )        (306,567 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (31,407 )        (141,572 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Shares issued

       2,167,150        2,920,316

Dividends reinvested

       1,822,328        1,292,363

Shares redeemed

       (3,362,418 )        (9,574,371 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       627,060        (5,361,692 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       595,653        (5,503,264 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.73     $ 10.20     $ 9.54     $ 9.96     $ 9.77
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.23 (a)       0.29 (a)       0.32 (a)       0.32       0.23

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.17 )       0.63       0.69       (0.42 )       0.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      0.06       0.92       1.01       (0.10 )       0.44
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.31 )       (0.39 )       (0.35 )       (0.32 )       (0.25 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.21 )                        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.52 )       (0.39 )       (0.35 )       (0.32 )       (0.25 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.27     $ 10.73     $ 10.20     $ 9.54     $ 9.96
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      0.59 %       9.12 %       10.57 %       (1.00 )%       4.55 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 21,203     $ 22,495     $ 22,823     $ 21,476     $ 24,077

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.21 %       2.78 %       3.17 %       2.96 %       2.23 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %       0.56 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %       0.56 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      76 %       71 %       68 %       38 %       81 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.06     $ 10.50     $ 9.81     $ 10.23     $ 10.05
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.21 (a)       0.27 (a)       0.30 (a)       0.31       0.22

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.18 )       0.65       0.71       (0.44 )       0.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      0.03       0.92       1.01       (0.13 )       0.43
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.28 )       (0.36 )       (0.32 )       (0.29 )       (0.25 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.21 )                        

Total Dividends

      (0.49 )       (0.36 )       (0.32 )       (0.29 )       (0.25 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.60     $ 11.06     $ 10.50     $ 9.81     $ 10.23
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      0.31 %       8.84 %       10.28 %       (1.25 )%       4.28 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 425,299     $ 436,803     $ 470,864     $ 478,991     $ 552,678

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.96 %       2.53 %       2.92 %       2.71 %       1.98 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.82 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %       0.81 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.82 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %       0.81 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      76 %       71 %       68 %       38 %       81 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. When-issued securities are securities purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield and thereby involve risk that the yield obtained in the transaction will be less than that available in the market when the delivery takes place. The Fund will not pay for such securities or start earning interest on them until they are received. When a Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in the value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. The Fund may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss.

Short Sales

The Fund may engage in short sales against the box (i.e., where the Fund owns or has an unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost a security substantially similar to the security sold short) for hedging purposes to limit exposure to a possible market decline in the value of its portfolio securities. In a short sale, the Fund sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The Fund may also incur an interest expense if a security that has been sold short has an interest payment. When the Fund engages in a short sale, the Fund records a liability for securities sold short and records an asset equal to the proceeds received. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the market value of the securities sold short. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

 

30


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Bank Loans

The Fund may invest in bank loans, which generally have interest rates which are reset periodically by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate and, secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks and the certificate of deposit rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. Bank loans often require prepayments from excess cash flows or allow the borrower to repay at its election. The rate at which the borrower repays cannot be predicted with accuracy. Therefore, the anticipated or actual maturity may be considerably earlier than the stated maturity shown in the Schedule of Portfolio of Investments. All or a portion of any bank loans may be unfunded. The portfolio is obligated to fund any commitments at the borrower’s discretion. Therefore, the portfolio must have funds sufficient to cover its contractual obligation.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 3313% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $1,293 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $4,390,782 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

TBA Purchase and Sale Commitments

The Fund may enter into to-be-announced (TBA) purchase or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, mortgage-backed securities for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for such securities. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date; however, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate, and mortgage term, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The Fund may enter into TBA purchase transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying securities, may elect to extend the settlement by “rolling” the transaction, and/or may use TBAs to gain interim exposure to underlying securities. Until settlement, the Fund maintains liquid assets sufficient to settle its TBA commitments.

To mitigate counterparty risk, the Fund has entered into agreements with TBA counterparties that provide for collateral and the right to offset amounts due to or from those counterparties under specified conditions. Subject to minimum transfer amounts, collateral requirements are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all TBA commitments with a particular counterparty. At any time, the Fund’s risk of loss from a particular counterparty related to its TBA commitments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated TBAs in excess of unrealized loss on depreciated TBAs and collateral held, if any, by such counterparty. As of December 31, 2021, no collateral had been posted by the Fund to counterparties for TBAs.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

 

31


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with FIAM LLC (“FIAM”), FIAM provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 1

         0.50 %          0.70 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 2

         0.50 %          0.95 %

 

*

The annual rate due to the Manager is 0.50% of the first $2.5 billion of the Fund’s net assets, 0.40% of the next $15 billion of the Fund’s net assets, and 0.37% on the Fund’s net assets over $17.5 billion. Prior to June 1, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager was 0.50% on all net assets.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as

 

32


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Common Stocks+

     $ 305,927      $      $ 211,873      $ 517,800

Preferred Stock+

       69,408                      69,408

Warrant+

       1,178                      1,178

Asset Backed Securities

              9,694,965               9,694,965

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

              34,958,049               34,958,049

Convertible Bonds

              770,931        241,680        1,012,611

Bank Loans

              737,570               737,570

Corporate Bonds+

              138,568,742        #        138,568,742

Yankee Debt Obligations+

              47,788,786               47,788,786

Municipal Bonds

              3,117,405               3,117,405

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

              66,143,471               66,143,471

U.S. Treasury Obligations

              141,821,681               141,821,681

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

       4,390,782                      4,390,782

Unaffiliated Investment Company

       24,230,789                      24,230,789
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

     $ 28,998,084      $ 443,601,600      $ 453,553      $ 473,053,237
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 327,979,246        $ 342,267,423

For the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 275,321,280        $ 249,892,745

6. Restricted Securities

A restricted security is a security which has been purchased through a private offering and cannot be resold to the general public without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) or pursuant to the resale limitations provided by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

 

33


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Whether a restricted security is illiquid is determined pursuant to guidelines established by the Trustees. Not all restricted securities are considered illiquid. The illiquid restricted securities held as of December 31, 2021 are identified below.

 

Security    Acquisition
Date(a)
   Acquisition
Cost
   Shares
or
Principal
Amount
   Value    Percentage of
Net Assets

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

       7/10/20      $ 38,899        45,151      $ 156,674        0.04 %

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

       11/5/20        67,000        76,968        241,680        0.05 %

Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/18/22 @ 101.81

       10/30/18        376,933        408,000               0.00 %

 

(a)

Acquisition date represents the initial purchase date of the security.

7. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Bank Loan Risk: There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations. The risk of holding bank loans is also directly tied to the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the issuing banks. These risks could cause the Fund to lose income or principal on a particular investment, which in turn could affect the Fund’s returns. The value of bank loans can be affected by and sensitive to changes in government regulation and to economic downturns in the United States and abroad. Bank loans generally are floating rate loans, which are subject to interest rate risk as the interest paid on the floating rate loans adjusts periodically based on changes in widely accepted reference rates.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, investments in mortgage-related securities may cause the Fund to exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to call risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are subordinated to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may receive payments only after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Fund as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. An unexpectedly high or low rate of prepayments on a pool’s underlying mortgages may have a similar effect on subordinated securities. A mortgage pool may issue securities subject to various levels of subordination. The risk of non-payment affects securities at each level, although the risk is greater in the case of more highly subordinated securities. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund may engage in short sales, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities borrowed from others with the expectation that the price of the security will fall before the Fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The Fund may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the Fund does not own declines in value. Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. 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 security sold short. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. As a result, if the Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price at which the security was sold. The Fund may also pay transaction costs and borrowing fees in connection with short sales.

 

34


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

8. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

9. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

10. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $464,974,852. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis was as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 14,583,511  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (6,505,126
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 8,078,385  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 13,753,916        $ 6,592,561        $ 20,346,477

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 14,784,988        $        $ 14,784,988

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

35


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
    

Unrealized

Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)

    

Total
Accumulated

Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 9,225,742        $ 8,873,522        $  —        $ 8,078,385        $ 26,177,649

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

11. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

12. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

36


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

37


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $2,116,661.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $6,592,561.

 

38


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

39


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that

 

40


reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1)    The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

41


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

42


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46
  None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04  

Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and

Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015

  46
  None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46
  None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

43


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

44


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Gateway Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 9

Statement of Operations

Page 9

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 10

Financial Highlights

Page 11

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 12

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 17

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 18

Other Information

Page 19

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 20

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 23

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Gateway Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Gateway Fund and Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Gateway Fund (the “Fund”) returned 11.13%. That compared to a 28.71% total return for its benchmark, the S&P 500® Index. The Fund’s performance reflects its low-volatility equity strategy, which seeks to reduce fluctuations in the portfolio’s value that may be caused by equity market volatility. In achieving its low-volatility objective, the Fund’s annualized standard deviation of daily returns for the year was 6.00% compared to 13.09% for the S&P 500® Index.1

The Fund seeks to capture a majority of long-term returns expected with equity market investments while also providing less risk. To accomplish this goal, the Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks. In addition, the Fund sells index call options to seek to lower volatility and generate cash flow; the Fund then uses a portion of this cash flow to purchase index put options, which are intended to help mitigate any sharp, sudden price declines in the equity portfolio.

U.S. equity markets posted strong gains in 2021 — the third year in a row of double-digit returns for the S&P 500® Index. Stocks rose over the course of the first and second quarters of 2021 as vaccine delivery accelerated and the promise of new fiscal stimulus helped settle investor concerns over inflation and labor market imbalances. Rising interest rates were a theme for much of the year, and inflation fears finally triggered a pullback in equity markets in September. The selloff was also due to growing concerns over the new Delta variant of COVID-19. Uncertainty surrounding fiscal and monetary policy also weighed on market sentiment at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, however, stocks rebounded to post their strongest quarterly returns of the year despite ongoing concerns around inflation, surging COVID-19 cases, and monetary policy concerns.

Implied volatility remained slightly above its historical average throughout most of 2021, although down from its peak in March 2020 near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, realized volatility, as measured by the standard deviation2 of daily returns for the S&P 500® Index, was below-average for the year. The spread between S&P 500® Index realized volatility and average implied volatility, often referred to as the Volatility Risk Premium (VRP), was positive in 2021 — which is typical. But the spread was consistently wider than normal throughout the year.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark for 2021 while achieving its risk objective by exhibiting significantly less risk than the equity market — less than half as measured by standard deviation. However, the risk-reducing options strategy generated losses that detracted from returns during the strong market gains experienced throughout most of the year. For example, the Fund lagged its benchmark by 551 basis points during the fourth quarter as the market posted its strongest gains of the year. However, the Fund’s equity portfolio did deliver a return of 28.45% which is just slightly below the return of its benchmark.

Higher-than-normal implied volatility helped support the Fund’s relative returns as the Fund focused on the higher volatility priced into longer-dated call option contracts and a persistently above-average volatility risk premium. Throughout 2021, the Fund’s two-part option strategy delivered equity market participation during the periods in which the equity market advanced and significant downside protection during market declines.

The Fund employs equity index options as part of its low-volatility strategy. These derivatives, along with the Fund’s overall strategy worked as designed during the reporting period. Consistent with its investment objective, the measured risk of the Fund was low relative to the U.S. equity market during the reporting period. However, despite generating gains during market declines, the derivatives had an overall negative impact on the Fund’s return relative to its benchmark during the reporting period.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

* 

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

2 

Standard deviation of returns measures the average a return series deviates from its mean. It is often used as a measure of risk. When a fund has a high standard deviation, the predicted range of performance implies greater volatility.

 

 

1


AZL® Gateway Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to capture the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments, while exposing investors to less risk than other equity investments. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks, while also selling index call options.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

The performance of investments in real estate depends on the overall strength of the real estate market, the management of real estate investments trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies (REOCs), and foreign real estate companies, and property management, all of which can be affected by a variety of factors, including national and regional economic conditions.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® Gateway Fund

         11.13 %          9.74 %          6.64 %          5.55 %

S&P 500® Index

         28.71 %          26.07 %          18.47 %          16.55 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® Gateway Fund

         1.12 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 1.25% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, an unmanaged index that is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Gateway Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Gateway Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Gateway Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,037.40     $ 5.85       1.14 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Gateway Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.46     $ 5.80       1.14 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      29.1 %

Health Care

      13.3

Consumer Discretionary

      12.1

Financials

      10.4

Communication Services

      9.9

Industrials

      8.0

Consumer Staples

      5.9

Energy

      2.7

Materials

      2.6

Utilities

      2.5

Real Estate

      2.5
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.0

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      2.4

Purchased Put Options

      0.6
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      102.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (2.0 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks+ (99.0%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.2%):       
  2,550      Boeing Co. (The)*    $ 513,366  
  704      HEICO Corp.      101,531  
  9,510      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      818,431  
  427      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      271,691  
     

 

 

 
        1,705,019  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.6%):       
  650      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      59,040  
  3,738      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      801,203  
  629      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      48,703  
     

 

 

 
        908,946  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  2,677      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      139,472  
  12,357      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      175,964  
  2,475      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      108,355  
     

 

 

 
        423,791  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.1%):       
  659      Autoliv, Inc.      68,147  
  1,865      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      39,762  
     

 

 

 
        107,909  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.6%):       
  20,269      Ford Motor Co.      420,987  
  5,847      General Motors Co.*      342,810  
  2,836      Tesla, Inc.*      2,997,028  
     

 

 

 
        3,760,825  
     

 

 

 
Banks (4.0%):       
  4,708      Associated Banc-Corp.      106,354  
  38,004      Bank of America Corp.      1,690,798  
  10,459      Citigroup, Inc.      631,619  
  15,104      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      2,391,718  
  292      Signature Bank      94,453  
  16,903      Wells Fargo & Co.      811,006  
     

 

 

 
        5,725,948  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.4%):       
  8,529      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      314,379  
  4,239      Monster Beverage Corp.*      407,114  
  7,406      PepsiCo, Inc.      1,286,496  
     

 

 

 
        2,007,989  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.8%):       
  7,434      AbbVie, Inc.      1,006,564  
  2,612      Amgen, Inc.      587,622  
  732      Biogen, Inc.*      175,621  
  394      Exact Sciences Corp.*      30,665  
  1,450      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      44,123  
  1,068      Moderna, Inc.*      271,251  
  390      Seagen, Inc.*      60,294  
  1,492      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      327,643  
     

 

 

 
        2,503,783  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.3%):       
  6,129      Carrier Global Corp.      332,437  
  357      Lennox International, Inc.      115,797  
     

 

 

 
        448,234  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets (2.2%):       
  6,981      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)    $ 587,102  
  299      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      145,317  
  4,257      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      582,230  
  8,753      Morgan Stanley      859,194  
  721      MSCI, Inc., Class A      441,750  
  1,101      S&P Global, Inc.      519,595  
     

 

 

 
        3,135,188  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (1.6%):       
  1,454      Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.      156,538  
  1,813      Celanese Corp.      304,693  
  5,821      Corteva, Inc.      275,217  
  6,225      Dow, Inc.      353,082  
  2,223      Eastman Chemical Co.      268,783  
  559      Ingevity Corp.*      40,080  
  2,975      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      274,384  
  3,342      Mosaic Co. (The)      131,307  
  2,003      Olin Corp.      115,213  
  1,683      RPM International, Inc.      169,983  
  3,469      Valvoline, Inc.      129,359  
     

 

 

 
        2,218,639  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.8%):       
  2,104      Copart, Inc.*      319,008  
  1,219      Waste Connections, Inc.      166,113  
  4,204      Waste Management, Inc.      701,648  
     

 

 

 
        1,186,769  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.0%):       
  23,024      Cisco Systems, Inc.      1,459,031  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.3%):       
  854      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      376,204  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.6%):       
  2,123      Ally Financial, Inc.      101,076  
  3,107      Discover Financial Services      359,045  
  7,679      Synchrony Financial      356,229  
     

 

 

 
        816,350  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.5%):       
  1,267      Avery Dennison Corp.      274,394  
  1,528      Crown Holdings, Inc.      169,027  
  2,066      Sonoco Products Co.      119,601  
  3,792      Westrock Co.      168,213  
     

 

 

 
        731,235  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  1,869      Genuine Parts Co.      262,034  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  1,149      Service Corp. International      81,568  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.7%):       
  7,464      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      2,231,736  
  2,315      Voya Financial, Inc.      153,508  
     

 

 

 
        2,385,244  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.7%):       
  9,320      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      116,966  
  18,160      Verizon Communications, Inc.      943,594  
     

 

 

 
        1,060,560  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities (1.0%):       
  5,494      Alliant Energy Corp.    $ 337,716  
  6,792      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      604,284  
  2,451      Evergy, Inc.      168,163  
  5,961      FirstEnergy Corp.      247,918  
  2,734      OGE Energy Corp.      104,931  
     

 

 

 
        1,463,012  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.5%):       
  3,404      Eaton Corp. plc      588,279  
  871      Hubbell, Inc.      181,403  
     

 

 

 
        769,682  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.8%):       
  1,668      CDW Corp.      341,573  
  6,624      Corning, Inc.      246,612  
  469      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      204,901  
  574      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      341,645  
     

 

 

 
        1,134,731  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.3%):       
  11,846      Halliburton Co.      270,918  
  4,752      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      112,622  
     

 

 

 
        383,540  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.8%):       
  1,404      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      168,045  
  1,877      Netflix, Inc.*      1,130,780  
  121      Roku, Inc.*      27,612  
  7,720      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      1,195,751  
     

 

 

 
        2,522,188  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (2.5%):       
  4,387      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      191,317  
  1,997      American Tower Corp.      584,122  
  1,447      Camden Property Trust      258,550  
  2,293      CubeSmart      130,494  
  3,312      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      110,952  
  6,184      Duke Realty Corp.      405,918  
  2,529      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      221,692  
  4,570      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      144,595  
  6,979      Invitation Homes, Inc.      316,428  
  1,058      Kilroy Realty Corp.      70,315  
  7,779      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      183,818  
  3,790      National Retail Properties, Inc.      182,185  
  7,807      Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.      105,707  
  1,170      Sun Communities, Inc.      245,665  
  4,529      UDR, Inc.      271,695  
  1,711      WP Carey, Inc.      140,387  
     

 

 

 
        3,563,840  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.7%):       
  457      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      90,189  
  2,213      Costco Wholesale Corp.      1,256,320  
  1,996      US Foods Holding Corp.*      69,521  
  6,834      Walmart, Inc.      988,811  
     

 

 

 
        2,404,841  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.8%):       
  1,616      Bunge, Ltd.      150,870  
  1,291      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      81,823  
  12,039      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      798,306  
  905      Post Holdings, Inc.*      102,021  
     

 

 

 
        1,133,020  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  1,413      UGI Corp.    $ 64,871  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.5%):       
  8,295      Abbott Laboratories      1,167,438  
  3,817      Baxter International, Inc.      327,651  
  9,562      Boston Scientific Corp.*      406,194  
  2,604      Danaher Corp.      856,742  
  4,439      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      575,073  
  225      Insulet Corp.*      59,866  
  2,141      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      769,261  
  4,720      Medtronic plc      488,284  
  950      Steris plc      231,240  
  428      Teleflex, Inc.      140,589  
     

 

 

 
        5,022,338  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.0%):       
  1,444      Anthem, Inc.      669,352  
  6,755      CVS Health Corp.      696,846  
  1,894      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      486,606  
  294      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      93,516  
  4,323      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      2,170,751  
  1,128      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      146,256  
     

 

 

 
        4,263,327  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  619      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      158,142  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.4%):       
  2,733      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*      142,417  
  2,907      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      453,463  
  3,936      McDonald’s Corp.      1,055,124  
  2,975      Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd., ADR*      30,285  
  2,804      Restaurant Brands International, Inc.      170,147  
  215      Vail Resorts, Inc.      70,498  
  3,558      Wendy’s Co. (The)      84,858  
     

 

 

 
        2,006,792  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.3%):       
  41      NVR, Inc.*      242,264  
  2,269      Toll Brothers, Inc.      164,253  
     

 

 

 
        406,517  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.5%):       
  1,804      Clorox Co. (The)      314,545  
  11,105      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      1,816,556  
     

 

 

 
        2,131,101  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.3%):       
  3,537      3M Co.      628,277  
  4,582      General Electric Co.      432,862  
  3,689      Honeywell International, Inc.      769,193  
     

 

 

 
        1,830,332  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.9%):       
  9,916      Aflac, Inc.      578,995  
  1,112      American Financial Group, Inc.      152,700  
  1,717      Aon plc, Class A      516,061  
  1,973      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      87,700  
  3,218      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      545,998  
  2,827      Brown & Brown, Inc.      198,682  
  1,245      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      64,964  
  3,942      Lincoln National Corp.      269,081  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  59      Markel Corp.*    $ 72,806  
  451      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      76,368  
  5,660      Unum Group      139,066  
     

 

 

 
        2,702,421  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (6.5%):       
  498      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      1,442,726  
  1,551      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      4,487,958  
  1,215      Match Group, Inc.*      160,684  
  8,818      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      2,965,934  
  3,557      Twitter, Inc.*      153,733  
  976      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      62,318  
     

 

 

 
        9,273,353  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (4.0%):       
  1,564      Amazon.com, Inc.*      5,214,908  
  180      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      431,861  
  44      MercadoLibre, Inc.*      59,330  
     

 

 

 
        5,706,099  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (4.0%):       
  2,546      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      627,793  
  655      Black Knight, Inc.*      54,293  
  419      Block, Inc.*      67,673  
  1,984      DXC Technology Co.*      63,865  
  342      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      228,610  
  3,235      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      1,162,400  
  3,290      Paychex, Inc.      449,085  
  5,189      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      978,541  
  38      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      52,341  
  217      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      57,145  
  1,458      VeriSign, Inc.*      370,069  
  7,301      Visa, Inc., Class A      1,582,200  
     

 

 

 
        5,694,015  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  331      Polaris, Inc.      36,380  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.1%):       
  335      ICON plc*      103,749  
  877      Illumina, Inc.*      333,646  
  1,600      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,067,584  
     

 

 

 
        1,504,979  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (1.5%):       
  3,170      Caterpillar, Inc.      655,366  
  1,551      Cummins, Inc.      338,335  
  1,610      Deere & Co.      552,053  
  1,071      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      340,707  
  2,111      Pentair plc      154,166  
  1,101      Timken Co.      76,288  
     

 

 

 
        2,116,915  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.9%):       
  19,047      Comcast Corp., Class A      958,635  
  582      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      93,760  
  5,531      Liberty Global plc, Class C*      155,366  
  9,768      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.      62,027  
     

 

 

 
        1,269,788  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining (0.3%):       
  2,146      Southern Copper Corp.    $ 132,430  
  2,532      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      157,161  
  1,445      Worthington Industries, Inc.      78,984  
     

 

 

 
        368,575  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.1%):       
  8,511      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      66,556  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.5%):       
  1,770      Nordstrom, Inc.*      40,037  
  3,141      Target Corp.      726,953  
     

 

 

 
        766,990  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.4%):       
  5,475      Ameren Corp.      487,330  
  8,256      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      704,402  
  5,769      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      384,965  
  4,424      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      429,438  
     

 

 

 
        2,006,135  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.4%):       
  1,083      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      109,838  
  8,118      Chevron Corp.      952,647  
  8,673      ConocoPhillips      626,017  
  20,407      Exxon Mobil Corp.      1,248,705  
  1,068      HollyFrontier Corp.      35,009  
  5,874      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      170,287  
  4,393      ONEOK, Inc.      258,133  
     

 

 

 
        3,400,636  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.0%):       
  1,346      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      55,092  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (3.8%):       
  10,879      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      678,306  
  3,242      Eli Lilly & Co.      895,505  
  248      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      31,595  
  10,030      Johnson & Johnson      1,715,832  
  10,305      Merck & Co., Inc.      789,775  
  22,747      Pfizer, Inc.      1,343,211  
     

 

 

 
        5,454,224  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.3%):       
  510      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      43,243  
  1,689      CoStar Group, Inc.*      133,481  
  1,094      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      106,479  
  1,210      TransUnion      143,482  
     

 

 

 
        426,685  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.0%):       
  1,989      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      143,089  
  18,388      CSX Corp.      691,389  
  836      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      170,878  
  809      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      34,569  
  1,080      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      387,050  
  927      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      38,869  
     

 

 

 
        1,465,844  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (6.4%):       
  5,627      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      809,725  
  2,941      Analog Devices, Inc.      516,940  
  3,471      Applied Materials, Inc.      546,197  
  1,729      Broadcom, Inc.      1,150,494  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  15,513      Intel Corp.    $ 798,919  
  1,442      Marvell Technology, Inc.      126,161  
  5,254      Micron Technology, Inc.      489,410  
  9,010      NVIDIA Corp.      2,649,931  
  5,127      Qualcomm, Inc.      937,574  
  1,839      Teradyne, Inc.      300,732  
  4,465      Texas Instruments, Inc.      841,518  
     

 

 

 
        9,167,601  
     

 

 

 
Software (9.8%):       
  2,425      Adobe, Inc.*      1,375,120  
  2,779      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      517,867  
  1,086      Fortinet, Inc.*      390,308  
  26,733      Microsoft Corp.      8,990,842  
  1,806      Nuance Communications, Inc.*      99,908  
  7,200      Oracle Corp.      627,912  
  271      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      150,882  
  3,691      salesforce.com, Inc.*      937,994  
  898      ServiceNow, Inc.*      582,901  
  859      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      70,421  
  478      VMware, Inc., Class A      55,391  
  426      Workday, Inc., Class A*      116,375  
  236      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      43,403  
     

 

 

 
        13,959,324  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.2%):       
  2,912      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      73,732  
  301      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      87,745  
  1,829      Foot Locker, Inc.      79,799  
  4,524      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      1,877,505  
  4,034      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      1,042,708  
     

 

 

 
        3,161,489  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (7.1%):       
  56,175      Apple, Inc.    $ 9,974,995  
  1,086      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C*      61,000  
     

 

 

 
        10,035,995  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.7%):       
  296      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      115,869  
  5,188      Nike, Inc., Class B      864,684  
     

 

 

 
        980,553  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  14,450      Altria Group, Inc.      684,786  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  675      GATX Corp.      70,328  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $50,357,686)

     140,938,303  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Purchased Options (0.6%)^:       
 

Total Purchased Options (Cost $1,395,079)

     813,605  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (2.4%):       
Money Markets (2.4%):       
  3,472,898      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(a)      3,472,898  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $3,472,898)

     3,472,898  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $55,225,663) — 102.0%(b)

     145,224,806  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (2.0)%

     (2,814,784
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 142,410,022  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

+

All or a portion of each common stock has been pledged as collateral for outstanding call options written.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

^

See Options table below for more details.

 

(a)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(b)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s exchange traded options purchased were as follows:     

 

Description    Put/Call    Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4050.00 USD        2/18/22        43      $ 174,150      $ 49,020  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4100.00 USD        2/21/22        43        176,300        55,040  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4125.00 USD        2/21/22        35        144,375        47,775  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4150.00 USD        2/21/22        43        178,450        62,135  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4100.00 USD        3/18/22        43        176,300        123,195  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4300.00 USD        3/18/22        43        184,900        190,060  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      4300.00 USD        4/15/22        43        184,900        286,380  
                 

 

 

 

Total (Cost $1,395,079)

               $ 813,605  
              

 

 

 

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s exchange traded options written were as follows:

 

Description    Put/Call    Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4700.00 USD        1/21/22        33      $ 155,100      $ (346,170

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4775.00 USD        1/21/22        33        157,575        (168,960

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4650.00 USD        2/18/22        33        153,450        (597,960

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4600.00 USD        2/21/22        32        147,200        (709,280

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4700.00 USD        2/21/22        32        150,400        (457,120

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4800.00 USD        2/21/22        33        158,400        (251,625

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4800.00 USD        3/18/22        32        153,600        (349,760

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4850.00 USD        3/18/22        32        155,200        (260,800

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4900.00 USD        3/18/22        33        161,700        (193,215
                 

 

 

 

Total (Premiums $3,166,405)

               $ (3,334,890
              

 

 

 

 

(a)

Notional amount is expressed as the number of contracts multiplied by the strike price of the underlying asset.

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Options Written

 

      Value  

Options Written

   $ (3,334,890

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Gateway Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 55,225,663
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value

      145,224,806

Cash

      637,799

Interest and dividends receivable

      70,485

Reclaims receivable

      970

Prepaid expenses

      694
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      145,934,754
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      33,698

Written Options (Premiums received $3,166,405)

      3,334,890

Manager fees payable

      96,812

Administration fees payable

      22,337

Distribution fees payable

      30,254

Custodian fees payable

      954

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      180

Transfer agent fees payable

      762

Trustee fees payable

      1,010

Other accrued liabilities

      3,835
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,524,732
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 142,410,022
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 72,632,230

Total distributable earnings

      69,777,792
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 142,410,022
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      8,827,459

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.13
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 2,046,792

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,237 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      2,045,555
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,175,152

Administration fees

      65,580

Distribution fees

      367,234

Custodian fees

      7,035

Administrative and compliance services fees

      1,827

Transfer agent fees

      5,068

Trustee fees

      7,620

Professional fees

      6,684

Shareholder reports

      4,940

Other expenses

      3,142
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      1,644,282
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      401,273
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      10,928,882

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

      (11,109,414 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      14,421,080

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

      871,564
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      15,112,112
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 15,513,385
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Gateway Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 401,273     $ 938,347

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      (180,532 )       5,449,612

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      15,292,644       2,482,252
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      15,513,385       8,870,211
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (927,444 )       (1,474,529 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (927,444 )       (1,474,529 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      7,578,785       18,152,814

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      927,444       1,474,529

Value of shares redeemed

      (25,065,408 )       (33,600,618 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (16,559,179 )       (13,973,275 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (1,973,238 )       (6,577,593 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      144,383,260       150,960,853
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 142,410,022     $ 144,383,260
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      501,529       1,356,062

Dividends reinvested

      59,490       106,005

Shares redeemed

      (1,614,036 )       (2,554,063 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (1,053,017 )       (1,091,996 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Gateway Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.61     $ 13.76     $ 12.54     $ 13.32     $ 12.29
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.04 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.18       0.12

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.58       0.91       1.22       (0.79 )       1.04
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.62       1.00       1.35       (0.61 )       1.16
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.10 )       (0.15 )       (0.13 )       (0.17 )       (0.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.10 )       (0.15 )       (0.13 )       (0.17 )       (0.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.13     $ 14.61     $ 13.76     $ 12.54     $ 13.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      11.13 %       7.30 %       10.82 %       (4.65 )%       9.46 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 142,410     $ 144,383     $ 150,961     $ 147,792     $ 213,295

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.27 %       0.67 %       1.01 %       0.93 %       1.06 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.12 %       1.12 %       1.11 %       1.10 %       1.10 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.12 %       1.12 %       1.11 %       1.10 %       1.10 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      11 %       30 %       19 %       9 %       24 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Gateway Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

12


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Options Contracts

The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on a security or an index of securities. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund purchased and wrote call and put options to increase or decrease its exposure to underlying instruments (including equity risk, interest rate risk and/or foreign currency exchange rate risk) and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums.

Purchased Options Contracts — The Fund pays a premium which is included in “Investments, at value” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and marked to market to reflect the current value of the option when purchasing options. Premiums paid for purchasing options that expire are treated as realized losses. When a put option is exercised or closed, premiums paid for purchasing options are offset against proceeds to determine the realized gain/loss on the transaction. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract.

Written Options Contracts — The Fund receives a premium which is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the options written when writing options. Premiums received from writing options that expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options that are either exercised or closed are offset against the proceeds received or the amount paid on the transaction to determine realized gains or losses. The risk associated with writing an option is that the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of an underlying asset and is required to buy or sell an underlying asset under the contractual terms of the option at a price different from the current value. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for written options contracts was $1.4 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

       
Options Contracts   $—     Written Options Contracts   $ 3,334,890  

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure  

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

     
Options Contracts  

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts/

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

   $ (11,109,414    $ 871,564  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (“Gateway”), Gateway provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Gateway Fund

         0.80 %          1.25 %

 

13


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Options are generally valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the principal exchange on which the option is traded, which are then typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. For options where market quotations are not readily available, fair value procedures as described below may be applied.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

14


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 140,938,303        $        $        $ 140,938,303

Purchased Options

         813,605                            813,605

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         3,472,898                            3,472,898
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         145,224,806                            145,224,806
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Written Options

         (3,334,890 )                            (3,334,890 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 141,889,916        $        $        $ 141,889,916
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as written options.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 16,585,357        $ 53,657,382

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

 

15


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $52,571,055. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 90,769,065  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (1,450,204
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 89,318,861  
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund had capital loss carry forwards (“CLCFs”) as summarized in the table below. The Board does not intend to authorize a distribution of any realized gain for the Fund until any applicable CLCF has been offset.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund utilized $729,370 in CLCFs to offset capital gains.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
     Total Amount

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 20,695,938        $        $ 20,695,938

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 927,444        $        $ 927,444

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
     Net
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 1,474,529        $        $ 1,474,529

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 404,910        $        $ (20,695,938 )        $ 90,068,820        $ 69,777,792

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of options contracts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 80% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

16


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Gateway Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Gateway Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

17


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 100.00% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

 

18


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

19


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were

 

20


able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

21


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

22


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length
of Time Served

  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
 

Since 10/14

(Trustee since 2/07)

  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019-2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc. (a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length
of Time Served

  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

23


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/Length
of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

24


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Government Money Market Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 6

Statement of Operations

Page 6

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 7

Financial Highlights

Page 8

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 9

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 13

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 14

Other Information

Page 15

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 16

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 19

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Government Money Market Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Government Money Market Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Government Money Market Fund (the “Fund”) returned 0.00%. That compared to a 0.04% total return for its benchmark, the Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index.1

The year began with a transition to the Biden-Harris administration, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, and an acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination programs. Rising vaccination rates helped achieve a gradual reopening of the economy through the first half of the period, which helped drive additional economic growth. However, the arrival of the Delta and Omicron variants in the latter part of 2021 raised fears about the negative economic impacts of a new surge in COVID-19 cases.

Despite these concerns late in the period, economic conditions in the U.S. were markedly better in 2021 than they were in 2020. The U.S. posted strong GDP growth throughout the year, while the unemployment rate fell from 6.3% in January to 3.9% at the end of December. However, inflation rose throughout the year, with the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) posting an annual increase of 6.8% by the end of November — the largest increase in more than 30 years.

In part due to the rise in inflation, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pivoted from a dovish tone early in the year to a more hawkish one in the final months of 2021. Along with a few technical interest rate adjustments during the year, the FOMC announced in November that it would begin tapering its asset purchase efforts. In December, the FOMC indicated it would accelerate that tapering plan, and it announced three interest rate hikes for 2022.

The FOMC’s ultra-accommodative policies, in place throughout most of the year, were a major theme for the period, as was the large and growing supply/demand imbalance for securities at the short end of the yield curve. Although the yield curve was relatively flat during the period, yields still moved within a tight range. The Fund was positioned to take advantage of that movement by targeting lower duration securities in the middle of the year, and slightly longer durations after the FOMC’s technical adjustments.

The Fund also benefited from its positioning around the year-end debt ceiling impasse, both in the lead-up to the default deadline and in the wake of the mid-December increase in the debt limit.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® Government Money Market Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek current income consistent with stability of principal. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash, government securities (including U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities), or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash or government securities.

Investment Concerns

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time. Past performance is not predictive of future performance as yields on money market funds fluctuate daily.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     10
Year

AZL® Government Money Market Fund

         0.00 %          0.53 %          0.53 %          0.27 %

Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index

         0.04 %          0.82 %          1.06 %          0.59 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® Government Money Market Fund

         0.66 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.34% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.87% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

 

Yield as of December 31, 2021
        7 Day
Average
     7 Day
Effective
     30 Day
Average

AZL® Government Money Market Fund

         0.00 %          0.00 %          0.00 %

The Manager, the Distributor and the Fund have entered into a written agreement to waive, reimburse, or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary in order to maintain a minimum daily net investment income for the Fund of 0.00%. The Distributor is also permitted to waive its Rule 12b-1 fees during such periods under this agreement. There is no guarantee the Fund will be able to avoid a negative yield. Such amounts waived, reimbursed or paid by the Manager and/ or the Distributor are subject to repayment to the Manager and/or the Distributor, subject to certain limitations as further described in Note 3 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

The 7-day yield quotation is as of December 31, 2021 and more closely reflects the current earnings of the Fund than the total return quotation.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, which is an unmanaged index and does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Government Money Market Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Government Money Market Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,000.00     $ 0.35       0.07 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Government Money Market Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.85     $ 0.36       0.07 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Repurchase Agreements

      43.3 %

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      33.4

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      26.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      103.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (3.0 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (33.4%):       
Federal Home Loan Bank (20.8%)  
$ 4,595,000      0.05%, 1/12/22    $ 4,594,985  
  5,245,000      0.04%, 1/12/22(a)      5,244,936  
  1,465,000      0.05%, 1/14/22(a)      1,464,976  
  640,000      0.05%, 1/25/22      639,999  
  2,305,000      0.05%, 1/28/22      2,304,999  
  6,985,000      0.05%, 1/28/22      6,984,944  
  4,225,000      0.05%, 2/1/22      4,224,960  
  1,140,000      0.05%, 2/7/22      1,139,999  
  1,235,000      0.05%, 2/8/22(a)      1,234,935  
  4,700,000      0.05%, 2/11/22(a)      4,699,732  
  9,655,000      0.06%, 2/14/22(a)      9,654,379  
  3,795,000      0.05%, 2/15/22(a)      3,794,787  
  8,670,000      0.05%, 2/16/22(a)      8,669,501  
  3,570,000      0.05%, 2/18/22(a)      3,569,762  
  2,585,000      0.17%(SOFR+12bps), 2/28/22      2,585,000  
  7,200,000      0.05%, 3/2/22(a)      7,199,412  
  7,525,000      0.05%, 3/8/22(a)      7,524,379  
  385,000      0.05%, 3/11/22(a)      384,967  
  8,485,000      0.04%, 3/18/22(a)      8,484,212  
  4,840,000      0.06%, 3/22/22      4,839,973  
  335,000      0.06%(SOFR+1bps), 3/28/22      335,000  
  550,000      0.06%(SOFR+1bps), 3/30/22      550,000  
  1,675,000      0.04%, 4/1/22(a)      1,674,816  
  5,095,000      0.06%, 4/22/22(a)      5,094,120  
  885,000      0.11%(SOFR+7bps), 4/28/22      885,000  
  2,070,000      0.06%, 5/23/22      2,069,955  
  2,575,000      0.06%(SOFR+1bps), 9/6/22      2,575,000  
  5,025,000      0.07%(SOFR+2bps), 12/16/22      5,025,000  
  5,000,000      0.10%(SOFR+6bps), 2/3/23      5,000,000  
     

 

 

 
        112,449,728  
     

 

 

 
Federal Farm Credit Bank (10.5%)  
  865,000      0.05%, 1/7/22(a)      864,993  
  1,955,000      0.23%(SOFR+18bps), 1/14/22      1,955,000  
  1,630,000      0.05%, 1/31/22(a)      1,629,932  
  4,000,000      0.37%, 2/8/22      4,000,000  
  5,000,000      0.05%, 3/3/22(a)      4,999,577  
  3,295,000      0.05%, 4/19/22(a)      3,294,506  
  685,000      0.21%(USBMMY3M+12bps), 5/2/22      684,986  
  3,000,000      0.10%(SOFR+5bps), 5/5/22      2,999,953  
  2,000,000      0.06%, 6/21/22(a)      1,999,430  
  1,475,000      0.24%(SOFR+19bps), 7/14/22      1,475,000  
  4,065,000      0.27%(FEDL01+18bps), 7/20/22      4,064,779  
  6,150,000      0.07%, 8/10/22      6,149,815  
  2,230,000      0.14%(SOFR+10bps), 9/2/22      2,230,000  
  1,845,000      0.14%(SOFR+9bps), 10/7/22      1,845,000  
  2,250,000      0.13%(SOFR+8bps), 10/14/22      2,250,000  
  2,705,000      0.12%(SOFR+8bps), 11/3/22      2,705,000  
  4,150,000      0.08%(SOFR+3bps), 1/12/23      4,149,784  
  1,070,000      0.11%(SOFR+6bps), 1/20/23      1,070,000  
  2,740,000      0.10%(SOFR+5bps), 8/22/23      2,740,000  
  1,870,000      0.10%(SOFR+5bps), 9/28/23      1,870,000  
  3,435,000      0.11%(SOFR+6bps), 11/22/23      3,435,000  
     

 

 

 
        56,412,755  
     

 

 

 
Federal National Mortgage Association (1.4%)  
  2,035,000      0.05%, 3/2/22(a)      2,034,830  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 2,685,000      0.40%(SOFR+35bps), 4/7/22    $ 2,685,000  
  2,935,000      0.44%(SOFR+39bps), 4/15/22      2,935,000  
     

 

 

 
        7,654,830  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (0.7%)  
  2,000,000      0.08%, 7/25/22      2,000,496  
  1,535,000      0.11%(SOFR+7bps), 11/10/22      1,535,000  
     

 

 

 
        3,535,496  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $180,052,809)

     180,052,809  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (26.3%):       
U.S. Treasury Notes (2.9%)  
  4,165,000      0.05%, 1/31/22      4,169,485  
  120,000      0.09%, 2/28/22      120,316  
  120,000      0.09%, 3/31/22      120,082  
  805,000      0.07%, 5/15/22      811,070  
  100,000      0.07%, 6/15/22      100,759  
  360,000      0.07%, 6/30/22      360,096  
  5,000,000      0.13%(USBMMY3M+5bps), 1/31/23      5,000,356  
  5,000,000      0.12%(USBMMY3M+4bps), 10/31/23      5,000,000  
     

 

 

 
        15,682,164  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Bills (23.4%)  
  4,850,400      0.06%, 3/1/22(a)      4,849,985  
  31,575,000      0.05%, 3/3/22(a)      31,572,325  
  29,378,000      0.06%, 3/10/22(a)      29,374,694  
  3,940,000      0.08%, 3/24/22(a)      3,939,327  
  10,900,000      0.09%, 3/31/22(a)      10,897,710  
  940,000      0.07%, 4/5/22(a)      939,820  
  5,765,000      0.11%, 4/26/22(a)      5,762,974  
  11,465,000      0.13%, 5/3/22(a)      11,460,269  
  9,825,000      0.13%, 6/16/22(a)      9,819,111  
  10,050,000      0.17%, 6/23/22(a)      10,042,768  
  4,635,000      0.21%, 6/30/22(a)      4,630,133  
  1,906,800      0.08%, 9/8/22(a)      1,905,807  
  995,000      0.40%, 12/29/22(a)      991,098  
     

 

 

 
        126,186,021  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $141,868,185)

     141,868,185  
  

 

 

 
Repurchase Agreements (43.3%):       
  15,000,000      Bank of Montreal, 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $15,000,063, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.00%, 2/15/29 — 8/15/50, fair value of $15,300,000)      15,000,000  
  45,000,000      Bank of Nova Scotia, 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $45,000,188, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.00% — 5.25%, 4/7/22 — 2/15/49, fair value of $45,900,198)      45,000,000  
  35,000,000      BNP Paribas, 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $35,000,146, Collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 0.00% — 6.50%, 12/31/23 — 9/1/51, fair value of $35,808,771)      35,000,000  
  34,000,000      Citigroup Global Markets, 0.06%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $34,000,170, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.13% — 2.88%, 10/15/23 — 4/30/25, fair value of $34,680,053)      34,000,000  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Repurchase Agreements, continued       
$ 30,000,000      Mitsubishi UFJ Securities USA, Inc., 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $30,000,125, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.38% — 1.13%, 7/15/23 — 2/29/28, fair value of $30,600,060)    $ 30,000,000  
  30,000,000      Natixis, 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $30,000,125, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.00% — 6.00%, 1/20/22 — 12/31/26, fair value of $30,600,019)      30,000,000  
  45,000,000      Toronto Dominion Bank NY, 0.05%, 1/3/22, (Purchased on 12/31/21, proceeds at maturity $45,000,188, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.63% — 2.25%, 4/15/22 — 8/15/30, fair value of $45,900,056)      45,000,000  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $234,000,000)

     234,000,000  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $555,920,994) — 103.0%(b)

     555,920,994  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (3.0)%

     (16,025,284
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 539,895,710  
  

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

FEDL01—Effective Federal Fund Rate

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

USBMMY3M—3 Month Treasury Bill Rate

 

(a)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

(b)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Government Money Market Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 321,920,994
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value

    $ 321,920,994

Repurchase agreements, at value/cost

      234,000,000

Cash

      324,009

Interest and dividends receivable

      51,626

Receivable from Manager

      105,591

Prepaid expenses

      2,262
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      556,404,482
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      16,310,254

Administration fees payable

      71,175

Distribution fees payable

      107,165

Custodian fees payable

      1,547

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      613

Transfer agent fees payable

      828

Trustee fees payable

      3,443

Other accrued liabilities

      13,747
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      16,508,772
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 539,895,710
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 539,886,711

Total distributable earnings

      8,999
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 539,895,710
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      539,886,834

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 1.00
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 390,671
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      390,671
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,719,608

Administration fees

      159,776

Distribution fees

      1,228,294

Custodian fees

      10,664

Administrative and compliance services fees

      5,473

Transfer agent fees

      4,816

Trustee fees

      23,444

Professional fees

      20,073

Shareholder reports

      16,784

Other expenses

      9,583
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,198,515

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (49,139 )

Less expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager for minimum daily yield

      (2,758,972 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      390,404
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      267
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      8,732
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      8,732
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 8,999
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Government Money Market Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 267     $ 908,615

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      8,732       3,042
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      8,999       911,657
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (4,913 )       (908,616 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (4,913 )       (908,616 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      890,444,096       808,011,798

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      4,913       908,615

Value of shares redeemed

      (958,627,851 )       (682,376,967 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (68,178,842 )       126,543,446
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (68,174,756 )       126,546,487

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      608,070,466       481,523,979
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 539,895,710     $ 608,070,466
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      890,444,096       808,011,797

Dividends reinvested

      4,913       908,614

Shares redeemed

      (958,627,850 )       (682,376,967 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (68,178,841 )       126,543,444
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      (a)(b)       (b)       0.01 (b)       0.01       (a)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (a)       (a)       (a)       (a)       (a)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (a)             0.01       0.01      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (a)       (a)       (0.01 )       (0.01 )       (a)

Net Realized Gains

                  (a)             (a)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (a)       (a)       (0.01 )       (0.01 )       (a)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

      0.00 %       0.21 %       1.39 %       1.01 %       0.05 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 539,896     $ 608,070     $ 481,524     $ 453,175     $ 490,632

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.00 %(a)       0.18 %       1.37 %       1.00 %       0.04 %

Expenses Before Reductions(d)

      0.65 %       0.66 %       0.88 %       0.87 %       0.87 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.08 %(e)       0.35 %(e)       0.87 %       0.87 %       0.87 %

 

(a)

Represents less than $0.005 or 0.005%.

 

(b)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(c)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(d)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(e)

The expense ratio for the period reflects the reduction of certain expenses to maintain a certain minimum yield.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Government Money Market Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with financial institutions such as member banks of the Federal Reserve System or from registered broker/dealers that the adviser deems creditworthy under guidelines approved by the Board, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase such securities at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates. The seller under a repurchase agreement is required to maintain the value of collateral held pursuant to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). Securities subject to repurchase agreements are held by the Fund’s custodian, another qualified sub-custodian, or in the Federal Reserve book-entry system. Master Repurchase Agreements (“MRA”) permit the Fund, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset receivables under the MRA with collateral posted by the counterparty and create one net payment due to or from the Fund. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of the MRA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Pursuant to the terms of the MRA, the Fund receives securities as collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price to be received by the Fund upon the maturity of the transaction. Upon a bankruptcy or insolvency of the MRA counterparty, the Fund would recognize a liability with respect to such excess collateral to reflect the Fund’s obligation under bankruptcy law to return the excess to the counterparty.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts.

Distributions to Shareholders

Dividends from net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly from the Fund. The net realized gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually by the Fund. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

 

 

9


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock Advisors”), BlackRock Advisors provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Government Money Market Fund

         0.35 %          0.87 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.34% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

The Manager, the Distributor and the Fund have entered into a written agreement to waive, reimburse, or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary in order to maintain a minimum daily yield for the Fund of 0.00%. The Distributor may waive its Rule 12b-1 fees under this agreement. There is no guarantee the Fund will avoid a negative yield. Such amounts waived, reimbursed, or paid by the Manager and/or the Distributor will be repaid to the Manager and/or the Distributor subject to the following limitations:

 

1.

The repayments will not cause the Fund’s net investment income to fall below 0.00%.

2.

The repayments must be made no later than three years after the end of the fiscal year in which the waiver, reimbursement, or payment took place.

3.

Any expense recovery paid by the Fund will not cause its expense ratio to exceed 0.87%.

The ability of the Manager and/or Distributor to receive such payments could negatively affect the Fund’s future yield. Amounts waived under this agreement during the year ended December 31, 2021 are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager for minimum daily yield.”

At December 31, 2021, the reimbursements of minimum daily yield waivers subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years were as follows:

 

        Expires
12/31/2023
     Expires
12/31/2024
     Total

AZL Government Money Market Fund

       $ 1,499,146        $ 2,758,972        $ 4,258,118

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.”

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

 

10


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

The Fund, which operates as a government money market fund, is eligible and has elected to use the amortized cost method of valuation pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. This involves valuing an instrument at its cost initially and thereafter assuming a constant accretion or amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, respectively, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. This method may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the investment.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

       $        $ 180,052,809        $        $ 180,052,809

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  141,868,185                   141,868,185

Repurchase Agreements

                  234,000,000                   234,000,000
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $        $ 555,920,994        $        $ 555,920,994
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

5. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Repurchase Agreement Risk: The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements as a principal strategy. There is a potential for loss to the Fund if the seller defaults and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. It is possible the fair value of the collateral securities could decline in value during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights.

6. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

7. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

 

11


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $555,920,994. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $  

Unrealized (depreciation)

     
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Government Money Market Fund

       $ 4,913        $        $ 4,913

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Government Money Market Fund

       $ 908,616        $ –          $ 908,616

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Government Money Market Fund

       $ 8,999        $        $        $        $ 8,999

8. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 90% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

9. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

12


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Government Money Market Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Government Money Market Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

13


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $2,775.

 

14


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission each month on Form N-MFP. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund makes portfolio holdings information available to shareholders on its website.

 

15


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each

 

16


other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

 

17


The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

18


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust

(2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

19


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.

Bashir C. Asad (1963)

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.

4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200

Columbus, OH 43219

   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

20


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® International Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 14

Statement of Operations

Page 14

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 15

Financial Highlights

Page 16

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 17

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 23

Other Information

Page 24

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 25

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 28

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® International Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® International Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® International Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned 10.55%. That compared to an 11.78% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees, expenses, and fair value adjustments to its portfolio at the close of the New York Stock Exchange, that correspond to the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index (the “Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of international equity markets. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index comprising stocks of large- and mid-cap stocks across developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East.

During the first quarter, global optimism around a sustainable reopening of the economy due to vaccine rollouts among developed markets helped drive positive performance. Despite the uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, equities rallied over the quarter, reinforced by an increase in demand for goods and manufacturing activities. The Japanese market continued its recovery throughout the quarter despite the state of emergency in Tokyo. Japanese equities were supported by strong earnings reports and hopes of stimulus and economic reopening as COVID cases declined.

Over the second quarter, strong economic data across developed markets and accommodative fiscal policies helped support additional equity gains. The markets’ rising concerns around higher inflation and the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) cautious announcement in June contributed to muted market performance for a short period. The Japanese market recovered toward the end of May, following the reinstatement of state of emergency protocols in Tokyo and other regions. As a response, the Japanese government rolled out several mass vaccination centers, and quarterly earnings reports largely met or exceeded analyst forecasts.

The global economic recovery continued through July and August. However, those gains were offset by a market decline during September. Concerns regarding the U.S. debt ceiling and potential global systematic risk from the crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande weighed down

on global equity markets. The spread of the Delta variant, as well as fears around higher inflation and ongoing supply chain issues, also weighed on market sentiment during the third quarter. In Europe, however, markets remained resilient as hospitalization rates dropped despite a new wave of COVID-19 cases. The Bank of England announced a shift in its policy, suggesting that a rate rise could come in early 2022. For its part, the European Central Bank announced a slower pace of asset purchases but stopped short of setting a path toward higher rates.

In the fourth quarter, developed equity markets posted positive returns in October on the back of strong corporate earnings reports and robust economic data. However, the emergence of yet another new COVID-19 variant (Omicron) in November dampened market performance and put pressure on central banks as they faced rising inflation rates on the back of ongoing supply chain disruptions. Markets rebounded in December as data indicated the new variant was less severe than expected despite higher transmissibility. In Japan, uncertainty over COVID-19 restrictions, a weaker yen, and higher commodity prices weighed on the economy and market performance over the quarter.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and Fund managers keep cash to cover all outstanding futures positions fully.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® International Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index (“MSCI EAFE® Index”) as closely as possible. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in a statistically selected sampling of equity securities of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Index and in derivative instruments linked to the MSCI EAFE Index, primarily futures contracts.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021

     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Years
  Since
Inception

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       10.80 %       13.22 %       9.38 %             9.12 %

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       10.55 %       12.97 %       9.11 %       7.48 %       7.70 %

MSCI EAFE Index (gross of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       11.78 %       14.08 %       10.07 %       8.53 %       8.91 %

MSCI EAFE Index (net of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       11.26 %       13.54 %       9.55 %       8.03 %       8.41 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.46 %

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.71 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.52% for Class 1 Shares and 0.77% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Morgan Stanley Capital International, Europe, Australasia and Far East (MSCI EAFE) Index, which is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada. The Index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Index noted as “gross of withholding taxes” reflects the maximum possible reinvestment of dividends with no adjustment for withholding tax deductions or tax credits. The Index noted as “net of withholding taxes” reflects the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indexes) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL International Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL International Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL International Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.80     $ 2.39       0.47 %

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,017.90     $ 3.66       0.72 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL International Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.84     $ 2.40       0.47 %

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.58     $ 3.67       0.72 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

((Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Financials

      16.8 %

Industrials

      16.0

Consumer Discretionary

      12.7

Health Care

      12.7

Consumer Staples

      10.2

Information Technology

      9.6

Materials

      7.5

Communication Services

      4.5

Utilities

      3.4

Energy

      3.3

Real Estate

      2.8
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.5

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.1

Unaffiliated Investment Company

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      99.6

Net other assets (liabilities)

      0.4
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.1%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.1%):       
  59,163      Airbus SE*    $ 7,555,236  
  323,321      BAE Systems plc      2,408,733  
  2,600      Dassault Aviation SA      280,914  
  2,648      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      458,997  
  5,550      MTU Aero Engines AG      1,128,300  
  811,907      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      1,353,828  
  34,814      Safran SA      4,275,416  
  151,200      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      422,272  
  11,099      Thales SA      944,469  
     

 

 

 
        18,828,165  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.5%):       
  100,501      Deutsche Post AG      6,468,329  
  19,174      InPost SA*      231,592  
  33,300      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      779,815  
  30,300      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      710,676  
     

 

 

 
        8,190,412  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  15,100      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      315,723  
  63,572      Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Registered Shares*      447,319  
  15,670      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      299,236  
  83,673      Qantas Airways, Ltd.*      305,067  
  132,250      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.*      490,290  
     

 

 

 
        1,857,635  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.9%):       
  15,300      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      586,751  
  57,500      Bridgestone Corp.      2,474,557  
  17,097      Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin SCA, Class B      2,802,252  
  10,683      Continental AG*      1,130,908  
  43,800      Denso Corp.      3,617,367  
  8,878      Faurecia SA      422,300  
  3,329      Faurecia SE      155,413  
  10,300      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      545,490  
  12,500      Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.      312,951  
  78,500      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      1,023,622  
  14,300      Toyota Industries Corp.      1,142,816  
  23,890      Valeo SA      722,036  
     

 

 

 
        14,936,463  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.8%):       
  33,495      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      3,375,044  
  86,043      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      6,606,617  
  12,714      Ferrari NV      3,269,957  
  163,900      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      4,603,517  
  57,400      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      714,296  
  55,200      Mazda Motor Corp.*      424,808  
  225,300      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.*      1,088,929  
  19,998      Renault SA*      694,409  
  104,077      Stellantis NV      1,954,004  
  102,332      Stellantis NV      1,939,436  
  59,500      Subaru Corp.      1,064,290  
  38,300      Suzuki Motor Corp.      1,475,122  
  1,069,930      Toyota Motor Corp.      19,754,203  
  3,377      Volkswagen AG      993,175  
  29,100      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      698,173  
     

 

 

 
        48,655,980  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks (8.4%):       
  44,460      ABN AMRO Group NV    $ 653,533  
  286,708      Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.      5,738,893  
  665,948      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      3,953,352  
  1,755,979      Banco Santander SA      5,860,446  
  109,272      Bank Hapoalim BM      1,126,272  
  151,152      Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corp.      1,625,647  
  1,703,109      Barclays plc      4,328,163  
  112,897      BNP Paribas SA      7,799,792  
  357,500      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      1,171,700  
  433,539      CaixaBank SA      1,188,740  
  50,300      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      287,817  
  94,893      Commerzbank AG*      723,068  
  178,657      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      13,128,964  
  114,300      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      415,471  
  124,676      Credit Agricole SA      1,780,667  
  71,758      Danske Bank A/S      1,226,530  
  183,400      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      4,441,332  
  92,703      DNB Bank ASA      2,124,731  
  35,576      Erste Group Bank AG      1,672,226  
  62,732      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA      1,092,389  
  74,400      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      1,362,194  
  2,054,253      HSBC Holdings plc      12,428,272  
  392,809      ING Groep NV      5,473,098  
  1,654,760      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      4,274,907  
  117,795      Isreal Discount Bank      791,940  
  39,400      Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.      361,441  
  24,988      KBC Group NV      2,146,012  
  7,103,235      Lloyds Banking Group plc      4,578,514  
  64,613      Mediobanca SpA      738,512  
  1,239,100      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      6,733,135  
  15,040      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      580,346  
  244,763      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      3,113,740  
  334,381      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      7,016,790  
  595,378      Natwest Group plc      1,813,852  
  322,396      Nordea Bank AB      3,927,656  
  349,199      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      2,956,873  
  14,105      Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG      414,782  
  198,987      Resona Holdings, Inc.      774,144  
  40,300      Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The)      288,062  
  162,873      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      2,257,165  
  81,518      Societe Generale      2,799,033  
  265,054      Standard Chartered plc      1,601,658  
  130,469      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      4,460,382  
  35,103      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      1,172,139  
  143,563      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      1,550,347  
  89,636      Swedbank AB, Class A      1,800,772  
  214,103      Unicredit SpA      3,295,554  
  122,573      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      2,448,293  
  372,248      Westpac Banking Corp.      5,786,231  
     

 

 

 
        147,285,577  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (2.1%):       
  76,285      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      4,618,123  
  45,700      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      1,773,875  
  159,300      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.      417,831  
  10,198      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      1,751,997  
  19,778      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      1,101,801  
  21,102      Coca-Cola HBC AG      727,386  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  54,381      David Campari-Milano NV    $ 791,670  
  235,533      Diageo plc      12,837,297  
  11,986      Heineken Holding NV      1,106,512  
  26,159      Heineken NV      2,941,137  
  6,000      ITO EN, Ltd.      315,133  
  80,200      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,286,414  
  21,347      Pernod Ricard SA      5,135,564  
  2,253      Remy Cointreau SA      548,373  
  14,600      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      528,133  
  69,034      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      622,239  
     

 

 

 
        36,503,485  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.9%):       
  4,510      Argenx SE*^      1,593,853  
  48,193      CSL, Ltd.      10,203,454  
  6,624      Genmab A/S*      2,652,586  
  31,583      Grifols SA      604,240  
     

 

 

 
        15,054,133  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.3%):       
  18,700      AGC, Inc.      892,736  
  101,252      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      3,076,916  
  51,463      Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA      3,619,592  
  25,100      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      5,695,024  
  3,616      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      2,944,574  
  15,267      Kingspan Group plc      1,827,177  
  28,000      Lixil Corp.      746,287  
  142,128      Nibe Industrier AB, Class B      2,131,688  
  817      ROCKWOOL International A/S, Class B      357,634  
  14,700      TOTO, Ltd.      676,257  
  190,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      475,771  
     

 

 

 
        22,443,656  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.8%):       
  96,154      3i Group plc      1,880,906  
  6,085      Amundi SA      502,261  
  20,141      ASX, Ltd.      1,361,524  
  267,207      Credit Suisse Group AG      2,592,559  
  150,300      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      847,844  
  207,977      Deutsche Bank AG, Registered Shares*      2,610,204  
  19,233      Deutsche Boerse AG      3,221,615  
  30,266      EQT AB      1,645,681  
  8,637      Euronext NV      896,716  
  5,295      Futu Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      229,274  
  37,543      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      688,818  
  121,493      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      7,101,405  
  53,000      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      1,160,514  
  21,922      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      1,465,433  
  32,877      London Stock Exchange Group plc      3,076,673  
  35,024      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      5,234,526  
  12,753      Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.      197,112  
  299,900      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      1,308,133  
  2,259      Partners Group Holding AG      3,725,227  
  25,290      SBI Holdings, Inc.      689,447  
  13,061      Schroders plc      627,371  
  73,500      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      507,657  
  52,207      St. James Place plc      1,189,054  
  354,560      UBS Group AG      6,365,772  
     

 

 

 
        49,125,726  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (3.6%):       
  47,731      Air Liquide SA    $ 8,322,391  
  18,896      Akzo Nobel NV      2,079,872  
  6,387      Arkema SA      900,759  
  130,500      Asahi Kasei Corp.      1,226,742  
  92,022      BASF SE      6,471,812  
  11,119      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      874,282  
  21,010      Clariant AG      438,624  
  18,813      Covestro AG      1,160,747  
  13,801      Croda International plc      1,892,468  
  671      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      749,048  
  21,816      Evonik Industries AG      707,001  
  6,565      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      298,342  
  942      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      4,958,339  
  73,284      ICL Group, Ltd.      704,685  
  20,134      Johnson Matthey plc      559,175  
  19,500      JSR Corp.      741,866  
  18,800      Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.      408,695  
  17,529      Koninklijke DSM NV      3,935,388  
  7,976      Lanxess AG      494,867  
  133,200      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      986,888  
  18,100      Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc.      306,617  
  19,400      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      521,289  
  74,000      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      806,968  
  13,900      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      303,757  
  12,000      Nissan Chemical Corp.      697,094  
  14,500      Nitto Denko Corp.      1,120,951  
  20,528      Novozymes A/S, Class B      1,681,204  
  40,418      Orica, Ltd.      403,036  
  35,700      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.      6,184,133  
  14,245      Sika AG      5,914,985  
  7,710      Solvay SA      898,773  
  155,000      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      730,550  
  12,772      Symrise AG      1,894,306  
  133,000      Toray Industries, Inc.      788,543  
  28,400      Tosoh Corp.      421,322  
  19,106      Umicore SA      779,463  
  16,878      Yara International ASA      853,000  
     

 

 

 
        62,217,982  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.3%):       
  142,584      Brambles, Ltd.      1,102,720  
  22,100      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      555,967  
  192,916      Rentokil Initial plc      1,525,782  
  21,800      SECOM Co., Ltd.      1,513,854  
  32,576      Securitas AB, Class B      447,901  
  6,200      Sohgo Security Services Co., Ltd.      246,382  
  26,200      TOPPAN, INC.      491,209  
     

 

 

 
        5,883,815  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.4%):       
  545,510      Nokia OYJ*      3,426,628  
  295,809      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      3,250,272  
     

 

 

 
        6,676,900  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.7%):       
  23,922      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      641,566  
  23,768      Bouygues SA      851,527  
  8,666      Eiffage SA      893,780  
  47,468      Ferrovial SA      1,488,567  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  42,800      Kajima Corp.    $ 491,653  
  69,500      Obayashi Corp.      537,880  
  60,400      Shimizu Corp.      374,478  
  35,392      Skanska AB, Class B      911,936  
  20,600      Taisei Corp.      626,063  
  53,700      Vinci SA      5,689,194  
     

 

 

 
        12,506,644  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.6%):       
  78,173      CRH plc      4,128,742  
  14,390      HeidelbergCement AG      974,854  
  52,748      Holcim, Ltd.      2,685,328  
  46,209      James Hardie Industries SE      1,859,527  
     

 

 

 
        9,648,451  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.0%):       
       Isracard, Ltd.      2  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  25,497      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      1,409,389  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  21,043      IDP Education, Ltd.      530,547  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  3,632      Eurazeo SE      317,481  
  11,283      EXOR NV      1,004,217  
  10,956      Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA      1,224,268  
  13,325      Industrivarden AB, Class A      423,080  
  16,614      Industrivarden AB, Class C      519,821  
  50,272      Investor AB      1,318,302  
  185,759      Investor AB, Class B      4,647,180  
  23,067      Kinnevik AB, Class B*      816,305  
  7,907      L E Lundbergforetagen AB      441,975  
  270,482      M&G plc      730,053  
  63,300      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      313,203  
  122,600      ORIX Corp.      2,502,699  
  1,656      Sofina SA      814,236  
  228,152      Standard Life Aberdeen plc      743,476  
  3,900      Tokyo Century Corp.      189,250  
  2,640      Wendel      316,500  
     

 

 

 
        16,322,046  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.7%):       
  888,641      BT Group plc      2,031,634  
  51,678      Cellnex Telecom SAU      3,000,150  
  333,913      Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered Shares      6,205,247  
  14,797      Elisa OYJ      908,691  
  404,525      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      543,796  
  34,963      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA      423,275  
  349,796      Koninklijke KPN NV      1,086,115  
  130,804      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      3,577,060  
  199,787      Orange SA      2,140,131  
  15,181      Proximus SADP      296,004  
  807,800      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      1,391,042  
  193,685      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      599,606  
  2,533      Swisscom AG, Registered Shares      1,429,444  
  1,036,625      Telecom Italia SpA      509,723  
  87,057      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      240,825  
  545,624      Telefonica SA^      2,375,042  
  72,797      Telenor ASA      1,145,944  
  276,553      Telia Co AB      1,081,737  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  402,715      Telstra Corp., Ltd.    $ 1,224,694  
  9,884      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      392,040  
     

 

 

 
        30,602,200  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.8%):       
  193,004      AusNet Services      360,729  
  62,500      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      659,999  
  65,570      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      417,544  
  171,000      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      1,727,066  
  288,800      EDP – Energias de Portugal SA      1,584,019  
  44,122      Electricite de France      518,465  
  2,734      Elia Group SA/NV      360,490  
  33,044      Endesa SA      761,673  
  815,220      Enel SpA      6,491,786  
  46,207      Fortum OYJ      1,411,219  
  292,500      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      287,011  
  577,558      Iberdrola SA      6,767,473  
  68,100      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      637,463  
  61,309      Mercury NZ, Ltd.      256,765  
  183,228      Origin Energy, Ltd.      699,879  
  19,089      Orsted A/S      2,451,625  
  144,500      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      900,689  
  41,252      Red Electrica Corp SA      892,795  
  104,523      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      2,330,339  
  135,086      Terna SpA      1,089,817  
  159,400      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      412,604  
  6,614      Verbund AG, Class A      746,412  
     

 

 

 
        31,765,862  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (2.0%):       
  165,573      ABB, Ltd.      6,310,622  
  13,400      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      731,834  
  27,041      Legrand SA      3,164,440  
  183,500      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      2,327,301  
  44,900      Nidec Corp.      5,278,953  
  24,934      Prysmian SpA      939,381  
  54,543      Schneider Electric SA      10,692,113  
  41,578      Siemens Energy AG*      1,064,436  
  25,813      Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy*      612,165  
  100,591      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      3,042,342  
     

 

 

 
        34,163,587  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.8%):       
  12,800      Azbil Corp.      583,266  
  39,497      Halma plc      1,705,507  
  14,600      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      931,892  
  199,849      Hexagon AB, Class B      3,147,448  
  3,214      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      540,532  
  11,000      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      650,291  
  19,680      Keyence Corp.      12,370,285  
  32,000      Kyocera Corp.      1,999,947  
  58,600      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      4,653,328  
  18,400      Omron Corp.      1,833,738  
  22,900      Shimadzu Corp.      966,835  
  38,100      TDK Corp.      1,487,664  
  27,200      Venture Corp., Ltd.      369,946  
  21,900      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      394,990  
     

 

 

 
        31,635,669  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  49,170      Tenaris SA    $ 513,129  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.9%):       
  97,547      Bollore, Inc.      545,781  
  18,300      Capcom Co., Ltd.      430,937  
  46,866      Embracer Group AB*      496,757  
  5,980      Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.^      235,301  
  9,900      Konami Holdings Corp.      475,227  
  50,800      Nexon Co., Ltd.      979,833  
  11,200      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      5,225,012  
  13,889      Sea, Ltd., ADR*      3,107,108  
  8,000      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      410,438  
  10,900      Toho Co., Ltd.      466,815  
  8,761      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      429,633  
  71,712      Universal Music Group NV      2,021,704  
  71,712      Vivendi Universal SA      970,094  
     

 

 

 
        15,794,640  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.4%):       
  334,683      Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust      733,157  
  85,015      British Land Co. plc      609,485  
  481,113      CapitaLand Mall Trust      728,815  
  5,555      Covivio      456,709  
  206      Daiwahouse Residential Investment Corp.      624,227  
  102,333      Dexus      827,978  
  4,954      Gecina SA      692,851  
  449      GLP J-REIT      775,985  
  167,631      Goodman Group      3,236,331  
  202,654      GPT Group      799,168  
  675      Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest      581,643  
  130      Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.      738,134  
  20,015      Klepierre      474,570  
  67,234      Land Securities Group plc      705,017  
  207,000      Link REIT (The)      1,823,633  
  235,300      Mapletree Commercial Trust      346,824  
  323,434      Mapletree Logistics Trust      456,127  
  377,732      Mirvac Group      800,736  
  155      Nippon Building Fund, Inc.      903,000  
  212      Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.      749,745  
  441      Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.      620,419  
  251      Orix JREIT, Inc.      392,404  
  539,983      Scentre Group      1,241,634  
  118,843      SERGO plc      2,308,141  
  248,341      Stockland      766,260  
  12,965      Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield*      903,779  
  410,409      Vicinity Centres      505,484  
     

 

 

 
        23,802,256  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.3%):       
  68,000      AEON Co., Ltd.      1,601,839  
  63,796      Carrefour SA      1,169,169  
  132,156      Coles Group, Ltd.      1,724,951  
  5,622      Colruyt SA      238,477  
  2,200      Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp.      323,255  
  131,643      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      645,595  
  155,527      J Sainsbury plc      579,772  
  26,690      Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA      610,776  
  28,415      Kesko OYJ, Class B      942,530  
  13,900      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      537,867  
  106,126      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      3,636,048  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  5,100      LAWSON, Inc.    $ 241,382  
  76,400      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      3,358,899  
  778,927      Tesco plc      3,053,345  
  3,700      Tsuruha Holdings, Inc.      354,819  
  9,400      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      293,069  
  128,657      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      3,557,936  
     

 

 

 
        22,869,729  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (3.4%):       
  48,600      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.      1,477,857  
  37,063      Associated British Foods plc      1,005,127  
  343      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      833,677  
  11      Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG      1,475,058  
  66,689      Danone SA      4,142,015  
  7,602      JDE Peet’s NV      234,215  
  15,924      Kerry Group plc, Class A      2,052,540  
  15,100      Kikkoman Corp.      1,269,768  
  107      Lindt & Spruengli AG      1,478,246  
  11,652      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      695,032  
  45,728      Mowi ASA      1,082,675  
  283,765      Nestle SA, Registered Shares      39,681,094  
  19,545      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      281,332  
  5,900      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      429,833  
  78,138      Orkla ASA, Class A      783,770  
  8,700      Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      368,053  
  769,797      WH Group, Ltd.      482,886  
  199,900      Wilmar International, Ltd.      614,708  
  13,400      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      698,155  
     

 

 

 
        59,086,041  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.4%):       
  122,751      APA Group      899,152  
  22,895      Enagas SA      529,477  
  19,676      Gas Natural SDG SA      638,713  
  1,109,135      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      1,726,819  
  39,000      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      645,914  
  209,789      Snam SpA      1,260,812  
  39,300      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      706,509  
     

 

 

 
        6,407,396  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.3%):       
  50,916      Alcon, Inc.      4,487,429  
  17,860      Ambu A/S, Class B      467,525  
  22,200      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      475,676  
  4,310      BioMerieux      612,592  
  4,187      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG      880,968  
  6,839      Cochlear, Ltd.      1,073,494  
  11,847      Coloplast A/S, Class B      2,072,835  
  10,100      Demant A/S*      512,445  
  2,417      DiaSorin SpA      459,752  
  56,022      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      1,255,939  
  23,058      Getinge AB, Class B      1,001,894  
  12,113      GN Store Nord A/S      756,981  
  37,000      HOYA Corp.      5,487,111  
  5,005      Inmode, Ltd.*      353,253  
  92,917      Koninklijke Philips NV      3,453,350  
  111,300      Olympus Corp.      2,556,917  
  2,597      Sartorius AG      1,757,600  
  29,006      Siemens Healthineers AG      2,173,321  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  91,252      Smith & Nephew plc    $ 1,596,936  
  5,502      Sonova Holding AG, Registered Shares      2,149,621  
  1,031      Straumann Holding AG, Registered Shares, Class R      2,179,267  
  16,600      Sysmex Corp.      2,236,906  
  64,900      Terumo Corp.      2,742,862  
     

 

 

 
        40,744,674  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.4%):       
  12,628      Amplifon SpA      678,500  
  21,329      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      1,381,550  
  41,738      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      1,682,698  
  20,600      Medipal Holdings Corp.      386,023  
  5,013      Orpea      501,315  
  19,049      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      988,683  
  46,943      Ryman Healthcare, Ltd.      393,555  
  44,295      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.      1,504,303  
     

 

 

 
        7,516,627  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  44,500      M3, Inc.      2,241,819  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.4%):       
  17,675      Accor SA*      571,934  
  59,983      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      1,901,993  
  181,138      Compass Group plc*      4,034,358  
  42,095      Crown Resorts, Ltd.*      367,032  
  5,969      Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Ltd.      512,604  
  17,109      Evolution AB      2,407,767  
  16,871      Flutter Entertainment plc*      2,661,851  
  209,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.*      1,083,019  
  653,157      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      375,721  
  60,885      GVC Holdings plc*      1,382,139  
  17,748      InterContinental Hotels Group plc*      1,142,173  
  9,051      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM      400,975  
  7,029      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      311,089  
  25,792      Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd., ADR*      262,563  
  20,200      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      3,404,645  
  252,332      Sands China, Ltd.*      587,811  
  9,204      Sodexo SA      806,971  
  216,784      Tabcorp Holdings, Ltd.      792,778  
  20,998      Whitbread plc*      847,999  
     

 

 

 
        23,855,422  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (1.5%):       
  105,941      Barratt Developments plc      1,070,002  
  10,916      Berkeley Group Holdings plc      703,538  
  23,465      Electrolux AB, Class B      567,473  
  41,082      Husqvarna AB, Class B      654,324  
  16,200      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      375,913  
  222,600      Panasonic Corp.      2,448,701  
  33,195      Persimmon plc      1,280,094  
  3,700      Rinnai Corp.      332,876  
  2,943      SEB SA      458,351  
  39,700      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      663,535  
  59,900      Sekisui House, Ltd.      1,286,052  
  24,500      Sharp Corp.      280,793  
  127,000      Sony Group Corp.      16,056,772  
  351,444      Taylor Wimpey plc      832,276  
     

 

 

 
        27,010,700  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Products (0.6%):       
  60,537      Essity AB, Class B    $ 1,976,041  
  10,811      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      845,189  
  22,400      Lion Corp.      299,366  
  71,919      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      6,168,652  
  40,000      Unicharm Corp.      1,738,720  
     

 

 

 
        11,027,968  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  27,555      EDP Renovaveis SA      683,234  
  123,351      Meridian Energy, Ltd.      410,261  
  8,605      Uniper SE      409,220  
     

 

 

 
        1,502,715  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.6%):       
  268,244      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.      1,731,041  
  9,292      DCC plc      759,707  
  97,620      Hitachi, Ltd.      5,288,701  
  15,609      Investment AB Latour, Class B      636,805  
  21,000      Jardine Matheson Holdings, Ltd.      1,156,069  
  159,300      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      605,388  
  23,499      Lifco AB, Class B      703,913  
  454,887      Melrose Industries plc      986,868  
  76,935      Siemens AG, Registered Shares      13,371,812  
  41,236      Smiths Group plc      878,859  
  40,600      Toshiba Corp.      1,669,886  
     

 

 

 
        27,789,049  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (4.7%):       
  20,063      Admiral Group plc      857,600  
  171,254      AEGON NV      853,416  
  18,216      Ageas NV      944,278  
  1,219,200      AIA Group, Ltd.      12,291,661  
  41,555      Allianz SE, Registered Shares+      9,823,501  
  110,775      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      2,337,750  
  392,685      Aviva plc      2,180,313  
  194,731      AXA SA      5,802,852  
  4,823      Baloise Holding AG, Registered Shares      787,681  
  16,528      CNP Assurances SA      409,282  
  101,400      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      2,048,965  
  19,206      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      466,683  
  6,273      Hannover Rueck SE      1,194,374  
  256,458      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      794,810  
  248,400      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,939,116  
  19,500      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      313,381  
  597,220      Legal & General Group plc      2,403,645  
  266,611      Medibank Private, Ltd.      649,830  
  46,311      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      1,429,195  
  13,950      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      4,138,101  
  27,506      NN Group NV      1,486,463  
  65,334      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      576,167  
  56,002      Poste Italiane SpA      734,845  
  262,586      Prudential plc      4,527,240  
  143,233      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      1,182,952  
  50,137      Sampo Oyj, Class A      2,501,095  
  30,925      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      1,306,647  
  133,228      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      1,073,444  
  3,157      Swiss Life Holding AG, Registered Shares      1,932,880  
  30,435      Swiss Re AG      3,007,089  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  57,636      T&D Holdings, Inc.    $ 737,761  
  63,800      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      3,546,185  
  37,459      Tryg A/S      925,974  
  15,243      Zurich Insurance Group AG      6,682,115  
     

 

 

 
        81,887,291  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.3%):       
  25,768      Adevinta ASA*      342,601  
  100,515      Auto Trader Group plc      1,004,553  
  13,000      Kakaku.com, Inc.      347,065  
  5,498      REA Group, Ltd.      670,674  
  8,529      Scout24 AG      597,847  
  33,025      Seek, Ltd.      787,769  
  276,000      Z Holdings Corp.      1,601,898  
     

 

 

 
        5,352,407  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.0%):       
  16,337      Delivery Hero SE*      1,823,811  
  2,947      Fiverr International, Ltd.*      335,074  
  16,359      HelloFresh SE*      1,258,230  
  17,726      Just Eat Takeaway*      956,086  
  10,800      Mercari, Inc.*      550,350  
  50,636      Ocado Group plc*      1,148,662  
  94,401      Prosus NV      7,873,569  
  90,100      Rakuten, Inc.      904,131  
  22,814      Zalando SE*      1,849,859  
  13,200      ZOZO, Inc.      411,093  
     

 

 

 
        17,110,865  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.6%):       
  1,989      Adyen NV*      5,203,188  
  21,602      Afterpay, Ltd.*      1,292,720  
  45,406      Amadeus IT Group SA*      3,058,018  
  8,520      Bechtle AG      610,688  
  16,281      Capgemini SA      3,976,271  
  52,517      Computershare, Ltd.      764,242  
  24,045      Edenred      1,109,634  
  19,900      Fujitsu, Ltd.      3,410,212  
  3,900      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      483,555  
  9,500      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      305,655  
  45,718      Nexi SpA*      722,495  
  34,138      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      1,454,035  
  61,400      NTT Data Corp.      1,316,695  
  6,800      OBIC Co., Ltd.      1,273,050  
  10,700      Otsuka Corp.      510,799  
  13,500      SCSK Corp.      268,719  
  24,000      TIS, Inc.      712,359  
  5,789      Wix.com, Ltd.*      913,446  
  23,655      Worldline SA*      1,318,043  
     

 

 

 
        28,703,824  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.2%):       
  20,800      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.      1,626,803  
  7,400      Shimano, Inc.      1,966,962  
  13,900      Yamaha Corp.      685,358  
     

 

 

 
        4,279,123  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.6%):       
  625      Bachem Holding AG, Class B      489,770  
  13,231      Eurofins Scientific SE      1,637,965  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Life Sciences Tools & Services, continued       
  7,515      Lonza Group AG, Registered Shares    $ 6,262,383  
  22,367      Qiagen NV*      1,246,225  
  2,877      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      1,575,503  
     

 

 

 
        11,211,846  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (3.3%):       
  30,679      Alfa Laval AB      1,227,907  
  32,515      Alstom SA      1,157,914  
  39,031      Atlas Copco AB      2,279,008  
  67,178      Atlas Copco AB, Class A      4,651,946  
  101,517      CNH Industrial NV      1,949,527  
  10,500      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      858,306  
  43,022      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      1,581,417  
  68,561      Epiroc AB, Class A      1,738,845  
  41,269      Epiroc AB, Class B      875,489  
  19,500      FANUC Corp.      4,134,443  
  15,961      GEA Group AG      873,868  
  29,600      Hino Motors, Ltd.      244,023  
  10,100      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      292,050  
  5,700      Hoshizaki Corp.      427,451  
  7,507      Kion Group AG      824,611  
  6,939      Knorr-Bremse AG      684,732  
  87,700      Komatsu, Ltd.      2,054,204  
  34,257      Kone OYJ, Class B      2,435,815  
  4,665      Kornit Digital, Ltd.*      710,246  
  102,900      Kubota Corp.      2,284,942  
  9,900      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      468,157  
  23,300      Makita Corp.      989,396  
  37,800      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.      1,073,315  
  27,700      Misumi Group, Inc.      1,136,951  
  33,300      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      770,909  
  8,000      Miura Co., Ltd.      275,496  
  25,300      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      427,708  
  533      Rational AG      546,379  
  113,923      Sandvik AB      3,184,117  
  4,236      Schindler Holding AG      1,136,901  
  1,874      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      500,570  
  39,703      SKF AB, Class B      936,284  
  5,800      SMC Corp.      3,913,513  
  7,263      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      1,580,059  
  138,500      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      2,757,025  
  2,722      VAT Group AG      1,346,261  
  18,388      Volvo AB, Class A      429,990  
  144,708      Volvo AB, Class B      3,337,519  
  44,492      Wartsila OYJ Abp, Class B      619,560  
  23,300      Yaskawa Electric Corp.      1,142,824  
     

 

 

 
        57,859,678  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.4%):       
  299      A.P. Moeller – Maersk A/S, Class A      996,829  
  596      A.P. Moeller – Maersk A/S, Class B      2,139,286  
  5,618      Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Registered Shares      1,807,317  
  15,800      Nippon Yusen KK      1,203,636  
  138,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.      499,507  
     

 

 

 
        6,646,575  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.4%):       
  42,100      Cyberagent, Inc.      700,732  
  20,777      Dentsu Group, Inc.      740,770  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media, continued       
  22,700      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.    $ 378,233  
  156,276      Informa plc*      1,087,922  
  80,532      Pearson plc      666,713  
  23,197      Publicis Groupe SA      1,561,628  
  7,838      Schibsted ASA, Class A      302,973  
  9,116      Schibsted ASA, Class B      305,381  
  120,890      WPP plc      1,826,974  
     

 

 

 
        7,571,326  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (3.0%):       
  130,612      Anglo American plc      5,345,370  
  41,026      Antofagasta plc      745,584  
  67,673      ArcelorMittal      2,176,527  
  213,757      BHP Group plc      6,369,355  
  298,264      BHP Group, Ltd.      9,025,087  
  52,411      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      800,488  
  28,553      Boliden AB      1,107,268  
  182,201      Evolution Mining, Ltd.      539,028  
  45,492      EVRAZ plc      371,262  
  170,577      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      2,393,073  
  1,001,691      Glencore plc      5,095,354  
  23,100      Hitachi Metals, Ltd.*      427,934  
  47,600      JFE Holdings, Inc.      607,248  
  84,951      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      1,514,120  
  88,948      Nippon Steel Corp.      1,454,983  
  139,912      Norsk Hydro ASA      1,102,468  
  107,364      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      735,737  
  113,020      Rio Tinto plc      7,450,213  
  37,494      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      2,738,853  
  455,650      South32, Ltd.      1,335,316  
  25,700      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      972,158  
  11,188      Voestalpine AG      407,811  
     

 

 

 
        52,715,237  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.4%):       
  13,831      Next plc      1,521,454  
  40,200      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      553,751  
  26,600      Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.      405,718  
  113,933      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      4,915,141  
     

 

 

 
        7,396,064  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.0%):       
  226,611      E.ON SE      3,143,125  
  183,694      Engie Group      2,719,725  
  362,174      National Grid plc      5,224,693  
  64,562      RWE AG      2,622,867  
  35,955      Suez      810,863  
  66,741      Veolia Environnement SA      2,448,000  
     

 

 

 
        16,969,273  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.3%):       
  12,705      Aker BP ASA^      390,425  
  25,826      Ampol, Ltd.      557,351  
  2,028,270      BP plc      9,021,588  
  319,220      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      1,195,118  
  255,346      ENI SpA      3,529,484  
  97,838      Equinor ASA      2,582,442  
  52,149      Galp Energia SGPS SA      505,639  
  20,687      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      528,467  
  106,500      INPEX Corp.      928,847  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  20,822      Lundin Energy AB    $ 746,991  
  42,511      Neste Oyj      2,096,037  
  15,404      OMV AG      875,176  
  147,155      Repsol SA      1,746,495  
  413,679      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Class A      9,075,294  
  372,545      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Class B      8,176,001  
  312,977      Santos, Ltd.      1,438,533  
  251,824      TotalEnergies SE      12,789,153  
  21,943      Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.      473,266  
  94,785      Woodside Petroleum, Ltd.      1,513,656  
     

 

 

 
        58,169,963  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.3%):       
  47,327      Mondi plc      1,166,013  
  79,100      Oji Holdings Corp.      382,454  
  56,138      Stora Enso OYJ, Registered Shares, Class R      1,020,794  
  63,032      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      1,116,941  
  55,527      UPM-Kymmene OYJ      2,098,361  
     

 

 

 
        5,784,563  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (1.9%):       
  10,487      Beiersdorf AG      1,078,927  
  48,600      Kao Corp.      2,543,608  
  5,200      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      408,760  
  3,000      Kose Corp.      340,441  
  25,243      L’Oreal SA      11,965,123  
  10,200      Pola Orbis Holdings, Inc.      170,035  
  40,300      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      2,247,736  
  261,601      Unilever plc      14,012,615  
     

 

 

 
        32,767,245  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (8.3%):       
  188,400      Astellas Pharma, Inc.      3,064,640  
  156,216      AstraZeneca plc      18,199,839  
  98,959      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      5,297,229  
  67,600      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      2,192,909  
  177,000      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      4,501,633  
  23,600      Eisai Co., Ltd.      1,340,276  
  505,692      GlaxoSmithKline plc      10,993,859  
  18,438      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      552,907  
  3,643      Ipsen SA      333,100  
  28,100      Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.      766,066  
  13,066      Merck KGaA      3,377,684  
  5,400      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      375,362  
  220,861      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      19,401,582  
  170,111      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      19,019,993  
  35,400      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      877,683  
  10,166      Orion OYJ, Class B      421,816  
  40,600      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,469,447  
  10,485      Recordati SpA      671,565  
  70,747      Roche Holding AG      29,336,792  
  3,329      Roche Holding AG      1,490,115  
  114,275      Sanofi      11,480,567  
  33,800      Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      412,470  
  26,300      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      1,858,167  
  17,800      Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.      205,094  
  3,300      Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd.      151,801  
  158,173      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      4,323,507  
  114,076      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      913,749  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  13,153      UCB SA    $ 1,502,935  
  5,072      Vifor Pharma AG      908,455  
     

 

 

 
        145,441,242  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.9%):       
  16,122      Adecco SA, Registered Shares      824,524  
  8,100      Benefit One, Inc.      347,607  
  28,499      Bureau Veritas SA      945,866  
  93,365      Experian plc      4,579,160  
  16,791      Intertek Group plc      1,276,618  
  31,500      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      770,270  
  16,700      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      485,056  
  12,440      Randstad NV      852,155  
  136,700      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      8,288,042  
  195,070      RELX plc      6,356,521  
  601      SGS SA, Registered Shares      2,002,601  
  5,905      Teleperformance      2,632,470  
  27,052      Wolters Kluwer NV      3,179,277  
     

 

 

 
        32,540,167  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (1.4%):       
  103,938      Aroundtown SA      629,479  
  4,494      Azrieli Group      428,869  
  74,028      BGP Holdings plc*(a)       
  274,500      Capitaland Investment, Ltd. / Singapore*      694,776  
  33,900      City Developments, Ltd.      171,481  
  193,744      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      1,221,824  
  6,200      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      708,437  
  56,100      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      1,613,732  
  196,400      ESR Cayman, Ltd.*      664,798  
  10,270      Fastighets AB Balder*      741,078  
  206,000      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      423,793  
  150,956      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      642,988  
  125,800      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      653,713  
  38,200      Hulic Co., Ltd.      362,746  
  7,501      LEG Immobilien SE      1,047,722  
  72,800      Lend Lease Group      566,288  
  117,400      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.      1,627,762  
  91,400      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      1,810,883  
  158,655      New World Development Co., Ltd.      628,070  
  12,300      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      283,115  
  8,300      Open House Co., Ltd.      435,093  
  16,235      Sagax AB, Class B      548,196  
  368,601      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      459,188  
  32,200      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      947,256  
  135,500      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      1,644,942  
  57,464      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A      326,988  
  125,200      Swire Properties, Ltd.      313,786  
  7,294      Swiss Prime Site AG      715,655  
  36,896      UOL Group, Ltd.      194,284  
  73,557      Vonovia SE      4,061,183  
  158,300      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      804,151  
     

 

 

 
        25,372,276  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.9%):       
  197,101      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      500,456  
  14,300      Central Japan Railway Co.      1,908,115  
  20,391      DSV PANALPINA A/S      4,712,295  
  30,013      East Japan Railway Co.      1,845,923  
  24,100      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      684,238  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  10,000      Keio Corp.    $ 440,870  
  14,200      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      384,033  
  16,600      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.*      464,153  
  160,994      MTR Corp., Ltd.      864,148  
  8,100      Nippon Express Co., Ltd.      486,662  
  28,800      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      534,929  
  20,700      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      472,318  
  52,000      Tokyu Corp.      690,931  
  21,900      West Japan Railway Co.      913,904  
     

 

 

 
        14,902,975  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.5%):       
  19,800      Advantest Corp.      1,859,372  
  4,721      ASM International NV      2,072,937  
  41,666      ASML Holding NV      33,220,267  
  2,700      Disco Corp.      825,330  
  131,806      Infineon Technologies AG      6,111,155  
  7,400      Lasertec Corp.      2,249,974  
  130,400      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      1,601,487  
  8,400      ROHM Co., Ltd.      760,127  
  68,961      STMicroelectronics NV      3,379,948  
  33,500      SUMCO Corp.      678,397  
  15,100      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.      8,645,575  
     

 

 

 
        61,404,569  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.7%):       
  12,426      AVEVA Group plc      570,192  
  10,966      Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.*      1,278,197  
  3,816      CyberArk Software, Ltd.*      661,237  
  67,130      Dassault Systemes SE      3,981,930  
  5,434      Nemetschek SE      697,018  
  6,266      NICE Systems, Ltd.*      1,903,725  
  3,700      Oracle Corp.      280,959  
  105,305      Sage Group plc      1,211,137  
  105,488      SAP SE      15,064,513  
  52,620      Sinch AB*      663,798  
  6,948      Temenos AG      959,059  
  13,900      Trend Micro, Inc.      769,040  
  14,383      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      610,598  
  13,738      Xero, Ltd.*      1,406,856  
     

 

 

 
        30,058,259  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.7%):       
  187,800      Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.      337,811  
  5,900      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.      3,350,835  
  71,579      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B      1,404,296  
  2,000      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      308,003  
  110,913      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      3,594,182  
  250,320      JD Sports Fashion plc*      735,340  
  219,592      Kingfisher plc      1,003,812  
  8,300      Nitori Co., Ltd.      1,241,473  
  20,700      USS Co., Ltd.      323,286  
     

 

 

 
        12,299,038  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  22,600      Brother Industries, Ltd.      434,543  
  100,400      Canon, Inc.      2,445,429  
  36,300      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      2,691,345  
  18,009      Logitech International SA, Class R      1,507,802  
  25,500      NEC Corp.      1,177,449  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals, continued       
  69,700      Ricoh Co., Ltd.    $ 649,128  
  27,900      Seiko Epson Corp.      502,463  
     

 

 

 
        9,408,159  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (3.5%):       
  19,310      Adidas AG      5,568,510  
  42,114      Burberry Group plc      1,031,750  
  52,802      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      7,887,157  
  28,773      EssilorLuxottica SA      6,124,318  
  3,180      Hermes International SA      5,552,320  
  7,593      Kering      6,092,011  
  27,938      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      23,052,322  
  20,158      Moncler SpA      1,456,798  
  9,744      Pandora A/S      1,212,904  
  10,277      Puma SE      1,258,252  
  3,010      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      917,285  
  4,961      Swatch Group AG (The), Registered Shares      289,583  
     

 

 

 
        60,443,210  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.8%):       
  219,378      British American Tobacco plc      8,126,807  
  94,383      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      2,063,542  
  120,300      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      2,425,939  
  158,994      Swedish Match AB      1,263,725  
     

 

 

 
        13,880,013  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (1.6%):       
  44,544      Ashtead Group plc      3,569,004  
  16,073      Brenntag AG      1,456,074  
  32,576      Bunzl plc      1,270,082  
  22,232      Ferguson plc      3,948,605  
  5,745      IMCD NV      1,275,315  
  120,700      Itochu Corp.      3,692,474  
  151,900      Marubeni Corp.      1,478,794  
  128,300      Mitsubishi Corp.      4,074,403  
  157,300      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      3,725,412  
  26,400      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      475,897  
  27,340      Reece, Ltd.      538,405  
  111,200      Sumitomo Corp.      1,644,331  
  22,100      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      1,018,604  
     

 

 

 
        28,167,400  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.5%):       
  7,242      Aena SME SA*      1,143,823  
  3,168      Aeroports de Paris*      409,288  
  51,730      Atlantia SpA*      1,027,512  
  135,017      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      712,270  

Shares

           Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Transportation Infrastructure, continued       
  42,517      Getlink SE    $ 705,269  
  126,182      Sydney Airport*      797,137  
  306,982      Transurban Group      3,088,406  
     

 

 

 
        7,883,705  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  25,693      Severn Trent plc      1,025,912  
  70,941      United Utilities Group plc      1,046,941  
     

 

 

 
        2,072,853  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.1%):       
  161,800      KDDI Corp.      4,730,056  
  286,000      Softbank Corp.      3,617,192  
  121,200      SoftBank Group Corp.      5,727,616  
  47,630      Tele2 AB      679,110  
  2,822,545      Vodafone Group plc      4,209,018  
     

 

 

 
        18,962,992  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,166,068,204)

     1,733,668,629  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.4%):       
Automobiles (0.3%):       
  5,192      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 2.62%, 5/15/20      433,323  
  15,930      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 2.65%, 5/20/20      1,511,609  
  18,925      Volkswagen AG, 2.74%, 5/8/20      3,824,189  
     

 

 

 
        5,769,121  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.1%):       
  18,535      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.60%, 4/21/20      1,500,884  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $5,574,776)

     7,270,005  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.1%):
      
  $  1,683,810      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional
Class, 0.03%(b)(c)
   $ 1,683,810  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $1,683,810)

     1,683,810  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.0%):       
Money Markets (0.0%):       
  24,363      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)    $ 24,363  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $24,363)

     24,363  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,173,351,153) — 99.6%(d)

     1,742,646,807  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.4%

     6,774,730  
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,749,421,537  
     

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $1,594,332.

 

+

Affiliated Securities

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country   Percentage  

Australia

    7.1

Austria

    0.2

Belgium

    0.8

Bermuda

    0.1

China

     % 

Denmark

    2.7

Finland

    1.3

France

    10.8

Germany

    8.8

Hong Kong

    2.6

Ireland

    1.2

Isle of Man

    0.1

Israel

    0.7

Italy

    2.1
Country   Percentage  

Japan

    22.5

Luxembourg

    0.2

Netherlands

    5.8

New Zealand

    0.3

Norway

    0.7

Poland

     % 

Portugal

    0.2

Singapore

    1.2

Spain

    2.3

Sweden

    3.7

Switzerland

    10.8

United Kingdom

    13.7

United States

    0.1
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

ASX SPI 200 Index March Futures (Australian Dollar)

     3/17/22        3      $ 400,815      $ 4,370  

DJ EURO STOXX 50 March Futures (Euro)

     3/18/22        30        1,464,260        43,069  

FTSE 100 Index March Futures (British Pounds)

     3/18/22        9        892,047        11,452  

SGX Nikkei 225 Index September March (Japanese Yen)

     3/10/22        7        875,228        18,820  
           

 

 

 
            $ 77,711  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL International Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 1,167,226,338

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      6,124,815
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

    $ 1,732,823,306

Investments in affiliates, at value

      9,823,501

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      251,722

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,472,743

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,879,044)

      1,904,237

Receivable for investments sold

      22,501

Reclaims receivable

      6,498,442

Prepaid expenses

      8,491
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,752,804,943
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      918

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      312,276

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      1,683,810

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      12,271

Manager fees payable

      510,290

Administration fees payable

      261,056

Distribution fees payable

      343,117

Custodian fees payable

      51,332

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,512

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,860

Trustee fees payable

      19,728

Other accrued liabilities

      182,236
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,383,406
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,749,421,537
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,156,709,667

Total distributable earnings

      592,711,870
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,749,421,537
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 99,304,037

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      7,822,698

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.69
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,650,117,500

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      86,996,302

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 18.97
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,594,332.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from non-affiliates

    $ 47,263,378

Dividends from affiliates

      454,103

Income from securities lending

      347,292

Foreign withholding tax

      (4,703,239 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      43,361,534
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      5,936,062

Administration fees

      604,414

Distribution fees — Class 2

      3,984,043

Custodian fees

      250,264

Administrative and compliance services fees

      21,898

Transfer agent fees

      12,138

Trustee fees

      92,734

Professional fees

      83,528

Licensing fees

      546,357

Shareholder reports

      57,003

Other expenses

      42,214
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      11,630,655
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      31,730,879
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      37,244,742

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

      397,122

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      1,965,268

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      94,333,343

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

      (803,126 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (78,624 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      133,058,725
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 164,789,604
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL International Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 31,730,879      $ 25,138,721

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       39,607,132        (6,554,911 )

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       93,451,593        78,356,909
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       164,789,604        96,940,719
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Class 1

       (2,576,720 )        (4,836,469 )

Class 2

       (24,890,149 )        (45,994,684 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (27,466,869 )        (50,831,153 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       483,730        282,407

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       2,576,719        4,836,469

Value of shares redeemed

       (12,651,416 )        (12,097,908 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (9,590,967 )        (6,979,032 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       209,571,173        98,897,417

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       24,890,149        45,994,684

Value of shares redeemed

       (210,685,832 )        (283,998,277 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       23,775,490        (139,106,176 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       14,184,523        (146,085,208 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       151,507,258        (99,975,642 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       1,597,914,279        1,697,889,921
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 1,749,421,537      $ 1,597,914,279
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Shares issued

       38,580        29,223

Dividends reinvested

       210,688        465,493

Shares redeemed

       (1,008,121 )        (1,161,500 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (758,853 )        (666,784 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Shares issued

       10,982,020        7,520,450

Dividends reinvested

       1,360,861        2,986,668

Shares redeemed

       (11,251,145 )        (19,371,973 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       1,091,736        (8,864,855 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       332,883        (9,531,639 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL International Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.76     $ 11.53     $ 9.94     $ 12.30     $ 10.07
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.27 (a)       0.20 (a)       0.32 (a)       0.36       0.37

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      0.99       0.61       1.79       (2.00 )       2.15
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.26       0.81       2.11       (1.64 )       2.52
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.33 )       (0.55 )       (0.42 )       (0.50 )       (0.16 )

Net Realized Gains

            (0.03 )       (0.10 )       (0.22 )       (0.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.33 )       (0.58 )       (0.52 )       (0.72 )       (0.29 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.69     $ 11.76     $ 11.53     $ 9.94     $ 12.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      10.80 %       7.66 %       21.67 %       (13.80 )%       25.12 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 99,304     $ 100,924     $ 106,657     $ 98,902     $ 132,265

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.13 %       1.93 %       2.89 %       2.62 %       2.48 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.45 %       0.46 %       0.44 %       0.45 %       0.48 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.45 %       0.46 %       0.44 %       0.45 %       0.48 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      14 %       9 %       4 %       2 %       8 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 17.43     $ 16.79     $ 14.25     $ 17.30     $ 14.10
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.35 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.42 (a)       0.43       0.36

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.48       0.91       2.60       (2.81 )       3.12
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.83       1.17       3.02       (2.38 )       3.48
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.29 )       (0.50 )       (0.38 )       (0.45 )       (0.15 )

Net Realized Gains

            (0.03 )       (0.10 )       (0.22 )       (0.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.29 )       (0.53 )       (0.48 )       (0.67 )       (0.28 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 18.97     $ 17.43     $ 16.79     $ 14.25     $ 17.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      10.55 %       7.40 %       21.44 %       (14.04 )%       24.77 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,650,118     $ 1,496,990     $ 1,591,233     $ 1,422,711     $ 1,862,508

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.85 %       1.69 %       2.64 %       2.36 %       2.21 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.70 %       0.71 %       0.69 %       0.70 %       0.73 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.70 %       0.71 %       0.69 %       0.70 %       0.73 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      14 %       9 %       4 %       2 %       8 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL International Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

17


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $34,603 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,683,810 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $12.8 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 77,711     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

 

18


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation
on Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ 1,965,268      $ (78,624

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL International Index Fund, Class 1

         0.35 %          0.52 %

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

         0.35 %          0.77 %

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

At December 31, 2021, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

     Value
12/31/2020
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds from
Sales
  Net
Realized
Gains(Losses)
  Change in
Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2021
  Shares as of
12/31/2021
  Dividend
Income
  Capital Gains
Distributions

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    $ 10,223,042     $ 1,349,718     $ (1,343,255 )     $ 397,122     $ (803,126 )     $ 9,823,501       41,555     $ 454,103     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 10,223,042     $ 1,349,718     $ (1,343,255 )     $ 397,122     $ (803,126 )     $ 9,823,501       41,555     $ 454,103     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

 

19


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 10,345,564        $ 1,723,323,065        $ #        $ 1,733,668,629

Preferred Stocks+

                  7,270,005                   7,270,005

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,683,810                            1,683,810

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         24,363                            24,363
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         12,053,737          1,730,593,070                   1,742,646,807
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         77,711                            77,711
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 12,131,448        $ 1,730,593,070        $        $ 1,742,724,518
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 245,337,854        $ 228,752,729

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

 

20


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may have less developed trading markets and exchanges which may make it more difficult to sell securities at an acceptable price and their prices may be more volatile than securities of companies in more developed markets. Settlements of trades may be subject to greater delays so that the Fund may not receive the proceeds of a sale of a security on a timely basis. Emerging countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems and investments may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, nationalization, or confiscation.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $1,224,834,375. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

    $581,082,021  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (63,269,589
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

    $517,812,432  
 

 

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund utilized $799,546 in capital loss carry forwards (“CLCFs”) to offset capital gains. As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund had no remaining CLCFs.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 27,466,869        $        $ 27,466,869

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 49,683,835        $ 1,147,318        $ 50,831,153

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

21


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 42,709,248        $ 32,067,914        $        $ 517,934,708        $ 592,711,870

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies and mark-to-market of futures contracts.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 55% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

22


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL International Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL International Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

23


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

24


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during

 

25


the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

 

26


The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

27


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14
(Trustee since 2/07)
  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee  

Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)

  Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

28


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

29


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 14

Statement of Operations

Page 14

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 15

Financial Highlights

Page 16

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 17

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 26

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 27

Other Information

Page 28

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 29

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 32

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”) returned (1.33)%. That performance compared to a return of (1.54)% for its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.1

The year finished much as it started, with inflation as a headline risk and COVID-19 dominating investor sentiment. Economic indicators sent mixed messages throughout 2021, however, with robust growth in gross domestic product (GDP) and strong corporate earnings offset by high inflation, a flat yield curve, record equity market valuations and tight credit spreads. A declining unemployment rate paired with a low participation rate further added to the uncertainty. Against this backdrop, U.S. equities still managed to post strong returns for the year even as fixed income markets lagged due to interest rate volatility amid an overall increase in rates. Over the full year, yields on 10-year Treasuries moved nearly 60 bps higher for the year, which challenged fixed income total returns.

Among securitized issues, legacy non-agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) benefitted the Fund’s absolute performance as these securities gained on strong housing price appreciation, continued borrower profile improvements, and their floating rate structures amid a rising-rate environment. Conversely, agency MBS lagged as higher rates and concerns over accelerated tapering of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) asset purchase program weighed on the market.

The Fund outperformed its benchmark for the year, due in part to its duration positioning. A shorter-than-benchmark position for most of the year added to relative performance as Treasury yields rose. The Fund’s security selection among corporate credit also added to relative results,

particularly in the industrials and health care sectors, as well as midstream energy holdings. Residential MBS holdings also added to relative performance despite the broader weakness in agency MBS — notably due to the Fund’s exposure via To-Be-Announced (TBA) mortgage bonds which help improve liquidity in the MBS space. The Fund’s holdings of off-benchmark seasoned, senior, legacy non-agency MBS positions also benefitted returns as the sector was supported by a solid housing backdrop with prices rising and loan-to-value ratios improving.

The Fund’s below-benchmark exposure to corporate credit dragged on relative results as investment grade bonds generally outpaced Treasuries for the year. The Fund maintained an overweight position in agency MBS early in the year but trimmed the exposure as valuations improved. This early positioning weighed on relative returns as agency MBS were one of the only sectors to lag Treasuries on a duration-adjusted basis.

The Fund held derivatives in the form of futures, forwards, options, and interest rate swaps during the period. None of these holdings materially impacted performance.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to maximize long-term total return. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in investment-grade fixed income securities or unrated securities that are determined by the Subadvisor to be of similar quality.

Investment Concerns

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.

Emerging market investing may be subject to additional economic, political, liquidity, and currency risks not associated with more developed countries.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

High-yield bonds have a higher risk of default or other adverse credit events, but have the potential to pay higher earnings over investment-grade bonds. The higher risk of default, or the inability of the creditor to repay its debt, is the primary reason for the higher interest rates on high-yield bonds.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     

1

Year

  

3

Year

  

5

Year

  

Since

Inception

(11/17/14)

AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       (1.33 )%        5.14 %        3.65 %        2.95 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

       (1.54 )%        4.79 %        3.57 %        3.06 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

         0.92 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.91% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is an unmanaged market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 998.60     $ 4.23       0.84 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.97     $ 4.28       0.84 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      45.6 %

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      30.8

Corporate Bonds

      18.6

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      8.6

Yankee Debt Obligations

      7.1

Asset Backed Securities

      3.9

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      1.6

Foreign Bond

      1.0

Municipal Bonds

      0.7

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.2

Purchased Options

        
   

Purchased Swaptions

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      118.1

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (18.1 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (3.9%):       
$ 864,379      Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A1, Series 2019-F, 2.86%, 7/25/59, Callable 11/25/22 @ 100(a)(b)    $ 862,337  
  1,288,000      CWABS Asset-Backed Certificates Trust, Class MV5, Series 2005-7, 1.23%(US0001M+113bps), 11/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      1,283,374  
  965,000      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A3, Series 2016-2, 1.60%(US0001M+150bps), 6/25/65, Callable 7/25/33 @ 100(a)      1,001,788  
  1,352,078      Park Place Securities, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates, Class M5, Series 2004-WWF1, 1.90%(US0001M+180bps), 12/25/34, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      1,374,979  
  513,007      Progress Residential Trust, Class A, Series 2019-SFR2, 3.15%, 5/17/36(a)      514,982  
  703,787      SLC Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-1, 1.80%(US0003M+160bps), 12/15/32, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      713,042  
  487,344      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2003-7, 0.77%(US0003M+57bps), 9/15/39, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      469,560  
  297,679      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2008-9, 1.62%(US0003M+150bps), 4/25/23, Callable 4/25/23 @ 100      298,808  
  1,220,000      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-5, 1.97%(US0003M+185bps), 7/25/73, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      1,256,030  
  240,000      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-9, 2.37%(US0003M+225bps), 10/25/83, Callable 4/25/23 @ 100      244,074  
  57,416      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2009-3, 0.85%(US0001M+75bps), 1/25/45, Callable 6/25/35 @ 100(a)      57,510  
  543,449      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2007-7, 0.45%(US0003M+33bps), 1/25/22, Callable 4/25/24 @ 100      536,603  
  580,084      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A3, Series 2012-1, 1.05%(US0001M+95bps), 9/25/28, Callable 5/25/29 @ 100      576,626  
  838,449      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2008-6, 1.22%(US0003M+110bps), 7/25/23, Callable 4/25/25 @ 100      838,237  
  1,361,591      Wachovia Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2006-1, 0.29%(US0003M+17bps), 4/25/40, Callable 4/25/26 @ 100(a)      1,341,830  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $11,307,231)

     11,369,780  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (8.6%):       
  750,000      AGL CLO 7, Ltd., Class BR, Series 2020-7A, 1.82%(US0003M+170bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(a)      748,402  
  725,000      AIG CLO, Ltd., Class BR, Series 2019-2A(US0003M+160bps), 10/25/33(a)      724,998  
  850,000      AIMCO CLO, Class AR2, Series 2015-AA, 1.26%(US0003M+114bps), 10/17/34, Callable 10/17/23 @ 100(a)      848,495  
  1,042,687      Alternative Loan Trust, Class 4A1, Series 2005-56, 0.72%(US0001M+31bps), 11/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      974,499  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 434,434      America Home Mortgage Investment Trust, Class 6A, Series 2005-1, 2.25%(US0006M+200bps), 6/25/45, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100    $ 437,671  
  515,000      Bank of America Merrill Lynch Large Loan, Inc., Class A, Series 2018-PARK, 4.09%, 8/10/38(a)(b)      571,181  
  173,581      Bank of America Mortgage Securities, Inc., Class 2A3, Series 2005-F, 2.69%, 7/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      174,787  
  155,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2019-OC11, 3.20%, 12/9/41(a)      163,511  
  355,000      CALI Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-101C, 3.96%, 3/10/39(a)      394,167  
  590,780      Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc., Class 1A1A, Series 2007-AR5, 2.89%, 4/25/37, Callable 12/25/34 @ 100(b)      590,845  
  863,981      COMM Mortgage Trust, Class A3, Series 2015-CR27, 3.35%, 10/10/48, Callable 9/10/25 @ 100      908,960  
  300,000      CPT Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-CPT, 2.87%, 11/13/39, Callable 11/13/29 @ 100(a)      311,712  
  773,480      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A2E, Series 2007-CB2, 3.63%, 2/25/37, Callable 4/25/23 @ 100(b)      570,318  
  325,000      DC Office Trust, Class A, Series 2019-MTC, 2.97%, 9/15/45(a)      338,734  
  456,804      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2005-AA12, 2.48%, 2/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      348,673  
  234,591      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2005-AR3, 2.77%, 8/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      184,916  
  500,342      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AA1, 2.35%, 3/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      388,063  
  372,792      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2006-AA1, 2.40%, 4/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      305,042  
  390,457      GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, Class 3A1, Series 2005-AR5, 3.41%, 9/19/35, Callable 1/19/22 @ 100(b)      392,850  
  502,954      GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AR1, 2.93%, 4/19/36, Callable 1/19/22 @ 100(b)      436,651  
  850,000      GoldenTree Loan Opportunities IX, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2014-9A, 1.24%(US0003M+111bps), 10/29/29, Callable 1/29/22 @ 100(a)      849,990  
  891,114      GreenPoint Mortgage Funding Trust, Class A1A, Series 2006-AR1, 0.68%(US0001M+58bps), 2/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      888,986  
  1,135,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II, Class A, Series 2021-ARDN, 1.36%(US0001M+125bps), 11/15/26(a)      1,132,884  
  1,140,421      HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, Class 1A1A, Series 2006-10, 0.30%(US0001M+20bps), 11/19/36, Callable 11/19/22 @ 100      1,039,210  
  330,000      Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-30HY, 3.23%, 6/10/37(a)      351,516  
  325,000      Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-55HY, 3.04%, 12/10/41(a)(b)      339,680  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 701,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities T, Class A, Series 2021-HTL5, 1.23%(US0001M+112bps), 11/15/38(a)    $ 698,372  
  325,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2019-OSB, 3.40%, 6/5/39, Callable 6/5/29 @ 100(a)      350,623  
  697,150      Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Class 2A2, Series 2007-4, 0.22%(US0001M+12bps), 7/25/37, Callable 9/25/22 @ 100      433,484  
  395,000      MKT Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-525M, 2.69%, 2/12/40(a)      405,653  
  53,985      Morgan Stanley Resecuritization Trust, Class 3A, Series 2014-R8, 0.83%(12MTA+75bps), 6/26/47(a)      53,689  
  193,395      MortgageIT Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2005-2, 1.75%(US0001M+165bps), 5/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      192,017  
  254,046      Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp., Class 3A1, Series 2005-AR3, 5.69%, 7/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      255,498  
  415,000      One Bryant Park Trust, Class A, Series 2019-OBP, 2.52%, 9/13/49(a)      420,445  
  750,000      Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-1A, 1.52%(US0003M+139bps), 1/20/34, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(a)      751,744  
  560,000      RBSCF Trust, Class A, Series 2013-GSP, 3.83%, 1/13/32(a)(b)      579,550  
  800,000      Recette Clo, Ltd., Class ARR, Series 2015-1A, 1.21%(US0003M+108bps), 1/20/33, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      796,024  
  790,471      Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Class A2, Series 2006-QA10, 0.46%(US0001M+18bps), 12/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      794,987  
  800,000      Rockford Tower CLO, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 1.30%(US0003M+117bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(a)      799,998  
  1,193,693      Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust, Class 3A1, Series 2006-AR1, 0.56%(US0001M+23bps), 2/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      1,149,532  
  750,000      TCI-Flatiron CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2016-1A, 1.27%(US0003M+115bps), 1/17/32, Callable 1/17/22 @ 100(a)      749,806  
  315,219      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Class A2, Series 2005-AR3, 2.72%, 3/25/35, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)      312,051  
  1,002,666      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Class 2A1A, Series 2005-AR8, 0.68%(US0001M+29bps), 7/25/45, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      992,548  
  172,284      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Class A1A, Series 2004-AR10, 0.98%(US0001M+44bps), 7/25/44, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      168,721  
  366,656      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Class 2A1A, Series 2005-AR6, 0.56%(US0001M+23bps), 4/25/45, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100      364,536  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 219,977      Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AR12, 2.24%, 9/25/36, Callable 1/25/22 @ 100(b)    $ 208,692  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $24,581,294)

     24,894,711  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (18.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  605,000      Boeing Co. (The), 1.17%, 2/4/23, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      604,540  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  450,980      U.S. Airways Group, Inc., Series 2010-1A, 6.25%, 10/22/24      462,254  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  290,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 5.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 11/1/23 @ 102.63(a)      290,000  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.7%):       
  750,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.00% (US0003M+79 bps), 12/20/23, Callable 12/20/22 @ 100      765,781  
  1,150,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.66% (SOFR+91 bps), 3/11/27, Callable 3/11/26 @ 100      1,141,703  
  470,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+107 bps), 3/5/29, Callable 3/5/28 @ 100, MTN      514,538  
  760,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.09% (SOFR+106 bps), 6/14/29, Callable 6/14/28 @ 100      758,139  
  145,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.70% (SOFR+58 bps), 3/16/24, Callable 3/16/23 @ 100      144,671  
  1,210,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.97% (SOFR+58 bps), 6/23/25, Callable 6/23/24 @ 100      1,196,537  
  305,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.77% (SOFR+49 bps), 8/9/25, Callable 8/9/24 @ 100      300,382  
  455,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.56% (SOFR+61 bps), 12/10/25, Callable 12/10/24 @ 100      455,231  
  445,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.58% (SOFR+89 bps), 4/22/27, Callable 4/22/26 @ 100      440,407  
  790,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.16% (US0003M+75 bps), 2/11/26, Callable 2/11/25 @ 100, MTN      803,338  
  410,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.58% (US0003M+131 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100, MTN      440,864  
  185,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.39% (SOFR+210 bps), 6/2/28, Callable 6/2/27 @ 100, MTN      187,952  
  200,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.88% (US0003M+117 bps), 10/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100, MTN      207,980  
     

 

 

 
        7,357,523  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.3%):       
  350,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.70%, 2/1/36, Callable 8/1/35 @ 100      422,308  
  360,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.90%, 2/1/46, Callable 8/1/45 @ 100      456,376  
     

 

 

 
        878,684  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.3%):       
  428,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.55%, 3/15/35, Callable 9/15/34 @ 100      509,730  
  293,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.50%, 5/14/35, Callable 11/14/34 @ 100      350,332  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
$ 35,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.45%, 5/14/46, Callable 11/14/45 @ 100    $ 42,423  
     

 

 

 
        902,485  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.9%):       
  735,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.22%, 12/6/23, Callable 12/6/22 @ 100      736,792  
  180,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.09% (SOFR+79 bps), 12/9/26, Callable 12/9/25 @ 100      175,214  
  885,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.43% (SOFR+80 bps), 3/9/27, Callable 3/9/26 @ 100      867,094  
  450,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.54% (SOFR+82 bps), 9/10/27, Callable 9/10/26 @ 100      440,388  
  570,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.95% (SOFR+91 bps), 10/21/27, Callable 10/21/26 @ 100      568,433  
  155,000      ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.5(a)      158,100  
  835,000      Morgan Stanley, 0.79% (SOFR+53 bps), 5/30/25, Callable 5/30/24 @ 100      824,266  
  195,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.16% (SOFR+56 bps), 10/21/25, Callable 10/21/24 @ 100, MTN      193,190  
  445,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.59% (SOFR+88 bps), 5/4/27, Callable 5/4/26 @ 100      440,194  
  205,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 3.88%, 4/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.94(a)      204,231  
  255,000      Raymond James Financial, 4.95%, 7/15/46      327,873  
  250,000      SL Green Operating Partnership LP, 3.25%, 10/15/22, Callable 9/15/22 @ 100      254,068  
     

 

 

 
        5,189,843  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  312,000      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., 2.30%, 11/1/30, Callable 8/1/30 @ 100(a)      306,230  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.8%):       
  145,000      FirstCash, Inc., 5.63%, 1/1/30, Callable 1/1/25 @ 102.81(a)      147,719  
  1,150,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.60%, 1/7/22      1,150,477  
  95,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 3.22%, 1/9/22      95,000  
  455,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 3.34%, 3/28/22, Callable 2/28/22 @ 100      455,914  
  60,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.45%, 4/10/22, Callable 2/10/22 @ 100      60,191  
  375,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.15%, 6/30/22, Callable 5/30/22 @ 100      378,884  
  155,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.55%, 7/8/22      157,312  
     

 

 

 
        2,445,497  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.4%):       
  290,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC / Ardagh Holdings USA Inc, 5.25%, 8/15/27, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.63(a)      292,900  
  200,000      Ball Corp., 4.00%, 11/15/23      208,750  
  500,000      Berry Global, Inc., 1.57%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      489,375  
  90,000      Berry Global, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/26, Callable 7/15/22 @ 102.44(a)      92,700  
  110,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 4.75%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100(a)      119,350  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Containers & Packaging, continued       
$ 25,000      Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co., 5.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.38(a)    $ 25,125  
  25,000      Sealed Air Corp., 4.00%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100(a)      26,062  
     

 

 

 
        1,254,262  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.5%):       
  600,000      Amcor Finance USA, Inc., 3.63%, 4/28/26, Callable 1/28/26 @ 100      638,597  
  80,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.40%, 3/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(a)      82,300  
  420,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100(a)      427,350  
  300,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(a)      311,625  
     

 

 

 
        1,459,872  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.3%):       
  287,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.55%, 12/1/33, Callable 9/1/33 @ 100      280,555  
  290,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.50%, 5/15/35, Callable 11/15/34 @ 100      335,274  
  255,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 12/15/42, Callable 6/15/42 @ 100      287,133  
  125,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.75%, 5/15/46, Callable 11/15/45 @ 100      150,195  
  1,115,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      1,153,137  
  64,000      CenturyLink, Inc., 4.00%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102(a)      64,720  
  175,000      Qwest Corp., 7.25%, 9/15/25      202,986  
  445,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      448,557  
  440,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.36%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(a)      434,610  
  295,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102(a)      289,837  
     

 

 

 
        3,647,004  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.3%):       
  280,000      American Transmission Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/1/44, Callable 3/1/44 @ 100(a)      359,559  
  500,000      Appalachian Power Co., Series H, 5.95%, 5/15/33      637,905  
  1,000,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.15%, 12/1/44, Callable 6/1/44 @ 100      1,178,930  
  355,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.99%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      428,067  
  750,000      Jersey Central Power & Light Co., 6.40%, 5/15/36      1,038,506  
     

 

 

 
        3,642,967  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
  82,000      PowerTeam Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/4/23 @ 104.52(a)      86,305  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  285,000      Walt Disney Co. (The), 3.60%, 1/13/51, Callable 7/13/50 @ 100      323,558  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.8%):       
  590,000      American Campus Communities Operating Partnership LP, 3.63%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      632,088  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
$ 145,000      CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., 3.45%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100    $ 157,191  
  330,000      CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., 2.15%, 11/1/30, Callable 8/1/30 @ 100      325,802  
  205,000      GLP Capital LP, 5.25%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      224,666  
  440,000      GLP Capital LP, 5.38%, 4/15/26, Callable 1/15/26 @ 100^      490,255  
  105,000      GLP Capital LP, 5.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 3/3/28 @ 100      121,409  
  290,000      GLP Capital LP, 5.30%, 1/15/29, Callable 10/15/28 @ 100      329,375  
  5,000      GLP Capital LP, 4.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      5,294  
     

 

 

 
        2,286,080  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.5%):       
  30,000      JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(a)      32,588  
  100,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.25(a)      110,000  
  130,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.75%, 12/1/31, Callable 12/1/26 @ 101.88(a)      132,600  
  790,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.88%, 10/1/49, Callable 2/25/22 @ 100      991,281  
  25,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 5.88%, 9/30/27, Callable 9/30/22 @ 102.94(a)      26,312  
  150,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.75%, 3/1/27, Callable 3/1/22 @ 102.88(a)      154,875  
     

 

 

 
        1,447,656  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Suppli (0.2%):       
  455,000      Becton Dickinson And Co., 1.96%, 2/11/31, Callable 11/11/30 @ 100      439,195  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.9%):       
  200,000      Aetna, Inc., 3.50%, 11/15/24, Callable 8/15/24 @ 100      210,924  
  140,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.13      145,950  
  83,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      81,962  
  569,000      Centene Corp., 3.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100      578,246  
  780,000      Cigna Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100      846,419  
  290,000      CommonSpirit Health, 2.78%, 10/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      295,670  
  400,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.88%, 7/20/35, Callable 1/20/35 @ 100      490,713  
  470,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.05%, 3/25/48, Callable 9/25/47 @ 100      614,421  
  490,000      HCA, Inc., 5.00%, 3/15/24      526,750  
  93,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/25      102,997  
  110,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      123,750  
  640,000      HCA, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      706,400  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 90,000      HCA, Inc., 2.38%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100    $ 88,540  
  145,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/49, Callable 12/15/48 @ 100      186,869  
  75,000      Humana, Inc., 4.95%, 10/1/44, Callable 4/1/44 @ 100      96,832  
  409,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(a)      422,804  
     

 

 

 
        5,519,247  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.0%):       
  25,000      Change Healthcare Holdings LLC / Change Healthcare Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 3/1/25, Callable 1/18/22 @ 101.44(a)      25,125  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):       
  465,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 8/15/22 @ 102.69(a)      232,500  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.0%):       
  103,000      General Electric Co., Series A, 6.75%, 3/15/32, MTN      140,606  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.8%):       
  225,000      Athene Global Funding, 0.75% (SOFR+70 bps), 5/24/24(a)      225,274  
  375,000      Athene Global Funding, 1.99%, 8/19/28(a)      364,625  
  700,000      Farmers Exchange Capital III, 5.45% (US0003M+345 bps), 10/15/54, Callable 10/15/34 @ 100(a)      842,902  
  670,000      Farmers Insurance Exchange, 4.75% (US0003M+323 bps), 11/1/57, Callable 11/1/37 @ 100(a)      771,539  
     

 

 

 
        2,204,340  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.0%):       
  87,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 6.25%, 7/1/25, Callable 7/1/22 @ 103.13(a)      91,024  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.4%):       
  290,000      Cable One, Inc., 4.00%, 11/15/30, Callable 11/15/25 @ 102(a)      285,288  
  35,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC, 4.80%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      39,157  
  499,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.75%, 4/1/48, Callable 10/1/47 @ 100      626,122  
  30,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.38%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.69(a)      31,013  
  90,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.50%, 11/15/31, Callable 11/15/26 @ 102.25(a)      88,875  
     

 

 

 
        1,070,455  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.0%):       
  26,000      Antero Resources Corp., 8.38%, 7/15/26, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104.19(a)      29,445  
  35,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 1/30/28, Callable 1/30/23 @ 102.88(a)      37,012  
  210,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.50%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      239,925  
  264,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      297,660  
  670,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.40%, 10/1/47, Callable 4/1/47 @ 100      784,738  
  90,000      Exxon Mobil Corp., 4.23%, 3/19/40, Callable 9/19/39 @ 100      106,463  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 278,000      Exxon Mobil Corp., 4.33%, 3/19/50, Callable 9/19/49 @ 100    $ 342,260  
  163,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 5.21%, 10/10/36(c)      91,484  
  200,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.50%, 7/15/44, Callable 1/15/44 @ 100      206,750  
  250,000      Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, 4.95%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100(a)      268,750  
  250,000      Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, 4.80%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(a)      261,250  
  89,000      Sunoco, LP / Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 4/30/30, Callable 4/30/25 @ 102.25(a)      90,780  
     

 

 

 
        2,756,517  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.7%):       
  90,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.25%, 12/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(a)      97,612  
  955,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.38%, 12/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100(a)      1,067,766  
  490,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.63%, 6/25/38, Callable 12/25/37 @ 100(a)      572,339  
  160,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.88%, 6/25/48, Callable 12/25/47 @ 100(a)      197,714  
  284,000      Endo Dac / Endo Finance LLC / Endo Finco, Inc., 6.00%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/23 @ 104.5(a)      211,580  
     

 

 

 
        2,147,011  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%):       
  558,000      Intel Corp., 3.05%, 8/12/51, Callable 2/12/51 @ 100      568,589  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.2%):       
  70,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100      70,289  
  565,000      Oracle Corp., 3.95%, 3/25/51, Callable 9/25/50 @ 100      585,934  
     

 

 

 
        656,223  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.0%):       
  25,000      USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp., 6.88%, 4/1/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16      26,000  
  81,000      USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp., 6.88%, 9/1/27, Callable 9/1/22 @ 105.16      85,050  
     

 

 

 
        111,050  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.4%):       
  625,000      BAT Capital Corp., 4.54%, 8/15/47, Callable 2/15/47 @ 100      650,319  
  610,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.85%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      740,216  
     

 

 

 
        1,390,535  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  655,000      Air Lease Corp., 3.50%, 1/15/22      655,578  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.0%):       
  27,000      Sprint Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/23      29,700  
  999,375      Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC, 4.74%, 3/20/25, Callable 3/20/24 @ 100(a)      1,045,646  
  235,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.25%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.13      235,327  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 444,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/23 @ 101.31    $ 447,273  
  205,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      221,911  
  280,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      305,998  
  222,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.55%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100      220,564  
  395,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      449,587  
     

 

 

 
        2,956,006  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $51,137,059)

     53,548,761  
  

 

 

 
Foreign Bond (1.0%):       
Sovereign Bond (1.0%):       
  335,000,000      Japan Treasury Discount Bill, -0.09%, 2/28/22+(c)      2,913,242  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bond (Cost $2,918,074)

     2,913,242  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (7.1%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  30,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 5.25%, 5/15/24, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(a)      32,175  
  345,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 2.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(a)      352,331  
  325,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 2.53%, 11/18/27, Callable 10/18/27 @ 100(a)      316,508  
     

 

 

 
        701,014  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.9%):       
  450,000      DNB Bank ASA, 1.60% (H15T1Y+68 bps), 3/30/28, Callable 3/30/27 @ 100(a)      438,638  
  450,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.10% (SOFR+193 bps), 6/4/26, Callable 6/4/25 @ 100      452,855  
  600,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 1.59% (SOFR+129 bps), 5/24/27, Callable 5/24/26 @ 100      586,136  
  440,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.01% (SOFR+173 bps), 9/22/28, Callable 9/22/27 @ 100      430,297  
  410,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.21% (SOFR+129 bps), 8/17/29, Callable 8/17/28 @ 100      401,502  
  415,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 2.86% (US0003M+125 bps), 3/17/23, Callable 3/17/22 @ 100      416,613  
  155,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 2.91% (US0003M+81 bps), 11/7/23, Callable 11/7/22 @ 100      157,482  
  145,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 3.87% (H15T1Y+4 bps), 7/9/25, Callable 7/9/24 @ 100      153,151  
  450,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 1.63% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 5/11/27, Callable 5/11/26 @ 100      442,227  
  545,000      NatWest Group plc, 4.27% (US0003M+176 bps), 3/22/25, Callable 3/22/24 @ 100      577,135  
  390,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 4.80% (US0003M+157 bps), 11/15/24, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100      413,960  
  590,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.09% (SOFR+79 bps), 3/15/25, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      583,301  
  30,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 3.82% (US0003M+140 bps), 11/3/28, Callable 11/3/27 @ 100      32,176  
  410,000      Santander UK plc, 5.00%, 11/7/23(a)      436,251  
     

 

 

 
        5,521,724  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Beverages (0.2%):       
$ 275,000      Bacardi, Ltd., 4.45%, 5/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(a)    $ 298,055  
  105,000      Bacardi, Ltd., 5.30%, 5/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100(a)      138,041  
     

 

 

 
        436,096  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.8%):       
  380,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.59% (SOFR+156 bps), 9/11/25, Callable 9/11/24 @ 100(a)      387,266  
  625,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.19% (SOFR+204 bps), 6/5/26, Callable 6/5/25 @ 100(a)      628,572  
  185,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 1.31% (SOFR+98 bps), 2/2/27, Callable 2/2/26 @ 100(a)      178,393  
  280,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.09% (SOFR+173 bps), 5/14/32, Callable 5/14/31 @ 100(a)      284,626  
  165,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 2.69% (SOFR+144 bps), 6/23/32, Callable 6/23/31 @ 100(a)      164,219  
  570,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 2.87% (SOFR+153 bps), 1/14/33, Callable 1/14/32 @ 100(a)      567,192  
  455,000      UBS AG, 0.70%, 8/9/24(a)      447,971  
     

 

 

 
        2,658,239  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  178,000      GFL Environmental, Inc., 5.13%, 12/15/26, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.56(a)      185,565  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.6%):       
  394,000      GE Capital International Funding, 4.42%, 11/15/35      472,205  
  111,000      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, 8.50%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25(a)(d)      51,615  
  540,000      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, 9.75%, 7/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.88(a)(d)      247,050  
  285,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 4.50%, 3/15/23, Callable 2/15/23 @ 100(a)      294,262  
  72,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(a)      77,130  
  290,000      Virgin Media Secured Finance plc, 5.50%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.75(a)      304,863  
  290,000      Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc, 4.25%, 1/31/31, Callable 1/31/26 @ 102.13(a)      279,850  
     

 

 

 
        1,726,975  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  48,500      Transocean Phoenix 2, Ltd., 7.75%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.58(a)      48,985  
  101,170      Transocean Pontus, Ltd., 6.13%, 8/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.59(a)      98,641  
  121,000      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 105.16(a)      116,765  
  34,500      Transocean Proteus, Ltd., 6.25%, 12/1/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 102.08(a)      33,982  
     

 

 

 
        298,373  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.2%):       
  475,000      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., 3.55%, 7/26/27, Callable 4/26/27 @ 100(a)      508,844  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.1%):       
  295,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 3.68%, 4/22/41, Callable 10/22/40 @ 100(a)      305,392  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  200,000      Indonesia Asahan Aluminium Persero PT, 6.53%, 11/15/28(a)      240,750  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.4%):       
$ 200,000      KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, 5.38%, 4/24/30    $ 233,000  
  80,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.63%, 6/15/35      76,742  
  630,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      559,759  
  40,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 7.69%, 1/23/50, Callable 7/23/49 @ 100      38,749  
  85,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100      75,669  
  200,000      Petronas Capital, Ltd., 3.50%, 4/21/30, Callable 1/21/30 @ 100(a)      216,504  
     

 

 

 
        1,200,423  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  421,000      IHS Markit, Ltd., 5.00%, 11/1/22, Callable 8/1/22 @ 100(a)      432,578  
  125,000      IHS Markit, Ltd., 4.75%, 2/15/25, Callable 11/15/24 @ 100(a)      135,781  
  104,000      IHS Markit, Ltd., 4.00%, 3/1/26, Callable 12/1/25 @ 100(a)      112,580  
  295,000      IHS Markit, Ltd., 4.75%, 8/1/28, Callable 5/1/28 @ 100      341,094  
     

 

 

 
        1,022,033  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.1%):       
  400,000      Abu Dhabi Government International,
2.50%, 9/30/29
     414,612  
  200,000      Arab Republic of Egypt, 7.60%, 3/1/29(a)      198,002  
  200,000      Brazilian Government International Bond,
3.88%, 6/12/30
     194,234  
  200,000      Chile Government International Bond, 3.24%, 2/6/28, Callable 11/6/27 @ 100      211,072  
  200,000      Dominican Republic International Bond,
4.50%, 1/30/30(a)
     203,750  
  225,000      Mexico Government International Bond,
3.75%, 1/11/28
     241,955  
  200,000      Panama Government International Bond,
3.16%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100
     207,000  
  200,000      Paraguay Government International Bond,
4.70%, 3/27/27
     221,000  
  200,000      Peruvian Government International Bond,
2.84%, 6/20/30
     203,258  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond,
4.50%, 4/23/28
     229,107  
  400,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.00%, 1/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100      364,422  
  20,000      Republic of Peru, 4.13%, 8/25/27      22,369  
  200,000      Republic of South Africa Government International Bond, 4.85%, 9/30/29      206,499  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond,
3.25%, 10/26/26
     212,998  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.63%, 3/4/28      217,574  
     

 

 

 
        3,347,852  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.2%):       
  230,000      Nationwide Building Society, 3.62% (US0003M+118 bps), 4/26/23, Callable 4/26/22 @ 100(a)      232,008  
  330,000      Nationwide Building Society, 3.77% (US0003M+106 bps), 3/8/24, Callable 3/8/23 @ 100(a)      339,851  
  140,000      Nationwide Building Society, 4.36% (US0003M+139 bps), 8/1/24, Callable 8/1/23 @ 100(a)      146,671  
     

 

 

 
        718,530  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Tobacco (0.1%):       
$ 280,000      Imperial Brands Finance plc, 3.13%, 7/26/24, Callable 6/26/24 @ 100(a)    $ 289,408  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  435,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      441,664  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  813,000      Vodafone Group plc, 4.88%, 6/19/49      1,020,125  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $20,714,648)

     20,623,007  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.7%):       
California (0.5%):  
  700,000      Los Angeles Unified School District, Build America Bonds, GO, 5.76%, 7/1/29      851,529  
  570,000      Regents of the University of California Medical Center Pooled Revenue, Series N, 3.26%, 5/15/60, Continuously Callable @100      612,323  
     

 

 

 
        1,463,852  
     

 

 

 
New York (0.2%):  
  420,000      City of New York NY, GO, Series A, 3.00%, 8/1/34, Continuously Callable @100      438,866  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $1,831,684)

     1,902,718  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (30.8%):       
Federal National Mortgage Association (19.3%)  
  428,816      3.50%, 1/1/32, Pool #AB4262      460,844  
  59,331      3.00%, 7/1/32, Pool #MA3060      62,170  
  324,641      3.00%, 10/1/33, Pool #MA1676      341,178  
  3,650,000      2.00%, 2/25/36      3,732,553  
  2,250,000      1.50%, 2/25/36      2,254,219  
  485,000      2.46%, 4/1/40, Pool #BL6060      488,858  
  1,036,738      2.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #MA4152      1,045,779  
  1,287,514      2.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #MA4176      1,300,828  
  235,476      2.00%, 5/1/41, Pool #MA4333      238,001  
  29,510      4.00%, 8/1/42, Pool #MA1146      31,587  
  602,872      3.50%, 4/1/43, Pool #MA1404      648,752  
  299,405      4.50%, 2/1/46, Pool #AL9106      325,073  
  103,742      Class QA , Series 2018-573.50%, 5/25/46      105,412  
  334,820      Class PA , Series 2018-553.50%, 1/25/47      343,976  
  160,518      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #AS9830      172,227  
  135,355      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #AS9972      145,228  
  10,643      4.00%, 8/1/47, Pool #MA3088      11,429  
  39,564      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #MA3238      41,911  
  818,420      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #CA0996      880,699  
  45,652      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1711      49,196  
  519,486      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1710      559,811  
  366,006      Class CT , Series 2018-433.00%, 6/25/48      374,859  
  325,389      4.50%, 8/1/48, Pool #CA2208      350,159  
  919,960      3.50%, 6/1/49, Pool #CA3633      996,982  
  715,787      3.00%, 9/1/49, Pool #BN7755      751,160  
  224,722      3.00%, 10/1/49, Pool #MA3811      231,100  
  18,225,000      2.00%, 2/25/50, TBA      18,139,570  
  18,725,000      2.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      19,070,242  
  2,575,000      3.00%, 2/25/51, TBA      2,665,427  
     

 

 

 
        55,819,230  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (5.8%)  
  222,201      3.00%, 3/1/31, Pool #G18592      233,020  
  524,155      3.50%, 1/1/34, Pool #G16756      553,573  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 1,059,647      3.50%, 4/1/44, Pool #G07848    $ 1,151,492  
  1,377,714      3.50%, 4/1/45, Pool #G60023      1,499,998  
  1,049,525      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #G60344      1,149,543  
  651,490      3.50%, 6/1/46, Pool #G08711      693,267  
  450,344      3.50%, 8/1/46, Pool #G08716      479,223  
  395,670      3.00%, 8/1/46, Pool #G08715      413,560  
  106,286      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #G08721      111,091  
  178,314      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #G08722      189,749  
  526,868      3.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #G08726      550,680  
  589,479      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #G08732      616,124  
  738,065      3.00%, 1/1/47, Pool #G08741      771,466  
  712,376      3.50%, 4/1/47, Pool #G67703      774,239  
  114,338      Class PA , Series 48464.00%, 6/15/47      116,754  
  294,788      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G08792      311,997  
  929,854      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G67706      1,005,901  
  1,773,551      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #G67707      1,919,413  
  345,502      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #G08800      365,046  
  902,110      4.00%, 3/1/48, Pool #G67711      984,733  
  438,546      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #G67710      468,744  
  83,653      Class CA , Series 48183.00%, 4/15/48      85,653  
  3,386      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      3,688  
  317,734      3.50%, 6/1/48, Pool #G08816      335,708  
  108,281      5.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #G08833      118,120  
  259,282      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #G08843      278,435  
  1,344,615      Class HZ , Series 46393.25%, 4/15/53      1,462,000  
     

 

 

 
        16,643,217  
     

 

 

 
Government National Mortgage Association (4.7%)  
  298,202      3.50%, 3/20/46, Pool #MA3521      314,677  
  311,423      3.50%, 4/20/46, Pool #MA3597      328,628  
  59,171      3.50%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3663      62,440  
  128,258      3.50%, 9/20/46, Pool #MA3937      135,344  
  682,638      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      714,434  
  511,798      3.50%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4196      540,075  
  95,409      5.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4324      108,110  
  101,079      3.50%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4510      106,456  
  237,757      5.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4513      253,488  
  154,321      5.00%, 9/20/47, Pool #MA4722      167,705  
  284,046      4.00%, 9/20/47, Pool #MA4720      302,955  
  118,269      3.50%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4837      123,863  
  320,255      3.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4836      334,782  
  197,097      4.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4838      210,218  
  981,576      3.50%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4900      1,033,796  
  92,164      4.00%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4901      98,299  
  302,516      4.00%, 3/20/48, Pool #MA5078      322,655  
  603,944      4.50%, 8/20/48, Pool #MA5399      640,112  
  277,896      Class NW , Series 2018-1243.50%, 9/20/48      294,603  
  165,056      4.00%, 9/20/48, Pool #MA5466      174,893  
  214,410      3.00%, 10/20/49, Pool #MA6209      220,136  
  1,850,000      2.50%, 2/20/51, TBA      1,891,697  
  2,925,000      2.00%, 2/20/51, TBA      2,947,395  
  2,175,000      2.50%, 7/20/51, TBA      2,228,695  
     

 

 

 
        13,555,456  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Bank (1.0%)  
  2,925,000      1.04%, 6/14/24, Callable 1/14/22 @ 100.00      2,924,681  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $87,602,808)

     88,942,584  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations (45.6%):       
U.S. Treasury Bills (6.0%)  
$ 835,000      , 1/25/22(c)    $ 834,980  
  1,255,000      0.03%, 2/3/22(c)      1,254,968  
  1,085,000      0.04%, 2/17/22(c)      1,084,939  
  9,710,000      0.10%, 5/26/22(c)      9,705,950  
  1,095,000      0.13%, 6/16/22(c)      1,094,351  
  3,480,000      0.17%, 6/23/22(c)      3,477,190  
     

 

 

 
        17,452,378  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Bonds (7.6%)  
  3,375,000      2.25%, 5/15/41      3,555,352  
  365,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      354,963  
  510,000      2.00%, 11/15/41      517,331  
  17,485,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      17,430,359  
     

 

 

 
        21,858,005  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Bonds (0.3%)  
  679,738      0.13%, 2/15/51      804,426  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (31.7%)  
  1,607,000      0.25%, 9/30/23      1,595,701  
  14,335,000      0.38%, 10/31/23      14,254,366  
  23,200,000      0.38%, 11/30/23      23,113,000  
  7,640,000      0.63%, 12/31/23      7,642,387  
  1,191,000      0.88%, 9/30/26      1,170,530  
  10,680,000      1.13%, 10/31/26      10,616,587  
  17,395,000      1.25%, 11/30/26      17,397,718  
  9,850,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      9,846,922  
  5,760,000      1.38%, 11/15/31      5,695,200  
     

 

 

 
        91,332,411  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $131,397,652)

     131,447,220  
  

 

 

 

Contracts

           Value  
Purchased Options (0.0%):       
 

Total Purchased Options (Cost $109,744)

   $ 78,750  
  

 

 

 
Swaption (0.0%):       
Purchased Swaptions (0.0%):       
 

Total Purchased Swaptions (Cost $35,990)

     30,593  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Swaption (Cost $35,990)

     30,593  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.2%):  
$ 500,940      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(c)(e)      500,940  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $500,940)

     500,940  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (1.6%):       
Money Markets (1.6%):       
  4,575,684      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)      4,575,684  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $4,575,684)

     4,575,684  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $336,712,808) — 118.1%(f)

     340,827,990  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (18.1)%

     (52,332,562
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 288,495,428  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

12MTA—12 Month Treasury Average

GO—General Obligation

H15T1Y—1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TBA—To Be Announced Security

US0001M—1 Month US Dollar LIBOR

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

US0006M—6 Month US Dollar LIBOR

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $485,352.

 

+

The principal amount is disclosed in local currency and the fair value is disclosed in U.S. Dollars.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(b)

The rate for certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may vary based on factors relating to the pool of assets underlying the security. The rate presented is the rate in effect at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

Defaulted bond.

 

(e)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(f)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Short Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury 2-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/22        5      $ (1,090,859    $ 1,693  
           

 

 

 
            $ 1,693  
           

 

 

 

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Ultra Long Term U.S. Treasury Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/22        1      $ 197,125      $ 3,857  
           

 

 

 
            $ 3,857  
           

 

 

 

Total Net Futures Contracts

            $ 5,550  
           

 

 

 

Options and Swaptions Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s over-the-counter options purchased were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
   Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Euro$ 1Y Midcv Op Sep22c

  

Citigroup

   Call      98.75 USD        9/16/22        175      $ 17,281      $ 78,750  
                    

 

 

 

Total (Cost $109,744)

               $ 78,750  
              

 

 

 

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s over-the-counter options written were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
   Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Euro$ 1Y Midcv Op Sep22c

  

Citigroup

   Call      99.00 USD        9/16/22        175      $ 17,325      $ (43,750

Euro$ 1Y Midcv Op Sep22p

  

Citigroup

   Put      97.88 USD        9/16/22        175        17,128        (44,844
                    

 

 

 

Total (Premiums $102,019)

                 (88,594
              

 

 

 

Over-the-counter swaptions purchased as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:

 

Description and terms of payments to be received
from another party
   Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Exercise
Rate
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Value      Upfront
Payments/
Receipts
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

30-Year Interest Rate, Pay 3-Month USD LIBOR

   Goldman Sachs      Put        2.75 USD        1/22/24        1,220,000      $ 30,593      $ 35,990      $ (5,397
                 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (Cost $35,990)

                  $ 30,593      $ 35,990      $ (5,397
                 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:

 

Currency Purchased            Currency Sold            Counterparty      Settlement
Date
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Dollar

     2,938,867      Japanese Yen      335,000,000        Goldman Sachs        2/28/22      $ 24,625  
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

 

         $ 24,625  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Swap Agreements

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s centrally-cleared swap agreements were as follows:

 

Paid by the Fund

     Received by the Fund                                            
Rate    Frequency      Rate     Frequency      Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Upfront
Premiums
Paid/
(Received)
     Value      Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

     Quarterly        1.0335%       Semi-annually        7/24/25        5,065,000        USD      $      $ (56,993    $ (56,993

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

     Quarterly        1.0255%       Semi-annually        7/24/25        6,840,000        USD               (78,032      (78,032

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

     Quarterly        1.0725%       Semi-annually        7/24/25        3,420,000        USD               (35,883      (35,883

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

     Quarterly        1.39%       Semi-annually        9/28/25        7,585,000        USD               (35,617      (35,617

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

     Quarterly        1.6875%       Semi-annually        12/7/25        7,820,000        USD               6,733        6,733  

1.785%

     Semi-annually        3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR       Quarterly        7/24/53        425,000        USD               (1,158      (1,158

1.7725%

     Semi-annually        3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR       Quarterly        7/24/53        570,000        USD               137        137  

1.8075%

     Semi-annually        3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR       Quarterly        7/24/53        285,000        USD               (2,297      (2,297

1.87%

     Semi-annually        3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR       Quarterly        9/28/53        645,000        USD               (14,665      (14,665

1.7425%

     Semi-annually        3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR       Quarterly        12/7/53        655,000        USD               4,790        4,790  
                      

 

 

    

 

 

 
                       $ (212,985    $ (212,985
                      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Options Written, Forward Currency Contracts and Swap Agreements

 

      Swap
Premiums
Paid
     Swap
Premiums
Received
     Receivable
for Variation
Margin
     Payable for
Variation
Margin
 

Centrally cleared swap agreements

   $      $      $      $  
                      Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Forward currency contracts

         $ 24,625      $  
                              Value  

Options Written

            $ (88,594

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

    

Investment securities, at cost

     $ 336,712,808
    

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

       340,827,990

Deposit at broker for futures and written options collateral

       309,000

Deposit at broker for swap agreements collateral

       280,580

Interest and dividends receivable

       888,748

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts

       24,625

Receivable for capital shares issued

       1,926

Receivable for investments sold

       2,953,197

Receivable for TBA investments sold

       47,835,455

Prepaid expenses

       1,402
    

 

 

 

Total Assets

       393,122,923
    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

    

Cash overdraft

       15,204

Payable for TBA investments purchased

       103,777,020

Written Options (Premiums received $102,019)

       88,594

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

       500,940

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

       3,691

Manager fees payable

       123,074

Administration fees payable

       45,839

Distribution fees payable

       61,536

Custodian fees payable

       2,076

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

       389

Transfer agent fees payable

       849

Trustee fees payable

       2,185

Other accrued liabilities

       6,098
    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

       104,627,495
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 288,495,428
    

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

    

Paid in capital

     $ 281,929,320

Total distributable earnings

       6,566,108
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 288,495,428
    

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

       28,585,892

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 10.09
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $485,352.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

    

Interest

     $ 5,026,435

Dividends

       936

Income from securities lending

       1,457
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       5,028,828
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       1,782,903

Administration fees

       128,854

Distribution fees

       742,872

Custodian fees

       13,561

Administrative and compliance services fees

       3,322

Transfer agent fees

       4,686

Trustee fees

       13,851

Professional fees

       12,095

Shareholder reports

       5,871

Other expenses

       5,224
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       2,713,239

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (297,147 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       2,416,092
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       2,612,736
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

       (53,723 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

       274,432

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (28,505 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

       (143,126 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

       (6,407,007 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

       56,336

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       11,492

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

       13,425

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap agreements

       (212,985 )
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

       (6,489,661 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (3,876,925 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 2,612,736     $ 4,311,081

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      49,078       15,402,105

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (6,538,739 )       4,306,934
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (3,876,925 )       24,020,120
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (19,638,536 )       (12,644,991 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (19,638,536 )       (12,644,991 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      17,585,557       35,317,127

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      19,638,536       12,644,991

Value of shares redeemed

      (20,998,964 )       (81,958,486 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      16,225,129       (33,996,368 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (7,290,332 )       (22,621,239 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      295,785,760       318,406,999
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 288,495,428     $ 295,785,760
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      1,632,332       3,210,885

Dividends reinvested

      1,942,486       1,169,749

Shares redeemed

      (1,973,539 )       (7,566,839 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,601,279       (3,186,205 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.96     $ 10.55     $ 9.97     $ 10.20     $ 10.07
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.09 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.26       0.17

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.23 )       0.74       0.60       (0.29 )       0.15
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.14 )       0.90       0.85       (0.03 )       0.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.16 )       (0.30 )       (0.27 )       (0.20 )       (0.16 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.57 )       (0.19 )                   (0.03 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.73 )       (0.49 )       (0.27 )       (0.20 )       (0.19 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.09     $ 10.96     $ 10.55     $ 9.97     $ 10.20
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (1.33 )%       8.58 %       8.49 %       (0.21 )%       3.14 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 288,495     $ 295,786     $ 318,407     $ 321,344     $ 366,574

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.88 %       1.47 %       2.37 %       2.25 %       1.63 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.91 %       0.92 %       0.91 %       0.91 %       0.91 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.81 %       0.82 %       0.81 %       0.85 %       0.86 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      258 %       211 %       203 %       184 %       198 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021 

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. When-issued securities are securities purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield and thereby involve risk that the yield obtained in the transaction will be less than that available in the market when the delivery takes place. The Fund will not pay for such securities or start earning interest on them until they are received. When the Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in the value based upon

changes in the general level of interest rates. The Fund may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

 

17


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 13% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $144 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $500,940 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

TBA Purchase and Sale Commitments

The Fund may enter into to-be-announced (TBA) purchase or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, mortgage-backed securities for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for such securities. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date; however, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate, and mortgage term, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The Fund may enter into TBA purchase transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying securities, may elect to extend the settlement by “rolling” the transaction, and/or may use TBAs to gain interim exposure to underlying securities. Until settlement, the Fund maintains liquid assets sufficient to settle its TBA commitments.

To mitigate counterparty risk, the Fund has entered into agreements with TBA counterparties that provide for collateral and the right to offset amounts due to or from those counterparties under specified conditions. Subject to minimum transfer amounts, collateral requirements are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all TBA commitments with a particular counterparty. At any time, the Fund’s risk of loss from a particular counterparty related to its TBA commitments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated TBAs in excess of unrealized loss on depreciated TBAs and collateral held, if any, by such counterparty. As of December 31, 2021, no collateral had been posted by the Fund to counterparties for TBAs.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund participated in the following cross-trade transactions:

 

       

Purchases

    

Sales

    

Realized

Gains/(Losses)

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 218,896        $        $

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Forward Currency Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund entered into forward currency contracts in connections with planned purchases or sales of securities or to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in a particular currency. In addition to the foreign currency risk related to the use of these contracts, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In the event of default by the counterparty to the transaction, the Fund’s maximum amount of loss, as either the buyer or the seller, is the unrealized appreciation of the contract. The forward currency contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any gains or losses are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gains or losses until the contract settlement date. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $1.4 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

 

18


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021 

 

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $0.3 million, and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $2.0 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Options Contracts

The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on a security or an index of securities. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund purchased and wrote call and put options to increase or decrease its exposure to underlying instruments (including equity risk, interest rate risk and/or foreign currency exchange rate risk) and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums.

Purchased Options Contracts — The Fund pays a premium which is included in “Investments, at value” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and marked to market to reflect the current value of the option when purchasing options. Premiums paid for purchasing options that expire are treated as realized losses. When a put option is exercised or closed, premiums paid for purchasing options are offset against proceeds to determine the realized gain/loss on the transaction. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract.

Written Options Contracts — The Fund receives a premium which is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the options written when writing options. Premiums received from writing options that expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options that are either exercised or closed are offset against the proceeds received or the amount paid on the transaction to determine realized gains or losses. The risk associated with writing an option is that the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of an underlying asset and is required to buy or sell an underlying asset under the contractual terms of the option at a price different from the current value. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Swap Agreements

The Fund may invest in swap agreements. A swap is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC swaps”) or centrally cleared (“centrally cleared swaps”). The Fund may enter into swap agreements to manage its exposure to market, interest rate, foreign currencies and credit risk. The value of swap agreements are equal to the Fund’s obligations (or rights) under swap agreements, which will generally be equal to the net amounts to be paid or received under the agreements based upon the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreements. In connection with these arrangements, securities may be identified as collateral in accordance with the terms of the swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty.

Swaps are marked to market daily using pricing sources approved by the Trustees and the change in value, if any, is recorded as unrealized gain or loss. For OTC swaps, payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are recorded as realized gain or loss upon termination or maturity of the OTC swap. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the OTC swap is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are included as part of realized gains (losses). Upon entering a centrally cleared swap, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or assets determined to be liquid (the amount is subject to the clearing organization that clears the trade). Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are reported as “Payable/Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap agreements” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk and exposure to loss. The primary risks associated with the use of swap agreements are imperfect correlation between movements in the notional amount and the price of the underlying instruments and the inability of counterparties or clearing house to perform. The counterparty risk for centrally cleared swap agreements is generally lower than for OTC swap agreements because generally a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a centrally cleared swap agreement and, in effect, guarantees the parties’ performance under the contract as each party to a trade looks only to a clearing house for performance of financial obligations. However, there can be no assurance that the clearing house, or its members will satisfy its obligations to the Fund.

The notional amounts reflect the extent of the total investment exposure the Fund has under the swap agreement. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement (i.e., any unrealized appreciation) in the event of the default or bankruptcy of the swap agreement counterparty. The notional amount and related unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of each swap agreement at period end is disclosed in the swap tables in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The Fund is a party to International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) with select counterparties that govern transactions, such as OTC swap contracts, entered into by the Fund, and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral and events of default or termination. Events of termination include conditions that may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all outstanding OTC swap transactions under the applicable ISDA Master Agreement.

Interest rate swaps involve the exchange of commitments to pay and receive interest based on a notional amount and are subject to interest rate risk exposure. Interest rate swaps do not involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund entered into OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap agreements to gain or reduce exposure to interest rates or to manage duration, the yield curve or interest rate risk by economically hedging the value of the fixed rate bonds which may decrease when interest rates rise (interest rate risk). The monthly average gross notional amount for interest rate swaps was $11.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

19


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Currency Risk

     
Options Contracts     Written Options contracts   $ 88,594  

Interest Rate Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 5,550     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*      
Interest Rate Swap Agreements   Receivable for variation margin on swap agreements*     11,660     Payable for variation margin on swap agreements*     224,645  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts     24,625   Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts      

 

*

For futures contracts and centrally-cleared swap agreements, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts and centrally-cleared swap agreements as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts and centrally-cleared swap agreements.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure  

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Currency Risk

     
Options Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts    $ (143,126    $ 13,425  

Interest Rate Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts      (28,505      11,492  
Interest Rate Swap Agreements   Net realized gains/(losses) on swap agreements/ Change in net unrealized appreciatioin/depreciation on swap agreements             (212,985

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts      274,432      56,336

The Fund is generally subject to master netting agreements that allow for amounts owed between the Fund and the counterparty to be netted. The party that has the larger payable pays the excess of the larger amount over the smaller amount to the other party. The master netting agreements do not apply to amounts owed to/from different counterparties. The amounts shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities do not take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements. The table below presents the gross and net amounts of these assets and liabilities with any offsets to reflect the Fund’s ability to transact net amounts in accordance with the master netting agreements at December 31, 2021. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. This table also summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Forward currency contracts

       $ 24,625        $

Futures contracts

                  3,691

Written option contracts

                  88,594

Swap agreements

                 
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

         24,625          92,285

Derivatives not subject to a master netting agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

                  (3,691 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $ 24,625        $ 88,594
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

20


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty    Derivative Assets
Subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
   Non-cash
Collateral
Received*
   Cash
Collateral
Received*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets

Goldman Sachs

     $ 24,625      $      $      $      $ 24,625
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 24,625      $      $      $      $ 24,625
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty    Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
   Non-cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities

Citigroup

     $ 88,594      $      $      $ (88,594 )      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 88,594      $      $      $ (88,594 )      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

The actual collateral received or pledged may be in excess of the amounts shown in the table. The table only reflects collateral amounts up to the amount of the financial instrument disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a portfolio management agreement with Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC (“MetWest”), MetWest provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

         0.60 %          0.91 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.50% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

 

21


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Options are generally valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the principal exchange on which the option is traded, which are then typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. For options where market quotations are not readily available, fair value procedures as described below may be applied.

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Forward currency contracts are generally valued at the forward foreign currency exchange rate as of the close of the NYSE and are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Asset Backed Securities

       $        $ 11,369,780        $        $ 11,369,780

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  24,894,711                   24,894,711

Corporate Bonds+

                  53,548,761                   53,548,761

Foreign Bond+

                  2,913,242                   2,913,242

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  20,623,007                   20,623,007

Municipal Bonds

                  1,902,718                   1,902,718

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  88,942,584                   88,942,584

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  131,447,220                   131,447,220

Purchased Options

                  78,750                   78,750

Purchased Swaption

                  30,593                   30,593

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         500,940                            500,940

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         4,575,684                            4,575,684
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         5,076,624          335,751,366                   340,827,990
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Written Options

                  (88,594 )                   (88,594 )

Futures Contracts

         5,550                            5,550

Forward Currency Contracts

                  24,625                   24,625

Interest Rate Swaps

                  (212,985 )                   (212,985 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 5,082,174        $ 335,474,412        $        $ 340,556,586
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

22


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 689,061,376        $ 704,784,500

For the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 633,069,168        $ 651,174,237

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, investments in mortgage-related securities may cause the Fund to exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to call risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are subordinated to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may receive payments only after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Fund as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. An unexpectedly high or low rate of prepayments on a pool’s underlying mortgages may have a similar effect on subordinated securities. A mortgage pool may issue securities subject to various levels of subordination. The risk of non-payment affects securities at each level, although the risk is greater in the case of more highly subordinated securities. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business

 

23


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $336,750,783. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 5,641,857  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (1,866,229
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 3,775,628  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 15,196,680        $ 4,441,856        $ 19,638,536

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 11,386,479        $ 1,258,512        $ 12,644,991

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 2,625,945        $ 156,447        $        $ 4,006,181        $ 6,788,573

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

 

24


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 75% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

25


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

26


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $10,870,375.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $4,441,856.

 

27


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

28


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

29


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

30


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

31


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length

of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held

Outside the AIM

Complex During

Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee  

Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)

  Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019-2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/ Length

of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held

Outside the AIM

Complex During

Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

32


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with

AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/ Length

of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

33


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 10

Statement of Operations

Page 10

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 11

Financial Highlights

Page 12

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 13

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 19

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 20

Other Information

Page 21

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 22

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 25

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned 23.66%. That compared to a 24.76% return for its benchmark, the S&P MidCap 400® Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the S&P MidCap 400® Index (the “Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of mid-cap stock performance. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index composed of mid-capitalization U.S. equities.

In the first quarter of 2021, favorable conditions carried over from the strong end of 2020. The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) accommodative policies, along with a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the start of the vaccine rollout in the U.S., supported investor optimism for strong economic growth in the first quarter. All sectors within the S&P 500® Index2 posted positive returns over the first three months of 2021. The energy sector posted the strongest return for the quarter, supported by a rally in oil prices due to a surge in demand paired with unchanged production levels, along with oil transport concerns due to the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal. The financial sector was another top performer due to positive market conditions. By comparison, the information technology and consumer staples sectors lagged their peers within the U.S. market, albeit still posting positive returns, after posting strong gains in 2020.

During the second quarter, U.S. equity markets rallied as the vaccination campaign continued to accelerate and economic indicators continued to improve. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by more than 4% year-over-year in April. But growing concerns about inflation were offset by the Fed’s commitment to maintain its accommodative monetary policies and the prospect of a bipartisan $1 trillion agreement for infrastructure that passed the Senate in May.

In the third quarter, strong economic data and corporate earnings reports helped push U.S. equities higher despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. However, concerns regarding potential contagion from the unfolding debt crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande muted U.S. equity markets late in the quarter. Rising inflation and supply

chain issues also weighed on market sentiment, as did the continuing disagreement in Washington regarding the debt ceiling and the infrastructure bill.

In the fourth quarter, the boost to investor sentiment from a strong earnings season was offset by a new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant (Omicron) and ongoing concerns about higher inflation rates. Markets recovered to post strong returns for the quarter after initial data showed existing vaccines remained effective against the Omicron variant, and the Fed clarified its plan to begin tightening its monetary policy in 2022. The falling unemployment rate and the final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill further supported the market performance over the quarter.

All sectors within the Index posted positive returns for the year. The energy sector was the top performer, followed by the financials and materials sectors. The consumer staples, communication services, and health care sectors lagged their peers.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we keep cash to fully cover all outstanding futures positions. The Fund’s use of futures contracts provides immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Skillful cash management and cash equitization are critical to minimizing the potential impact of cash drag and ensure tight tracking to the benchmark.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*The

Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

2 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is unmanaged and is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

1


AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the performance of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (“S&P 400”) as closely as possible. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in a statistically selected sampling of equity securities of companies included in the S&P 400 and in derivative instruments linked to the S&P 400, primarily futures contracts.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Years
  Since
Inception

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/14/2016       24.03 %       21.35 %       13.04 %             14.35 %

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       23.66 %       21.06 %       12.75 %       13.67 %       14.79 %

S&P MidCap 400 Index

      5/1/2009       24.76 %       21.41 %       13.09 %       14.20 %       15.45 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.33 %

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.58 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.46% for Class 1 Shares and 0.71% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (“S&P 400”), which is a widely used index for mid-sized companies. The S&P 400 covers 7% of the U.S. equities market, and is part of a series of S&P U.S. indexes that can be used as building blocks for portfolio composition. The index is unmanaged and does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Mid Cap Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,058.80     $ 1.82       0.35 %

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,056.60     $ 3.11       0.60 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.44     $ 1.79       0.35 %

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.18     $ 3.06       0.60 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Industrials

      19.0 %

Consumer Discretionary

      15.4

Information Technology

      14.5

Financials

      13.5

Real Estate

      10.3

Health Care

      9.9

Materials

      6.6

Utilities

      3.4

Consumer Staples

      3.4

Energy

      2.1

Communication Services

      1.5
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.8

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.4
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.8

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.8 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.9%):       
  30,956      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 4,860,092  
  18,495      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      2,564,702  
  39,811      Hexcel Corp.*      2,062,210  
  26,872      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      1,479,572  
     

 

 

 
        10,966,576  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.7%):       
  46,471      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      4,220,961  
  46,499      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      3,600,417  
     

 

 

 
        7,821,378  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  150,807      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      2,147,492  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.8%):       
  44,698      Adient plc*      2,140,140  
  67,758      Dana, Inc.      1,546,238  
  19,845      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      3,375,634  
  111,486      Gentex Corp.      3,885,287  
  132,753      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      2,830,294  
  28,100      Lear Corp.      5,140,895  
  13,372      Visteon Corp.*      1,486,164  
     

 

 

 
        20,404,652  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.5%):       
  72,673      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      2,739,045  
  26,174      Thor Industries, Inc.      2,716,076  
     

 

 

 
        5,455,121  
     

 

 

 
Banks (6.3%):       
  69,866      Associated Banc-Corp.      1,578,273  
  19,295      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      1,616,149  
  56,844      Bank OZK      2,644,951  
  89,908      Cadence Bank      2,678,359  
  35,677      Cathay General Bancorp      1,533,754  
  46,965      CIT Group, Inc.      2,411,183  
  52,568      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      3,613,524  
  26,728      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      3,369,599  
  66,887      East West Bancorp, Inc.      5,262,669  
  151,901      F.N.B. Corp.      1,842,559  
  60,449      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      3,073,227  
  254,198      First Horizon Corp.      4,151,053  
  76,084      Fulton Financial Corp.      1,293,428  
  51,145      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      2,899,922  
  41,215      Hancock Whitney Corp.      2,061,574  
  71,831      Home Bancshares, Inc.      1,749,085  
  24,726      International Bancshares Corp.      1,048,135  
  55,447      PacWest Bancorp      2,504,541  
  35,886      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      3,427,113  
  43,357      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      3,134,711  
  91,292      Sterling Bancorp      2,354,421  
  69,049      Synovus Financial Corp.      3,305,376  
  23,722      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      1,429,251  
  20,402      UMB Financial Corp.      2,164,856  
  100,962      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      1,942,509  
  64,576      United Bankshares, Inc.      2,342,817  
  192,206      Valley National Bancorp      2,642,833  
  42,904      Webster Financial Corp.      2,395,760  
  26,995      Wintrust Financial Corp.      2,451,686  
     

 

 

 
        72,923,318  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages (0.2%):       
  4,445      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*    $ 2,245,169  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.0%):       
  49,142      Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      3,258,115  
  149,131      Exelixis, Inc.*      2,726,115  
  65,489      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      2,633,313  
  44,715      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      3,808,376  
  24,236      Repligen Corp.*      6,418,662  
  21,228      United Therapeutics Corp.*      4,586,946  
     

 

 

 
        23,431,527  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (2.3%):       
  90,262      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      7,736,356  
  15,847      Lennox International, Inc.      5,140,133  
  47,364      Owens Corning      4,286,442  
  20,528      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      2,854,829  
  54,259      Trex Co., Inc.*      7,326,593  
     

 

 

 
        27,344,353  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.8%):       
  19,016      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      3,128,322  
  18,255      Evercore, Inc., Class A      2,479,942  
  45,516      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      1,710,491  
  41,197      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      3,271,866  
  80,412      Janus Henderson Group plc      3,372,479  
  49,479      SEI Investments Co.      3,015,250  
  49,378      Stifel Financial Corp.      3,477,199  
     

 

 

 
        20,455,549  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (2.7%):       
  26,679      Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.      2,872,261  
  43,233      Avient Corp.      2,418,887  
  27,075      Cabot Corp.      1,521,615  
  76,018      Chemours Co. (The)      2,551,164  
  18,438      Ingevity Corp.*      1,322,005  
  15,673      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      1,146,480  
  3,256      NewMarket Corp.      1,115,896  
  67,992      Olin Corp.      3,910,900  
  61,141      RPM International, Inc.      6,175,241  
  19,223      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      3,094,903  
  20,016      Sensient Technologies Corp.      2,002,801  
  85,301      Valvoline, Inc.      3,180,874  
     

 

 

 
        31,313,027  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.5%):       
  22,676      Brink’s Co. (The)      1,486,865  
  23,696      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      2,364,150  
  63,601      IAA, Inc.*      3,219,483  
  36,018      MillerKnoll, Inc.      1,411,546  
  17,240      MSA Safety, Inc.      2,602,550  
  43,433      Stericycle, Inc.*      2,590,344  
  25,486      Tetra Tech, Inc.      4,327,523  
     

 

 

 
        18,002,461  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.9%):       
  73,024      Ciena Corp.*      5,620,657  
  34,078      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      3,604,430  
  34,954      ViaSat, Inc.*      1,556,851  
     

 

 

 
        10,781,938  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering (1.4%):       
  67,902      AECOM*    $ 5,252,220  
  13,986      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      1,311,327  
  25,079      EMCOR Group, Inc.      3,194,814  
  67,372      Fluor Corp.*      1,668,804  
  27,081      MasTec, Inc.*      2,499,035  
  10,035      Valmont Industries, Inc.      2,513,767  
     

 

 

 
        16,439,967  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.3%):       
  19,171      Eagle Materials, Inc., Class A      3,191,205  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.6%):       
  18,873      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      1,411,889  
  75,967      Navient Corp.      1,612,020  
  26,228      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      1,183,145  
  138,187      SLM Corp.      2,718,138  
     

 

 

 
        6,925,192  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.8%):       
  31,061      AptarGroup, Inc.      3,804,351  
  12,388      Greif, Inc., Class A      747,864  
  39,951      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      1,711,501  
  46,450      Sonoco Products Co.      2,688,990  
     

 

 

 
        8,952,706  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.9%):       
  1,825      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      1,149,440  
  18,889      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      1,618,976  
  83,073      H&R Block, Inc.      1,957,200  
  77,690      Service Corp. International      5,515,213  
     

 

 

 
        10,240,829  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.5%):       
  93,086      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      3,611,737  
  28,278      Voya Financial, Inc.      1,875,114  
     

 

 

 
        5,486,851  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  62,378      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      2,575,588  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.0%):       
  24,913      ALLETE, Inc.      1,652,978  
  51,805      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      2,149,908  
  23,872      IDACORP, Inc.      2,704,936  
  94,351      OGE Energy Corp.      3,621,191  
  40,792      PNM Resources, Inc.      1,860,523  
     

 

 

 
        11,989,536  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (2.0%):       
  16,462      Acuity Brands, Inc.      3,485,335  
  19,383      EnerSys      1,532,420  
  25,646      Hubbell, Inc.      5,341,292  
  79,340      nVent Electric plc      3,014,920  
  31,938      Regal-Beloit Corp.      5,435,209  
  97,570      Sunrun, Inc.*      3,346,651  
  10,109      Vicor Corp.*      1,283,641  
     

 

 

 
        23,439,468  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.3%):       
  32,819      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      4,406,607  
  47,300      Avnet, Inc.      1,950,179  
  21,478      Belden, Inc.      1,411,749  
  83,333      Cognex Corp.      6,479,974  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  11,575      Coherent, Inc.*    $ 3,085,201  
  50,028      II-VI, Inc.*^      3,418,413  
  67,505      Jabil, Inc.      4,748,977  
  11,610      Littlelfuse, Inc.      3,653,435  
  62,044      National Instruments Corp.      2,709,461  
  19,385      SYNNEX Corp.      2,216,869  
  63,560      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      1,390,057  
  79,925      Vontier Corp.      2,456,095  
     

 

 

 
        37,927,017  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.4%):       
  95,776      ChampionX Corp.*      1,935,633  
  184,862      NOV, Inc.      2,504,880  
     

 

 

 
        4,440,513  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  21,063      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      1,039,248  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (9.8%):       
  65,590      American Campus Communities, Inc.      3,757,651  
  73,994      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      4,045,252  
  139,998      Brixmor Property Group, Inc.      3,557,349  
  48,170      Camden Property Trust      8,607,016  
  53,648      Corporate Office Properties Trust      1,500,535  
  70,243      Cousins Properties, Inc.      2,829,388  
  59,819      Cyrusone, Inc.      5,366,961  
  82,895      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      2,776,982  
  19,176      EastGroup Properties, Inc.      4,369,252  
  35,648      EPR Properties      1,692,924  
  61,411      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.      4,065,408  
  69,543      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      2,200,340  
  49,387      Highwoods Properties, Inc.      2,202,166  
  72,519      Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.      1,791,944  
  52,961      JBG SMITH Properties      1,520,510  
  49,406      Kilroy Realty Corp.      3,283,523  
  103,538      Kite Realty Group Trust      2,255,058  
  40,921      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      4,963,717  
  38,660      Life Storage, Inc.      5,921,939  
  281,061      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      6,641,471  
  82,776      National Retail Properties, Inc.      3,979,042  
  38,623      National Storage Affiliates Trust      2,672,712  
  112,671      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.      3,333,935  
  112,322      Parks Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      2,120,639  
  61,322      Pebblebrook Hotel Trust      1,371,773  
  103,831      Physicians Realty Trust      1,955,138  
  31,842      PotlatchDeltic Corp.      1,917,525  
  9,577      PS Business Parks, Inc.      1,763,796  
  67,473      Rayonier, Inc.      2,723,210  
  71,402      Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.      5,791,416  
  108,453      Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.      1,468,454  
  31,334      SL Green Realty Corp.      2,246,648  
  58,124      Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.      2,800,996  
  115,670      STORE Capital Corp.      3,979,048  
  99,382      The Macerich Co.      1,717,321  
  50,731      Urban Edge Properties      963,889  
     

 

 

 
        114,154,928  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.2%):       
  64,482      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      4,318,359  
  17,488      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      3,451,257  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  41,918      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*^    $ 1,185,441  
  72,735      Performance Food Group Co.*      3,337,809  
  52,067      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      1,545,349  
     

 

 

 
        13,838,215  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.7%):       
  76,267      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      5,284,540  
  94,139      Flowers Foods, Inc.      2,585,998  
  43,903      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      1,870,707  
  31,262      Ingredion, Inc.      3,021,160  
  9,467      Lancaster Colony Corp.      1,567,735  
  22,738      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      641,212  
  27,675      Post Holdings, Inc.*      3,119,803  
  10,076      Sanderson Farms, Inc.      1,925,322  
     

 

 

 
        20,016,477  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (1.3%):       
  43,079      National Fuel Gas Co.      2,754,471  
  45,453      New Jersey Resources Corp.      1,866,300  
  25,418      ONE Gas, Inc.      1,972,183  
  28,462      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      1,993,763  
  24,649      Spire, Inc.      1,607,608  
  98,556      UGI Corp.      4,524,706  
     

 

 

 
        14,719,031  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.3%):       
  76,060      Envista Holdings Corp.*      3,427,264  
  37,255      Globus Medical, Inc.*      2,689,811  
  24,449      Haemonetics Corp.*      1,296,775  
  9,451      ICU Medical, Inc.*      2,243,100  
  34,465      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      2,308,810  
  25,247      LivaNova plc*      2,207,345  
  23,946      Masimo Corp.*      7,010,910  
  50,937      Neogen Corp.*      2,313,049  
  24,802      NuVasive, Inc.*      1,301,609  
  16,552      Penumbra, Inc.*      4,755,721  
  17,903      Quidel Corp.*      2,416,726  
  22,480      STAAR Surgical Co.*      2,052,424  
  29,946      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      4,507,472  
     

 

 

 
        38,531,016  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.0%):       
  42,513      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      2,580,539  
  15,440      Amedisys, Inc.*      2,499,427  
  7,256      Chemed Corp.      3,838,714  
  46,960      Encompass Health Corp.      3,064,610  
  39,743      HealthEquity, Inc.*      1,758,230  
  15,037      LHC Group, Inc.*      2,063,528  
  27,526      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      8,755,470  
  65,899      Option Care Health, Inc.*      1,874,168  
  40,204      Patterson Cos., Inc.      1,179,987  
  32,820      Progyny, Inc.*      1,652,487  
  62,453      R1 RCM, Inc.*      1,591,927  
  50,493      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      4,124,773  
     

 

 

 
        34,983,860  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (3.0%):       
  38,784      Boyd Gaming Corp.*      2,543,067  
  15,553      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      2,426,112  
  16,175      Churchill Downs, Inc.      3,896,558  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  11,070      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.    $ 1,424,045  
  10,111      Jack in the Box, Inc.      884,510  
  20,150      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      3,404,947  
  15,183      Papa John’s International, Inc.      2,026,475  
  45,529      Scientific Games Corp., Class A*      3,042,703  
  36,938      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      1,572,820  
  32,984      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      2,944,812  
  40,957      Travel + Leisure Co.      2,263,693  
  83,155      Wendy’s Co. (The)      1,983,247  
  14,082      Wingstop, Inc.      2,433,370  
  44,062      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      3,950,158  
     

 

 

 
        34,796,517  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (2.0%):       
  11,382      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      2,782,558  
  40,397      KB Home      1,806,958  
  62,866      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      2,587,565  
  57,468      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*      2,009,081  
  90,738      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      4,267,408  
  53,631      Toll Brothers, Inc.      3,882,348  
  15,519      TopBuild Corp.*      4,281,847  
  51,846      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      1,445,985  
     

 

 

 
        23,063,750  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.1%):       
  29,382      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      1,178,218  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.5%):       
  24,644      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      6,114,669  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.7%):       
  6,420      Alleghany Corp.*      4,285,928  
  31,179      American Financial Group, Inc.      4,281,500  
  37,622      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      1,948,820  
  58,123      CNO Financial Group, Inc.      1,385,652  
  51,738      First American Financial Corp.      4,047,464  
  16,917      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      2,217,142  
  28,520      Kemper Corp.      1,676,691  
  10,159      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      2,416,724  
  11,963      Mercury General Corp.      634,757  
  134,577      Old Republic International Corp.      3,307,903  
  18,639      Primerica, Inc.      2,856,799  
  32,053      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      3,509,483  
  21,691      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      3,672,937  
  18,870      RLI Corp.      2,115,327  
  28,452      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      2,331,357  
  96,771      Unum Group      2,377,663  
     

 

 

 
        43,066,147  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.2%):       
  45,826      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      1,249,217  
  32,263      Yelp, Inc.*      1,169,211  
     

 

 

 
        2,418,428  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.1%):       
  23,215      Alliance Data Systems Corp.      1,545,422  
  20,222      Concentrix Corp.      3,612,054  
  81,548      Genpact, Ltd.      4,328,568  
  85,546      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      1,548,383  
  32,407      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      1,553,916  
  29,124      MAXIMUS, Inc.      2,320,309  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  155,070      Sabre Corp.*    $ 1,332,051  
  50,902      Teradata Corp.*      2,161,808  
  189,483      Western Union Co. (The.)      3,380,377  
  20,901      WEX, Inc.*      2,934,291  
     

 

 

 
        24,717,179  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (1.3%):       
  36,504      Brunswick Corp.      3,677,048  
  55,914      Callaway Golf Co.*      1,534,280  
  165,130      Mattel, Inc.*      3,560,203  
  26,886      Polaris, Inc.      2,955,040  
  41,309      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      3,421,625  
     

 

 

 
        15,148,196  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.0%):       
  47,892      Bruker Corp.      4,018,618  
  13,552      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      2,949,457  
  48,874      Syneos Health, Inc.*      5,018,382  
     

 

 

 
        11,986,457  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (5.0%):       
  28,841      AGCO Corp.      3,346,133  
  63,471      Colfax Corp.*      2,917,762  
  23,591      Crane Co.      2,399,912  
  58,017      Donaldson Co., Inc.      3,438,087  
  61,901      Flowserve Corp.      1,894,171  
  80,112      Graco, Inc.      6,458,630  
  40,505      ITT, Inc.      4,139,206  
  39,961      Kennametal, Inc.      1,435,000  
  27,962      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      3,899,860  
  26,219      Middleby Corp. (The)*      5,158,851  
  25,475      Nordson Corp.      6,503,003  
  32,351      Oshkosh Corp.      3,646,281  
  33,338      Terex Corp.      1,465,205  
  32,377      Timken Co.      2,243,402  
  50,298      Toro Co. (The)      5,025,273  
  37,747      Trinity Industries, Inc.      1,139,959  
  29,676      Woodward, Inc.      3,248,335  
     

 

 

 
        58,359,070  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.1%):       
  28,630      Kirby Corp.*      1,701,195  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.0%):       
  2,336      Cable One, Inc.      4,119,419  
  20,930      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      1,198,661  
  78,758      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      3,804,012  
  104,941      Tegna, Inc.      1,947,705  
     

 

 

 
        11,069,797  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (2.6%):       
  88,189      Alcoa Corp.      5,254,301  
  214,499      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      4,669,643  
  57,284      Commercial Metals Co.      2,078,836  
  15,881      Compass Minerals International, Inc.      811,202  
  29,400      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      4,769,268  
  30,963      Royal Gold, Inc.      3,257,617  
  88,861      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      5,515,602  
  127,533      United States Steel Corp.      3,036,561  
  14,785      Worthington Industries, Inc.      808,148  
     

 

 

 
        30,201,178  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multiline Retail (0.8%):       
  70,953      Kohl’s Corp.    $ 3,504,369  
  142,895      Macy’s, Inc.      3,740,991  
  51,895      Nordstrom, Inc.*^      1,173,865  
  28,327      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      1,450,059  
     

 

 

 
        9,869,284  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.6%):       
  30,103      Black Hills Corp.      2,124,369  
  95,848      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      2,955,952  
  24,727      NorthWestern Corp.      1,413,395  
     

 

 

 
        6,493,716  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.7%):       
  155,094      Antero Midstream Corp.      1,501,310  
  99,228      CNX Resources Corp.*      1,364,385  
  45,934      DT Midstream, Inc.      2,203,913  
  142,713      EQT Corp.*      3,112,571  
  193,218      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      1,997,874  
  70,809      HollyFrontier Corp.      2,321,119  
  69,008      Murphy Oil Corp.      1,801,799  
  107,924      Targa Resources Corp.      5,637,950  
     

 

 

 
        19,940,921  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.3%):       
  41,473      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      3,249,410  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.2%):       
  159,517      Coty, Inc., Class A*      1,674,929  
  23,391      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      1,187,093  
     

 

 

 
        2,862,022  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.5%):       
  28,973      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      3,691,160  
  63,320      Perrigo Co. plc      2,463,148  
     

 

 

 
        6,154,308  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.6%):       
  24,405      ASGN, Inc.*      3,011,577  
  10,988      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      2,958,080  
  16,230      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      2,490,007  
  17,054      Insperity, Inc.      2,014,248  
  66,421      KBR, Inc.      3,162,968  
  25,662      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      2,497,682  
  27,041      Science Applications International Corp.      2,260,357  
     

 

 

 
        18,394,919  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.6%):       
  23,789      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      6,407,329  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.7%):       
  18,890      Avis Budget Group, Inc.*      3,917,219  
  78,222      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      4,766,849  
  18,051      Landstar System, Inc.      3,231,490  
  25,512      Ryder System, Inc.      2,102,954  
  12,414      Saia, Inc.*      4,183,891  
  28,117      Werner Enterprises, Inc.      1,340,056  
     

 

 

 
        19,542,459  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (4.3%):       
  46,649      Amkor Technology, Inc.      1,156,429  
  35,043      Azenta, Inc.      3,613,284  
  26,873      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      2,472,853  
  13,398      CMC Materials, Inc.      2,568,263  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  46,608      First Solar, Inc.*    $ 4,062,353  
  64,546      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      4,973,915  
  26,140      MKS Instruments, Inc.      4,552,804  
  28,437      Power Integrations, Inc.      2,641,513  
  30,292      Semtech Corp.*      2,693,867  
  18,950      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      3,911,659  
  7,064      SiTime Corp.*      2,066,503  
  38,325      SunPower Corp.*^      799,843  
  18,510      Synaptics, Inc.*      5,358,830  
  20,443      Universal Display Corp.      3,373,708  
  54,624      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      6,105,324  
     

 

 

 
        50,351,148  
     

 

 

 
Software (3.5%):       
  55,414      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      1,922,866  
  31,458      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      4,787,908  
  19,614      Blackbaud, Inc.*      1,549,114  
  55,776      CDK Global, Inc.      2,328,090  
  17,794      Cerence, Inc.*      1,363,732  
  21,402      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      1,475,026  
  41,445      Digital Turbine, Inc.*      2,527,730  
  18,183      Envestnet, Inc.*      1,442,639  
  12,895      Fair Isaac Corp.*      5,592,175  
  22,802      J2 Global, Inc.*      2,527,830  
  29,827      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      4,637,800  
  29,104      Mimecast, Ltd.*      2,315,805  
  18,674      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      4,410,052  
  15,878      Qualys, Inc.*      2,178,779  
  44,064      Sailpoint Technologies Holdings, Inc.*      2,130,054  
     

 

 

 
        41,189,600  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (3.3%):       
  72,630      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      1,838,992  
  18,843      AutoNation, Inc.*      2,201,805  
  30,576      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      3,515,934  
  26,405      Five Below, Inc.*      5,462,930  
  42,823      Foot Locker, Inc.      1,868,368  
  29,030      GameStop Corp., Class A*^      4,307,762  
  14,272      Lithia Motors, Inc.      4,238,070  
  11,094      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      2,210,369  
  8,176      RH*      4,381,845  
  30,304      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*      889,725  
  34,150      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      1,896,691  
  35,048      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      5,927,668  
     

 

 

 
        38,740,159  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.3%):       
  62,217      NCR Corp.*      2,501,123  
  65,761      Xerox Holdings Corp.      1,488,829  
     

 

 

 
        3,989,952  
     

 

 

 

Shares

           Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.9%):       
  70,924      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*    $ 4,603,677  
  19,922      Carter’s, Inc.      2,016,505  
  16,312      Columbia Sportswear Co.      1,589,441  
  27,737      Crocs, Inc.*      3,556,438  
  12,996      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      4,760,565  
  164,595      Hanesbrands, Inc.      2,752,028  
  63,725      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      2,765,665  
     

 

 

 
        22,044,319  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.7%):       
  51,427      Essent Group, Ltd.      2,341,471  
  153,461      MGIC Investment Corp.      2,212,908  
  219,857      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      2,684,454  
  30,706      Washington Federal, Inc.      1,024,966  
     

 

 

 
        8,263,799  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.9%):       
  16,895      GATX Corp.      1,760,290  
  22,326      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A      1,876,723  
  80,994      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      2,296,180  
  15,567      Watsco, Inc.      4,870,603  
     

 

 

 
        10,803,796  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.5%):       
  108,407      Essential Utilities, Inc.      5,820,372  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $774,545,401)

     1,160,122,522  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.8%):  
  9,132,721      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(a)(b)      9,132,721  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $9,132,721)

     9,132,721  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.4%):       
Money Markets (0.4%):       
  5,170,698      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(b)      5,170,698  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $5,170,698)

     5,170,698  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $788,848,820) — 100.8%(c)

     1,174,425,941  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.8)%

     (9,144,690
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,165,281,251  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

REIT — Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $8,719,270.

 

(a)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        22      $ 6,242,940      $ 202,067  
           

 

 

 
            $ 202,067  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 788,848,820
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 1,174,425,941

Cash

      7,390

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      300,000

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,075,515

Receivable for investments sold

      41,000

Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts

      4,243

Reclaims receivable

      2,114

Prepaid expenses

      5,983
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,175,862,186
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      693,928

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      9,132,721

Manager fees payable

      244,208

Administration fees payable

      176,133

Distribution fees payable

      232,181

Custodian fees payable

      7,147

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      2,126

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,317

Trustee fees payable

      11,943

Other accrued liabilities

      78,231
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      10,580,935
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,165,281,251
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 590,594,259

Total distributable earnings

      574,686,992
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,165,281,251
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 58,069,654

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      6,562,722

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 8.85
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,107,211,597

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      39,187,706

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 28.25
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $8,719,270.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends

     $ 15,598,687

Income from securities lending

       19,337

Foreign withholding tax

       (2,158 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       15,615,866
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       2,940,272

Administration fees

       405,707

Distribution fees — Class 2

       2,797,409

Custodian fees

       39,011

Administrative and compliance services fees

       13,633

Transfer agent fees

       10,295

Trustee fees

       57,418

Professional fees

       52,181

Licensing fees

       212,650

Shareholder reports

       35,150

Other expenses

       21,528
    

 

 

 

Total expenses

       6,585,254
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       9,030,612
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

       195,119,202

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       1,749,393

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

       40,684,904

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       64,726
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

       237,618,225
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ 246,648,837
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 9,030,612     $ 9,833,998

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      196,868,595       41,516,272

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      40,749,630       87,139,882
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      246,648,837       138,490,152
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (8,374,201 )       (5,274,542 )

Class 2

      (56,973,657 )       (40,133,618 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (65,347,858 )       (45,408,160 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      101,292       71,084

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      8,374,200       5,274,542

Value of shares redeemed

      (5,965,875 )       (4,609,084 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      2,509,617       736,542
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      122,905,502       115,634,844

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      56,973,658       40,133,618

Value of shares redeemed

      (302,432,797 )       (345,716,996 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (122,553,637 )       (189,948,534 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (120,044,020 )       (189,211,992 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      61,256,959       (96,130,000 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,104,024,292       1,200,154,292
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,165,281,251     $ 1,104,024,292
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      11,257       10,141

Dividends reinvested

      1,011,377       739,767

Shares redeemed

      (636,312 )       (623,382 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      386,322       126,526
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      4,407,636       7,410,063

Dividends reinvested

      2,153,199       1,963,485

Shares redeemed

      (11,112,033 )       (18,128,902 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (4,551,198 )       (8,755,354 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (4,164,876 )       (8,628,828 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 8.40     $ 8.28     $ 8.16     $ 11.25     $ 10.90
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.09 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.15       0.25

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.83       0.97       1.79       (1.13 )       1.41
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.92       1.06       1.91       (0.98 )       1.66
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.26 )       (0.31 )       (0.30 )       (0.28 )       (0.12 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.21 )       (0.63 )       (1.49 )       (1.83 )       (1.19 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.47 )       (0.94 )       (1.79 )       (2.11 )       (1.31 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.85     $ 8.40     $ 8.28     $ 8.16     $ 11.25
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      24.03 %       14.82 %       25.47 %       (11.01 )%       16.08 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 58,070     $ 51,879     $ 50,096     $ 44,788     $ 55,764

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.01 %       1.21 %       1.31 %       1.32 %       1.27 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.32 %       0.33 %       0.32 %       0.31 %       0.31 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.32 %       0.33 %       0.32 %       0.31 %       0.31 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      30 %       22 %       14 %       18 %       21 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 24.06     $ 21.91     $ 19.00     $ 23.45     $ 21.45
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.21 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.23 (a)       0.25       0.24

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      5.39       2.84       4.41       (2.65 )       3.06
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      5.60       3.03       4.64       (2.40 )       3.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.20 )       (0.25 )       (0.24 )       (0.22 )       (0.11 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.21 )       (0.63 )       (1.49 )       (1.83 )       (1.19 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.41 )       (0.88 )       (1.73 )       (2.05 )       (1.30 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 28.25     $ 24.06     $ 21.91     $ 19.00     $ 23.45
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      23.66 %       14.53 %       25.28 %       (11.35 )%       15.80 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,107,212     $ 1,052,145     $ 1,150,058     $ 1,020,140     $ 1,208,935

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.76 %       0.96 %       1.06 %       1.08 %       1.02 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %       0.56 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %       0.56 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      30 %       22 %       14 %       18 %       21 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Mid Cap Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Private Placements

The Fund may invest in private placement securities which are securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), in reliance on a “private placement” exemption. These unregistered securities may be restricted and generally are sold to institutional investors, such as the Fund, who agree that they are purchasing the securities for investment and not with a view to public distribution. Unregistered securities are normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such securities.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

 

13


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.    All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $1,894 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $9,132,721 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $7.9 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

 

14


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

       
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 202,067     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation
on Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

       
Futures Contracts  

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

   $ 1,749,393      $ 64,726  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 1

         0.25 %          0.46 %

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

         0.25 %          0.71 %

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

 

15


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 1,160,122,522        $        $        $ 1,160,122,522

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         9,132,721                            9,132,721

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         5,170,698                            5,170,698
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         1,174,425,941                            1,174,425,941
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         202,067                            202,067
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 1,174,628,008        $        $        $ 1,174,628,008
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

       $ 346,143,464        $ 512,738,564

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

 

16


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $804,266,330. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 389,453,927  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (19,294,316 )
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 370,159,611  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

       $ 17,708,187        $ 47,639,671        $ 65,347,858

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital
Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

       $ 12,950,819        $ 32,457,341        $ 45,408,160

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

17


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

       $ 31,567,536        $ 172,959,809        $        $ 370,159,647        $ 574,686,992

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of futures contracts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 40% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

18


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Mid Cap Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

19


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 70.04% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $8,143,716.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $47,639,671.

 

20


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

21


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

22


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

23


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

24


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust ("ETF Trust") (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Trustee    Since 2/07    Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present    46    Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Lead Independent Trustee    Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)    Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present    46    None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Trustee    Since 12/17    Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013    46    Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Trustee    Since 12/17    Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019    46    Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  

Trustee

   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)    Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019    46   

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Trustee    Since 2/04    Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015    46    None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Trustee    Since 2/04    Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001    46    None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Trustee    Since 6/11   

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

   46    None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

25


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

26


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.   

ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 5

Statement of Operations

Page 5

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 6

Financial Highlights

Page 7

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 8

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 13

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 14

Other Information

Page 15

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

Page 16

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 18

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) returned 12.06%. That compared to a 28.71%, (1.54)% and a 15.96% total return for its benchmarks, the S&P 500® Index, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and the Moderate Composite Index, respectively.1

The Fund is a fund of funds that pursues broad diversification across four underlying equity sub-portfolios and one fixed income sub-portfolio. The four equity sub-portfolios pursue passive strategies that aim to achieve, before fees, returns similar to the S&P 500® Index (U.S. large cap stocks), the S&P MidCap 400 Index2, the S&P SmallCap 600 Index3 and the MSCI EAFE Index4. The fixed-income sub-portfolio is an enhanced bond index strategy that seeks to achieve a return that exceeds that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Generally, the Fund allocates 50% to 70% of its assets to the underlying equity index funds and 30% to 50% of its assets to the underlying AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

U.S. equities began 2021 with positive momentum. Large cap stocks generally moved higher as corporate earnings rose and the number of COVID-19 cases declined. Fiscal and monetary stimulus provided liquidity for consumers to spend, and as businesses reopened and consumer confidence rose, the U.S equity market continued to rally. However, these conditions would later lead to inflationary pressures. Excess demand for goods and an escalation of input costs led to increased inflation levels unseen since the early 1980s. Despite high inflation, the U.S. stock market continued to gain throughout most of the year and the U.S. economy ended 2021 stronger than it was at the beginning of the year.

International developed market equities, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, returned 11.78% for the year. The COVID-19 pandemic led some countries to shut down their economies to combat the spread of the virus. The move led to diminished consumption, interrupted industrial production, and reduced exports of goods. Central banks provided stimulus throughout the year, and some felt their economies were strong enough to start scaling back economic support as economic activity improved. Hong Kong stocks detracted from developed market returns as a tight regulatory crackdown on companies listed on the Hang Seng Exchange, particularly in sectors such as e-commerce, video gaming, and real estate, weighed heavily on equity prices.

U.S. bonds suffered during the year and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returned (1.54)%. The U.S. economy continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the year causing interest rates to rise, particularly in the front end of the yield curve. This provided headwinds to domestic fixed income performance compared to 2020. Credit exposure outpaced U.S. Treasuries, even as spreads

have remained at historically tight levels in both investment grade and high yield for most of the year. Investments in Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) also benefited in 2021 from elevated inflation expectations.

The Fund, which invests in both U.S. and international markets, underperformed its blended benchmark during the 12-month period. Its allocation to developed market non-U.S. equities detracted on a relative basis, as these securities generally trailed U.S. equities and are not included in its blended benchmark. In addition, the Fund’s performance compared to the blended benchmark was negatively affected by its allocation to mid-cap equities, which generally trailed large cap U.S. equities during the period.

The fixed income allocation detracted slightly from the Fund’s performance compared to the benchmark largely due to the underlying fund’s fees. The Fund’s fixed income allocation benefited from overweight exposure to credit and TIPS. Additionally, its underweight to policy duration benefited as interest rates increased during the year.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*The

Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmarks please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

2 

The Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (S&P 400) is the most widely used index for mid-sized companies. The S&P 400 covers 7% of the U.S. equities market, and is part of a series of S&P U.S. indexes that can be used as building blocks for portfolio composition.

 

3 

The Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index (S&P 600) covers approximately 3% of the domestic equities market. Measuring the small-cap segment of the market that is typically renowned for poor trading liquidity and financial instability, the index is designed to be an efficient portfolio of companies that meet specific inclusion criteria to ensure that they are investable and financially viable.

 

4 

MSCI EAFE Index (MSCI EAFE) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada.

The indexes defined above are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

1


AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a combination of five underlying index funds (the “Index Strategy Underlying Funds”), allocating 50%-70% of its assets in the underlying equity index funds and 30%-50% of its assets in the underlying bond index fund.

Investment Concerns

The Fund invests in underlying funds, so its investment performance is directly related to the performance of those underlying funds. Before investing, investors should assess the risks associated with and types of investments made by each of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Stocks are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Indexes because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
   10
Year

AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund

         12.06 %          14.70 %          10.14 %        10.05 %

S&P 500® Index

         28.71 %          26.07 %          18.47 %        16.55 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (1.54 )%          4.79 %          3.57 %        2.90 %

Moderate Composite Index

         15.96 %          17.77 %          12.78 %        11.22 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio    Gross

AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund

       1.04 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense and acquired fund fees and expenses), to 0.20% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

Acquired fund fees and expenses are incurred indirectly by the Fund through the valuation of the Fund’s investments in the Permitted Underlying Funds. Accordingly, acquired fund fees and expenses affect the Fund’s total returns. Because these fees and expenses are not included in the Fund’s financial highlights, the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses, as shown in the prospectus, do not correlate to the ratios of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights. Without acquired fund fees and expenses the Fund’s gross expense ratio would be 0.43%.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500®”), the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the Moderate Composite Index (“Composite”). The S&P 500® is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The Composite is a blended index comprised of (60%) of the S&P 500® and (40%) of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. These indexes are unmanaged and do not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,043.40     $ 0.36       0.07 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.85     $ 0.36       0.07 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Domestic Equity Funds

      45.6 %

Fixed Income Fund

      39.3

International Equity Fund

      15.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

       —   
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Affiliated Investment Companies (100.0%):  
Domestic Equity Funds (45.6%):  
  6,304,353      AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2    $ 178,097,959  
  25,036,340      AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2      610,886,701  
  5,320,698      AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2      89,228,105  
     

 

 

 
        878,212,765  
     

 

 

 
Fixed Income Fund (39.3%):  
  67,906,618      AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund      758,516,926  
     

 

 

 
International Equity Fund (15.1%):  
  15,357,385      AZL International Index Fund, Class 2      291,329,601  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $1,807,662,106)

     1,928,059,292  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,807,662,106) — 100.0%(a)

     1,928,059,292  
  

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.0% 

     (461,031
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,927,598,261  
     

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

    

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investments in affiliates, at cost

    $ 1,807,662,106
   

 

 

 

Investments in affiliates, at value

    $ 1,928,059,292

Interest and dividends receivable

      117

Foreign currency, at value (cost $106,900)

      110,855

Receivable for affiliated investments sold

      622,876

Prepaid expenses

      10,121
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,928,803,261
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      622,511

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      434,763

Manager fees payable

      81,189

Administration fees payable

      6,283

Custodian fees payable

      236

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      2,531

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,101

Trustee fees payable

      14,218

Other accrued liabilities

      42,168
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,205,000
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,927,598,261
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,673,507,515

Total distributable earnings

      254,090,746
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,927,598,261
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      123,360,264

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 15.63
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from affiliates

    $ 18,186,312

Dividends from non-affiliates

      2
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      18,186,314
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      3,174,669

Administration fees

      60,853

Custodian fees

      1,433

Administrative and compliance services fees

      12,917

Transfer agent fees

      5,809

Trustee fees

      60,825

Professional fees

      68,064

Shareholder reports

      30,020

Other expenses

      21,452
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,436,042

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (2,509,379 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      926,663
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      17,259,651
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      17,019

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated underlying funds

      55,196,170

Net realized gains distributions from affiliated underlying funds

      61,738,147

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      (5,262 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on underlying fund

      4,894,859
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      121,840,933
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 139,100,584
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 17,259,651     $ 11,127,969

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      116,951,336       22,662,547

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      4,889,597       35,344,740
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      139,100,584       69,135,256
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (33,935,061 )       (32,078,922 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (33,935,061 )       (32,078,922 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,359,198,190       12,526,131

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      33,935,061       32,078,922

Value of shares redeemed

      (181,979,760 )       (82,366,337 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      1,211,153,491       (37,761,284 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      1,316,319,014       (704,950 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      611,279,247       611,984,197
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,927,598,261     $ 611,279,247
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      89,961,204       983,912

Dividends reinvested

      2,263,847       2,437,608

Shares redeemed

      (11,902,446 )       (6,337,677 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      80,322,605       (2,916,157 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.20     $ 13.32     $ 11.98     $ 13.30     $ 15.54
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.20 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.23 (a)       0.26       0.12

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      1.50       1.39       2.03       (0.92 )       1.78
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      1.70       1.65       2.26       (0.66 )       1.90
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.09 )       (0.27 )       (0.32 )       (0.13 )       (0.35 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.18 )       (0.50 )       (0.60 )       (0.53 )       (3.79 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.27 )       (0.77 )       (0.92 )       (0.66 )       (4.14 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 15.63     $ 14.20     $ 13.32     $ 11.98     $ 13.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      12.06 %       12.84 %       19.33 %       (5.17 )%       13.30 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,927,598     $ 611,279     $ 611,984     $ 590,092     $ 740,959

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.30 %       1.95 %       1.78 %       1.75 %       0.77 %

Expenses Before Reductions*(c)

      0.26 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.42 %       0.43 %

Expenses Net of Reductions*

      0.07 %       0.08 %       0.08 %       0.07 %       0.08 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      14 %       15 %       5 %       4 %       7 %

 

*

The expense ratios exclude the impact of fees/expenses paid by each underlying fund.

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Fund is a “fund of funds,” which means that the Fund invests primarily in other mutual funds (the “Underlying Funds”). Underlying Funds invest in stock, bonds, and other securities and reflect varying amounts of potential investment risk and reward. The Underlying Funds record their investments at fair value. Periodically, the Fund will adjust its asset allocation as it seeks to achieve its investment objective.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

8


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023. Expenses incurred for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.”    

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

         0.20 %          0.20 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.05% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023. Prior to June 1, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager was 0.40%.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

The Manager or an affiliate of the Manager serves as the investment adviser of certain underlying funds in which the Fund invests. At December 31, 2021, these underlying funds are noted as Affiliated Investment Companies in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Additional information, including financial statements, about these Funds is available at www.allianzlife.com. The Manager or an affiliate of the Manager is paid a separate fee from the underlying funds for such services. A summary of the Fund’s investments in affiliated investment companies for the year ended December 31, 2021 is as follows:

 

     Value
12/31/2020
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds from
Sales
  Net
Realized
Gains(Losses)
  Change in
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2021
  Shares as of
12/31/2021
  Dividend
Income
  Net Realized
Gains
Distributions
from
Affiliated
Underlying
Funds

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 228,798,187     $ 590,236,780     $ (31,401,059 )     $ (396,265 )     $ (28,720,717 )     $ 758,516,926       67,906,618     $ 5,853,642     $ 19,466,265

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

      96,051,410       205,828,067       (17,964,707 )       4,683,853       2,730,978       291,329,601       15,357,385       4,345,381      

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

      58,133,471       128,847,223       (20,538,394 )       5,883,729       5,771,930       178,097,959       6,304,353       1,243,382       7,520,090

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

      31,066,541       61,412,581       (9,593,004 )       2,097,189       4,244,798       89,228,105       5,320,698       567,538       2,216,527

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

      197,360,987       462,208,455       (112,478,275 )       42,927,664       20,867,870       610,886,701       25,036,340       6,176,369       32,535,265
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 611,410,596     $ 1,448,533,106     $ (191,975,439 )     $ 55,196,170     $ 4,894,859     $ 1,928,059,292       119,925,394     $ 18,186,312     $ 61,738,147
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to fees accrued daily and paid monthly. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

 

 

9


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Investments in other investment companies are valued at their published net asset value (“NAV”). Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). The investments utilizing Level 1 valuations represent investments in open-end investment companies.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Affiliated Investment Companies+

       $ 1,928,059,292        $        $        $ 1,928,059,292
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $ 1,928,059,292        $        $        $ 1,928,059,292
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

       $ 1,448,533,106        $ 191,975,439

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest directly or through affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds or unregistered investment pools in derivative instruments such as futures, options, and options on futures. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The other party to a derivatives contract could default. During the period ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not directly invest in derivatives.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves a number of risks, such as fluctuations in currency values, adverse political, social or economic developments, and differences in social and economic developments or policies.

Fund of Fund Risk: The Fund, as a shareholder of the underlying funds, indirectly bears its proportionate share of any investment management fees and other expenses of the underlying funds. Further due to the fees and expenses paid by the Fund, as well as small variations in the Fund’s actual allocations to the underlying funds and any futures and cash held in the Fund’s portfolio, the performance and income distributions of the Fund will not be the same as the performance and income distributions of the underlying funds. In addition, the Fund maintains indirect exposure to various types of risk which may exist in the underlying Funds, such as foreign securities risk, fixed income securities risk and other risks.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by an underlying fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the underlying funds may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

 

10


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and

net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $1,808,286,779. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 133,439,267  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (13,666,754
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 119,772,513  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

       $ 11,539,987        $ 22,395,074        $ 33,935,061

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

       $ 11,245,115        $ 20,833,807        $ 32,078,922

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

       $ 34,672,393        $ 99,641,886        $ —          $ 119,776,467        $ 254,090,746

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, return of capital from underlying investments, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

 

11


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 90% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

12


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the transfer agent. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

13


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 32.17% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $22,395,074.

 

14


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

15


Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of the Fund, which is a series of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). The Manager manages the Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of the Fund. For management services, the Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of the Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Fund is offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager. The Board’s decision to approve this contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of the contract, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including its compliance history and the adequacy of its compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Manager. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by employees of the Manager or of affiliates of the Manager and research services received by the Manager from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) payments made by the underlying funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Management Agreement for the Fund.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Manager. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Management Agreement occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of the Management Agreement is informed by reports covering such matters as: the Manager’s investment philosophy, personnel and processes, and the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark and certain competitor or “peer group” funds). In connection with comparing the performance of the Fund versus its benchmark, the Board receives reports on the extent to which the Fund’s performance may be attributed to various applicable factors, such as asset class allocation decisions, the performance of the underlying funds, rebalancing decisions, and the impact of cash positions and Fund fees and expenses. The Board also receives reports on the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of any brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Manager and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Fund and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Fund and/or the Manager are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Manager, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Manager derives from its relationships with the Fund. These reports cover not only the fees under the Management Agreement, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Fund. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits the Manager or its affiliates may derive from their relationships with the Fund.

The Management Agreement was most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of the Management Agreement was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as at various other meetings preceding these meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Management Agreement at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Management Agreement was approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Manager, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Management Agreement with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Management Agreement, in respect of the Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Management Agreement on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to the Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of the investment adviser and the approval of the advisory fee. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers the Fund’s business and other affairs. The Trustees noted that the Manager also provides the Trust and the Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by

 

16


any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Fund) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Fund. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager is responsible for maintaining and monitoring its own compliance program, and this compliance program has been continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and the Fund. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to the Fund under the Management Agreement.

(2) The investment performance of the Fund and the Manager. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting and the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, Trustees received extensive information on the performance results of the Fund. However, the Board also considered the fact that prior to October 14, 2016, the Fund was subadvised by Invesco Advisers, Inc., and managed pursuant to a different strategy. Accordingly, the investment performance of the Fund during the period prior to October 14, 2016, was not deemed relevant to the Board’s assessment of the approval of the Management Agreement in 2021. The performance information considered included performance information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s) and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper, the contribution to performance of the Manager’s asset class allocation decisions, the performance of the underlying funds, and the impact on performance of rebalancing decisions, cash and Fund fees. This included Lipper performance information on the Fund for the one- and three-year periods ended December 31, 2020, for which periods the Fund ranked in the top 40% against peers.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Fund, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Trustees determined that the investment performance of the Fund was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and its affiliates from the relationship with the Fund. The Board considered that the Manager receives an advisory fee from the Fund. The Manager reported that the advisory fee paid by the Fund put it in the 7th percentile of its customized peer group. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) Trustees were provided with information on the total expense ratios of the Fund and other funds in the customized peer group, and the Manager reported upon the challenges in making peer group comparisons for the Fund. The Board considered and found that the advisory fee paid to the Manager with respect to the Fund was based on services provided to the Fund that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to the Fund.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels. The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with funds that have substantial assets. The Board found there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the Fund. The Board noted that the total assets in the Fund, as of June 30, 2021, were approximately $1.98 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Fund grows larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Management Agreement or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory fee rate schedule was acceptable under the Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Management Agreement, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Management Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund.

 

17


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee
  Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1

ETF Trust (2 Funds);

Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 -2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

18


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

19


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 18

Statement of Operations

Page 18

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 19

Financial Highlights

Page 20

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 21

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 27

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 28

Other Information

Page 29

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 30

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 33

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (3.83)%. That compared to a (2.22)% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees, expenses, and fair value adjustments to its portfolio at the close of the New York Stock Exchange, that correspond to the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”). The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of emerging markets equities. The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index.

During the first quarter, vaccine optimism and expectations for more U.S. stimulus helped emerging markets equities post strong performance to start the year, continuing the trend from late 2020. However, emerging markets started to underperform developed markets in mid-February as the vaccine programs in some emerging markets countries started to lag. The rise in COVID-19 cases in several emerging markets countries led to renewed activity restrictions, including in India and Brazil. However, the new wave of cases in India was less disruptive to its domestic market thanks to its relatively younger population.

Over the second quarter, regulatory concerns in China over that country’s technology sector held back market returns. The Chinese economy continued to normalize, however, posting a first-quarter GDP growth rate of 0.6%, quarter-on-quarter. Brazil was one of the best performers over the quarter as it benefited from a rise in oil prices. Poland and Hungary also performed well as their governments began easing lockdowns and restrictions. By comparison, Chile was one of the worst performers for the quarter due to heightened political uncertainty.

A selloff in Chinese equities over the third quarter dominated the news and weighed heavily on emerging markets performance. China is the largest market in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, representing 34% of the index as of September 30, 2021. The introduction of new regulations targeting specific sectors in China sparked investors’ concerns about future earnings growth potential. More negative news followed in the wake of that initial

trigger, including supply chain disruptions, a power shortage, and the potential systemic risk posed by the Evergrande debt crisis.

In the fourth quarter, emerging markets equities declined due to exacerbating inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions. The market downturn in November more than offset the slight positive returns in both October and December. Performance varied among countries, however. For instance, the Chinese market lost momentum over the fourth quarter as it grappled with a slowing manufacturing sector, debt problems in the property market, and a resurgence in COVID-19. The strong economic data and the pickup in e-commerce and technology sectors that were negatively impacted by regulatory actions earlier in the year supported market performance but were not enough to offset the market decline in November. Meanwhile, Turkey dominated emerging markets news and was the worst performer over the quarter. The country found itself in the throes of a currency crisis coupled with rising cyclical inflation. The currency struggles were a result of a series of interest rate cuts by Turkey’s central bank, which had been overhauled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to the impacts of fair value pricing and expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses derivatives for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and Fund managers keep cash to cover all outstanding futures positions fully.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as closely as possible. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 90% of its assets in the securities of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Underlying Index”) and in depositary receipts representing securities in its Underlying Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Emerging market investing may be subject to additional economic, political, liquidity, and currency risks not associated with more developed countries.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     

1

Year

  

3

Year

  

5

Year

   10
Year

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

       (3.68 )%        9.91 %        9.02 %        5.31 %

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

       (3.83 )%        9.63 %        8.76 %        5.05 %

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (gross of withholding taxes)

       (2.22 )%        11.33 %        10.26 %        5.87 %

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net of withholding taxes)

       (2.54 )%        10.94 %        9.87 %        5.49 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         1.17 %

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         1.42 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.45% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.85% for Class 1 Shares and 1.10% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Emerging Markets Index, an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity performance of emerging markets. The Index returns shown do not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Index noted as “gross of withholding taxes” reflects the maximum possible reinvestment of dividends with no adjustment for withholding tax deductions or tax credits. The Index noted as “net of withholding taxes” reflects the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indexes) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
 

Expenses Paid

During Period

7/1/21 - 12/31/21*

 

Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period

7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 900.00     $ 3.45       0.72 %

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 898.60     $ 4.64       0.97 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
 

Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period

7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.58     $ 3.67       0.72 %

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.32     $ 4.94       0.97 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      22.6 %

Financials

      19.4

Consumer Discretionary

      13.0

Communication Services

      11.1

Materials

      8.5

Consumer Staples

      5.9

Energy

      5.6

Industrials

      5.1

Health Care

      4.3

Utilities

      2.4

Real Estate

      1.8
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.7

Rights

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.6

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.4
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.7

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.7 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (98.5%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.1%):       
  5,099      Aecc Aviation Power Co., Ltd.    $ 50,782  
  18,981      Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS      29,280  
  83,000      AviChina Industry & Technology Co., Ltd., Class H      57,408  
  35,570      Bharat Electronics, Ltd.      100,477  
  2,537      Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd.      69,087  
     

 

 

 
        307,034  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.3%):       
  36,697      Agility Public Warehousing Co. KSC      114,769  
  572      Hyundai Glovis Co., Ltd.      80,785  
  9,300      SF Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      100,573  
  3,900      Yunda Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      12,519  
  12,937      ZTO Express Cayman, Inc., ADR      365,082  
     

 

 

 
        673,728  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  66,000      Air China, Ltd.*      46,051  
  39,299      China Eastern Airlines Corp., Ltd.*      31,776  
  38,000      China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd.*      40,533  
  28,000      China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd., Class H*      16,747  
  2,989      InterGlobe Aviation, Ltd.*      80,520  
  4,761      Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.*      117,143  
     

 

 

 
        332,770  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.5%):       
  3,039      Balkrishna Industries, Ltd.      95,013  
  6,982      Bharat Forge, Ltd.      65,563  
  900      Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co., Ltd., Class A      28,809  
  47,000      Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., Ltd.      61,255  
  6,500      Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd.      48,099  
  12,800      Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., Class H      66,281  
  2,479      Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.      82,386  
  5,302      Hanon Systems      59,964  
  4,200      Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.      18,627  
  1,996      Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.      424,006  
  7,300      Kuang-Chi Technologies Co., Ltd., Class A*      27,508  
  24,000      Minth Group, Ltd.      105,743  
  35,987      Motherson Sumi Systems, Ltd.      108,132  
  62      MRF, Ltd.      61,181  
  1,500      Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp.      5,174  
  3,600      Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd., Class A      20,648  
     

 

 

 
        1,278,389  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (3.2%):       
  602,600      Astra International Tbk PT      240,782  
  2,257      Bajaj Auto, Ltd.      98,672  
  3,133      BYD Co., Ltd.      131,673  
  24,500      BYD Co., Ltd., Class H      837,859  
  11,480      Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd., Class A      27,356  
  84,000      Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd., Class H      69,845  
  4,135      Eicher Motors, Ltd.      144,210  
  2,009      Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AS      36,297  
  177,000      Geely Automobile Holdings, Ltd.      484,314  
  4,500      Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd., Class A      34,267  
  92,500      Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd., Class H      318,021  
  99,200      Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.      97,784  
  3,348      Hero MotoCorp, Ltd.      110,674  
  4,275      Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.      751,229  
  732      Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.      60,550  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Automobiles, continued       
  8,066      Kia Corp.    $ 553,828  
  16,352      Li Auto, Inc., ADR*      524,899  
  27,081      Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd.      305,037  
  3,744      Maruti Suzuki India, Ltd.      373,827  
  40,924      NIO, Inc., ADR*      1,296,472  
  19,100      SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd.      61,761  
  51,308      Tata Motors, Ltd.*      331,993  
  11,629      Xpeng, Inc., ADR*      585,288  
  36,000      Yadea Group Holdings, Ltd.      70,208  
     

 

 

 
        7,546,846  
     

 

 

 
Banks (13.3%):       
  21,458      Absa Group, Ltd.      205,510  
  87,807      Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank      203,838  
  143,000      Agricultural Bank of China, Ltd.      65,938  
  724,000      Agricultural Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      248,945  
  107,574      Akbank T.A.S.      57,673  
  37,346      Al Rajhi Bank      1,406,563  
  33,870      Alinma Bank      215,554  
  49,791      Alpha Services and Holdings SA*      61,031  
  53,900      AMMB Holdings Berhad*      41,036  
  16,034      Arab National Bank      97,344  
  66,355      Axis Bank, Ltd.*      602,195  
  39,610      Banco Bradesco SA      115,153  
  1,298,706      Banco de Chile      101,517  
  1,979      Banco de Credito e Inversiones      57,848  
  24,879      Banco do Brasil SA      128,885  
  9,387      Banco Inter SA      48,157  
  11,234      Banco Santander Brasil SA      60,477  
  2,238,136      Banco Santander Chile      90,025  
  12,949      Bancolombia SA      101,936  
  9,306      Bancolombia SA      79,439  
  20,207      Bandhan Bank, Ltd.      68,650  
  13,481      Bank AlBilad*      166,211  
  19,448      Bank Al-Jazira      99,922  
  37,500      Bank of Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      26,125  
  2,389,000      Bank of China, Ltd.      860,988  
  72,500      Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      34,698  
  75,999      Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Class A      54,972  
  175,000      Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Class H      105,785  
  20,000      Bank of Hangzhou Co., Ltd.      40,225  
  36,920      Bank of Jiangsu Co., Ltd.      33,768  
  18,200      Bank of Nanjing Co., Ltd.      25,584  
  13,970      Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd.      83,903  
  34,470      Bank of Shanghai Co., Ltd., Class A      38,562  
  62,666      Bank of the Philippine Islands      113,300  
  5,661      Bank Pekao SA      171,399  
  19,368      Banque Saudi Fransi      242,760  
  57,334      BDO Unibank, Inc.      135,748  
  31,338      Boubyan Bank KSCP*      82,001  
  2,487      Capitec Bank Holdings, Ltd.      318,542  
  135,393      Chang Hwa Commercial Bank      83,228  
  82,500      China Bohai Bank Co, Ltd., Class H      31,788  
  257,000      China Citic Bank Co., Ltd.      111,413  
  2,852,000      China Construction Bank      1,976,160  
  32,600      China Construction Bank Corp.      29,949  
  430,795      China Development Financial Holding Corp.      272,056  
  122,500      China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd.      63,811  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  45,000      China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd., Class H    $ 15,929  
  40,244      China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.      307,588  
  115,000      China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.      893,772  
  69,700      China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Class A      42,654  
  113,300      China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Class H^      43,307  
  197,400      CIMB Group Holdings Berhad      258,372  
  77,279      Commercial Bank of Qatar Qsc (The)      143,174  
  54,566      Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE*      184,639  
  2,030      Credicorp, Ltd.      247,802  
  543,000      CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      508,757  
  66,215      Dubai Islamic Bank      96,900  
  360,783      E.Sun Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      365,610  
  79,492      Emirates NBD Bank PJSC      292,863  
  70,569      Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA*      71,590  
  128,674      First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC      660,007  
  312,745      First Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      277,061  
  80,351      Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de C.V.      522,121  
  58,223      Grupo Financiero Inbursa SAB de C.V., Class O*      69,739  
  9,216      Hana Financial Holdings Group, Inc.      324,584  
  19,300      Hong Leong Bank Berhad      86,290  
  6,400      Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad      26,654  
  272,123      Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      208,337  
  26,900      Huaxia Bank Co., Ltd., Class A      23,620  
  154,589      ICICI Bank, Ltd.      1,531,448  
  108,800      Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      79,043  
  1,676,000      Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd., Class H      946,170  
  39,400      Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.      117,688  
  8,902      Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK)      77,028  
  132,769      Itausa — Investimentos Itau S.A.      212,898  
  1,627      KakaoBank Corp.*      80,548  
  12,202      KB Financial Group, Inc.      562,527  
  2,004      Komercni Banka AS      85,722  
  17,050      Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ltd.      411,741  
  43,000      Krung Thai Bank      16,879  
  163,429      Kuwait Finance House KSCP      450,113  
  102,501      Malayan Banking Bhd      204,318  
  106,740      Masraf Al Rayan      136,012  
  371      mBank SA*      39,470  
  325,000      Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      417,763  
  46,592      Metropolitan Bank & Trust      50,930  
  16,450      Moneta Money Bank AS      70,611  
  216,606      National Bank of Kuwait SAKP      715,080  
  65,988      National Commercial Bank      1,130,872  
  13,995      Nedcor, Ltd.      153,842  
  6,856      OTP Bank Nyrt*      350,595  
  41,800      Ping An Bank Co., Ltd., Class A      108,096  
  38,900      Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd., Class A      31,125  
  260,000      Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd., Class H      182,421  
  27,177      Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA*      302,880  
  1,554,500      PT Bank Central Asia Tbk      787,902  
  590,100      PT Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk      290,832  
  242,400      PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk      114,633  
  2,081,842      PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk      600,194  
  446,400      Public Bank Berhad      445,953  
  27,221      Qatar International Islamic Bank QSC      68,849  
  32,811      Qatar Islamic Bank      165,152  
  138,366      Qatar National Bank      767,078  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  59,900      RHB Bank Bhd    $ 77,245  
  41,240      Riyad Bank      297,343  
  1,058      Santander Bank Polska SA      91,590  
  317,881      Sberbank of Russia      1,242,955  
  105,724      Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank, Ltd. (The)      180,642  
  70,100      Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.      93,727  
  13,395      Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.      413,086  
  28,200      Siam Commercial Bank Public Co., Ltd.      106,221  
  354,800      SinoPac Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      206,948  
  38,215      Standard Bank Group, Ltd.      335,942  
  53,820      State Bank of India      333,428  
  315,390      Taishin Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      215,755  
  280,247      Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      257,625  
  3,719      TCS Group Holding plc, GDR      302,609  
  25,381      The Saudi British Bank      222,794  
  59,902      Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS      51,230  
  46,220      Turkiye Is Bankasi AS, Class C      24,643  
  97,280,589      VTB Bank PJSC      62,310  
  15,903      Woori Financial Group, Inc.      169,676  
  316,254      Yes Bank, Ltd.*      58,260  
     

 

 

 
        31,382,424  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.6%):       
  146,282      Ambev SA Com Npv      405,040  
  1,100      Anhui Gujing Distillery Co., Ltd., Class A      42,116  
  3,000      Anhui Gujing Distillery Co., Ltd., Class B      42,703  
  1,300      Anhui Kouzi Distillery Co., Ltd.      14,456  
  10,480      Arca Continental SAB de C.V.      66,819  
  17,696      Becle SAB de CV      44,398  
  3,700      Beijing Shunxin Agriculture Co., Ltd., Class A      22,163  
  8,700      Carabao Group pcl      31,028  
  46,000      China Resources Beer Holdings Co., Ltd.      377,008  
  1,400      Chongqing Brewery Co., Ltd., Class A*      33,234  
  15,966      Coca-Cola Femsa S.A.B de C.V.      87,119  
  3,027      Compania Cervecerias Unidas SA      24,635  
  60,690      Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V.      472,335  
  6,500      Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd      38,628  
  2,800      Jiangsu King’s Luck Brewery JSC, Ltd., Class A      23,899  
  3,200      Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., Class A      82,709  
  1,100      JiuGui Liquor Co., Ltd., Class A      36,664  
  2,272      Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.      730,800  
  2,400      Luzhou Laojiao Co., Ltd.      95,623  
  51,000      Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd., Class H      336,839  
  23,700      Osotspa pcl      24,287  
  1,960      Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., Class A      18,404  
  2,660      Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co., Ltd., Class A      131,809  
  1,400      Sichuan Swellfun Co., Ltd., Class A      26,351  
  2,600      Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., Class A      40,384  
  14,000      Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., Class H      131,137  
  7,920      United Spirits, Ltd.*      95,693  
  7,600      Wuliangye Yibin Co., Ltd., Class A      265,521  
     

 

 

 
        3,741,802  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.8%):       
  51,000      3SBio, Inc.*      42,539  
  9,000      Akeso, Inc.*      39,247  
  808      Alteogen, Inc.*      51,284  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  1,420      BeiGene, Ltd., ADR*    $ 384,721  
  700      Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp., Ltd., Class A      3,178  
  700      Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd., Class A      24,345  
  600      BGI Genomics Co., Ltd.      8,273  
  14,923      Biocon, Ltd.*      73,213  
  2,869      Celltrion, Inc.      477,745  
  3,200      Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., Ltd., Class A      62,554  
  185      Green Cross Corp.      33,880  
  3,270      Hualan Biological Engineering, Inc., Class A      14,937  
  1,059      I-Mab, ADR*      50,186  
  300      Imeik Technology Development Co., Ltd., Class A      25,234  
  36,500      Innovent Biologics, Inc.*      226,118  
  923      Legend Biotech Corp., ADR*^      43,021  
  1,238      Seegne, Inc.      63,412  
  21,600      Shanghai Raas Blood Products Co., Ltd.      23,116  
  1,600      Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd., Class A      24,713  
  644      SK Bioscience Co., Ltd.*      121,615  
  4,000      Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Class A      35,272  
  2,417      Zai Lab, Ltd., ADR*      151,908  
     

 

 

 
        1,980,511  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  3,000      Beijing New Building Materials plc      16,866  
  35,000      China Lesso Group Holdings, Ltd.      50,283  
  6,500      Zhuzhou Kibing Group Co., Ltd., Class A      17,412  
     

 

 

 
        84,561  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.2%):       
  190,509      B3 SA- Brasil Bolsa Balcao      381,086  
  34,376      Banco BTG Pactual SA      129,628  
  68,300      Bangkok Commercial Asset Management pcl, Class R      44,142  
  17,800      Caitong Securities Co., Ltd.      31,074  
  193,000      China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd., Class H      35,150  
  120,000      China Galaxy Securities Co.      68,949  
  327,000      China Huarong Asset Management Co., Ltd., Class H*      32,082  
  44,400      China International Capital Corp., Ltd.      122,442  
  14,140      China Merchants Securities Co., Ltd.      39,155  
  29,100      Citic Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      120,571  
  59,000      Citic Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      154,101  
  5,300      CSC Financial Co., Ltd., Class A      24,319  
  23,328      East Money Information Co., Ltd., Class A      135,815  
  6,600      Everbright Securities Co., Ltd.      15,466  
  20,100      Founder Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      24,725  
  30,400      GF Securities Co., Ltd.      57,925  
  15,400      GF Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      59,444  
  12,599      Guosen Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      22,703  
  14,600      Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd.      40,978  
  28,600      Haitong Securities Co., Ltd.      55,015  
  78,800      Haitong Securities Co., Ltd.      69,862  
  1,835      HDFC Asset Management Co., Ltd.      60,360  
  1,000      Hithink RoyalFlush Information Network Co., Ltd., Class A      22,683  
  23,600      Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      65,754  
  44,600      Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Class H      74,250  
  24,300      Industrial Securities Co., Ltd.      37,667  
  1,242      Korea Investment Holdings Co., Ltd.      84,121  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  10,139      Meritz Securities Co., Ltd.    $ 43,736  
  9,168      Mirae Asset Securities Co., Ltd.      66,335  
  6,300      Nanjing Securities Co., Ltd.      9,795  
  2,777      NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.      29,194  
  1,111      Noah Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      34,097  
  20,500      Orient Securities Co., Ltd./China      47,409  
  4,862      Reinet Investments SCA      87,326  
  2,406      Samsung Securities Co., Ltd.      90,693  
  12,160      SDIC Capital Co., Ltd., Class A      15,682  
  69,900      Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co., Ltd.      56,131  
  45,462      The Moscow Exchange      92,852  
  26,100      Tianfeng Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      16,585  
  304,680      Yuanta Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      278,328  
  5,300      Zheshang Securities Co., Ltd.      10,961  
     

 

 

 
        2,888,591  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.0%):       
  4,207      Advanced Petrochemical Co.      78,864  
  11,757      Asian Paints, Ltd.      533,348  
  9,301      Berger Paints India, Ltd.      96,575  
  42,000      Dongyue Group, Ltd.      65,510  
  88,000      Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp.      256,670  
  120,000      Formosa Plastics Corp.      450,346  
  2,300      Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      41,370  
  3,999      Hanwha Chemical Corp.*      119,560  
  13,400      Hengli Petrochemical Co., Ltd.      48,287  
  10,092      Hengyi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Class A      16,818  
  25,000      Huabao International Holdings, Ltd.      46,249  
  60,600      Indorama Ventures pcl      78,428  
  9,200      Jiangsu Eastern Shenghong Co., Ltd., Class A      27,865  
  6,200      Kingfa Sci & Tech Co., Ltd., Class A      12,229  
  533      Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.      74,203  
  1,400      LG Chem, Ltd.      722,419  
  226      LG Chem, Ltd.      54,555  
  3,900      Lomon Billions Group Co., Ltd., Class A      17,492  
  540      Lotte Chemical Corp.      98,523  
  135,824      Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co.      77,929  
  161,000      Nan Ya Plastics Corp.      496,114  
  9,868      National Industrialization Co.*      52,294  
  3,035      National Petrochemical Co.      32,302  
  14,000      Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co., Ltd., Class A      38,127  
  29,450      Orbia Advance Corp SAB de CV      75,197  
  81,600      Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad      174,818  
  4,369      PhosAgro, GDR      94,193  
  2,928      PI Industries, Ltd.      119,534  
  5,202      Pidilite Industries, Ltd.      172,357  
  832,600      PT Barito Pacific Tbk      49,950  
  75,400      PTT Global Chemical Public Co., Ltd.      132,093  
  19,350      Rongsheng Petro Chemical Co., Ltd., Class A      55,128  
  6,925      SABIK Agri-Nutrients Co.      325,531  
  8,631      Sahara International Petrochemical Co.      96,256  
  17,307      Sasol, Ltd.*      283,311  
  27,928      Saudi Basic Industries Corp.      862,226  
  4,576      Saudi Industrial Investment Group      37,922  
  25,640      Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.*      116,137  
  4,940      Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Chemical Co., Ltd., Class A      24,258  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  1,800      Shanghai Putailai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 45,402  
  388      SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.      48,604  
  380      SK IE Technology Co., Ltd.*      53,322  
  649      SKC Co., Ltd.      94,848  
  1,120      Skshu Paint Co., Ltd., Class A      24,457  
  4,172      Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA      213,078  
  3,359      SRF Ltd.      109,378  
  14,118      UPL, Ltd.      141,265  
  7,300      Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.      115,669  
  7,713      Yanbu National Petrochemical Co.      140,973  
  14,800      Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co., Ltd., Class A      29,346  
     

 

 

 
        7,171,330  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.2%):       
  11,500      A-Living Services Co., Ltd., Class H      19,635  
  108,222      China Everbright International, Ltd.      86,893  
  51,000      Country Garden Services Holdings Co., Ltd.      305,528  
  44,000      Greentown Service Group Co., Ltd.      40,669  
  6,265      Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp., Ltd.      70,124  
  588      S1 Corp.      36,548  
  2,200      Shanghai M&G Stationery, Inc., Class A      22,271  
     

 

 

 
        581,668  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.2%):       
  17,000      Accton Technology Corp.      159,837  
  20,500      BYD Electronic International Co., Ltd.^      75,074  
  5,600      Fiberhome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd.      15,798  
  1,400      Shenzhen Sunway Communication Co., Ltd., Class A      5,563  
  1,800      Yealink Network Technology Corp., Ltd., Class A      23,006  
  900      Zhongji Innolight Co., Ltd., Class A      6,001  
  8,300      ZTE Corp.      43,621  
  23,800      ZTE Corp., Class H      65,172  
     

 

 

 
        394,072  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.5%):       
  118,000      China Railway Group, Ltd.      62,364  
  53,400      China Railway Group, Ltd., Class A      48,448  
  102,100      China State Construction Engineering Corp., Ltd.      80,098  
  44,000      China State Construction International Holdings, Ltd.      54,685  
  2,296      GS Engineering & Construction Corp.      76,444  
  2,127      Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.      79,312  
  21,636      Larsen & Toubro, Ltd.      549,051  
  71,700      Metallurgical Corp. of China, Ltd.      43,154  
  38,400      Power Construction Corp. of China, Ltd.      48,677  
  4,331      Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.*      83,194  
     

 

 

 
        1,125,427  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (1.0%):       
  1,933      ACC, Ltd.      57,586  
  19,842      Ambuja Cements, Ltd.      100,794  
  7,700      Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class A      48,692  
  33,000      Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class H      164,862  
  72,000      Asia Cement Corp.      115,330  
  25,400      BBMG Corp.      11,330  
  478,374      Cemex SAB de C.V.*      326,925  
  8,458      China Jushi Co., Ltd., Class A      24,173  
  122,000      China National Buildings Material Co., Ltd.      149,665  
  78,000      China Resources Cement Holdings, Ltd.      59,029  
  7,494      Grasim Industries, Ltd.      163,577  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials, continued       
  8,000      Huaxin Cement Co., Ltd.    $ 24,234  
  1,017      POSCO Chemical Co., Ltd.      122,766  
  44,100      PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk      37,402  
  112,100      PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk      56,955  
  3,423      Saudi Cement Co.      49,955  
  368      Shree Cement, Ltd.      133,638  
  162,374      Taiwan Cement Corp.      281,817  
  19,200      The Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd.      221,619  
  3,087      Ultra Tech Cement, Ltd.      315,293  
     

 

 

 
        2,465,642  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.6%):       
  2,667      360 DigiTech, Inc., ADR      61,154  
  8,374      Bajaj Finance, Ltd.      786,181  
  12,258      Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co., Ltd.      85,827  
  29,000      Krungthai Card pcl      51,396  
  28,300      Muangthai Capital pcl, Class R      49,743  
  4,134      Muthoot Finance, Ltd.      83,195  
  4,769      SBI Cards & Payment Services, Ltd.*      59,523  
  6,417      Shriram Transport Finance      104,186  
  27,700      Srisawad Corp pcl      51,167  
     

 

 

 
        1,332,372  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  21,248      Klabin SA      97,903  
  38,400      SCG Packaging pcl      79,542  
  1,500      Yunnan Energy New Material Co., Ltd.      58,874  
     

 

 

 
        236,319  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  25,000      China Education Group Holdings, Ltd.      40,629  
  48,000      China Yuhua Education Corp., Ltd.      17,204  
  47,798      New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc., ADR*      100,376  
  12,817      TAL Education Group, ADR*      50,371  
     

 

 

 
        208,580  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.8%):       
  39,126      Chailease Holding Co., Ltd.      371,607  
  58,000      Far East Horizon, Ltd.      51,498  
  150,543      FirstRand, Ltd.      574,729  
  231,038      Fubon Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      637,257  
  8,105      Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA      59,815  
  431,800      Metro Pacific Investments Corp.      33,034  
  3,371      Piramal Enterprises, Ltd.      119,924  
  16,878      Remgro, Ltd.      139,009  
     

 

 

 
        1,986,873  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.4%):       
  98,000      China Communications Services Corp., Ltd.      47,760  
  1,192,000      China Tower Corp., Ltd., Class H      131,519  
  110,000      Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.      463,355  
  100,092      Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC      864,713  
  7,958      Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE)      147,274  
  18,250      Indus Towers, Ltd.      60,704  
  6,438      LG Uplus Corp.      73,576  
  34,613      Ooredoo Qsc      66,737  
  22,338      Orange Polska SA*      46,739  
  1,486,900      PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk      424,879  
  497,700      Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk PT      39,285  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  17,260      Saudi Telecom Co.    $ 516,178  
  12,522      Telefonica Brasil SA      108,356  
  37,500      Telekom Malaysia Berhad      49,475  
  50,779      Telesites SAB de CV      51,992  
  243,500      Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk PT      50,403  
  494,000      True Corp. pcl      70,265  
     

 

 

 
        3,213,210  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.8%):       
  7,799      Adani Transmission, Ltd.*      182,585  
  4,434      Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A      26,282  
  12,336      Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A      74,007  
  5,163      CEZ AS      195,461  
  35,776      Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais      84,220  
  657,720      ENEL Americas SA      71,836  
  1,011,183      ENEL Chile SA      35,388  
  6,011      Energisa SA      47,892  
  32,737      Equatorial Energia SA      132,911  
  952,130      Inter Rao Ues PJSC      54,106  
  15,365      Interconexion Electrica SA ESP      84,668  
  7,164      Korea Electric Power Corp., Ltd.      132,708  
  25,730      PGE SA*      51,586  
  93,408      Power Grid Corp. of India, Ltd.      256,828  
  4,801      Public Power Corp. SA*      51,416  
  25,045      Saudi Electricity Co.      159,886  
  42,224      Tata Power Co., Ltd. (The)      125,529  
  71,600      Tenega Nasional Berhad      160,601  
     

 

 

 
        1,927,910  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.6%):       
  4,500      Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      415,072  
  9,012      Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.*      154,078  
  328      Ecopro BM Co., Ltd.      137,604  
  3,801      Eve Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      70,459  
  700      Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Class A      25,430  
  7,790      Havells India, Ltd.      146,429  
  12,500      Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      33,305  
  14,880      Nari Technology Co., Ltd.      93,446  
  2,900      Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., Class A      66,346  
  3,200      Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., Class A      21,221  
  7,200      TBEA Co., Ltd., Class A      23,911  
  2,000      Voltronic Power Technology Corp.      111,894  
  16,541      Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd.      42,752  
  12,400      Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd.      24,227  
  3,500      Zhejiang Chint Electrics Co., Ltd., Class A      29,610  
  15,800      Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co., Ltd., Class H      91,503  
     

 

 

 
        1,487,287  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.0%):       
  18,500      AAC Technologies Holdings, Inc.      72,886  
  255,000      AU Optronics Corp.      210,240  
  4,200      Chaozhou Three-Circle Group Co., Ltd., Class A      29,410  
  10,300      Delta Electronics Thailand pcl      126,780  
  60,000      Delta Electronics, Inc.      596,664  
  9,699      Foxconn Industrial Internet Co., Ltd., Class A      18,141  
  22,000      Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.      51,514  
  8,100      GoerTek, Inc., Class A      68,490  
  2,100      Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      26,826  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  370,000      Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.    $ 1,387,622  
  606      Iljin Materials Co., Ltd.*      68,279  
  48,600      Inari Amertron Berhad      46,546  
  266,000      Innolux Corp.      187,528  
  25,500      Kingboard Holdings, Ltd.      124,065  
  37,500      Kingboard Laminates Holdings, Ltd.      63,811  
  659      L&F Co., Ltd.      122,025  
  3,000      Largan Precision Co., Ltd.      267,291  
  11,400      Lens Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      41,098  
  7,487      LG Display Co., Ltd.*      154,846  
  404      LG Innotek Co., Ltd.      123,594  
  4,700      Lingyi iTech Guangdong Co., Class A*      5,420  
  14,559      Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.      112,369  
  540      Maxscend Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      27,614  
  7,000      Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corp.      143,628  
  1,200      NAURA Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      65,327  
  4,200      OFILM Group Co., Ltd., Class A*      6,385  
  1,281      Raytron Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      15,792  
  1,773      Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., Series L      294,320  
  1,664      Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.      911,545  
  3,800      Shengyi Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      14,040  
  1,820      Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Class A      34,780  
  22,200      Sunny Optical Technology Group Co., Ltd.      702,180  
  7,000      Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      29,760  
  41,000      Synnex Technology International Corp.      97,953  
  14,000      Tianma Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      28,582  
  35,000      Unimicron Technology Corp.      290,845  
  6,300      Unisplendour Corp., Ltd., Class A      22,579  
  1,700      Wingtech Technology Co., Ltd.      34,487  
  47,960      WPG Holdings, Ltd.      91,112  
  4,536      Wuhan Guide Infrared Co., Ltd.      17,231  
  1,650      WUS Printed Circuit Kunshan Co., Ltd., Class A      4,293  
  2,720      Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., Class A      31,736  
  12,377      Yageo Corp.      213,951  
  9,200      Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      33,893  
  19,000      Zhen Ding Technology Holding, Ltd.      68,883  
     

 

 

 
        7,086,361  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  48,000      China Oilfield Services, Ltd.      42,048  
  126,200      Dialog Group Berhad      79,385  
     

 

 

 
        121,433  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.2%):       
  500,000      Alibaba Pictures Group, Ltd.*      45,535  
  4,913      Bilibili, Inc., ADR*^      227,963  
  2,170      CD Projekt SA      103,403  
  400      G-Bits Network Technology Xiamen Co., Ltd.      26,475  
  455      HYBE Co., Ltd.*      132,921  
  9,347      IQIYI, Inc., ADR*      42,622  
  870      Kakao Games Corp.*      66,544  
  603      Krafton, Inc.*      233,017  
  4,000      Mango Excellent Media Co., Ltd., Class A      35,905  
  531      Ncsoft Corp.      286,745  
  12,275      NetEase, Inc., ADR      1,249,350  
  657      Netmarble Corp.      69,059  
  810      Pearl Abyss Corp.*      94,189  
  7,050      Perfect World Co., Ltd., Class A      22,464  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment, continued       
  20,844      Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR*    $ 142,781  
  4,800      Wuhu Sanqi Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      20,348  
  15,360      Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co., Ltd., Class A*      20,239  
     

 

 

 
        2,819,560  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.1%):       
  96,015      Fibra UNO Amdinistracion SA      101,498  
  111,747      Growthpoint Properties, Ltd.      107,832  
     

 

 

 
        209,330  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.3%):       
  1,612      Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Co.      46,456  
  13,933      Atacadao Distribuicao Comercio e Industria, Ltd.      38,154  
  5,379      Avenue Supermarts, Ltd.*      337,830  
  27,700      Berli Jucker pcl      25,665  
  157      BGF Retail Co., Ltd.      19,154  
  10,042      Bid Corp., Ltd.      205,554  
  12,876      BIM Birlesik Magazalar AS      58,584  
  53,777      Cencosud SA      89,997  
  8,233      Clicks Group, Ltd.      163,003  
  166,700      CP All pcl      294,205  
  1,473      Dino Polska SA*      134,341  
  631      E-Mart Co., Ltd.      79,966  
  10,020      Magnit PJSC, GDR      149,760  
  16,000      President Chain Store Corp.      158,069  
  37,127      Raia Drogasil SA      162,001  
  14,686      Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.      192,527  
  78,500      Sun Art Retail Group, Ltd.      31,514  
  5,844      The Spar Group, Ltd.      61,350  
  165,130      Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de C.V.      613,785  
  3,565      X5 Retail Group NV, GDR      94,152  
  1,456      Yifeng Pharmacy Chain Co., Ltd., Class A      12,590  
  25,700      Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd.      16,333  
     

 

 

 
        2,984,990  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.8%):       
  8,424      Almarai Co. JSC      109,327  
  7,000      Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., Ltd.      11,517  
  21,374      BRF SA*      86,432  
  3,392      Britannia Industries, Ltd.      164,569  
  107,900      Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co., Ltd.      82,299  
  110,000      China Feihe, Ltd.      147,678  
  280,000      China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co., Ltd.*(a)       
  86,000      China Mengniu Dairy Co., Ltd.      487,525  
  245      CJ CheilJedang Corp.      79,518  
  75,500      Dali Foods Group Co., Ltd.      39,511  
  7,228      Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Co., Ltd.      119,200  
  700      Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co., Ltd., Class A      18,742  
  5,255      Gruma, SAB de C.V., Class B      67,390  
  45,487      Grupo Bimbo SAB de C.V., Series A, Class A      139,921  
  3,800      Guangdong Haid Group Co., Ltd., Class A      43,706  
  5,400      Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd.      26,733  
  10,200      Inner Mongolia Yili Indsutrial Group Co., Ltd.      66,310  
  90,500      IOI Corp. Berhad      81,039  
  26,571      JBS SA      181,068  
  3,100      Jiangxi Zhengbang Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      4,699  
  1,500      Jonjee Hi-Tech Industrial And Commercial Holding Co., Ltd.      8,940  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  700      Juewei Food Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 7,511  
  15,700      Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad      82,119  
  9,772      Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd.      81,817  
  1,031      Nestle India, Ltd.      273,358  
  2,000      Nestle Malaysia Bhd      64,459  
  10,600      New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., Class A*      25,298  
  721      Orion Corp./ Republic of Korea      62,746  
  20,980      PPB Group Berhad      86,161  
  213,700      PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk      89,213  
  76,600      PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk      46,759  
  127,500      PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk      56,586  
  32,650      QL Resources Berhad      35,833  
  37,200      Sime Darby Plantation Bhd      33,592  
  20,577      Tata Consumer Products, Ltd.      205,839  
  56,100      Thai Union Frozen Products pcl      32,739  
  9,830      The Savola Group      83,598  
  3,980      Tiger Brands, Ltd.      45,225  
  70,000      Tingyi (Caymen Is) Holding Corp.      143,851  
  6,800      Tongwei Co., Ltd., Class A      47,915  
  43,000      Uni-President China Holdings, Ltd.      41,709  
  137,000      Uni-President Enterprises Corp.      339,837  
  32,810      Universal Robina Corp.      82,383  
  163,000      Want Want China Holdings, Ltd.      149,677  
  13,060      Wens Foodstuffs Group Co., Ltd.      39,471  
  16,000      Yihai International Holding, Ltd.      73,955  
  2,600      Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      25,679  
     

 

 

 
        4,223,454  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.6%):       
  7,360      Adani Total Gas, Ltd.      170,721  
  18,500      Beijing Enterprises Holdings, Ltd.      63,827  
  93,800      China Gas Holdings, Ltd.      194,877  
  32,000      China Resources Gas Group, Ltd.      180,811  
  24,700      ENN Energy Holdings, Ltd.      465,337  
  40,303      GAIL India, Ltd.      70,070  
  8,251      Indraprastha Gas, Ltd.      52,220  
  124,000      Kunlun Energy Co., Ltd.      116,311  
  25,200      Petronas Gas Berhad      108,990  
     

 

 

 
        1,423,164  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.3%):       
  1,430      Autobio Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Class A      12,353  
  54,400      Hartalega Holdings Berhad      74,853  
  2,280      Jafron Biomedical Co., Ltd., Class A      19,076  
  900      Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co., Ltd.      5,338  
  7,700      Lepu Medical Technology Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      27,348  
  20,000      Microport Scientific Corp.      72,850  
  1,680      Ovctek China, Inc., Class A      15,105  
  548      SD Biosensor, Inc.*      25,823  
  72,000      Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co., Ltd., Class H      89,858  
  2,100      Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Class A      125,480  
  22,000      Sri Trang Gloves Thailand pcl      19,928  
  155,200      Top Glove Corp. Berhad      96,510  
  7,000      Venus MedTech Hangzhou, Inc., Class H*      26,576  
     

 

 

 
        611,098  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services (0.7%):       
  12,464      Aier Eye Hospital Group Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 82,688  
  3,000      Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Ltd.      202,421  
  301,500      Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Co., Ltd.      207,526  
  13,700      Bumrungrad Hospital pcl      57,741  
  2,641      Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd.      178,079  
  1,270      Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Co.      54,613  
  1,400      Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd., Class A      24,466  
  35,667      Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA      66,479  
  3,300      Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd., Class A      20,815  
  9,200      Hygeia Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.      57,629  
  60,100      IHH Healthcare Berhad      105,968  
  46,000      Jinxin Fertility Group, Ltd.*^      51,393  
  600      Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      1,386  
  15,300      Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A*      18,845  
  1,233      Mouwasat Medical Services Co.      57,078  
  16,360      Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA      177,290  
  9,527      Rede D’Or Sao Luiz SA      76,692  
  1,900      Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.      5,924  
  25,500      Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.      48,337  
  34,400      Sinopharm Group Co., Series H      74,870  
  700      Topchoice Medical Corp., Class A*      21,839  
     

 

 

 
        1,592,079  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  130,000      Alibaba Health Information Technology, Ltd.*      110,003  
  14,300      Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co., Ltd.*^      51,975  
  1,090      Winning Health Technology Group Co., Ltd.      2,866  
     

 

 

 
        164,844  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.7%):       
  231,900      Asset World Corp. pcl*      32,209  
  3,600      China International Travel Service Corp., Ltd., Class A      123,927  
  67,600      Genting Berhard      75,799  
  86,800      Genting Malaysia Berhad      60,017  
  33,000      Haidilao International Holding, Ltd.      74,559  
  5,524      Huazhu Group, Ltd., ADR*      206,266  
  20,000      Jiumaojiu International Holdings, Ltd.      35,146  
  15,230      Jollibee Foods Corp.      64,689  
  2,350      Jubilant Foodworks, Ltd.      113,551  
  2,483      Kangwon Land, Inc.*      50,095  
  101,900      Minor International pcl*      87,592  
  7,104      OPAP SA      100,784  
  25,400      Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co., Ltd., Class A      28,057  
  6,660      Songcheng Performance Development Co., Ltd., Class A      14,941  
  12,743      Yum China Holdings, Inc.      635,111  
     

 

 

 
        1,702,743  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.4%):       
  700      Ecovacs Robotics Co., Ltd., Class A      16,581  
  66,800      Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Class H      282,319  
  3,220      LG Electronics, Inc.      372,409  
  13,100      NavInfo Co., Ltd.*      32,715  
  5,000      Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.      74,585  
  1,400      Oppein Home Group, Inc., Class A      32,395  
  11,900      Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.      55,805  
  28,400      TCL Corp., Class A      27,493  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  1,893      Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.    $ 117,733  
  1,600      Zhejiang Supor Co., Ltd., Class A      15,616  
     

 

 

 
        1,027,651  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.4%):       
  25,261      Hindustan Unilever, Ltd.      801,017  
  54,099      Kimberl- Clark de Mexico SAB de C.V.      81,951  
  274,300      PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk      79,093  
  15,000      Vinda International Holdings, Ltd.^      36,553  
     

 

 

 
        998,614  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.8%):  
  186,900      AC Energy Corp.      40,308  
  11,994      Adani Green Energy, Ltd.*      215,044  
  26,100      B Grimm Power pcl      31,505  
  213,000      Cgn Power Co., Ltd., Class H      64,746  
  106,000      China Longyuan Power Group Corp.      247,448  
  41,500      China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.      54,104  
  136,000      China Power International Develpoment, Ltd.      91,574  
  58,000      China Resources Power Holdings Co.      194,164  
  40,400      China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd.      143,891  
  2,400      Electricity Genera pcl      12,597  
  52,200      Energy Absolute Public Co., Ltd.      150,043  
  7,616      Engie Brasil Energia SA      52,528  
  25,400      Global Power Synergy pcl      67,452  
  87,800      Gulf Energy Development pcl, Class R      119,564  
  13,900      Huadian Power International Corp, Ltd., Class A      11,668  
  168,000      Huaneng Power International, Inc., Class H      112,259  
  139,773      NTPC, Ltd.      233,762  
  16,900      Ratch Group pcl      22,762  
  20,900      SDIC Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      37,612  
  21,900      Sichuan Chuantou Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      42,954  
     

 

 

 
        1,945,985  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.9%):  
  77,690      Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.      82,944  
  88,657      Alfa SAB de CV, Class A      65,050  
  8,220      Ayala Corp.      133,999  
  7,824      Bidvest Group, Ltd.      93,096  
  176,000      Citic, Ltd.      173,956  
  403      CJ Corp.      28,132  
  68,000      Far Eastern New Century Corp.      71,940  
  86,500      Fosun International, Ltd.      93,302  
  15,971      Grupo Carso SAB de C.V.      51,640  
  2,295      GT Capital Holdings, Inc.      24,319  
  15,300      Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad      28,277  
  44,815      Industries Qatar Q.S.C.      190,617  
  101,484      JG Summit Holdings, Inc.      105,470  
  20,331      KOC Holdings AS      43,785  
  2,559      LG Corp.      173,072  
  2,613      Samsung C&T Corp.      259,743  
  2,872      Siemens, Ltd.      91,190  
  62,100      Sime Darby Berhad      34,600  
  967      SK, Inc.      203,482  
  7,815      SM Investments Corp.      144,608  
  31,448      Turkiye Sise ve Cam Fabrikalari AS      31,902  
     

 

 

 
        2,125,124  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance (2.3%):  
  1,250      Bajaj Finserv, Ltd.    $ 275,705  
  17,305      BB Seguridade Participacoes SA      64,478  
  2,203      Bupa Arabia For Cooperative Insurance Co.      76,926  
  242,137      Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      545,816  
  6,100      China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      28,800  
  204,000      China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      337,981  
  13,000      China Pacific Insurance Group Co., Ltd., Class A      55,314  
  83,000      China Pacific Insurance Group Co., Ltd., Class H      225,241  
  49,200      China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co., Ltd.      67,545  
  1,303      DB Insurance Co., Ltd.      59,025  
  13,781      Discovery, Ltd.*      124,258  
  22,395      HDFC Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      195,717  
  7,561      ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co., Ltd.      142,558  
  9,176      ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      69,240  
  27,000      New China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      72,216  
  4,500      New China Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Class A      27,451  
  145,915      Old Mutual, Ltd.      120,041  
  28,100      People’s Insurance Co. Group of China, Ltd. (The)      20,722  
  178,000      People’s Insurance Co. Group of China, Ltd. (The)      53,878  
  202,000      Picc Property & Casuality Co., Ltd., Class H      165,127  
  185,500      Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.      1,337,104  
  20,800      Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.      164,205  
  17,119      Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA      150,160  
  26,923      Rand Merchant Investment Holdings, Ltd.      76,323  
  972      Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.      164,776  
  2,270      Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      121,780  
  58,714      Sanlam, Ltd.      218,850  
  14,052      SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      226,154  
  320,614      Shin Kong Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      127,849  
  2,914      The Co. for Cooperative Insurance      60,065  
  16,500      Zhongan Online P&c Insurance Co., Ltd.*      57,398  
     

 

 

 
        5,432,703  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (6.2%):       
  1,931      Autohome, Inc., ADR      56,926  
  8,404      Baidu, Inc., ADR*      1,250,431  
  4,088      Hello Group, Inc., ADR      36,710  
  2,379      Info Edge India, Ltd.      178,418  
  1,413      JOYY, Inc., ADR      64,193  
  9,648      Kakao Corp.      910,089  
  1,037      Kanzhun, Ltd., ADR*^      36,171  
  3,737      NAVER Corp.      1,186,529  
  173,300      Tencent Holdings, Ltd.      10,166,664  
  3,760      VK Co., Ltd., GDR*      43,625  
  1,711      Weibo Corp., ADR*      53,007  
  9,539      Yandex NV, Class A*      571,654  
     

 

 

 
        14,554,417  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (6.0%):       
  456,272      Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd.*      6,831,503  
  10,438      Allegro.eu SA*      100,291  
  12,923      Americanas SA*      73,282  
  320      CJ ENM Co., Ltd.      37,294  
  1,842      Dada Nexus, Ltd., ADR*      24,241  
  88,000      HengTen Networks Group, Ltd.*      33,300  
  9,050      JD Health International, Inc.*      71,450  
  26,900      JD.com, Inc., ADR*      1,884,883  
  123,600      Meituan*      3,573,378  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, continued       
  1,000      momo.com, Inc.    $ 58,580  
  321      Ozon Holdings plc, ADR*      9,505  
  965      Ozon Holdings plc, ADR*      29,261  
  13,395      Pinduoduo, Inc., ADR*      780,928  
  31,200      Tongcheng Travel Holdings, Ltd.*      57,784  
  15,719      Trip.com Group, Ltd., ADR*      387,002  
  14,042      Vipshop Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      117,953  
  36,888      Zomato, Ltd.*      68,198  
     

 

 

 
        14,138,833  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.7%):       
  6,000      Beijing Sinnet Technology Co., Ltd.      13,971  
  68,000      Chinasoft International, Ltd.      88,744  
  2,575      Chindata Group Holdings, Ltd., ADR*^      16,969  
  9,100      DHC Software Co., Ltd., Class A      11,137  
  2,787      GDS Holdings, Ltd., ADR*^      131,435  
  33,611      HCL Technologies, Ltd.      596,511  
  102,982      Infosys, Ltd.      2,613,862  
  1,744      Kingsoft Cloud Holdings, Ltd., ADR*^      27,468  
  1,779      Larsen & Toubro Infotech, Ltd.      175,318  
  1,858      Mindtree Ltd.      119,211  
  2,194      Mphasis Ltd.      100,179  
  1,016      Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.      132,918  
  28,153      Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd.      1,416,136  
  19,412      Tech Mahindra, Ltd.      466,719  
  25,000      Travelsky Technology, Ltd., Series H      42,066  
  2,723      Vnet Group, Inc., ADR*      24,589  
  42,098      Wipro, Ltd.      405,211  
     

 

 

 
        6,382,444  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  8,000      Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      99,810  
  2,720      HLB, Inc.*      79,166  
     

 

 

 
        178,976  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.1%):       
  4,021      Divi’s Laboratories, Ltd.      253,078  
  36,000      Genscript Biotech Corp.*      159,328  
  1,800      Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co., Ltd., Class A      36,116  
  3,100      Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co., Ltd., Class H      39,380  
  1,200      Joinn Laboratories China Co., Ltd., Class A      21,734  
  2,100      Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      46,528  
  3,200      Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., Class H      49,371  
  488      Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd.*      370,280  
  5,208      WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd., Class A      96,915  
  10,536      WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd., Class H      182,426  
  109,000      Wuxi Biologics Cayman, Inc.*      1,295,659  
     

 

 

 
        2,550,815  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.8%):       
  4,185      AirTac International Group      153,840  
  51,000      China Conch Venture Holdings, Ltd.      249,203  
  7,100      China CSSC Holdings, Ltd., Class A      27,607  
  45,100      CRRC Corp., Ltd., Class A      43,046  
  1,481      Doosan Bobcat, Inc.*      50,742  
  23,000      Haitian International Holdings, Ltd.      63,875  
  9,394      Hiwin Technologies Corp.      103,850  
  1,660      Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co., Ltd.      74,967  
  3,108      Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co., Ltd., Class A      39,953  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  1,191      Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore*    $ 94,735  
  4,400      Riyue Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., Class A      22,751  
  19,664      Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Class R*      93,777  
  36,000      Sany Heavy Equipment International Holdings Co., Ltd.      34,838  
  15,600      Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.      55,807  
  4,050      Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co., Ltd.      43,589  
  26,000      Sinotruk Hong Kong, Ltd.      40,019  
  51,440      WEG SA      304,631  
  15,600      Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Class A      43,788  
  58,000      Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Class H      113,519  
  30,200      XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      28,397  
  1,400      Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co., Ltd., Class A      17,628  
  14,560      Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd., Class A      57,764  
  14,800      Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      16,650  
  47,600      Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Class H      29,996  
     

 

 

 
        1,804,972  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.5%):       
  92,950      COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd.*      180,483  
  26,260      COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A*      76,992  
  75,835      Evergreen Marine Corp., Ltd.      388,719  
  8,078      HMM Co., Ltd.*      182,681  
  36,500      MISC Berhad      61,781  
  6,819      Pan Ocean Co., Ltd.      31,021  
  18,700      Wan Hai Lines, Ltd.      134,343  
  49,000      Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.*      214,477  
     

 

 

 
        1,270,497  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.7%):       
  2,304      Cheil Worldwide, Inc.      44,088  
  12,600      China Literature, Ltd.*      79,189  
  9,928      Cyfrowy Polsat SA      85,454  
  37,199      Focus Media Information Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      47,803  
  74,210      Grupo Televisa SAB      139,749  
  13,500      Kuaishou Technology*^      124,769  
  5,875      Megacable Holdings SAB de C.V.      20,021  
  11,118      MultiChoice Group, Ltd.      85,152  
  6,309      Naspers, Ltd.      979,627  
     

 

 

 
        1,605,852  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (4.1%):       
  3,562      African Rainbow Minerals, Ltd.      51,721  
  77,337      Alrosa PAO      126,322  
  116,000      Aluminum Corp. of China, Ltd.*      64,058  
  271,200      Aneka Tambang Tbk      42,801  
  1,698      Anglo American Platinum, Ltd.      193,516  
  13,046      AngloGold Ashanti, Ltd.      272,525  
  30,300      Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Class A      34,039  
  72,000      China Hongqiao Group, Ltd.      76,006  
  58,500      China Molybdenum Co., Ltd., Class A      51,214  
  87,000      China Molybdenum Co., Ltd., Class H      46,021  
  7,200      China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co., Ltd., Class A      51,696  
  350,000      China Steel Corp.      447,228  
  6,579      Cia de Minas Buenaventura SA, ADR*      48,158  
  22,695      Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (CSN)      101,840  
  41,694      Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S.      89,022  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  2,000      Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd.    $ 44,855  
  7,800      Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd., Class H      122,769  
  13,600      GEM Co., Ltd., Class A      22,086  
  26,426      Gold Fields      288,685  
  94,185      Grupo Mexico SAB de C.V., Series B, Class B      410,816  
  17,328      Harmony Gold Mining Co., Ltd.      72,405  
  50,548      Hindalco Industries, Ltd.      323,465  
  3,115      Hyundai Steel Co.      107,385  
  24,831      Impala Platinum Holdings, Ltd.      350,942  
  4,401      Industrias Penoles SAB de C.V.      50,643  
  88,300      Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd.*      38,623  
  34,000      Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd.      54,661  
  6,400      Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd., Class A      22,488  
  27,645      JSW Steel, Ltd.      244,015  
  4,471      KGHM Polska Miedz SA      154,836  
  289      Korea Zinc Co.      124,194  
  1,769      Kumba Iron Ore, Ltd.      51,202  
  235,200      Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT*      64,233  
  1,934      MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC      589,025  
  76,000      MMG, Ltd.*      24,502  
  11,807      Northam Platinum Holdings, Ltd.*      155,267  
  42,350      Novolipetsk Steel PJSC      122,910  
  10,301      Polymetal International plc      180,172  
  1,026      Polyus PJSC      179,562  
  2,151      POSCO      493,843  
  92,000      Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd      127,712  
  13,029      Saudi Arabian Mining Co.*      272,046  
  6,613      Severstal      141,397  
  8,120      Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.      23,978  
  14,000      Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Class H      23,946  
  39,100      Shandong Nanshan Aluminum Co., Ltd., Class A      28,960  
  6,600      Shenghe Resources Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      20,316  
  77,036      Sibanye Stillwater, Ltd.      238,213  
  2,541      Southern Copper Corp.      156,805  
  19,645      Tata Steel, Ltd.      293,841  
  32,700      Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd., Class A      17,909  
  84,297      United Co. RUSAL International PJSC*      83,192  
  120,964      Vale SA      1,693,366  
  37,580      Vedanta, Ltd.      172,539  
  5,040      Yintai Gold Co., Ltd.      6,944  
  2,600      Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd., Class A      45,002  
  38,700      Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd.      58,892  
  172,000      Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd.      204,837  
     

 

 

 
        9,599,646  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.3%):       
  72,375      Central Retail Corp. pcl      68,926  
  28,913      Lojas Renner SA      126,887  
  218      Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.      15,986  
  84,931      Magazine Luiza SA      110,110  
  22,077      S.A.C.I. Falabella      72,052  
  6,235      Trent, Ltd.      89,301  
  30,415      Woolworths Holdings, Ltd.      99,065  
     

 

 

 
        582,327  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.0%):       
  16,879      Qatar Electricity & Water Co.      76,920  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (5.5%):       
  24,317      Bharat Pertoleum Corp., Ltd.    $ 126,120  
  45,000      China Coal Energy Co., Ltd., Class H      25,973  
  34,000      China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class A      22,564  
  778,000      China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H      362,613  
  10,100      China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd.      35,698  
  113,500      China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd.      266,115  
  45,000      China Suntien Green Energy Corp., Ltd., Class H      35,093  
  38,180      Coal India, Ltd.      74,944  
  30,707      Cosan sa industria e Comercio      119,597  
  8,500      COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation Co., Ltd., Class A      7,895  
  143,502      Ecopetrol SA      94,962  
  12,351      Empresas Copec SA      95,530  
  8,858      Exxaro Resources, Ltd.      85,039  
  38,000      Formosa Petrochemical Corp.      131,621  
  354,974      Gazprom PJSC      1,622,211  
  1,948      GS Holdings      64,041  
  22,086      Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Ltd.      86,829  
  49,568      Indian Oil Corp., Ltd.      74,370  
  12,219      LUKOIL PJSC      1,068,740  
  13,557      MOL Hungarian Oil And Gas plc      105,312  
  2,828      Novatek PJSC, GDR      660,203  
  75,771      Oil & Natural Gas Corp., Ltd.      145,023  
  45,900      PetroChina Co., Ltd., Class A      35,357  
  614,000      PetroChina Co., Ltd., Class H      273,463  
  142,673      Petroleo Brasileiro SA      728,865  
  111,135      Petroleo Brasileiro SA      612,649  
  11,400      Petronas Dagangan Berhad      56,392  
  21,431      Petronet LNG, Ltd.      62,367  
  8,883      Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen SA      163,852  
  49,036      Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA      76,664  
  427,800      PT Adaro Energy Tbk      67,553  
  58,000      PT United Tractors Tbk      90,102  
  46,600      PTT Exploration & Production pcl      164,131  
  310,400      PTT pcl      352,304  
  14,235      Qatar Fuel QSC      71,449  
  46,623      Qatar Gas Transport Co., Ltd.      42,242  
  7,029      Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.*      38,675  
  85,660      Reliance Industries, Ltd.      2,727,545  
  37,929      Rosneft Oil Co. PJSC      302,762  
  66,066      Saudi Arabian Oil Co.      629,471  
  26,100      Shaanxi Coal Industry Co., Ltd.      49,967  
  14,400      Shanxi Meijin Energy Co., Ltd., Class A*      36,678  
  1,592      SK Innovation Co., Ltd.*      319,255  
  1,367      S-Oil Corp.      98,457  
  171,452      Surgutneftegas PJSC      90,793  
  199,091      Surgutneftegas Prefernce      102,217  
  43,241      Tatneft PJSC      288,000  
  34,500      Thai Oil Public Co., Ltd.      50,952  
  4,521      Tupras-Turkiye Petrol Rafine*      52,971  
  21,910      Ultrapar Participacoes SA      57,204  
  50,000      Yankuang Energy Group Co., Ltd.      99,398  
     

 

 

 
        13,052,228  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.2%):       
  33,569      Empresas CMPC SA      56,297  
  43,000      Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing, Ltd.      29,905  
  49,000      Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, Ltd.      52,617  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Paper & Forest Products, continued       
  85,700      PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Corp Tbk    $ 47,052  
  23,305      Suzano SA*      251,547  
     

 

 

 
        437,418  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.5%):       
  1,041      Amorepacific Corp.      145,159  
  863      Amorepacific Group      31,974  
  3,754      Colgate-Palmolive India, Ltd.      74,820  
  16,996      Dabur India, Ltd.      132,643  
  11,217      Godrej Consumer Products, Ltd.*      146,147  
  22,000      Hengan International Group Co., Ltd.      113,281  
  273      LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.      251,886  
  60      LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.      31,094  
  16,791      Marico, Ltd.      115,814  
  29,667      Natura & Co. Holding SA*      135,470  
     

 

 

 
        1,178,288  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.3%):       
  12,537      Aspen Pharmacare Holdings, Ltd.      176,947  
  500      Asymchem Laboratories Tianjin Co., Ltd., Class A      34,128  
  8,967      Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd.      88,598  
  900      Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.      11,259  
  2,400      CanSino Biologics, Inc., Class H*^      55,473  
  534      Celltrion Pharm, Inc.*      55,815  
  800      Changchun High & New Technology Industry Group, Inc., Class A      34,086  
  43,000      China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.      71,851  
  286,000      China Pharmaceutical Enterprise & Investment Corp.      310,774  
  100,000      China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co., Ltd.      66,313  
  14,918      Cipla, Ltd.      189,354  
  3,550      Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd.      233,851  
  2,900      Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      15,559  
  186      Hanmi Pharm Co., Ltd.      42,765  
  36,000      Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      87,739  
  2,402      Hutchison China MediTech, Ltd., ADR*      84,262  
  10,611      Hypera SA      53,865  
  14,227      Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd.      113,185  
  5,585      Lupin, Ltd.      71,445  
  2,704      Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      17,813  
  7,000      Oneness Biotech Co., Ltd.*      72,758  
  658,200      PT Kalbe Farma Tbk      74,594  
  4,752      Richter Gedeon Nyrt      127,916  
  3,300      Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      25,359  
  17,000      Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      74,891  
  6,720      Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Class A      20,668  
  896      Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      23,866  
  330,750      Sino Biopharmaceutical, Ltd.      231,769  
  798      SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.*      65,127  
  25,548      Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.      290,711  
  1,214      Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.      53,528  
  1,667      Yuhan Corp.      87,089  
  2,200      Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd.      36,121  
  1,300      Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      89,166  
  6,380      Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      21,686  
  4,320      Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd., Class A      21,094  
  500      Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      4,492  
     

 

 

 
        3,135,917  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  744      51job, Inc., ADR*    $ 36,404  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (1.7%):       
  50,000      Agile Group Holdings, Ltd.      27,130  
  126,385      Aldar Properties PJSC      137,273  
  238,800      Ayala Land, Inc.      171,992  
  78,422      Barwa Real Estate Co.      65,904  
  58,200      Central Pattana pcl      98,215  
  60,000      China Everbright Environment Group, Ltd.      12,239  
  166,000      China Jinmao Holdings Group, Ltd.      51,312  
  24,100      China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      50,389  
  115,500      China Overseas Land & Investment, Ltd.      273,465  
  55,000      China Overseas Property Holdings, Ltd.^      58,342  
  100,000      China Resources Land, Ltd.      420,698  
  14,200      China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services, Ltd.      66,207  
  18,800      China Vanke Co., Ltd., Class A      58,296  
  50,600      China Vanke Co., Ltd., Class H      117,790  
  20,000      CIFI Ever Sunshine Services Group, Ltd.      30,990  
  113,400      CIFI Holdings Group Co., Ltd.      68,219  
  231,000      Country Garden Holdings Co., Ltd.      205,188  
  14,300      Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co.*      38,293  
  17,411      DLF, Ltd.      91,482  
  9,596      Emaar Economic City*      30,513  
  115,979      Emaar Properties PJSC      154,112  
  6,000      Future Land Holdings Co., Ltd.      27,423  
  10,300      Gemdale Corp., Class A      20,965  
  3,334      Godrej Properties, Ltd.*      83,969  
  18,585      Greenland Holdings Corp., Ltd.      12,656  
  22,000      Greentown China Holdings, Ltd.      35,444  
  48,400      Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd., Class H      18,006  
  22,000      Hopson Development Holdings, Ltd.      45,863  
  12,500      Jinke Properties Group Co., Ltd., Class A      8,787  
  11,029      KE Holdings, Inc., ADR*      221,903  
  51,000      KWG Group Holdings, Ltd.      33,360  
  227,100      Land & Houses Public Co., Ltd.      59,750  
  43,000      Logan Property Holdings Co., Ltd.      32,873  
  56,000      Longfor Group Holdings, Ltd.      263,611  
  14,252      Mabanee Co KPSC      37,428  
  13,626      NEPI Rockcastle plc      90,676  
  30,600      Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd., Class A      74,937  
  41,000      Powerlong Real Estate Holdings, Ltd.      21,470  
  39,984      Ruentex Development Co., Ltd.      92,003  
  62,000      Seazen Group, Ltd.      41,912  
  44,500      Shanghai Lujiazue      40,548  
  42,000      Shimao Property Holdings, Ltd.      27,476  
  17,000      Shimao Services Holdings, Ltd.      11,819  
  294,200      SM Prime Holdings, Inc.      195,712  
  81,000      Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.      122,412  
  18,000      Sunac Services Holdings, Ltd.      18,356  
  43,000      The Wharf Holdings, Ltd.      132,059  
  37,600      Yuexiu Property Co., Ltd.      33,131  
     

 

 

 
        4,032,598  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.2%):       
  93,700      Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway Co., Ltd., Class A      71,015  
  303,300      BTS Group Holdings pcl      84,777  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  235      CJ Logistics Corp.*    $ 24,782  
  7,427      Container Corp. of India, Ltd.      61,417  
  3,174      DiDi Global, Inc., ADR*^      15,807  
  16,052      Localiza Rent a Car SA      152,766  
  36,591      Rumo SA*      116,692  
     

 

 

 
        527,256  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor (0.0%):       
  473      SK Square Co., Ltd.*      26,424  
  400      StarPower Semiconductor, Ltd., Class A      23,909  
     

 

 

 
        50,333  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (10.4%):       
  885      Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment, Inc., Class A*      17,577  
  105,465      ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.      404,456  
  1,000      ASMedia Technology, Inc.      65,821  
  1,694      Daqo New Energy Corp., ADR*      68,302  
  2,000      eMemory Technology, Inc.      157,867  
  17,000      Flat Glass Group Co., Ltd., Class H^      86,466  
  36,500      GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd.*      21,775  
  756      Gigadevice Semiconductor Beijing, Inc., Class A      20,826  
  7,000      Globalwafers Co., Ltd.      223,914  
  2,280      Hangzhou First Applied Material Co., Ltd., Class A      46,671  
  2,000      Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      16,954  
  14,000      Hua Hong Semiconductor, Ltd.*      77,210  
  1,000      Ingenic Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Class A      21,022  
  3,000      JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      43,624  
  5,300      JCET Group Co., Ltd., Class A      25,795  
  10,920      Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.      147,675  
  45,000      MediaTek, Inc.      1,924,654  
  38,000      Nanya Technology Corp.      107,267  
  4,972      National Silicon Industry Group Co., Ltd., Class A*      20,140  
  18,000      Novatek Microelectronics Corp.      349,319  
  2,000      Parade Technologies Ltd.      152,291  
  14,000      Realtek Semiconductor Corp.      293,664  
  600      SG Micro Corp., Class A      29,087  
  1,400      Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      23,672  
  800      Shenzhen SC New Energy Technology Corp., Class A      14,356  
  2,000      Silergy Corp.      361,494  
  16,340      SK Hynix, Inc.      1,788,014  
  742,000      Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      16,435,866  
  10,700      Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd.      70,097  
  10,600      Tianshui Huatian Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      21,137  
  400      Unigroup Guoxin Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      14,120  
  360,000      United Microelectronics Corp.      841,379  
  28,000      Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.      159,993  
  1,900      Will Semiconductor, Ltd., Class A      92,612  
  10,000      Win Semiconductors Corp.      134,924  
  102,000      Winbond Electronics Corp.      124,687  
  152,000      Xinyi Solar Holdings, Ltd.      258,062  
  2,500      Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd., Class A      27,213  
     

 

 

 
        24,690,003  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.4%):       
  8,800      360 Security Technology, Inc., Class A*      17,562  
  1,494      Agora, Inc., ADR*      24,218  
  476      Beijing Kingsoft Office Software, Inc., Class A      19,787  
  1,400      Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      6,319  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  480,000      China Youzan, Ltd.*    $ 33,269  
  515      Douzone Bizon Co., Ltd.      31,606  
  2,730      Hundsun Technologies, Inc.      26,601  
  4,600      Iflytek Co., Ltd.      37,897  
  84,000      Kingdee International Software Group Co., Ltd.*      258,983  
  28,000      Kingsoft Corp., Ltd.      123,006  
  12,000      Ming Yuan Cloud Group Holdings, Ltd.^      27,339  
  700      Sangfor Technologies, Inc., Class A      20,959  
  4,420      Shanghai Baosight Software Co., Ltd.      42,188  
  15,698      TOTVS SA      80,731  
  51,000      Weimob, Inc.*^(e)      51,367  
  7,150      Yonyou Network Technology Co., Ltd.      40,205  
     

 

 

 
        842,037  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.5%):       
  69,603      Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC      80,865  
  18,000      China Meidong Auto Holdings, Ltd.      92,854  
  2,316      FF Group*      26  
  435,000      GOME Retail Holdings, Ltd.*      36,844  
  225,000      Home Product Center Public Co., Ltd.      97,613  
  9,000      Hotai Motor Co., Ltd.      199,420  
  919      Hotel Shilla Co., Ltd.      60,156  
  1,757      Jarir Marketing Co.      92,081  
  3,482      Jumbo SA      49,920  
  7,531      Mr Price Group, Ltd.      94,356  
  23,324      Pepkor Holdings Ltd.*      32,061  
  80,700      PTT Oil & Retail Business pcl, Class R      65,182  
  17,100      Suning.com Co., Ltd., Class A*      11,053  
  45,000      Topsports International Holdings, Ltd.      45,538  
  32,585      Via S/A*      30,719  
  27,899      Vibra Energia SA      107,208  
  20,000      Zhongsheng Group Holdings, Ltd.      156,089  
     

 

 

 
        1,251,985  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (5.3%):       
  77,000      Acer, Inc.      84,593  
  11,616      Advantech Co., Ltd.      166,055  
  23,000      Asustek Computer, Inc.      312,711  
  80,300      BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      63,574  
  19,000      Catcher Technology Co., Ltd.      107,204  
  2,600      China Greatwall Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      5,776  
  139,000      Compal Electronics, Inc.      121,516  
  11,400      GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd., Class A      21,269  
  3,156      Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co., Ltd., Class A      17,740  
  70,000      Inventec Corp.      63,029  
  226,000      Lenovo Group, Ltd.      259,727  
  71,000      Lite-On Technology Corp.      163,789  
  18,000      Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.      104,163  
  5,000      Ninestar Corp.      37,469  
  57,000      Pegatron Corp.      142,236  
  80,000      Quanta Computer, Inc.      273,475  
  143,013      Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.      9,390,009  
  6,100      Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      15,161  
  943      Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      23,217  
  78,863      Wistron Corp.      83,044  
  2,000      Wiwynn Corp.      80,394  
  428,000      Xiaomi Corp., Class B*      1,038,576  
     

 

 

 
        12,574,727  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.2%):       
  7,360      Alpargatas SA    $ 48,926  
  34,000      Anta Sports Products, Ltd.      510,100  
  116,000      Bosideng International Holdings, Ltd.      73,053  
  6,220      Eclat Textile Co., Ltd.      141,663  
  76      F&F Co., Ltd.*      60,294  
  15,000      Feng Tay Enterprise Co., Ltd.      125,271  
  70,500      Li Ning Co., Ltd.      771,535  
  32      LPP SA      136,302  
  167      Page Industries, Ltd.      90,821  
  83,000      Pou Chen Corp.      99,330  
  25,700      Shenzhou International Group      494,109  
  11,365      Titan Co., Ltd.      385,779  
     

 

 

 
        2,937,183  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.8%):       
  51,592      Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd.      1,787,289  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.4%):       
  43,949      Eastern Co. SAE      30,085  
  84,526      ITC, Ltd.      247,827  
  3,423      KT&G Corp.      227,658  
  12,100      PT Gudang Garam Tbk      25,980  
  13,906      RLX Technology, Inc., ADR*^      54,234  
  52,000      Smoore International Holdings, Ltd.^      265,571  
     

 

 

 
        851,355  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  8,010      Adani Enterprises, Ltd.      184,268  
  7,500      BOC Aviation, Ltd.      54,986  
     

 

 

 
        239,254  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.6%):       
  13,889      Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Ltd.      136,489  
  127,300      Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd.      232,272  
  291,400      Bangkok Expressway & Metro      73,534  
  74,000      Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd.*      45,293  
  31,993      CCR SA      66,583  
  47,228      China Merchants Port Holdings Co., Ltd.      86,045  
  80,000      COSCO SHIPPING Ports, Ltd.      69,464  
  6,907      Grupo Aeroportuario de Sur      142,642  
  10,726      Grupo Aeroporturaio del Pacifico SAB de C.V.      147,841  
  36,180      International Container Terminal Services, Inc.      141,936  
  36,000      Jiangsu Expressway Co., Ltd., Series H, Class H      36,891  
  28,300      Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad*      40,641  
  9,118      Promotora Y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV      71,266  
  3,000      Shanghai International Air*      22,009  
  35,399      Shanghai International Port Group Co., Ltd.      30,462  
  35,000      Shenzhen International Holdings, Ltd.      36,361  
  54,000      Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.      57,734  
  33,400      Westports Holding Berhad      32,487  
  42,000      Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd.      37,437  
     

 

 

 
        1,507,387  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  186,000      Beijing Enterprises Water Group, Ltd.      72,284  
  10,225      Cia Saneamento Basico Do Estado de Sao Paulo      73,773  
  92,000      Guangdong Investment, Ltd.      116,935  
     

 

 

 
        262,992  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.7%):       
  38,500      Advanced Info Service Public Co., Ltd.      263,809  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
  1,040,266      America Movil SAB de C.V., Series L    $ 1,102,217  
  91,800      Axiata Group Berhad      91,788  
  74,570      Bharti Airtel, Ltd.*      686,125  
  57,500      China United Network Communications, Ltd., Class A      35,447  
  100,300      DIGI.com Berhad      105,051  
  12,139      Etihad Etisalat Co.      100,604  
  58,000      Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.      135,477  
  1,005      Globe Telecom, Inc.      65,492  
  29,450      Intouch Holdings Public Co., Ltd.      70,635  
  92,900      Maxis Berhad      108,187  
  32,110      Mobile Telecommunications Co KSCP      63,337  
  14,942      Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR      118,789  
  52,343      MTN Group, Ltd.*      559,880  
  2,760      PLDT, Inc.      98,191  
  731      SK Telecom Co., Ltd.      35,593  
  49,000      Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd.      177,175  
  27,636      TIM SA      65,257  
  40,565      Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS      55,496  
  16,855      Vodacom Group, Ltd.      142,249  
     

 

 

 
        4,080,799  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $151,184,013)

     233,037,631  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (1.2%):       
Automobiles (0.0%):       
  1,265      Hyundai Motor Co., 6/29/20      107,327  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.5%):       
  152,012      Banco Bradesco SA, 1.12%, 1/3/20      524,358  
  147,576      Itau Unibanco Holding SA, 0.86%, 1/5/21      555,166  
     

 

 

 
        1,079,524  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  5,513      Braskem SA, Class A, 13.08%, 10/7/20      57,050  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.0%):       
  37,225      China Development Financial Holding Corp.*      12,908  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Preferred Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  37,024      Gerdau SA, 9.10%, 3/6/20    $ 181,231  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.6%):       
  25,394      Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 3/30/20      1,520,190  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $2,799,114)

     2,958,230  
  

 

 

 
Rights (0.0%):       
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
  1,146      Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., Expires on 2/14/22*      4,242  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  2,952      Seazen Group, Ltd., Expires on 1/20/22*       
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $—)

     4,242  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.6%):  
  $1,469,890      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(b)(c)      1,469,890  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $1,469,890)

     1,469,890  
  

 

 

 

Shares

           Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.4%):       
Money Markets (0.4%):       
  873,441      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)      873,441  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $873,441)

     873,441  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $156,326,458) — 100.7%(d)

     238,343,434  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.7)%

     (1,663,854
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 236,679,580  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

GDR—Global Depositary Receipt

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $1,361,364.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

(e)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country   Percentage  

Bermuda

    0.1

Brazil

    3.9

Cayman Islands

    0.8

Chile

    0.4

China

    28.5

Colombia

    0.2

Cyprus

    0.1

Czech Republic

    0.1

Egypt

    0.1

Greece

    0.2

Hong Kong

    2.7

Hungary

    0.2

India

    12.4

Indonesia

    1.4

Kuwait

    0.6

Luxembourg

     % 

Malaysia

    1.4

Mexico

    2.1
Country   Percentage  

Peru

     % 

Philippines

    0.7

Poland

    0.8

Qatar

    0.8

Republic of Korea (South)

    12.7

Romania

     % 

Russian Federation

    3.4

Saudi Arabia

    3.4

Singapore

     % 

South Africa

    3.1

Switzerland

    0.1

Taiwan, Province Of China

    15.6

Thailand

    1.7

Turkey

    0.2

United Arab Emirates

    1.0

United States

    1.3
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Mini MSCI Emerging Markets Index March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        35      $ 2,146,025      $ (85
           

 

 

 
            $ (85
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

    

Investment securities, at cost

     $ 156,326,458
    

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

       238,343,434

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

       129,000

Interest and dividends receivable

       384,705

Foreign currency, at value (cost $851,706)

       860,344

Receivable for capital shares issued

       1,916

Receivable for investments sold

       25,950

Reclaims receivable

       41,549

Prepaid expenses

       1,131
    

 

 

 

Total Assets

       239,788,029
    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

    

Payable for investments purchased

       26,064

Payable for capital shares redeemed

       646

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

       1,469,890

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

       12,250

Accrued foreign taxes

       1,081,384

Manager fees payable

       90,006

Administration fees payable

       44,651

Distribution fees payable

       46,733

Custodian fees payable

       61,301

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

       842

Transfer agent fees payable

       4,141

Trustee fees payable

       4,730

Other accrued liabilities

       265,811
    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

       3,108,449
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 236,679,580
    

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

    

Paid in capital

     $ 154,256,707

Total distributable earnings

       82,422,873
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 236,679,580
    

 

 

 

Class 1

    

Net Assets

     $ 15,392,038

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

       1,937,427

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 7.94
    

 

 

 

Class 2

    

Net Assets

     $ 221,287,542

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

       27,832,090

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 7.95
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,361,364.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends

     $ 6,414,945

Income from securities lending

       23,421

Foreign withholding tax

       (738,659 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       5,699,707
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       2,206,721

Administration fees

       119,856

Distribution fees — Class 2

       605,809

Custodian fees

       177,394

Administrative and compliance services fees

       3,312

Transfer agent fees

       10,155

Trustee fees

       13,524

Professional fees

       19,669

Licensing fees

       108,631

Shareholder reports

       16,572

Other expenses

       146,464
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       3,428,107

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (1,038,455 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       2,389,652
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       3,310,055
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

       6,128,874

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (22,050 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on foreign taxes

       (8,704 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

       (16,865,047 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       (61,009 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign taxes

       (576,940 )
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

       (11,404,876 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (8,094,821 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 3,310,055     $ 2,818,801

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      6,098,120       3,629,948

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (17,502,996 )       24,126,294
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (8,094,821 )       30,575,043
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (553,353 )       (1,141,511 )

Class 2

      (7,183,163 )       (16,322,201 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (7,736,516 )       (17,463,712 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      20,268       40,336

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      553,353       1,141,512

Value of shares redeemed

      (1,782,790 )       (2,695,404 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (1,209,169 )       (1,513,556 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      2,832,734       15,754,027

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      7,183,163       16,322,200

Value of shares redeemed

      (33,445,770 )       (92,767,343 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (23,429,873 )       (60,691,116 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (24,639,042 )       (62,204,672 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (40,470,379 )       (49,093,341 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      277,149,959       326,243,300
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 236,679,580     $ 277,149,959
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      2,395       5,758

Dividends reinvested

      69,604       154,258

Shares redeemed

      (207,387 )       (380,214 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (135,388 )       (220,198 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      330,575       2,391,693

Dividends reinvested

      902,407       2,205,703

Shares redeemed

      (3,764,888 )       (13,505,171 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (2,531,906 )       (8,907,775 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (2,667,294 )       (9,127,973 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.78     $ 6.60
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.13 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.15 (a)       0.16       0.12

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.44 )       1.17       1.04       (1.50 )       2.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.31 )       1.27       1.19       (1.34 )       2.42
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.14 )       (0.29 )       (0.15 )       (0.16 )       (0.04 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.15 )       (0.29 )       (0.18 )       (0.29 )       (0.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.29 )       (0.58 )       (0.33 )       (0.45 )       (0.24 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.94     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.78
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (3.68 )%       17.26 %       17.55 %       (15.31 )%       36.97 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 15,392     $ 17,703     $ 17,995     $ 17,072     $ 22,883

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.51 %       1.32 %       1.97 %       1.89 %       1.56 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.09 %       1.17 %       1.10 %       1.03 %       1.11 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.69 %       0.77 %       0.70 %       0.63 %       0.71 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      7 %       12 %       25 %       20 %       19 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.77     $ 6.60
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.11 (a)       0.08 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.14       0.10

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.44 )       1.16       1.05       (1.49 )       2.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.33 )       1.24       1.17       (1.35 )       2.40
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.11 )       (0.26 )       (0.13 )       (0.14 )       (0.03 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.15 )       (0.29 )       (0.18 )       (0.29 )       (0.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.26 )       (0.55 )       (0.31 )       (0.43 )       (0.23 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.95     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.77
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (3.83 )%       16.92 %       17.18 %       (15.46 )%       36.63 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 221,288     $ 259,447     $ 308,248     $ 297,839     $ 351,886

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.26 %       1.06 %       1.65 %       1.61 %       1.35 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.34 %       1.42 %       1.35 %       1.28 %       1.36 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.94 %       1.02 %       0.95 %       0.88 %       0.96 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      7 %       12 %       25 %       20 %       19 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance

 

21


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $2,309 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,469,890 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $2.6 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Interest Rate Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ (85

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

 

22


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Interest Rate Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ (22,050    $ (61,009

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 1

         0.85 %          0.85 %

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 2

         0.85 %          1.10 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.45% on all assets in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

 

23


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 26,845,057        $ 206,192,574        $ #        $ 233,037,631

Preferred Stocks

         1,330,713          1,627,517                   2,958,230

Rights

                  4,242                   4,242

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,469,890                            1,469,890

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         873,441                            873,441
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         30,519,101          207,824,333                   238,343,434
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (85 )                            (85 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 30,519,016        $ 207,824,333        $        $ 238,343,349
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 16,860,470        $ 46,890,850

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

 

24


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may have less developed trading markets and exchanges which may make it more difficult to sell securities at an acceptable price and their prices may be more volatile than securities of companies in more developed markets. Settlements of trades may be subject to greater delays so that the Fund may not receive the proceeds of a sale of a security on a timely basis. Emerging countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems and investments may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, nationalization, or confiscation.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $161,796,985. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 91,950,521  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (15,404,072
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 76,546,449  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 3,376,812        $ 4,359,704        $ 7,736,516

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 8,339,630        $ 9,124,082        $ 17,463,712

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

25


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
    

Unrealized

Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)

    

Total
Accumulated

Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 2,648,886        $ 4,302,010        $        $ 75,471,977        $ 82,422,873

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, mark-to-market of futures contracts and return of capital from investments.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements

 

26


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

27


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 0.13% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $4,359,704.

 

28


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

29


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during

 

30


the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

 

31


The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

32


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc. (a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

33


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

34


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 21

Statement of Operations

Page 21

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 22

Financial Highlights

Page 23

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 24

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 30

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 31

Other Information

Page 32

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 33

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 36

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned 21.18%. That compared to a 22.35% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI World Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees, expenses, and fair value adjustments to its portfolio at the close of the New York Stock Exchange, that correspond to the performance of the MSCI World Index (the “Index”). The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of international equity markets. The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index.

During the first quarter, global optimism around a sustainable reopening of the economy due to vaccine rollouts among developed markets helped drive positive performance. Despite the uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, equities rallied over the quarter, reinforced by an increase in demand for goods and manufacturing activities. The Japanese market continued its recovery throughout the quarter despite the state of emergency in Tokyo. Japanese equities were supported by strong earnings reports and hopes of stimulus and economic reopening as COVID cases declined.

Over the second quarter, strong economic data across developed markets and accommodative fiscal policies helped support additional equity gains. The markets’ rising concerns around higher inflation and the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) cautious announcement in June contributed to muted market performance for a short period. The Japanese market recovered toward the end of May, following the reinstatement of state of emergency protocols in Tokyo and other regions. As a response, the Japanese government rolled out several mass vaccination centers, and quarterly earnings reports largely met or exceeded analyst forecasts.

The global economic recovery continued through July and August. However, those gains were offset by a market decline during September. Concerns regarding the U.S. debt ceiling and potential global systematic risk from the crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande weighed down on global equity markets. The spread of the Delta variant, as well as fears around higher inflation and ongoing supply chain issues, also weighed on market sentiment during the third quarter. In Europe, however, markets remained

resilient as hospitalization rates dropped despite a new wave of COVID-19 cases. The Bank of England announced a shift in its policy, suggesting that a rate rise could come in early 2022. For its part, the European Central Bank announced a slower pace of asset purchases but stopped short of setting a path toward higher rates.

In the fourth quarter, developed equity markets posted positive returns in October on the back of strong corporate earnings reports and robust economic data. However, the emergence of yet another new COVID-19 variant (Omicron) in November dampened market performance and put pressure on central banks as they faced rising inflation rates on the back of ongoing supply chain disruptions. Markets rebounded in December as data indicated the new variant was less severe than expected despite higher transmissibility. In Japan, uncertainty over COVID-19 restrictions, a weaker yen, and higher commodity prices weighed on the economy and market performance over the quarter.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and Fund managers keep cash to cover all outstanding futures positions fully.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*The

Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmarks please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the performance of the MSCI World Index as closely as possible. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 90% of its assets, plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes, in securities of the MSCI World Index (the “Underlying Index”) and in depositary receipts representing securities of the Underlying Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

 

10

Year

  Since
Inception1

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      6/21/2021                               10.00 %

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       21.18 %       21.17 %       14.63 %       8.14 %       8.84 %

MSCI World Index (gross of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       22.35 %       22.32 %       15.64 %       13.32 %       13.44 %

MSCI World Index (net of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       21.82 %       21.70 %       15.03 %       12.70 %       12.83 %

 

1 

Not annualized for periods less than one year.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.83 %

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         1.08 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.31% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.55% for Class 1 Shares and to 0.80% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index (“MSCI World Index”), an unmanaged broad equity benchmark that represents large- and mid-cap equity performance across 23 developed markets countries. The Index noted as “gross of withholding taxes” reflects the maximum possible reinvestment of dividends with no adjustment for withholding tax deductions or tax credits. The Index noted as “net of withholding taxes” reflects the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indexes) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,077.40     $ 2.30       0.44 %

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,075.40     $ 3.61       0.69 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.99     $ 2.24       0.44 %

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.73     $ 3.52       0.69 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      23.5 %

Financials

      13.1

Health Care

      12.5

Consumer Discretionary

      12.3

Industrials

      10.1

Communication Services

      8.3

Consumer Staples

      6.8

Materials

      4.2

Energy

      3.1

Real Estate

      2.8

Utilities

      2.7
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.4

Right

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.4
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      99.8

Net other assets (liabilities)

      0.2
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.3%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.2%):       
  4,825      Airbus SE*    $ 616,162  
  27,636      BAE Systems plc      205,888  
  4,654      Boeing Co. (The)*      936,943  
  2,614      CAE, Inc.*      65,949  
  50      Dassault Aviation SA      5,402  
  169      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      29,294  
  1,982      General Dynamics Corp.      413,188  
  407      HEICO Corp.      58,698  
  674      HEICO Corp., Class A      86,622  
  3,607      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      114,811  
  373      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      69,654  
  1,718      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      366,346  
  2,030      Lockheed Martin Corp.      721,482  
  368      MTU Aero Engines AG      74,813  
  1,246      Northrop Grumman Corp.      482,289  
  12,495      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      1,075,320  
  61,901      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      103,218  
  2,724      Safran SA      334,527  
  16,600      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      46,361  
  1,749      Textron, Inc.      135,023  
  986      Thales SA      83,904  
  414      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      263,420  
     

 

 

 
          6,289,314  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.5%):       
  964      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      103,755  
  8,402      Deutsche Post AG      540,760  
  1,360      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      182,634  
  2,067      FedEx Corp.      534,609  
  1,389      InPost SA*      16,777  
  3,000      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      70,254  
  6,043      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      1,295,257  
  2,800      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      65,673  
     

 

 

 
        2,809,719  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  990      Air Canada*      16,539  
  1,000      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      20,909  
  1,475      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      57,643  
  2,412      Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Registered Shares*      16,972  
  1,000      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      19,096  
  5,489      Qantas Airways, Ltd.*      20,012  
  14,350      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.*      53,200  
  1,365      Southwest Airlines Co.*      58,477  
     

 

 

 
        262,848  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.4%):       
  800      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      30,680  
  2,178      Aptiv plc*      359,261  
  2,209      BorgWarner, Inc.      99,560  
  4,700      Bridgestone Corp.      202,268  
  1,398      Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin SCA, Class B      229,137  
  819      Continental AG*      86,700  
  3,600      Denso Corp.      297,318  
  886      Faurecia SA      42,144  
  198      Faurecia SE      9,243  
  1,000      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      52,960  
  556      Lear Corp.      101,720  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components, continued       
  2,325      Magna Internationl, Inc.    $ 188,143  
  600      Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.      15,022  
  7,000      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      91,278  
  1,100      Toyota Industries Corp.      87,909  
  2,122      Valeo SA      64,134  
  163      Vitesco Technologies Group AG*      7,996  
     

 

 

 
        1,965,473  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.5%):       
  2,679      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      269,943  
  7,160      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      549,764  
  1,045      Ferrari NV      268,767  
  32,761      Ford Motor Co.      680,446  
  10,604      General Motors Co.*      621,713  
  13,200      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      370,753  
  5,100      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      63,465  
  3,397      Lucid Group, Inc.*^      129,256  
  5,800      Mazda Motor Corp.*      44,636  
  21,500      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.*      103,915  
  1,777      Renault SA*      61,704  
  1,449      Rivian Automotive, Inc.*^      150,247  
  9,924      Stellantis NV      186,319  
  6,079      Stellantis NV      115,212  
  4,300      Subaru Corp.      76,915  
  2,700      Suzuki Motor Corp.      103,990  
  6,948      Tesla, Inc.*      7,342,507  
  87,500      Toyota Motor Corp.      1,615,519  
  300      Volkswagen AG      88,230  
  2,600      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      62,380  
     

 

 

 
        12,905,681  
     

 

 

 
Banks (5.7%):       
  4,057      ABN AMRO Group NV      59,635  
  23,007      Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.      460,520  
  55,434      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      329,080  
  145,957      Banco Santander SA      487,120  
  10,495      Bank Hapoalim BM      108,172  
  10,762      Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corp.      115,746  
  62,435      Bank of America Corp.        2,777,733  
  5,244      Bank of Montreal      564,659  
  9,969      Bank of Nova Scotia      705,822  
  140,554      Barclays plc      357,194  
  9,148      BNP Paribas SA      632,014  
  34,000      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      111,434  
  41,086      CaixaBank SA      112,655  
  3,685      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      429,596  
  2,800      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      16,022  
  16,558      Citigroup, Inc.      999,938  
  3,404      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      160,839  
  9,260      Commerzbank AG*      70,559  
  14,618      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      1,074,233  
  8,400      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      30,533  
  8,923      Credit Agricole SA      127,441  
  6,375      Danske Bank A/S      108,965  
  15,400      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      372,936  
  8,598      DNB Bank ASA      197,064  
  2,582      Erste Group Bank AG      121,365  
  5,892      Fifth Third Bancorp      256,597  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  5,399      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA    $ 94,016  
  1,478      First Republic Bank      305,222  
  5,700      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      104,362  
  169,915      HSBC Holdings plc      1,027,989  
  11,934      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      184,022  
  32,983      ING Groep NV      459,560  
  133,371      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      344,551  
  7,605      Isreal Discount Bank      51,129  
  1,600      Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.      14,678  
  24,768      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      3,922,013  
  1,998      KBC Group NV      171,592  
  7,868      KeyCorp      181,987  
  574,729      Lloyds Banking Group plc      370,452  
  1,024      M&T Bank Corp.      157,266  
  5,740      Mediobanca SpA      65,607  
  103,200      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      560,778  
  1,433      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      55,295  
  20,450      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      260,154  
  26,632      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      558,857  
  2,763      National Bank of Canada      210,677  
  45,008      Natwest Group plc      137,119  
  25,524      Nordea Bank AB      310,951  
  31,000      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      262,495  
  3,510      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      703,825  
  1,417      Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG      41,669  
  7,800      Regions Financial Corp.      170,040  
  19,700      Resona Holdings, Inc.      76,641  
  11,732      Royal Bank of Canada      1,245,273  
  4,800      Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The)      34,310  
  509      Signature Bank      164,646  
  13,057      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      180,950  
  6,651      Societe Generale      228,371  
  20,594      Standard Chartered plc      124,445  
  10,800      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      369,223  
  2,300      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      76,800  
  480      SVB Financial Group*      325,555  
  11,088      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      119,740  
  7,027      Swedbank AB, Class A      141,171  
  14,883      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      1,141,171  
  11,092      Truist Financial Corp.      649,437  
  11,820      U.S. Bancorp      663,929  
  17,483      Unicredit SpA      269,105  
  10,804      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      215,801  
  34,057      Wells Fargo & Co.      1,634,055  
  31,112      Westpac Banking Corp.      483,606  
     

 

 

 
          29,658,407  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.6%):       
  6,437      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      389,682  
  4,200      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      163,026  
  2,493      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      181,640  
  18,500      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.      48,524  
  797      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      136,923  
  33,818      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      2,002,364  
  810      Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc      45,303  
  618      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      34,428  
  1,975      Coca-Cola HBC AG      68,078  
  1,342      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class C      336,802  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  4,937      David Campari-Milano NV    $ 71,872  
  19,204      Diageo plc      1,046,679  
  771      Heineken Holding NV      71,176  
  2,168      Heineken NV      243,755  
  400      ITO EN, Ltd.      21,009  
  5,741      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      211,613  
  6,100      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      97,844  
  1,759      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      81,530  
  3,386      Monster Beverage Corp.*      325,191  
  11,481      PepsiCo, Inc.      1,994,364  
  1,704      Pernod Ricard SA      409,941  
  236      Remy Cointreau SA      57,442  
  800      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      28,939  
  6,668      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      60,102  
     

 

 

 
        8,128,227  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.5%):       
  14,601      AbbVie, Inc.      1,976,975  
  953      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      161,610  
  4,738      Amgen, Inc.      1,065,908  
  343      Argenx SE*^      121,218  
  1,226      Biogen, Inc.*      294,142  
  1,349      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      119,184  
  3,964      CSL, Ltd.      839,261  
  1,563      Exact Sciences Corp.*      121,648  
  547      Genmab A/S*      219,047  
  10,460      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      759,501  
  2,757      Grifols SA      52,746  
  1,359      Incyte Corp.*      99,751  
  2,883      Moderna, Inc.*      732,224  
  868      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      73,928  
  649      Novavax, Inc.*^      92,852  
  862      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      544,370  
  1,099      Seagen, Inc.*      169,905  
  2,130      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      467,748  
     

 

 

 
        7,912,018  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.7%):       
  953      A.O. Smith Corp.      81,815  
  1,800      AGC, Inc.      85,932  
  644      Allegion plc      85,291  
  7,899      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      240,040  
  6,680      Carrier Global Corp.      362,323  
  4,061      Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA      285,626  
  2,100      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      476,476  
  1,013      Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.      108,290  
  307      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      249,996  
  5,931      Johnson Controls International plc      482,250  
  1,427      Kingspan Group plc      170,785  
  314      Lennox International, Inc.      101,849  
  2,500      Lixil Corp.      66,633  
  1,920      Masco Corp.      134,822  
  11,325      Nibe Industrier AB, Class B      169,857  
  970      Owens Corning      87,785  
  52      ROCKWOOL International A/S, Class B      22,762  
  1,300      TOTO, Ltd.      59,805  
  1,937      Trane Technologies plc      391,332  
  13,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      32,553  
     

 

 

 
          3,696,222  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets (3.1%):       
  8,994      3i Group plc    $ 175,935  
  895      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      269,986  
  375      Amundi SA      30,953  
  1,608      Apollo Asset Management, Inc.      116,467  
  1,789      ASX, Ltd.      120,936  
  6,776      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      393,550  
  1,265      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      1,158,183  
  5,676      Blackstone Group, Inc. (The), Class A      734,418  
  11,416      Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., Class A      689,491  
  1,473      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)      80,868  
  867      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      113,057  
  11,959      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      1,005,752  
  2,961      CME Group, Inc.      676,470  
  317      Coinbase Global, Inc.*      80,001  
  22,580      Credit Suisse Group AG      219,081  
  13,400      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      75,590  
  17,000      Deutsche Bank AG, Registered Shares*      213,358  
  1,600      Deutsche Boerse AG      268,007  
  2,202      EQT AB      119,731  
  719      Euronext NV      74,648  
  295      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      143,373  
  2,803      Franklin Resources, Inc.      93,872  
  469      Futu Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      20,308  
  2,817      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      1,077,643  
  3,288      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      60,326  
  9,700      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      566,976  
  217      IGM Financial, Inc.      7,827  
  4,582      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      626,680  
  2,555      Invesco, Ltd.      58,816  
  4,700      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      102,913  
  1,702      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      113,775  
  4,391      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      327,130  
  2,731      London Stock Exchange Group plc      255,571  
  2,952      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      441,192  
  1,274      Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.      19,691  
  287      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      118,035  
  1,418      Moody’s Corp.      553,842  
  11,202      Morgan Stanley      1,099,588  
  681      MSCI, Inc., Class A      417,242  
  931      Nasdaq, Inc.      195,519  
  23,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      100,324  
  1,595      Northern Trust Corp.      190,778  
  177      Partners Group Holding AG      291,884  
  1,455      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      146,082  
  1,522      Robinhood Markets, Inc.*      27,031  
  2,014      S&P Global, Inc.      950,467  
  2,400      SBI Holdings, Inc.      65,428  
  1,149      Schroders plc      55,191  
  1,127      SEI Investments Co.      68,679  
  3,200      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      22,102  
  3,801      St. James Place plc      86,571  
  2,961      State Street Corp.      275,373  
  1,862      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      366,144  
  521      TMX Group, Ltd.      52,829  
  940      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      94,132  
  28,386      UBS Group AG      509,642  
     

 

 

 
          16,219,458  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (2.2%):       
  3,844      Air Liquide SA    $ 670,241  
  1,862      Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.      566,532  
  1,542      Akzo Nobel NV      169,727  
  959      Albemarle Corp.      224,185  
  577      Arkema SA      81,374  
  11,600      Asahi Kasei Corp.      109,044  
  7,451      BASF SE      524,021  
  897      Celanese Corp.      150,750  
  1,978      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      140,003  
  801      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      62,982  
  2,080      Clariant AG      43,424  
  6,268      Corteva, Inc.      296,351  
  1,415      Covestro AG      87,304  
  1,096      Croda International plc      150,290  
  6,176      Dow, Inc.      350,303  
  4,286      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      346,223  
  1,020      Eastman Chemical Co.      123,328  
  2,136      Ecolab, Inc.      501,084  
  62      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      69,212  
  1,938      Evonik Industries AG      62,806  
  949      FMC Corp.      104,286  
  311      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      14,133  
  73      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      384,245  
  6,835      ICL Group, Ltd.      65,724  
  2,123      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      319,830  
  1,789      Johnson Matthey plc      49,685  
  1,900      JSR Corp.      72,284  
  1,300      Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.      28,261  
  1,472      Koninklijke DSM NV      330,475  
  803      Lanxess AG      49,822  
  4,251      Linde plc      1,472,674  
  2,197      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      202,629  
  11,800      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      87,427  
  700      Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc.      11,858  
  1,700      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      45,680  
  2,710      Mosaic Co. (The)      106,476  
  6,600      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      71,973  
  1,100      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      24,038  
  800      Nissan Chemical Corp.      46,473  
  1,000      Nitto Denko Corp.      77,307  
  1,580      Novozymes A/S, Class B      129,399  
  4,831      Nutrien, Ltd.^      363,165  
  2,876      Orica, Ltd.      28,679  
  2,005      PPG Industries, Inc.      345,742  
  942      RPM International, Inc.      95,142  
  2,096      Sherwin Williams Co.      738,127  
  2,900      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.      502,353  
  1,168      Sika AG      484,991  
  685      Solvay SA      79,852  
  13,800      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      65,043  
  1,189      Symrise AG      176,349  
  12,800      Toray Industries, Inc.      75,890  
  2,700      Tosoh Corp.      40,055  
  1,822      Umicore SA      74,332  
  1,092      Yara International ASA      55,189  
     

 

 

 
          11,548,772  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.5%):       
  10,643      Brambles, Ltd.    $ 82,311  
  748      Cintas Corp.      331,491  
  1,784      Copart, Inc.*      270,490  
  1,800      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      45,282  
  1,558      GFL Environmental, Inc.      58,918  
  13,958      Rentokil Initial plc      110,394  
  1,839      Republic Services, Inc., Class A      256,449  
  1,016      Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.      62,183  
  2,075      Rollins, Inc.      70,986  
  1,900      SECOM Co., Ltd.      131,941  
  3,081      Securitas AB, Class B      42,362  
  300      Sohgo Security Services Co., Ltd.      11,922  
  2,800      TOPPAN, INC.      52,496  
  2,218      Waste Connections, Inc.      302,247  
  3,408      Waste Management, Inc.      568,795  
     

 

 

 
        2,398,267  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.7%):       
  1,856      Arista Networks, Inc.*      266,800  
  34,768      Cisco Systems, Inc.      2,203,248  
  438      F5, Inc.*      107,183  
  3,033      Juniper Networks, Inc.      108,309  
  1,443      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      392,063  
  42,435      Nokia OYJ*      266,556  
  24,758      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      272,034  
     

 

 

 
        3,616,193  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.3%):       
  2,330      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      62,488  
  2,111      Bouygues SA      75,630  
  770      Eiffage SA      79,415  
  3,592      Ferrovial SA      112,643  
  1,024      Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.      142,571  
  4,400      Kajima Corp.      50,544  
  4,900      Obayashi Corp.      37,922  
  5,900      Shimizu Corp.      36,580  
  3,144      Skanska AB, Class B      81,011  
  1,100      Taisei Corp.      33,431  
  4,415      Vinci SA      467,743  
  1,051      WSP Global, Inc.      152,589  
     

 

 

 
        1,332,567  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  6,549      CRH plc      345,888  
  993      HeidelbergCement AG      67,271  
  4,635      Holcim, Ltd.      235,961  
  4,105      James Hardie Industries SE      165,192  
  503      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      221,582  
  1,084      Vulcan Materials Co.      225,017  
     

 

 

 
        1,260,911  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  3,145      Ally Financial, Inc.      149,733  
  5,564      American Express Co.      910,270  
  3,671      Capital One Financial Corp.      532,625  
  2,410      Discover Financial Services      278,500  
  1      Isracard, Ltd.      3  
  4,337      SoFi Technologies, Inc.*^      68,568  
  4,815      Synchrony Financial      223,368  
  163      Upstart Holdings, Inc.*      24,662  
     

 

 

 
        2,187,729  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Containers & Packaging (0.2%):       
  12,355      Amcor plc    $ 148,384  
  648      Avery Dennison Corp.      140,337  
  2,818      Ball Corp.      271,289  
  1,393      CCL Industries, Inc.      74,705  
  998      Crown Holdings, Inc.      110,399  
  3,294      International Paper Co.      154,752  
  682      Packaging Corp. of America      92,854  
  1,432      Sealed Air Corp.      96,617  
  1,807      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      99,885  
  2,436      Westrock Co.      108,061  
     

 

 

 
        1,297,283  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  1,145      Genuine Parts Co.      160,529  
  2,156      LKQ Corp.      129,425  
  321      Pool Corp.      181,686  
     

 

 

 
        471,640  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  1,753      IDP Education, Ltd.      44,198  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  10,984      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      3,284,216  
  2,830      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      92,796  
  414      Eurazeo SE      36,189  
  1,002      EXOR NV      89,181  
  1,044      Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA      116,661  
  885      Industrivarden AB, Class A      28,099  
  1,476      Industrivarden AB, Class C      46,181  
  4,187      Investor AB      109,797  
  14,654      Investor AB, Class B      366,603  
  2,236      Kinnevik AB, Class B*      79,129  
  418      L E Lundbergforetagen AB      23,365  
  24,030      M&G plc      64,859  
  4,100      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      20,286  
  755      Onex Corp.      59,263  
  9,900      ORIX Corp.      202,094  
  142      Sofina SA      69,820  
  20,261      Standard Life Aberdeen plc      66,024  
  200      Tokyo Century Corp.      9,705  
  122      Wendel      14,626  
     

 

 

 
        4,778,894  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.2%):       
  58,993      AT&T, Inc.      1,451,228  
  692      BCE, Inc.      36,006  
  70,769      BT Group plc      161,794  
  4,277      Cellnex Telecom SAU      248,300  
  28,310      Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered Shares      526,097  
  1,315      Elisa OYJ      80,755  
  36,000      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      48,394  
  2,027      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA      24,540  
  31,076      Koninklijke KPN NV      96,491  
  8,617      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      108,143  
  10,900      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      298,079  
  16,116      Orange SA      172,636  
  1,048      Proximus SADP      20,434  
  62,100      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      106,937  
  17,116      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      52,987  
  191      Swisscom AG, Registered Shares      107,787  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  92,093      Telecom Italia SpA    $ 45,283  
  3,372      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      9,328  
  44,585      Telefonica SA^      194,074  
  6,467      Telenor ASA      101,801  
  24,569      Telia Co AB      96,102  
  29,855      Telstra Corp., Ltd.      90,792  
  3,956      TELUS Corp.      93,176  
  476      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      18,880  
  34,090      Verizon Communications, Inc.      1,771,316  
     

 

 

 
        5,961,360  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.6%):       
  2,033      Alliant Energy Corp.      124,969  
  4,001      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      355,969  
  6,381      AusNet Services      11,926  
  6,000      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      63,360  
  7,000      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      44,575  
  15,000      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      151,497  
  6,320      Duke Energy Corp.      662,968  
  3,058      Edison International      208,709  
  20,856      EDP – Energias de Portugal SA      114,392  
  4,298      Electricite de France      50,505  
  226      Elia Group SA/NV      29,799  
  2,325      Emera, Inc.      116,213  
  3,072      Endesa SA      70,810  
  65,848      Enel SpA      524,363  
  1,617      Entergy Corp.      182,155  
  1,705      Evergy, Inc.      116,980  
  2,881      Eversource Energy      262,113  
  7,987      Exelon Corp.      461,329  
  4,352      FirstEnergy Corp.      181,000  
  4,314      Fortis, Inc.      208,162  
  3,188      Fortum OYJ      97,365  
  7,500      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      7,359  
  3,038      Hydro One, Ltd.      79,049  
  47,941      Iberdrola SA      561,743  
  6,500      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      60,844  
  4,873      Mercury NZ, Ltd.      20,408  
  16,219      NextEra Energy, Inc.      1,514,206  
  16,911      Origin Energy, Ltd.      64,595  
  1,748      Orsted A/S      224,498  
  11,217      PG&E Corp.*      136,174  
  13,000      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      81,031  
  6,216      PPL Corp.      186,853  
  1,850      Red Electrica Corp SA^      40,039  
  8,440      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      188,170  
  8,925      Southern Co. (The)      612,076  
  13,004      Terna SpA      104,911  
  14,900      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      38,568  
  453      Verbund AG, Class A      51,123  
  4,585      Xcel Energy, Inc.      310,405  
     

 

 

 
        8,321,211  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.9%):       
  13,774      ABB, Ltd.      524,980  
  1,931      AMETEK, Inc.      283,934  
  1,327      Ballard Power Systems, Inc.*      16,671  
  3,252      Eaton Corp. plc      562,011  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electrical Equipment, continued       
  5,038      Emerson Electric Co.    $ 468,383  
  1,200      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      65,537  
  515      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      181,239  
  2,233      Legrand SA      261,314  
  14,900      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      188,974  
  3,500      Nidec Corp.      411,500  
  4,644      Plug Power, Inc.*^      131,100  
  1,694      Prysmian SpA      63,821  
  916      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      319,547  
  4,516      Schneider Electric SA      885,276  
  1,457      Sensata Technologies Holding plc*      89,882  
  3,694      Siemens Energy AG*      94,570  
  2,219      Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy*      52,624  
  1,592      Sunrun, Inc.*      54,606  
  7,736      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      233,973  
     

 

 

 
        4,889,942  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.0%):       
  4,880      Amphenol Corp., Class A      426,805  
  690      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      92,646  
  800      Azbil Corp.      36,454  
  1,096      CDW Corp.      224,439  
  1,627      Cognex Corp.      126,516  
  7,102      Corning, Inc.      264,408  
  2,865      Halma plc      123,713  
  1,300      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      82,977  
  16,517      Hexagon AB, Class B      260,128  
  205      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      34,477  
  600      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      35,470  
  346      IPG Photonics Corp.*      59,561  
  1,600      Keyence Corp.      1,005,714  
  1,567      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      323,601  
  2,500      Kyocera Corp.      156,246  
  4,600      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      365,278  
  1,700      Omron Corp.      169,421  
  2,200      Shimadzu Corp.      92,884  
  2,900      TDK Corp.      113,234  
  2,723      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      439,329  
  370      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      161,649  
  2,027      Trimble, Inc.*      176,734  
  1,300      Venture Corp., Ltd.      17,681  
  1,000      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      18,036  
  463      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      275,578  
     

 

 

 
        5,082,979  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  6,737      Baker Hughes Co.      162,092  
  7,216      Halliburton Co.      165,030  
  11,956      Schlumberger, Ltd.      358,082  
  4,403      Tenaris SA      45,949  
     

 

 

 
        731,153  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.4%):       
  6,545      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      435,439  
  4,441      AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., Class A*^      120,795  
  8,533      Bollore, Inc.      47,743  
  1,200      Capcom Co., Ltd.      28,258  
  2,273      Electronic Arts, Inc.      299,809  
  2,754      Embracer Group AB*      29,191  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment, continued       
  390      Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.^    $ 15,346  
  900      Konami Holdings Corp.      43,202  
  1,787      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      113,010  
  1,290      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      154,400  
  3,642      Netflix, Inc.*      2,194,086  
  4,500      Nexon Co., Ltd.      86,796  
  900      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      419,867  
  924      Roku, Inc.*      210,857  
  1,157      Sea, Ltd., ADR*      258,832  
  400      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      20,522  
  974      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      173,099  
  600      Toho Co., Ltd.      25,696  
  856      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      41,978  
  5,833      Universal Music Group NV      164,444  
  5,833      Vivendi Universal SA      78,907  
  14,941      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      2,314,212  
     

 

 

 
        7,276,489  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (2.3%):       
  1,112      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.      247,932  
  3,768      American Tower Corp.      1,102,140  
  29,744      Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust      65,157  
  1,174      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      296,541  
  1,147      Boston Properties, Inc.      132,111  
  8,137      British Land Co. plc      58,335  
  739      Camden Property Trust      132,044  
  815      Canadian Apartment Properties REIT      38,636  
  31,506      CapitaLand Mall Trust      47,727  
  316      Covivio      25,980  
  3,573      Crown Castle International Corp.      745,828  
  18      Daiwahouse Residential Investment Corp.      54,544  
  10,038      Dexus      81,218  
  2,280      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      403,264  
  2,988      Duke Realty Corp.      196,132  
  739      Equinix, Inc.      625,076  
  1,394      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      122,198  
  2,955      Equity Residential      267,427  
  522      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      183,864  
  1,083      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      245,549  
  424      Gecina SA      59,299  
  28      GLP J-REIT      48,391  
  13,861      Goodman Group      267,604  
  18,004      GPT Group      70,999  
  4,227      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      152,552  
  6,519      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      113,365  
  5,025      Invitation Homes, Inc.      227,833  
  2,113      Iron Mountain, Inc.      110,573  
  68      Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest      58,595  
  12      Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.      68,135  
  1,908      Klepierre      45,240  
  6,510      Land Securities Group plc      68,264  
  19,200      Link REIT (The)      169,149  
  15,100      Mapletree Commercial Trust      22,257  
  21,123      Mapletree Logistics Trust      29,789  
  5,344      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      126,279  
  919      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      210,855  
  36,393      Mirvac Group      77,148  
  14      Nippon Building Fund, Inc.      81,561  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
  20      Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.    $ 70,731  
  39      Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.      54,867  
  25      Orix JREIT, Inc.      39,084  
  6,146      Prologis, Inc.      1,034,741  
  1,285      Public Storage, Inc.      481,310  
  4,569      Realty Income Corp.      327,095  
  1,170      Regency Centers Corp.      88,159  
  480      RioCan REIT      8,706  
  884      SBA Communications Corp.      343,894  
  47,972      Scentre Group      110,307  
  9,532      SERGO plc      185,128  
  2,753      Simon Property Group, Inc.      439,847  
  22,062      Stockland      68,073  
  995      Sun Communities, Inc.      208,920  
  2,260      UDR, Inc.      135,577  
  1,152      Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield*      80,305  
  3,463      Ventas, Inc.      177,029  
  4,960      VICI Properties, Inc.^      149,346  
  24,703      Vicinity Centres      30,426  
  1,503      Vornado Realty Trust      62,916  
  3,554      Welltower, Inc.      304,827  
  6,139      Weyerhaeuser Co.      252,804  
  1,287      WP Carey, Inc.      105,598  
     

 

 

 
        11,839,281  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.4%):       
  4,900      AEON Co., Ltd.      115,427  
  6,504      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.      272,543  
  5,668      Carrefour SA      103,876  
  12,329      Coles Group, Ltd.      160,923  
  272      Colruyt SA      11,538  
  100      Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp.      14,693  
  3,643      Costco Wholesale Corp.      2,068,131  
  1,563      Empire Co., Ltd., Class A      47,626  
  11,695      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      57,354  
  15,420      J Sainsbury plc      57,483  
  2,416      Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA      55,288  
  2,524      Kesko OYJ, Class B      83,721  
  1,000      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      38,695  
  8,868      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      303,832  
  6,103      Kroger Co. (The)      276,222  
  200      LAWSON, Inc.      9,466  
  1,246      Loblaw Cos., Ltd.      102,099  
  1,796      Metro, Inc.      95,594  
  6,400      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      281,374  
  4,379      Sysco Corp.      343,970  
  63,483      Tesco plc      248,849  
  300      Tsuruha Holdings, Inc.      28,769  
  6,256      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      326,313  
  12,791      Walmart, Inc.      1,850,730  
  500      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      15,589  
  705      Weston (George), Ltd.      81,748  
  10,805      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      298,806  
     

 

 

 
        7,350,659  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.5%):       
  4,300      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.      130,757  
  4,700      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      317,673  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  3,293      Associated British Foods plc    $ 89,304  
  33      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      80,208  
  1,295      Bunge, Ltd.      120,901  
  1,820      Campbell Soup Co.      79,097  
  1      Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG      134,096  
  3,715      Conagra Brands, Inc.      126,867  
  5,258      Danone SA      326,571  
  5,200      General Mills, Inc.      350,376  
  1,206      Hershey Co. (The)      233,325  
  2,218      Hormel Foods Corp.      108,261  
  476      JDE Peet’s NV      14,665  
  815      JM Smucker Co. (The)      110,693  
  1,968      Kellogg Co.      126,779  
  1,279      Kerry Group plc, Class A      164,858  
  1,300      Kikkoman Corp.      109,318  
  5,513      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      197,917  
  7      Lindt & Spruengli AG      96,708  
  1,974      McCormick & Co.      190,708  
  1,200      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      71,579  
  11,389      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      755,205  
  4,062      Mowi ASA      96,174  
  23,242      Nestle SA, Registered Shares      3,250,112  
  700      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      10,076  
  300      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      21,856  
  5,748      Orkla ASA, Class A      57,656  
  2,279      Saputo, Inc.      51,353  
  700      Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      29,613  
  2,404      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      209,533  
  68,033      WH Group, Ltd.      42,676  
  18,000      Wilmar International, Ltd.      55,351  
  900      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      46,891  
     

 

 

 
        7,807,157  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.2%):       
  1,545      AltaGas, Ltd.      33,360  
  10,905      APA Group      79,879  
  1,185      Atmos Energy Corp.      124,152  
  595      Enagas SA      13,760  
  1,662      Gas Natural SDG SA      53,951  
  103,117      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      160,543  
  3,600      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      59,623  
  18,638      Snam SpA      112,013  
  3,500      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      62,921  
  1,928      UGI Corp.      88,515  
     

 

 

 
        788,717  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.0%):       
  14,676      Abbott Laboratories      2,065,500  
  342      ABIOMED, Inc.*      122,836  
  3,994      Alcon, Inc.      352,007  
  614      Align Technology, Inc.*      403,509  
  1,548      Ambu A/S, Class B      40,522  
  1,400      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      29,998  
  4,010      Baxter International, Inc.      344,218  
  2,367      Becton Dickinson & Co.      595,253  
  245      BioMerieux      34,823  
  11,539      Boston Scientific Corp.*      490,177  
  372      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG      78,271  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  451      Cochlear, Ltd.    $ 70,792  
  1,098      Coloplast A/S, Class B      192,114  
  393      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      164,643  
  5,321      Danaher Corp.      1,750,662  
  1,001      Demant A/S*      50,788  
  2,020      Dentsply Sirona, Inc.      112,696  
  795      DexCom, Inc.*      426,875  
  233      DiaSorin SpA      44,320  
  5,103      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      661,094  
  4,138      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      92,768  
  1,920      Getinge AB, Class B      83,426  
  843      GN Store Nord A/S      52,682  
  2,052      Hologic, Inc.*      157,101  
  3,000      HOYA Corp.      444,901  
  710      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      467,507  
  417      Inmode, Ltd.*      29,432  
  555      Insulet Corp.*      147,669  
  2,945      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      1,058,139  
  7,813      Koninklijke Philips NV      290,378  
  395      Masimo Corp.*      115,648  
  11,194      Medtronic plc      1,158,019  
  852      Novocure, Ltd.*      63,968  
  9,500      Olympus Corp.      218,245  
  1,249      ResMed, Inc.      325,340  
  242      Sartorius AG      163,781  
  2,484      Siemens Healthineers AG      186,118  
  6,641      Smith & Nephew plc      116,219  
  440      Sonova Holding AG, Registered Shares      171,907  
  806      Steris plc      196,188  
  86      Straumann Holding AG, Registered Shares, Class R      181,782  
  2,829      Stryker Corp.      756,531  
  1,500      Sysmex Corp.      202,130  
  354      Teleflex, Inc.      116,282  
  5,600      Terumo Corp.      236,672  
  620      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      290,786  
  1,644      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      208,854  
     

 

 

 
        15,563,571  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.9%):       
  1,218      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      161,860  
  845      Amplifon SpA      45,402  
  2,022      Anthem, Inc.      937,278  
  2,209      Cardinal Health, Inc.      113,741  
  4,948      Centene Corp.*      407,715  
  2,773      Cigna Corp.      636,764  
  10,902      CVS Health Corp.      1,124,650  
  657      DaVita, Inc.*      74,740  
  1,484      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      96,124  
  3,378      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      136,187  
  2,150      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      552,378  
  1,317      Henry Schein, Inc.*      102,107  
  1,083      Humana, Inc.      502,360  
  813      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*      255,453  
  1,233      McKesson Corp.      306,487  
  1,400      Medipal Holdings Corp.      26,235  
  453      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      144,090  
  594      Oak Street Health, Inc.*^      19,685  
  478      Orpea      47,801  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  1,055      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.    $ 182,526  
  1,692      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      87,818  
  4,519      Ryman Healthcare, Ltd.      37,886  
  3,322      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.      112,818  
  7,813      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      3,923,220  
  521      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      67,553  
     

 

 

 
        10,102,878  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  2,497      Cerner Corp.      231,896  
  3,600      M3, Inc.      181,361  
  1,250      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      114,775  
  1,173      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      299,678  
     

 

 

 
        827,710  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.5%):       
  1,592      Accor SA*      51,515  
  1,978      Airbnb, Inc., Class A*      329,317  
  2,113      Aramark      77,864  
  5,570      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      176,618  
  1,690      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      158,066  
  6,658      Carnival Corp., Class A*^      133,959  
  229      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      400,349  
  15,190      Compass Group plc*      338,316  
  1,597      Crown Resorts, Ltd.*      13,924  
  1,030      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      155,159  
  580      Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Ltd.      49,809  
  308      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      173,814  
  2,840      DraftKings, Inc., Class A*      78,015  
  1,406      Evolution AB      197,868  
  1,455      Flutter Entertainment plc*      229,565  
  20,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.*      103,638  
  25,500      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      14,669  
  4,276      GVC Holdings plc*      97,069  
  2,288      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      356,905  
  1,297      InterContinental Hotels Group plc*      83,469  
  883      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM      39,118  
  2,602      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      97,939  
  2,294      Marriott International, Inc., Class A*      379,061  
  6,174      McDonald’s Corp.      1,655,064  
  300      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      13,277  
  758      Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd., ADR*      7,716  
  3,096      MGM Resorts International      138,949  
  1,600      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      269,675  
  2,135      Restaurant Brands International, Inc.      129,552  
  1,827      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      140,496  
  22,400      Sands China, Ltd.*      52,181  
  818      Sodexo SA      71,719  
  9,744      Starbucks Corp.      1,139,756  
  20,492      Tabcorp Holdings, Ltd.      74,939  
  297      Vail Resorts, Inc.      97,386  
  1,865      Whitbread plc*      75,318  
  962      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      81,809  
  2,377      Yum! Brands, Inc.      330,070  
     

 

 

 
        8,013,933  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.7%):       
  9,412      Barratt Developments plc      95,061  
  2,191      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      152,910  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  1,048      Berkeley Group Holdings plc    $ 67,544  
  2,853      DR Horton, Inc.      309,408  
  2,085      Electrolux AB, Class B      50,423  
  1,260      Garmin, Ltd.      171,574  
  2,525      Husqvarna AB, Class B      40,216  
  600      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      13,923  
  2,266      Lennar Corp., Class A      263,219  
  552      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      100,563  
  3,532      Newell Brands, Inc.      77,139  
  27      NVR, Inc.*      159,539  
  20,400      Panasonic Corp.      224,409  
  2,260      Persimmon plc      87,152  
  2,163      PulteGroup, Inc.      123,637  
  300      Rinnai Corp.      26,990  
  256      SEB SA      39,870  
  3,500      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      58,498  
  5,700      Sekisui House, Ltd.      122,379  
  1,000      Sharp Corp.      11,461  
  10,300      Sony Group Corp.      1,302,242  
  33,694      Taylor Wimpey plc      79,793  
  460      Whirlpool Corp.      107,944  
     

 

 

 
        3,685,894  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.1%):       
  1,959      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      200,798  
  1,001      Clorox Co. (The)      174,534  
  6,581      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      561,623  
  4,830      Essity AB, Class B      157,660  
  960      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      75,051  
  2,745      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      392,315  
  1,700      Lion Corp.      22,720  
  20,040      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      3,278,143  
  5,927      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      508,372  
  3,700      Unicharm Corp.      160,832  
     

 

 

 
        5,532,048  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.1%):
      
  5,538      AES Corp. (The)      134,573  
  787      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      28,965  
  2,812      EDP Renovaveis SA      69,724  
  6,904      Meridian Energy, Ltd.      22,962  
  2,059      Northland Power, Inc.      61,780  
  2,257      NRG Energy, Inc.      97,232  
  254      Uniper SE      12,079  
  4,219      Vistra Corp.      96,067  
     

 

 

 
        523,382  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.1%):       
  4,844      3M Co.      860,440  
  21,000      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.      135,518  
  925      DCC plc      75,627  
  8,950      General Electric Co.      845,506  
  7,900      Hitachi, Ltd.      427,994  
  5,764      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,201,852  
  1,007      Investment AB Latour, Class B      41,083  
  1,500      Jardine Matheson Holdings, Ltd.      82,576  
  7,500      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      28,502  
  1,957      Lifco AB, Class B      58,622  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates, continued       
  40,411      Melrose Industries plc    $ 87,671  
  862      Roper Technologies, Inc.      423,983  
  6,279      Siemens AG, Registered Shares      1,091,332  
  3,663      Smiths Group plc      78,069  
  3,800      Toshiba Corp.      156,295  
     

 

 

 
        5,595,070  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.9%):       
  1,782      Admiral Group plc      76,172  
  16,538      AEGON NV      82,414  
  5,126      Aflac, Inc.      299,307  
  1,618      Ageas NV      83,874  
  98,200      AIA Group, Ltd.      990,027  
  129      Alleghany Corp.*      86,119  
  3,365      Allianz SE, Registered Shares+      795,478  
  2,379      Allstate Corp. (The)      279,889  
  679      American Financial Group, Inc.      93,240  
  7,045      American International Group, Inc.      400,579  
  1,905      Aon plc, Class A      572,567  
  3,125      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      138,906  
  1,638      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      277,920  
  8,867      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      187,126  
  535      Assurant, Inc.      83,385  
  1,240      Athene Holding, Ltd., Class A*      103,329  
  31,654      Aviva plc      175,753  
  16,017      AXA SA      477,296  
  433      Baloise Holding AG, Registered Shares      70,717  
  1,810      Brown & Brown, Inc.      127,207  
  3,585      Chubb, Ltd.      693,016  
  1,198      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      136,488  
  1,241      CNP Assurances SA      30,731  
  8,200      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      165,695  
  116      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      22,349  
  370      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      101,350  
  188      Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd.      92,490  
  2,431      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      126,850  
  1,848      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      44,904  
  907      Globe Life, Inc.      85,004  
  2,573      Great-West Lifeco, Inc.      77,223  
  557      Hannover Rueck SE      106,052  
  2,909      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      200,837  
  1,012      IA Financial Corp., Inc.      57,913  
  22,784      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      70,612  
  1,559      Intact Financial Corp.      202,665  
  21,000      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      163,935  
  1,700      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      27,320  
  47,860      Legal & General Group plc      192,623  
  1,326      Lincoln National Corp.      90,513  
  1,606      Loews Corp.      92,763  
  15,239      Manulife Financial Corp.      290,490  
  106      Markel Corp.*      130,804  
  4,190      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      728,306  
  25,594      Medibank Private, Ltd.      62,382  
  6,189      MetLife, Inc.      386,751  
  3,200      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      98,755  
  1,147      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      340,244  
  2,086      NN Group NV      112,730  
  6,201      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      54,685  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  4,829      Poste Italiane SpA    $ 63,365  
  4,956      Power Corp. of Canada      163,789  
  2,145      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      155,148  
  4,856      Progressive Corp. (The)      498,468  
  3,183      Prudential Financial, Inc.      344,528  
  21,399      Prudential plc      368,940  
  10,467      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      86,446  
  4,089      Sampo Oyj, Class A      203,981  
  2,900      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      122,531  
  4,951      Sun Life Financial, Inc.      275,617  
  11,836      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      95,365  
  244      Swiss Life Holding AG, Registered Shares      149,390  
  2,505      Swiss Re AG      247,503  
  5,000      T&D Holdings, Inc.      64,002  
  5,300      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      294,589  
  2,002      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      313,173  
  3,328      Tryg A/S      82,267  
  1,080      Willis Towers Watson plc      256,489  
  1,311      WR Berkley Corp.      108,013  
  1,264      Zurich Insurance Group AG      554,103  
     

 

 

 
        14,835,492  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (4.4%):       
  1,569      Adevinta ASA*      20,861  
  2,486      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      7,202,041  
  2,379      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      6,883,851  
  6,294      Auto Trader Group plc      62,903  
  729      IAC/InterActiveCorp.*      95,288  
  500      Kakaku.com, Inc.      13,349  
  2,194      Match Group, Inc.*      290,156  
  19,682      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      6,620,041  
  4,921      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      178,878  
  488      REA Group, Ltd.      59,529  
  828      Scout24 AG      58,039  
  3,100      Seek, Ltd.      73,946  
  8,905      Snap, Inc., Class A*      418,802  
  6,490      Twitter, Inc.*      280,498  
  19,800      Z Holdings Corp.      114,919  
  614      Zillow Group, Inc., Class A*      38,203  
  1,442      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      92,072  
  1,887      ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*      121,145  
     

 

 

 
        22,624,521  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (3.2%):       
  3,763      Amazon.com, Inc.*      12,547,121  
  342      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      820,537  
  819      Chewy, Inc., Class A*^      48,297  
  1,451      Delivery Hero SE*      161,985  
  901      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*      134,159  
  5,546      eBay, Inc.      368,809  
  1,029      Etsy, Inc.*      225,289  
  1,279      Expedia Group, Inc.*      231,141  
  245      Fiverr International, Ltd.*      27,857  
  1,243      HelloFresh SE*      95,604  
  1,296      Just Eat Takeaway*      69,902  
  361      MercadoLibre, Inc.*      486,772  
  500      Mercari, Inc.*      25,479  
  4,499      Ocado Group plc*      102,058  
  7,789      Prosus NV      649,646  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, continued       
  8,000      Rakuten, Inc.    $ 80,278  
  553      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*^      105,053  
  1,812      Zalando SE*      146,925  
  1,200      ZOZO, Inc.      37,372  
     

 

 

 
        16,364,284  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (4.0%):       
  5,249      Accenture plc, Class A      2,175,973  
  160      Adyen NV*      418,557  
  733      Affirm Holdings, Inc.*      73,710  
  1,628      Afterpay, Ltd.*      97,424  
  1,286      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      150,513  
  3,775      Amadeus IT Group SA*      254,240  
  3,469      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      855,386  
  589      Bechtle AG      42,218  
  1,147      Black Knight, Inc.*      95,075  
  3,333      Block, Inc.*      538,313  
  921      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      168,377  
  1,256      Capgemini SA      306,750  
  1,784      CGI, Inc.*      157,764  
  4,252      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      377,237  
  5,010      Computershare, Ltd.      72,907  
  1,792      Edenred      82,698  
  476      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      318,182  
  5,116      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      558,411  
  4,856      Fiserv, Inc.*      504,004  
  639      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      143,034  
  1,500      Fujitsu, Ltd.      257,051  
  733      Gartner, Inc.*      245,057  
  2,342      Global Payments, Inc.      316,592  
  200      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      24,798  
  1,211      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      102,765  
  7,460      International Business Machines Corp.      997,104  
  800      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      25,739  
  546      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      91,176  
  7,283      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      2,616,928  
  455      MongoDB, Inc.*      240,854  
  4,062      Nexi SpA*      64,193  
  2,520      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      107,334  
  5,800      NTT Data Corp.      124,378  
  340      Nuvei Corp.*      22,043  
  600      OBIC Co., Ltd.      112,328  
  1,016      Okta, Inc.*      227,757  
  1,100      Otsuka Corp.      52,512  
  2,766      Paychex, Inc.      377,559  
  9,282      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      1,750,400  
  900      SCSK Corp.      17,915  
  935      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      1,287,540  
  1,768      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      598,910  
  1,600      TIS, Inc.      47,491  
  1,365      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      359,459  
  817      VeriSign, Inc.*      207,371  
  13,979      Visa, Inc., Class A      3,029,389  
  3,798      Western Union Co. (The.)      67,756  
  514      Wix.com, Ltd.*      81,104  
  2,032      Worldline SA*      113,222  
     

 

 

 
        20,957,498  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  1,800      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.    $ 140,781  
  1,206      Hasbro, Inc.      122,747  
  2,184      Peloton Interactive, Inc., Class A*      78,100  
  600      Shimano, Inc.      159,483  
  1,200      Yamaha Corp.      59,168  
     

 

 

 
        560,279  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.1%):       
  676      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*      100,697  
  2,546      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      406,469  
  4,207      Avantor, Inc.*      177,283  
  52      Bachem Holding AG, Class B      40,749  
  171      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      129,202  
  305      Bio-Techne Corp.      157,789  
  403      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      151,842  
  1,012      Eurofins Scientific SE      125,283  
  1,231      Illumina, Inc.*      468,322  
  1,569      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      442,678  
  634      Lonza Group AG, Registered Shares      528,323  
  187      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      317,378  
  894      PerkinElmer, Inc.      179,748  
  1,659      Qiagen NV*      92,435  
  206      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      112,810  
  3,272      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      2,183,209  
  509      Waters Corp.*      189,653  
     

 

 

 
        5,803,870  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (1.9%):       
  2,908      Alfa Laval AB      116,391  
  2,573      Alstom SA      91,629  
  3,308      Atlas Copco AB      193,153  
  5,816      Atlas Copco AB, Class A      402,747  
  4,452      Caterpillar, Inc.      920,407  
  7,981      CNH Industrial NV      153,267  
  1,139      Cummins, Inc.      248,462  
  700      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      57,220  
  3,580      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      131,596  
  2,414      Deere & Co.      827,737  
  1,174      Dover Corp.      213,198  
  6,091      Epiroc AB, Class A      154,480  
  3,604      Epiroc AB, Class B      76,456  
  1,600      FANUC Corp.      339,236  
  2,617      Fortive Corp.      199,651  
  1,430      GEA Group AG      78,293  
  1,800      Hino Motors, Ltd.      14,839  
  800      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      23,133  
  300      Hoshizaki Corp.      22,497  
  593      IDEX Corp.      140,138  
  2,586      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      638,225  
  3,482      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      215,431  
  667      Kion Group AG      73,267  
  670      Knorr-Bremse AG      66,115  
  8,100      Komatsu, Ltd.      189,727  
  2,796      Kone OYJ, Class B      198,807  
  389      Kornit Digital, Ltd.*      59,225  
  9,500      Kubota Corp.      210,952  
  1,000      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      47,289  
  1,500      Makita Corp.      63,695  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  3,400      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.    $ 96,542  
  2,600      Misumi Group, Inc.      106,717  
  3,000      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      69,451  
  600      Miura Co., Ltd.      20,662  
  2,700      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      45,645  
  411      Nordson Corp.      104,916  
  3,212      Otis Worldwide Corp.      279,669  
  2,895      PACCAR, Inc.      255,513  
  1,059      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      336,889  
  1,194      Pentair plc      87,198  
  32      Rational AG      32,803  
  9,403      Sandvik AB      262,811  
  376      Schindler Holding AG      100,915  
  187      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      49,950  
  3,527      SKF AB, Class B      83,174  
  400      SMC Corp.      269,897  
  501      Snap-On, Inc.      107,905  
  556      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      120,957  
  1,345      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      253,694  
  10,500      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      209,016  
  227      VAT Group AG      112,271  
  1,851      Volvo AB, Class A      43,284  
  12,058      Volvo AB, Class B      278,104  
  1,375      Wabtec Corp.      126,651  
  4,375      Wartsila OYJ Abp, Class B      60,923  
  1,469      Xylem, Inc.      176,163  
  2,200      Yaskawa Electric Corp.      107,906  
     

 

 

 
        9,966,889  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.1%):       
  20      A.P. Moeller – Maersk A/S, Class A      66,678  
  47      A.P. Moeller – Maersk A/S, Class B      168,702  
  408      Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Registered Shares      131,254  
  1,500      Nippon Yusen KK      114,269  
  12,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.      43,435  
     

 

 

 
        524,338  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.9%):       
  50      Cable One, Inc.      88,172  
  1,040      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      678,049  
  38,037      Comcast Corp., Class A      1,914,402  
  3,700      Cyberagent, Inc.      61,584  
  2,000      Dentsu Group, Inc.      71,307  
  2,873      Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C*      65,792  
  743      Discovery, Inc., Class A*      17,490  
  2,260      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      73,314  
  2,345      Fox Corp., Class A      86,530  
  1,575      Fox Corp., Class B      53,975  
  1,700      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.      28,326  
  13,883      Informa plc*      96,647  
  3,611      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      135,232  
  184      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      29,606  
  1,158      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      186,554  
  914      Liberty Global plc, Class A*      25,354  
  2,488      Liberty Global plc, Class C*      69,888  
  1,594      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      81,055  
  885      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      45,002  
  3,615      News Corp., Class A      80,651  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media, continued       
  1,573      Omnicom Group, Inc.    $ 115,254  
  6,966      Pearson plc      57,671  
  1,673      Publicis Groupe SA      112,627  
  675      Quebecor, Inc., Class B      15,237  
  480      Schibsted ASA, Class A      18,554  
  528      Schibsted ASA, Class B      17,688  
  3,346      Shaw Communications, Inc., Class B      101,560  
  9,638      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      61,201  
  5,245      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class B      158,294  
  9,369      WPP plc      141,591  
     

 

 

 
        4,688,607  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.3%):       
  2,245      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      119,261  
  10,672      Anglo American plc      436,758  
  3,645      Antofagasta plc      66,242  
  5,817      ArcelorMittal      187,089  
  15,009      Barrick Gold Corp.      285,394  
  17,687      BHP Group plc      527,023  
  24,161      BHP Group, Ltd.      731,081  
  4,656      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      71,112  
  2,528      Boliden AB      98,034  
  15,792      Evolution Mining, Ltd.      46,720  
  4,713      EVRAZ plc      38,463  
  4,279      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.      102,408  
  13,866      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      194,530  
  1,573      Franco-Nevada Corp.      217,569  
  12,118      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      505,684  
  81,418      Glencore plc      414,153  
  1,100      Hitachi Metals, Ltd.*      20,378  
  4,254      Ivanhoe Mines, Ltd., Class A*      34,710  
  4,800      JFE Holdings, Inc.      61,235  
  11,630      Kinross Gold Corp.      67,492  
  2,071      Kirkland Lake Gold, Ltd.      86,799  
  6,686      Lundin Mining Corp.      52,228  
  6,151      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      109,632  
  6,513      Newmont Corp.      403,936  
  6,300      Nippon Steel Corp.      103,053  
  12,430      Norsk Hydro ASA      97,945  
  10,215      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      70,001  
  2,536      Nucor Corp.      289,484  
  1,988      Pan American Silver Corp.      49,606  
  9,255      Rio Tinto plc      610,084  
  3,259      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      238,063  
  33,569      South32, Ltd.      98,376  
  1,560      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      96,829  
  2,300      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      87,003  
  3,432      Teck Cominco, Ltd., Class B      98,852  
  522      Voestalpine AG      19,027  
  3,566      Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.      153,038  
     

 

 

 
        6,889,292  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):       
  4,986      AGNC Investment Corp.      74,990  
  12,926      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      101,081  
     

 

 

 
        176,071  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.5%):       
  530      Canadian Tire Corp., Class A      76,030  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multiline Retail, continued       
  1,910      Dollar General Corp.    $ 450,435  
  1,917      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      269,377  
  2,154      Dollarama, Inc.      107,819  
  1,084      Next plc      119,244  
  3,900      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      53,722  
  2,600      Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.      39,657  
  4,042      Target Corp.      935,480  
  9,306      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      401,467  
     

 

 

 
        2,453,231  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.8%):       
  5,519      Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.^      79,722  
  2,032      Ameren Corp.      180,868  
  993      Canadian Utilities, Ltd., Class A      28,805  
  5,098      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      142,285  
  2,272      CMS Energy Corp.      147,794  
  2,819      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      240,517  
  6,791      Dominion Energy, Inc.      533,501  
  1,570      DTE Energy Co.      187,678  
  18,721      E.ON SE      259,663  
  15,043      Engie Group      222,723  
  29,082      National Grid plc      419,535  
  3,622      NiSource, Inc.      100,003  
  4,019      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      268,188  
  5,263      RWE AG      213,812  
  2,656      Sempra Energy      351,336  
  3,194      Suez      72,032  
  5,929      Veolia Environnement SA      217,470  
  2,633      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      255,585  
     

 

 

 
        3,921,517  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.0%):       
  1,058      Aker BP ASA^      32,512  
  2,317      Ampol, Ltd.      50,003  
  166,930      BP plc      742,492  
  3,662      Cameco Corp.      79,853  
  10,087      Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.      426,273  
  9,968      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      122,236  
  1,982      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      201,014  
  15,942      Chevron Corp.      1,870,794  
  11,100      ConocoPhillips      801,198  
  6,706      Coterra Energy, Inc.      127,414  
  5,266      Devon Energy Corp.      231,967  
  1,444      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      155,735  
  16,771      Enbridge, Inc.      655,167  
  28,350      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      106,139  
  20,329      ENI SpA      280,995  
  4,888      EOG Resources, Inc.      434,201  
  8,105      Equinor ASA      213,932  
  34,898      Exxon Mobil Corp.      2,135,409  
  4,843      Galp Energia SGPS SA      46,958  
  2,269      Hess Corp.      167,974  
  1,482      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      37,859  
  1,615      Imperial Oil, Ltd.      58,251  
  9,500      INPEX Corp.      82,855  
  2,058      Keyera Corp.      46,422  
  17,178      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      272,443  
  1,850      Lundin Energy AB      66,369  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  5,082      Marathon Petroleum Corp.    $ 325,197  
  3,389      Neste Oyj      167,097  
  7,474      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      216,671  
  1,361      OMV AG      77,325  
  3,601      ONEOK, Inc.      211,595  
  1,471      Parkland Corp.      40,439  
  5,083      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      154,202  
  3,584      Phillips 66      259,697  
  1,901      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      345,754  
  11,515      Repsol SA      136,665  
  33,432      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Class A      733,432  
  30,476      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Class B      668,837  
  24,668      Santos, Ltd.      113,381  
  12,666      Suncor Energy, Inc.      316,950  
  8,202      TC Energy Corp.      381,502  
  20,835      TotalEnergies SE      1,058,128  
  2,601      Tourmaline Oil Corp.      83,985  
  3,361      Valero Energy Corp.      252,445  
  1,889      Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.      40,742  
  10,160      Williams Cos., Inc.      264,566  
  7,281      Woodside Petroleum, Ltd.      116,273  
     

 

 

 
        15,411,348  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.1%):       
  3,443      Mondi plc      84,826  
  8,500      Oji Holdings Corp.      41,098  
  5,377      Stora Enso OYJ, Registered Shares, Class R      97,774  
  5,600      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      99,233  
  4,277      UPM-Kymmene OYJ      161,628  
  884      West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd.^      84,346  
     

 

 

 
        568,905  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.7%):       
  932      Beiersdorf AG      95,886  
  1,961      Estee Lauder Co., Inc. (The), Class A      725,962  
  4,000      Kao Corp.      209,351  
  200      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      15,722  
  300      Kose Corp.      34,044  
  2,094      L’Oreal SA      992,551  
  400      Pola Orbis Holdings, Inc.      6,668  
  3,200      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      178,480  
  21,461      Unilever plc      1,149,555  
     

 

 

 
        3,408,219  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (4.8%):       
  15,700      Astellas Pharma, Inc.      255,387  
  12,804      AstraZeneca plc      1,491,721  
  2,794      Bausch Health Cos., Inc.*      77,184  
  8,178      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      437,765  
  18,188      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      1,134,022  
  2,500      Canopy Growth Corp.*      21,822  
  1,386      Catalent, Inc.*      177,450  
  5,400      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      175,173  
  14,700      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      373,864  
  1,700      Eisai Co., Ltd.      96,545  
  3,147      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      89,312  
  6,725      Eli Lilly & Co.      1,857,579  
  41,311      GlaxoSmithKline plc      898,111  
  1,106      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      33,166  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  1,722      Horizon Therapeutics plc*    $ 185,563  
  283      Ipsen SA      25,876  
  561      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      71,471  
  21,697      Johnson & Johnson      3,711,706  
  2,500      Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.      68,155  
  20,895      Merck & Co., Inc.      1,601,393  
  1,110      Merck KGaA      286,945  
  200      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      13,902  
  18,078      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      1,588,066  
  13,936      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      1,558,175  
  3,500      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      86,777  
  1,038      Orion OYJ, Class B      43,069  
  2,900      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      104,960  
  46,164      Pfizer, Inc.      2,725,984  
  990      Recordati SpA      63,410  
  236      Roche Holding AG      105,637  
  5,801      Roche Holding AG      2,405,512  
  2,868      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      114,290  
  9,531      Sanofi      957,526  
  3,600      Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      43,932  
  2,400      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      169,567  
  1,300      Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.      14,979  
  300      Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd.      13,800  
  12,650      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      345,776  
  10,134      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      81,173  
  950      UCB SA      108,552  
  9,546      Viatris, Inc.      129,157  
  451      Vifor Pharma AG      80,779  
  3,897      Zoetis, Inc.      950,985  
     

 

 

 
          24,776,218  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.9%):       
  1,432      Adecco SA, Registered Shares      73,237  
  700      Benefit One, Inc.      30,040  
  973      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      82,501  
  2,717      Bureau Veritas SA      90,176  
  3,091      Clarivate plc*      72,700  
  3,340      CoStar Group, Inc.*      263,960  
  1,029      Equifax, Inc.      301,281  
  7,857      Experian plc      385,353  
  3,071      IHS Markit, Ltd.      408,197  
  1,287      Intertek Group plc      97,850  
  1,246      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      110,769  
  2,800      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      68,468  
  1,300      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      37,759  
  1,105      Randstad NV      75,694  
  11,000      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      666,924  
  16,084      RELX plc      524,111  
  825      Robert Half International, Inc.      92,004  
  47      SGS SA, Registered Shares      156,609  
  480      Teleperformance      213,986  
  1,374      Thomson Reuters Corp.      164,330  
  1,541      TransUnion      182,732  
  1,226      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      280,423  
  2,235      Wolters Kluwer NV      262,668  
     

 

 

 
        4,641,772  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development (0.5%):       
  9,234      Aroundtown SA    $ 55,924  
  116      Azrieli Group      11,070  
  24,400      Capitaland Investment, Ltd. / Singapore*      61,758  
  2,831      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      307,192  
  3,700      City Developments, Ltd.      18,716  
  18,500      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      116,668  
  600      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      68,558  
  5,200      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      149,579  
  18,800      ESR Cayman, Ltd.*      63,636  
  643      Fastighets AB Balder*      46,399  
  257      FirstService Corp.      50,514  
  11,000      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      22,630  
  13,324      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      56,753  
  6,600      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      34,297  
  2,400      Hulic Co., Ltd.      22,790  
  666      LEG Immobilien SE      93,025  
  4,109      Lend Lease Group      31,963  
  10,900      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.      151,130  
  7,400      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      146,614  
  8,827      New World Development Co., Ltd.      34,944  
  1,000      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      23,017  
  700      Open House Co., Ltd.      36,695  
  1,352      Sagax AB, Class B      45,652  
  24,117      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      30,044  
  2,900      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      85,312  
  10,000      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      121,398  
  5,000      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A      28,451  
  9,200      Swire Properties, Ltd.      23,058  
  702      Swiss Prime Site AG      68,877  
  1,769      UOL Group, Ltd.      9,315  
  6,166      Vonovia SE      340,433  
  15,000      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      76,199  
     

 

 

 
        2,432,611  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.2%):       
  68      AMERCO, Inc.      49,384  
  11,052      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      28,062  
  5,899      Canadian National Railway Co.      724,689  
  2,261      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      162,656  
  5,435      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd., Class 1      390,952  
  1,300      Central Japan Railway Co.      173,465  
  18,316      CSX Corp.      688,682  
  1,690      DSV PANALPINA A/S      390,554  
  2,800      East Japan Railway Co.      172,211  
  2,100      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      59,622  
  653      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      133,473  
  1,000      Keio Corp.      44,087  
  1,000      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      27,045  
  1,700      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.*      47,534  
  1,454      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      88,607  
  1,897      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      81,059  
  14,500      MTR Corp., Ltd.      77,830  
  700      Nippon Express Co., Ltd.      42,057  
  2,033      Norfolk Southern Corp.      605,244  
  2,700      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      50,150  
  830      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      297,455  
  703      TFI International, Inc.      78,854  
  900      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      20,536  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  4,600      Tokyu Corp.    $ 61,121  
  10,254      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      429,950  
  5,371      Union Pacific Corp.        1,353,116  
  1,500      West Japan Railway Co.      62,596  
     

 

 

 
        6,340,991  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (5.3%):       
  10,066      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      1,448,497  
  1,800      Advantest Corp.      169,034  
  4,376      Analog Devices, Inc.      769,169  
  7,419      Applied Materials, Inc.      1,167,454  
  377      ASM International NV      165,536  
  3,404      ASML Holding NV      2,714,006  
  3,410      Broadcom, Inc.      2,269,048  
  200      Disco Corp.      61,136  
  1,033      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      188,977  
  1,138      Entegris, Inc.      157,704  
  10,514      Infineon Technologies AG      487,479  
  33,268      Intel Corp.      1,713,302  
  1,280      KLA Corp.      550,541  
  1,165      Lam Research Corp.      837,810  
  600      Lasertec Corp.      182,430  
  6,759      Marvell Technology, Inc.      591,345  
  4,622      Microchip Technology, Inc.      402,391  
  9,326      Micron Technology, Inc.      868,717  
  349      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      172,172  
  20,626      NVIDIA Corp.      6,066,313  
  2,226      NXP Semiconductors NV      507,038  
  3,414      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      231,879  
  903      Qorvo, Inc.*      141,220  
  9,349      Qualcomm, Inc.      1,709,652  
  9,500      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      116,673  
  800      ROHM Co., Ltd.      72,393  
  1,377      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      213,628  
  477      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      133,832  
  5,723      STMicroelectronics NV      280,498  
  2,600      SUMCO Corp.      52,652  
  1,326      Teradyne, Inc.      216,841  
  7,590      Texas Instruments, Inc.      1,430,487  
  1,200      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.      687,066  
  2,093      Xilinx, Inc.      443,779  
     

 

 

 
        27,220,699  
     

 

 

 
Software (7.5%):       
  3,924      Adobe, Inc.*      2,225,143  
  731      ANSYS, Inc.*      293,219  
  559      Asana, Inc.*      41,673  
  1,857      Autodesk, Inc.*      522,170  
  790      Avalara, Inc.*      101,997  
  1,063      AVEVA Group plc      48,778  
  1,586      Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B      76,651  
  627      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      156,217  
  4,940      BlackBerry, Ltd.*      46,166  
  2,269      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      422,828  
  1,003      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      104,773  
  904      Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.*      105,370  
  1,136      Citrix Systems, Inc.      107,454  
  1,927      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      253,401  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  160      Constellation Software, Inc.    $ 296,893  
  667      Coupa Software, Inc.*      105,419  
  1,582      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      323,915  
  382      CyberArk Software, Ltd.*      66,193  
  5,638      Dassault Systemes SE      334,428  
  1,616      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      287,826  
  1,635      DocuSign, Inc.*      249,027  
  2,919      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      71,632  
  1,323      Dynatrace, Inc.*      79,843  
  238      Fair Isaac Corp.*      103,213  
  1,118      Fortinet, Inc.*      401,809  
  735      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      83,445  
  370      HubSpot, Inc.*      243,885  
  2,250      Intuit, Inc.      1,447,245  
  911      Lightspeed Commerce, Inc.*      36,791  
  58,945      Microsoft Corp.      19,824,382  
  423      Nemetschek SE      54,258  
  580      NICE Systems, Ltd.*      176,215  
  4,346      NortonLifeLock, Inc.      112,909  
  2,509      Nuance Communications, Inc.*      138,798  
  2,016      Open Text Corp.      95,699  
  300      Oracle Corp.      22,780  
  13,805      Oracle Corp.      1,203,934  
  12,569      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      228,881  
  827      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      460,441  
  416      Paycom Software, Inc.*      172,719  
  818      PTC, Inc.*      99,101  
  697      RingCentral, Inc., Class A*      130,583  
  7,580      Sage Group plc      87,179  
  8,047      salesforce.com, Inc.*      2,044,984  
  8,607      SAP SE      1,229,147  
  1,655      ServiceNow, Inc.*      1,074,277  
  4,675      Sinch AB*      58,975  
  1,311      Splunk, Inc.*      151,709  
  1,810      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      148,384  
  1,243      Synopsys, Inc.*      458,046  
  617      Temenos AG      85,167  
  3,729      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      341,726  
  800      Trend Micro, Inc.      44,261  
  326      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      175,372  
  332      Unity Software, Inc.*      47,473  
  1,859      VMware, Inc., Class A      215,421  
  656      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      27,849  
  1,578      Workday, Inc., Class A*      431,078  
  1,220      Xero, Ltd.*      124,935  
  1,088      Zendesk, Inc.*      113,468  
  1,816      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      333,981  
  663      Zscaler, Inc.*      213,042  
     

 

 

 
        38,764,578  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (1.8%):       
  492      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      118,021  
  177      AutoZone, Inc.*      371,061  
  1,917      Best Buy Co., Inc.      194,767  
  521      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      151,877  
  1,320      CarMax, Inc.*      171,904  
  577      Carvana Co.*      133,743  
  22,400      Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.      40,293  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  400      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.    $ 227,175  
  5,397      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B      105,883  
  100      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      15,400  
  8,734      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      3,624,697  
  9,400      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      304,611  
  17,355      JD Sports Fashion plc*      50,982  
  19,508      Kingfisher plc      89,176  
  5,708      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      1,475,404  
  700      Nitori Co., Ltd.      104,702  
  586      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      413,851  
  3,080      Ross Stores, Inc.      351,982  
  10,105      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      767,172  
  938      Tractor Supply Co.      223,807  
  426      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      175,657  
  1,700      USS Co., Ltd.      26,550  
     

 

 

 
        9,138,715  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (5.1%):       
  136,483      Apple, Inc.      24,235,286  
  2,300      Brother Industries, Ltd.      44,223  
  9,200      Canon, Inc.      224,083  
  2,457      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C*      138,010  
  2,900      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      215,011  
  10,343      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      163,109  
  9,775      HP, Inc.      368,224  
  1,306      Logitech International SA, Class R      109,345  
  2,300      NEC Corp.      106,201  
  1,731      NetApp, Inc.      159,235  
  6,200      Ricoh Co., Ltd.      57,742  
  1,662      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      187,773  
  2,200      Seiko Epson Corp.      39,621  
  2,418      Western Digital Corp.*      157,678  
     

 

 

 
        26,205,541  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.4%):       
  1,608      Adidas AG      463,706  
  3,741      Burberry Group plc      91,651  
  4,375      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      653,504  
  2,377      EssilorLuxottica SA      505,943  
  1,834      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      77,765  
  260      Hermes International SA      453,963  
  627      Kering      503,054  
  956      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      374,226  
  2,278      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      1,879,633  
  1,545      Moncler SpA      111,656  
  10,533      Nike, Inc., Class B      1,755,535  
  733      Pandora A/S      91,242  
  767      Puma SE      93,907  
  267      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      81,367  
  116      Swatch Group AG (The), Registered Shares      6,771  
  2,741      VF Corp.      200,696  
     

 

 

 
        7,344,619  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.6%):       
  15,491      Altria Group, Inc.      734,118  
  17,996      British American Tobacco plc      666,658  
  7,504      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      164,064  
  9,800      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      197,624  
  12,859      Philip Morris International, Inc.      1,221,605  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Tobacco, continued       
  12,075      Swedish Match AB    $ 95,975  
     

 

 

 
        3,080,044  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.6%):       
  3,803      Ashtead Group plc      304,708  
  1,133      Brenntag AG      102,640  
  2,452      Bunzl plc      95,599  
  4,815      Fastenal Co.      308,449  
  1,890      Ferguson plc      335,681  
  478      IMCD NV      106,110  
  10,000      Itochu Corp.      305,922  
  11,600      Marubeni Corp.      112,930  
  10,200      Mitsubishi Corp.      323,920  
  13,000      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      307,885  
  1,400      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      25,237  
  1,239      Reece, Ltd.      24,400  
  10,400      Sumitomo Corp.      153,786  
  731      Toromont Industries, Ltd.      66,095  
  2,000      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      92,181  
  590      United Rentals, Inc.*      196,051  
  355      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      183,975  
     

 

 

 
        3,045,569  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.1%):       
  693      Aena SME SA*      109,454  
  215      Aeroports de Paris*      27,777  
  4,579      Atlantia SpA*      90,953  
  12,535      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      66,127  
  4,067      Getlink SE      67,463  
  8,394      Sydney Airport*      53,028  
  25,597      Transurban Group      257,520  
     

 

 

 
        672,322  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,536      American Water Works Co., Inc.      290,089  
  1,666      Essential Utilities, Inc.      89,447  
  2,208      Severn Trent plc      88,165  
  6,302      United Utilities Group plc      93,004  
     

 

 

 
        560,705  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  13,200      KDDI Corp.      385,889  
  3,275      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      155,956  
  23,300      Softbank Corp.      294,687  
  10,200      SoftBank Group Corp.      482,027  
  4,629      Tele2 AB      66,001  
  5,139      T-Mobile USA, Inc.*      596,021  
  230,678      Vodafone Group plc      343,990  
     

 

 

 
        2,324,571  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $399,186,215)

     514,380,571  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.1%):       
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  526      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 2.62%, 5/15/20      43,900  
  1,151      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 2.65%, 5/20/20      109,219  
  1,475      Volkswagen AG, 2.74%, 5/8/20      298,054  
     

 

 

 
        451,173  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  1,647      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.60%, 4/21/20      133,367  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $625,519)

     584,540  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Right (0.0%):       
Diversified Telecommunication (0.0%):       
       Telefonica SA-RTS, Expires on 12/16/21    $  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Right (Cost $–)

      
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
          

Value

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.4%):  
  1,903,745      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(a)(b)      1,903,745  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities
on Loan (Cost $1,903,745)

     1,903,745  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $401,715,479) — 99.8%(c)

     516,868,856  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.2%

     1,157,020  
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 518,025,876  
  

 

 

 

    

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $1,816,266.

 

+

Affiliated Securities

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

The following represents the concentrations by country of risk (based on the domicile of the security issuer) relative to the total value of investments as of December 31, 2021:

 

Country    Percentage  

Argentina

     0.1

Australia

     2.0

Austria

     0.1

Belgium

     0.2

Bermuda

     0.2

Canada

     3.4

China

      % 

Denmark

     0.7

Finland

     0.3

France

     3.0

Germany

     2.4

Hong Kong

     0.7

Ireland

     1.0

Isle of Man

      % 

Israel

     0.2

Italy

     0.6

Japan

     6.3
Country    Percentage  

Jersey

      % 

Liberia

      % 

Luxembourg

     0.1

Netherlands

     1.8

New Zealand

     0.1

Norway

     0.2

Panama

      % 

Poland

      % 

Portugal

      % 

Singapore

     0.3

Spain

     0.6

Sweden

     1.0

Switzerland

     3.2

United Kingdom

     4.3

United States

     67.2
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

DJ EURO STOXX 50 March Futures (Euro)

     3/18/22        9      $ 439,278      $ 8,529  

FTSE 100 Index March Futures (British Pounds)

     3/18/22        3        297,349        2,496  

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        9        2,141,325        26,640  

SGX Nikkei 225 Index September March (Japanese Yen)

     3/10/22        2        250,065        1,110  
           

 

 

 
            $ 38,775  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 400,135,335

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      1,580,144
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 514,915,195

Investments in affiliates, at value

      1,953,661

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      173,757

Interest and dividends receivable

      359,139

Foreign currency, at value (cost $994,152)

      1,001,569

Receivable for capital shares issued

      875

Receivable for investments sold

      2,067,064

Reclaims receivable

      277,807

Prepaid expenses

      2,655
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      520,751,722
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      358,258

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      86,738

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      1,903,745

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      11,151

Manager fees payable

      134,808

Administration fees payable

      94,688

Distribution fees payable

      97,313

Custodian fees payable

      17,673

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      94

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,798

Trustee fees payable

      528

Other accrued liabilities

      19,052
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,725,846
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 518,025,876
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 370,557,811

Total distributable earnings

      147,468,065
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 518,025,876
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 54,468,433

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      5,224,103

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 10.43
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 463,557,443

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      27,554,534

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.82
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,816,266.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends from non-affiliates

     $ 7,689,411

Dividends from affiliates

       45,479

Income from securities lending

       32,232

Foreign withholding tax

       (406,320 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       7,360,802
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       3,004,870

Administration fees

       208,819

Distribution fees

       1,001,208

Custodian fees

       177,149

Administrative and compliance services fees

       4,104

Transfer agent fees

       12,381

Trustee fees

       16,719

Professional fees

       8,188

Licensing fees

       145,342

Shareholder reports

       4,833

Other expenses

       19,250
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       4,602,863

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (1,674,135 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       2,928,728
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       4,432,074
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

       29,817,466

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

       96,640

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       520,017

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

       46,173,796

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

       55,823

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       11,465
    

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

       76,675,207
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ 81,107,281
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 4,432,074     $ 4,018,033

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      30,434,123       19,712,261

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      46,241,084       22,863,821
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      81,107,281       46,594,115
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1^

      (2,699,791 )      

Class 2

      (14,913,892 )       (2,665,945 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (17,613,683 )       (2,665,945 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1^

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      292,588      

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

      53,013,674      

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      2,699,791      

Value of shares redeemed

      (3,968,036 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      52,038,017      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,424,827       38,589,996

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

      162,355,745      

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      14,913,892       2,665,945

Value of shares redeemed

      (97,837,065 )       (94,685,298 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      80,857,399       (53,429,357 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      132,895,416       (53,429,357 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      196,389,014       (9,501,187 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      321,636,862       331,138,049
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 518,025,876     $ 321,636,862
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1^

       

Shares issued

      28,178      

Shares issued in-kind(a)

      5,301,367      

Dividends reinvested

      277,471      

Shares redeemed

      (382,913 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      5,224,103      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      80,110       3,828,709

Shares issued in-kind(a)

      10,251,349      

Dividends reinvested

      949,325       206,183

Shares redeemed

      (6,140,552 )       (8,015,099 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      5,140,232       (3,980,207 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      10,364,335       (3,980,207 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Amounts shown as “—” are either $0 or rounds to less than $1.

 

^

Class 1 activity is for the period June 21, 2021 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2021.

 

(a)

See Note 2 in Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021^   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.00                
   

 

 

                 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.06 (a)                

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      0.91                
   

 

 

                 

Total from Investment Activities

      0.97                
   

 

 

                 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.13 )                

Net Realized Gains

      (0.41 )                
   

 

 

                 

Total Dividends

      (0.54 )                
   

 

 

                 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.43                
   

 

 

                 

Total Return(b)

      10.00 %(c)                

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 54,468                

Net Investment Income/(Loss)(d)

      1.06 %                

Expenses Before Reductions(d)(e)

      0.83 %                

Expenses Net of Reductions(d)

      0.44 %                

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      49 %(g)                

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.35     $ 12.55     $ 10.03     $ 11.22     $ 9.36
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.16 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.21       0.20

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      2.85       1.75       2.52       (1.19 )       1.86
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.01       1.91       2.71       (0.98 )       2.06
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.13 )       (0.11 )       (0.19 )       (0.21 )       (0.20 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.41 )                        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.54 )       (0.11 )       (0.19 )       (0.21 )       (0.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.82     $ 14.35     $ 12.55     $ 10.03     $ 11.22
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      21.18 %       15.36 %       27.25 %       (8.94 )%       22.18 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 463,557     $ 321,637     $ 331,138     $ 127,860     $ 153,857

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.03 %       1.32 %       1.68 %       1.67 %       1.62 %

Expenses Before Reductions(e)

      1.09 %       1.08 %       1.12 %       1.14 %       1.16 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.70 %       0.69 %       0.73 %       0.75 %       0.77 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      49 %(g)       13 %       9 %       4 %       4 %

 

^

Class 1 activity is for the period June 21, 2021 (commencement of operations) to June 30, 2021.

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

(d)

Annualized for periods less than one year.

 

(e)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(f)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued.

 

(g)

Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

24


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $3,620 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,903,745 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

In-kind Subscriptions

During the period ended December 31, 2021, the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund issued 5,301,367 shares valued at $53,013,674, and 10,251,349 shares valued at $162,355,745, of Class 1 and Class 2, respectively, in exchange for $22,088,755 in cash, and securities with a fair market value of $193,280,664, received from shareholders of the Templeton Growth VIP Fund.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $2.4 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Primary Risk Exposure

  Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location  

Total

Value

    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location  

Total

Value

 
Equity Risk                
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 38,775     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

 

25


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure

 

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

  

Realized Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

    

Change in Net Unrealized

Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized

 
Equity Risk              
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ 520,017      $ 11,465  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 1

         0.70 %          0.55 %

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 2

         0.70 %          0.80 %

 

*

The annual rate due to the Manager is 0.70% of the first $5 billion of the Fund’s net assets, 0.65% of the next $5 billion of the Fund’s net assets, and 0.61% of the Fund’s assets over $10 billion. Prior to June 1, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager was 0.70% on all assets. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.31% on all assets in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

At December 31, 2021, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

    

Value

12/31/2020

 

Purchases

at Cost

 

Proceeds from

Sales

 

Net

Realized

Gains(Losses)

 

Change in Net

Unrealized

Appreciation/

Depreciation

 

Value

12/31/2021

 

Shares as of

12/31/2021

 

Dividend

Income

 

Capital Gains

Distributions

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    $ 640,470     $ 400,419     $ (200,103 )     $ 2,454     $ (47,762 )     $ 795,478       3,365     $ 27,361     $

BlackRock Inc., Class A

      694,122       499,349       (233,059 )       94,186       103,585       1,158,183       1,265       18,118      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 1,334,592     $ 899,768     $ (433,162 )     $ 96,640     $ 55,823     $ 1,953,661       4,630     $ 45,479     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

 

26


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 —significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 373,217,244        $ 141,163,327        $        $ 514,380,571

Preferred Stocks+

                  584,540                   584,540

Rights+

                                   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,903,745                            1,903,745
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         375,120,989          141,747,867                   516,868,856
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         38,775                            38,775
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 375,159,764        $ 141,747,867        $        $ 516,907,631
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

       $ 209,245,340        $ 283,305,309

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

 

 

27


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may have less developed trading markets and exchanges which may make it more difficult to sell securities at an acceptable price and their prices may be more volatile than securities of companies in more developed markets. Settlements of trades may be subject to greater delays so that the Fund may not receive the proceeds of a sale of a security on a timely basis. Emerging countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems and investments may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, nationalization, or confiscation.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund may engage in short sales, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities borrowed from others with the expectation that the price of the security will fall before the Fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The Fund may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the Fund does not own declines in value. Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. 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 security sold short. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. As a result, if the Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price at which the

security was sold. The Fund may also pay transaction costs and borrowing fees in connection with short sales.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $404,737,150. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 122,658,959  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (10,527,253
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 112,131,706  
 

 

 

 

 

28


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

       $ 14,428,841        $ 3,184,842        $ 17,613,683

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

       $ 2,665,945        $        $ 2,665,945

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

       $ 29,179,547        $ 6,141,499        $        $ 112,147,639        $ 147,468,685

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, mark-to-market of futures contracts, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 95% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholders could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

29


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

30


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 22.03% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $10,246,648.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $3,184,842.

 

31


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

32


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that

 

33


reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

34


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

35


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica

Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04  

Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and

Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015

  46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

36


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

37


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 11

Statement of Operations

Page 11

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 12

Financial Highlights

Page 13

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 14

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 20

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 21

Other Information

Page 22

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 23

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 26

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC

serves as the Manager for the AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned 26.87%. That compared to a 27.60% total return for its benchmark, the Russell 1000® Growth Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the Russell 1000® Growth Index (“Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of large-cap stock performance. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities with growth characteristics.

In the first quarter of 2021, favorable conditions carried over from the strong end of 2020. The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) accommodative policies, along with a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the start of the vaccine rollout in the U.S., supported investor optimism for strong economic growth in the first quarter. All sectors within the S&P 500® Index2 posted positive returns over the first three months of 2021. The energy sector posted the strongest return for the quarter, supported by a rally in oil prices due to a surge in demand paired with unchanged production levels, along with oil transport concerns due to the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal. The financial sector was another top performer due to positive market conditions. By comparison, the information technology and consumer staples sectors lagged their peers within the U.S. market, albeit still posting positive returns, after posting strong gains in 2020.

During the second quarter, U.S. equity markets rallied as the vaccination campaign continued to accelerate and economic indicators continued to improve. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by more than 4% year-over-year in April. But growing concerns about inflation were offset by the Fed’s commitment to maintain its accommodative monetary policies and the prospect of a bipartisan $1 trillion agreement for infrastructure that passed the Senate in May.

In the third quarter, strong economic data and corporate earnings reports helped push U.S. equities higher despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. However, concerns regarding potential contagion from the unfolding debt crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande muted U.S. equity

markets late in the quarter. Rising inflation and supply chain issues also weighed on market sentiment, as did the continuing disagreement in Washington regarding the debt ceiling and the infrastructure bill.

In the fourth quarter, the boost to investor sentiment from a strong earnings season was offset by a new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant (Omicron) and ongoing concerns about higher inflation rates. Markets recovered to post strong returns for the quarter after initial data showed existing vaccines remained effective against the Omicron variant, and the Fed clarified its plan to begin tightening its monetary policy in 2022. The falling unemployment rate and the final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill further supported the market performance over the quarter.

All sectors within the Index posted positive returns over the year. The information technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary sectors were the top performers, while the utilities, energy, and materials sectors lagged their peers.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we keep cash to fully cover all outstanding futures positions. The Fund’s use of futures contracts provides immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Skillful cash management and cash equitization are critical to minimizing the potential impact of cash drag and ensure tight tracking to the benchmark.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

2 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is unmanaged and is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

1


AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to match the total return of the Russell 1000® Growth Index. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in all stocks in the Index in proportion to their weighting in the Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Returns on growth stocks may not move in tandem with returns on other categories of stocks or the market as a whole. Growth stocks may be susceptible to rapid price savings or to adverse developments in certain sectors of the market.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
  1
Year
  3
Year
  5
Year
  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       27.14 %       33.81 %       24.88 %             24.41 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      4/30/2010       26.87 %       33.49 %       24.57 %       19.00 %       17.16 %

Russell 1000® Growth Index

      4/30/2010       27.60 %       34.08 %       25.32 %       19.79 %       17.98 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.52 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.77 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.35% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.59% for Class 1 Shares and 0.84% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Russell 1000® Growth Index, an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,126.40     $ 2.41       0.45 %

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,125.30     $ 3.75       0.70 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.94     $ 2.29       0.45 %

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.68     $ 3.57       0.70 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      45.8 %

Consumer Discretionary

      18.3

Communication Services

      11.6

Health Care

      8.7

Industrials

      5.7

Consumer Staples

      3.9

Financials

      2.4

Real Estate

      1.7

Materials

      1.0

Energy

      0.3

Utilities

        
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.4

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.3

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.3 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.4%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.5%):       
  3,043      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 477,751  
  2,869      BWX Technologies, Inc.      137,368  
  531      HEICO Corp.      76,581  
  1,341      HEICO Corp., Class A      172,345  
  1,541      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      49,050  
  10,138      Lockheed Martin Corp.      3,603,147  
  603      Northrop Grumman Corp.      233,403  
  1,625      Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A      70,021  
  687      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      437,124  
  8,410      Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.*      112,526  
     

 

 

 
        5,369,316  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.9%):       
  1,136      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      122,268  
  5,734      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      770,019  
  5,048      FedEx Corp.      1,305,615  
  3,842      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      348,969  
  33,895      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      7,265,054  
  3,768      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      291,756  
     

 

 

 
        10,103,681  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  30,271      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      1,182,991  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.1%):       
  2,327      Aptiv plc*      383,838  
  8,688      QuantumScape Corp.*^      192,787  
     

 

 

 
        576,625  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (3.6%):       
  1,674      Rivian Automotive, Inc.*^      173,577  
  37,878      Tesla, Inc.*      40,028,713  
  833      Thor Industries, Inc.      86,440  
     

 

 

 
        40,288,730  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.0%):       
  3,960      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      187,110  
  283      Sterling Bancorp      7,298  
  141      Synovus Financial Corp.      6,750  
  2,477      Western Alliance Bancorp      266,649  
     

 

 

 
        467,807  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.7%):       
  401      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*      202,545  
  1,156      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      78,365  
  4,367      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      318,180  
  128,378      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      7,601,261  
  16,088      Monster Beverage Corp.*      1,545,092  
  53,708      PepsiCo, Inc.      9,329,617  
     

 

 

 
        19,075,060  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.5%):       
  82,744      AbbVie, Inc.      11,203,538  
  5,626      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      954,057  
  21,829      Amgen, Inc.      4,910,870  
  1,975      CureVac NV*      67,762  
  7,395      Exact Sciences Corp.*      575,553  
  12,421      Exelixis, Inc.*      227,056  
  7,481      Incyte Corp.*      549,106  
  5,942      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      180,815  
  2,346      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      44,785  
  1,539      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      225,756  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  15,896      Moderna, Inc.*    $ 4,037,266  
  3,567      Natera, Inc.*      333,122  
  4,272      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      363,846  
  3,631      Novavax, Inc.*^      519,487  
  518      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      327,127  
  2,473      Repligen Corp.*      654,949  
  3,803      Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.*      342,460  
  5,668      Seagen, Inc.*      876,273  
  2,197      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      184,746  
  4,852      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,065,499  
     

 

 

 
        27,644,073  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.4%):       
  2,724      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.      370,818  
  3,094      Allegion plc      409,769  
  1,165      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      135,280  
  2,407      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      111,300  
  18,971      Carrier Global Corp.      1,028,987  
  1,525      Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.      163,022  
  5,387      Trane Technologies plc      1,088,336  
  5,442      Trex Co., Inc.*      734,833  
     

 

 

 
        4,042,345  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.6%):       
  2,941      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      887,182  
  11,137      Apollo Asset Management, Inc.      806,653  
  6,022      Ares Management Corp., Class A      489,408  
  31,970      Blackstone Group, Inc. (The), Class A      4,136,598  
  1,514      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      735,819  
  944      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      361,127  
  3,761      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      602,099  
  1,746      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      718,078  
  7,202      Moody’s Corp.      2,812,957  
  933      Morningstar, Inc.      319,077  
  2,687      MSCI, Inc., Class A      1,646,298  
  468      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      46,987  
  7,982      S&P Global, Inc.      3,766,945  
  3,484      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      685,094  
     

 

 

 
        18,014,322  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.8%):       
  1,964      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      65,048  
  1,751      Celanese Corp.      294,273  
  3,476      Chemours Co. (The)      116,655  
  2,118      Diversey Holdings, Ltd.*      28,191  
  2,885      Dow, Inc.      163,637  
  10,290      Ecolab, Inc.      2,413,931  
  1,446      FMC Corp.      158,901  
  1,719      Lyondellbasell Industries NV      158,543  
  694      Olin Corp.      39,919  
  4,682      PPG Industries, Inc.      807,364  
  3,542      RPM International, Inc.      357,742  
  1,852      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      298,172  
  11,251      Sherwin Williams Co.      3,962,152  
  385      Westlake Chemical Corp.      37,395  
     

 

 

 
        8,901,923  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.4%):       
  3,830      Cintas Corp.      1,697,341  
  9,712      Copart, Inc.*      1,472,533  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  6,538      IAA, Inc.*    $ 330,954  
  515      MSA Safety, Inc.      77,744  
  9,327      Rollins, Inc.      319,077  
  3,132      Waste Management, Inc.      522,731  
     

 

 

 
        4,420,380  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.1%):       
  10,054      Arista Networks, Inc.*      1,445,263  
  7,602      CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*      83,926  
  302      Ubiquiti, Inc.      92,623  
     

 

 

 
        1,621,812  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  18,662      American Express Co.      3,053,103  
  56      Credit Acceptance Corp.*      38,510  
  7,643      Discover Financial Services      883,225  
  4,369      Synchrony Financial      202,678  
  2,145      Upstart Holdings, Inc.*      324,539  
     

 

 

 
        4,502,055  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  2,034      Avery Dennison Corp.      440,503  
  4,438      Ball Corp.      427,246  
  643      Crown Holdings, Inc.      71,129  
  4,229      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      82,465  
  3,799      Sealed Air Corp.      256,319  
     

 

 

 
        1,277,662  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  1,810      Pool Corp.      1,024,460  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  2,132      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      268,376  
  5,188      Chegg, Inc.*      159,271  
  2,124      Frontdoor, Inc.*      77,845  
  7,414      H&R Block, Inc.      174,674  
  3,706      Mister Car Wash, Inc.*^      67,486  
     

 

 

 
        747,652  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.3%):       
  1,071      Fluence Energy, Inc.*      38,085  
  2,878      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      1,012,826  
  23,453      Plug Power, Inc.*      662,078  
  700      Regal-Beloit Corp.      119,126  
  3,296      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      1,149,809  
  14,795      Vertiv Holdings Co.      369,431  
     

 

 

 
        3,351,355  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.6%):       
  19,528      Amphenol Corp., Class A      1,707,919  
  6,287      CDW Corp.      1,287,452  
  8,103      Cognex Corp.      630,089  
  1,097      Coherent, Inc.*      292,394  
  11,935      Corning, Inc.      444,340  
  163      IPG Photonics Corp.*      28,059  
  5,549      Jabil, Inc.      390,372  
  3,864      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      797,955  
  3,924      Vontier Corp.      120,585  
  2,466      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      1,467,763  
     

 

 

 
        7,166,928  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  2,496      Halliburton Co.    $ 57,084  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.5%):       
  2,380      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      284,862  
  385      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A*      66,886  
  20,227      Netflix, Inc.*      12,185,554  
  5,166      Playtika Holding Corp.*      89,320  
  5,447      Roku, Inc.*      1,243,005  
  16,737      Skillz, Inc.*^      124,523  
  6,466      Spotify Technology SA*      1,513,238  
  1,024      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      181,985  
  4,268      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      661,071  
  1,890      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      93,253  
  21,231      Zynga, Inc.*      135,879  
     

 

 

 
        16,579,576  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.7%):       
  21,129      American Tower Corp.      6,180,233  
  20,224      Crown Castle International Corp.      4,221,558  
  2,991      Equinix, Inc.      2,529,907  
  4,082      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      357,828  
  464      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      105,203  
  9,279      Iron Mountain, Inc.      485,570  
  3,412      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      413,876  
  5,427      Public Storage, Inc.      2,032,737  
  868      SBA Communications Corp.      337,669  
  13,205      Simon Property Group, Inc.      2,109,763  
     

 

 

 
        18,774,344  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.2%):       
  19,359      Costco Wholesale Corp.      10,990,104  
  24,118      Sysco Corp.      1,894,469  
     

 

 

 
        12,884,573  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.2%):       
  2,369      Beyond Meat, Inc.*^      154,364  
  451      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      31,250  
  1,921      Freshpet, Inc.*      183,014  
  5,831      Hershey Co. (The)      1,128,123  
  5,416      Kellogg Co.      348,899  
  1,903      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      120,612  
  1,200      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      33,840  
     

 

 

 
        2,000,102  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.9%):       
  40,629      Abbott Laboratories      5,718,125  
  2,034      ABIOMED, Inc.*      730,552  
  3,662      Align Technology, Inc.*      2,406,593  
  1,513      Danaher Corp.      497,792  
  4,511      DexCom, Inc.*      2,422,181  
  28,931      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      3,748,011  
  824      Figs, Inc., Class A*^      22,709  
  28      Globus Medical, Inc.*      2,022  
  3,938      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      2,593,016  
  3,033      Insulet Corp.*      806,990  
  16,579      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      5,956,835  
  1,683      Masimo Corp.*      492,749  
  4,583      Novocure, Ltd.*      344,092  
  1,664      Penumbra, Inc.*      478,101  
  6,115      ResMed, Inc.      1,592,835  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  547      Steris plc    $ 133,145  
  6,972      Stryker Corp.      1,864,452  
  2,783      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      418,897  
  443      Teleflex, Inc.      145,517  
  3,437      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      1,611,987  
     

 

 

 
        31,986,601  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.6%):       
  7,381      agilon health, Inc.*      199,287  
  1,200      Amedisys, Inc.*      194,256  
  7,863      Cardinal Health, Inc.      404,866  
  155      Chemed Corp.      82,001  
  2,029      DaVita, Inc.*      230,819  
  2,578      Encompass Health Corp.      168,240  
  4,243      Guardant Health, Inc.*      424,385  
  11,421      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      2,934,283  
  1,057      McKesson Corp.      262,738  
  359      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      114,191  
  4,334      Oak Street Health, Inc.*^      143,629  
  3,040      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      1,526,506  
     

 

 

 
        6,685,201  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  2,365      Certara, Inc.*      67,213  
  6,410      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      1,637,627  
     

 

 

 
        1,704,840  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.7%):       
  929      Boyd Gaming Corp.*      60,915  
  5,919      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      553,604  
  1,312      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      2,293,704  
  1,574      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      245,528  
  1,658      Churchill Downs, Inc.      399,412  
  4,036      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      607,983  
  1,172      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      661,395  
  15,052      DraftKings, Inc., Class A*      413,478  
  8,534      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      1,331,219  
  15,138      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      569,794  
  12,693      Marriott International, Inc., Class A*      2,097,391  
  6,167      McDonald’s Corp.      1,653,188  
  489      Penn National Gaming, Inc.*      25,355  
  2,576      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      233,334  
  1,570      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      66,851  
  55,185      Starbucks Corp.      6,454,989  
  2,426      Travel + Leisure Co.      134,085  
  1,819      Vail Resorts, Inc.      596,450  
  8,468      Wendy’s Co. (The)      201,962  
  2,617      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      234,614  
  4,943      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      420,353  
  1,598      Yum China Holdings, Inc.      79,644  
  1,244      Yum! Brands, Inc.      172,742  
     

 

 

 
        19,507,990  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.2%):       
  6,367      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      444,353  
  6,234      DR Horton, Inc.      676,077  
  97      NVR, Inc.*      573,161  
  3,344      PulteGroup, Inc.      191,143  
  8,259      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      388,421  
  1,906      Toll Brothers, Inc.      137,975  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  1,298      TopBuild Corp.*    $ 358,131  
     

 

 

 
        2,769,261  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.3%):       
  691      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      70,828  
  4,747      Clorox Co. (The)      827,687  
  20,921      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      1,785,398  
  7,938      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      1,134,499  
     

 

 

 
        3,818,412  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.0%):  
  1,703      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      62,721  
  5,594      NRG Energy, Inc.      240,990  
     

 

 

 
        303,711  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):       
  3,964      3M Co.      704,125  
  876      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      217,353  
  6,952      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,449,562  
     

 

 

 
        2,371,040  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.3%):       
  79      Alleghany Corp.*      52,740  
  6,073      Aon plc, Class A      1,825,301  
  4,086      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      181,623  
  542      Brown & Brown, Inc.      38,092  
  823      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      158,559  
  356      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      97,516  
  246      GoHealth, Inc., Class A*      932  
  1,147      Lincoln National Corp.      78,294  
  120      Markel Corp.*      148,080  
  2,831      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      492,084  
  922      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      156,122  
     

 

 

 
        3,229,343  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (9.7%):       
  12,129      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      35,138,198  
  11,316      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      32,743,865  
  13,109      Match Group, Inc.*      1,733,665  
  110,698      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      37,233,272  
  26,108      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      949,026  
  3,205      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      87,368  
  3,869      Twitter, Inc.*      167,218  
  6,103      Vimeo, Inc.*      109,610  
  2,794      Zillow Group, Inc., Class A*      173,843  
  8,036      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      513,099  
     

 

 

 
        108,849,164  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (7.0%):       
  20,328      Amazon.com, Inc.*      67,780,463  
  1,920      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      4,606,522  
  5,992      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*      892,209  
  29,532      eBay, Inc.      1,963,878  
  5,925      Etsy, Inc.*      1,297,219  
  6,818      Expedia Group, Inc.*      1,232,149  
  1,972      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*^      374,621  
     

 

 

 
        78,147,061  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (6.6%):       
  23,946      Accenture plc, Class A      9,926,814  
  18,324      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      4,518,332  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  18,648      Block, Inc.*    $ 3,011,838  
  4,950      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      904,959  
  2,523      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      1,686,499  
  1,639      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      195,320  
  1,853      Fiserv, Inc.*      192,323  
  861      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      192,726  
  3,734      Gartner, Inc.*      1,248,351  
  487      Genpact, Ltd.      25,850  
  910      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      77,223  
  824      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      137,600  
  40,981      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      14,725,293  
  2,960      MongoDB, Inc.*      1,566,876  
  5,879      Okta, Inc.*      1,317,895  
  13,142      Paychex, Inc.      1,793,883  
  55,034      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      10,378,312  
  13,893      Sabre Corp.*      119,341  
  1,890      Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A*      109,488  
  8,730      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      2,957,287  
  9,959      StoneCo, Ltd., Class A*      167,909  
  5,700      Switch, Inc., Class A      163,248  
  4,267      Teradata Corp.*      181,219  
  1,170      Thoughtworks Holding, Inc.*      31,368  
  2,236      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      588,828  
  79,278      Visa, Inc., Class A      17,180,335  
  4,653      Western Union Co. (The.)      83,010  
  1,436      WEX, Inc.*      201,600  
  2,558      Wix.com, Ltd.*      403,627  
     

 

 

 
        74,087,354  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  529      Brunswick Corp.      53,286  
  16,886      Mattel, Inc.*      364,062  
  12,697      Peloton Interactive, Inc., Class A*      454,045  
  1,848      Polaris, Inc.      203,114  
  3,789      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      313,843  
     

 

 

 
        1,388,350  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.3%):       
  4,037      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*      601,352  
  4,404      Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.*      123,576  
  12,723      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      2,031,227  
  28,395      Avantor, Inc.*      1,196,565  
  1,841      Bio-Techne Corp.      952,423  
  4,650      Bruker Corp.      390,182  
  2,195      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      827,032  
  6,830      Illumina, Inc.*      2,598,405  
  4,443      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      1,253,548  
  5,052      Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A*      211,679  
  1,069      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      1,814,318  
  4,272      Sotera Health Co.*      100,606  
  561      Syneos Health, Inc.*      57,603  
  1,646      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,098,277  
  2,639      Waters Corp.*      983,291  
     

 

 

 
        14,240,084  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (1.3%):       
  325      AGCO Corp.      37,707  
  3,205      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      116,502  
  21,845      Caterpillar, Inc.      4,516,235  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  13,060      Deere & Co.    $ 4,478,143  
  840      Donaldson Co., Inc.      49,778  
  4,688      Graco, Inc.      377,947  
  13,253      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      3,270,840  
  2,550      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      355,649  
  873      Middleby Corp. (The)*      171,771  
  403      Nordson Corp.      102,874  
  1,018      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      323,846  
  4,568      Toro Co. (The)      456,389  
  5,481      Xylem, Inc.      657,282  
     

 

 

 
        14,914,963  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.4%):       
  6,699      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      108,390  
  134      Cable One, Inc.      236,302  
  5,533      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      3,607,350  
  149      Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A      22,496  
     

 

 

 
        3,974,538  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  19,976      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      833,599  
  3,531      Southern Copper Corp.      217,898  
  1,989      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      123,457  
     

 

 

 
        1,174,954  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.3%):       
  4,697      Dollar General Corp.      1,107,693  
  3,923      Nordstrom, Inc.*^      88,738  
  10,313      Target Corp.      2,386,841  
     

 

 

 
        3,583,272  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.3%):       
  10,995      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      1,115,113  
  258      Continental Resources, Inc.      11,548  
  4,983      Coterra Energy, Inc.      94,677  
  4,109      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      443,156  
  3,211      EOG Resources, Inc.      285,233  
  1,002      Hess Corp.      74,178  
  1,407      New Fortress Energy, Inc.^      33,965  
  4,721      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      136,862  
  4,488      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      816,277  
  285      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      355,928  
     

 

 

 
        3,366,937  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  548      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      42,936  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.4%):       
  10,717      Estee Lauder Co., Inc. (The), Class A      3,967,433  
  875      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      35,814  
  1,248      Olaplex Holdings, Inc.*      36,354  
     

 

 

 
        4,039,601  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.3%):       
  1,785      Catalent, Inc.*      228,533  
  31,362      Eli Lilly & Co.      8,662,812  
  1,856      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      200,003  
  8,519      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      339,482  
  21,163      Zoetis, Inc.      5,164,407  
     

 

 

 
        14,595,237  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  6,410      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.    $ 543,504  
  14,316      CoStar Group, Inc.*      1,131,393  
  2,207      Equifax, Inc.      646,188  
  972      Legalzoom.com, Inc.*^      15,620  
  4,460      Robert Half International, Inc.      497,379  
  6,094      TransUnion      722,626  
  4,664      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      1,066,797  
     

 

 

 
        4,623,507  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  623      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      67,602  
  4,047      Opendoor Technologies, Inc.*      59,126  
     

 

 

 
        126,728  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.0%):       
  3,539      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      723,372  
  1,636      Landstar System, Inc.      292,877  
  13,604      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      581,299  
  4,383      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      1,570,779  
  997      TuSimple Holdings, Inc., Class A*      35,742  
  64,333      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      2,697,483  
  19,028      Union Pacific Corp.      4,793,724  
     

 

 

 
        10,695,276  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor (0.0%):       
  1,299      GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.*^      84,396  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (8.7%):       
  56,681      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      8,156,396  
  1,997      Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.*      72,252  
  9,922      Analog Devices, Inc.      1,743,990  
  42,185      Applied Materials, Inc.      6,638,232  
  2,846      Azenta, Inc.      293,451  
  18,696      Broadcom, Inc.      12,440,505  
  6,127      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      1,120,873  
  6,416      Entegris, Inc.      889,129  
  7,078      KLA Corp.      3,044,319  
  6,585      Lam Research Corp.      4,735,603  
  21,644      Microchip Technology, Inc.      1,884,327  
  7,327      Micron Technology, Inc.      682,510  
  2,126      MKS Instruments, Inc.      370,285  
  2,101      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      1,036,486  
  112,049      NVIDIA Corp.      32,954,731  
  3,885      NXP Semiconductors NV      884,925  
  10,676      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      725,114  
  52,832      Qualcomm, Inc.      9,661,388  
  3,571      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      554,005  
  7,683      Teradyne, Inc.      1,256,401  
  26,763      Texas Instruments, Inc.      5,044,023  
  1,946      Universal Display Corp.      321,148  
  11,451      Xilinx, Inc.      2,427,956  
     

 

 

 
        96,938,049  
     

 

 

 
Software (18.0%):       
  22,361      Adobe, Inc.*      12,680,029  
  2,744      Alteryx, Inc., Class A*      166,012  
  6,843      Anaplan, Inc.*      313,752  
  1,734      ANSYS, Inc.*      695,542  
  3,089      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      470,146  
  6,487      Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A*      2,473,428  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  10,302      Autodesk, Inc.*    $ 2,896,819  
  3,896      Avalara, Inc.*      503,013  
  6,681      Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B      322,893  
  4,330      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      1,078,819  
  1,261      C3.ai, Inc., Class A*^      39,406  
  12,833      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      2,391,430  
  994      CDK Global, Inc.      41,490  
  2,193      Citrix Systems, Inc.      207,436  
  11,313      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      1,487,659  
  3,441      Coupa Software, Inc.*      543,850  
  9,279      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      1,899,875  
  11,807      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      2,102,945  
  9,073      DocuSign, Inc.*      1,381,909  
  2,438      Doubleverify Holdings, Inc.*      81,137  
  13,606      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      333,891  
  562      Duck Creek Technologies, Inc.*      16,922  
  8,753      Dynatrace, Inc.*      528,244  
  3,366      Elastic NV*      414,321  
  1,812      Everbridge, Inc.*      122,002  
  1,250      Fair Isaac Corp.*      542,088  
  3,196      Five9, Inc.*      438,875  
  6,287      Fortinet, Inc.*      2,259,548  
  1,916      Globant SA*      601,796  
  2,086      HubSpot, Inc.*      1,374,987  
  1,136      Informatica, Inc.*      42,009  
  12,432      Intuit, Inc.      7,996,511  
  2,228      Jamf Holding Corp.*^      84,686  
  3,182      Mandiant, Inc.*      55,812  
  1,586      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      246,607  
  2,912      McAfee Corp., Class A      75,100  
  352,970      Microsoft Corp.      118,710,870  
  2,791      nCino, Inc.*      153,114  
  2,421      New Relic, Inc.*      266,213  
  6,466      NortonLifeLock, Inc.      167,987  
  4,829      Nuance Communications, Inc.*      267,140  
  10,317      Nutanix, Inc., Class A*      328,700  
  72,035      Oracle Corp.      6,282,172  
  78,282      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      1,425,515  
  4,469      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      2,488,160  
  2,409      Paycom Software, Inc.*      1,000,193  
  1,135      Paycor HCM, Inc.*^      32,699  
  1,896      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      447,759  
  1,841      Pegasystems, Inc.      205,861  
  2,022      Procore Technologies, Inc.*      161,699  
  4,919      PTC, Inc.*      595,937  
  3,825      RingCentral, Inc., Class A*      716,614  
  8,457      salesforce.com, Inc.*      2,149,177  
  9,225      ServiceNow, Inc.*      5,988,040  
  5,804      Smartsheet, Inc., Class A*      449,520  
  7,639      Splunk, Inc.*      883,985  
  4,496      Synopsys, Inc.*      1,656,776  
  20,297      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      1,860,017  
  1,648      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      886,542  
  7,037      Unity Software, Inc.*      1,006,221  
  3,898      VMware, Inc., Class A      451,700  
  8,932      Workday, Inc., Class A*      2,440,044  
  5,533      Zendesk, Inc.*      577,037  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares

           Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  10,155      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*    $ 1,867,606  
  3,659      Zscaler, Inc.*      1,175,746  
     

 

 

 
        201,554,033  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (3.9%):       
  209      AutoZone, Inc.*      438,146  
  2,754      Best Buy Co., Inc.      279,806  
  2,955      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      861,412  
  530      CarMax, Inc.*      69,022  
  3,615      Carvana Co.*      837,921  
  2,589      Five Below, Inc.*      535,638  
  4,723      Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A*      614,037  
  3,031      GameStop Corp., Class A*^      449,770  
  49,804      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      20,669,158  
  5,131      Leslie’s, Inc.*      121,399  
  133      Lithia Motors, Inc.      39,494  
  32,451      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      8,387,935  
  957      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      675,862  
  855      RH*      458,229  
  16,546      Ross Stores, Inc.      1,890,877  
  56,636      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      4,299,805  
  5,272      Tractor Supply Co.      1,257,899  
  2,473      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      1,019,717  
  1,604      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*^      89,086  
  1,529      Vroom, Inc.*^      16,498  
  2,668      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      451,239  
     

 

 

 
        43,462,950  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (11.7%):       
  722,937      Apple, Inc.      128,371,923  
  5,971      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C*      335,391  
  18,599      HP, Inc.      700,624  
  2,302      NCR Corp.*      92,540  
  6,848      NetApp, Inc.      629,948  
  11,999      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      390,568  
     

 

 

 
        130,520,994  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.1%):       
  333      Columbia Sportswear Co.      32,447  
  202      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      73,995  
  9,253      Hanesbrands, Inc.      154,710  
  5,335      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      2,088,386  

Shares

           Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued       
  58,025      Nike, Inc., Class B    $ 9,671,027  
  734      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      31,855  
  1,483      Tapestry, Inc.      60,210  
  9,724      VF Corp.      711,991  
     

 

 

 
        12,824,621  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.0%):       
  5,135      Rocket Cos., Inc., Class A^      71,890  
  4,845      UWM Holdings Corp.^      28,682  
     

 

 

 
        100,572  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.2%):       
  48,219      Altria Group, Inc.      2,285,098  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  1,233      Core & Main, Inc., Class A*      37,409  
  23,613      Fastenal Co.      1,512,649  
  1,053      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      255,121  
  1,138      United Rentals, Inc.*      378,146  
  1,797      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      931,277  
     

 

 

 
        3,114,602  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $418,743,035)

     1,111,186,532  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.3%):  
  2,889,552      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 0.03%(a)(b)      2,889,552  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities
on Loan (Cost $2,889,552)

     2,889,552  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.6%):       
Money Markets (0.6%):       
  6,887,955      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(b)      6,887,955  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $6,887,955)

     6,887,955  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $428,520,542) — 100.3%(c)

     1,120,964,039  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.3)%

     (3,202,520
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,117,761,519  
     

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $2,721,230.

Represents less than 0.05%.

(a)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

(c)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

NASDAQ 100 E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        17      $ 5,549,055      $ 12,386  

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        6        1,427,550        (4,585
           

 

 

 
            $ 7,801  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 428,520,542
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

    $ 1,120,964,039

Cash

      4,046

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      362,200

Interest and dividends receivable

      257,644

Receivable for investments sold

      46,000

Reclaims receivable

      707

Receivable from Manager

      84,665

Prepaid expenses

      5,440
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,121,724,741
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      139,870

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      2,889,552

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      44,038

Manager fees payable

      413,911

Administration fees payable

      158,612

Distribution fees payable

      218,149

Custodian fees payable

      6,411

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,969

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,345

Trustee fees payable

      11,058

Other accrued liabilities

      77,307
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,963,222
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,117,761,519
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 265,365,191

Total distributable earnings

      852,396,328
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,117,761,519
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 80,918,603

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      5,260,530

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 15.38
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,036,842,916

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      44,004,495

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 23.56
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $2,721,230.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 8,043,700

Income from securities lending

      25,925

Foreign withholding tax

      (848 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      8,068,777
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      4,868,607

Administration fees

      378,000

Distribution fees — Class 2

      2,577,401

Custodian fees

      30,627

Administrative and compliance services fees

      13,055

Transfer agent fees

      10,323

Trustee fees

      54,039

Professional fees

      48,476

Licensing fees

      202,699

Shareholder reports

      34,019

Other expenses

      20,677
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      8,237,923

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (995,870 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      7,242,053
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      826,724
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      158,790,128

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      2,995,787

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      103,357,544

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (278,686 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      264,864,773
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 265,691,497
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 826,724     $ 3,113,848

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      161,785,915       129,780,903

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      103,078,858       187,695,816
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      265,691,497       320,590,567
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (13,301,296 )       (5,195,430 )

Class 2

      (119,314,081 )       (50,788,801 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (132,615,377 )       (55,984,231 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      184,490       251,516

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      13,301,296       5,195,429

Value of shares redeemed

      (8,469,958 )       (7,479,821 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      5,015,828       (2,032,876 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      52,822,423       95,020,376

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      119,314,081       50,788,801

Value of shares redeemed

      (258,720,459 )       (270,605,078 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (86,583,955 )       (124,795,901 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (81,568,127 )       (126,828,777 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      51,507,993       137,777,559

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,066,253,526       928,475,967
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,117,761,519     $ 1,066,253,526
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      12,137       21,604

Dividends reinvested

      956,928       390,048

Shares redeemed

      (539,566 )       (591,577 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      429,499       (179,925 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      2,417,820       6,195,131

Dividends reinvested

      5,601,600       2,649,390

Shares redeemed

      (11,158,495 )       (15,818,600 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (3,139,075 )       (6,974,079 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (2,709,576 )       (7,154,004 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.68     $ 11.46     $ 10.12     $ 11.74     $ 10.28
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.05 (a)       0.07 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.13       0.14

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      3.62       4.28       3.28       (0.20 )       2.73
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.67       4.35       3.38       (0.07 )       2.87
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.12 )       (0.15 )       (0.18 )       (0.20 )       (0.05 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.85 )       (0.98 )       (1.86 )       (1.35 )       (1.36 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.97 )       (1.13 )       (2.04 )       (1.55 )       (1.41 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 15.38     $ 14.68     $ 11.46     $ 10.12     $ 11.74
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      27.14 %       39.03 %       35.53 %       (1.86 )%       29.19 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 80,919     $ 70,903     $ 57,430     $ 48,665     $ 55,307

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.31 %       0.56 %       0.86 %       0.96 %       1.04 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.51 %       0.52 %       0.51 %       0.50 %       0.50 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.42 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.45 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      18 %       22 %       15 %       17 %       12 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 21.11     $ 16.10     $ 13.53     $ 15.21     $ 12.99
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.01 (a)       0.06 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.15       0.13

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      5.35       6.04       4.46       (0.33 )       3.49
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      5.36       6.10       4.56       (0.18 )       3.62
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.06 )       (0.11 )       (0.13 )       (0.15 )       (0.04 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.85 )       (0.98 )       (1.86 )       (1.35 )       (1.36 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.91 )       (1.09 )       (1.99 )       (1.50 )       (1.40 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 23.56     $ 21.11     $ 16.10     $ 13.53     $ 15.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      26.87 %       38.58 %       35.28 %       (2.14 )%       28.89 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,036,843     $ 995,350     $ 871,046     $ 775,621     $ 1,046,158

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.06 %       0.31 %       0.61 %       0.71 %       0.79 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.76 %       0.77 %       0.76 %       0.75 %       0.75 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.67 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.70 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      18 %       22 %       15 %       17 %       12 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Private Placements

The Fund may invest in private placement securities which are securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), in reliance on a “private placement” exemption. These unregistered securities may be restricted and generally are sold to institutional investors, such as the Fund, who agree that they are purchasing the securities for investment and not with a view to public distribution. Unregistered securities are normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such securities.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

 

14


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $2,551 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $2,889,552 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $12.3 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

 

15


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 7,801     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure  

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

     Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation
on Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

       
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts      $ 2,995,787      $ (278,686

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 1

         0.44 %          0.59 %

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 2

         0.44 %          0.84 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.35% on all assets in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

 

16


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 1,111,186,532        $        $        $ 1,111,186,532

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         2,889,552                            2,889,552

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         6,887,955                            6,887,955
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         1,120,964,039                            1,120,964,039
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         7,801                            7,801
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 1,120,971,840        $        $        $ 1,120,971,840
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

       $ 194,548,281        $ 398,527,353

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

 

17


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Concentration Risk: The Fund may be susceptible to an increased risk of loss, including losses due to adverse events that affect the Fund’s investments more than the market as a whole, to the extent that the Fund’s investments are concentrated in the securities of a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Technology Sector Risk: Technology companies, including information technology companies, may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Technology companies typically face intense competition and potentially rapid product obsolescence. They are also heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $430,936,581. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis was as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 701,294,357  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (11,266,899
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 690,027,458  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

       $ 3,119,928        $ 129,495,449        $ 132,615,377

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

18


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

       $ 7,875,714        $ 48,108,517        $ 55,984,231

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

       $ 4,770,547        $ 157,598,323        $        $ 690,027,458        $ 852,396,328

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of futures contracts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 65% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

19


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

20


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 100.00% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $129,495,449.

 

21


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

22


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

23


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

24


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

25


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica

Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc. (a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM

Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

26


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

27


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.   

ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 14

Statement of Operations

Page 14

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 15

Financial Highlights

Page 16

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 17

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 23

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 24

Other Information

Page 25

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 26

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 29

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 2 shares) (the “Fund”) returned 24.25%. That compared to a 25.16% total return for its benchmark, the Russell 1000® Value Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the Russell 1000® Value Index (the “Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of large-cap stock performance. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities with value characteristics.

In the first quarter of 2021, favorable conditions carried over from the strong end of 2020. The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) accommodative policies, along with a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the start of the vaccine rollout in the U.S., supported investor optimism for strong economic growth in the first quarter. All sectors within the S&P 500® Index2 posted positive returns over the first three months of 2021. The energy sector posted the strongest return for the quarter, supported by a rally in oil prices due to a surge in demand paired with unchanged production levels, along with oil transport concerns due to the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal. The financial sector was another top performer due to positive market conditions. By comparison, the information technology and consumer staples sectors lagged their peers within the U.S. market, albeit still posting positive returns, after posting strong gains in 2020.

During the second quarter, U.S. equity markets rallied as the vaccination campaign continued to accelerate and economic indicators continued to improve. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by more than 4% year-over-year in April. But growing concerns about inflation were offset by the Fed’s commitment to maintain its accommodative monetary policies and the prospect of a bipartisan $1 trillion agreement for infrastructure that passed the Senate in May.

In the third quarter, strong economic data and corporate earnings reports helped push U.S. equities higher despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. However, concerns regarding potential contagion from the unfolding debt crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande muted U.S. equity

markets late in the quarter. Rising inflation and supply chain issues also weighed on market sentiment, as did the continuing disagreement in Washington regarding the debt ceiling and the infrastructure bill.

In the fourth quarter, the boost to investor sentiment from a strong earnings season was offset by a new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant (Omicron) and ongoing concerns about higher inflation rates. Markets recovered to post strong returns for the quarter after initial data showed existing vaccines remained effective against the Omicron variant, and the Fed clarified its plan to begin tightening its monetary policy in 2022. The falling unemployment rate and the final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill further supported the market performance over the quarter.

All sectors within the Index posted positive returns over the year. The financials, health care, and industrials sectors were the top performers, while the utilities, communication services, and materials sectors lagged their peers.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we keep cash to fully cover all outstanding futures positions. The Fund’s use of futures contracts provides immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Skillful cash management and cash equitization are critical to minimizing the potential impact of cash drag and ensure tight tracking to the benchmark.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

2 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is unmanaged and is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

1


AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to match the total return of the Russell 1000® Value Index. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in all stocks in the Index in proportion to their weighting in the Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Value-based investments are subject to the risk that the broad market may not recognize their intrinsic value.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       24.55 %       17.11 %       10.75 %             11.91 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      4/30/2010       24.25 %       16.84 %       10.48 %       12.18 %       10.77 %

Russell 1000® Value Index

      4/30/2010       25.16 %       17.64 %       11.16 %       12.97 %       11.55 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.52 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.77 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.35% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.59% for Class 1 Shares and 0.84% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Russell 1000® Value Index, an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,066.90     $ 2.29       0.44 %

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,065.70     $ 3.59       0.69 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.99     $ 2.24       0.44 %

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.73     $ 3.52       0.69 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)    

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Financials

      20.6 %

Health Care

      17.9

Industrials

      11.5

Information Technology

      10.1

Consumer Staples

      7.3

Communication Services

      7.3

Consumer Discretionary

      5.7

Energy

      5.1

Utilities

      5.1

Real Estate

      5.1

Materials

      3.8
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.5

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.5

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.4
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.4

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.4 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.5%):       
Aerospace & Defense (2.3%):       
  30,752      Boeing Co. (The)*    $ 6,190,993  
  1,432      BWX Technologies, Inc.      68,564  
  2,139      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      296,615  
  14,203      General Dynamics Corp.      2,960,899  
  1,640      HEICO Corp.      236,521  
  2,988      HEICO Corp., Class A      384,018  
  4,683      Hexcel Corp.*      242,579  
  21,020      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      669,067  
  2,267      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      423,340  
  11,134      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      2,374,214  
  1,819      Lockheed Martin Corp.      646,491  
  3,388      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      186,543  
  7,796      Northrop Grumman Corp.      3,017,598  
  86,005      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      7,401,590  
  4,533      Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A      195,327  
  12,645      Textron, Inc.      976,194  
  2,133      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      1,357,185  
  180      Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.*      2,408  
     

 

 

 
        27,630,146  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.3%):       
  6,020      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      647,933  
  2,511      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      337,202  
  7,940      FedEx Corp.      2,053,602  
  803      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      72,936  
  803      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      62,176  
     

 

 

 
        3,173,849  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  7,030      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      366,263  
  37,764      American Airlines Group, Inc.*^      678,241  
  1,589      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      131,347  
  18,964      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      270,047  
  34,284      Southwest Airlines Co.*      1,468,727  
  18,386      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      804,939  
     

 

 

 
        3,719,564  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.3%):       
  12,590      Aptiv plc*      2,076,720  
  13,902      BorgWarner, Inc.      626,563  
  13,914      Gentex Corp.      484,903  
  3,517      Lear Corp.      643,435  
  3,982      QuantumScape Corp.*^      88,361  
     

 

 

 
        3,919,982  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.9%):       
  225,662      Ford Motor Co.      4,687,000  
  79,254      General Motors Co.*      4,646,662  
  9,156      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      345,089  
  6,186      Rivian Automotive, Inc.*^      641,426  
  1,932      Thor Industries, Inc.      200,484  
     

 

 

 
        10,520,661  
     

 

 

 
Banks (8.0%):       
  413,796      Bank of America Corp.      18,409,784  
  2,294      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      192,145  
  7,332      Bank OZK      341,158  
  1,587      BOK Financial Corp.      167,413  
  113,989      Citigroup, Inc.      6,883,796  
  20,265      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      957,521  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  7,402      Comerica, Inc.    $ 643,974  
  6,591      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      453,065  
  3,427      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      432,042  
  8,248      East West Bancorp, Inc.      648,953  
  18,027      F.N.B. Corp.      218,667  
  39,444      Fifth Third Bancorp      1,717,786  
  334      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      277,167  
  7,723      First Hawaiian, Inc.      211,070  
  30,015      First Horizon Corp.      490,145  
  10,236      First Republic Bank      2,113,836  
  82,359      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      1,269,976  
  168,703      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      26,714,120  
  53,261      KeyCorp      1,231,927  
  7,415      M&T Bank Corp.      1,138,796  
  6,557      PacWest Bancorp      296,180  
  23,578      People’s United Financial, Inc.      420,160  
  4,209      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      401,959  
  24,302      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      4,873,037  
  4,750      Popular, Inc.      389,690  
  5,386      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      389,408  
  55,329      Regions Financial Corp.      1,206,172  
  3,406      Signature Bank      1,101,739  
  10,668      Sterling Bancorp      275,128  
  3,219      SVB Financial Group*      2,183,255  
  7,504      Synovus Financial Corp.      359,216  
  77,479      Truist Financial Corp.      4,536,395  
  77,287      U.S. Bancorp      4,341,211  
  12,073      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      232,284  
  5,390      Webster Financial Corp.      300,978  
  229,813      Wells Fargo & Co.      11,026,428  
  2,905      Western Alliance Bancorp      312,723  
  3,120      Wintrust Financial Corp.      283,358  
  8,636      Zions Bancorp      545,450  
     

 

 

 
        97,988,112  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.9%):       
  1,395      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      94,567  
  5,190      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      378,144  
  65,576      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      3,882,755  
  8,961      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class C      2,248,942  
  39,956      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      1,472,778  
  10,597      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      491,171  
  1,633      Monster Beverage Corp.*      156,833  
  13,449      PepsiCo, Inc.      2,336,226  
     

 

 

 
        11,061,416  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.3%):       
  5,740      Amgen, Inc.      1,291,328  
  8,397      Biogen, Inc.*      2,014,608  
  10,311      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      910,977  
  784      Exact Sciences Corp.*      61,019  
  3,118      Exelixis, Inc.*      56,997  
  72,312      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      5,250,574  
  1,679      Incyte Corp.*      123,239  
  498      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      15,154  
  6,199      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      118,339  
  448      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      65,717  
  243      Natera, Inc.*      22,694  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  5,112      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*    $ 3,228,330  
  143      Repligen Corp.*      37,872  
  2,752      Sage Therapeutics, Inc.*      117,070  
  880      Seagen, Inc.*      136,048  
  1,019      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      85,688  
  2,543      United Therapeutics Corp.*      549,491  
  8,770      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,925,892  
     

 

 

 
        16,011,037  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.9%):       
  7,730      A.O. Smith Corp.      663,621  
  1,310      Allegion plc      173,496  
  1,486      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      172,554  
  3,014      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      139,367  
  10,941      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      937,753  
  26,805      Carrier Global Corp.      1,453,903  
  5,913      Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.      632,100  
  41,105      Johnson Controls International plc      3,342,248  
  1,844      Lennox International, Inc.      598,120  
  13,788      Masco Corp.      968,193  
  5,907      Owens Corning      534,584  
  7,072      Trane Technologies plc      1,428,756  
     

 

 

 
        11,044,695  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (4.9%):       
  2,319      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      381,499  
  2,805      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      846,156  
  1,184      Ares Management Corp., Class A      96,224  
  43,098      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      2,503,132  
  8,213      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      7,519,494  
  9,399      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)      516,005  
  6,265      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      816,956  
  86,410      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      7,267,081  
  20,593      CME Group, Inc.      4,704,677  
  2,235      Evercore, Inc., Class A      303,625  
  344      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      167,187  
  17,070      Franklin Resources, Inc.      571,674  
  17,678      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      6,762,719  
  4,505      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      357,787  
  31,844      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      4,355,304  
  19,052      Invesco, Ltd.      438,577  
  9,869      Janus Henderson Group plc      413,906  
  32,180      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      2,397,410  
  5,849      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      255,192  
  469      Moody’s Corp.      183,182  
  76,927      Morgan Stanley      7,551,154  
  171      Morningstar, Inc.      58,480  
  1,329      MSCI, Inc., Class A      814,265  
  6,726      Nasdaq, Inc.      1,412,527  
  11,702      Northern Trust Corp.      1,399,676  
  10,018      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      1,005,807  
  4,063      S&P Global, Inc.      1,917,452  
  5,940      SEI Investments Co.      361,984  
  20,797      State Street Corp.      1,934,121  
  5,959      Stifel Financial Corp.      419,633  
  8,642      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      1,699,363  
  6,052      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      606,047  
  4,556      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      131,350  
     

 

 

 
        60,169,646  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (2.0%):       
  12,732      Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.    $ 3,873,838  
  6,651      Albemarle Corp.      1,554,804  
  3,252      Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.      350,110  
  10,370      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      343,454  
  3,894      Celanese Corp.      654,426  
  12,339      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      873,354  
  4,833      Chemours Co. (The)      162,196  
  41,673      Corteva, Inc.      1,970,300  
  39,807      Dow, Inc.      2,257,853  
  30,295      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      2,447,230  
  7,595      Eastman Chemical Co.      918,312  
  1,856      Ecolab, Inc.      435,399  
  13,763      Element Solutions, Inc.      334,166  
  5,492      FMC Corp.      603,516  
  11,568      Huntsman Corp.      403,492  
  14,475      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      2,180,659  
  13,385      Lyondellbasell Industries NV      1,234,499  
  21,446      Mosaic Co. (The)      842,613  
  414      NewMarket Corp.      141,886  
  7,442      Olin Corp.      428,064  
  7,903      PPG Industries, Inc.      1,362,793  
  2,865      RPM International, Inc.      289,365  
  10,718      Valvoline, Inc.      399,674  
  1,610      Westlake Chemical Corp.      156,379  
     

 

 

 
        24,218,382  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.5%):       
  10,882      ADT, Inc.      91,518  
  342      Cintas Corp.      151,564  
  3,034      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      302,702  
  3,136      Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.*      105,432  
  1,573      MSA Safety, Inc.      237,460  
  12,007      Republic Services, Inc., Class A      1,674,376  
  722      Rollins, Inc.      24,700  
  5,404      Stericycle, Inc.*      322,295  
  20,329      Waste Management, Inc.      3,392,910  
     

 

 

 
        6,302,957  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.7%):       
  1,568      Arista Networks, Inc.*      225,400  
  8,667      Ciena Corp.*      667,099  
  242,802      Cisco Systems, Inc.      15,386,363  
  3,501      F5, Inc.*      856,730  
  19,049      Juniper Networks, Inc.      680,240  
  4,324      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      457,349  
  9,605      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      2,609,678  
  4,027      ViaSat, Inc.*      179,363  
     

 

 

 
        21,062,222  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.3%):       
  7,849      AECOM*      607,120  
  7,547      Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.      1,050,769  
  3,097      MasTec, Inc.*      285,791  
  7,894      Quanta Services, Inc.      905,126  
  1,226      Valmont Industries, Inc.      307,113  
     

 

 

 
        3,155,919  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.3%):       
  2,326      Eagle Materials, Inc., Class A      387,186  
  3,595      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      1,583,669  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials, continued       
  7,546      Vulcan Materials Co.    $ 1,566,399  
     

 

 

 
        3,537,254  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.8%):       
  19,997      Ally Financial, Inc.      952,057  
  13,226      American Express Co.      2,163,774  
  24,179      Capital One Financial Corp.      3,508,131  
  457      Credit Acceptance Corp.*      314,270  
  7,518      Discover Financial Services      868,780  
  6,488      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      324,659  
  3,625      Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.      152,322  
  16,110      SLM Corp.      316,884  
  25,643      Synchrony Financial      1,189,579  
     

 

 

 
        9,790,456  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  88,464      Amcor plc      1,062,453  
  3,888      AptarGroup, Inc.      476,202  
  3,918      Ardagh Metal Packaging SA*^      35,380  
  2,203      Avery Dennison Corp.      477,104  
  12,998      Ball Corp.      1,251,317  
  7,745      Berry Global Group, Inc.*      571,426  
  6,325      Crown Holdings, Inc.      699,671  
  12,029      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      234,565  
  21,890      International Paper Co.      1,028,392  
  5,278      Packaging Corp. of America      718,600  
  3,723      Sealed Air Corp.      251,191  
  4,453      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      190,767  
  5,785      Sonoco Products Co.      334,894  
  15,175      Westrock Co.      673,163  
     

 

 

 
        8,005,125  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  7,904      Genuine Parts Co.      1,108,141  
  15,586      LKQ Corp.      935,627  
     

 

 

 
        2,043,768  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  749      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      94,284  
  2,055      Chegg, Inc.*      63,089  
  1,725      Frontdoor, Inc.*      63,221  
  2,275      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      194,990  
  1,972      H&R Block, Inc.      46,460  
  490      Mister Car Wash, Inc.*^      8,923  
  9,361      Service Corp. International      664,537  
  6,890      Terminix Global Holdings, Inc.*      311,635  
     

 

 

 
        1,447,139  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (2.7%):       
  105,386      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      31,510,414  
  21,383      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      701,149  
  12,750      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      494,700  
  6,146      Voya Financial, Inc.      407,541  
     

 

 

 
        33,113,804  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.9%):       
  410,406      AT&T, Inc.      10,095,988  
  58,901      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      739,208  
  238,089      Verizon Communications, Inc.      12,371,104  
     

 

 

 
        23,206,300  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities (3.2%):       
  14,169      Alliant Energy Corp.    $ 870,968  
  28,680      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      2,551,660  
  3,053      Avangrid, Inc.      152,284  
  44,202      Duke Energy Corp.      4,636,790  
  21,621      Edison International      1,475,633  
  11,481      Entergy Corp.      1,293,335  
  13,011      Evergy, Inc.      892,685  
  19,558      Eversource Energy      1,779,387  
  56,045      Exelon Corp.      3,237,159  
  31,163      FirstEnergy Corp.      1,296,069  
  5,803      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      240,824  
  2,988      IDACORP, Inc.      338,570  
  112,667      NextEra Energy, Inc.      10,518,591  
  11,130      OGE Energy Corp.      427,169  
  85,771      PG&E Corp.*      1,041,260  
  6,620      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      467,306  
  43,160      PPL Corp.      1,297,390  
  60,714      Southern Co. (The)      4,163,766  
  31,015      Xcel Energy, Inc.      2,099,716  
     

 

 

 
        38,780,562  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.1%):       
  1,934      Acuity Brands, Inc.      409,466  
  13,339      AMETEK, Inc.      1,961,367  
  9,888      ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.*^      188,366  
  22,868      Eaton Corp. plc      3,952,048  
  34,303      Emerson Electric Co.      3,189,150  
  3,159      Hubbell, Inc.      657,925  
  9,882      nVent Electric plc      375,516  
  3,019      Regal-Beloit Corp.      513,773  
  2,666      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      930,034  
  8,998      Sensata Technologies Holding plc*      555,087  
  5,552      Shoals Technologies Group, Inc., Class A*      134,914  
  11,468      Sunrun, Inc.*      393,352  
     

 

 

 
        13,260,998  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.7%):       
  9,755      Amphenol Corp., Class A      853,172  
  4,108      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      551,581  
  5,385      Avnet, Inc.      222,024  
  113      Coherent, Inc.*      30,119  
  28,908      Corning, Inc.      1,076,245  
  3,551      Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A      338,126  
  2,002      IPG Photonics Corp.*      344,624  
  1,858      Jabil, Inc.      130,710  
  5,936      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      1,225,844  
  1,323      Littlelfuse, Inc.      416,322  
  7,519      National Instruments Corp.      328,355  
  2,323      SYNNEX Corp.      265,658  
  2,644      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      1,155,137  
  14,421      Trimble, Inc.*      1,257,367  
  4,690      Vontier Corp.      144,124  
     

 

 

 
        8,339,408  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.4%):       
  42,173      Baker Hughes Co.      1,014,682  
  47,850      Halliburton Co.      1,094,330  
  23,183      NOV, Inc.      314,130  
  79,878      Schlumberger, Ltd.      2,392,346  
     

 

 

 
        4,815,488  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment (1.9%):       
  44,378      Activision Blizzard, Inc.    $ 2,952,468  
  16,419      Electronic Arts, Inc.      2,165,666  
  1,444      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class A*      85,687  
  11,222      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      709,679  
  4,736      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      566,852  
  681      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A*      118,310  
  5,223      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      928,232  
  99,000      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      15,334,110  
  455      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      22,450  
  32,162      Zynga, Inc.*      205,837  
     

 

 

 
        23,089,291  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (4.8%):       
  8,928      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.      1,990,587  
  7,872      American Campus Communities, Inc.      450,987  
  16,421      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      716,120  
  14,719      Americold Realty Trust      482,636  
  8,942      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      488,859  
  8,034      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      2,029,308  
  8,861      Boston Properties, Inc.      1,020,610  
  17,646      Brixmor Property Group, Inc.      448,385  
  5,647      Camden Property Trust      1,009,006  
  8,445      Cousins Properties, Inc.      340,165  
  12,375      CubeSmart      704,261  
  7,176      Cyrusone, Inc.      643,831  
  16,053      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      2,839,294  
  9,397      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      314,799  
  21,345      Duke Realty Corp.      1,401,086  
  4,018      EPR Properties      190,815  
  1,493      Equinix, Inc.      1,262,839  
  4,947      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      433,654  
  21,336      Equity Residential      1,930,908  
  3,764      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      1,325,794  
  6,919      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      1,568,745  
  4,370      Federal Realty Investment Trust      595,718  
  7,187      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.      475,779  
  12,922      Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.      628,784  
  12,404      Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., Class A      414,169  
  30,896      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      1,115,037  
  5,787      Highwoods Properties, Inc.      258,042  
  40,615      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      706,295  
  8,064      Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.      199,261  
  33,156      Invitation Homes, Inc.      1,503,293  
  5,185      Iron Mountain, Inc.      271,331  
  6,749      JBG SMITH Properties      193,764  
  6,942      Kilroy Realty Corp.      461,365  
  33,145      Kimco Realty Corp.      817,024  
  729      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      88,428  
  4,511      Life Storage, Inc.      690,995  
  33,382      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      788,817  
  6,638      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      1,523,023  
  9,801      National Retail Properties, Inc.      471,134  
  13,737      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.      406,478  
  3,171      Orion Office REIT, Inc.*      59,203  
  13,662      Parks Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      257,938  
  42,344      Prologis, Inc.      7,129,036  
  2,012      Public Storage, Inc.      753,615  
  7,858      Rayonier, Inc.      317,149  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
  32,246      Realty Income Corp.    $ 2,308,491  
  9,945      Regency Centers Corp.      749,356  
  7,919      Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.      642,310  
  5,180      SBA Communications Corp.      2,015,124  
  2,348      Simon Property Group, Inc.      375,140  
  3,971      SL Green Realty Corp.^      284,721  
  7,201      Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.      347,016  
  13,725      STORE Capital Corp.      472,140  
  6,617      Sun Communities, Inc.      1,389,371  
  16,967      UDR, Inc.      1,017,850  
  22,494      Ventas, Inc.      1,149,893  
  34,370      VICI Properties, Inc.^      1,034,881  
  10,414      Vornado Realty Trust      435,930  
  24,510      Welltower, Inc.      2,102,223  
  43,067      Weyerhaeuser Co.      1,773,499  
  10,416      WP Carey, Inc.      854,633  
     

 

 

 
        58,670,945  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.5%):       
  8,525      Albertsons Cos., Inc., Class A^      257,370  
  2,206      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      435,354  
  1,668      Costco Wholesale Corp.      946,923  
  5,335      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      150,874  
  42,196      Kroger Co. (The)      1,909,791  
  12,788      US Foods Holding Corp.*      445,406  
  40,868      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      2,131,675  
  82,419      Walmart, Inc.      11,925,205  
     

 

 

 
        18,202,598  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.7%):       
  32,115      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      2,170,653  
  319      Beyond Meat, Inc.*^      20,786  
  8,099      Bunge, Ltd.      756,123  
  11,134      Campbell Soup Co.      483,884  
  26,491      Conagra Brands, Inc.      904,668  
  8,903      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      616,889  
  11,319      Flowers Foods, Inc.      310,933  
  35,143      General Mills, Inc.      2,367,935  
  5,463      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      232,778  
  1,066      Hershey Co. (The)      206,239  
  16,624      Hormel Foods Corp.      811,417  
  3,832      Ingredion, Inc.      370,325  
  5,930      JM Smucker Co. (The)      805,413  
  8,003      Kellogg Co.      515,553  
  40,150      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      1,441,385  
  5,692      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      360,759  
  14,307      McCormick & Co.      1,382,199  
  79,924      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      5,299,760  
  1,856      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      52,339  
  3,292      Post Holdings, Inc.*      371,107  
  16      Seaboard Corp.      62,960  
  16,605      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      1,447,292  
     

 

 

 
        20,991,397  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.1%):       
  7,421      Atmos Energy Corp.      777,498  
  4,823      National Fuel Gas Co.      308,383  
  12,172      UGI Corp.      558,816  
     

 

 

 
        1,644,697  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.9%):       
  49,898      Abbott Laboratories    $ 7,022,645  
  28,979      Baxter International, Inc.      2,487,557  
  16,395      Becton Dickinson & Co.      4,123,015  
  81,758      Boston Scientific Corp.*      3,473,080  
  2,787      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      1,167,586  
  34,534      Danaher Corp.      11,362,031  
  12,199      Dentsply Sirona, Inc.      680,582  
  9,252      Envista Holdings Corp.*      416,895  
  2,707      Figs, Inc., Class A*^      74,605  
  4,398      Globus Medical, Inc.*      317,536  
  14,455      Hologic, Inc.*      1,106,675  
  1,075      ICU Medical, Inc.*      255,141  
  4,271      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      286,114  
  854      Masimo Corp.*      250,034  
  77,138      Medtronic plc      7,979,926  
  2,056      Quidel Corp.*      277,539  
  892      ResMed, Inc.      232,348  
  4,232      Steris plc      1,030,111  
  11,537      Stryker Corp.      3,085,225  
  139      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      20,922  
  2,158      Teleflex, Inc.      708,860  
  12,027      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      1,527,910  
     

 

 

 
        47,886,337  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (4.9%):       
  4,965      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      301,376  
  642      agilon health, Inc.*      17,334  
  270      Amedisys, Inc.*      43,708  
  8,518      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      1,131,957  
  14,067      Anthem, Inc.      6,520,617  
  6,614      Cardinal Health, Inc.      340,555  
  33,196      Centene Corp.*      2,735,350  
  632      Chemed Corp.      334,353  
  18,658      Cigna Corp.      4,284,437  
  75,621      CVS Health Corp.      7,801,062  
  1,261      DaVita, Inc.*      143,451  
  2,527      Encompass Health Corp.      164,912  
  8,097      Henry Schein, Inc.*      627,760  
  7,445      Humana, Inc.      3,453,438  
  5,552      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*      1,744,494  
  7,516      McKesson Corp.      1,868,252  
  2,856      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      908,436  
  447      Oak Street Health, Inc.*^      14,814  
  6,588      Premier, Inc., Class A      271,228  
  7,012      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      1,213,146  
  4,275      Signify Health, Inc., Class A*^      60,791  
  50,322      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      25,268,689  
  4,196      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      544,053  
     

 

 

 
        59,794,213  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  17,077      Cerner Corp.      1,585,941  
  2,568      Certara, Inc.*      72,983  
  13,685      Change Healthcare, Inc.*      292,585  
  8,720      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      800,670  
     

 

 

 
        2,752,179  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.7%):       
  13,705      Aramark    $ 505,029  
  3,995      Boyd Gaming Corp.*      261,952  
  4,416      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      413,029  
  49,095      Carnival Corp., Class A*^      987,791  
  2,304      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      347,075  
  685      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      386,566  
  5,306      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      827,683  
  2,578      Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A*      247,230  
  2,346      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      396,427  
  35,271      McDonald’s Corp.      9,455,097  
  22,348      MGM Resorts International      1,002,978  
  21,701      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      450,079  
  8,435      Penn National Gaming, Inc.*      437,355  
  1,582      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      143,298  
  12,600      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      968,940  
  2,876      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      122,460  
  1,696      Travel + Leisure Co.      93,738  
  2,043      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      183,155  
  22,575      Yum China Holdings, Inc.      1,125,138  
  15,418      Yum! Brands, Inc.      2,140,943  
     

 

 

 
        20,495,963  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.7%):       
  5,813      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      405,689  
  10,920      DR Horton, Inc.      1,184,274  
  8,806      Garmin, Ltd.      1,199,113  
  7,617      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      313,516  
  15,358      Lennar Corp., Class A      1,783,985  
  977      Lennar Corp., Class B      93,421  
  3,261      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      594,089  
  21,370      Newell Brands, Inc.      466,721  
  58      NVR, Inc.*      342,714  
  10,624      PulteGroup, Inc.      607,268  
  3,611      Toll Brothers, Inc.      261,400  
  391      TopBuild Corp.*      107,881  
  3,473      Whirlpool Corp.      814,974  
     

 

 

 
        8,175,045  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (2.3%):       
  13,384      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      1,371,860  
  1,442      Clorox Co. (The)      251,427  
  22,468      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      1,917,419  
  9,666      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      1,381,465  
  138,273      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      22,618,697  
  3,469      Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.      108,927  
  2,244      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      228,260  
     

 

 

 
        27,878,055  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.2%):  
  37,863      AES Corp. (The)      920,071  
  5,860      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      215,824  
  8,131      NRG Energy, Inc.      350,283  
  27,121      Vistra Corp.      617,545  
     

 

 

 
        2,103,723  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.7%):       
  28,303      3M Co.      5,027,462  
  1,769      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      438,924  
  62,689      General Electric Co.      5,922,230  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates, continued       
  31,289      Honeywell International, Inc.    $ 6,524,070  
  6,034      Roper Technologies, Inc.      2,967,883  
     

 

 

 
        20,880,569  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.9%):       
  37,522      Aflac, Inc.      2,190,910  
  673      Alleghany Corp.*      449,288  
  16,524      Allstate Corp. (The)      1,944,049  
  3,890      American Financial Group, Inc.      534,175  
  47,367      American International Group, Inc.      2,693,288  
  5,151      Aon plc, Class A      1,548,185  
  16,366      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      727,469  
  11,750      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      1,993,622  
  3,233      Assurant, Inc.      503,895  
  4,067      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      204,163  
  6,672      Athene Holding, Ltd., Class A*      555,978  
  4,179      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      227,630  
  4,601      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      238,332  
  12,947      Brown & Brown, Inc.      909,915  
  24,601      Chubb, Ltd.      4,755,619  
  8,474      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      965,443  
  1,529      CNA Financial Corp.      67,398  
  481      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      92,669  
  1,779      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      487,304  
  15,398      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      803,468  
  5,958      First American Financial Corp.      466,094  
  5,671      Globe Life, Inc.      531,486  
  2,076      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      272,081  
  19,510      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1,346,970  
  3,342      Kemper Corp.      196,476  
  1,836      Lemonade, Inc.*^      77,314  
  8,752      Lincoln National Corp.      597,412  
  12,283      Loews Corp.      709,466  
  658      Markel Corp.*      811,972  
  25,740      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      4,474,127  
  1,561      Mercury General Corp.      82,827  
  40,571      MetLife, Inc.      2,535,282  
  16,772      Old Republic International Corp.      412,256  
  2,208      Primerica, Inc.      338,420  
  15,292      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      1,106,070  
  33,462      Progressive Corp. (The)      3,434,874  
  21,860      Prudential Financial, Inc.      2,366,126  
  4,027      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      440,916  
  1,534      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      259,752  
  14,204      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      2,221,932  
  11,781      Unum Group      289,459  
  177      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      179,460  
  7,168      Willis Towers Watson plc      1,702,328  
  7,971      WR Berkley Corp.      656,731  
     

 

 

 
        47,402,631  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (1.3%):       
  2,402      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      6,958,690  
  2,240      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      6,481,642  
  4,438      IAC/InterActiveCorp.*      580,091  
  2,331      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      63,543  
  40,363      Twitter, Inc.*      1,744,489  
  628      Vimeo, Inc.*      11,279  
     

 

 

 
        15,839,734  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.1%):       
  1,058      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*    $ 157,536  
  21,733      Qurate Retail, Inc., Class A      165,171  
  1,921      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*^      364,932  
     

 

 

 
        687,639  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.7%):       
  7,195      Accenture plc, Class A      2,982,687  
  9,196      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      1,076,300  
  3,044      Alliance Data Systems Corp.      202,639  
  7,415      Amdocs, Ltd.      554,939  
  1,915      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      472,201  
  8,835      Black Knight, Inc.*      732,333  
  659      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      120,478  
  30,346      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      2,692,297  
  2,388      Concentrix Corp.      426,545  
  14,296      DXC Technology Co.*      460,188  
  883      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      105,227  
  6,490      Fastly, Inc., Class A*      230,071  
  34,840      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      3,802,786  
  32,032      Fiserv, Inc.*      3,324,601  
  3,563      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      797,542  
  9,999      Genpact, Ltd.      530,747  
  16,390      Global Payments, Inc.      2,215,600  
  8,727      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      740,573  
  51,339      International Business Machines Corp.      6,861,971  
  3,134      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      523,347  
  10,465      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      189,416  
  2,207      Paychex, Inc.      301,255  
  25,382      Paysafe, Ltd.*^      99,244  
  705      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      238,819  
  1,354      SolarWinds Corp.      19,213  
  564      Teradata Corp.*      23,953  
  6,880      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      1,811,779  
  5,546      VeriSign, Inc.*      1,407,686  
  18,478      Western Union Co. (The.)      329,648  
  887      WEX, Inc.*      124,526  
     

 

 

 
        33,398,611  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  3,775      Brunswick Corp.      380,256  
  7,549      Hasbro, Inc.      768,337  
  2,751      Hayward Holdings, Inc.*      72,159  
  1,084      Polaris, Inc.      119,142  
     

 

 

 
        1,339,894  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.6%):       
  678      Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.*      19,025  
  1,894      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      302,377  
  1,214      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      917,262  
  212      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      79,877  
  5,555      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      1,567,288  
  6,960      PerkinElmer, Inc.      1,399,377  
  13,033      Qiagen NV*      724,374  
  5,016      Syneos Health, Inc.*      515,043  
  20,542      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      13,706,444  
  266      Waters Corp.*      99,112  
     

 

 

 
        19,330,179  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery (1.9%):       
  3,134      AGCO Corp.    $ 363,607  
  1,546      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      56,197  
  4,260      Caterpillar, Inc.      880,712  
  6,522      Colfax Corp.*      299,816  
  2,733      Crane Co.      278,028  
  8,251      Cummins, Inc.      1,799,873  
  6,024      Donaldson Co., Inc.      356,982  
  8,156      Dover Corp.      1,481,130  
  7,317      Flowserve Corp.      223,900  
  18,590      Fortive Corp.      1,418,231  
  5,779      Gates Industrial Corp. plc*      91,944  
  3,846      Graco, Inc.      310,065  
  4,347      IDEX Corp.      1,027,283  
  1,934      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      477,311  
  23,436      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      1,449,985  
  4,838      ITT, Inc.      494,395  
  2,159      Middleby Corp. (The)*      424,805  
  2,812      Nordson Corp.      717,819  
  4,102      Oshkosh Corp.      462,336  
  24,422      Otis Worldwide Corp.      2,126,424  
  19,438      PACCAR, Inc.      1,715,598  
  6,190      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      1,969,163  
  9,500      Pentair plc      693,785  
  3,148      Snap-On, Inc.      678,016  
  9,204      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      1,736,059  
  3,825      Timken Co.      265,034  
  261      Toro Co. (The)      26,077  
  10,224      Wabtec Corp.      941,733  
  3,282      Woodward, Inc.      359,248  
  3,420      Xylem, Inc.      410,126  
     

 

 

 
        23,535,682  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.0%):       
  3,417      Kirby Corp.*      203,038  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.9%):       
  3,967      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      64,186  
  157      Cable One, Inc.      276,862  
  364      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      237,317  
  262,033      Comcast Corp., Class A      13,188,121  
  18,170      Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C*      416,093  
  9,922      Discovery, Inc., Class A*      233,564  
  14,185      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      460,161  
  18,716      Fox Corp., Class A      690,620  
  8,899      Fox Corp., Class B      304,969  
  22,970      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      860,227  
  1,281      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      206,113  
  8,093      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      1,303,782  
  9,293      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      472,549  
  4,743      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      241,182  
  1,217      Loyalty Ventures, Inc.*      36,595  
  9,503      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      458,995  
  23,023      News Corp., Class A      513,643  
  6,485      News Corp., Class B      145,912  
  2,146      Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A      324,003  
  12,317      Omnicom Group, Inc.      902,467  
  49,544      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      314,604  
  34,029      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class B      1,026,995  
     

 

 

 
        22,678,960  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining (0.8%):       
  10,638      Alcoa Corp.    $ 633,812  
  26,232      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      571,071  
  59,357      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      2,476,968  
  46,283      Newmont Corp.      2,870,472  
  16,410      Nucor Corp.      1,873,201  
  3,594      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      583,019  
  3,691      Royal Gold, Inc.      388,330  
  333      Southern Copper Corp.      20,549  
  8,729      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      541,809  
  15,097      United States Steel Corp.      359,459  
     

 

 

 
        10,318,690  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.1%):       
  29,498      AGNC Investment Corp.      443,650  
  80,819      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      632,004  
  23,975      New Residential Investment Corp.      256,772  
  16,039      Starwood Property Trust, Inc.      389,748  
     

 

 

 
        1,722,174  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.6%):       
  7,665      Dollar General Corp.      1,807,637  
  12,863      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      1,807,509  
  8,785      Kohl’s Corp.      433,891  
  779      Nordstrom, Inc.*^      17,621  
  4,010      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      205,272  
  15,402      Target Corp.      3,564,639  
     

 

 

 
        7,836,569  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.4%):       
  14,791      Ameren Corp.      1,316,547  
  33,623      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      938,418  
  16,384      CMS Energy Corp.      1,065,779  
  20,382      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      1,738,992  
  46,515      Dominion Energy, Inc.      3,654,219  
  10,967      DTE Energy Co.      1,310,995  
  11,368      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      350,589  
  23,253      NiSource, Inc.      642,015  
  28,813      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      1,922,692  
  18,419      Sempra Energy      2,436,465  
  18,162      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      1,762,986  
     

 

 

 
        17,139,697  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.7%):       
  20,972      Antero Midstream Corp.      203,009  
  21,006      APA Corp.      564,851  
  111,152      Chevron Corp.      13,043,687  
  75,795      ConocoPhillips      5,470,883  
  3,489      Continental Resources, Inc.      156,168  
  39,084      Coterra Energy, Inc.      742,596  
  38,328      Devon Energy Corp.      1,688,348  
  5,476      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      590,587  
  5,260      DT Midstream, Inc.      252,375  
  29,422      EOG Resources, Inc.      2,613,556  
  17,590      EQT Corp.*      383,638  
  243,316      Exxon Mobil Corp.      14,888,506  
  14,824      Hess Corp.      1,097,421  
  8,758      HollyFrontier Corp.      287,087  
  111,822      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      1,773,497  
  43,769      Marathon Oil Corp.      718,687  
  35,529      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      2,273,501  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  42,720      Occidental Petroleum Corp.    $ 1,238,453  
  25,179      ONEOK, Inc.      1,479,518  
  24,920      Phillips 66      1,805,703  
  6,874      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      1,250,243  
  13,211      Targa Resources Corp.      690,143  
  23,623      Valero Energy Corp.      1,774,323  
  69,442      Williams Cos., Inc.      1,808,270  
     

 

 

 
        56,795,050  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  4,665      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      365,503  
  2,122      Sylvamo Corp.*      59,182  
     

 

 

 
        424,685  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.0%):       
  19,667      Coty, Inc., Class A*      206,503  
  4,604      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      188,442  
  1,501      Olaplex Holdings, Inc.*      43,724  
     

 

 

 
        438,669  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (6.0%):       
  128,344      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      8,002,248  
  7,040      Catalent, Inc.*      901,331  
  26,049      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      739,271  
  10,281      Eli Lilly & Co.      2,839,818  
  10,205      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      1,099,691  
  3,561      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      453,671  
  151,384      Johnson & Johnson      25,897,261  
  145,557      Merck & Co., Inc.      11,155,489  
  9,082      Nektar Therapeutics*      122,698  
  14,542      Organon & Co.      442,804  
  8,019      Perrigo Co. plc      311,939  
  320,747      Pfizer, Inc.      18,940,110  
  8,045      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      320,593  
  69,294      Viatris, Inc.      937,548  
  1,470      Zoetis, Inc.      358,724  
     

 

 

 
        72,523,196  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.7%):       
  1,300      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      349,973  
  24,954      Clarivate plc*      586,918  
  5,011      CoStar Group, Inc.*      396,019  
  10,081      Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.*      206,560  
  4,322      Equifax, Inc.      1,265,438  
  1,847      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      283,367  
  21,544      IHS Markit, Ltd.      2,863,628  
  8,260      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      734,314  
  3,257      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      317,004  
  20,709      Nielsen Holdings plc      424,742  
  857      Robert Half International, Inc.      95,573  
  3,250      Science Applications International Corp.      271,667  
  3,427      TransUnion      406,374  
  3,372      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      771,278  
     

 

 

 
        8,972,855  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.3%):       
  18,140      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      1,968,371  
  2,388      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      243,051  
  2,849      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      767,350  
  20,580      Opendoor Technologies, Inc.*      300,674  
     

 

 

 
        3,279,446  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail (1.2%):       
  525      AMERCO, Inc.    $ 381,271  
  126,825      CSX Corp.      4,768,620  
  582      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      118,961  
  9,188      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      559,917  
  281      Landstar System, Inc.      50,305  
  13,914      Norfolk Southern Corp.      4,142,337  
  488      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      174,889  
  2,829      Ryder System, Inc.      233,194  
  3,052      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      82,129  
  4,961      TuSimple Holdings, Inc., Class A*^      177,852  
  13,144      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      551,128  
  13,585      Union Pacific Corp.      3,422,469  
     

 

 

 
        14,663,072  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor (0.0%):       
  591      GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.*^      38,397  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.9%):       
  18,646      Analog Devices, Inc.      3,277,407  
  849      Azenta, Inc.      87,540  
  3,184      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      292,992  
  6,128      First Solar, Inc.*      534,117  
  232,233      Intel Corp.      11,960,000  
  47,019      Marvell Technology, Inc.      4,113,692  
  4,742      Microchip Technology, Inc.      412,839  
  55,485      Micron Technology, Inc.      5,168,428  
  537      MKS Instruments, Inc.      93,529  
  10,613      NXP Semiconductors NV      2,417,429  
  11,224      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      762,334  
  6,397      Qorvo, Inc.*      1,000,427  
  5,107      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      792,300  
  20,166      Texas Instruments, Inc.      3,800,686  
  6,642      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      742,376  
     

 

 

 
        35,456,096  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.7%):       
  2,920      ANSYS, Inc.*      1,171,270  
  1,737      C3.ai, Inc., Class A*^      54,281  
  5,794      CDK Global, Inc.      241,842  
  7,612      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      795,150  
  4,444      Citrix Systems, Inc.      420,358  
  923      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      121,375  
  1,070      Datto Holding Corp.*^      28,194  
  3,487      Duck Creek Technologies, Inc.*      104,994  
  532      Dynatrace, Inc.*      32,106  
  4,857      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      551,415  
  9,722      Mandiant, Inc.*      170,524  
  1,819      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      282,836  
  1,255      McAfee Corp., Class A      32,366  
  3,297      N-Able, Inc.*      36,597  
  23,359      NortonLifeLock, Inc.      606,867  
  10,142      Nuance Communications, Inc.*      561,055  
  6,415      Oracle Corp.      559,452  
  341      Paycor HCM, Inc.*^      9,824  
  168      Procore Technologies, Inc.*      13,435  
  43,460      salesforce.com, Inc.*      11,044,490  
  12,824      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      1,051,312  
  3,182      Synopsys, Inc.*      1,172,567  
  338      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      181,827  
  7,580      VMware, Inc., Class A      878,370  
     

 

 

 
        20,122,507  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail (0.8%):       
  3,564      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.    $ 854,932  
  2,358      AutoNation, Inc.*      275,532  
  951      AutoZone, Inc.*      1,993,667  
  10,716      Best Buy Co., Inc.      1,088,746  
  255      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      74,335  
  8,515      CarMax, Inc.*      1,108,909  
  3,527      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.^      405,570  
  5,484      Foot Locker, Inc.      239,267  
  11,133      Gap, Inc. (The)      196,497  
  558      Leslie’s, Inc.*      13,202  
  1,534      Lithia Motors, Inc.      455,521  
  2,675      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      1,889,165  
  1,612      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      172,839  
  2,711      Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc.*      53,651  
  2,032      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*^      112,857  
  5,303      Vroom, Inc.*^      57,219  
  1,097      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      185,536  
     

 

 

 
        9,177,445  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.4%):       
  8,223      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C*      461,886  
  74,968      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      1,182,246  
  43,506      HP, Inc.      1,638,871  
  5,106      NCR Corp.*      205,261  
  4,169      NetApp, Inc.      383,506  
  766      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      24,933  
  18,030      Western Digital Corp.*      1,175,736  
  7,643      Xerox Holdings Corp.      173,038  
     

 

 

 
        5,245,477  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.3%):       
  8,538      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*      554,202  
  2,536      Carter’s, Inc.      256,694  
  2,310      Columbia Sportswear Co.      225,086  
  1,324      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      484,994  
  8,477      Hanesbrands, Inc.      141,735  
  4,261      PVH Corp.      454,436  
  2,653      Ralph Lauren Corp.      315,336  
  7,138      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      309,789  
  14,443      Tapestry, Inc.      586,386  
  10,245      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      217,092  
  10,506      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      189,528  
  6,566      VF Corp.      480,762  
     

 

 

 
        4,216,040  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.1%):       
  17,550      MGIC Investment Corp.      253,071  
  25,277      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      308,632  
  2,177      TFS Financial Corp.      38,903  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  4,519      UWM Holdings Corp.^    $ 26,753  
     

 

 

 
        627,359  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.9%):       
  47,513      Altria Group, Inc.      2,251,641  
  89,465      Philip Morris International, Inc.      8,499,175  
     

 

 

 
        10,750,816  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  6,260      Air Lease Corp.      276,880  
  1,012      Core & Main, Inc., Class A*      30,704  
  3,920      Fastenal Co.      251,115  
  2,453      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      206,199  
  1,159      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      280,803  
  2,773      United Rentals, Inc.*      921,440  
  9,748      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      276,356  
  479      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      248,237  
  1,899      Watsco, Inc.      594,159  
     

 

 

 
        3,085,893  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.2%):       
  10,463      American Water Works Co., Inc.      1,976,042  
  12,691      Essential Utilities, Inc.      681,380  
     

 

 

 
        2,657,422  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.3%):       
  33,843      T-Mobile USA, Inc.*      3,925,111  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $897,664,188)

     1,212,716,936  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.4%):  
  4,744,396      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional
Class, 0.03%(a)(b)
     4,744,396  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $4,744,396)

     4,744,396  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.5%):       
Money Markets (0.5%):       
  6,475,837      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(b)      6,475,837  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $6,475,837)

     6,475,837  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities

  
 

(Cost $908,884,421) — 100.4%(c)

     1,223,937,169  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.4)%

     (4,889,868
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,219,047,301  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $4,611,321.

 

+

Affiliated Securities

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        19      $ 4,520,575      $ 9,848  

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        11        3,121,470        18,897  
           

 

 

 
            $ 28,745  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 904,854,233

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      4,030,188
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

      1,216,417,675

Investments in affiliates, at value

      7,519,494

Cash

      84,302

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      371,200

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,265,562

Receivable for capital shares issued

      14,555

Receivable for investments sold

      48,000

Reclaims receivable

      16,072

Receivable from Manager

      91,379

Prepaid expenses

      5,987
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,225,834,226
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      1,092,368

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      4,744,396

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      14,408

Manager fees payable

      446,734

Administration fees payable

      194,933

Distribution fees payable

      207,765

Custodian fees payable

      5,908

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,798

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,991

Trustee fees payable

      10,099

Other accrued liabilities

      66,525
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      6,786,925
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,219,047,301
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 798,076,451

Total distributable earnings

      420,970,850
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,219,047,301
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 221,723,295

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      20,186,715

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 10.98
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 997,324,006

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      65,259,025

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 15.28
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $4,611,321.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from non-affiliates

    $ 20,988,642

Dividends from affiliates

      127,497

Interest

      4,716

Income from securities lending

      35,177

Foreign withholding tax

      (3,328 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      21,152,704
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      4,753,614

Administration fees

      410,806

Distribution fees — Class 2

      2,226,277

Custodian fees

      33,396

Administrative and compliance services fees

      11,674

Transfer agent fees

      9,935

Trustee fees

      50,858

Professional fees

      47,855

Licensing fees

      184,282

Shareholder reports

      32,392

Other expenses

      122,738
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      7,883,827

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (972,348 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      6,911,479
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      14,241,225
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      102,217,814

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

      733,567

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      1,775,319

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      106,780,391

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

      694,783

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (89,382 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      212,112,492
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 226,353,717
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 14,241,225     $ 15,702,119

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      104,726,700       (2,483,973 )

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      107,385,792       13,164,225
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      226,353,717       26,382,371
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (4,881,633 )       (12,916,998 )

Class 2

      (14,354,281 )       (49,843,957 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (19,235,914 )       (62,760,955 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      526,725       437,497

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

      59,450,043      

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      4,881,633       12,916,998

Value of shares redeemed

      (24,412,101 )       (19,992,808 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      40,446,300       (6,638,313 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      12,882,008       122,965,871

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

      265,078,553      

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      14,354,271       49,843,957

Value of shares redeemed

      (246,954,539 )       (156,409,611 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      45,360,293       16,400,217
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      85,806,593       9,761,904
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      292,924,396       (26,616,680 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      926,122,905       952,739,585
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,219,047,301     $ 926,122,905
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      50,094       53,357

Shares issued in-kind(a)

      5,794,012      

Dividends reinvested

      470,292       1,596,662

Shares redeemed

      (2,360,216 )       (2,372,746 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      3,954,182       (722,727 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      863,525       12,177,510

Shares issued in-kind(a)

      18,696,734      

Dividends reinvested

      993,375       4,450,353

Shares redeemed

      (17,752,163 )       (14,138,554 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      2,801,471       2,489,309
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      6,755,653       1,766,582
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Amounts shown as “—” are either $0 or rounds to less than $1.

 

(a)

See Note 2 in Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 9.02     $ 9.75     $ 8.55     $ 10.65     $ 10.79
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.16 (a)       0.18 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.24       0.27

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      2.04       (0.06 )       1.94       (1.02 )       1.08
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      2.20       0.12       2.15       (0.78 )       1.35
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.20 )       (0.27 )       (0.30 )       (0.30 )       (0.10 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.04 )       (0.58 )       (0.65 )       (1.02 )       (1.39 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.24 )       (0.85 )       (0.95 )       (1.32 )       (1.49 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 10.98     $ 9.02     $ 9.75     $ 8.55     $ 10.65
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      24.55 %       2.25 %       26.13 %       (8.50 )%       13.38 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 221,723     $ 146,474     $ 165,337     $ 148,796     $ 185,903

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.52 %       2.08 %       2.21 %       2.10 %       2.07 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.52 %       0.52 %       0.51 %       0.50 %       0.50 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.45 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      38 %(e)       27 %       15 %       22 %       12 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 12.48     $ 13.13     $ 11.22     $ 13.56     $ 13.39
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.18 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.28       0.24

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      2.83       (0.04 )       2.57       (1.34 )       1.42
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.01       0.17       2.82       (1.06 )       1.66
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.17 )       (0.24 )       (0.26 )       (0.26 )       (0.10 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.04 )       (0.58 )       (0.65 )       (1.02 )       (1.39 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.21 )       (0.82 )       (0.91 )       (1.28 )       (1.49 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 15.28     $ 12.48     $ 13.13     $ 11.22     $ 13.56
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      24.25 %       2.01 %       25.86 %       (8.72 )%       13.02 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 997,324     $ 779,649     $ 787,403     $ 720,365     $ 893,400

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.27 %       1.83 %       1.96 %       1.85 %       1.81 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.77 %       0.77 %       0.76 %       0.75 %       0.75 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.70 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      38 %(e)       27 %       15 %       22 %       12 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

(e)

Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance

 

17


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.    All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $3,463 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $4,744,396 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

In-kind Subscriptions

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund issued 5,794,012 shares valued at $59,450,043, and 18,696,734 shares valued at $265,078,553, of Class 1 and Class 2, respectively, in exchange for $34,180,067 in cash, and securities with a fair market value of $290,348,529, received from shareholders of the Franklin Mutual Shares VIP Fund.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $9.3 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

 

18


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 28,745     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

       
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in
net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts
   $ 1,775,319      $ (89,382

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 1

         0.44 %          0.59 %

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 2

         0.44 %          0.84 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.35% on all assets in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

At December 31, 2021, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

     Value
12/31/2020
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds from
Sales
  Net
Realized
Gains(Losses)
  Change in
Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2021
  Shares as of
12/31/2021
  Dividend
Income
  Capital Gains
Distributions

BlackRock Inc., Class A

    $ 5,692,228     $ 1,992,205     $ (1,593,289 )     $ 733,567     $ 694,783     $ 7,519,494       8,213     $ 127,497     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 5,692,228     $ 1,992,205     $ (1,593,289 )     $ 733,567     $ 694,783     $ 7,519,494       8,213     $ 127,497     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

19


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

20


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 1,212,716,936        $        $        $ 1,212,716,936

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         4,744,396                            4,744,396

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         6,475,837                            6,475,837
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         1,223,937,169                            1,223,937,169
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         28,745                            28,745
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 1,223,965,914        $        $        $ 1,223,965,914
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

       $ 403,375,973        $ 609,262,843

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Concentration Risk: The Fund may be susceptible to an increased risk of loss, including losses due to adverse events that affect the Fund’s investments more than the market as a whole, to the extent that the Fund’s investments are concentrated in the securities of a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

 

21


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $919,892,531. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 326,153,633  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (22,108,995
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 304,044,638  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
      

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

       Total
Distributions(a)
 

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

       $19,235,914          $—          $19,235,914  

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

       $ 20,818,702        $ 41,942,253        $ 62,760,955

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
       Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
       Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
       Unrealized Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
       Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)
 

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

       $33,537,374          $83,388,838          $—          $304,044,638          $420,970,850  

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

22


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

23


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 100.00% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $3,552,634.

 

24


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

25


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

26


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were

able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

27


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

28


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
    Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
    Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years
Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
    Trustee     Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present     46     Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   

Lead
Independent
Trustee
 
 
 
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present     46     None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
    Trustee     Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013     46     Diamond Hill Funds
(10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
    Trustee     Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019     46     Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

    Trustee     Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019     46     Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)
Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
    Trustee     Since 2/04  

Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and

Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015

    46     None
Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
    Trustee     Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001     46     None
Interested Trustee(4)          
Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/ Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None
(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

29


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

30


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.   

ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 11

Statement of Operations

Page 11

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 12

Financial Highlights

Page 13

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 14

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 20

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 21

Other Information

Page 22

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 23

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 26

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned 28.12%. That compared to a 28.71% return for its benchmark, the S&P 500® Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of large-cap stock performance. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities.

In the first quarter of 2021, favorable conditions carried over from the strong end of 2020. The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) accommodative policies, along with a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the start of the vaccine rollout in the U.S., supported investor optimism for strong economic growth in the first quarter. All sectors within the S&P 500® Index posted positive returns over the first three months of 2021. The energy sector posted the strongest return for the quarter, supported by a rally in oil prices due to a surge in demand paired with unchanged production levels, along with oil transport concerns due to the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal. The financial sector was another top performer due to positive market conditions. By comparison, the information technology and consumer staples sectors lagged their peers within the U.S. market, albeit still posting positive returns, after posting strong gains in 2020.

During the second quarter, U.S. equity markets rallied as the vaccination campaign continued to accelerate and economic indicators continued to improve. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by more than 4% year-over-year in April. But growing concerns about inflation were offset by the Fed’s commitment to maintain its accommodative monetary policies and the prospect of a bipartisan $1 trillion agreement for infrastructure that passed the Senate in May.

In the third quarter, strong economic data and corporate earnings reports helped push U.S. equities higher despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. However, concerns regarding

potential contagion from the unfolding debt crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande muted U.S. equity markets late in the quarter. Rising inflation and supply chain issues also weighed on market sentiment, as did the continuing disagreement in Washington regarding the debt ceiling and the infrastructure bill.

In the fourth quarter, the boost to investor sentiment from a strong earnings season was offset by a new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant (Omicron) and ongoing concerns about higher inflation rates. Markets recovered to post strong returns for the quarter after initial data showed existing vaccines remained effective against the Omicron variant, and the Fed clarified its plan to begin tightening its monetary policy in 2022. The falling unemployment rate and the final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill further supported the market performance over the quarter.

All sectors within the Index posted positive returns over the year. The energy, real estate, financials, and technology sectors were the top performers, while the communication services, consumer staples, and utilities sectors lagged their peers.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we keep cash to fully cover all outstanding futures positions. The Fund’s use of futures contracts provides immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Skillful cash management and cash equitization are critical to minimizing the potential impact of cash drag and ensure tight tracking to the benchmark.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in all 500 stocks in the Index in proportion to their weighting in the Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         28.42 %          25.70 %          18.16 %          16.26 %

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         28.12 %          25.37 %          17.87 %          15.97 %

S&P 500® Index

         28.71 %          26.07 %          18.47 %          16.55 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.25 %

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.50 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.46% for Class 1 Shares and 0.71% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index (“S&P 500®”), which is an unmanaged index that is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL S&P 500 Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,115.20     $ 1.39       0.26 %

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,113.70     $ 2.72       0.51 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.89     $ 1.33       0.26 %

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.63     $ 2.60       0.51 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

      29.0 %

Health Care

      13.2

Consumer Discretionary

      12.5

Financials

      10.6

Communication Services

      10.1

Industrials

      7.7

Consumer Staples

      5.8

Real Estate

      2.8

Energy

      2.7

Materials

      2.6

Utilities

      2.5
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.5

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.5
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

        
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.5%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.3%):       
  45,378      Boeing Co. (The)*    $ 9,135,499  
  19,149      General Dynamics Corp.      3,991,992  
  30,118      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      958,656  
  3,244      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      605,785  
  16,231      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      3,461,098  
  20,134      Lockheed Martin Corp.      7,155,825  
  12,229      Northrop Grumman Corp.      4,733,479  
  122,884      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      10,575,397  
  18,285      Textron, Inc.      1,411,602  
  4,256      TransDigm Group, Inc.*      2,708,008  
     

 

 

 
        44,737,341  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.6%):       
  10,325      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      1,111,280  
  14,168      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      1,902,621  
  20,095      FedEx Corp.      5,197,371  
  59,895      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      12,837,894  
     

 

 

 
        21,049,166  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  9,806      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      510,893  
  54,514      American Airlines Group, Inc.*      979,072  
  52,317      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      2,044,548  
  48,874      Southwest Airlines Co.*      2,093,762  
  26,090      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      1,142,220  
     

 

 

 
        6,770,495  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.1%):       
  21,996      Aptiv plc*      3,628,240  
  19,968      BorgWarner, Inc.      899,958  
     

 

 

 
        4,528,198  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.5%):       
  321,959      Ford Motor Co.      6,687,088  
  118,654      General Motors Co.*      6,956,684  
  66,819      Tesla, Inc.*      70,612,983  
     

 

 

 
        84,256,755  
     

 

 

 
Banks (3.9%):       
  591,588      Bank of America Corp.      26,319,750  
  162,799      Citigroup, Inc.      9,831,432  
  35,336      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      1,669,626  
  10,847      Comerica, Inc.      943,689  
  55,847      Fifth Third Bancorp      2,432,137  
  14,876      First Republic Bank      3,072,043  
  116,784      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      1,800,809  
  242,752      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      38,439,779  
  76,522      KeyCorp      1,769,954  
  10,596      M&T Bank Corp.      1,627,334  
  33,430      People’s United Financial, Inc.      595,723  
  34,739      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      6,965,864  
  79,791      Regions Financial Corp.      1,739,444  
  5,024      Signature Bank      1,625,113  
  4,797      SVB Financial Group*      3,253,517  
  109,651      Truist Financial Corp.      6,420,066  
  110,572      U.S. Bancorp      6,210,829  
  327,520      Wells Fargo & Co.      15,714,410  
  13,489      Zions Bancorp      851,965  
     

 

 

 
        131,283,484  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages (1.4%):       
  15,557      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B    $ 1,133,483  
  319,326      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      18,907,292  
  13,440      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class C      3,373,037  
  15,437      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      715,505  
  31,134      Monster Beverage Corp.*      2,990,109  
  113,574      PepsiCo, Inc.      19,728,940  
     

 

 

 
        46,848,366  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.8%):       
  145,218      AbbVie, Inc.      19,662,517  
  46,460      Amgen, Inc.      10,452,106  
  11,841      Biogen, Inc.*      2,840,893  
  103,038      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      7,481,589  
  15,928      Incyte Corp.*      1,169,115  
  28,972      Moderna, Inc.*      7,358,309  
  8,715      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      5,503,697  
  21,045      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      4,621,482  
     

 

 

 
        59,089,708  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.5%):       
  11,080      A.O. Smith Corp.      951,218  
  7,641      Allegion plc      1,011,974  
  70,562      Carrier Global Corp.      3,827,283  
  10,910      Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.      1,166,279  
  58,570      Johnson Controls International plc      4,762,327  
  20,464      Masco Corp.      1,436,982  
  19,462      Trane Technologies plc      3,931,908  
     

 

 

 
        17,087,971  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.0%):       
  9,300      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      2,805,438  
  62,965      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      3,657,007  
  11,731      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      10,740,434  
  8,359      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      1,090,014  
  123,491      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      10,385,593  
  29,750      CME Group, Inc.      6,796,685  
  3,120      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      1,516,351  
  22,367      Franklin Resources, Inc.      749,071  
  27,875      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      10,663,581  
  46,659      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      6,381,551  
  25,595      Invesco, Ltd.      589,197  
  3,028      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      1,245,326  
  13,285      Moody’s Corp.      5,188,855  
  117,918      Morgan Stanley      11,574,831  
  6,772      MSCI, Inc., Class A      4,149,137  
  9,682      Nasdaq, Inc.      2,033,317  
  16,785      Northern Trust Corp.      2,007,654  
  15,046      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      1,510,618  
  19,754      S&P Global, Inc.      9,322,505  
  30,023      State Street Corp.      2,792,139  
  18,459      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      3,629,778  
     

 

 

 
        98,829,082  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (1.8%):       
  18,088      Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.      5,503,455  
  9,472      Albemarle Corp.      2,214,269  
  9,194      Celanese Corp.      1,545,144  
  17,814      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      1,260,875  
  59,506      Corteva, Inc.      2,813,444  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  61,131      Dow, Inc.    $ 3,467,350  
  42,819      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      3,458,919  
  10,924      Eastman Chemical Co.      1,320,821  
  20,443      Ecolab, Inc.      4,795,723  
  10,081      FMC Corp.      1,107,801  
  20,955      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      3,156,871  
  42,102      Linde plc      14,585,396  
  21,895      Lyondellbasell Industries NV      2,019,376  
  31,815      Mosaic Co. (The)      1,250,011  
  19,501      PPG Industries, Inc.      3,362,752  
  19,699      Sherwin Williams Co.      6,937,200  
     

 

 

 
        58,799,407  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.4%):       
  7,200      Cintas Corp.      3,190,824  
  17,340      Copart, Inc.*      2,629,091  
  17,104      Republic Services, Inc., Class A      2,385,153  
  17,773      Rollins, Inc.      608,014  
  31,398      Waste Management, Inc.      5,240,326  
     

 

 

 
        14,053,408  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.9%):       
  18,676      Arista Networks, Inc.*      2,684,675  
  346,445      Cisco Systems, Inc.      21,954,219  
  5,055      F5, Inc.*      1,237,009  
  27,073      Juniper Networks, Inc.      966,777  
  13,734      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      3,731,528  
     

 

 

 
        30,574,208  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  10,700      Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.      1,489,761  
  12,143      Quanta Services, Inc.      1,392,316  
     

 

 

 
        2,882,077  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.1%):       
  5,038      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      2,219,340  
  10,730      Vulcan Materials Co.      2,227,333  
     

 

 

 
        4,446,673  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.6%):       
  51,387      American Express Co.      8,406,913  
  35,274      Capital One Financial Corp.      5,117,905  
  24,164      Discover Financial Services      2,792,392  
  44,296      Synchrony Financial      2,054,891  
     

 

 

 
        18,372,101  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.3%):       
  125,230      Amcor plc      1,504,012  
  6,803      Avery Dennison Corp.      1,473,326  
  26,185      Ball Corp.      2,520,830  
  30,727      International Paper Co.      1,443,554  
  7,397      Packaging Corp. of America      1,007,102  
  12,533      Sealed Air Corp.      845,602  
  22,845      Westrock Co.      1,013,404  
     

 

 

 
        9,807,830  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  11,943      Genuine Parts Co.      1,674,409  
  22,238      LKQ Corp.      1,334,947  
  3,329      Pool Corp.      1,884,214  
     

 

 

 
        4,893,570  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Financial Services (1.3%):       
  150,433      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*    $ 44,979,467  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.0%):       
  586,578      AT&T, Inc.      14,429,819  
  76,344      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      958,117  
  340,082      Verizon Communications, Inc.      17,670,661  
     

 

 

 
        33,058,597  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.6%):       
  19,907      Alliant Energy Corp.      1,223,683  
  41,142      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      3,660,404  
  62,811      Duke Energy Corp.      6,588,874  
  31,922      Edison International      2,178,676  
  16,681      Entergy Corp.      1,879,115  
  18,406      Evergy, Inc.      1,262,836  
  28,476      Eversource Energy      2,590,746  
  80,268      Exelon Corp.      4,636,280  
  45,321      FirstEnergy Corp.      1,884,900  
  161,174      NextEra Energy, Inc.      15,047,204  
  9,237      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      652,040  
  61,480      PPL Corp.      1,848,089  
  86,577      Southern Co. (The)      5,937,451  
  44,104      Xcel Energy, Inc.      2,985,841  
     

 

 

 
        52,376,139  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.5%):       
  19,255      AMETEK, Inc.      2,831,255  
  32,588      Eaton Corp. plc      5,631,858  
  49,339      Emerson Electric Co.      4,587,047  
  5,161      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      1,816,259  
  9,511      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      3,317,913  
     

 

 

 
        18,184,332  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.7%):       
  48,785      Amphenol Corp., Class A      4,266,736  
  10,933      CDW Corp.      2,238,860  
  64,259      Corning, Inc.      2,392,363  
  2,737      IPG Photonics Corp.*      471,147  
  14,845      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      3,065,641  
  27,054      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      4,364,892  
  3,859      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      1,685,958  
  21,037      Trimble, Inc.*      1,834,216  
  4,445      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      2,645,664  
     

 

 

 
        22,965,477  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.2%):       
  72,702      Baker Hughes Co.      1,749,210  
  73,239      Halliburton Co.      1,674,976  
  113,666      Schlumberger, Ltd.      3,404,297  
     

 

 

 
        6,828,483  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.7%):       
  63,926      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      4,252,997  
  22,983      Electronic Arts, Inc.      3,031,458  
  11,546      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      1,381,941  
  36,385      Netflix, Inc.*      21,919,779  
  9,562      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      1,699,358  
  149,263      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      23,119,346  
     

 

 

 
        55,404,879  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (2.7%):       
  11,659      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.    $ 2,599,491  
  37,536      American Tower Corp.      10,979,280  
  11,298      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      2,853,762  
  11,471      Boston Properties, Inc.      1,321,230  
  35,522      Crown Castle International Corp.      7,414,862  
  23,489      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      4,154,499  
  31,206      Duke Realty Corp.      2,048,362  
  7,362      Equinix, Inc.      6,227,074  
  28,458      Equity Residential      2,575,449  
  5,434      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      1,914,018  
  10,858      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      2,461,834  
  5,380      Federal Realty Investment Trust      733,402  
  159      Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.      7,737  
  44,266      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      1,597,560  
  59,605      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      1,036,531  
  22,671      Iron Mountain, Inc.      1,186,373  
  50,093      Kimco Realty Corp.      1,234,792  
  9,574      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      2,196,659  
  60,730      Prologis, Inc.      10,224,503  
  12,532      Public Storage, Inc.      4,693,986  
  46,888      Realty Income Corp.      3,356,712  
  13,229      Regency Centers Corp.      996,805  
  9,023      SBA Communications Corp.      3,510,128  
  27,260      Simon Property Group, Inc.      4,355,330  
  23,907      UDR, Inc.      1,434,181  
  33,225      Ventas, Inc.      1,698,462  
  12,354      Vornado Realty Trust      517,138  
  35,017      Welltower, Inc.      3,003,408  
  61,424      Weyerhaeuser Co.      2,529,440  
     

 

 

 
        88,863,008  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.4%):       
  36,292      Costco Wholesale Corp.      20,602,968  
  54,938      Kroger Co. (The)      2,486,494  
  42,120      Sysco Corp.      3,308,526  
  58,494      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      3,051,047  
  116,817      Walmart, Inc.      16,902,252  
     

 

 

 
        46,351,287  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.9%):       
  45,606      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      3,082,510  
  16,606      Campbell Soup Co.      721,697  
  38,775      Conagra Brands, Inc.      1,324,166  
  50,170      General Mills, Inc.      3,380,455  
  11,716      Hershey Co. (The)      2,266,694  
  24,048      Hormel Foods Corp.      1,173,783  
  8,653      JM Smucker Co. (The)      1,175,250  
  20,373      Kellogg Co.      1,312,429  
  57,946      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      2,080,261  
  12,006      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      760,940  
  20,709      McCormick & Co.      2,000,696  
  115,180      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      7,637,586  
  23,711      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      2,066,651  
     

 

 

 
        28,983,118  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  11,187      Atmos Energy Corp.      1,172,062  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.5%):       
  145,251      Abbott Laboratories      20,442,626  
  3,651      ABIOMED, Inc.*      1,311,330  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  5,991      Align Technology, Inc.*    $ 3,937,165  
  41,024      Baxter International, Inc.      3,521,500  
  23,537      Becton Dickinson & Co.      5,919,085  
  117,774      Boston Scientific Corp.*      5,003,039  
  4,093      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      1,714,721  
  52,240      Danaher Corp.      17,187,482  
  18,705      Dentsply Sirona, Inc.      1,043,552  
  7,988      DexCom, Inc.*      4,289,157  
  51,284      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      6,643,842  
  21,161      Hologic, Inc.*      1,620,086  
  7,017      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      4,620,414  
  29,310      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      10,531,083  
  110,548      Medtronic plc      11,436,191  
  12,033      ResMed, Inc.      3,134,356  
  8,195      Steris plc      1,994,745  
  27,511      Stryker Corp.      7,356,992  
  3,756      Teleflex, Inc.      1,233,771  
  6,139      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      2,879,252  
  16,778      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      2,131,477  
     

 

 

 
        117,951,866  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.8%):       
  12,113      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      1,609,697  
  19,988      Anthem, Inc.      9,265,237  
  23,141      Cardinal Health, Inc.      1,191,530  
  48,332      Centene Corp.*      3,982,557  
  27,468      Cigna Corp.      6,307,477  
  108,884      CVS Health Corp.      11,232,473  
  4,784      DaVita, Inc.*      544,228  
  19,848      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      5,099,348  
  11,839      Henry Schein, Inc.*      917,878  
  10,632      Humana, Inc.      4,931,760  
  7,719      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*      2,425,387  
  12,644      McKesson Corp.      3,142,919  
  10,043      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      1,737,539  
  77,366      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      38,848,563  
  5,848      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      758,252  
     

 

 

 
        91,994,845  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  24,049      Cerner Corp.      2,233,431  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.6%):       
  17,353      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      1,623,026  
  64,958      Carnival Corp., Class A*      1,306,955  
  2,308      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      4,034,961  
  10,600      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      1,596,784  
  3,027      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      1,708,227  
  22,923      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      3,575,759  
  28,260      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      1,063,706  
  22,693      Marriott International, Inc., Class A*      3,749,791  
  61,380      McDonald’s Corp.      16,454,137  
  30,994      MGM Resorts International      1,391,011  
  30,467      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      631,886  
  13,824      Penn National Gaming, Inc.*      716,774  
  17,648      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      1,357,131  
  96,927      Starbucks Corp.      11,337,551  
  8,859      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      753,369  
  23,815      Yum! Brands, Inc.      3,306,951  
     

 

 

 
        54,608,019  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables (0.4%):       
  22,033      Bath & Body Works, Inc.    $ 1,537,683  
  26,931      DR Horton, Inc.      2,920,667  
  12,607      Garmin, Ltd.      1,716,695  
  21,895      Lennar Corp., Class A      2,543,323  
  4,335      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      789,750  
  31,308      Newell Brands, Inc.      683,767  
  275      NVR, Inc.*      1,624,939  
  20,880      PulteGroup, Inc.      1,193,501  
  4,990      Whirlpool Corp.      1,170,954  
     

 

 

 
        14,181,279  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.4%):       
  20,462      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      2,097,355  
  9,864      Clorox Co. (The)      1,719,887  
  68,986      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      5,887,265  
  27,444      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      3,922,297  
  198,780      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      32,516,432  
     

 

 

 
        46,143,236  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  53,680      AES Corp. (The)      1,304,424  
  19,447      NRG Energy, Inc.      837,777  
     

 

 

 
        2,142,201  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.0%):       
  47,319      3M Co.      8,405,274  
  90,440      General Electric Co.      8,543,867  
  56,549      Honeywell International, Inc.      11,791,032  
  8,622      Roper Technologies, Inc.      4,240,817  
     

 

 

 
        32,980,990  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.8%):       
  49,997      Aflac, Inc.      2,919,325  
  23,758      Allstate Corp. (The)      2,795,129  
  68,812      American International Group, Inc.      3,912,650  
  18,260      Aon plc, Class A      5,488,226  
  17,057      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      2,894,061  
  4,561      Assurant, Inc.      710,877  
  18,950      Brown & Brown, Inc.      1,331,806  
  35,181      Chubb, Ltd.      6,800,839  
  12,245      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      1,395,073  
  3,361      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      920,645  
  7,777      Globe Life, Inc.      728,860  
  27,358      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1,888,796  
  13,697      Lincoln National Corp.      934,957  
  17,114      Loews Corp.      988,505  
  41,631      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      7,236,300  
  59,255      MetLife, Inc.      3,702,845  
  20,561      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      1,487,177  
  47,984      Progressive Corp. (The)      4,925,558  
  30,913      Prudential Financial, Inc.      3,346,023  
  20,199      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      3,159,730  
  10,275      Willis Towers Watson plc      2,440,210  
  11,826      WR Berkley Corp.      974,344  
     

 

 

 
        60,981,936  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (6.3%):       
  24,709      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      71,582,961  
  22,968      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      66,459,975  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services, continued       
  22,939      Match Group, Inc.*    $ 3,033,683  
  194,371      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      65,376,686  
  65,619      Twitter, Inc.*      2,836,053  
     

 

 

 
        209,289,358  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (4.1%):       
  35,826      Amazon.com, Inc.*      119,456,065  
  3,382      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      8,114,196  
  51,880      eBay, Inc.      3,450,020  
  10,493      Etsy, Inc.*      2,297,337  
  12,075      Expedia Group, Inc.*      2,182,194  
     

 

 

 
        135,499,812  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (4.5%):       
  51,884      Accenture plc, Class A      21,508,512  
  13,410      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      1,569,506  
  34,428      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      8,489,256  
  9,638      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      1,762,019  
  42,746      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      3,792,425  
  21,865      DXC Technology Co.*      703,834  
  4,728      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      3,160,432  
  49,869      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      5,443,201  
  48,637      Fiserv, Inc.*      5,048,034  
  6,524      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      1,460,332  
  6,721      Gartner, Inc.*      2,246,965  
  24,180      Global Payments, Inc.      3,268,652  
  73,665      International Business Machines Corp.      9,846,064  
  6,331      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      1,057,214  
  71,258      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      25,604,425  
  26,437      Paychex, Inc.      3,608,651  
  96,511      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      18,200,044  
  7,951      VeriSign, Inc.*      2,018,123  
  137,753      Visa, Inc., Class A      29,852,453  
     

 

 

 
        148,640,142  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  10,886      Hasbro, Inc.      1,107,977  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.4%):       
  24,866      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      3,969,857  
  1,751      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      1,323,003  
  3,249      Bio-Techne Corp.      1,680,838  
  4,160      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      1,567,405  
  12,953      Illumina, Inc.*      4,927,839  
  15,648      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      4,414,927  
  1,895      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      3,216,213  
  10,459      PerkinElmer, Inc.      2,102,886  
  32,368      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      21,597,224  
  4,951      Waters Corp.*      1,844,743  
     

 

 

 
        46,644,935  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (1.5%):       
  44,347      Caterpillar, Inc.      9,168,299  
  11,704      Cummins, Inc.      2,553,111  
  23,145      Deere & Co.      7,936,189  
  12,027      Dover Corp.      2,184,103  
  28,761      Fortive Corp.      2,194,177  
  6,166      IDEX Corp.      1,457,149  
  23,555      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      5,813,374  
  33,734      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      2,087,123  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  34,996      Otis Worldwide Corp.    $ 3,047,102  
  28,859      PACCAR, Inc.      2,547,095  
  10,561      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      3,359,665  
  14,162      Pentair plc      1,034,251  
  4,577      Snap-On, Inc.      985,794  
  13,475      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      2,541,654  
  15,515      Wabtec Corp.      1,429,087  
  15,138      Xylem, Inc.      1,815,349  
     

 

 

 
        50,153,522  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.0%):       
  10,100      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      6,584,897  
  374,526      Comcast Corp., Class A      18,849,894  
  26,156      Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C*      598,972  
  13,843      Discovery, Inc., Class A*      325,864  
  20,778      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      674,038  
  25,373      Fox Corp., Class A      936,264  
  11,105      Fox Corp., Class B      380,568  
  31,245      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      1,170,125  
  32,464      News Corp., Class A      724,272  
  10,641      News Corp., Class B      239,423  
  17,326      Omnicom Group, Inc.      1,269,476  
  51,369      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class B      1,550,317  
     

 

 

 
        33,304,110  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.4%):       
  119,952      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      5,005,597  
  65,960      Newmont Corp.      4,090,839  
  23,086      Nucor Corp.      2,635,267  
     

 

 

 
        11,731,703  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.5%):       
  19,259      Dollar General Corp.      4,541,850  
  18,328      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      2,575,451  
  40,001      Target Corp.      9,257,831  
     

 

 

 
        16,375,132  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.7%):       
  20,815      Ameren Corp.      1,852,743  
  50,376      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      1,405,994  
  23,684      CMS Energy Corp.      1,540,644  
  29,212      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      2,492,368  
  66,261      Dominion Energy, Inc.      5,205,464  
  16,294      DTE Energy Co.      1,947,785  
  32,722      NiSource, Inc.      903,454  
  42,196      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      2,815,739  
  26,088      Sempra Energy      3,450,921  
  26,015      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      2,525,276  
     

 

 

 
        24,140,388  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.5%):       
  30,076      APA Corp.      808,744  
  158,345      Chevron Corp.      18,581,786  
  107,942      ConocoPhillips      7,791,254  
  66,817      Coterra Energy, Inc.      1,269,523  
  52,785      Devon Energy Corp.      2,325,179  
  14,209      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      1,532,441  
  48,277      EOG Resources, Inc.      4,288,446  
  347,755      Exxon Mobil Corp.      21,279,128  
  23,135      Hess Corp.      1,712,684  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  157,270      Kinder Morgan, Inc.    $ 2,494,302  
  65,066      Marathon Oil Corp.      1,068,384  
  51,017      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      3,264,578  
  72,410      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      2,099,166  
  36,226      ONEOK, Inc.      2,128,640  
  36,549      Phillips 66      2,648,340  
  18,515      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      3,367,508  
  33,691      Valero Energy Corp.      2,530,531  
  101,528      Williams Cos., Inc.      2,643,789  
     

 

 

 
        81,834,423  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.2%):       
  18,930      Estee Lauder Co., Inc. (The), Class A      7,007,886  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (3.7%):       
  182,327      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      11,368,089  
  14,300      Catalent, Inc.*      1,830,829  
  65,219      Eli Lilly & Co.      18,014,792  
  216,247      Johnson & Johnson      36,993,374  
  207,329      Merck & Co., Inc.      15,889,695  
  21,014      Organon & Co.      639,876  
  461,054      Pfizer, Inc.      27,225,239  
  97,917      Viatris, Inc.      1,324,817  
  38,943      Zoetis, Inc.      9,503,260  
     

 

 

 
        122,789,971  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  9,869      Equifax, Inc.      2,889,544  
  32,626      IHS Markit, Ltd.      4,336,648  
  11,329      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      1,007,148  
  28,405      Nielsen Holdings plc      582,586  
  8,628      Robert Half International, Inc.      962,195  
  13,157      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      3,009,401  
     

 

 

 
        12,787,522  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.1%):       
  2,485,087      BGP Holdings plc*(a)       
  27,110      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      2,941,706  
     

 

 

 
        2,941,706  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.9%):       
  181,148      CSX Corp.      6,811,165  
  6,701      J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      1,369,684  
  20,166      Norfolk Southern Corp.      6,003,620  
  7,533      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      2,699,677  
  52,807      Union Pacific Corp.      13,303,667  
     

 

 

 
        30,187,813  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (6.3%):       
  99,196      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      14,274,304  
  43,918      Analog Devices, Inc.      7,719,467  
  74,169      Applied Materials, Inc.      11,671,234  
  33,811      Broadcom, Inc.      22,498,178  
  11,042      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      2,020,023  
  334,073      Intel Corp.      17,204,760  
  12,454      KLA Corp.      5,356,590  
  11,506      Lam Research Corp.      8,274,540  
  45,551      Microchip Technology, Inc.      3,965,670  
  92,101      Micron Technology, Inc.      8,579,208  
  3,588      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      1,770,068  
  205,356      NVIDIA Corp.      60,397,253  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  21,824      NXP Semiconductors NV    $ 4,971,071  
  8,768      Qorvo, Inc.*      1,371,228  
  91,999      Qualcomm, Inc.      16,823,857  
  13,629      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      2,114,403  
  4,353      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      1,221,321  
  13,316      Teradyne, Inc.      2,177,565  
  75,861      Texas Instruments, Inc.      14,297,523  
  20,507      Xilinx, Inc.      4,348,099  
     

 

 

 
        211,056,362  
     

 

 

 
Software (9.5%):       
  39,083      Adobe, Inc.*      22,162,406  
  7,051      ANSYS, Inc.*      2,828,297  
  17,977      Autodesk, Inc.*      5,054,953  
  22,765      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      4,242,258  
  10,915      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      1,140,181  
  10,529      Citrix Systems, Inc.      995,938  
  11,032      Fortinet, Inc.*      3,964,901  
  23,260      Intuit, Inc.      14,961,297  
  616,723      Microsoft Corp.      207,416,279  
  46,425      NortonLifeLock, Inc.      1,206,121  
  132,485      Oracle Corp.      11,554,017  
  3,867      Paycom Software, Inc.*      1,605,540  
  9,000      PTC, Inc.*      1,090,350  
  80,417      salesforce.com, Inc.*      20,436,372  
  16,310      ServiceNow, Inc.*      10,586,984  
  12,527      Synopsys, Inc.*      4,616,200  
  3,404      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      1,831,182  
     

 

 

 
        315,693,276  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.3%):       
  5,233      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      1,255,292  
  1,726      AutoZone, Inc.*      3,618,369  
  18,058      Best Buy Co., Inc.      1,834,693  
  13,005      CarMax, Inc.*      1,693,641  
  18,481      Gap, Inc. (The)      326,190  
  86,690      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      35,977,217  
  56,878      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      14,701,825  
  5,584      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      3,943,588  
  29,550      Ross Stores, Inc.      3,376,974  
  99,464      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      7,551,307  
  9,264      Tractor Supply Co.      2,210,390  
  4,540      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      1,872,024  
     

 

 

 
        78,361,510  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (7.1%):       
  1,280,276      Apple, Inc.    $ 227,338,609  
  107,814      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      1,700,227  
  95,516      HP, Inc.      3,598,088  
  18,497      NetApp, Inc.      1,701,539  
  16,493      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      1,863,379  
  25,241      Western Digital Corp.*      1,645,966  
     

 

 

 
        237,847,808  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.7%):       
  104,962      Nike, Inc., Class B      17,494,017  
  5,759      PVH Corp.      614,197  
  4,406      Ralph Lauren Corp.      523,697  
  23,538      Tapestry, Inc.      955,643  
  16,585      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      351,436  
  18,266      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      329,519  
  27,374      VF Corp.      2,004,324  
     

 

 

 
        22,272,833  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.6%):       
  151,878      Altria Group, Inc.      7,197,498  
  127,768      Philip Morris International, Inc.      12,137,960  
     

 

 

 
        19,335,458  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  47,965      Fastenal Co.      3,072,638  
  5,834      United Rentals, Inc.*      1,938,580  
  3,634      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      1,883,284  
     

 

 

 
        6,894,502  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  15,087      American Water Works Co., Inc.      2,849,331  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  48,027      T-Mobile USA, Inc.*      5,570,171  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,230,876,286)

     3,315,012,143  
     

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.5%):       
Money Markets (0.5%):       
  17,855,678      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(b)      17,855,678  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $17,855,678)

     17,855,678  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,248,731,964) — 100.0%(c)

     3,332,867,821  
  

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.0%

     169,806  
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 3,333,037,627  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

 

*    Non-income

producing security.

 

+    Affiliated

Securities

 

†    Represents

less than 0.05%.

 

(a)    Security

was valued using unobservable inputs in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees as of December 31, 2021. The total of all such securities represent 0.00% of the net assets of the fund.

 

(b)    The

rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)    See

Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Amounts shown as “—“ are either $0 or round to less than $1.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/18/22        83      $ 19,747,775      $ 115,888  
           

 

 

 
            $ 115,888  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 1,244,879,411

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      3,852,553
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value

      3,322,127,387

Investments in affiliates, at value

      10,740,434

Cash

      28,471

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      965,000

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,995,732

Foreign currency, at value (cost $101,115)

      98,809

Receivable for investments sold

      139,000

Reclaims receivable

      79,190

Prepaid expenses

      16,427
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      3,336,190,450
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      1,136,845

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      69,588

Manager fees payable

      508,825

Administration fees payable

      506,046

Distribution fees payable

      688,717

Custodian fees payable

      13,837

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      5,533

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,734

Trustee fees payable

      31,077

Other accrued liabilities

      189,621
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,152,823
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 3,333,037,627
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 924,289,800

Total distributable earnings

      2,408,747,827
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 3,333,037,627
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 99,137,468

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      4,023,506

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 24.64
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 3,233,900,159

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      132,529,461

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 24.40
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from non-affiliates

    $ 43,224,361

Dividends from affiliates

      200,858

Interest

      1,367

Income from securities lending

      18,609

Foreign withholding tax

      (47,115 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      43,398,080
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      5,331,340

Administration fees

      1,090,799

Distribution fees — Class 2

      7,607,915

Custodian fees

      70,191

Administrative and compliance services fees

      34,985

Transfer agent fees

      11,904

Trustee fees

      148,622

Professional fees

      136,594

Licensing fees

      548,229

Shareholder reports

      70,113

Other expenses

      55,736
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      15,106,428
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      28,291,652
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      325,645,442

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

      1,092,370

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      4,826,145

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      414,583,714

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

      1,306,545

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (221,130 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      747,233,086
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 775,524,738
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 28,291,652     $ 33,594,487

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      331,563,957       161,722,190

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      415,669,129       222,363,785
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      775,524,738       417,680,462
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (6,066,971 )       (4,285,950 )

Class 2

      (202,617,986 )       (130,497,086 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (208,684,957 )       (134,783,036 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      357,240       177,984

Proceeds from shares issued in merger

            14,607,666

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      6,066,971       4,285,950

Value of shares redeemed

      (10,698,137 )       (11,356,566 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (4,273,926 )       7,715,034
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      432,554,811       174,055,612

Proceeds from shares issued in merger

            60,521,801

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      202,617,985       130,497,085

Value of shares redeemed

      (702,400,057 )       (608,017,403 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (67,227,261 )       (242,942,905 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (71,501,187 )       (235,227,871 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      495,338,594       47,669,555

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      2,837,699,033       2,790,029,478
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 3,333,037,627     $ 2,837,699,033
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      15,874       10,489

Shares issued in merger

            749,180

Dividends reinvested

      269,643       228,219

Shares redeemed

      (465,681 )       (631,480 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (180,164 )       356,408
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      18,802,260       12,037,843

Shares issued in merger

            3,134,464

Dividends reinvested

      9,090,084       7,004,675

Shares redeemed

      (30,537,117 )       (36,115,663 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (2,644,773 )       (13,938,681 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (2,824,937 )       (13,582,273 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Amounts

shown as “—” are either $0 or rounds to less than $1.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 20.53     $ 18.39     $ 14.72     $ 16.25     $ 14.15
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.26 (a)       0.28 (a)       0.31 (a)       0.29 (a)       0.28

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      5.42       2.90       4.20       (0.96 )       2.71
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      5.68       3.18       4.51       (0.67 )       2.99
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.29 )       (0.35 )       (0.31 )       (0.31 )       (0.17 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.28 )       (0.69 )       (0.53 )       (0.55 )       (0.72 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.57 )       (1.04 )       (0.84 )       (0.86 )       (0.89 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 24.64     $ 20.53     $ 18.39     $ 14.72     $ 16.25
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      28.42 %       17.82 %       31.27 %       (4.63 )%       21.60 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 99,137     $ 86,300     $ 70,738     $ 62,599     $ 76,049

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.15 %       1.53 %       1.81 %       1.74 %       1.83 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.24 %       0.25 %       0.24 %       0.23 %       0.23 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.24 %       0.25 %       0.24 %       0.23 %       0.23 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      17 %       10 %       3 %       4 %       2 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 20.35     $ 18.24     $ 14.61     $ 16.13     $ 14.06
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.20 (a)       0.24 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.24

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      5.37       2.86       4.17       (0.95 )       2.70
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      5.57       3.10       4.43       (0.70 )       2.94
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.24 )       (0.30 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )       (0.15 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.28 )       (0.69 )       (0.53 )       (0.55 )       (0.72 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.52 )       (0.99 )       (0.80 )       (0.82 )       (0.87 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 24.40     $ 20.35     $ 18.24     $ 14.61     $ 16.13
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      28.12 %       17.50 %       30.89 %       (4.84 )%       21.36 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 3,233,900     $ 2,751,399     $ 2,719,291     $ 2,370,547     $ 2,788,345

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.89 %       1.31 %       1.56 %       1.49 %       1.58 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.49 %       0.50 %       0.49 %       0.48 %       0.48 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.49 %       0.50 %       0.49 %       0.48 %       0.48 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      17 %       10 %       3 %       4 %       2 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services —Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL S&P 500 Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

 

14


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred. All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $1,831 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had no securities lending transactions open as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $20.3 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 115,888     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

 

15


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure  

Location of Gains/(Losses)

on Derivatives

Recognized

   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
    

Change in Net Unrealized

Appreciation/Depreciation

on Derivatives Recognized

 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts  

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

   $ 4,826,145        $(221,130)  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 1

         0.17 %          0.46 %

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

         0.17 %          0.71 %

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense ratios in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

At December 31, 2021, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

      Value
12/31/2020
   Purchases
at Cost
   Proceeds
from Sales
 

Net

Realized
Gains(Losses)

   Change in
Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
   Value
12/31/2021
   Shares
as of
12/31/2021
   Dividend
Income
   Capital
Gains
Distributions

BlackRock Inc., Class A

     $ 9,125,315      $ 1,507,218      $ (2,291,014 )     $ 1,092,370      $ 1,306,545      $ 10,740,434        11,731      $ 200,858      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $ 9,125,315      $ 1,507,218      $ (2,291,014 )     $ 1,092,370      $ 1,306,545      $ 10,740,434        11,731      $ 200,858      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

 

16


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 3,315,012,143        $        $ #        $ 3,315,012,143

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         17,855,678                            17,855,678
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         3,332,867,821                            3,332,867,821
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         115,888                            115,888
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 3,332,983,709        $        $        $ 3,332,983,709
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

#

Represents the interest in securities that were determined to have a value of zero at December 31, 2021.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

       $ 536,207,040        $ 784,496,445

 

17


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $1,282,794,627. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 2,066,341,139  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (16,267,945 )
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 2,050,073,194  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

       $ 37,011,304        $ 171,673,653        $ 208,684,957

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

       $ 44,011,694        $ 90,771,342        $ 134,783,036

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

18


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

       

Undistributed

Ordinary

Income

    

Undistributed

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Accumulated

Capital and

Other Losses

    

Unrealized

Appreciation/

Depreciation(a)

    

Total

Accumulated

Earnings/

(Deficit)

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

       $ 31,980,442        $ 326,695,822        $        $ 2,050,071,563        $ 2,408,747,827

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of futures contracts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 55% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

19


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL S&P 500 Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

20


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 100.00% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $3,557,755.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $171,673,653.

 

21


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

22


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each

 

23


other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

 

24


The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

25


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length of
Time Served

  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships

Held Outside the

AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
 

Since 10/14

(Trustee since 2/07)

  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of

Office(2)/Length of
Time Served

  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships

Held Outside the

AIM Complex
During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

26


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.

Bashir C. Asad (1963)

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.

4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200

Columbus, OH 43219

   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

27


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 12

Statement of Operations

Page 12

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 13

Financial Highlights

Page 14

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 15

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 20

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 21

Other Information

Page 22

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 23

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 26

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned 26.04%. That compared to a 26.82% total return for its benchmark, the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.1

The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (the “Index”). The Fund takes positions in securities that, in combination, should have similar return characteristics as the return of the Index. The Index is designed to provide a comprehensive measure of small-cap stock performance. It is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities.

In the first quarter of 2021, favorable conditions carried over from the strong end of 2020. The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) accommodative policies, along with a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the start of the vaccine rollout in the U.S., supported investor optimism for strong economic growth in the first quarter. All sectors within the S&P 500® Index2 posted positive returns over the first three months of 2021. The energy sector posted the strongest return for the quarter, supported by a rally in oil prices due to a surge in demand paired with unchanged production levels, along with oil transport concerns due to the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal. The financial sector was another top performer due to positive market conditions. By comparison, the information technology and consumer staples sectors lagged their peers within the U.S. market, albeit still posting positive returns, after posting strong gains in 2020.

During the second quarter, U.S. equity markets rallied as the vaccination campaign continued to accelerate and economic indicators continued to improve. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by more than 4% year-over-year in April. But growing concerns about inflation were offset by the Fed’s commitment to maintain its accommodative monetary policies and the prospect of a bipartisan $1 trillion agreement for infrastructure that passed the Senate in May.

In the third quarter, strong economic data and corporate earnings reports helped push U.S. equities higher despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. However, concerns regarding potential contagion from the unfolding debt crisis at Chinese property developer Evergrande muted U.S. equity

markets late in the quarter. Rising inflation and supply chain issues also weighed on market sentiment, as did the continuing disagreement in Washington regarding the debt ceiling and the infrastructure bill.

In the fourth quarter, the boost to investor sentiment from a strong earnings season was offset by a new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant (Omicron) and ongoing concerns about higher inflation rates. Markets recovered to post strong returns for the quarter after initial data showed existing vaccines remained effective against the Omicron variant, and the Fed clarified its plan to begin tightening its monetary policy in 2022. The falling unemployment rate and the final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill further supported the market performance over the quarter.

All sectors within the Index posted positive returns over the year. The energy and consumer discretionary sectors were the top performers, while the health care and materials sectors lagged their peers.

The Fund uses derivatives, primarily futures contracts, for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2021. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we keep cash to fully cover all outstanding futures positions. The Fund’s use of futures contracts provides immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Skillful cash management and cash equitization are critical to minimizing the potential impact of cash drag and ensure tight tracking to the benchmark.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmark please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

2 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is unmanaged and is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

1


AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to match the performance of the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index (“S&P 600”). This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in all of the stocks in the S&P 600 in proportion to their weighting in the Index.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. Securities in which the Fund will invest may involve substantial risk and may be subject to sudden severe price declines.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmark and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021

     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       26.37 %       19.74 %       12.13 %             14.41 %

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2007       26.04 %       19.47 %       11.85 %       13.91 %       9.44 %

S&P SmallCap 600 Index

      5/1/2007       26.82 %       20.11 %       12.42 %       14.50 %       9.95 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratios      Gross

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.34 %

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.59 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses (such as interest expense), to 0.46% for Class 1 Shares and 0.71% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratios can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index, an unmanaged index which covers approximately 3% of the domestic equities market. Measuring the small-cap segment of the market that is typically renowned for poor trading liquidity and financial instability, the index is designed to be an efficient portfolio of companies that meet specific inclusion criteria to ensure that they are investable and financially viable. The index does not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.40     $ 1.84       0.36 %

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.90     $ 3.11       0.61 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.39     $ 1.84       0.36 %

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.13     $ 3.11       0.61 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Financials

      18.5 %

Industrials

      16.9

Information Technology

      13.7

Health Care

      12.2

Consumer Discretionary

      12.0

Real Estate

      8.1

Materials

      5.0

Energy

      4.7

Consumer Staples

      4.5

Utilities

      1.9

Communication Services

      1.8
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.3

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.3

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.6
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      101.2

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (1.2 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.3%):  
Aerospace & Defense (1.0%):  
  26,999      AAR Corp.*    $ 1,053,771  
  60,321      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.      2,820,610  
  18,618      AeroVironment, Inc.*      1,154,875  
  23,657      Moog, Inc., Class A      1,915,507  
  4,000      National Presto Industries, Inc.      328,120  
  15,330      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      202,356  
  52,034      Triumph Group, Inc.*      964,190  
     

 

 

 
        8,439,429  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.8%):  
  21,795      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      2,051,345  
  21,755      Forward Air Corp.      2,634,313  
  27,358      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      2,304,638  
     

 

 

 
        6,990,296  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.5%):       
  12,192      Allegiant Travel Co.*      2,280,392  
  41,093      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      754,878  
  40,471      SkyWest, Inc.*      1,590,510  
     

 

 

 
        4,625,780  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.4%):       
  91,476      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      853,471  
  13,561      Cooper-Standard Holding, Inc.*      303,902  
  22,909      Dorman Products, Inc.*      2,588,946  
  26,757      Gentherm, Inc.*      2,325,183  
  20,320      LCI Industries      3,167,278  
  15,521      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      264,943  
  18,011      Patrick Industries, Inc.      1,453,308  
  15,445      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      809,164  
     

 

 

 
        11,766,195  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  26,892      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      2,014,749  
     

 

 

 
Banks (10.0%):       
  15,151      Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.      639,524  
  53,175      Ameris Bancorp      2,641,734  
  43,407      Banc of California, Inc.      851,645  
  15,351      BancFirst Corp.      1,083,167  
  44,892      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      1,136,217  
  72,604      BankUnited, Inc.      3,071,875  
  28,075      Banner Corp.      1,703,310  
  39,482      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      1,122,473  
  63,554      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      1,028,939  
  22,980      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      647,347  
  12,484      City Holding Co.      1,021,066  
  62,318      Columbia Banking System, Inc.      2,039,045  
  43,283      Community Bank System, Inc.      3,223,718  
  24,159      Customers Bancorp, Inc.      1,579,274  
  102,468      CVB Financial Corp.      2,193,840  
  27,107      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      953,082  
  26,168      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      1,526,641  
  29,386      FB Financial Corp.      1,287,695  
  168,140      First Bancorp      2,316,969  
  28,003      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      1,280,297  
  77,881      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      1,253,105  
  77,475      First Financial Bancorp      1,888,841  
  104,395      First Hawaiian, Inc.      2,853,115  
  92,238      First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.      1,889,034  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Banks, continued       
  44,744      Great Western Bancorp, Inc.    $ 1,519,506  
  25,174      Hanmi Financial Corp.      596,120  
  28,519      Heritage Financial Corp.      697,004  
  49,537      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.      1,740,730  
  99,377      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      1,461,836  
  36,868      Independent Bank Corp.      3,005,848  
  29,815      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      2,151,152  
  181,578      Investors Bancorp, Inc.      2,750,907  
  20,434      Lakeland Financial Corp.      1,637,581  
  24,729      National Bank Holdings Corp.      1,086,592  
  35,007      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      1,348,470  
  41,264      OFG Bancorp      1,095,972  
  132,661      Old National Bancorp      2,403,817  
  76,279      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      3,053,449  
  11,713      Park National Corp.      1,608,312  
  8,051      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      577,981  
  45,537      Renasant Corp.      1,728,129  
  31,905      S & T Bancorp, Inc.      1,005,646  
  46,995      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      1,663,153  
  39,494      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      3,354,620  
  87,874      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      2,599,313  
  26,100      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      1,091,502  
  9,734      Tompkins Financial Corp.      813,568  
  19,021      Triumph BanCorp, Inc.*      2,265,021  
  47,962      Trustmark Corp.      1,556,847  
  71,735      United Community Banks, Inc.      2,578,156  
  40,026      Veritex Holdings, Inc.      1,592,234  
  21,541      Westamerica Bancorp      1,243,562  
     

 

 

 
        87,458,981  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.7%):       
  30,741      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      2,292,356  
  3,736      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      2,313,294  
  9,990      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      849,050  
  18,669      National Beverage Corp.^      846,266  
     

 

 

 
        6,300,966  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.2%):       
  49,481      Avid Bioservices, Inc.*      1,443,856  
  33,750      Cara Therapeutics, Inc.*      411,075  
  50,799      Coherus Biosciences, Inc.*      810,752  
  67,569      Cytokinetics, Inc.*      3,079,795  
  9,226      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      469,788  
  38,551      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      1,675,812  
  14,423      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,078,552  
  13,464      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,079,649  
  64,373      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      1,776,695  
  50,543      Organogenesis Holdings, Inc.*      467,017  
  30,029      REGENXBIO, Inc.*      981,948  
  132,408      Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      168,158  
  28,754      Uniqure NV*      596,358  
  44,629      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      700,229  
  37,723      Vericel Corp.*      1,482,514  
  47,076      Xencor, Inc.*      1,888,689  
     

 

 

 
        19,110,887  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (2.0%):       
  33,286      AAON, Inc.      2,643,907  
  13,437      American Woodmark Corp.*      876,092  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Building Products, continued       
  20,588      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.    $ 991,312  
  26,308      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      1,754,218  
  38,161      Griffon Corp.      1,086,825  
  15,391      Insteel Industries, Inc.      612,716  
  47,880      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      1,076,821  
  26,687      Quanex Building Products Corp.      661,304  
  116,300      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      3,027,289  
  49,838      UFP Industries, Inc.      4,585,594  
     

 

 

 
        17,316,078  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.0%):       
  12,841      B Riley Financial, Inc.      1,141,051  
  39,636      Blucora, Inc.*      686,496  
  29,713      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      760,653  
  23,741      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      1,119,151  
  11,553      Greenhill & Co., Inc.      207,145  
  11,467      Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc.      2,046,974  
  13,560      StoneX Group, Inc.*      830,550  
  5,785      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      1,718,723  
  87,776      WisdomTree Investments, Inc.      537,189  
     

 

 

 
        9,047,932  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.0%):       
  22,650      AdvanSix, Inc.      1,070,212  
  21,437      American Vanguard Corp.      351,352  
  26,050      Balchem Corp.      4,392,030  
  66,698      Ferro Corp.*      1,456,017  
  23,568      Futurefuel Corp.      180,060  
  43,163      GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.*      1,366,541  
  42,340      H.B. Fuller Co.      3,429,540  
  15,256      Hawkins, Inc.      601,849  
  19,704      Innospec, Inc.      1,780,059  
  17,186      Koppers Holdings, Inc.*      537,922  
  25,755      Kraton Corp.*      1,192,972  
  130,189      Livent Corp.*      3,174,008  
  10,811      Quaker Chemical Corp.      2,494,963  
  51,227      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      292,506  
  17,047      Stepan Co.      2,118,772  
  20,027      Tredegar Corp.      236,719  
  31,337      Trinseo PLC*      1,643,939  
     

 

 

 
        26,319,461  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.8%):       
  54,313      ABM Industries, Inc.      2,218,686  
  39,069      Brady Corp., Class A      2,105,819  
  34,141      Deluxe Corp.      1,096,268  
  59,605      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      1,060,373  
  35,161      HNI Corp.      1,478,520  
  47,523      Interface, Inc.      757,992  
  97,588      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      1,524,325  
  25,290      Matthews International Corp., Class A      927,384  
  101,264      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      671,380  
  12,253      UniFirst Corp.      2,578,031  
  25,348      US Ecology, Inc.*      809,615  
  16,500      Viad Corp.*      706,035  
     

 

 

 
        15,934,428  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.6%):       
  39,281      ADTRAN, Inc.      896,785  
  28,474      CalAmp Corp.*      201,026  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Communications Equipment, continued       
  21,314      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.    $ 504,929  
  27,553      Digi International, Inc.*      676,977  
  104,667      Extreme Networks, Inc.*      1,643,272  
  82,730      Harmonic, Inc.*      972,905  
  24,641      InterDigital, Inc.      1,765,035  
  23,804      NETGEAR, Inc.*      695,315  
  59,345      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      1,963,133  
  34,468      Plantronics, Inc.*      1,011,291  
  191,450      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      3,373,349  
     

 

 

 
        13,704,017  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (1.1%):       
  38,924      Arcosa, Inc.      2,051,295  
  29,068      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      2,875,988  
  37,119      Granite Construction, Inc.      1,436,505  
  13,570      MYR Group, Inc.*      1,500,164  
  9,517      NV5 Global, Inc.*      1,314,488  
     

 

 

 
        9,178,440  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.8%):       
  20,069      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      1,246,485  
  29,583      Enova International, Inc.*      1,211,720  
  42,985      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      316,799  
  43,753      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      1,585,609  
  35,323      PRA Group, Inc.*      1,773,568  
  3,379      World Acceptance Corp.*      829,308  
     

 

 

 
        6,963,489  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.2%):       
  28,821      Myers Industries, Inc.      576,708  
  125,777      O-I Glass, Inc.*      1,513,098  
     

 

 

 
        2,089,806  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.5%):       
  40,111      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      1,185,681  
  14,798      American Public Education, Inc.*      329,256  
  56,229      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      661,253  
  18,080      Strategic Education, Inc.      1,045,747  
  42,482      WW International, Inc.*      685,235  
     

 

 

 
        3,907,172  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  8,408      ATN International, Inc.      335,900  
  34,127      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      2,497,414  
  58,030      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      434,064  
     

 

 

 
        3,267,378  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.4%):       
  19,918      AZZ, Inc.      1,101,266  
  16,348      Encore Wire Corp.      2,339,399  
  7,600      Powell Industries, Inc.      224,124  
     

 

 

 
        3,664,789  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.6%):       
  66,704      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      699,725  
  23,535      Badger Meter, Inc.      2,507,890  
  28,482      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      771,862  
  25,991      CTS Corp.      954,390  
  21,738      ePlus, Inc.*      1,171,244  
  29,821      Fabrinet*      3,532,894  
  14,560      FARO Technologies, Inc.*      1,019,491  
  28,439      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      3,031,597  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  36,493      Itron, Inc.*    $ 2,500,500  
  74,995      Knowles Corp.*      1,751,133  
  30,632      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      1,506,175  
  13,395      OSI Systems, Inc.*      1,248,414  
  9,208      PC Connection, Inc.      397,141  
  22,755      Plexus Corp.*      2,181,977  
  15,088      Rogers Corp.*      4,119,024  
  52,166      Sanmina Corp.*      2,162,802  
  20,682      ScanSource, Inc.*      725,525  
  84,839      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      1,264,101  
     

 

 

 
        31,545,885  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (1.2%):       
  107,035      Archrock, Inc.      800,622  
  18,563      Bristow Group, Inc.*      587,890  
  37,056      Core Laboratories NV      826,719  
  15,007      DMC Global, Inc.*      594,427  
  28,299      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      556,924  
  114,626      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      357,633  
  87,216      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      2,067,019  
  6,262      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      507,786  
  80,273      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      907,888  
  50,209      Oil States International, Inc.*      249,539  
  173,379      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      1,465,053  
  68,258      Propetro Holding Corp.*      552,890  
  57,569      RPC, Inc.*      261,363  
  60,582      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      569,471  
     

 

 

 
        10,305,224  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.2%):       
  85,314      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*^      1,375,262  
  17,636      Marcus Corp.*      314,979  
     

 

 

 
        1,690,241  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (7.2%):       
  71,481      Acadia Realty Trust      1,560,430  
  56,201      Agree Realty Corp.      4,010,503  
  58,080      Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.      1,457,227  
  42,664      American Assets Trust, Inc.      1,601,180  
  48,926      Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc.      744,654  
  137,826      Brandywine Realty Trust      1,849,625  
  77,690      CareTrust REIT, Inc.      1,773,663  
  11,532      Centerspace      1,278,899  
  39,589      Chatham Lodging Trust*      543,161  
  18,914      Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.      894,065  
  96,314      CoreCivic, Inc.*      960,251  
  169,635      DiamondRock Hospitality Co.*      1,630,192  
  190,935      Diversified Healthcare Trust      589,989  
  69,362      Easterly Government Properties, Inc.      1,589,777  
  62,301      Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.      1,832,272  
  77,645      Franklin Street Properties Corp.      461,988  
  98,149      GEO Group, Inc. (The)      760,655  
  31,142      Getty Realty Corp.      999,347  
  83,972      Global Net Lease, Inc.      1,283,092  
  26,871      Hersha Hospitality Trust*      246,407  
  84,483      Independence Realty Trust, Inc.      2,182,196  
  52,866      Industrial Logistics Properties Trust      1,324,293  
  19,305      Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.      5,075,478  
  56,434      iStar, Inc.^      1,457,690  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
  31,811      LTC Properties, Inc.    $ 1,086,028  
  228,022      LXP Industrial Trust      3,561,704  
  18,457      NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.      1,547,250  
  39,415      Office Properties Income Trust      979,069  
  44,317      Orion Office REIT, Inc.*      827,398  
  98,610      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.      1,932,756  
  68,897      Rpt Realty      921,842  
  11,390      Safehold, Inc.      909,492  
  10,425      Saul Centers, Inc.      552,733  
  132,576      Service Properties Trust      1,165,343  
  145,666      SITE Centers Corp.      2,305,893  
  85,998      Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.*      839,340  
  83,982      Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.^      1,619,173  
  190,317      Uniti Group, Inc.      2,666,341  
  10,179      Universal Health Realty Income Trust      605,345  
  24,217      Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc., Class A      515,822  
  65,096      Versis Resindential, Corp.*      1,196,464  
  68,166      Washington Real Estate      1,762,091  
  37,358      Whitestone REIT      378,437  
  91,667      Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.*      1,660,089  
     

 

 

 
        63,139,644  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.7%):       
  19,160      PriceSmart, Inc.      1,401,937  
  28,973      SpartanNash Co.      746,345  
  24,688      The Andersons, Inc.      955,672  
  26,162      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      871,195  
  45,413      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      2,228,870  
     

 

 

 
        6,204,019  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.4%):       
  52,310      B&G Foods, Inc.^      1,607,486  
  14,110      Calavo Growers, Inc.      598,264  
  30,160      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      1,115,618  
  26,850      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      741,060  
  11,897      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      1,879,250  
  7,110      John B Sanfilippo And Son, Inc.      641,038  
  5,188      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      248,765  
  67,938      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      2,824,183  
  13,559      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      491,243  
  44,967      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      1,822,512  
     

 

 

 
        11,969,419  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.6%):       
  14,091      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      2,054,609  
  24,839      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      1,211,646  
  90,661      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      2,368,065  
     

 

 

 
        5,634,320  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.9%):       
  30,953      AngioDynamics, Inc.*      853,684  
  11,581      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      414,947  
  38,986      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      1,351,645  
  23,642      BioLife Solutions, Inc.*      881,137  
  32,737      Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*      614,801  
  23,587      CONMED Corp.      3,343,693  
  31,478      CryoLife, Inc.*      640,577  
  13,198      Cutera, Inc.*      545,341  
  37,782      Glaukos Corp.*      1,679,032  
  8,624      Heska Corp.*      1,573,794  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  16,175      Inogen, Inc.*    $ 549,950  
  26,630      Integer Holdings Corp.*      2,279,262  
  54,586      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*      1,576,990  
  15,412      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      774,145  
  34,528      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      704,371  
  40,977      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      2,552,867  
  4,201      Mesa Laboratories, Inc.      1,378,306  
  27,274      Natus Medical, Inc.*      647,212  
  57,721      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      501,595  
  15,808      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      491,471  
  11,089      Surmodics, Inc.*      533,935  
  15,832      Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.*      301,283  
  31,633      Varex Imaging Corp.*      998,021  
  15,483      Zynex, Inc.*^      154,366  
     

 

 

 
        25,342,425  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.9%):       
  12,723      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      1,189,728  
  38,070      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      4,657,103  
  30,438      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      2,236,584  
  99,494      Community Health Systems, Inc.*      1,324,265  
  7,579      CorVel Corp.*      1,576,432  
  83,302      Covetrus, Inc.*      1,663,541  
  28,420      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      788,939  
  42,216      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      3,544,456  
  15,626      Fulgent Genetics, Inc.*^      1,571,819  
  29,292      Hanger, Inc.*      531,064  
  11,499      Joint Corp. (The)*      755,369  
  18,670      Magellan Health, Inc.*      1,773,463  
  69,700      MEDNAX, Inc.*      1,896,537  
  9,864      ModivCare, Inc.*      1,462,733  
  60,804      Owens & Minor, Inc.      2,644,974  
  35,796      RadNet, Inc.*      1,077,818  
  85,139      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      2,503,087  
  21,496      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      496,128  
  35,753      Tivity Health, Inc.*      945,309  
  10,277      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      981,967  
     

 

 

 
        33,621,316  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (1.3%):       
  98,818      Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.*      1,823,192  
  11,786      Computer Programs & Systems, Inc.*      345,330  
  20,297      HealthStream, Inc.*      535,029  
  46,299      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      823,659  
  35,404      Omnicell, Inc.*      6,388,298  
  14,347      OptimizeRx Corp.*      891,092  
  12,592      Simulations Plus, Inc.^      595,602  
  18,350      Tabula Rasa Healthcare, Inc.*      275,250  
     

 

 

 
        11,677,452  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.4%):       
  18,604      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      642,768  
  65,179      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.*      1,367,455  
  36,682      Brinker International, Inc.*      1,342,194  
  39,151      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)*      1,532,762  
  15,914      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      479,330  
  31,142      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      1,195,853  
  13,793      Dine Brands Global, Inc.      1,045,647  
  15,124      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.*      214,610  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  13,735      Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.*    $ 151,222  
  10,471      Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.*      774,330  
  12,903      Red Robin Gourmet Burgers*      213,287  
  25,923      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.*      515,868  
  31,532      Shake Shack, Inc., Class A*      2,275,349  
     

 

 

 
        11,750,675  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (2.5%):       
  6,845      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      2,174,314  
  23,861      Century Communities, Inc.      1,951,591  
  17,536      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      461,021  
  18,891      Installed Building Products, Inc.      2,639,451  
  21,750      iRobot Corp.*^      1,432,890  
  35,690      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      1,295,904  
  17,238      LGI Homes, Inc.*      2,662,926  
  23,477      M/I Homes, Inc.*      1,459,800  
  45,524      MDC Holdings, Inc.      2,541,605  
  30,150      Meritage Homes Corp.*      3,680,109  
  40,066      Tupperware Brands Corp.*      612,609  
  10,744      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      437,818  
     

 

 

 
        21,350,038  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.5%):       
  7,960      Central Garden & Pet Co.*      418,935  
  32,296      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      1,545,364  
  11,029      WD-40 Co.      2,698,134  
     

 

 

 
        4,662,433  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.7%):       
  37,723      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      605,454  
  66,315      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      2,580,980  
  15,501      Amerisafe, Inc.      834,419  
  56,418      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      2,832,184  
  18,887      eHealth, Inc.*      481,618  
  22,715      Employers Holdings, Inc.      939,947  
  372,031      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      1,506,725  
  6,465      HCI Group, Inc.      540,086  
  33,257      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      1,287,046  
  29,984      James River Group Holdings      863,839  
  19,374      Palomar Holdings, Inc.*      1,254,854  
  43,356      ProAssurance Corp.      1,096,907  
  11,393      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      968,747  
  99,991      Selectquote, Inc.*      905,918  
  70,359      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      572,019  
  21,747      Stewart Information Services Corp.      1,733,888  
  27,636      Trupanion, Inc.*      3,648,781  
  17,398      United Fire Group, Inc.      403,460  
  22,588      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.      383,996  
     

 

 

 
        23,440,868  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.2%):       
  51,901      Cars.com, Inc.*      835,087  
  40,092      QuinStreet, Inc.*      729,274  
     

 

 

 
        1,564,361  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.3%):       
  21,249      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      469,178  
  16,465      PetMed Express, Inc.^      415,906  
  18,776      Shutterstock, Inc.      2,081,883  
     

 

 

 
        2,966,967  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
IT Services (1.6%):       
  26,328      CSG Systems International, Inc.    $ 1,517,019  
  48,055      Evertec, Inc.      2,401,789  
  26,828      Exlservice Holdings, Inc.*      3,883,889  
  26,575      Perficient, Inc.*      3,435,882  
  14,696      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      1,330,723  
  53,884      Unisys Corp.*      1,108,394  
     

 

 

 
        13,677,696  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.4%):       
  14,076      Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.      957,449  
  45,996      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      2,119,036  
     

 

 

 
        3,076,485  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.4%):       
  99,227      Neogenomics, Inc.*      3,385,625  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (5.7%):       
  7,907      Alamo Group, Inc.      1,163,752  
  26,037      Albany International Corp., Class A      2,302,973  
  18,209      Astec Industries, Inc.      1,261,337  
  37,404      Barnes Group, Inc.      1,742,652  
  28,690      Chart Industries, Inc.*      4,575,768  
  16,216      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      440,751  
  48,084      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.      975,143  
  16,586      EnPro Industries, Inc.      1,825,621  
  21,005      ESCO Technologies, Inc.      1,890,240  
  49,237      Federal Signal Corp.      2,133,932  
  31,143      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      2,944,882  
  63,404      Harsco Corp.*      1,059,481  
  58,743      Hillenbrand, Inc.      3,054,049  
  25,584      John Bean Technologies Corp.      3,928,679  
  8,733      Lindsay Corp.      1,327,416  
  56,233      Meritor, Inc.*      1,393,454  
  46,206      Mueller Industries, Inc.      2,742,788  
  22,145      Proto Labs, Inc.*      1,137,146  
  36,589      SPX Corp.*      2,183,632  
  33,792      SPX FLOW, Inc.      2,922,332  
  9,868      Standex International Corp.      1,091,993  
  14,919      Tennant Co.      1,209,036  
  26,178      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      1,201,308  
  40,719      Titan International, Inc.*      446,280  
  40,036      Wabash National Corp.      781,503  
  22,206      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      4,311,739  
     

 

 

 
        50,047,887  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.4%):       
  33,938      Matson, Inc.      3,055,438  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.7%):       
  23,427      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*      806,826  
  45,615      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      882,650  
  114,636      Gannett Co, Inc.*      611,010  
  15,995      Loyalty Ventures, Inc.*      480,970  
  24,518      Scholastic Corp.      979,739  
  20,920      TechTarget, Inc.*      2,001,207  
  13,806      Thryv Holdings, Inc.*      567,841  
     

 

 

 
        6,330,243  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.3%):       
  101,932      Allegheny Technologies, Inc.*      1,623,777  
  85,858      Arconic Corp.*      2,834,173  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Metals & Mining, continued       
  38,438      Carpenter Technology Corp.    $ 1,122,005  
  40,638      Century Aluminum Co.*      672,965  
  10,271      Haynes International, Inc.      414,229  
  12,694      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      1,192,474  
  16,449      Materion Corp.      1,512,321  
  7,195      Olympic Steel, Inc.      169,083  
  65,650      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      432,634  
  33,083      TimkenSteel Corp.*      545,869  
  41,144      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.      1,057,812  
     

 

 

 
        11,577,342  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.3%):       
  105,911      Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.      1,393,789  
  72,236      Armour Residential REIT, Inc.^      708,635  
  44,381      Ellington Financial, Inc.      758,471  
  26,722      Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.      399,227  
  44,238      Granite Point Mortgage Trust, Inc.      518,027  
  231,900      Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc.      644,682  
  36,104      KKR Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc.      752,046  
  305,878      New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.      1,137,866  
  78,287      Pennymac Mortgage Investment Trust      1,356,714  
  47,703      Ready Capital Corp.      745,598  
  92,360      Redwood Trust, Inc.      1,218,228  
  275,424      Two Harbors Investment Corp.      1,589,197  
     

 

 

 
        11,222,480  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.1%):       
  26,251      Big Lots, Inc.      1,182,608  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.3%):       
  56,986      Avista Corp.      2,421,335  
  12,660      Unitil Corp.      582,234  
     

 

 

 
        3,003,569  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.5%):       
  38,285      Callon Petroleum Co.*      1,808,966  
  58,005      Civitas Resources, Inc.      2,840,505  
  25,528      CONSOL Energy, Inc.*      579,741  
  22,089      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      280,310  
  35,512      Green Plains, Inc.*      1,234,397  
  11,586      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      696,666  
  89,076      Matador Resources Co.      3,288,686  
  39,146      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*      645,518  
  76,295      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A*      989,546  
  78,817      PDC Energy, Inc.      3,844,693  
  201,547      Range Resources Corp.*      3,593,583  
  17,008      Ranger Oil Corp.*      457,855  
  40,489      Renewable Energy Group, Inc.*      1,718,353  
  4,513      REX American Resources Corp.*      433,248  
  97,949      SM Energy Co.      2,887,537  
  817,385      Southwestern Energy Co.*      3,809,014  
  33,028      Talos Energy, Inc.*      323,674  
  52,171      World Fuel Services Corp.      1,380,966  
     

 

 

 
        30,813,258  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.4%):       
  13,426      Clearwater Paper Corp.*      492,331  
  35,521      Glatfelter Corp.      610,961  
  32,511      Mercer International, Inc.      389,807  
  13,532      Neenah, Inc.      626,261  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Paper & Forest Products, continued       
  25,234      Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.    $ 754,497  
  28,471      Sylvamo Corp.*      794,056  
     

 

 

 
        3,667,913  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.9%):       
  43,793      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      2,001,778  
  38,444      elf Beauty, Inc.*      1,276,725  
  14,201      Inter Parfums, Inc.      1,518,087  
  9,392      Medifast, Inc.      1,966,966  
  9,448      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      956,138  
     

 

 

 
        7,719,694  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.6%):       
  29,867      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      695,603  
  8,690      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      400,435  
  28,052      Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      524,011  
  76,174      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*^      1,508,245  
  187,085      Endo International plc*      703,440  
  18,360      Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.*      782,871  
  50,125      Innoviva, Inc.*      864,656  
  147,661      Nektar Therapeutics*      1,994,900  
  35,854      Pacira BioSciences, Inc.*      2,157,335  
  16,607      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      339,115  
  40,431      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      2,452,140  
  42,881      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,250,410  
     

 

 

 
        13,673,161  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.5%):       
  41,961      Exponent, Inc.      4,898,109  
  8,883      Forrester Research, Inc.*      521,699  
  15,678      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      685,599  
  29,076      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      487,604  
  44,019      Korn Ferry      3,333,559  
  22,241      ManTech International Corp., Class A      1,622,036  
  24,666      Resources Connection, Inc.      440,041  
  28,613      Trueblue, Inc.*      791,722  
     

 

 

 
        12,780,369  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Devel (0.1%):       
  52,665      Douglas Elliman, Inc.*      605,642  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.8%):       
  98,026      Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.      2,826,090  
  20,218      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.*      1,040,418  
  15,090      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      460,094  
  93,556      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      1,572,677  
  26,647      The St Joe Co.      1,386,976  
     

 

 

 
        7,286,255  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.5%):       
  20,616      ArcBest Corp.      2,470,828  
  37,454      Heartland Express, Inc.      629,976  
  47,983      Marten Transport, Ltd.      823,388  
     

 

 

 
        3,924,192  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (4.0%):       
  30,361      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.      2,764,673  
  26,953      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      2,009,616  
  18,418      CEVA, Inc.*      796,394  
  39,195      Cohu, Inc.*      1,492,938  
  36,256      Diodes, Inc.*      3,981,271  
  62,913      FormFactor, Inc.*      2,876,382  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  22,739      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*    $ 1,046,676  
  49,920      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      3,022,157  
  56,856      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      4,286,374  
  39,671      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      4,015,895  
  23,832      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      757,619  
  49,329      Photronics, Inc.*      929,852  
  88,453      Rambus, Inc.*      2,599,634  
  18,768      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      1,332,340  
  36,163      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      2,074,310  
  40,475      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      1,152,323  
     

 

 

 
        35,138,454  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.6%):       
  91,934      8x8, Inc.*      1,540,814  
  15,633      Agilysys, Inc.*      695,043  
  37,128      Alarm.com Holding, Inc.*      3,148,826  
  31,230      Bottomline Technologies, Inc.*      1,763,558  
  12,889      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      745,886  
  19,128      Ebix, Inc.      581,491  
  53,102      LivePerson, Inc.*      1,896,804  
  27,687      OneSpan, Inc.*      468,741  
  35,311      Progress Software Corp.      1,704,462  
  28,978      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      4,125,018  
  203,267      Vonage Holdings Corp.*      4,225,921  
  83,845      Xperi Holding Corp.      1,585,509  
     

 

 

 
        22,482,073  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (4.1%):       
  25,663      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      632,593  
  47,726      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      1,662,296  
  5,028      America’s Car Mart, Inc.*      514,867  
  18,629      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      3,217,787  
  28,460      Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.*      193,813  
  81,542      Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*^      1,188,882  
  23,842      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      2,933,758  
  30,751      Caleres, Inc.      697,433  
  15,819      Cato Corp., Class A      271,454  
  97,428      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      524,163  
  15,361      Conn’s, Inc.*      361,291  
  49,071      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A*      697,299  
  11,305      Genesco, Inc.*      725,442  
  14,576      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      2,845,527  
  31,228      Guess?, Inc.      739,479  
  12,098      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      369,836  
  12,074      Hibbett, Inc.      868,483  
  23,133      Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.*      394,880  
  17,433      MarineMax, Inc.*      1,029,244  
  26,804      Monro, Inc.      1,561,869  
  37,044      ODP Corp. (The)*      1,455,088  
  48,669      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      2,338,059  
  91,026      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      1,680,340  
  13,978      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      546,260  
  42,748      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      3,720,358  
  18,263      Sleep Number Corp.*      1,398,946  
  16,777      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A      829,623  
  23,452      The Buckle, Inc.      992,254  
  11,282      The Children’s Place, Inc.*^      894,550  
  17,273      Zumiez, Inc.*      828,931  
     

 

 

 
        36,114,805  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.3%):       
  102,917      3D Systems Corp.*    $ 2,216,832  
  59,481      Diebold Nixdorf, Inc.*      538,303  
     

 

 

 
        2,755,135  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.2%):       
  38,007      Fossil Group, Inc.*      391,092  
  34,946      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      965,907  
  38,310      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      1,963,388  
  13,393      Movado Group, Inc.      560,229  
  12,732      Oxford Industries, Inc.      1,292,553  
  61,577      Steven Madden, Ltd.      2,861,483  
  11,022      Unifi, Inc.*      255,159  
  20,230      Vera Bradley, Inc.*      172,157  
  66,323      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      1,910,766  
     

 

 

 
        10,372,734  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (2.6%):       
  43,126      Axos Financial, Inc.*      2,411,174  
  103,675      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      1,174,638  
  42,571      Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.      2,040,854  
  16,752      HomeStreet, Inc.      871,104  
  9,175      LendingTree, Inc.*      1,124,855  
  25,239      Meta Financial Group, Inc.      1,505,759  
  60,731      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      2,527,017  
  69,204      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      1,512,107  
  36,605      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      591,537  
  101,931      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      1,443,343  
  63,004      Provident Financial Services, Inc.      1,525,957  
  15,573      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      518,736  
  23,810      Wawlker & Dunlop, Inc.      3,592,453  
  38,301      WSFS Financial Corp.      1,919,646  
     

 

 

 
        22,759,180  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.3%):       
  19,595      Universal Corp.      1,076,157  
  105,329      Vector Group, Ltd.      1,209,177  
     

 

 

 
        2,285,334  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Trading Companies & Distributors (1.3%):       
  31,072      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.    $ 3,191,094  
  31,678      Boise Cascade Co.      2,255,474  
  14,360      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      368,621  
  34,765      GMS, Inc.*      2,089,724  
  22,235      Kaman Corp., Class A      959,440  
  88,581      NOW, Inc.*      756,482  
  11,196      Veritiv Corp.*      1,372,294  
     

 

 

 
        10,993,129  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.9%):       
  29,780      American States Water Co.      3,080,443  
  42,364      California Water Service Group      3,044,277  
  14,044      Middlesex Water Co.      1,689,493  
     

 

 

 
        7,814,213  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.3%):       
  40,022      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      1,020,561  
  78,648      Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.      1,584,757  
     

 

 

 
        2,605,318  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $557,177,497)

     865,315,792  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (1.3%):  
  11,752,931      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 0.03%(a)(b)      11,752,931  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $11,752,931)

     11,752,931  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.6%):       
Money Markets (0.6%):       
  5,150,124      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(b)      5,150,124  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $5,150,124)

     5,150,124  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $574,080,552) — 101.2%(c)

     882,218,847  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (1.2)%

     (10,603,951
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 871,614,896  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $11,373,226.

 

(a)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
   Number of
Contracts
   Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Russell 2000 Mini Index Future Mar22

   3/18/22    56      $6,279,840      $ 117,021  
           

 

 

 
            $ 117,021  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 574,080,552
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 882,218,847

Cash

      8,952

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      339,600

Interest and dividends receivable

      897,347

Receivable for investments sold

      544,881

Prepaid expenses

      4,354
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      884,013,981
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      64,923

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      11,752,931

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      11,534

Manager fees payable

      189,085

Administration fees payable

      127,322

Distribution fees payable

      172,213

Custodian fees payable

      5,987

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,599

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,274

Trustee fees payable

      8,982

Other accrued liabilities

      62,235
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      12,399,085
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 871,614,896
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 464,899,395

Total distributable earnings

      406,715,501
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 871,614,896
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 46,174,413

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      3,929,973

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 11.75
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 825,440,483

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      49,223,681

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.77
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $11,373,226.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 11,157,864

Income from securities lending

      146,132

Foreign withholding tax

      (10,670 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      11,293,326
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,267,731

Administration fees

      306,553

Distribution fees — Class 2

      2,062,908

Custodian fees

      31,606

Administrative and compliance services fees

      10,162

Transfer agent fees

      10,012

Trustee fees

      42,300

Professional fees

      38,770

Licensing fees

      158,236

Shareholder reports

      31,207

Other expenses

      15,972
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      4,975,457
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      6,317,869
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      111,828,780

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      644,180

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      79,276,074

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      210,209
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      191,959,243
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 198,277,112
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 6,317,869     $ 6,164,309

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      112,472,960       6,504,197

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      79,486,283       62,569,968
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      198,277,112       75,238,474
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (2,166,192 )       (3,190,100 )

Class 2

      (26,155,914 )       (41,852,417 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (28,322,106 )       (45,042,517 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      86,410       187,289

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      2,166,192       3,190,100

Value of shares redeemed

      (7,568,265 )       (4,909,090 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (5,315,663 )       (1,531,701 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      61,823,244       80,434,284

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      26,155,914       41,852,417

Value of shares redeemed

      (195,522,153 )       (184,050,997 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (107,542,995 )       (61,764,296 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (112,858,658 )       (63,295,997 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      57,096,348       (33,100,040 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      814,518,548       847,618,588
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 871,614,896     $ 814,518,548
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      7,506       26,260

Dividends reinvested

      192,550       397,768

Shares redeemed

      (660,924 )       (602,581 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (460,868 )       (178,553 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      3,695,251       8,597,337

Dividends reinvested

      1,627,624       3,707,035

Shares redeemed

      (12,276,692 )       (16,856,826 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (6,953,817 )       (4,552,454 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (7,414,685 )       (4,731,007 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2021   2020   2019   2018   2017

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 9.76     $ 9.65     $ 9.26     $ 11.68     $ 11.38
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.11 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.16       0.16

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      2.44       0.80       1.78       (0.93 )       1.24
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      2.55       0.89       1.90       (0.77 )       1.40
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.14 )       (0.17 )       (0.17 )       (0.18 )       (0.08 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.42 )       (0.61 )       (1.34 )       (1.47 )       (1.02 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.56 )       (0.78 )       (1.51 )       (1.65 )       (1.10 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 11.75     $ 9.76     $ 9.65     $ 9.26     $ 11.68
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      26.37 %       10.98 %       22.42 %       (8.59 )%       12.94 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 46,174     $ 42,848     $ 44,098     $ 41,285     $ 53,319

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.95 %       1.11 %       1.21 %       1.17 %       1.21 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.33 %       0.34 %       0.33 %       0.33 %       0.32 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.33 %       0.34 %       0.33 %       0.33 %       0.32 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      20 %       21 %       14 %       19 %       16 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 13.74     $ 13.23     $ 12.17     $ 14.88     $ 14.23
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.12 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.15       0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      3.44       1.15       2.40       (1.25 )       1.59
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.56       1.25       2.53       (1.10 )       1.74
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.11 )       (0.13 )       (0.13 )       (0.14 )       (0.07 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.42 )       (0.61 )       (1.34 )       (1.47 )       (1.02 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.53 )       (0.74 )       (1.47 )       (1.61 )       (1.09 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.77     $ 13.74     $ 13.23     $ 12.17     $ 14.88
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      26.04 %       10.71 %       22.19 %       (8.93 )%       12.75 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 825,440     $ 771,671     $ 803,521     $ 713,258     $ 869,770

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.71 %       0.86 %       0.96 %       0.93 %       0.96 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.58 %       0.59 %       0.58 %       0.58 %       0.57 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.58 %       0.59 %       0.58 %       0.58 %       0.57 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      20 %       21 %       14 %       19 %       16 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

(d)

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between classes of shares issued. Not annualized for periods less than one year.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services — Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT. A REIT may focus on particular types of projects, such as apartment complexes or shopping centers, or on particular geographic regions, or both. An investment in a REIT may be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; and variations in rental income.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Each class of shares bears its pro-rata portion of expenses attributable to its series, except that each class separately bears expenses related specifically to that class, such as distribution fees. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance

 

15


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Class Allocation

The investment income, expenses (other than class specific expenses charged to a class), realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated to each class of shares based upon relative net assets on the date income is earned or expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.    All share classes have equal voting rights, except that voting with respect to matters that affect a single class is limited to shares of that class.

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $14,363 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $11,752,931 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Futures Contracts

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund used futures contracts to provide market exposure on the Fund’s cash balances. Futures contracts are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to segregate liquid assets in accordance with the initial margin requirements of the broker or exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and a payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”), if any, is recorded by the Fund. Gains or losses are recognized but not considered realized until the contracts expire or are closed. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (generally equity price risk related to stock futures, interest rate risk related to bond futures, and foreign currency risk related to currency futures) and exposure to loss in excess of the variation margin disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between the change in value of the underlying securities and the prices of futures contracts, the possibility of an illiquid market, and the inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $6.5 million. There was no short contract activity during the period. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 117,021     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $  

 

*

For futures contracts, the amounts represent the cumulative appreciation/depreciation of these futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Variation margin on futures contracts.

 

16


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts    $ 644,180      $ 210,209  

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock Investment”), BlackRock Investment provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate      Annual Expense Limit

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 1

         0.26 %          0.46 %

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

         0.26 %          0.71 %

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limits in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no such waivers.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable of Class 2 shares, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

17


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 865,315,792        $        $        $ 865,315,792

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         11,752,931                            11,752,931

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         5,150,124                            5,150,124
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         882,218,847                            882,218,847
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         117,021                            117,021
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 882,335,868        $        $        $ 882,335,868
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. These investments are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

       $ 168,593,515        $ 294,699,743

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

 

18


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $593,009,200. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 323,034,668  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (33,825,021 )
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 289,209,647  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

       $ 10,191,642        $ 18,130,464        $ 28,322,106

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

       $ 10,984,719        $ 34,057,798        $ 45,042,517

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

       $ 22,126,406        $ 95,379,448        $        $ 289,209,647        $ 406,715,501

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, mark-to-market of futures contracts, investments in real estate investment trusts and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 55% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

19


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

20


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 64.01% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $4,314,386.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $18,130,464.

 

21


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

22


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

23


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

 

24


The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

25


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year

  Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
 

Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
 

Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance.
Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Lead
Independent
Trustee
 

Since 10/14

(Trustee since 2/07)

  Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None
Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)
Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica Thematic Trust (2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
  Trustee   Since 2/04  

Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and

Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015

  46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11  

President, Allianz Investment

Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present

  46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

26


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   

Positions

Held with
AIM Complex

  

Term of

Office(1)/ Length

of Time Served

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963)
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.
Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to
present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment
Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.
Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013
to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

27


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.   

ANNRPT1221 02/22


AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2021

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

Management Discussion and Analysis

Page 1

Expense Examples and Portfolio Composition

Page 3

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

Page 4

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Page 12

Statement of Operations

Page 12

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 13

Financial Highlights

Page 14

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 15

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 22

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 23

Other Information

Page 24

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 25

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 28

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholder of the Fund. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus, which contains details concerning the sales charges and other pertinent information.


AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Allianz Investment Management LLC serves as the Manager for the AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2021?*

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (the “Fund”) returned 18.12%. That compared to a 28.71%, (1.54)% and a 15.96% total return for its benchmarks, the S&P 500® Index, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index, and the Moderate Composite Index, respectively.1

Even as the coronavirus pandemic continued to impact global economies, U.S. stocks climbed in 2021, extending a period of healthy growth that began after the sharp decline in February and March 2020. The S&P 500® Index repeatedly reached record highs throughout the year. Equities advanced as the economy reopened and recovered — facilitated by the rollout of coronavirus vaccines and significant federal fiscal relief — and as corporations reported robust earnings growth. However, the financial markets suffered periodically during the year over concerns about elevated inflation, which stemmed in part from global supply chain disruptions, the emergence of new coronavirus variants, and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to taper its monthly asset purchases starting in November.

The equity portion of the Fund slightly underperformed the S&P 500® Index but outperformed its composite benchmark. The Fund’s fixed income holdings posted a positive return during the one-year period, outperforming the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Within equities, stock selection in health care and communication services contributed the most to relative performance. Conversely, stock selection and allocation effects in information technology detracted from relative results.

Within fixed-income, the Fund’s above-benchmark exposure to bank loans and high-yield bonds aided relative results, as they were the best performing areas of the fixed-income market during the year.

Overall, the Fund’s exposure to equities increased compared to the beginning of the period, as the Fund added to select stocks in the communication services and consumer staples sectors. The Fund’s overall weighting in fixed income slightly decreased during the year, as the subadvisor reduced exposure to high-yield bonds. The cash position declined compared to the beginning of the period as a result of these shifts.

The Fund maintained exposure to covered call options during the period. This type of derivative provides downside protection for the portfolio while offering the benefits of owning a stock, such as dividends and capital appreciation, so long as the stock remains below the option strike price. The Fund’s covered call strategy made a modestly positive contribution to returns.

 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

*

The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change. There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as described or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future. The information contained in this commentary is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell securities in the sector mentioned. The Fund’s holdings and weightings are as of December 31, 2021.

 

1 

For a complete description of the Fund’s performance benchmarks please refer to page 2 of this report.

 

 

1


AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund Review (Unaudited)

 

Fund Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation with preservation of capital as an important intermediate-term objective. This objective may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 50% of its net assets in the common stock of established U.S. Companies that have above-average potential for capital growth. The remaining assets are generally invested in convertible securities, corporate and government debt, bank loans, and foreign securities.

Investment Concerns

Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.

International investing may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations.

Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.

Value-based investments are subject to the risk that the broad market may not recognize their intrinsic value.

Investing in a single industry or sector, or concentrating investments in a limited number of industries or sectors, tends to increase the risk that economic, political, or regulatory developments affecting certain industries or sectors will have a large impact on the value of the portfolio.

Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates.

Mortgage-backed investments involve risk of loss due to prepayments and, like any bond, due to default. Because of the sensitivity of mortgage-related securities to changes in interest rates, the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities.

High-yield bonds have a higher risk of default or other adverse credit events, but have the potential to pay higher earnings over investment-grade bonds. The higher risk of default, or the inability of the creditor to repay its debt, is the primary reason for the higher interest rates on high-yield bonds.

Investing in derivative instruments involves risks that may be different from or greater than the risk associated with investing directly in securities or other traditional instruments.

For a complete description of these and other risks associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.

 

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment

LOGO

The chart above represents a comparison of a hypothetical investment in the Fund versus a similar investment in the Fund’s benchmarks and represents the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2021
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

         18.12 %          19.95 %          14.79 %          13.93 %

S&P 500® Index

         28.71 %          26.07 %          18.47 %          16.55 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (1.54 )%          4.79 %          3.57 %          2.90 %

Moderate Composite Index

         15.96 %          17.77 %          12.78 %          11.22 %

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.Allianzlife.com.

 

Expense Ratio      Gross

AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

         1.08 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 30, 2021. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.70% through at least April 30, 2023. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written contract limiting operating expenses, excluding certain expenses such as interest expense and acquired fund fees and expenses, to 1.20% through April 30, 2023. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2021 expense ratio can be found in the Financial Highlights.

The total return of the Fund does not reflect the effect of any insurance charges, the annual maintenance fee or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Such charges, fees and tax payments would reduce the performance quoted.

Acquired fund fees and expenses are incurred indirectly by the Fund through the valuation of the Fund’s investments in the other investment companies. Accordingly, acquired fund fees and expenses affect the Fund’s total returns. Because these fees and expenses are not included in the Fund’s financial highlights, the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses, as shown in the prospectus, do not correlate to the ratios of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights. Without acquired fund fees and expenses the Fund’s gross expense ratio would be 1.06%.

The Fund’s performance is measured against the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500®”), the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the Moderate Composite Index (“Composite”). The S&P 500® is representative of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a measure of the U.S. Stock market as a whole. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a market value-weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed-rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of at least one year. The Composite is a blended index comprised of (60%) of the S&P 500® and (40%) of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. These indexes are unmanaged and do not reflect the deduction of fees associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for services provided to the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (the “Fund”), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Please note that the expenses shown in each table do not reflect expenses that apply to the subaccount or the insurance contract. If the expenses that apply to the subaccount of the insurance contract were included, your costs would have been higher.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the periods presented below.

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,075.40     $ 5.39       1.03 %

The Hypothetical Expense table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
7/1/21
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/21
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/21 - 12/31/21

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.01     $ 5.24       1.03 %

 

*

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

Portfolio Composition

(Unaudited)

 

Investments   Percent of Net Assets

Common Stocks

      72.6 %

Bank Loans

      12.0

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      8.6

Corporate Bonds

      8.0

Preferred Stocks

      0.8

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.8

Yankee Debt Obligations

      0.3

Asset Backed Securities

      0.2

Convertible Preferred Stock

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      103.4

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (3.4 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (72.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.4%):       
  7,900      Lockheed Martin Corp.    $ 2,807,739  
  6,000      Northrop Grumman Corp.      2,322,420  
     

 

 

 
        5,130,159  
     

 

 

 
Banks (5.5%):       
  511,835      Bank of America Corp.      22,771,539  
  274,873      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      55,117,534  
     

 

 

 
        77,889,073  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.9%):       
  53,700      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      3,179,577  
  584,696      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      21,551,894  
  15,900      PepsiCo, Inc.      2,761,989  
     

 

 

 
        27,493,460  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.5%):       
  11,400      CME Group, Inc.      2,604,444  
  140,954      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      19,278,279  
     

 

 

 
        21,882,723  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.3%):       
  415,000      Aurora Innovation, Inc.*^      4,672,900  
  98,142      Waste Connections, Inc.      13,373,810  
  3,800      Waste Management, Inc.      634,220  
     

 

 

 
        18,680,930  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.4%):       
  88,200      Cisco Systems, Inc.      5,589,234  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.8%):       
  79,863      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      7,105,411  
  318,064      Exelon Corp.      18,371,377  
     

 

 

 
        25,476,788  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.1%):       
  77,623      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      12,523,695  
  5,924      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      2,588,136  
     

 

 

 
        15,111,831  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (4.8%):       
  117,704      Becton Dickinson & Co.      29,600,202  
  97,515      Danaher Corp.      32,083,410  
  72,491      Hologic, Inc.*      5,549,911  
  11,400      Medtronic plc      1,179,330  
     

 

 

 
        68,412,853  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (6.4%):       
  84,227      Humana, Inc.      39,069,536  
  104,117      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      52,281,311  
     

 

 

 
        91,350,847  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (5.2%):       
  61,004      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*#      9,516,014  
  43,995      Marriott International, Inc., Class A*      7,269,734  
  14,161      McDonald’s Corp.#      3,796,139  
  386,980      Yum! Brands, Inc.      53,736,043  
     

 

 

 
        74,317,930  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (4.9%):       
  672,379      General Electric Co.      63,519,644  
  11,637      Roper Technologies, Inc.      5,723,775  
     

 

 

 
        69,243,419  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.5%):       
  202,476      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      35,194,378  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services (6.7%):       
  11,728      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*#    $ 33,976,485  
  16,334      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*#      47,263,899  
  43,326      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      14,572,700  
     

 

 

 
        95,813,084  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (5.3%):       
  22,589      Amazon.com, Inc.*#      75,319,406  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.1%):       
  36,281      Fiserv, Inc.*#      3,765,605  
  36,771      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      8,230,821  
  6,500      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      2,335,580  
  70,200      Visa, Inc., Class A#      15,213,042  
     

 

 

 
        29,545,048  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (5.2%):       
  120,007      PerkinElmer, Inc.      24,128,607  
  75,321      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      50,257,184  
     

 

 

 
        74,385,791  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.7%):       
  167,840      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      10,384,261  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (4.5%):       
  286,582      Ameren Corp.      25,508,664  
  228,446      CMS Energy Corp.      14,860,412  
  344,611      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      22,995,892  
     

 

 

 
        63,364,968  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  2,689      TransUnion      318,862  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%):       
  14,400      NXP Semiconductors NV      3,280,032  
     

 

 

 
Software (9.2%):       
  326,966      Microsoft Corp.#      109,965,205  
  80,552      salesforce.com, Inc.*      20,470,680  
     

 

 

 
        130,435,885  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.0%):       
  5,600      Ross Stores, Inc.#      639,968  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (1.0%):       
  77,510      Apple, Inc.      13,763,451  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $716,072,345)

     1,033,024,381  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.8%):       
Capital Markets (0.0%):       
  3,600      Charles Schwab Corp. (The), Series D, 23.35%, 11/14/19      91,728  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.1%):       
  80,350      SCE Trust IV, Series J, 2.79%, 12/31/49      2,013,571  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.7%):       
  98,312      CMS Energy Corp., 1.63%, 10/15/78      2,629,846  
  134,780      CMS Energy Corp., 1.62%, 3/1/79      3,625,582  
  44,220      NiSource, Inc., Series B, 2.87%, 11/21/19      1,203,668  
  19,227      NiSource, Inc., 0.06%, 3/1/24      2,153,232  
     

 

 

 
        9,612,328  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $10,954,250)

     11,717,627  
  

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stock (0.1%):       
Electric Utilities (0.1%):       
  36,961      American Electric Power Co., Inc., 5.35%, 3/15/22      1,852,485  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Preferred Stock (Cost $1,840,522)

     1,852,485  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (0.2%):       
$ 1,420,650      Dominos Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A23, Series 2018-1A, 4.12%, 7/25/47, Callable 7/25/24 @ 100(a)    $ 1,487,478  
  1,348,300      Dominos Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A2I, Series 2018-1A, 4.12%, 7/25/48, Callable 10/25/22 @ 100(a)      1,371,963  
  633,713      Dominos Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 2019-1A, 3.67%, 10/25/49, Callable 10/25/26 @ 100(a)      674,069  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $3,388,426)

     3,533,510  
  

 

 

 
Bank Loans (12.0%):       
Airlines (0.7%):       
  6,405,000      Formula One Management Limited Facility B3, 3.50% (LIBOR+250bps ), 2/1/24      6,394,304  
  2,770,000      SkyMiles IP Ltd. (Delta Air Lines, Inc.) Initial Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 10/20/27      2,925,812  
  

 

 

 
        9,320,116  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.2%):       
  485,000      Filtration Group Corporation 2021 Incremental Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 10/21/28      483,889  
  850,551      Filtration Group Corporation Initial Dollar Term Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 3/31/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      842,310  
  1,529,998      Filtration Group Corporation Initial Euro Term Ln, 2.85% (EURLIBOR+350bps ), 3/31/25      1,734,130  
     

 

 

 
        3,060,329  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.7%):       
  9,165,000      Medline Borrower, LP Initial Dollar Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 10/23/28      9,160,967  
  537,300      Woof Holdings, Inc. Initial First Lien Term Ln, 4.50% (LIBOR+375bps ), 12/21/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      537,300  
     

 

 

 
        9,698,267  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.9%):       
  347,416      H.B. Fuller Company Commitment Ln, 2.06% (LIBOR+200bps ), 10/20/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      347,155  
  8,352,652      USI, Inc. 2017 New Term Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 3/12/22, Callable 3/12/22 @ 100      8,282,574  
  4,514,430      USI, Inc. 2021 New Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 12/2/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      4,479,759  
     

 

 

 
        13,109,488  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.7%):       
  5,275,000      Ascend Learning, LLC 2021 First Lien Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/11/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101      5,262,920  
  755,000      Ascend Learning, LLC Term Ln 2L, 0.06% (LIBOR+0bps ), 11/18/29      756,261  
  3,526,635      Loire UK Midco 3 Limited Facility B Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 4/21/27      3,482,552  
     

 

 

 
        9,501,733  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
  728,175      Acrisure, LLC 2021-1 Term Ln, 4.25% (LIBOR+375bps ), 2/15/27      726,049  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Electric Utilities (0.6%):       
$ 1,442,145      Alliant Holdings I LLC 2019 Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/9/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100    $ 1,426,700  
  4,354,088      Alliant Holdings I LLC TLB-4 Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 11/5/27      4,337,759  
  2,690,253      Alliant Holdings Intermediate, LLC 2018 Initial Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/9/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      2,661,198  
     

 

 

 
        8,425,657  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  75,000      EyeCare Partners, LLC Amndmnt 1 Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 11/15/28      74,644  
  274,307      EyeCare Partners, LLC Initial First Lien Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 2/18/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      272,508  
  349,118      Pathway Vet Alliance LLC 2021 Replacement First Lien Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 3/31/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      347,683  
     

 

 

 
        694,835  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):       
  427,850      Pacific Dental Services, LLC Term Ln, 4.00% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/5/28      427,448  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.7%):       
  1,642,710      ADMI Corp. Amndmt 4 Term Ln, 3.43% (LIBOR+337.5bps ), 12/23/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      1,631,079  
  3,082,275      ADMI Corp. Amndmt 5 Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/23/27      3,074,076  
  472,625      Heartland Dental, LLC 2021 Incremental Term Ln, 4.06% (LIBOR+400bps ), 4/30/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      471,444  
  5,105,453      Heartland Dental, LLC Initial Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 4/30/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      5,050,161  
     

 

 

 
        10,226,760  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.5%):       
  70,000      Cedar Fair LP Term B Ln, 1.81% (LIBOR+175bps ), 4/13/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      68,491  
  837,434      Four Seasons Holdings Inc. 2013 First Lien Term Ln, 2.06% (LIBOR+200bps ), 11/30/23, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      833,247  
  1,873,450      IRB Holding Corp. 2020 Replacement Term B Ln, 2.81% (LIBOR+275bps ), 2/5/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      1,868,972  
  1,993,031      IRB Holding Corp. 4th Amndmnt Incremental Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 12/15/27      1,991,158  
  604,972      Life Time, Inc. 2021 Refin Term Ln, 4.81% (LIBOR+475bps ), 12/16/24      607,622  
  1,355,900      Seaworld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. Term B Ln, 3.25% (PRIME+0bps ), 8/25/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101      1,349,121  
     

 

 

 
        6,718,611  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.8%):       
  4,129,572      HIG Finance 2 Limited 2021 Dollar Refin Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 11/12/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      4,108,056  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Insurance, continued       
$ 13,577,270      HUB International, Ltd. B-3 Incremental Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 4/25/25    $ 13,564,508  
  21,373,786      HUB International, Ltd. Initial Term Ln, 2.81% (LIBOR+275bps ), 4/25/25      21,111,530  
  877,045      Ryan Specialty Group, LLC Initial Term Loan, 3.75% (PRIME+200bps ), 9/1/27      875,730  
     

 

 

 
        39,659,824  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.0%):       
  200,000      CoreLogic, Inc. Initial Term Ln Second Lien, 6.56% (LIBOR+650bps ), 6/4/29      201,376  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.3%):       
  160,407      Avantor Funding, Inc. Initial B-4 Dollar Term Ln, 2.06% (LIBOR+200bps ), 11/21/24      160,006  
  3,658,861      Sunshine Luxembourg VII S.a r.l. Facility B3, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 10/1/26      3,670,313  
     

 

 

 
        3,830,319  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.3%):       
  4,445,268      TK Elevator Midco GmbH Facility B1, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 7/30/27      4,444,646  
  535,000      Welbilt, Inc. 2018 Term B Ln, 2.56% (LIBOR+250bps ), 10/23/25      532,549  
     

 

 

 
        4,977,195  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  2,846,250      Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. Amndmnt 2 Incremental Term Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 10/30/26      2,841,810  
  3,067,313      CoreLogic, Inc. Iniitial Term Ln First Lien, 0.06% (LIBOR+0bps ), 6/2/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      3,061,178  
     

 

 

 
        5,902,988  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.4%):       
  317,354      Applied Systems, Inc. 2021 Second Lien Term Ln, 5.56% (LIBOR+550bps ), 9/19/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101      319,337  
  2,879,750      Applied Systems, Inc. First Lien Term Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 9/19/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      2,876,870  
  625,494      Azalea TopCo, Inc. 2021 First Lien Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 7/24/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      624,906  
  4,048,167      Azalea TopCo, Inc. Initial First Lien Tern Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 7/24/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      4,026,671  
  480,000      Polaris Newco, LLC Dollar First Lien Term Ln, 4.06% (LIBOR+400bps ), 6/2/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      479,549  
  473,875      Project Boost Purchaser, LLC 2021 Tranche 2 Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 5/30/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      473,482  
  4,245,000      RealPage, Inc. Initial First Lien Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 4/24/28, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      4,229,761  
  200,000      RealPage, Inc. Initial Second Lien Term Ln, 6.56% (LIBOR+650bps ), 4/23/29      202,300  
  872,813      Sophia, L.P. First Lien Term Ln B, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 10/7/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101      872,158  
  785,000      UKG Inc. 2021 Incremental Second Lien Term Ln, 5.31% (LIBOR+525bps ), 5/3/27      786,476  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Software, continued       
$ 18,923,555      UKG Inc. 2021-2 Incremental First Lien Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/4/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101    $ 18,811,149  
  493,638      Ultimate Software Group Inc., Initial First Lien Term Ln, 3.81% (LIBOR+375bps ), 5/4/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      491,786  
     

 

 

 
        34,194,445  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.5%):       
  6,710,000      Mileage Plus Holdings LLC Initial Term Loan, 5.31% (LIBOR+525bps ), 6/21/27      7,066,502  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.2%):       
  947,225      PetVet Care Centers, LLC 2018 First Lien Term Ln, 3.31% (LIBOR+325bps ), 2/14/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      940,718  
  2,024,356      PetVet Care Centers, LLC 2021 First Lien Replacement Term Ln, 3.56% (LIBOR+350bps ), 2/14/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      2,021,825  
  305,635      PetVet Care Centers, LLC Initial First Lien Term Ln, 2.81% (LIBOR+275bps ), 2/14/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      301,815  
     

 

 

 
        3,264,358  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.0%):       
  606,888      Eagle Broadband Investments, LLC Initial Term Ln, 3.06% (LIBOR+300bps ), 11/12/27, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100      605,753  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $170,732,642)

     171,612,053  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (8.0%):       
Airlines (0.3%):       
  2,065,000      Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles IP, Ltd., 4.50%, 10/20/25(a)      2,163,765  
  1,150,000      Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles IP, Ltd., 4.75%, 10/20/28(a)      1,258,441  
  1,250,000      Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets, Ltd., 6.50%, 6/20/27, Callable 6/30/23 @ 103.25(a)      1,334,375  
  172,661      U.S. Airways Group, Inc., Series 2010-1A, 6.25%, 10/22/24      176,977  
     

 

 

 
        4,933,558  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.2%):       
  467,000      Clarios Global LP, 6.75%, 5/15/25, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.38(a)      488,599  
  643,000      Clarios Global LP / Clarios US Finance Co., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 5/15/22 @ 103.13(a)      679,972  
  1,070,000      Clarios Global LP / Clarios US Finance Co., 8.50%, 5/15/27, Callable 5/15/22 @ 104.25(a)      1,131,525  
     

 

 

 
        2,300,096  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  280,000      Lennox International, Inc., 3.00%, 11/15/23, Callable 9/15/23 @ 100      287,750  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.0%):       
  452,000      State Street Corp., Series F, 3.80% (US0003M+360 bps), Callable 3/15/22 @ 100      454,260  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Financial Services (0.2%):       
$ 2,250,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 7.00%, 11/15/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.75(a)    $ 2,255,625  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  275,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/22 @ 103.38(a)      283,937  
  250,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(a)      250,000  
  250,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(a)      254,375  
     

 

 

 
        788,312  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.9%):       
  300,000      Netflix, Inc., 5.50%, 2/15/22      301,125  
  1,690,000      Netflix, Inc., 5.88%, 2/15/25      1,899,138  
  4,385,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.38%, 11/15/26^      4,856,387  
  5,423,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.88%, 4/15/28      6,182,220  
  7,300,000      Netflix, Inc., 5.88%, 11/15/28      8,778,250  
  3,940,000      Netflix, Inc., 6.38%, 5/15/29      4,910,225  
  125,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.88%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100(a)      145,625  
     

 

 

 
        27,072,970  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.0%):       
  605,000      SBA Communications Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94      623,150  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.1%):       
  860,000      Teleflex, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/27, Callable 11/15/22 @ 102.31      893,325  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.2%):       
  1,355,000      Hadrian Merger Sub, Inc., 8.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 104.25(a)      1,393,956  
  1,060,000      Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 10.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/22 @ 105(a)      1,126,250  
  450,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.63%, 9/1/24, Callable 1/24/22 @ 102.31(a)      460,688  
     

 

 

 
        2,980,894  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.3%):       
  2,552,000      Cedar Fair LP /Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp., 5.38%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/22 @ 102.69      2,615,800  
  920,000      Cedar Fair LP /Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp. / Millennium Op, 5.50%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 102.75(a)      952,200  
  2,308,000      Cedar Fair, LP, 5.25%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.63      2,365,700  
  1,780,000      Cedar Fair, LP / Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp. / Millennium Op, 6.50%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.25      1,895,700  
  100,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 5.38%, 5/1/25, Callable 5/1/22 @ 102.69(a)      103,500  
  70,000      IRB Holding Corp., 6.75%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/7/22 @ 103.38(a)      71,400  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
$ 5,248,000      KFC Holding Co. /Pizza Hut Holdings LLC /Taco Bell of America LLC, 4.75%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/22 @ 102.38(a)    $ 5,451,360  
  1,253,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 1/15/23 @ 102.88(a)      1,298,421  
  355,000      Marriott International, Inc., 3.13%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      370,885  
  5,594,000      Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 4.88%, 7/31/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.22(a)      5,649,940  
  3,690,000      Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 5.50%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/22 @ 102.75^(a)      3,814,537  
  1,810,000      Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., 7.00%, 7/1/25, Callable 7/1/22 @ 103.5(a)      1,929,913  
  1,312,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 3.88%, 11/1/23, Callable 8/1/23 @ 100      1,367,760  
  465,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 7.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 4/1/22 @ 103.88(a)      489,412  
  370,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100(a)      399,138  
  1,042,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/37      1,314,223  
  1,889,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 5.35%, 11/1/43, Callable 5/1/43 @ 100      2,082,622  
     

 

 

 
        32,172,511  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.3%):  
  3,922,000      General Electric Co., Series D, 3.53% (US0003M+333 bps), Callable 3/15/22 @ 100      3,880,672  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.7%):       
  395,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(a)      399,938  
  6,567,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/18/22 @ 103.5(a)      6,739,384  
  460,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(a)      470,350  
  2,610,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/7/22 @ 101.72(a)      2,632,837  
     

 

 

 
        10,242,509  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  1,230,000      Photo Holdings Merger Sub, Inc., 8.50%, 10/1/26, Callable 10/1/22 @ 104.25^(a)      1,279,200  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):       
  1,220,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(a)      1,277,950  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.1%):       
  1,042,000      Manitowoc Foodservice, Inc., 9.50%, 2/15/24, Callable 2/7/22 @ 100.00      1,052,420  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.3%):       
  1,405,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 4.00%, 3/1/23, Callable 1/24/22 @ 100(a)      1,405,000  
  6,869,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 5.13%, 5/1/27, Callable 5/1/22 @ 102.56(a)      7,109,415  
  7,881,000      CCO Holdings LLC, 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 8/1/22 @ 102.5(a)      8,196,240  
  1,630,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 8/1/22 @ 102.5(a)      1,689,087  
     

 

 

 
        18,399,742  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):       
$ 1,705,000      NiSource, Inc., 5.65% (H15T5Y+284 bps), Callable 6/15/23 @ 100    $ 1,767,202  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  405,000      Korn Ferry, 4.63%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/15/22 @ 102.31(a)      417,150  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  275,000      TK Elevator US Newco, Inc., 5.25%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.63(a)      288,750  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.1%):       
  715,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(a)      718,575  
  220,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(a)      222,200  
     

 

 

 
        940,775  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $107,351,573)

     114,308,821  
     

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (0.3%):  
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.1%):  
  1,450,000      Altice France Holding SA, 10.50%, 5/15/27, Callable 5/15/22 @ 105.25(a)      1,558,750  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.2%):  
  745,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.88%, 10/15/23(a)      782,250  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued  
Electrical Equipment, continued  
$ 260,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 5.63%, 11/1/24(a)    $ 285,025  
  925,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 5.00%, 10/1/25(a)      1,002,469  
     

 

 

 
        2,069,744  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $3,511,526)

     3,628,494  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.8%):
      
  11,161,178      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 0.03%(b)(c)      11,161,178  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $11,161,178)

     11,161,178  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (8.6%):  
Money Markets (8.6%):  
  121,946,477      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.01%(c)      121,946,477  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $121,946,477)

     121,946,477  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,146,958,939) — 103.4%(d)

     1,472,785,026  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (3.4)%

     (49,031,505
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,423,753,521  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2021.

H15T5Y—5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2021. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2021 was $10,761,710.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

#

All or a portion of these investments are held as collateral for the written options. As of December 31, 2021, the total value of securities held as collateral for the written options is $40,556,168.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors. The sub-adviser has deemed these securities to be liquid based on procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(b)

Purchased with cash collateral held from securities lending. The value of the collateral could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before December 31, 2021.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2021.

 

(d)

See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

At December 31, 2021, the Fund’s over-the-counter options written were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike Price      Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1760.00  USD        1/21/22        14      $ 24,640      $ (1,587,867

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1780.00  USD        1/21/22        14        24,920        (1,559,870

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1800.00  USD        1/21/22        14        25,200        (1,531,872

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1980.00  USD        6/17/22        4        7,920        (375,068

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        2000.00  USD        6/17/22        4        8,000        (367,443

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        2100.00  USD        6/17/22        4        8,400        (329,712

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2550.00  USD        6/17/22        2        5,100        (87,114

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2600.00  USD        6/17/22        2        5,200        (79,593

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2650.00  USD        6/17/22        2        5,300        (72,374

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1960.00  USD        9/16/22        4        7,840        (392,351

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        1980.00  USD        9/16/22        4        7,920        (384,986

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        2000.00  USD        9/16/22        4        8,000        (377,650

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike Price      Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        2100.00  USD        9/16/22        4      $ 8,400      $ (341,493

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2450.00  USD        9/16/22        1        2,450        (56,039

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2500.00  USD        9/16/22        1        2,500        (52,246

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2550.00  USD        9/16/22        1        2,550        (48,573

Alphabet, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        2600.00  USD        9/16/22        1        2,600        (45,029

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        3200.00  USD        1/20/23        3        9,600        (62,914

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        3300.00  USD        1/20/23        3        9,900        (53,054

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        3400.00  USD        1/20/23        3        10,200        (44,493

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        3500.00  USD        1/20/23        4        14,000        (49,562

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        3800.00  USD        1/21/22        6        22,800        (1,571

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        3900.00  USD        1/21/22        3        11,700        (496

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        3900.00  USD        1/21/22        6        23,400        (992

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        4000.00  USD        1/21/22        6        24,000        (675

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4000.00  USD        1/21/22        4        16,000        (450

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        4000.00  USD        1/21/22        2        8,000        (225

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4100.00  USD        1/21/22        4        16,400        (330

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        4100.00  USD        1/21/22        2        8,200        (165

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4200.00  USD        1/21/22        4        16,800        (254

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        4200.00  USD        1/21/22        3        12,600        (191

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4300.00  USD        1/21/22        3        12,900        (150

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        4300.00  USD        1/21/22        2        8,600        (100

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4000.00  USD        1/20/23        2        8,000        (36,729

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4100.00  USD        1/20/23        2        8,200        (32,226

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4200.00  USD        1/20/23        2        8,400        (28,259

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4300.00  USD        1/20/23        2        8,600        (24,790

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4400.00  USD        1/20/23        2        8,800        (21,754

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        4500.00  USD        1/20/23        1        4,500        (9,548

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4500.00  USD        1/20/23        2        9,000        (19,096

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4600.00  USD        1/20/23        2        9,200        (16,775

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4700.00  USD        1/20/23        2        9,400        (14,759

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4800.00  USD        1/20/23        2        9,600        (13,014

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        4900.00  USD        1/20/23        2        9,800        (11,502

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        5000.00  USD        1/20/23        2        10,000        (10,178

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        5100.00  USD        1/20/23        2        10,200        (9,003

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        90.00  USD        1/21/22        237        21,330        (17,713

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        95.00  USD        1/21/22        289        27,455        (1,186

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        97.50  USD        1/21/22        93        9,068        (129

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        100.00  USD        1/21/22        93        9,300        (51

Bank of America Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        35.00  USD        1/21/22        764        26,740        (728,990

Bank of America Corp.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        37.00  USD        1/21/22        568        21,016        (429,581

Bank of America Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        40.00  USD        1/21/22        162        6,480        (75,406

Bank of America Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        45.00  USD        1/21/22        162        7,290        (13,918

Bank of America Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        45.00  USD        1/20/23        705        31,725        (321,650

Bank of America Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        45.00  USD        1/20/23        1,244        55,980        (567,565

Bank of America Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        50.00  USD        1/20/23        346        17,300        (91,803

Bank of America Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        50.00  USD        1/20/23        306        15,300        (81,190

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        45.00  USD        1/21/22        294        13,230        (540,078

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        47.50  USD        1/21/22        294        13,965        (466,578

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        50.00  USD        1/21/22        294        14,700        (393,078

CME Group, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        220.00  USD        1/21/22        57        12,540        (59,629

CME Group, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        57        13,110        (18,897

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        52.50  USD        1/21/22        268        14,070        (179,935

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        55.00  USD        1/21/22        269        14,795        (114,504

Danaher Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        270.00  USD        1/21/22        12        3,240        (71,086

Danaher Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        280.00  USD        1/21/22        31        8,680        (153,160

Danaher Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        290.00  USD        1/21/22        19        5,510        (75,357

Danaher Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        300.00  USD        1/21/22        129        38,700        (388,718

Exelon Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        50.00  USD        1/21/22        93        4,650        (72,168

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        340.00  USD        1/21/22        34      $ 11,560      $ (24,048

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        345.00  USD        1/21/22        34        11,730        (17,357

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        380.00  USD        1/21/22        10        3,800        (410

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        400.00  USD        1/21/22        250        100,000        (3,182

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        345.00  USD        9/16/22        19        6,555        (65,644

Facebook, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        360.00  USD        9/16/22        19        6,840        (53,781

Fiserv, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        37        4,810        (19

Fiserv, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        37        4,995        (8

Fleetcor Technologies, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        300.00  USD        1/21/22        14        4,200        (21

Fleetcor Technologies, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        310.00  USD        1/21/22        10        3,100        (8

General Electric Co.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        12.00  USD        1/21/22        945        11,340        (18,388

General Electric Co.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        15.00  USD        1/21/22        945        14,175        (45

General Electric Co.

   Susquehanna      Call        15.00  USD        1/21/22        1,894        28,410        (90

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        125.00  USD        1/21/22        49        6,125        (152,348

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        87        11,310        (227,721

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        38        5,130        (81,028

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        112        15,120        (238,818

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        140.00  USD        1/21/22        112        15,680        (185,908

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        125.00  USD        1/21/22        47        5,875        (56,157

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        93        12,090        (67,329

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        47        6,345        (14,646

Lockheed Martin Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        340.00  USD        1/21/22        26        8,840        (43,845

Lockheed Martin Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        360.00  USD        1/21/22        26        9,360        (7,618

Lockheed Martin Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        375.00  USD        1/21/22        27        10,125        (1,114

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        145.00  USD        1/21/22        76        11,020        (156,860

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        150.00  USD        1/21/22        76        11,400        (120,833

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        155.00  USD        1/21/22        37        5,735        (42,249

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        160.00  USD        1/21/22        37        5,920        (27,414

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        165.00  USD        1/21/22        29        4,785        (12,182

Marriott International, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        170.00  USD        1/21/22        29        4,930        (6,063

McDonald’s Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        210.00  USD        1/21/22        24        5,040        (139,633

McDonald’s Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        220.00  USD        1/21/22        23        5,060        (110,862

McDonald’s Corp.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        220.00  USD        1/21/22        19        4,180        (91,582

McDonald’s Corp.

   Royal Bank of Canada      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        19        4,370        (72,681

McDonald’s Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        23        5,290        (87,982

McDonald’s Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        260.00  USD        1/20/23        40        10,400        (102,719

McDonald’s Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        270.00  USD        1/20/23        40        10,800        (80,715

Medtronic plc

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        115.00  USD        1/21/22        38        4,370        (228

Medtronic plc

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        125.00  USD        1/21/22        38        4,750        (32

Medtronic plc

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        38        4,940        (12

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        250.00  USD        1/21/22        62        15,500        (535,187

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        255.00  USD        1/21/22        62        15,810        (504,222

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        260.00  USD        1/21/22        62        16,120        (473,311

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        265.00  USD        1/21/22        48        12,720        (342,540

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        270.00  USD        1/21/22        48        12,960        (318,679

Microsoft Corp.

   Bank of America      Call        270.00  USD        1/21/22        28        7,560        (185,896

Microsoft Corp.

   Bank of America      Call        275.00  USD        1/21/22        28        7,700        (171,999

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        275.00  USD        1/21/22        48        13,200        (294,856

Microsoft Corp.

   Bank of America      Call        280.00  USD        1/21/22        28        7,840        (158,129

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        280.00  USD        1/21/22        189        52,920        (1,067,368

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        300.00  USD        1/20/23        187        56,100        (1,129,085

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        320.00  USD        1/20/23        65        20,800        (310,430

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        330.00  USD        1/20/23        61        20,130        (256,600

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        330.00  USD        1/20/23        65        21,450        (273,426

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        340.00  USD        1/20/23        65        22,100        (239,315

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        340.00  USD        1/20/23        126        42,840        (463,903

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        126        44,100        (403,680

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        64        22,400        (205,044

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2021

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Value  

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        65      $ 22,750      $ (208,247

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        355.00  USD        1/20/23        64        22,720        (190,899

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        360.00  USD        1/20/23        64        23,040        (177,526

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        360.00  USD        1/20/23        65        23,400        (180,300

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        365.00  USD        1/20/23        44        16,060        (113,382

Northrop Grumman Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        315.00  USD        1/21/22        30        9,450        (217,594

Northrop Grumman Corp.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        325.00  USD        1/21/22        30        9,750        (187,731

NXP Semiconductors NV

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        195.00  USD        1/21/22        48        9,360        (163,082

NXP Semiconductors NV

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        200.00  USD        1/21/22        48        9,600        (140,004

NXP Semiconductors NV

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        210.00  USD        1/21/22        48        10,080        (95,856

PepsiCo, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        145.00  USD        1/21/22        80        11,600        (230,364

PepsiCo, Inc.

   Susquehanna      Call        155.00  USD        1/21/22        79        12,245        (149,136

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        175.00  USD        1/21/22        38        6,650        (98,224

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        180.00  USD        1/21/22        78        14,040        (164,068

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        185.00  USD        1/21/22        78        14,430        (127,568

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        190.00  USD        1/21/22        40        7,600        (47,632

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        220.00  USD        1/20/23        88        19,360        (94,227

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        230.00  USD        1/20/23        88        20,240        (70,033

Ross Stores, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        19        2,470        (83

Ross Stores, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        19        2,565        (34

Ross Stores, Inc.

   Bank of America      Call        135.00  USD        1/21/22        9        1,215        (16

Ross Stores, Inc.

   Bank of America      Call        140.00  USD        1/21/22        9        1,260        (7

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        560.00  USD        1/21/22        21        11,760        (226,801

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        580.00  USD        1/21/22        44        25,520        (388,879

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        600.00  USD        1/21/22        23        13,800        (158,824

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        400.00  USD        1/21/22        19        7,600        (194,794

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        410.00  USD        1/21/22        19        7,790        (175,917

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        420.00  USD        1/21/22        19        7,980        (157,091

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        460.00  USD        1/21/22        10        4,600        (43,881

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        470.00  USD        1/21/22        10        4,700        (34,786

Visa, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        220.00  USD        1/21/22        55        12,100        (14,924

Visa, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        225.00  USD        1/21/22        65        14,625        (8,203

Visa, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        225.00  USD        1/21/22        55        12,375        (6,941

Visa, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        225.00  USD        1/21/22        79        17,775        (9,969

Visa, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        79        18,170        (4,567

Visa, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        56        12,880        (3,237

Visa, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        230.00  USD        1/21/22        65        14,950        (3,758

Visa, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        235.00  USD        1/21/22        65        15,275        (1,874

Visa, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        240.00  USD        1/21/22        38        9,120        (608

Visa, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        245.00  USD        1/21/22        89        21,805        (857

Visa, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        250.00  USD        1/21/22        36        9,000        (218

Waste Management, Inc.

   Credit Suisse First Boston      Call        130.00  USD        1/21/22        38        4,940        (140,220

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        105.00  USD        1/21/22        21        2,205        (71,106

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        110.00  USD        1/21/22        21        2,310        (60,606

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        120.00  USD        1/21/22        184        22,080        (347,580

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        125.00  USD        1/21/22        76        9,500        (106,035
              

 

 

 

Total (Premiums $12,873,423)

 

               $ (27,477,844
              

 

 

 

 

(a)

Notional amount is expressed as the number of contracts multiplied by the strike price of the underlying asset.

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Options Written

 

      Value

Options Written

   $(27,477,844)

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2021

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 1,146,958,939
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 1,472,785,026

Cash

      353,618

Interest and dividends receivable

      2,137,820

Foreign currency, at value (cost $19,962)

      19,962

Receivable for investments sold

      1,088,749

Reclaims receivable

      1,436

Prepaid expenses

      6,859
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,476,393,470
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      12,373,708

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      217,711

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      11,161,178

Written Options (Premiums received $12,873,423)

      27,477,844

Manager fees payable

      838,874

Administration fees payable

      209,547

Distribution fees payable

      299,599

Custodian fees payable

      5,840

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      2,057

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,155

Trustee fees payable

      11,553

Other accrued liabilities

      40,883
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      52,639,949
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,423,753,521
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 948,188,653

Total distributable earnings

      475,564,868
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,423,753,521
   

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

      64,893,114

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 21.94
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $10,761,710.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 12,270,245

Dividends

      11,590,348

Income from securities lending

      39,083

Foreign withholding tax

      (22,995 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      23,876,681
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      10,522,398

Administration fees

      482,376

Distribution fees

      3,507,466

Custodian fees

      33,145

Administrative and compliance services fees

      14,523

Transfer agent fees

      5,310

Trustee fees

      61,091

Professional fees

      54,457

Shareholder reports

      38,804

Other expenses

      23,550
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      14,743,120

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (701,514 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      14,041,606
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      9,835,075
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments:

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies

      166,146,172

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

      2,059,105

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies

      61,809,805

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

      (6,855,794 )
   

 

 

 

Net realized and Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments

      223,159,288
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 232,994,363
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 9,835,075     $ 11,697,681

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      168,205,277       153,316,216

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      54,954,011       25,878,025
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      232,994,363       190,891,922
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (169,653,015 )       (105,007,013 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (169,653,015 )       (105,007,013 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      15,884,100       58,978,742

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      169,653,015       105,007,013

Value of shares redeemed

      (161,378,519 )       (185,127,376 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      24,158,596       (21,141,621 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      87,499,944       64,743,288

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,336,253,577       1,271,510,289
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,423,753,521     $ 1,336,253,577
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      710,118       3,181,285

Dividends reinvested

      8,097,996       5,384,975

Shares redeemed

      (7,118,225 )       (10,053,776 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,689,889       (1,487,516 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
    

2021

 

2020

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 21.14     $ 19.66     $ 16.93     $ 18.03     $ 16.48
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.16 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.41       0.17

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      3.54       3.10       3.79       (0.31 )       2.28
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      3.70       3.29       4.05       0.10       2.45
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.23 )       (0.29 )       (0.42 )       (0.17 )       (0.24 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.67 )       (1.52 )       (0.90 )       (1.03 )       (0.66 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.90 )       (1.81 )       (1.32 )       (1.20 )       (0.90 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 21.94     $ 21.14     $ 19.66     $ 16.93     $ 18.03
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      18.12 %       17.48 %       24.38 %       0.38 %       15.04 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,423,754     $ 1,336,254     $ 1,271,510     $ 1,079,607     $ 1,146,974

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.70 %       0.97 %       1.36 %       2.25 %       0.97 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.05 %       1.06 %       1.05 %       1.05 %       1.05 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.00 %       1.01 %       1.00 %       1.00 %       1.00 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      49 %       87 %       45 %       70 %       65 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

The returns include reinvested dividends and fund level expenses, but exclude insurance contract charges. If these charges were included, the returns would have been lower.

 

(c)

Excludes fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

1. Organization

The Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 13, 1999. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and thus is determined to be an investment company, and follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 “Financial Services —Investment Companies.” The Trust consists of 20 separate investment portfolios (individually a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”), of which one is included in this report, the AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (the “Fund”), and 19 are presented in separate reports. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund without par value. Shares of the Fund are available through the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Currently, the Fund only offers its shares to separate accounts of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, affiliates of the Trust and the Manager, as defined below.

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security Valuation

The Fund records its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described in Note 4 below.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on investments sold and on foreign currency transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.

Foreign Currency Translation and Withholding Taxes

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange to determine the fair value of investments, assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments and foreign currencies. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. The Fund accrues such taxes, as applicable, based on its current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which it invests.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distributes its dividends from net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. The amount of distributions from net investment income and from net realized gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g., return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/loss, paydowns, and distributions), such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences (e.g., wash sales and differing treatment on certain investments) do not require reclassification. Distributions to shareholders that exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of capital.

Expense Allocation

Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based upon relative net assets or some other reasonable method. Expenses which are attributable to more than one Trust are allocated across the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust based upon relative net assets or another reasonable basis. Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), serves as the investment manager for the Trust, Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

Bank Loans

The Fund may invest in bank loans, which generally have interest rates which are reset periodically by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate and, secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks and the certificate of deposit rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. Bank loans often require prepayments from excess cash flows or allow the borrower to repay at its election. The rate at which the borrower repays cannot be predicted with accuracy. Therefore, the anticipated or actual maturity may be considerably earlier than the stated maturity shown in the Schedule of Portfolio of Investments. All or a portion of any bank loans may be unfunded. The portfolio is obligated to fund any commitments at the borrower’s discretion. Therefore, the portfolio must have funds sufficient to cover its contractual obligation.

 

15


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Securities Lending

To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 33 1/3% of its assets pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by any combination of cash, U.S. government or U.S. government agency securities, equal initially to at least 102% of the fair value plus accrued interest on the securities loaned (105% for foreign securities). The borrower of securities is at all times required to post collateral to the Fund in an amount equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned based on the previous day’s fair value of the securities loaned, marked-to-market daily. Any collateral shortfalls are adjusted the next business day. The Fund bears all of the gains and losses on such investments. The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously seeking to earn income on the investment of cash collateral received. In extremely low interest rate environments, the broker rebate fee may exceed the interest earned on the cash collateral which would result in a loss to the Fund. The investment of cash collateral deposited by the borrower is subject to inherent market risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and other risks that are present in the market, and as such, the value of these investments may not be sufficient, when liquidated, to repay the borrower when the loaned security is returned. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers, such as broker-dealers, banks or institutional borrowers of securities, deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and credit worthy and when in its judgment, the consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to termination by the Trust or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not considered to be illiquid investments. Securities on loan at December 31, 2021 are presented on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending is invested on behalf of the Fund in the BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, a money market fund which invests in short-term investments that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays the securities lending agent 9% of the gross revenues received from securities lending activities and keeps 91%. The Fund paid securities lending fees of $3,914 during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $11,161,178 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

Affiliated Securities Transactions

Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in securities transactions with affiliated investment companies and advisory accounts managed by the Manager and Subadviser. Any such purchase or sale transaction must be effected without a brokerage commission or other remuneration, except for customary transfer fees. The transaction must be effected at the current market price, which is either the security’s last sale price on an exchange or, if there are no transactions in the security that day, at the average of the highest bid and lowest asked price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund participated in the following cross-trade transactions:

 

        Purchases      Sales      Realized
Gains/(Losses)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $        $ 1,270,862        $ 391,756

Derivative Instruments

All open derivative positions at period end are reflected on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. The following is a description of the derivative instruments utilized by the Fund, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to each instrument type.

Options Contracts

The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on a security or an index of securities. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund wrote call and put options to increase or decrease its exposure to underlying instruments (including equity risk, interest rate risk and/or foreign currency exchange rate risk) and/or, in the case of options written, to generate gains from options premiums.

Purchased Options Contracts — The Fund pays a premium which is included in “Investments, at value” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and marked to market to reflect the current value of the option when purchasing options. Premiums paid for purchasing options that expire are treated as realized losses. When a put option is exercised or closed, premiums paid for purchasing options are offset against proceeds to determine the realized gain/loss on the transaction. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. There was no purchased option activity during the period.

Written Options Contracts — The Fund receives a premium which is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the options written. Premiums received from writing options that expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options that are either exercised or closed are offset against the proceeds received or the amount paid on the transaction to determine realized gains or losses. The risk associated with writing an option is that the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of an underlying asset and is required to buy or sell an underlying asset under the contractual terms of the option at a price different from the current value. As of December 31, 2021, securities valued at $40,556,168 have been segregated as collateral as reported on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the monthly average notional amount for written options contracts was $2.1 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Summary of Derivative Instruments

The following is a summary of the values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 
Primary Risk Exposure   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
    Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location   Total
Value
 

Equity Risk

     
Options Contracts     $     Written Options contracts   $ 27,477,844  

 

16


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations, categorized by risk exposure, for the year ended December 31, 2021:

 

Primary Risk Exposure   Location of Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
   Realized Gains/(Losses)
on Derivatives
Recognized
     Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation on
Derivatives Recognized
 

Equity Risk

       
Options Contracts  

Net Realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts/

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written option contracts

   $ 2,059,105      $ (6,855,794

The Fund is generally subject to master netting agreements that allow for amounts owed between the Fund and the counterparty to be netted. The party that has the larger payable pays the excess of the larger amount over the smaller amount to the other party. The master netting agreements do not apply to amounts owed to/from different counterparties. The amounts shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities do not take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements. The table below presents the gross and net amounts of these assets and liabilities with any offsets to reflect the Fund’s ability to transact net amounts in accordance with the master netting agreements at December 31, 2021. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. This table also summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorized by risk exposure, as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Written option contracts

       $        $ 27,477,844
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

                  27,477,844

Derivatives not subject to a master netting agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

                 
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $        $ 27,477,844
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund as of December 31, 2021:

 

Counterparty    Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
   Derivatives
Available
for Offset
   Non-cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
   Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities

Bank of America

     $ 516,047      $      $ (516,047 )      $      $

Citigroup

       5,435,429                             5,435,429

Credit Suisse First Boston

       2,991,184                             2,991,184

Goldman Sachs

       8,234,364               (8,234,364 )              

JPMorgan Chase

       4,255,943                             4,255,943

Royal Bank of Canada

       595,021                             595,021

Susquehanna

       5,449,856                             5,449,856
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 27,477,844      $      $ (8,750,411 )      $      $ 18,727,433
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

The actual collateral received or pledged may be in excess of the amounts shown in the table. The table only reflects collateral amounts up to the amount of the financial instrument disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

3. Fees and Transactions with Affiliates and Other Parties

The Manager provides investment advisory and management services for the Fund. The Manager has retained an independent money management organization (the “Subadviser”), to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to an amended and restated subadvisory agreement, effective November 15, 2013, with T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”), T. Rowe Price provides investment advisory services as the Subadviser for the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. The Manager is entitled to a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. Expenses incurred by the Fund for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.” For its services, the Subadviser is entitled to a fee payable by the Manager. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse the Fund to limit the annual expenses, excluding interest expense (e.g., cash overdraft fees), taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, based on the daily net assets of the Fund, through April 30, 2023.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the annual rate due to the Manager and the annual expense limit were as follows:

 

        Annual Rate*      Annual Expense Limit

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

         0.75 %          1.20 %

 

*

The Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.70% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. The Manager reserves the right to increase the management fee to the amount shown in the table above (i.e., discontinue the waiver) at any time after April 30, 2023.

 

17


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

Any amounts contractually waived or reimbursed by the Manager with respect to the annual expense limit in a particular fiscal year will be subject to repayment by the Fund to the Manager to the extent that from time to time through the next three fiscal years the repayment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed the lesser of the stated limit at the time of the waiver or the current stated limit. Any amounts recouped by the Manager during the year are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager.” At December 31, 2021, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees which the Manager waived in order to maintain more competitive expense ratios are not subject to repayment in subsequent years. Information on the total amount waived/reimbursed by the Manager or repaid to the Manager by the Fund during the year can be found on the Statement of Operations.

Pursuant to separate agreements between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager provides a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and certain compliance oversight and regulatory filing services to the Trust. Under these agreements, the Manager is entitled to an amount equal to a portion of the compensation and certain other expenses related to the individuals performing the CCO and compliance oversight services, as well as $100 per hour for time incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of certain documents with the SEC. The fees are paid to the Manager on a quarterly basis. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administrative and compliance services fees.”

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi” or the “Administrator”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc., with which an officer of the Trust is affiliated, serves as the Trust’s administrator and fund accountant, and assists the Trust in all aspects of its administration and operation. The Administrator is entitled to a Trust-wide asset-based fee, which is based on the following schedule: 0.05% of daily average net assets on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of daily average net assets on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of daily average net assets over $8 billion. The overall Trust-wide fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are subject to a minimum annual fee. The Administrator is entitled to an annual fee for each additional class of shares of any Fund, certain annual fees in supporting fair value services, and a Trust-wide annual fee for providing infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Fund’s compliance program. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain expenses incurred. The total expenses incurred by the Fund for these services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Administration fees.”

FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Under the Transfer Agent Agreement, the Trust pays FIS a fee for its services and reimburses FIS for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services.

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon” or the “Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s custodian and securities lending agent. For these services as custodian, the Funds pay BNY Mellon a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Funds, plus certain out-of-pocket charges.

Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC (“ALFS”), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as distributor of the Fund. ALFS receives an annual 12b-1 fee in the maximum amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, plus a Trust-wide annual fee of $42,500 paid by the Manager from its profits and not by the Trust, for recordkeeping and reporting services.

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Trust are affiliated with the Manager or the Administrator. Such Officers (except for the Trust’s CCO as noted above) and Trustees receive no compensation from the Trust for serving in their respective roles.

4. Investment Valuation Summary

The valuation techniques employed by the Fund, as described below, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayments speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 pm Eastern Time). Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if there is no sale, the last quoted bid price is used for long securities and the last quoted ask price is used for securities sold short. Securities listed on NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) are valued at the official closing price as reported by NASDAQ. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as a Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The independent third party pricing service may also use systematic valuations models or provide evaluated bid or mean prices. These valuations are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their respective net asset value as reported by such companies and are typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Options are generally valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the principal exchange on which the option is traded, which are then typically categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. For options where market quotations are not readily available, fair value procedures as described below may be applied.

Debt and other fixed income securities are generally valued at an evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing source approved by the Trustees. To value debt securities, pricing services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as market activity, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit ratings and other data, as well as broker quotes. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality with sixty days or less remaining until maturity may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Other assets and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or persons acting on the behalf of the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used for significant events such as securities whose trading has been suspended, whose price has become stale or for which there is no currently available price at the close of the NYSE. Depending on the source and relative significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund utilizes a pricing service to assist in determining the fair value of securities when certain significant events occur that may affect the value of foreign securities.

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. These procedures include the Fund’s use of a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third party to fair value its international equity securities which are then typically categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

18


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 1,033,024,381        $        $        $ 1,033,024,381

Preferred Stocks+

         11,717,627                            11,717,627

Convertible Preferred Stock+

         1,852,485                            1,852,485

Asset Backed Securities

                  3,533,510                   3,533,510

Bank Loans

                  171,612,053                   171,612,053

Corporate Bonds+

                  114,308,821                   114,308,821

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  3,628,494                   3,628,494

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         11,161,178                            11,161,178

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         121,946,477                            121,946,477
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         1,179,702,148          293,082,878                   1,472,785,026
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Written Options

                  (27,477,844 )                   (27,477,844 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 1,179,702,148        $ 265,605,034        $        $ 1,445,307,182
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as written options.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding securities maturing less than one year from acquisition) were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 612,783,202        $ 713,636,434

6. Investment Risks

The risks below are presented in an order intended to facilitate readability. Their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur more frequently than another risk, nor does it imply that the realization of one risk is likely to have a greater adverse impact than another risk.

Bank Loan Risk: There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations. The risk of holding bank loans is also directly tied to the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the issuing banks. These risks could cause the Fund to lose income or principal on a particular investment, which in turn could affect the Fund’s returns. The value of bank loans can be affected by and sensitive to changes in government regulation and to economic downturns in the United States and abroad. Bank loans generally are floating rate loans, which are subject to interest rate risk as the interest paid on the floating rate loans adjusts periodically based on changes in widely accepted reference rates.

Derivatives Risk: The Fund may invest in derivatives as a principal strategy. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or risk. Use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, and selection risk. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Using derivatives may result in losses, possibly in excess of the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default. As required by applicable law, a Fund that invests in derivatives segregates cash or liquid securities, or both, to the extent that its obligations under the instrument are not covered through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument, or currency.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those securities.

Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities held by the Fund may decline in value due to rising interest rates. The price of a bond is also affected by its maturity. Bonds with longer maturities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) Risk: Certain investments held by the Fund may pay or receive interest at floating rates based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority has announced that it will stop compelling banks to submit rates for many LIBOR settings after December 31, 2021, and for certain other commonly-used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings after June 30, 2023. The transition away from LIBOR could result in increased volatility and uncertainty in markets tied to LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to LIBOR rates, the availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or the effectiveness of hedging strategies. To the extent that the Fund’s investments have maturities which extend beyond 2023, the applicable interest rates might be subject to change if there is a transition from the LIBOR reference rate. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor or SOFR) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.

Market Risk: The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not

 

19


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment, as well as natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, investments in mortgage-related securities may cause the Fund to exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to call risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are subordinated to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may receive payments only after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Fund as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. An unexpectedly high or low rate of prepayments on a pool’s underlying mortgages may have a similar effect on subordinated securities. A mortgage pool may issue securities subject to various levels of subordination. The risk of non-payment affects securities at each level, although the risk is greater in the case of more highly subordinated securities. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The current outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in instances of market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, lower consumer demand, defaults and other significant economic impacts, all of which have disrupted global economic activity across many industries and may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 are unpredictable and may result in significant and prolonged effects on the Fund’s performance.

8. New Regulatory Pronouncements

In October 2020 the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives contracts the Fund can enter and replaces the asset segregation framework currently used by the Fund to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other requirements. In December 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes an updated regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit boards, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. Management is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the new Rules will have on the Fund’s operations, oversight and financial statements. The compliance date is August 19, 2022 and September 8, 2022 for Rule 18f-4 and Rule 2a-5, respectively.

9. Federal Tax Information

It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provisions for federal income taxes are required in the financial statements.

Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 is $1,138,308,924. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 329,076,020  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (22,077,762
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 306,998,258  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 157,670,065        $ 11,982,950        $ 169,653,015

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020, was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 78,912,829        $ 26,094,184        $ 105,007,013

 

(a)

Total distributions paid may differ from the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because dividends are recognized when actually paid for tax purposes.

 

20


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2021

 

At December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

        Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation(a)
     Total
Accumulated
Earnings/
(Deficit)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 156,731,925        $ 14,850,309        $        $ 306,998,258        $ 478,580,492

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies, return of capital from underlying investments, straddles and other miscellaneous differences.

10. Ownership and Principal Holders

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates presumptions of control of the fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 95% of the Fund. Investment activities of the shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

11. Subsequent Events

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures or adjustments resulting from events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, there were no subsequent events to report that would have material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

21


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and Shareholders of

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, of AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (one of the funds constituting Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 23, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Allianz Variable Insurance Products complex since 2018.

 

22


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2021, 4.56% of the total ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deductions available to corporate shareholders.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $144,241,130.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $11,982,950.

 

23


Other Information (Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, upon request, by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) website at www.sec.gov, or by calling 800-624-0197.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-624-0197; (ii) on the Trust’s website at https://www.allianzlife.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund files complete Schedules of Portfolio Holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Schedules of Portfolio Holdings for the Fund are available without charge on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or may be obtained by calling 800-624-0197.

 

24


Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and in accordance with the investment objectives and restrictions of each separate series (together, the “Funds”) of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the “Trust”), investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Allianz Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”). As used in this section, “Fund” refers to any of the Funds other than the AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund. The Manager manages each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Trust in respect of each such Fund. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager, subject to the supervision and approval of the Board, is responsible for the management of each Fund. For management services, each Fund pays the Manager an investment advisory fee based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Manager has contractually agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing the Fund if and when total Fund operating expenses exceed certain amounts until at least April 30, 2023 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”).

Each Fund is a manager-of-managers fund. That means that the Manager is responsible for monitoring the various Subadvisers that have day-to-day responsibility for the investment decisions made for each Fund. The Manager also is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to consider recommending for selection as a Subadviser.

In reviewing the services provided by the Manager and the terms of the Management Agreement, the Board receives and reviews information related to the Manager’s experience and expertise in the variable insurance marketplace. In addition, the Board receives information regarding the Manager’s expertise with regard to portfolio diversification and asset allocation requirements within variable insurance products issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (“Allianz Life”) and its subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York (“Allianz of New York”). Currently, the Funds are offered only through Allianz Life and Allianz of New York variable products, and not in the retail fund market.

The Manager has adopted policies and procedures to assist it in the process of analyzing each potential Subadviser with expertise in particular asset classes for purposes of making the recommendation that a specific investment adviser be selected. The Board reviews and considers the information provided by the Manager in deciding which investment advisers to select as a Subadviser. After an investment adviser becomes a Subadviser, a similarly rigorous process is instituted by the Manager to monitor the investment performance and other responsibilities of the Subadviser. The Manager reports to the Board on its analysis at the regular meetings of the Board, which are held at least quarterly. Where warranted, the Manager will add or remove a particular Subadviser from a “watch” list that it maintains. Watch list criteria include, for example: (a) Fund performance over various time periods; (b) Fund risk issues, such as changes in key personnel involved with Fund management, changes in investment philosophy or process, or “capacity” concerns; and (c) organizational risk issues, such as regulatory, compliance or legal concerns, or changes in the ownership of the Subadviser. The Manager may place a Fund on the watch list for other reasons, and if so, will explain its rationale to the Board. Funds which are on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny by the Manager and the Board. Funds may be removed from such watch list, if for example, performance improves or regulatory matters are satisfactorily resolved. However, in some situations where Funds have been on the watch list, the Manager has recommended the retention of a new Subadviser, and the Board has subsequently considered and approved retention of the new Subadviser.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board has reviewed and approved the Management Agreement with the Manager and the portfolio management agreements (the “Subadvisory Agreements”; and together with the Management Agreement, the “Advisory Contracts”) with the Subadvisers. The Board’s decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to approve new arrangements and continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considered many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund’s investment objectives and long-term performance; the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ (collectively, the “Advisory Organizations”) management philosophy, personnel, processes and investment performance, including their compliance history and the adequacy of their compliance processes; the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders (and underlying contract owners) and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; and comparable fees in the mutual fund industry.

The Board also considered the compensation and benefits received by the Advisory Organizations. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by affiliated persons of the Advisory Organizations and research services received by the Advisory Organizations from brokers that execute Fund trades, as well as advisory fees. The Board considered the fact that: (1) the Manager and the Trust are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement and a Compliance Services Agreement, under which the Manager is compensated by the Trust for performing certain administrative and compliance services including providing an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer; and (2) Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, an affiliated person of the Manager, is a registered securities broker-dealer and received (along with its affiliated persons) any payments made by the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

The Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s compensation: the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the adviser, including the performance of the fund; the adviser’s cost of providing the services; the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the adviser and its affiliates as a result of the adviser’s relationship with the fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; the profitability of acting as adviser to the fund; and the extent to which the independent Board members, who are not “interested persons” of a fund as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), are fully informed about all facts bearing on the adviser’s services and fees. The Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Advisory Contracts.

Each member of the Board considered and weighed these factors in light of his or her experience in governing the Trust and working with the Advisory Organizations on matters relating to the Funds. The Board is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Trustee Counsel”). In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Funds and the Advisory Organizations. Some of this information is provided at each regular meeting of the Board; additional information is provided in connection with the particular meetings at which the Board’s formal review of the Advisory Contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board’s evaluation of Advisory Contracts is informed by reports covering such matters as: an Advisory Organization’s investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund’s investment performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its benchmark(s) and certain competitor or “peer group” funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund’s expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to peer group and/or competing funds, with due regard for the Expense Limitation Agreement and additional voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities; the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisory Organizations and their affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Funds and the companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Funds and/or Advisory Organizations are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about the Advisory Organizations, including reports on the compensation and benefits the Advisory Organizations derive from their relationships with the Funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the Advisory Contracts, but also the fees, if any, received for providing other services to the Funds. The reports also discuss any indirect or “fall out” benefits an Advisory Organization may derive from its relationship with the Funds.

In assessing the Advisory Organizations’ performance of their obligations, the Board may also consider whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an Advisory Contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruption of a Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew a contract.

The Advisory Contracts were most recently considered at Board meetings held in the summer and fall of 2021. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”), providing relief from in-person meeting requirements under the 1940 Act, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that reliance on the Exemptive Order was necessary and appropriate due to the circumstances related to the current and potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and determined to

 

25


vote on the renewal of the Advisory Contracts at a meeting held by video conference call at which all Board members, including the Independent Trustees, participated and were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at a meeting on September 14, 2021. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2023. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held November 16, 2021, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to add two new sub-subadvisors affiliated with the Subadviser to assist the Subadviser to the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund.

In connection with such meetings, the Board requested and evaluated extensive materials from the Advisory Organizations, including performance and expense information for other investment companies with similar investment objectives derived from data compiled by an independent third-party provider and other sources believed to be reliable by the Manager and the Trustees. Prior to voting, the Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the Advisory Contracts with management and with Independent Trustee Counsel and received a memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval. The Independent Trustees also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with Independent Trustee Counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Subadvisers were present. In reaching their determinations relating to the approval of the Advisory Contracts, in respect of each Fund, each member of the Board considered all factors he or she believed relevant. The Board based its decision to approve the Advisory Contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations discussed above and below are necessarily relevant to every Fund, and the Board did not assign relative weights to factors discussed herein or deem any one or group of them to be controlling in and of themselves.

Shareholder reports must include a discussion of certain factors relating to the selection of investment advisers and the approval of advisory fees. The “factors” enumerated by the SEC are set forth below in italics, as well as the Board’s conclusions regarding such factors:

(1) The nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Manager and Subadvisers. The Trustees noted that the Manager, subject to the oversight of the Board, administers each Fund’s business and other affairs. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager holds the sole and exclusive responsibility to provide, or arrange for others to provide, the management of the Funds’ assets and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of the securities of the Funds. As each Fund is a manager of managers fund, the Manager is authorized, under the Management Agreement, to retain one or more Subadvisers for each Fund to handle day-to-day management of the Funds’ investment portfolios; the Manager is responsible for determining, in the first instance, which investment advisers to recommend to the Board for selection as a Subadviser. The Board was aware that, notwithstanding the retention of the Subadvisers to handle day-to-day portfolio management, the Manager remains responsible for substantial other matters, including continuously monitoring compliance by each Subadviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the respective Funds, with such other limitations or directions of the Board, and with all legal requirements under federal or state law or regulation. The Manager also is responsible primarily to provide statistical information and other data to the Board regarding the Funds’ portfolio investments and to make available to the Funds’ administrator such information as is necessary for the conduct of its duties.

The Board also noted that the Manager provides the Trust and each Fund with such administrative and other services (exclusive of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any other service providers retained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds) and executive and other personnel as are necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds. Except for the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and certain compliance staff, the Manager pays all of the compensation of Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates.

The Board considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Manager and the Subadvisers and noted that the scope of the services provided has continued to expand as a result of regulatory and other developments. The Board noted that, for example, the Manager and Subadvisers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring their own compliance programs, and these compliance programs are continuously refined and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements. The Board considered the capabilities and resources which the Manager has dedicated to performing services on behalf of the Trust and its Funds. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Trust’s other service providers, also were considered. The Board members concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Trust and to each of the Funds under the Advisory Contracts.

(2) The investment performance of the Funds, the Manager and the Subadvisers. In connection with every quarterly Board meeting, as well as the summer and fall 2021 contract review process, the Board receives extensive information on the performance results of each of the Funds. This includes performance information on the Funds for the previous quarter, and previous one-, three- and five-year periods, to the extent available. The performance information considered includes information on absolute total return, performance versus the appropriate benchmark(s), and performance versus peer groups as reported by Lipper. For example, in connection with the Board meetings held June 21, 2021, and September 14, 2021, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20%, and four were in the bottom 40%, and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, six Funds were in the top 40%, eight were in the middle 20% and five were in the bottom 40%. The Manager also reported that of the seventeen Funds for which performance information was available for the five-year period ended December 31, 2020, seven Funds were in the top 40%, five were in the middle 20%, and five were in the bottom 40%. For Funds which are index funds, the Board each quarter also receives information on the extent, if any, to which such Funds deviate from their particular benchmark index (referred to as “index attribution”).

Only four Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, and the AZL Government Money Market Fund, were in the bottom 40% for all of the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board met with the portfolio managers of the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2020, and of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund in February 2021, to receive and review enhanced reporting on each Fund’s current investment strategy, process and outlook. As a result of these discussions, the Board understood that the underperformance of these Funds was primarily a consequence of headwinds faced by their long-term investment strategies and not a reflection of the nature, extent or quality of services being provided by the respective Subadvisers. The Board also considered that the relative performance of the AZL Government Money Market Fund had been impacted by low short-term interest rates during the periods measured.

Other funds in the bottom 40% for the three- and five-year periods had shown improved relative performance in more recent periods.

At the Board meeting held September 14, 2021, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2021.

Thus, the Board determined that the overall investment performance of the Funds was acceptable.

(3) The costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Manager and the Subadvisers and their affiliates from their relationship with the Funds. The Manager supplied information to the Board pertaining to the level of investment advisory fees to which the Funds are subject. The Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses at certain levels, and information is provided to the Board setting forth “contractual” advisory fees and “actual” fees after taking expense limits and any temporary fee waivers into account. The Board noted that the subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager to each Subadviser and are not additional fees borne by the Funds. Based upon the information provided, the “actual” advisory fees payable by the Funds overall are generally comparable to the average level of fees paid by the Funds’ peer groups. For the 19 Funds reviewed by the Board in the summer and fall of 2021, 16 Funds paid “actual” advisory fees in a percentage amount within the 65th percentile or lower for each Fund’s applicable category. (A lower percentile reflects lower fund fees and is better for fund shareholders.) The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

 

26


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2020 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 16 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 11 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, and the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to the lack of direct peers.

The Manager has also supplied information to the Board pertaining to total Fund expenses (which include advisory fees, the 25 basis point 12b-1 fee paid by the Funds, and other Fund expenses). As noted above, the Manager has agreed to limit Fund expenses at certain levels.

The Manager has committed to providing the Funds with a high quality of service and working to reduce Fund expenses over time.

The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2018 through 2020. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from investment company advisory agreements because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocation of expenses and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of certain fall-out benefits to the Manager and its affiliates. The Board focused on profitability of the Manager’s relationships with the Funds before taxes and distribution expenses. The Board recognized that the Manager should earn a reasonable level of profits for the services it provides to each Fund.

The Manager, on behalf of the Board, endeavored to obtain information on the profitability of each Subadviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund or Funds which it subadvised. The Manager was unable to obtain consistent profitability information from some of the Subadvisers that would allow the Board to determine the profits derived from the Subadviser’s relationship to the Fund or Funds, rather than its overall level of profitability. The Board considered the difficulty of allocating costs to multiple advisory accounts and products of a large advisory organization. The Manager assured the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements with the Subadvisers, none of which are affiliated with the Manager, were negotiated on an “arm’s length” basis, which should not result in excessive profits for the Subadvisers.

(4) and (5) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow, and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedules for the Funds do not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels, although certain Subadvisory Agreements have such “breakpoints.” The Board recognized that breakpoints may be an appropriate way for the Manager to share its economies of scale, if any, with Funds that have substantial assets. The Board found that there was no uniform methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to Fund-specific services provided by the Manager. The Board noted that in the fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Funds, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. Depending on the age, size, and other characteristics of a particular fund and its manager’s cost structure, different conclusions can be drawn as to whether there are economies of scale to be realized at any particular level of assets, notwithstanding the intuitive conclusion that such economies exist, or will be realized at some level of total assets. Moreover, because different managers have different cost structures and service models, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the breakpoints that may have been adopted by other funds. The Board also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all, or if breakpoints exist, they may be at asset levels significantly greater than those of the individual Funds. The Board noted that the total assets in all of the Funds, as of December 31, 2020, were approximately $15.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.8 billion.

The Board noted that the Manager has agreed to temporarily limit Fund expenses under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which has the effect of reducing expenses similar to implementation of advisory fee breakpoints. The Manager has committed to continue to consider the continuation of expense limits and/or advisory fee breakpoints as the Funds grow larger. The Board receives quarterly reports on the level of Fund assets. The Board expects to continue to consider: (a) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized, and (b) whether the advisory fee should be modified, either in connection with the next renewal of the Advisory Contracts or by modifying the Expense Limitation Agreement, to reflect such economies of scale, if any.

Having taken these factors into account, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Funds’ advisory fee rate schedules was acceptable under each Fund’s circumstances.

In conclusion, after full consideration of the above factors, as well as such other factors as each member of the Board considered instructive in evaluating the Advisory Contracts, the Board concluded that the advisory fees were reasonable, and that the continuation of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interest of the Funds.

 

27


Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)

The Trust is managed by the Trustees in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware governing business trusts. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Trust, each Trustee serves on the Board of the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust (“FOF Trust”) and the AIM ETF Products Trust (“ETF Trust”) (collectively, the Trust, the FOF Trust, and ETF Trust are the “AIM Complex”). There are currently eight Trustees, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act. The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, and their addresses, years of birth, positions held with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, principal occupation(s) during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Trust they oversee, and other directorships held during the past five years are as follows:

Independent Trustees(1)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex(3)
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Peter R. Burnim (1947)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/07   Retired; previously, Chairman, Emrys Analytics (a company focused on predictive analytics, artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and cyber risk) and subsidiaries, 2015 to 2018; Chairman, Argus Investment Strategies Fund Ltd., 2013 to 2017; Managing Director, iQ Venture Advisors, LLC, 2005 to 2016, Consultant thereafter; Chairman, Sterling Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 to present, and Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd. 2015 to present   46   Argus Group Holdings and Subsidiaries, Deputy Chairman; Sterling Trust (Cayman) Ltd., Chairman; Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (Bahamas); Emrys Analytics; EGB Insurance..

Peggy L. Ettestad (1957)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Lead
Independent
Trustee
  Since 10/14 (Trustee since 2/07)   Managing Director, Red Canoe Management Consulting LLC, 2008 to present   46   None

Tamara Lynn Fagely (1958)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Chief Operations Officer, Hartford Funds, 2012 to 2013   46   Diamond Hill Funds (10 funds)

Richard H. Forde (1953)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 12/17   Retired; previously, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., 2013 to 2019   46   Connecticut Water Service, Inc.

Jack Gee (1959)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 1/22 (Consultant to the Independent Trustees since 2/20)(3)   Retired; previously, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc., Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. iShares, 2004 to 2019   46  

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust (2 Funds); Esoterica

Thematic Trust

(2019 - 2020)

Claire R. Leonardi (1955)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, CEO, Health eSense Inc.(a medical device company), 2015 to 2018, and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (a venture capital firm), 2012 to 2015   46   None

Dickson W. Lewis (1948)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 2/04   Retired; previously, senior executive for Lifetouch National School Studios (a photography company), 2006 to 2014, Jostens (a producer of year books and class rings), 2001 to 2006, and Fortis Financial Group, 1997 to 2001   46   None

Interested Trustee(4)

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year   Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
  Term of
Office(2)/Length
of Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios
Overseen for the
AIM Complex
  Other
Directorships Held
Outside the AIM
Complex During
Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

  Trustee   Since 6/11   President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present   46   None

 

(1)

Each of the Independent Trustees is a member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2)

Indefinite.

 

(3)

Prior to January 1, 2022, Mr. Gee served as a consultant to the Independent Trustees since February 2020, during which he attended meetings of the Board and its standing committees, including the audit committee, solely in his capacity as a consultant, and was not entitled to vote.

 

(4)

Is an “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act, due to employment by Allianz Life and the Manager.

 

28


Officers

 

Name, Address, and Birth Year    Positions
Held with
AIM Complex
   Term of
Office(1)/ Length
of Time Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Brian Muench (1970)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   President    Since 11/10    President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, November 2010 to present; Vice President, Allianz Life, 2011 to present.

Erik Nelson (1972)

5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Secretary    Since 12/20    Chief Legal Officer, Allianz Investment Management LLC; Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.
Bashir C. Asad (1963) 
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
   Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer    Since 06/16    Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 2011 to present.

Chris R. Pheiffer (1968)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Chief Compliance Officer(2) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    Since 02/14    Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and the VIP Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

Darin Egbert (1975)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 02/16    Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2020 to present; previously, Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2015 to 2020.

Michael Tanski (1970)
5701 Golden Hills Drive

Minneapolis, MN 55416

   Vice President    Since 04/09    Assistant Vice President, Allianz Investment Management LLC, 2013 to present.

 

(1)

Indefinite.

 

(2)

The Manager and the Trust are parties to a Compliance Services Agreement under which the Manager provides an employee of the Manager or one of its affiliates to act as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information about the Trust’s Trustees and Officers. The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-0197 or at https://www.allianzlife.com.

 

29


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1221 02/22


Item 2.

Code of Ethics.

 

(a)

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics is included as an Exhibit.

 

(b)

During the period covered by the report, with respect to the registrant’s code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions; there have been no amendments to, nor any waivers granted from, a provision that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item 2.

 

Item 3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

3(a)(1)    The registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
3(a)(2)    The audit committee financial expert is Tamara Lynn Fagely, who is “independent” for purposes of this Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

     2021      2020  

(a)   Audit Fees

   $ 337,653      $ 329,300  

(b)   Audit-Related Fees

   $ 0      $ 0  

Related to the consent on Form N-1A for the annual registration statement.

     
     2021      2020  

(c)   Tax Fees

   $ 122,692      $ 125,375  

Preparation of the funds’ federal income tax returns.

     
     2021      2020  

(d)   All Other Fees

   $ 0      $ 0  

 

4(e)(1)    The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the Registrant is responsible for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditor in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s independence. Before the Registrant engages the independent auditor to render a service, the engagement must be specifically approved by the Committee. The Committee may delegate preapproval authority to one or more of its members but has not done so. The Committee may not delegate to management the Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor.


4(e)(2)

During the previous two fiscal years, the Registrant did not receive any non-audit services pursuant to a waiver from the audit committee approval or pre-approval requirement under paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

4(f)

Not applicable

 

4(g)

The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were as follows:

 

     2021      2020  
   $ 122,692      $ 125,375  

 

4(h)

Not applicable

 

Item 5.

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Investments.

 

(a)

The Schedule of Investments as of the close of the reporting period are included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of the Form N-CSR.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

 

Item 10.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not applicable.

 

Item 11.

Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)

The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures are adequately designed and are operating effectively to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

 

Item 13.

Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)   The code of ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.
(a)(2)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) are furnished herewith.
(a)(3)   Not applicable.
(a)(4)   Not applicable.
(b)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) are furnished herewith.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant) Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust    
By (Signature and Title)  

/s/ Brian Muench

    Brian Muench, Principal Executive Officer
Date   February 25, 2022  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title) /s/ Brian Muench                                                        
      Brian Muench, Principal Executive Officer
Date    February 25, 2022      
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Bashir C. Asad                                                                            
      Bashir C. Asad, Principal Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer
Date    February 28, 2022