N-CSR 1 d417510dncsr.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, 2022

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 


AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 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® 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, 2022?*

During the 12-month period, the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund returned (6.82)%. That compares to a total return of (4.49)% for the FTSE World Government Bond Index, 1-5 Years, (currency-hedged to USD), the Fund’s primary benchmark.1

In global developed markets and the U.S. Treasury fixed-income market, interest rates rose sharply throughout the year in response to inflationary pressures. Yield curves in global developed markets generally flattened and inverted in some cases during the year in the Fund’s eligible maturity range. Credit spreads widened during the year. Longer-term bonds underperformed shorter-term bonds, and corporate bonds underperformed government bonds.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark during the period. As eligible yield curves flattened during the second half of the year, the Fund increased its emphasis on bonds in the zero- to three-year maturity range. These moves benefited relative performance as shorter-term interest rates rose. However, in the first half of the year, the Fund’s holdings had a longer duration than the benchmark and contained more bonds with a four- to five-year maturity than the benchmark. The Fund also held fewer bonds in the one- to

two-year maturity range relative to the benchmark. These under- and overweightings detracted from the Fund’s relative performance.

The Fund also held fewer Japanese yen-denominated bonds than the benchmark. This underweighting also detracted from its relative performance, as these bonds were among the strongest performers during the period.

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, 2022.

 

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 in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt 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.

Derivatives are subject to a number of other risks, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, and selection risk.

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, 2022    
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

         (6.82 )%          (2.69 )%          (0.71 )%          (0.21 )%

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

         (4.49 )%          (0.75 )%          0.73 %          0.85 %

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

         0.91 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 992.40     $ 3.97       0.79 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.22     $ 4.02       0.79 %

 

*

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

Foreign Bonds

      54.1 %

Yankee Debt Obligations

      28.8

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      9.5

Corporate Bonds

      7.3

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      3.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      102.8

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (2.8 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds (7.3%):       
Capital Markets (0.4%):       
$ 1,629,000      National Securities Clearing Corp., 0.75%, 12/7/25, Callable 11/7/25 @ 100(a)    $ 1,444,495  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.2%):       
  4,160,000      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.13%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      3,995,476  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.3%):       
  1,248,000      Nestle Holdings, Inc., 0.63%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100(a)      1,107,731  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.6%):       
  2,000,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 3.35%, 9/30/24, Callable 6/30/24 @ 100(a)      1,950,808  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.3%):       
  300,000      Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 0.63%, 10/30/24      306,987  
  4,406,000      Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 1.00%, 4/23/26      3,938,374  
     

 

 

 
        4,245,361  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.6%):       
  2,000,000      Amazon.com, Inc., Class A, 2.73%, 4/13/24      1,950,340  
  1,500,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 0.45%, 5/12/24      1,415,116  
  2,241,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 1.00%, 5/12/26, Callable 4/12/26 @ 100      1,989,764  
     

 

 

 
        5,355,220  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.3%):       
  100,000      Chevron Corp., 1.55%, 5/11/25, Callable 4/11/25 @ 100      93,231  
  754,000      Chevron USA, Inc., 0.69%, 8/12/25, Callable 7/12/25 @ 100      675,217  
  200,000      Exxon Mobil Corp., 0.14%, 6/26/24, Callable 5/26/24 @ 100      204,151  
     

 

 

 
        972,599  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.3%):       
  462,000      Merck & Co., Inc., 0.75%, 2/24/26, Callable 1/24/26 @ 100      409,952  
  400,000      Novartis Capital Corp., 3.40%, 5/6/24      391,902  
  2,400,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 1.88%, 3/8/24(a)      2,322,521  
  1,106,000      Roche Holdings, Inc., 0.99%, 3/5/26, Callable 2/5/26 @ 100(a)      987,493  
     

 

 

 
        4,111,868  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.3%):       
  1,000,000      Apple, Inc., 2.51%, 8/19/24, Callable 6/19/24 @ 100      711,612  
  231,000      Apple, Inc., 1.13%, 5/11/25, Callable 4/11/25 @ 100      212,632  
     

 

 

 
        924,244  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $26,030,033)

     24,107,802  
  

 

 

 
Foreign Bonds (54.1%):       
Banks (7.1%):       
  3,000,000      Bank of Montreal, 2.89%, 6/20/23+      2,193,625  
  700,000      Bank of Montreal, 2.70%, 9/11/24+      498,309  
  1,200,000      Bank of Nova Scotia (The), 2.29%, 6/28/24+      852,223  
  22,000      BNP Paribas SA, 2.88%, 9/26/23, MTN+      23,571  
  3,200,000      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 2.97%, 7/11/23+      2,338,165  
  1,300,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 0.50%, 7/22/23+      1,541,022  
  600,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 1.63%, 12/8/23, MTN+      711,488  
  1,700,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 1.25%, 11/26/24+      1,751,565  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 600,000      DNB Bank ASA, 0.05%, 11/14/23, MTN+    $ 625,841  
  200,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd., 0.25%, 5/20/24, MTN+      205,921  
  500,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd., 2.90%, 2/25/27, MTN+      311,460  
  600,000      Nordic Investment Bank, 3.40%, 2/6/26, MTN+      397,428  
  1,350,000      Royal Bank of Canada, 2.33%, 12/5/23+      972,862  
  500,000      Royal Bank of Canada, 4.20%, 6/22/26, MTN+      330,833  
  1,300,000      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, 0.13%, 6/18/24, MTN+      1,326,464  
  200,000      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, 1.00%, 4/15/25, MTN+      202,862  
  4,300,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 3.01%, 5/30/23+      3,150,422  
  2,500,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 1.91%, 7/18/23+      1,815,316  
  200,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 0.63%, 7/20/23, MTN+      211,626  
  2,500,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 3.23%, 7/24/24+      1,797,071  
  600,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 0.75%, 10/17/23, MTN+      631,794  
  2,400,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.13%, 6/4/26, MTN+      1,593,242  
     

 

 

 
        23,483,110  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.5%):       
  1,500,000      FMS Wertmanagement, 0.63%, 12/15/23+      1,758,956  
  100,000      FMS Wertmanagement, 1.38%, 3/7/25+      113,185  
  1,000,000      International Finance Corp., 4.00%, 4/3/25, MTN+      679,099  
  3,500,000      International Finance Corp., 3.20%, 7/22/26, MTN+      2,300,773  
     

 

 

 
        4,852,013  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (8.8%):       
  1,000,000      Agence Francaise de Developpement EPIC, 4.00%, 3/14/23+      1,072,309  
  2,600,000      Agence Francaise de Developpement EPIC, 3.13%, 1/4/24, MTN+      2,783,774  
  290,000      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.54%, 3/12/25, Callable 2/12/25 @ 100+      287,588  
  1,000,000      BNG Bank NV, 3.88%, 5/26/23+      1,075,788  
  200,000      BNG Bank NV, 0.05%, 7/11/23, MTN+      211,056  
  2,360,000      BNG Bank NV, 3.25%, 7/15/25, MTN+      1,563,925  
  1,000,000      Caisse D Amortissement de La Dette Sociale, 1.38%, 11/25/24, MTN+      1,032,815  
  73,000      Council Of Europe Development Bank, 0.13%, 5/25/23, MTN+      77,429  
  500,000      CPPIB Capital, Inc., 0.38%, 7/25/23+      592,525  
  1,400,000      CPPIB Capital, Inc., 0.38%, 6/20/24, MTN+      1,435,962  
  700,000      CPPIB Capital, Inc., 0.88%, 12/17/24+      787,460  
  420,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 0.13%, 10/17/23, MTN+      440,575  
  1,100,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 2.13%, 2/19/24, MTN+      1,166,766  
  700,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 2.93%, 4/19/24+      721,630  
  549,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 1.75%, 6/27/24, MTN+      577,046  
  200,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 0.40%, 2/17/25, MTN+      202,622  
  120,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 0.50%, 7/11/25, MTN+      120,771  
  550,000      European Financial Stability Facility, 2.96%, 10/15/25+      542,612  
  600,000      European Investment Bank, 0.00%, 10/16/23+      629,039  
  140,000      European Investment Bank, 0.50%, 11/15/23, MTN+      147,005  
  1,310,000      European Investment Bank, 0.88%, 12/15/23, MTN+      1,539,734  
  200,000      European Investment Bank, 0.05%, 12/15/23, MTN+      208,545  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Diversified Financial Services, continued       
$ 7,000,000      European Investment Bank, 0.75%, 9/9/24, MTN+    $ 685,799  
  200,000      European Investment Bank, 0.88%, 9/13/24, MTN+      206,486  
  500,000      European Investment Bank, 0.75%, 11/15/24, MTN+      565,819  
  1,122,000      European Investment Bank, 1.38%, 3/7/25, MTN+      1,270,824  
  140,000      European Investment Bank, 3.03%, 3/25/25, MTN+      140,181  
  2,000,000      European Investment Bank, 1.25%, 5/12/25, MTN+      182,200  
  800,000      European Investment Bank, 2.90%, 10/17/25, MTN+      526,545  
  500,000      European Stability Mechanism, 0.10%, 7/31/23+      527,646  
  366,000      European Stability Mechanism, 0.13%, 4/22/24, MTN+      377,677  
  800,000      European Stability Mechanism, 3.01%, 12/16/24+      807,989  
  900,000      European Stability Mechanism, 3.01%, 3/14/25+      902,485  
  350,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 1.00%, 12/12/24, MTN+      395,156  
  600,000      Kommunekredit, 2.00%, 6/25/24, MTN+      700,239  
  150,000      Kommunekredit, 0.38%, 11/15/24+      167,795  
  1,000,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 1.00%, 11/13/23, MTN+      94,253  
  500,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 3.20%, 9/11/26, MTN+      328,808  
  1,100,000      Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, 4.75%, 5/6/26, MTN+      761,160  
  300,000      Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV, 3.00%, 11/16/23+      320,977  
  1,050,000      Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV, 2.00%, 12/16/24, MTN+      1,206,966  
  300,000      NRW Bank, 1.38%, 12/15/23+      354,003  
  800,000      NRW Bank, 0.38%, 12/16/24, MTN+      892,160  
  500,000      Op Corporate Bank PLC, 1.00%, 5/22/25, MTN+      503,425  
     

 

 

 
        29,135,569  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (1.0%):       
  255,000      International Development Association, 0.75%, 12/12/24+      287,045  
  1,300,000      OMERS Finance Trust, 0.45%, 5/13/25+      1,296,577  
  950,000      Ontario Teachers’ Finance Trust, 0.50%, 5/6/25+      948,821  
  900,000      PSP Capital, Inc., 2.09%, 11/22/23+      650,063  
     

 

 

 
        3,182,506  
     

 

 

 
Financials (0.1%):       
  150,000      Euroclear Bank SA, 0.13%, 7/7/25, MTN+      147,703  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.1%):       
  100,000      Novo Nordisk Finance Netherlands BV, 0.75%, 3/31/25, Callable 2/28/25 @ 100, MTN+      100,961  
  200,000      Roche Finance Europe BV, 0.88%, 2/25/25, Callable 11/25/24 @ 100, MTN+      206,803  
     

 

 

 
        307,764  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (1.3%):       
  613,000      Network Rail Infrastructure Finance plc, 4.75%, 1/22/24, MTN+      744,426  
  1,100,000      Societe Nationale SNCF SA, 4.88%, 6/12/23+      1,186,451  
  800,000      Societe Nationale SNCF SA, 4.63%, 2/2/24+      868,242  
  1,250,000      Societe Nationale SNCF SA, 4.13%, 2/19/25, MTN+      1,357,431  
     

 

 

 
        4,156,550  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.3%):       
  600,000      UNEDIC ASSEO, 2.38%, 5/25/24, MTN+      634,645  
  400,000      UNEDIC ASSEO, 0.13%, 11/25/24, MTN+      403,455  
     

 

 

 
        1,038,100  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
National (3.3%):       
$ 1,200,000      Agence Francaise de Developpement EPIC, 3.23%, 3/25/25, MTN+    $ 1,196,404  
  600,000      BNG Bank NV, 2.00%, 4/12/24, MTN+      703,293  
  200,000      Bpifrance SACA, 0.75%, 11/25/24+      204,485  
  200,000      Bpifrance SACA, 0.50%, 5/25/25, MTN+      200,775  
  1,000,000      Export Development Canada, 1.38%, 12/8/23, MTN+      1,181,546  
  500,000      Export Development Canada, 3.27%, 1/27/25, MTN+      500,578  
  400,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.13%, 10/4/24+      407,993  
  540,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 2.90%, 11/15/24, MTN+      547,785  
  1,120,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 2.95%, 2/18/25, MTN+      1,126,605  
  159,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.38%, 4/23/25+      160,465  
  1,200,000      Kreditanstalt Fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.88%, 7/18/24, MTN+      1,375,821  
  64,000      Kreditanstalt Fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.01%, 3/31/25, MTN+      64,149  
  2,500,000      Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, 0.00%, 4/6/23, MTN+      2,660,705  
  400,000      Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, 1.25%, 12/15/23, MTN+      471,535  
     

 

 

 
        10,802,139  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.4%):       
  590,000      Shell International Finance BV, 1.13%, 4/7/24+      615,284  
  300,000      Shell International Finance BV, 0.50%, 5/11/24, MTN+      309,678  
  500,000      Shell International Finance BV, 0.75%, 5/12/24, MTN+      517,831  
     

 

 

 
        1,442,793  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.1%):       
  200,000      Abbott Ireland Financing DAC, 0.10%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100+      201,606  
  100,000      Sanofi, 0.88%, 4/6/25, Callable 3/6/25 @ 100+      102,182  
     

 

 

 
        303,788  
     

 

 

 
Regional & Local (2.6%):       
  15,000,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 1.00%, 10/2/24, MTN+      1,380,982  
  15,000,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 1.00%, 5/12/25, MTN+      1,358,631  
  1,000,000      Province of Alberta Canada, 0.50%, 4/16/25+      1,005,512  
  1,300,000      Province of Alberta Canada, 0.63%, 4/18/25+      1,309,712  
  700,000      Province of Quebec Canada, 0.88%, 1/15/25+      712,961  
  4,000,000      Queensland Treasury Corp., 3.25%, 7/21/26+(a)      2,654,097  
  200,000      State of Hesse, 3.14%, 3/10/25+      200,049  
     

 

 

 
        8,621,944  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (24.3%):       
  23,000,000      African Development Bank, 0.24%, 4/14/23, MTN+      2,189,511  
  150,000      Asian Development Bank, 2.50%, 12/19/24, MTN+      175,160  
  1,000,000      Asian Development Bank, 3.75%, 3/12/25, MTN+      675,280  
  1,000,000      Asian Development Bank, 0.50%, 5/5/26, MTN+      603,065  
  600,000      Austria Treasury Bill, 0.00%, 4/27/23+(b)      637,728  
  5,000,000      Denmark Government Bond, 1.50%, 11/15/23+      712,249  
  66,000,000      Denmark Government Bond, 2.82%, 11/15/24+      9,020,076  
  200,000      European Union, 1.88%, 4/4/24+      211,435  
  600,000      European Union, 0.50%, 4/4/25, MTN+      608,669  
  4,920,000      European Union, 0.80%, 7/4/25+      4,993,985  
  700,000      Finland Government Bond, 2.93%, 9/15/24+(a)      713,179  
  1,300,000      Finland Government Bond, 0.88%, 9/15/25+(a)      1,320,662  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 600,000      French Republic Government Bond OAT, 0.00%, 3/25/24+    $ 619,766  
  100,000      French Republic Government Bond OAT, 2.25%, 5/25/24+      106,120  
  300,000      French Republic Government Bond OAT, 1.75%, 11/25/24+      314,443  
  3,200,000      French Republic Government Bond OAT, 2.89%, 2/25/25+(b)      3,220,824  
  1,100,000      Inter American Development Bank, 1.38%, 12/15/24+      1,253,166  
  300,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 2.75%, 10/30/25, MTN+      196,441  
  300,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 4.25%, 6/11/26, MTN+      204,075  
  2,500,000      International Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 0.50%, 5/18/26, MTN+      1,503,594  
  4,950,000      Ireland Government Bond, 3.40%, 3/18/24+      5,331,878  
  3,400,000      Irish Government, 5.40%, 3/13/25+      3,825,328  
  600,000      Kingdom of Belgium Government Bond, 2.60%, 6/22/24+(a)      639,802  
  3,300,000      Kingdom of Belgium Government Bond, 0.50%, 10/22/24+(a)      3,392,114  
  900,000      Kingdom of Belgium Government Bond, 0.80%, 6/22/25+(a)      919,342  
  100,000      Kuntarahoitus OYJ, 0.13%, 3/7/24, MTN+      103,366  
  300,000      Kuntarahoitus OYJ, 0.00%, 11/15/24+      302,566  
  1,300,000      Kuntarahoitus OYJ, 0.88%, 12/16/24, MTN+      1,464,232  
  450,000      Landeskreditbank Baden Wuerttemberg Foerderbank, 1.38%, 12/15/23, MTN+      531,309  
  1,154,000      Landeskreditbank Baden Wuerttemberg Foerderbank, 0.38%, 12/9/24, MTN+      1,293,511  
  750,000      Netherlands Government Bond, 0.00%, 1/15/24+(a)      779,524  
  2,100,000      Netherlands Government Bond, 2.00%, 7/15/24+(a)      2,220,652  
  300,000      Netherlands Government Bond, 0.25%, 7/15/25+(a)      301,920  
  8,700,000      New South Wales Treasury Corp., 4.00%, 5/20/26+      5,920,948  
  2,900,000      New Zealand Government Bond, 5.50%, 4/15/23+      1,844,479  
  500,000      New Zealand Government Bond, 0.50%, 5/15/24+      298,214  
  4,500,000      New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bond, 2.25%, 4/15/24+      2,740,336  
  500,000      New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bond, 2.75%, 4/15/25+      298,917  
  11,100,000      Norway Government Bond, 1.75%, 3/13/25+(a)      1,101,764  
  21,500,000      Norwegian Government, 3.00%, 3/14/24+(a)      2,192,496  
  3,500,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 2.60%, 9/8/23+      2,550,259  
  100,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 0.50%, 12/15/23+      117,045  
  600,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 0.38%, 6/14/24+      615,226  
  100,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 0.88%, 1/21/25, MTN+      101,781  
  500,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 3.10%, 8/26/25, MTN+      329,128  
  300,000      Province of Quebec Canada, 0.75%, 12/13/24+      337,193  
  1,000,000      Republic of Austria, 1.65%, 10/21/24+(a)      1,045,573  
  550,000      Republic of Austria Government Bond, 1.75%, 10/20/23+(a)      583,189  
  700,000      State of North Rhine-Westphalia Germany, 0.63%, 12/16/24+      784,938  
  100,000      Svensk Exportkredit AB, Series E, 1.38%, 12/15/23, MTN+      117,962  
  18,000,000      Sweden Government Bond, 1.50%, 11/13/23+(a)      1,703,503  
  17,000,000      Sweden Government Bond, 2.50%, 5/12/25+(a)      1,618,253  
  7,000,000      Sweden Treasury Bill, 0.00%, 6/21/23+(a)(b)      663,319  
  7,700,000      Treasury Corp. of Victoria, 0.50%, 11/20/25, MTN+      4,749,106  
     

 

 

 
        80,098,601  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Supranationals (3.2%):       
$ 4,600,000      Asian Development Bank, 1.38%, 12/15/23, MTN+    $ 5,432,552  
  438,000      Council Of Europe Development Bank, 0.38%, 3/27/25, MTN+      440,353  
  100,000      Eurofima Europaeische Gesellschaft fuer die Finanzierung von Eisenbahnmaterial, 0.25%, 2/9/24, MTN+      103,549  
  2,800,000      Inter American Development Bank, 1.25%, 12/15/23+      3,302,575  
  500,000      Inter American Development Bank, 2.70%, 1/29/26, MTN+      325,156  
  1,100,000      International Bank For Reconstruction, 2.50%, 8/3/23+      802,282  
  2,000,000      Nordic Investment Bank, 1.50%, 3/13/25, MTN+      196,529  
     

 

 

 
        10,602,996  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.0%):       
  100,000      SNCF Reseau, 4.50%, 1/30/24+      108,429  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bonds (Cost $181,342,621)

     178,284,005  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (28.8%):       
Banks (8.1%):       
  500,000      Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd., 4.05%, 5/12/25, MTN      335,104  
  1,000,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 4.20%, 8/18/25, MTN      672,300  
  2,208,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 1.13%, 6/15/26(a)      1,942,333  
  20,000      Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, 1.38%, 1/10/25      18,683  
  1,400,000      Dexia Credit Local SA, 0.50%, 7/16/24      1,311,328  
  400,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd., 1.39%, 1/12/25(a)      373,120  
  2,000,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd., 3.90%, 5/30/25, MTN      1,336,360  
  1,000,000      National Australia Bank, Ltd., 3.38%, 1/14/26      957,182  
  1,690,000      Nordea Bank Abp, 0.75%, 8/28/25(a)      1,510,950  
  2,000,000      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, 0.85%, 9/2/25(a)      1,788,512  
  6,779,000      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, 1.20%, 9/9/26(a)      5,913,139  
  1,250,000      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, 0.55%, 6/11/24(a)      1,171,416  
  2,663,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 0.75%, 1/6/26, MTN      2,353,746  
  17,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), 1.20%, 6/3/26      15,032  
  1,000,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 1.02%, 11/18/24      929,575  
  1,891,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 2.35%, 2/19/25      1,794,850  
  700,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 2.70%, 3/17/25, MTN      457,153  
  1,000,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 2.85%, 5/13/26      937,865  
  3,423,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 1.15%, 6/3/26      3,025,805  
     

 

 

 
        26,844,453  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.5%):       
  1,800,000      Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, 0.25%, 3/1/24, MTN      1,708,830  
  2,400,000      Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, 0.88%, 10/30/24, MTN      2,238,768  
  1,000,000      PSP Capital, Inc., 0.50%, 9/15/24      932,590  
     

 

 

 
        4,880,188  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (3.2%):       
  4,800,000      Agence Francaise de Developpement EPIC, 0.63%, 1/22/26, MTN      4,267,152  
  796,000      Caisse D Amortissement de La Dette Sociale, 3.38%, 3/20/24, MTN      782,986  
  541,000      European Investment Bank, 3.25%, 1/29/24      532,252  
  900,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 4.25%, 7/16/25, MTN      611,513  
  2,800,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 0.60%, 6/1/26, MTN      1,677,041  
  2,634,000      Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, 0.25%, 3/8/24      2,498,125  
     

 

 

 
        10,369,069  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
National (4.1%):       
$ 900,000      BNG Bank NV, 3.50%, 8/26/24(a)    $ 882,630  
  1,665,000      Export Development Canada, 2.63%, 2/21/24      1,624,006  
  205,000      FMS Wertmanagement, 2.75%, 1/30/24      200,640  
  600,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 0.25%, 12/8/23, MTN      574,850  
  300,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 2.75%, 2/5/24      293,844  
  1,000,000      Kommunalbanken AS, 2.00%, 6/19/24, MTN      960,360  
  1,150,000      Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV, 1.13%, 3/15/24, MTN      1,100,130  
  2,402,000      Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, 0.50%, 9/16/24      2,240,206  
  2,000,000      Svensk Exportkredit AB, 0.38%, 3/11/24      1,897,868  
  1,800,000      Svensk Exportkredit AB, 3.63%, 9/3/24      1,764,587  
  2,000,000      Swedish Export Credit, 0.50%, 11/10/23      1,927,314  
     

 

 

 
        13,466,435  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.1%):       
  4,000,000      Equinor ASA, 1.75%, 1/22/26, Callable 12/22/25 @ 100      3,659,600  
     

 

 

 
Regional & Local (3.2%):       
  1,300,000      Kommunekredit, 1.00%, 12/15/23      1,254,968  
  1,200,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige, 3.25%, 1/16/24, MTN      1,180,890  
  300,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige, 0.38%, 2/16/24      285,396  
  3,000,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 1.38%, 5/8/24, MTN      2,865,186  
  1,000,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 1.38%, 5/8/24(a)      955,062  
  1,486,000      Kommuninvest I Sverige AB, 2.88%, 7/3/24(a)      1,444,162  
  2,581,000      Landeskreditbank Baden-Wuerttemberg Foerderbank, 2.00%, 7/23/24, MTN      2,477,631  
     

 

 

 
        10,463,295  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (5.7%):       
  844,000      Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (The), 2.25%, 5/16/24      815,111  
  3,714,000      International Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 2.50%, 3/19/24      3,615,278  
  500,000      Ontario Province of, 3.40%, 10/17/23      493,670  
  600,000      Province of Alberta Canada, 2.95%, 1/23/24      588,122  
  1,000,000      Province of Manitoba Canada, 2.60%, 4/16/24      972,701  
  2,400,000      Province of Ontario Canada, 3.05%, 1/29/24      2,352,398  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 5,120,000      Province of Quebec Canada, 2.50%, 4/9/24    $ 4,973,870  
  2,800,000      SFIL SA, 0.63%, 2/9/26, MTN      2,487,800  
  2,800,000      Svensk Exportkredit AB, 0.38%, 7/30/24      2,614,212  
     

 

 

 
        18,913,162  
     

 

 

 
Supranationals (1.9%):       
  3,528,000      Asian Development Bank, 1.63%, 3/15/24      3,397,623  
  454,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 3.00%, 2/21/24      445,450  
  1,000,000      Inter-American Development Bank, 3.25%, 7/1/24      979,523  
  324,000      Inter-American Investment Corp., 1.75%, 10/2/24      307,871  
  1,000,000      International Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 2.25%, 3/28/24      969,697  
     

 

 

 
        6,100,164  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $100,045,183)

     94,696,366  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (9.5%):       
U.S. Treasury Notes (9.5%):  
  3,750,000      0.13%, 8/15/23      3,644,531  
  4,708,700      0.75%, 12/31/23      4,526,238  
  5,500,000      0.88%, 1/31/24      5,275,703  
  3,000,000      2.50%, 1/31/24      2,928,750  
  1,500,000      0.13%, 2/15/24      1,425,000  
  8,000,000      0.38%, 4/15/24      7,570,000  
  6,400,000      0.25%, 5/15/24      6,024,000  
     

 

 

 
        31,394,222  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $31,648,358)

     31,394,222  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (3.1%):       
Money Markets (3.1%):       
  10,319,797      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(b)      10,319,797  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $10,319,797)

     10,319,797  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $349,385,992) — 102.8%(c)

     338,802,192  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (2.8)%

     (9,117,853
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 329,684,339  
     

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

MTN—Medium Term Note

 

+

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.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(c)

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

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

Country   Percentage  

Australia

    8.5

Austria

    2.3

Belgium

    1.5

Canada

    12.7

Denmark

    3.5

Finland

    1.7

France

    8.3

Germany

    5.9

Ireland

    2.8

Luxembourg

    1.1

Netherlands

    3.6

New Zealand

    1.5

Norway

    3.6

Supranational

    13.8

Sweden

    9.5

United Kingdom

    0.2

United States

    19.5
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:

 

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

Norwegian Krone

     4,038,267      U.S. Dollar      394,065      HSBC      1/5/23      $ 18,750  

Norwegian Krone

     1,970,005      U.S. Dollar      185,227      HSBC      1/5/23        16,158  

Norwegian Krone

     3,361,544      U.S. Dollar      316,923      HSBC      1/5/23        26,713  

Norwegian Krone

     5,093,693      U.S. Dollar      492,064      HSBC      1/5/23        28,643  

U.S. Dollar

     2,879,736      Swedish Krona      29,805,153      HSBC      1/11/23        19,712  

Australian Dollar

     83,891      U.S. Dollar      54,627      ANZ Banking Group      1/17/23        2,520  

Australian Dollar

     881,369      U.S. Dollar      589,574      ANZ Banking Group      1/17/23        10,817  

U.S. Dollar

     1,588,571      Swedish Krona      16,485,351      Bank of America      1/17/23        6,035  

Australian Dollar

     514,719      U.S. Dollar      349,188      Bank of America      1/17/23        1,440  

U.S. Dollar

     643,120      European Euro      600,063      BNY Mellon      1/18/23        52  

British Pound

     620,420      U.S. Dollar      706,414      Bank of America      1/20/23        43,907  

British Pound

     348,095      U.S. Dollar      402,687      Bank of America      1/20/23        18,291  

British Pound

     257,754      U.S. Dollar      304,695      Bank of America      1/20/23        7,026  

British Pound

     320,816      U.S. Dollar      359,139      Bank of America      1/20/23        28,848  

British Pound

     134,722      U.S. Dollar      154,134      Bank of America      1/20/23        8,795  

British Pound

     411,903      U.S. Dollar      468,953      HSBC      1/20/23        29,192  

British Pound

     477,597      U.S. Dollar      560,347      HSBC      1/20/23        17,247  

British Pound

     382,916      U.S. Dollar      443,117      State Street      1/20/23        19,972  

British Pound

     417,547      U.S. Dollar      500,520      UBS      1/20/23        4,451  

U.S. Dollar

     289,759      New Zealand Dollar      448,692      UBS      1/20/23        4,892  

U.S. Dollar

     380,075      Swedish Krona      3,947,365      HSBC      1/23/23        987  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ 314,448  
                 

 

 

 

U.S. Dollar

     1,443,388      European Euro      1,445,120      Bank of America      1/3/23        (103,650

U.S. Dollar

     1,234,263      European Euro      1,248,902      Bank of America      1/3/23        (102,718

U.S. Dollar

     686,336      European Euro      684,540      Bank of America      1/3/23        (46,481

U.S. Dollar

     635,571      European Euro      612,681      Barclays Bank      1/3/23        (20,320

U.S. Dollar

     1,498,252      European Euro      1,508,369      HSBC      1/3/23        (116,496

U.S. Dollar

     463,519      European Euro      463,109      HSBC      1/3/23        (32,251

U.S. Dollar

     3,086,479      Danish Krone      22,943,596      State Street      1/3/23        (217,685

U.S. Dollar

     1,583,059      European Euro      1,570,543      State Street      1/3/23        (98,247

U.S. Dollar

     399,822      European Euro      407,588      State Street      1/3/23        (36,512

U.S. Dollar

     14,583,981      European Euro      14,592,484      State Street      1/3/23        (1,037,646

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

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

U.S. Dollar

     353,131      European Euro      350,563      State Street      1/3/23      $ (22,155

U.S. Dollar

     428,682      European Euro      431,156      UBS      1/3/23        (32,882

U.S. Dollar

     1,457,657      European Euro      1,480,328      UBS      1/3/23        (127,072

U.S. Dollar

     343,896      Australian Dollar      513,780      Bank of America      1/5/23        (5,909

U.S. Dollar

     389,657      Australian Dollar      599,611      Bank of America      1/5/23        (18,586

U.S. Dollar

     5,279,758      Norwegian Krone      55,716,875      Bank of America      1/5/23        (415,941

U.S. Dollar

     43,817      Norwegian Krone      438,239      Barclays Bank      1/5/23        (982

U.S. Dollar

     3,325,595      Danish Krone      23,289,041      Bank of America      1/6/23        (29,165

U.S. Dollar

     1,280,236      Swedish Krona      14,415,665      Citigroup      1/11/23        (103,053

U.S. Dollar

     470,071      Swedish Krona      4,922,530      HSBC      1/11/23        (2,282

U.S. Dollar

     759,901      Swedish Krona      7,920,307      Bank of America      1/17/23        (420

U.S. Dollar

     10,296,976      Canadian Dollar      14,091,842      Bank of America      1/17/23        (113,220

Australian Dollar

     1,469,426      U.S. Dollar      1,001,229      Bank of America      1/17/23        (251

U.S. Dollar

     30,391,749      Australian Dollar      48,251,901      Citigroup      1/17/23        (2,477,586

Australian Dollar

     487,982      U.S. Dollar      335,663      Citigroup      1/17/23        (3,249

U.S. Dollar

     6,964,432      European Euro      7,070,929      Bank of America      1/18/23        (613,255

U.S. Dollar

     816,457      European Euro      774,360      BNY Mellon      1/18/23        (13,400

U.S. Dollar

     723,119      Danish Krone      5,148,536      Bank of America      1/18/23        (19,272

U.S. Dollar

     1,421,128      European Euro      1,359,311      Bank of America      1/18/23        (35,602

U.S. Dollar

     428,731      European Euro      411,741      Bank of America      1/18/23        (12,519

U.S. Dollar

     1,199,251      European Euro      1,151,118      Bank of America      1/18/23        (34,366

U.S. Dollar

     867,696      Danish Krone      6,553,430      Bank of America      1/18/23        (77,274

U.S. Dollar

     936,644      European Euro      930,219      Barclays Bank      1/18/23        (60,242

U.S. Dollar

     353,740      European Euro      331,072      Citigroup      1/18/23        (1,059

U.S. Dollar

     251,362      European Euro      236,334      Citigroup      1/18/23        (1,910

U.S. Dollar

     1,730,584      European Euro      1,635,668      State Street      1/18/23        (22,309

U.S. Dollar

     861,528      European Euro      829,383      UBS      1/18/23        (27,295

U.S. Dollar

     839,184      European Euro      803,660      Barclays Bank      1/19/23        (22,134

U.S. Dollar

     100,785      European Euro      96,693      Citigroup      1/19/23        (2,845

U.S. Dollar

     1,448,446      Danish Krone      10,336,569      Citigroup      1/19/23        (42,156

U.S. Dollar

     7,882,395      Canadian Dollar      10,796,292      HSBC      1/19/23        (93,347

U.S. Dollar

     2,798,475      European Euro      2,662,724      State Street      1/19/23        (55,283

U.S. Dollar

     786,729      European Euro      746,288      State Street      1/19/23        (13,101

U.S. Dollar

     7,218,031      European Euro      6,928,341      State Street      1/19/23        (207,377

U.S. Dollar

     358,269      European Euro      346,271      State Street      1/19/23        (12,845

U.S. Dollar

     404,705      European Euro      383,493      State Street      1/19/23        (6,301

U.S. Dollar

     1,025,019      European Euro      971,201      State Street      1/19/23        (15,860

U.S. Dollar

     399,114      European Euro      383,798      State Street      1/19/23        (12,219

U.S. Dollar

     1,781,130      European Euro      1,680,385      State Street      1/19/23        (19,812

U.S. Dollar

     294,269      European Euro      283,402      State Street      1/19/23        (9,465

U.S. Dollar

     33,580,793      British Pound      30,160,537      HSBC      1/20/23        (2,894,614

British Pound

     555,305      U.S. Dollar      678,825      State Street      1/20/23        (7,253

U.S. Dollar

     1,813,420      Swedish Krona      19,260,304      Bank of America      1/23/23        (36,256

U.S. Dollar

     4,251,519      New Zealand Dollar      6,794,700      UBS      1/24/23        (62,560

U.S. Dollar

     562,042      British Pound      500,235      State Street      1/25/23        (43,015

U.S. Dollar

     684,826      European Euro      674,616      State Street      1/25/23        (38,498

U.S. Dollar

     14,688,888      European Euro      14,556,862      State Street      1/25/23        (918,992

U.S. Dollar

     3,208,019      Danish Krone      22,338,689      HSBC      1/30/23        (16,353

U.S. Dollar

     26,479,525      European Euro      24,795,383      State Street      1/30/23        (115,546

U.S. Dollar

     622,783      New Zealand Dollar      1,004,961      Citigroup      2/28/23        (15,481
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (10,744,575
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

                  $ (10,430,127
                 

 

 

 

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

 

      Unrealized
Appreciation
   Unrealized
Depreciation

Forward currency contracts

     $ 314,448      $ (10,744,575 )

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 349,385,992
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value

    $ 338,802,192

Interest and dividends receivable

      2,053,256

Foreign currency, at value (cost $298,892)

      298,146

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts

      314,448

Receivable for capital shares issued

      196

Prepaid expenses

      152
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      341,468,390
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts

      10,744,575

Payable for investments purchased

      792,465

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      2,145

Management fees payable

      140,550

Administration fees payable

      12,686

Distribution fees payable

      70,274

Custodian fees payable

      7,120

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,050

Transfer agent fees payable

      968

Trustee fees payable

      2,622

Other accrued liabilities

      9,596
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      11,784,051
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 329,684,339
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 372,946,968

Total distributable earnings

      (43,262,629 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 329,684,339
   

 

 

 

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

      38,984,281

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 8.46
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 6,232,336

Dividends

      82,549

Income from securities lending

      3,508
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      6,318,393
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,175,842

Administration fees

      68,270

Distribution fees

      906,596

Custodian fees

      29,051

Administrative and compliance services fees

      4,606

Transfer agent fees

      5,580

Trustee fees

      18,424

Professional fees

      14,293

Shareholder reports

      4,648

Other expenses

      9,202
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,236,512

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (362,636 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      2,873,876
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      3,444,517
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      (28,397,669 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

      9,711,677

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

      (2,409,361 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

      (10,271,317 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (31,366,670 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (27,922,153 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 3,444,517     $ (412,020 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      (18,685,992 )       8,366,939

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (12,680,678 )       (14,804,697 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (27,922,153 )       (6,849,778 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (14,502,305 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (14,502,305 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      2,555,459       27,868,290

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      14,502,305      

Value of shares redeemed

      (64,069,387 )       (12,268,944 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (47,011,623 )       15,599,346
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (89,436,081 )       8,749,568

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      419,120,420       410,370,852
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 329,684,339     $ 419,120,420
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      290,962       2,894,674

Dividends reinvested

      1,722,364      

Shares redeemed

      (7,179,059 )       (1,276,633 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (5,165,733 )       1,618,041
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 9.49     $ 9.65     $ 9.82     $ 10.06     $ 10.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.08 (a)       (0.01 )(a)       (0.03 )(a)       0.01 (a)       0.06

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (0.73 )       (0.15 )       0.09       0.34       0.06
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.65 )       (0.16 )       0.06       0.35       0.12
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.38 )             (0.23 )       (0.59 )       (0.06 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.38 )             (0.23 )       (0.59 )       (0.06 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.46     $ 9.49     $ 9.65     $ 9.82     $ 10.06
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (6.82 )%       (1.66 )%       0.57 %       3.50 %       1.17 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 329,684     $ 419,120     $ 410,371     $ 434,284     $ 460,894

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.95 %       (0.10 )%       (0.34 )%       0.12 %       0.45 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.89 %       0.91 %       0.93 %       0.92 %       0.91 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.79 %       0.81 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      119 %       122 %       62 %       35 %       69 %

 

(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.

 

12


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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

 

13


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022 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 $342 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund did not have securities lending transactions accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $4.6 million and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $115.3 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, 2022:

 

   

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   $ 314,448     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts   $ 10,744,575  

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, 2022:

 

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    $ 9,711,677      $ (10,271,317

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, 2022. 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, 2022.

 

14


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Forward currency contracts

       $ 314,448        $ 10,744,575
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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

         314,448          10,744,575

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

                 
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $ 314,448        $ 10,744,575
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

ANZ Banking Group

     $ 13,337      $      $      $      $ 13,337

Bank of America

       114,342        (114,342 )                     

BNY Mellon

       52        (52 )                     

HSBC

       157,402        (157,402 )                     

State Street

       19,972        (19,972 )                     

UBS

       9,343        (9,343 )                     
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 314,448      $ (301,111 )      $      $      $ 13,337
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

     $ 1,664,885      $ (114,342 )      $      $      $ 1,550,543

Barclays Bank

       103,678                             103,678

BNY Mellon

       13,400        (52 )                      13,348

Citigroup

       2,647,339                             2,647,339

HSBC

       3,155,343        (157,402 )                      2,997,941

State Street

       2,910,121        (19,972 )                      2,890,149

UBS

       249,809        (9,343 )                      240,466
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 10,744,575      $ (301,111 )      $      $      $ 10,443,464
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

 

15


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

 

16


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Corporate Bonds+

       $        $ 24,107,802        $        $ 24,107,802

Foreign Bonds+

                  178,284,005                   178,284,005

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  94,696,366                   94,696,366

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  31,394,222                   31,394,222

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         10,319,797                            10,319,797
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         10,319,797          328,482,395                   338,802,192
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Forward Currency Contracts

                  (10,430,127 )                   (10,430,127 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 10,319,797        $ 318,052,268        $        $ 328,372,065
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 414,126,765        $ 501,142,855

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 192,384,089        $ 231,167,949

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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.

 

17


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $349,386,721. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 3,903,986  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (14,488,515
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (10,584,529
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
    

Total

Amount

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 17,005,864        $ 16,460,818        $ 33,466,682

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

       $ 14,502,305        $        $ 14,502,305

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

     $ 2,596,250      $      $ (33,466,682 )      $ (10,410,938 )      $ (41,281,370 )

 

(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 straddles.

 

18


AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, 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 this 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

19


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

22


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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.

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; Associate General Counsel, Senior Counsel, Allianz Life, 2008 to present.

 

25


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
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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 36

Statement of Operations

Page 36

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 37

Financial Highlights

Page 38

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 39

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 44

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 45

Other Information

Page 46

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 47

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 50

 

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, 2022?*

During the 12-month period, the AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund returned (13.49)% (net of fees). That compares to total returns of (14.01)% for the MSCI EAFE Index (gross of withholding taxes) and (13.82)% for the MSCI World Ex-USA Index (gross of withholding taxes), the Fund’s primary benchmarks.1

In U.S. dollar terms, developed ex-U.S. markets experienced negative performance during the period but outperformed both U.S. and emerging markets. Most developed ex-U.S. market currencies — particularly the Swedish krona and Japanese yen — depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar. 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, mid-cap stocks outperformed small-cap stocks, and large-cap stocks outperformed both. Value stocks outperformed growth stocks across all market cap sizes.

The Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmarks was primarily driven by its emphasis on value stocks, which outperformed growth stocks in both small- and large-cap markets.

 

 

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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     

1

Year

  

3

Year

  

5

Year

   Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA International Core Equity Fund

       (13.49 )%        1.61 %        0.84 %        2.67 %

MSCI EAFE Index (gross of withholding taxes)

       (14.01 )%        1.34 %        2.03 %        3.12 %

MSCI EAFE Index (net of withholding taxes)

       (14.45 )%        0.87 %        1.54 %        2.63 %

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

       (13.82 )%        1.77 %        2.32 %        3.26 %

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

       (14.29 )%        1.27 %        1.79 %        2.74 %

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

         1.31 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.65% through at least April 30, 2024. Prior to October 1, 2022, the Manager waived the management fee to 0.75%. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,051.10     $ 5.43       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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA International Core Equity 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

Industrials

      18.3 %

Financials

      17.0

Materials

      12.0

Consumer Discretionary

      12.0

Energy

      7.9

Consumer Staples

      7.5

Health Care

      7.2

Information Technology

      7.0

Communication Services

      5.3

Utilities

      3.2

Real Estate

      2.3
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.7

Warrants

        
   

Rights

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.2 %
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.9

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.9 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.4%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.7%):       
  3,667      Airbus SE    $ 435,953  
  512      Avon Rubber plc      6,656  
  9,225      BAE Systems plc      95,322  
  1,760      Bombardier, Inc.*      67,953  
  2,289      CAE, Inc.*      44,282  
  3,081      Chemring Group plc      11,089  
  279      Dassault Aviation SA      47,331  
  116      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      18,904  
  89      Facc AG*      539  
  806      Hensoldt AG      19,070  
  865      Kongsberg Gruppen ASA      36,757  
  9,452      Leonardo SpA      81,464  
  1,132      LISI      23,568  
  492      MTU Aero Engines AG      106,473  
  16,472      QinetiQ Group plc      71,147  
  72,100      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      80,705  
  1,038      Saab AB      40,870  
  330      Safran SA      41,232  
  15,312      Senior plc      23,225  
  17,800      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      44,559  
  615      Thales SA      78,608  
     

 

 

 
        1,375,707  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.5%):       
  900      Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.      10,689  
  4,417      BPOST SA      22,758  
  2,399      Cia de Distribucion Integral Logista Holdings SA      60,567  
  6,355      CTT-Correios de Portugal SA      20,991  
  9,311      Deutsche Post AG      350,433  
  4,733      Freightways, Ltd.      29,014  
  73      ID Logistics Group*      20,972  
  20,500      Kerry Network, Ltd.      36,910  
  1,800      Konoike Transport Co., Ltd.      21,852  
  449      Mainfreight, Ltd.      19,125  
  900      Mitsui-Soko Holdings Co., Ltd.      24,471  
  1,146      Oesterreichische Post AG^      35,987  
  17,081      PostNL NV      31,156  
  26,724      Royal Mail plc      68,876  
  900      SBS Holdings, Inc.      18,910  
  3,000      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      41,826  
  27,700      Singapore Post, Ltd.      10,761  
  5,312      Wincanton plc      21,651  
  1,400      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      22,260  
     

 

 

 
        869,209  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  1,500      Air Canada*      21,484  
  15,527      Air France-KLM*      20,443  
  80,763      Air New Zealand, Ltd.*      37,932  
  1,200      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      25,568  
  33,347      Cathay Pacific Airways, Ltd.*      36,254  
  7,555      Deutsche Lufthansa AG*      62,775  
  5,559      easyJet plc*      21,844  
  1,128      Exchange Income Corp.      43,852  
  1,600      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      32,827  
  2,549      JET2 plc      29,576  
  5,386      Qantas Airways, Ltd.*      21,681  
  12,200      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.      50,288  
     

 

 

 
        404,524  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components (1.6%):       
  1,000      Aisan Industry Co., Ltd.    $ 5,214  
  3,500      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      93,239  
  7,300      Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.*      8,274  
  1,027      Akwel      19,128  
  1,404      Arb Corp., Ltd.      24,494  
  202      Autoneum Holding AG      22,326  
  3,367      Brembo SpA      37,754  
  5,800      Bridgestone Corp.      206,521  
  1,647      Bulten AB      9,408  
  1,998      Cie Automotive SA      51,545  
  9,838      Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA      273,525  
  12,732      CIR SpA-Compagnie Industriali*      5,915  
  1,263      Continental AG      75,448  
  2,800      Daido Metal Co., Ltd.      10,109  
  2,400      Daikyonishikawa Corp.      10,086  
  1,800      Denso Corp.      88,252  
  8,224      Dometic Group AB(a)      53,286  
  1,800      Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.      14,700  
  673      Edag Engineering Group AG      7,276  
  1,724      ElringKlinger AG      12,835  
  1,500      Exco Technologies, Ltd.      8,532  
  1,700      Exedy Corp.      20,787  
  5,309      Faurecia SE*      80,032  
  2,300      FCC Co., Ltd.      23,490  
  1,000      F-Tech, Inc.      3,855  
  4,000      Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.      10,768  
  6,562      Gestamp Automocion SA(a)      25,432  
  1,400      G-Tekt Corp.      15,255  
  6,206      Gud Holdings, Ltd.      31,975  
  108      Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA      8,795  
  1,600      Hi-Lex Corp.      13,125  
  700      H-One Co., Ltd.      3,256  
  300      Imasen Electric Industrial      1,409  
  19,355      Johnson Electric Holdings, Ltd.      24,381  
  6,700      JTEKT Corp.      46,831  
  1,800      Kasai Kogyo Co., Ltd.*      1,853  
  258      Kendrion NV      4,273  
  1,800      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      26,817  
  25,060      Kongsberg Automotive ASA*      6,477  
  1,000      KYB Corp.      25,706  
  1,544      Leoni AG*      9,089  
  1,633      Linamar Corp.      73,942  
  3,438      Magna International, Inc.      193,147  
  2,713      Magna Internationl, Inc.      152,423  
  4,266      Martinrea International, Inc.      35,482  
  2,000      Mitsuba Corp.      7,085  
  2,500      Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.      29,390  
  4,800      NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.      88,582  
  6,600      NHK SPRING Co., Ltd.      42,021  
  600      Nichirin Co., Ltd.      8,113  
  2,300      Nifco, Inc.      53,594  
  2,200      Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.      13,101  
  2,700      NOK Corp.      23,873  
  4,876      Nokian Renkaat OYJ      50,164  
  2,600      Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.      19,713  
  10,202      Pirelli & C SpA(a)      43,599  
  1,743      Plastic Omnium SA      25,283  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components, continued       
  6,300      Press Kogyo Co., Ltd.    $ 20,255  
  3,582      PWR Holdings, Ltd.      25,966  
  400      Riken Corp.      6,842  
  1,219      SAF-Holland SE      11,497  
  1,900      Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd.      8,756  
  2,535      Schaeffler AG      17,262  
  700      Shoei Co., Ltd.      27,354  
  1,900      Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.      36,119  
  10,100      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      114,589  
  2,900      Sumitomo Riko Co., Ltd.      13,274  
  6,400      Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.      56,166  
  300      T RAD Co., Ltd.      5,905  
  1,400      Tachi-S Co., Ltd.      11,754  
  800      Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd.      3,705  
  8,119      TI Fluid Systems plc(a)      13,038  
  2,500      Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.      26,598  
  2,500      Topre Corp.      21,351  
  4,500      Toyo Tire Corp.      50,803  
  1,700      Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.      26,280  
  2,900      Toyota Boshoku Corp.      38,591  
  700      Toyota Industries Corp.      38,170  
  1,500      TPR Co., Ltd.      13,829  
  2,800      TS Tech Co., Ltd.      32,024  
  2,000      Unipres Corp.      11,434  
  6,199      Valeo SA      110,480  
  384      Vitesco Technologies Group AG*      22,292  
  3,500      Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (The)      54,343  
  600      Yorozu Corp.      3,172  
     

 

 

 
        3,102,834  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.8%):       
  2,943      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      262,640  
  11,984      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      786,320  
  730      Ferrari NV      156,381  
  9,200      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      210,382  
  11,100      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      129,667  
  6,800      Mazda Motor Corp.      51,409  
  8,800      Mitsubishi Motors Corp.*      33,880  
  20,000      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.      62,934  
  2,700      Nissan Shatai Co., Ltd.      16,970  
  8,981      Piaggio & C SpA      27,001  
  4,600      Renault SA*      153,242  
  33,989      Stellantis NV      481,782  
  3,900      Subaru Corp.      59,853  
  1,600      Suzuki Motor Corp.      51,485  
  52,220      Toyota Motor Corp.      713,807  
  504      Volkswagen AG      79,666  
  7,200      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      163,645  
     

 

 

 
        3,441,064  
     

 

 

 
Banks (8.5%):       
  1,900      77th Bank      31,954  
  4,747      ABN AMRO Group NV(a)      65,555  
  15,084      AIB Group plc      58,136  
  2,365      Aichi Financial Group, Inc.*      41,490  
  1,500      Akita Bank, Ltd. (The)      21,799  
  2,146      Aktia Bank OYJ      23,458  
  16,502      ANZ Group Holdings, Ltd.*      265,770  
  3,300      Aozora Bank, Ltd.      64,990  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,000      Awa Bank, Ltd. (The)    $ 16,230  
  195      Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA*      402  
  17,687      Banca Popolare di Sondrio SCPA      71,440  
  37,367      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, ADR      224,576  
  20,370      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      122,992  
  44,790      Banco Bpm SpA      159,948  
  106,975      Banco Comercial Portugues SA, Class R      16,830  
  238,968      Banco de Sabadell SA      224,946  
  100,490      Banco Santander SA      300,908  
  6,287      Banco Santander SA, ADR      18,547  
  8,101      Bank Hapoalim BM      73,186  
  16,026      Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM      133,780  
  38,459      Bank of East Asia, Ltd. (The)      46,367  
  974      Bank of Georgia Group plc      30,639  
  29,096      Bank of Ireland Group plc      275,840  
  900      Bank of Iwate, Ltd. (The)      13,483  
  1,200      Bank of Kyoto, Ltd. (The)      53,409  
  316      Bank of Montreal      28,631  
  5,647      Bank of Montreal      511,618  
  500      Bank of Nagoya, Ltd. (The)      12,629  
  9,618      Bank of Nova Scotia      471,090  
  16,987      Bank of Queensland, Ltd.      79,574  
  2,000      Bank of The Ryukyus, Ltd.      13,295  
  16,597      Bankinter SA      111,215  
  71      Banque Cantonale de Geneve      13,783  
  916      Banque Cantonale Vaudoise      88,000  
  20,949      Barclays plc, ADR      163,402  
  39,822      Barclays plc      76,545  
  1,276      BAWAG Group AG(a)      67,836  
  13,509      Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, Ltd.      89,416  
  174      Berner Kantonalbank AG      41,863  
  6,055      BNP Paribas SA      344,525  
  23,542      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      80,031  
  34,804      BPER Banca      71,321  
  15,684      CaixaBank SA      61,555  
  6,788      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      274,575  
  228      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      9,224  
  2,927      Canadian Western Bank      52,019  
  5,000      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      36,650  
  6,200      Chugin Financial Group, Inc.      45,162  
  24,904      Commerzbank AG*      235,457  
  7,457      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      520,390  
  10,700      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      44,778  
  7,042      Credit Agricole SA      74,219  
  5,165      Credito Emiliano SpA      36,595  
  16,000      Dah Sing Banking Group, Ltd.      11,473  
  5,600      Dah Sing Financial Holdings, Ltd.      12,916  
  1,900      Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group, Inc.      41,475  
  9,027      Danske Bank A/S      177,868  
  8,992      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      227,696  
  5,245      DNB Bank ASA      103,971  
  1,600      Ehime Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,141  
  3,971      Erste Group Bank AG      126,608  
  650      Fidea Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,123  
  7,039      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA      117,292  
  3,600      First Bank of Toyama, Ltd. (The)      15,897  
  710      First International Bank of Israel      28,110  
  1,000      Fukui Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,416  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,700      Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc.    $ 38,774  
  13,200      Gunma Bank, Ltd. (The)      50,666  
  9,200      Hachijuni Bank, Ltd. (The)      38,392  
  2,505      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      41,479  
  23,678      Heartland Group Holdings Npv      26,921  
  9,500      Hirogin Holdings, Inc.      47,795  
  1,000      Hokkoku Financial Holdings, Inc.      34,589  
  6,000      Hokuhoku Financial Group, Inc.      44,569  
  22,258      HSBC Holdings plc, ADR      693,559  
  9,400      Hyakugo Bank, Ltd. (The)      26,236  
  1,000      Hyakujushi Bank, Ltd. (The)      14,545  
  757      Illimity Bank SpA*      5,601  
  17,920      ING Groep NV      218,600  
  73,717      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      164,438  
  16,916      Isreal Discount Bank      89,032  
  9,500      Iyogin Holdings, Inc.      51,749  
  620      Jimoto Holdings, Inc.      2,071  
  1,200      Juroku Financial Group, Inc.      26,222  
  1,684      Jyske Bank A/S*      109,499  
  4,462      KBC Group NV      286,452  
  5,800      Keiyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      25,938  
  400      Kita-Nippon Bank, Ltd. (The)      6,469  
  2,500      Kiyo Bank, Ltd. (The)      29,765  
  10,290      Kyushu Financial Group, Inc.      35,326  
  1,296      Laurentian Bank of Canada      30,921  
  562      Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG      33,883  
  35,782      Lloyds Banking Group plc      19,645  
  111,585      Lloyds TSB Group plc, ADR      245,487  
  113      Luzerner Kantonalbank AG      50,487  
  24,670      Mebuki Financial Group, Inc.      62,785  
  11,475      Mediobanca SpA      110,240  
  62,500      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      421,691  
  800      Miyazaki Bank, Ltd. (The)      15,095  
  1,478      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      47,948  
  12,880      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      182,070  
  1,300      Musashino Bank, Ltd. (The)      20,479  
  1,300      Nanto Bank, Ltd. (The)      25,373  
  16,960      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      343,603  
  5,532      National Bank of Canada      372,791  
  40,005      NatWest Group PLC      127,674  
  4,800      Nishi-Nippon Holdings, Inc.      35,126  
  19,269      Nordea Bank AB      206,186  
  7,300      North Pacific Bank, Ltd.      14,156  
  1,800      Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd. (The)      25,642  
  1,000      Oita Bank, Ltd. (The)      15,544  
  820      Okinawa Financial Group, Inc.      14,532  
  17,046      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      154,707  
  1,522      Procrea Holdings, Inc.      25,521  
  28,000      Public Financial Holdings, Ltd.      8,627  
  6,482      Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG*      106,491  
  24,175      Resona Holdings, Inc.      132,826  
  1,073      Ringkjoebing Landbobank A/S      146,520  
  10,901      Royal Bank of Canada      1,024,912  
  53      Royal Bank of Canada      4,984  
  1,190      San Ju San Financial Group, Inc.      14,386  
  6,200      San-In Godo Bank, Ltd. (The)      36,620  
  11,600      Senshu Ikeda Holdings, Inc.      22,252  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  13,500      Seven Bank, Ltd.    $ 26,952  
  1,300      Shiga Bank, Ltd. (The)      25,975  
  1,000      Shikoku Bank, Ltd. (The)      7,422  
  400      Shimizu Bank, Ltd. (The)      4,724  
  900      Shinsei Bank, Ltd.      14,665  
  5,900      Shizuoka Financial Group, Inc.      47,429  
  7,610      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      87,626  
  9,761      Societe Generale      244,870  
  3,426      Spar Nord Bank A/S      52,547  
  2,847      Sparebank 1 Sr-Bank ASA      35,061  
  121      St. Galler Kantonalbank AG      62,873  
  29,350      Standard Chartered plc      220,246  
  7,000      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      282,103  
  3,300      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      115,163  
  8,000      Suruga Bank, Ltd.      25,731  
  8,201      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      82,566  
  4,382      Swedbank AB, Class A      74,486  
  2,282      Sydbank A/S      95,913  
  6,500      Toho Bank, Ltd. (The)      11,072  
  1,100      Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Inc.      21,809  
  7,500      Tomony Holdings, Inc.      21,121  
  1,939      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      125,567  
  7,456      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      482,851  
  2,100      Towa Bank, Ltd. (The)      8,987  
  6,200      Tsukuba Bank, Ltd.      11,196  
  48,238      Unicaja Banco SA(a)      53,283  
  14,918      Unicredit SpA      212,107  
  7,627      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      174,954  
  405      Valiant Holding AG      43,880  
  764      Van Lanschot Kempen NV      17,929  
  34,734      Virgin Money UK plc      76,474  
  239      Walliser Kantonalbank      26,877  
  18,223      Westpac Banking Corp.      286,548  
  1,600      Yamagata Bank, Ltd. (The)      15,058  
  7,200      Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc.      47,209  
  1,800      Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Ltd. (The)      15,222  
  6      Zuger Kantonalbank AG      47,038  
     

 

 

 
        16,318,484  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.1%):       
  1,669      A.G. Barr plc      10,733  
  1,900      Andrew Peller, Ltd.      7,003  
  6,380      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      383,499  
  2,000      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      62,285  
  8,644      Britvic plc      81,265  
  13,700      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.(a)      43,100  
  14,772      C&C Group plc*      31,186  
  1,234      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      163,381  
  2,200      Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings, Inc.      24,085  
  2,675      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      146,945  
  2,705      Coca-Cola HBC AG      64,552  
  3,646      David Campari-Milano NV      36,948  
  1,238      Diageo plc      54,658  
  2,283      Diageo plc, ADR      406,808  
  812      Fevertree Drinks plc      10,087  
  1,191      Heineken NV      111,880  
  1,000      ITO EN, Ltd.      36,491  
  2,300      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      35,242  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  109      Laurent-Perrier    $ 15,654  
  653      Olvi OYJ      23,196  
  209      Pernod Ricard SA      41,075  
  4,250      Primo Water Corp.      65,988  
  195      Remy Cointreau SA      32,874  
  1,456      Royal Unibrew A/S      104,022  
  1,600      Sapporo Breweries, Ltd.      39,833  
  2,200      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      75,078  
  4,200      Takara Holdings, Inc.      33,435  
  2,863      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      26,449  
     

 

 

 
        2,167,752  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.4%):       
  86      Argenx SE*      32,402  
  209      Basilea Pharmaceutica REG*      10,383  
  1,271      Bavarian Nordic A/S*      38,946  
  1,455      BioGaia AB      11,670  
  760      Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.      11,198  
  1,392      CSL, Ltd.      271,367  
  765      Galapagos NV*      33,928  
  356      Genmab A/S*      150,820  
  2,347      Grifols SA*      27,212  
  5,747      Knight Therapeutics, Inc.*      21,990  
  6,442      Mesoblast, Ltd.*      3,767  
  1,700      Peptidream, Inc.*      26,886  
  176      Pharma Mar SA      12,094  
  9,303      Pharming Group NV*      10,775  
  4,999      PureTech Health PLC*      16,125  
  1,829      Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB*      37,810  
  1,100      Takara Bio, Inc.      14,301  
  593      Vitrolife AB      10,643  
  1,155      Zealand Pharma A/S*      33,356  
     

 

 

 
        775,673  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.1%):       
  4,400      AGC, Inc.      145,782  
  2,028      Arbonia AG      28,274  
  1,761      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      37,910  
  205      Belimo Holding AG, Class R      97,971  
  2,400      Bunka Shutter Co., Ltd.      20,103  
  532      Carel Industries SpA(a)      13,371  
  1,800      Central Glass Co., Ltd.      38,534  
  6,649      Cie de Saint-Gobain      326,378  
  1,000      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      153,853  
  114      dorma kaba Holding AG      41,903  
  17,207      Fletcher Building, Ltd.      51,526  
  451      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      213,624  
  5,784      Genuit Group plc      19,649  
  12,753      Gwa Group, Ltd.      17,812  
  3,298      Inrom Construction Industries, Ltd.      12,551  
  2,938      Inwido AB      31,262  
  2,153      Kingspan Group plc      115,908  
  2,801      Lindab International AB      34,349  
  5,400      Lixil Corp.      82,306  
  1,773      Munters Group AB(a)      17,546  
  2,012      Nibe Industrier AB, Class B      18,825  
  1,600      Nichias Corp.      28,789  
  1,100      Nichiha Corp.      21,986  
  1,552      Nordic Waterproofing Holding AB      21,664  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Building Products, continued       
  1,500      Noritz Corp.    $ 16,356  
  1,400      Okabe Co., Ltd.      7,413  
  8,716      Reliance Worldwide Corp., Ltd.      17,531  
  232      ROCKWOOL A/S, Class B      54,738  
  144      Rockwool International A/S      33,701  
  1,900      Sankyo Tateyama, Inc.      7,582  
  6,100      Sanwa Holdings Corp.      56,128  
  47      Schweiter Technologies AG      37,446  
  900      Shin Nippon Air Technologies Co., Ltd.      12,857  
  1,800      Sinko Industries, Ltd.      19,777  
  3,824      Systemair AB      26,302  
  1,800      Takara Standard Co., Ltd.      18,832  
  1,000      TOTO, Ltd.      33,846  
  7,093      Tyman plc      19,296  
  2,185      Uponor OYJ      38,907  
  3,919      Volution Group PLC      17,207  
  47,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      87,384  
  533      Zehnder Group AG      32,144  
     

 

 

 
        2,129,323  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.8%):       
  14,676      3i Group plc      238,239  
  24,792      ABG Sundal Collier Holding ASA      14,267  
  3,200      AGF Management, Ltd.      16,711  
  1,600      Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd.      8,362  
  8,821      AJ Bell plc      38,235  
  143      Alantra Partners SA      1,843  
  903      Altamir      24,935  
  1,012      Amundi SA(a)      57,494  
  7,128      Anima Holding SpA(a)      28,629  
  5,351      Ashmore Group plc      15,487  
  670      ASX, Ltd.      30,718  
  1,222      Avanza Bank Holding AB      26,387  
  4,260      Azimut Holding SpA      95,521  
  1,746      Banca Generali SpA      60,083  
  521      Bellevue Group AG      21,093  
  5,672      Bridgepoint Group plc(a)      13,140  
  155      Brookfield Asset Management, Ltd.*      4,430  
  725      Brookfield Asset Managmt, Ltd.*      20,762  
  614      Brookfield Corp.      19,316  
  2,900      Brookfield Corp.      91,211  
  2,383      Bure Equity AB      56,576  
  2,497      Canaccord Genuity Group, Inc.      15,475  
  7,682      CI Financial Corp.      76,661  
  119      Cie Financiere Tradition SA      13,484  
  5,230      Close Brothers Group plc      66,195  
  5,668      CMC Markets PLC(a)      15,361  
  26,805      Credit Suisse Group AG      80,556  
  4,319      Credit Suisse Group AG, ADR      13,130  
  18,300      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      81,139  
  4,462      Dea Capital SpA      7,076  
  12,602      Deutsche Bank AG      142,817  
  10,467      Deutsche Bank AG, Registered Shares      120,580  
  552      Deutsche Beteiligungs AG      16,483  
  577      Deutsche Boerse AG      99,542  
  329      DWS Group GmbH Co. KGaA(a)      10,669  
  5,622      EFG International AG      53,595  
  837      Equities Holdings, Ltd.      14,207  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  1,964      Euronext NV(a)    $ 145,560  
  2,000      Fiera Capital Corp.      12,823  
  1,026      Flatex Degiro AG*      6,946  
  1,407      Flow Traders(a)      32,594  
  10,649      GAM Holding AG*      10,819  
  2,674      Georgia Capital plc*      23,593  
  856      Gimv NV      40,347  
  2,400      GMO Financial Holdings, Inc.      9,345  
  1,175      Guardian Capital Group, Ltd., Class A      33,702  
  142,000      Guotai Junan International Hol      13,102  
  148,767      Haitong International Securities*      16,586  
  5,346      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      55,394  
  6,594      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      284,977  
  2,100      iFAST Corp., Ltd.      9,155  
  8,570      IG Group Holdings plc      81,052  
  1,732      IGM Financial, Inc.      48,360  
  1,953      Impax Asset Management Group plc      17,071  
  22,162      Insignia Financial, Ltd.      50,480  
  2,872      IntegraFin Holdings plc      10,494  
  4,233      Intermediate Capital Group plc      58,815  
  15,376      Investec plc      95,058  
  49,718      IP Group plc      33,343  
  1,700      IwaiCosmo Holdings, Inc.      16,733  
  3,400      JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.      57,808  
  4,800      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      69,382  
  4,910      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      285,476  
  17,082      Jupiter Fund Management plc      27,367  
  138,000      Kingston Financial Group, Ltd.*      5,039  
  800      Kyokuto Securities Co., Ltd.      3,489  
  957      London Stock Exchange Group plc      82,556  
  500      M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.*      17,537  
  1,267      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      143,804  
  3,050      Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.      18,531  
  50,276      Man Group plc/Jersey      129,886  
  2,300      Marusan Securities Co., Ltd.      7,000  
  1,180,000      Mason Group Holdings, Ltd.*      4,536  
  2,600      Matsui Securities Co., Ltd.      15,530  
  2,900      Mito Securities Co., Ltd.      4,679  
  3,035      MLP SE      16,698  
  5,700      Monex Group, Inc.      17,750  
  4,905      Navigator Global Investments, Ltd.      3,874  
  3,008      Netwealth Group, Ltd.      24,728  
  14,364      Ninety One plc      32,284  
  19,100      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      71,103  
  2,691      Nordnet AB Publ      39,152  
  15,979      NZX, Ltd.      12,270  
  3,800      Okasan Securities Group, Inc.      11,010  
  253      Partners Group Holding AG      224,950  
  9,039      Pendal Group, Ltd.      30,789  
  1,616      Perpetual, Ltd.^      26,912  
  11,593      Platinum Asset Management, Ltd.      14,115  
  2,595      Polar Capital Holdings plc      14,987  
  38,911      Quilter PLC(a)      43,578  
  1,470      Rathbones Group plc      36,246  
  9,785      Ratos AB, Class B      39,065  
  1,549      Rothschild & Co.      61,954  
  3,000      SBI Holdings, Inc.      57,527  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  6,463      Schroders PLC    $ 33,967  
  12,000      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      80,266  
  840      Sparx Group Co., Ltd.      10,670  
  2,993      St. James Place plc      39,625  
  700      Strike Co., Ltd.      23,939  
  388      Swissquote Group Holding SA      56,409  
  2,584      Tamburi Investment Partners SP      20,232  
  888      Tikehau Capital SCA      23,071  
  531      TMX Group, Ltd.      53,155  
  8,500      Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, Inc.      22,730  
  4,000      Toyo Securities Co., Ltd.      8,899  
  30,858      TP ICAP Group plc      65,010  
  15,471      UBS Group AG      288,451  
  20,430      Uob-Kay Hian Holdings, Ltd.      21,013  
  22,000      Value Partners Group, Ltd.      8,119  
  1,052      Vontobel Holding AG      69,972  
  245      Vp Bank AG, Registered Shares      23,259  
  550      VZ Holding AG      42,574  
  29,400      Yangzijiang Financial Holding, Ltd.*      7,801  
     

 

 

 
        5,367,532  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.8%):       
  900      Achilles Corp.      8,504  
  3,300      Adeka Corp.      53,700  
  1,100      AICA Kogyo Co., Ltd.      25,982  
  1,298      Air Liquide SA      184,600  
  5,800      Air Water, Inc.      67,283  
  2,233      Akzo Nobel NV      148,978  
  700      Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.      5,163  
  1,750      Arkema SA      157,828  
  17,600      Asahi Kasei Corp.      125,085  
  1,100      ASAHI YUKIZAI Corp.      23,217  
  8,018      BASF SE      397,991  
  1,939      Borregaard ASA      30,129  
  52,400      China Sunsine Chemical Holdings, Ltd.      16,590  
  1,668      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      120,271  
  1,600      CI Takiron Corp.      6,106  
  8,231      Clariant AG      131,018  
  1,435      Corbion NV      48,974  
  6,863      Covestro AG(a)      268,464  
  752      Croda International plc      60,086  
  1,000      Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd.      5,722  
  7,200      Daicel Corp.      52,176  
  900      Dainichiseika Color & Chemical      11,643  
  2,800      Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.      49,173  
  3,100      Denka Co., Ltd.      70,799  
  18,377      Elementis plc*      26,647  
  2,854      Elkem ASA(a)      10,271  
  58      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      39,212  
  8,516      Ercros SA      29,491  
  9,485      Essentra plc      27,002  
  4,931      Evonik Industries AG      94,660  
  1,660      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      58,170  
  701      FUCHS PETROLUB SE      20,868  
  300      Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd.      6,925  
  700      Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd.      18,128  
  97      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      295,807  
  200      Gurit Holding AG      19,501  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  2,120      Hexpol AB    $ 22,680  
  700      Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.      15,016  
  3,950      ICL Group, Ltd.      28,525  
  44,301      Incitec Pivot, Ltd.      111,889  
  1,500      Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.      12,145  
  1,000      JCU Corp.      23,459  
  4,348      Johnson Matthey plc      111,908  
  700      Jsp Corp.      7,856  
  1,200      JSR Corp.      23,654  
  2,000      Kaneka Corp.      49,574  
  1,300      Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.      16,033  
  3,300      Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.      22,966  
  4,999      Kemira OYJ      76,868  
  1,400      Kh Neochem Co., Ltd.      28,718  
  1,500      Koatsu Gas Kogyo Co., Ltd.      7,261  
  1,210      Koninklijke DSM NV      148,319  
  1,000      Konishi Co., Ltd.      12,672  
  11,800      Kuraray Co., Ltd.      94,332  
  600      Kureha Corp.      36,398  
  3,226      Lanxess AG      130,170  
  379      Lenzing AG      22,274  
  1,300      Lintec Corp.      21,084  
  929      Methanex Corp.      35,172  
  700      Methanex Corp.      26,505  
  30,600      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      158,122  
  3,000      Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc.      41,241  
  4,700      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      105,413  
  12,400      Nanofilm Technologies International, Ltd.      12,893  
  800      Nihon Kagaku Sangyo Co., Ltd.      5,830  
  2,300      Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd.      12,529  
  2,600      Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.      18,375  
  600      Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.      7,926  
  5,500      Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.      47,306  
  2,100      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      16,619  
  1,400      Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.      28,844  
  3,000      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      43,218  
  700      Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.      27,949  
  800      Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.      26,233  
  1,500      Nissan Chemical Corp.      66,038  
  2,400      Nitto Denko Corp.      138,080  
  1,000      NOF Corp.      39,868  
  1,377      Novozymes A/S, Class B      69,940  
  8,438      Nufarm, Ltd.      34,996  
  3,137      Nutrien, Ltd.      229,095  
  3,310      Nutrien, Ltd.      241,685  
  2,184      OCI NV      77,924  
  500      Okamoto Industries, Inc.      14,032  
  600      Okura Industrial Co., Ltd.      8,330  
  6,623      Orica, Ltd.      67,662  
  900      Osaka Organic Chemical Industry, Ltd.      13,086  
  2,613      Recticel SA      43,611  
  2,800      Riken Technos Corp.      10,168  
  500      Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.      6,729  
  2,400      Sakata Inx Corp.      19,157  
  700      Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.      21,572  
  900      Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.      2,648  
  1,100      Shikoku Chemicals Corp.      10,919  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  2,500      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.    $ 304,635  
  1,800      Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.      15,342  
  5,600      Showa Denko K.K.      85,115  
  735      Sika AG      177,396  
  1,754      SOL SpA      33,185  
  2,258      Solvay SA      228,839  
  400      Stella Chemifa Corp.      7,470  
  900      Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.      26,506  
  18,900      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      67,684  
  300      Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co. Ltd.      9,314  
  490      Symrise AG      53,301  
  13,110      Synthomer plc      22,845  
  700      T Hasegawa Co., Ltd.      15,439  
  1,200      T&K Toka Co., Ltd.      10,745  
  600      Taiyo Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,224  
  600      Takasago International Corp.      11,634  
  600      Tayca Corp.      5,320  
  5,900      Teijin, Ltd.      57,500  
  500      Tenma Corp.      7,836  
  625      Tessenderlo Group SA*      22,339  
  4,900      Toagosei Co., Ltd.      41,148  
  6,900      Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.      56,399  
  2,900      Tokuyama Corp.      39,357  
  600      Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.      27,032  
  16,900      Toray Industries, Inc.      93,830  
  7,200      Tosoh Corp.      85,443  
  1,200      Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.      16,361  
  3,400      Toyobo Co., Ltd.      25,642  
  4,000      Ube Industries, Ltd.      58,677  
  3,116      Umicore SA      114,942  
  1,051      Victrex plc      20,284  
  419      Wacker Chemie AG      53,546  
  1,428      Yara International ASA      62,865  
  2,900      Zeon Corp.      29,166  
     

 

 

 
        7,367,041  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.4%):       
  800      AEON Delight Co., Ltd.      18,369  
  17,216      Babcock International Group plc*      58,745  
  581      Befesa SA(a)      28,040  
  9,829      Biffa plc(a)      48,402  
  896      Bilfinger SE      25,966  
  1,670      Black Diamond Group, Ltd.      5,958  
  400      Boyd Group Services, Inc.      61,799  
  14,490      Brambles, Ltd.      118,979  
  3,076      Bravida Holding AB(a)      32,971  
  200      Calian Group, Ltd.      9,867  
  2,850      Caverion Corp.      21,137  
  300      Central Security Patrols Co., Ltd.      5,315  
  338      Cewe Stiftung & Co. KGAA      32,007  
  35,907      Cleanaway Waste Management, Ltd.      63,961  
  1,829      Coor Service Management Holding AB(a)      11,265  
  2,400      CTS Co., Ltd.      14,790  
  3,200      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      64,162  
  6,041      De La Rue plc*      5,731  
  3,731      Derichebourg SA      22,176  
  2,180      Dexterra Group, Inc.      8,905  
  25,208      Downer EDI, Ltd.      62,989  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  1,100      Duskin Co., Ltd.    $ 24,967  
  7,850      Elis SA      115,949  
  300      GDI Integrated Facility Services, Inc.*      10,083  
  900      GFL Environmental, Inc.      26,286  
  435      GL Events*      7,580  
  12,057      HomeServe plc*      174,446  
  900      Inaba Seisakusho Co., Ltd.      9,535  
  2,297      Intrum AB      27,793  
  5,989      ISS A/S*      126,641  
  1,800      Itoki Corp.      7,960  
  1,900      Japan Elevator Service Holdings Co., Ltd.      23,802  
  3,300      Kokuyo Co., Ltd.      46,728  
  400      Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd.      8,364  
  2,302      Lassila & Tikanoja OYJ      26,250  
  3,325      Loomis AB      91,131  
  700      Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.      12,137  
  5,449      Mears Group plc      13,704  
  39,904      Mitie Group plc      36,002  
  1,400      NAC Co., Ltd.      9,960  
  15,900      Nippon Parking Development Co., Ltd.      37,368  
  1,600      Okamura Corp.      17,170  
  1,100      Oyo Corp.      18,966  
  2,700      Park24 Co., Ltd.*      46,673  
  1,100      Pilot Corp.      40,090  
  2,400      Prestige International, Inc.      13,210  
  13,654      Prosegur Cia de Seguridad SA      25,957  
  1,158      Renewi plc*      8,378  
  20,405      Rentokil Initial plc      125,388  
  2,500      Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.      144,427  
  3,299      RPS Group plc      8,779  
  900      Sato Holdings Corp.      12,875  
  700      Secom Co., Ltd.      39,938  
  7,978      Securitas AB, Class B      66,450  
  14,890      Serco Group plc      27,840  
  3,154      Smart Metering Systems plc      29,812  
  3,267      Smartgroup Corp., Ltd.      11,331  
  787      Societe BIC SA      53,821  
  1,400      Sohgo Security Services Co., Ltd.      38,104  
  4,477      Spie SA      116,674  
  700      Studio Alice Co., Ltd.      10,977  
  1,392      TOMRA Systems ASA      23,578  
  3,280      TOPPAN, INC.      48,430  
  200      Waste Connections, Inc.      26,515  
  580      Waste Connections, Inc.      76,885  
     

 

 

 
        2,590,488  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.3%):       
  2,301      ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.      43,236  
  485      ADVA Optical Networking SE*      11,460  
  700      Aiphone Co., Ltd.      9,782  
  510      BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.      113  
  700      DKK Co., Ltd.      10,597  
  737      HMS Networks AB      24,080  
  500      Icom, Inc.      10,622  
  23,787      Nokia Oyj, ADR      110,372  
  14,635      Nokia OYJ      67,990  
  10,200      Quarterhill, Inc.      11,904  
  418      RTX A/S*      7,050  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Communications Equipment, continued       
  600      Sierra Wireless, Inc.*    $ 17,382  
  10,363      Spirent Communications plc      32,584  
  684      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class A      4,333  
  32,072      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      187,929  
  5,700      VTech Holdings, Ltd.      36,626  
     

 

 

 
        586,060  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (2.1%):       
  733      Ackermans & Van Haaren NV      125,548  
  5,301      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      151,865  
  3,353      Aecon Group, Inc.      22,563  
  1,375      AF Gruppen ASA      20,133  
  2,520      Arcadis NV      99,165  
  600      Asanuma Corp.      13,754  
  1,130      Ashtrom Group, Ltd.      21,143  
  1,410      Badger Infrastructure Solutions, Ltd.      27,767  
  20,372      Balfour Beatty plc      82,922  
  519      Bauer AG*      3,208  
  1,400      Bird Construction, Inc.      8,397  
  16,800      Boustead Singapore, Ltd.      10,092  
  4,545      Bouygues SA      136,330  
  209      Burkhalter Holding AG      17,329  
  4,600      Chiyoda Corp.*      12,561  
  1,700      Chudenko Corp.      26,906  
  494      Cie d’Entreprises CFE SA*      5,048  
  2,421      ComSys Holdings Corp.      42,349  
  6,098      Costain Group plc*      2,899  
  500      Dai-Dan Co., Ltd.      8,350  
  900      Daiho Corp.      26,934  
  2,491      Eiffage SA      245,592  
  2,783      Elecnor SA      31,580  
  44      Electra, Ltd./Israel      23,813  
  7,737      Eltel AB*(a)      6,168  
  37,002      Empresas ICA SAB de C.V.*       
  3,938      Ferrovial SA      103,001  
  1,664      FLSmidth & Co. A/S      60,515  
  2,073      Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA      19,617  
  440      Fudo Tetra Corp.      5,018  
  4,141      Fugro NV*      49,674  
  200      Fukuda Corp.      6,758  
  4,363      Galliford Try Holdings plc      8,386  
  6,000      Hazama Ando Corp.      38,147  
  1,929      Heijmans NV      20,917  
  600      Hibiya Engineering, Ltd.      8,704  
  637      Hochtief AG      35,919  
  783      Implenia AG*      32,163  
  6,236      INFRONEER Holdings, Inc.      47,222  
  3,147      Instalco AB      12,003  
  4,300      JGC Holdings Corp.      54,429  
  5,561      Johns Lyng Group, Ltd.      23,399  
  5,400      Kajima Corp.      62,826  
  3,000      Kandenko Co., Ltd.      19,565  
  3,807      Keller Group plc      36,821  
  2,500      Kinden Corp.      27,384  
  15,900      Koninklijke BAM Groep NV*      36,990  
  1,600      Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd.      31,917  
  2,500      Kyowa Exeo Corp.      42,560  
  1,700      Kyudenko Corp.      41,953  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  9,546      Maire Tecnimont SpA    $ 31,640  
  21,000      MECOM Power And Construction, Ltd.      5,272  
  1,700      Meisei Industrial Co., Ltd.      10,091  
  3,300      Mirait Holdings Corp.      38,199  
  1,475      Monadelphous Group, Ltd.      13,401  
  1,922      Morgan Sindall Group plc      35,337  
  3,087      NCC AB, Class B      28,879  
  15,831      NEL ASA*      22,444  
  1,000      Nichireki Co., Ltd.      9,526  
  1,600      Nippon Densetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      18,921  
  700      Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.      17,378  
  100      Nippon Road Co., Ltd. (The)      4,479  
  1,000      Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd.      29,698  
  20,879      NRW Holdings, Ltd.      39,848  
  9,100      Obayashi Corp.      68,808  
  6,495      Obrascon Huarte Lain SA*      3,113  
  1,100      Okumura Corp.      24,881  
  8,600      Oriental Shiraishi Corp.      18,535  
  3,037      OX2 AB*      25,589  
  5,969      Peab AB      33,952  
  8,700      Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.      40,645  
  726      Per Aarsleff Holding A/S      27,395  
  2,400      Raiznext Corp.      24,063  
  16,642      Sacyr SA      46,449  
  1,900      Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd.      22,388  
  1,700      Seikitokyu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      10,178  
  40,165      Service Stream, Ltd.      18,572  
  3,211      Shapir Engineering And Indus      25,408  
  4,859      Shikun & Binui, Ltd.*      13,631  
  6,700      Shimizu Corp.      35,700  
  1,500      Shinnihon Corp.      8,456  
  4,094      Skanska AB, Class B      65,021  
  3,001      SNC-Lavalin Group, Inc.      52,891  
  881      Strabag Se*      36,891  
  6,980      Sumitomo Mitsui Construction      22,177  
  3,299      Sweco AB      31,508  
  700      Taihei Dengyo Kaisha, Ltd.      17,295  
  800      Taikisha, Ltd.      20,325  
  1,500      Taisei Corp.      48,330  
  1,400      Takamatsu Construction Group C      20,340  
  400      Tekken Corp.      5,386  
  900      TOA Corp.      16,191  
  400      TOA Road Corp.      17,605  
  1,630      Tobishima Corp.      12,445  
  6,900      Toda Corp.      37,316  
  400      Toenec Corp.      10,595  
  1,000      Tokyo Energy & Systems, Inc.      7,049  
  5,100      Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd.      24,558  
  1,100      Totetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      21,923  
  4,300      Toyo Construction Co., Ltd.      27,989  
  2,100      Toyo Engineering Corp.*      8,882  
  3,109      Veidekke ASA      30,747  
  5,622      Vinci SA      561,417  
  755      WSP Global, Inc.      87,607  
  1,700      Yahagi Construction Co., Ltd.      9,717  
  1,200      Yokogawa Bridge Holdings Corp.      17,040  
  1,200      Yurtec Corp.      6,664  
     

 

 

 
        3,969,089  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials (0.8%):       
  13,883      Adbri, Ltd.    $ 15,499  
  1,800      Asia Pile Holdings Corp.      7,433  
  8,279      Boral, Ltd.      16,273  
  2,976      Brickworks, Ltd.      44,395  
  2,431      Buzzi Unicem SpA      46,983  
  10,588      CRH plc, ADR      421,297  
  15,999      CSR, Ltd.      51,062  
  3,367      Forterra PLC(a)      7,597  
  1,160      H+H International A/S, Class B*      17,166  
  3,574      HeidelbergCement AG      203,808  
  6,293      Holcim, Ltd.      324,600  
  13,005      Ibstock plc(a)      24,354  
  1,243      Imerys SA      48,505  
  4,513      James Hardie Industries SE      80,813  
  400      Krosaki Harima Corp.      15,421  
  600      Maeda Kosen Co., Ltd.      14,187  
  5,422      Marshalls plc      17,970  
  2,500      Nippon Concrete Industries Co., Ltd.      4,177  
  405      Rhi Magnesita NV      10,886  
  500      Shinagawa Refractories Co., Ltd.      14,690  
  123      STO SE & Co KGaA      19,811  
  1,500      Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.      36,968  
  3,800      Taiheiyo Cement Corp.      59,105  
  1,300      TYK Corp.      2,600  
  998      Vicat      25,021  
  1,393      Wienerberger AG      33,715  
     

 

 

 
        1,564,336  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.3%):       
  10,300      ACOM Co., Ltd.      24,635  
  3,700      AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd.      39,305  
  7,800      Aiful Corp.      23,489  
  8,198      Axactor SE*      4,927  
  974      Cembra Money Bank AG      81,232  
  1,607      Credit Corp. Group, Ltd.      20,532  
  4,400      Credit Saison Co., Ltd.      57,018  
  18,226      Eclipx Group, Ltd.*      24,725  
  873      Gruppo MutuiOnline SpA      24,629  
  2,616      H&T Group plc      15,137  
  5,740      Hoist Finance AB*(a)      16,241  
  17,800      Hong Leong Finance, Ltd.      31,772  
  14,415      International Personal Finance      12,748  
  2,917      Isracard, Ltd.      8,493  
  4,300      J Trust Co., Ltd.      16,789  
  1,300      Jaccs Co., Ltd.      40,562  
  2,200      Marui Group Co., Ltd.      36,555  
  1,520      Orient Corp.      13,358  
  213,600      Oshidori International Holdings, Ltd.*      7,504  
  2,100      Premium Group Co., Ltd.      27,658  
  4,742      Provident Financial plc      10,958  
  4,452      Resurs Holding AB(a)      10,677  
  8,965      Solvar, Ltd.      11,154  
  38,000      Sun Hung Kai & Co., Ltd.      14,219  
     

 

 

 
        574,317  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  3,618      BillerudKorsnas AB      44,023  
  4,231      Cascades, Inc.      26,440  
  1,780      CCL Industries, Inc.      76,049  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Containers & Packaging, continued       
  31,429      DS Smith plc    $ 122,131  
  1,200      FP Corp.      34,646  
  1,900      Fuji Seal International, Inc.      24,201  
  1,000      Hokkan Holdings, Ltd.      10,462  
  3,405      Huhtamaki OYJ      116,529  
  149      Mayr Melnhof Karton AG      24,067  
  28,458      Orora, Ltd.      55,941  
  6,607      Pact Group Holdings, Ltd.      4,550  
  8,600      Rengo Co., Ltd.      59,087  
  7,369      SIG Group AB      161,549  
  8,090      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      299,695  
  500      Taisei Lamick Co., Ltd.      11,300  
  600      Tomoku Co., Ltd.      7,722  
  4,000      Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.      49,088  
  3,570      Transcontinental, Inc.      40,294  
  2,064      Verallia SA(a)      69,918  
  750      Vetropack Holding AG      29,297  
  790      Vidrala SA      67,908  
  700      Winpak, Ltd.      21,748  
  840      Zignago Vetro SpA      12,669  
     

 

 

 
        1,369,314  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  600      Arata Corp.      19,022  
  11,493      Bapcor, Ltd.      50,481  
  1,300      Central Automotive Products, Ltd.      24,282  
  143      D’ieteren Group      27,526  
  1,000      Doshisha Co., Ltd.      12,297  
  4,313      Headlam Group plc      15,772  
  12,144      Inchcape plc      119,841  
  400      Paltac Corp.      14,009  
  85      Tadiran Group, Ltd.      8,537  
  1,142      Uni-Select, Inc.*      36,138  
     

 

 

 
        327,905  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  3,986      Academedia AB(a)      17,038  
  2,000      Benesse Holdings, Inc.      30,566  
  3,227      Dignity plc*^      16,209  
  8,000      EC Healthcare      8,232  
  44,648      G8 Education, Ltd.      33,527  
  1,700      IBJ, Inc.      12,689  
  2,039      IDP Education, Ltd.      37,672  
  1,407      InvoCare, Ltd.      10,554  
  400      Park Lawn Corp.      7,638  
  25,000      Perfect Medical Health Management, Ltd.      13,062  
  900      QB Net Holdings Co., Ltd.      9,142  
  2,600      Riso Kyoiku Co., Ltd.      7,205  
     

 

 

 
        203,534  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.8%):       
  1,439      ABC arbitrage      9,934  
  84,183      AMP, Ltd.*      75,283  
  3,396      Banca Farmafactoring SpA(a)      26,899  
  1,684      Banca IFIS SpA      24,069  
  3,300      Banca Mediolanum SpA      27,565  
  4,759      Burford Capital, Ltd.      38,316  
  12,288      Challenger, Ltd.      63,680  
  2,280      doValue SpA(a)      17,448  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Financial Services, continued       
  5,800      Ecn Capital Corp.    $ 11,910  
  800      eGuarantee, Inc.      14,756  
  16,244      Element Fleet Management Corp.      221,378  
  926      Eurazeo SE      57,792  
  1,700      Financial Products Group Co., Ltd.      14,385  
  700      Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd.      45,659  
  565      GRENKE AG      11,842  
  20,600      G-Resources Group, Ltd.      5,716  
  88      Hypoport SE*      9,175  
  800      Japan Investment Adviser Co., Ltd.      7,106  
  4,600      Japan Securities Finance Co., Ltd.      40,163  
  48,691      M&G plc      110,653  
  19,420      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      95,683  
  1,000      Mizuho Leasing Co., Ltd.      25,256  
  900      NEC Capital Solutions, Ltd.      14,665  
  16,085      Ofx Group, Ltd.*      26,106  
  7,289      Omni Bridgeway, Ltd.*      17,893  
  1,847      Onex Corp.      89,076  
  10,500      ORIX Corp.      169,336  
  4,583      Plus500, Ltd.      99,810  
  1,100      Ricoh Leasing Co., Ltd.      31,739  
  45,834      Standard Life Aberdeen plc      104,377  
  1,500      Tokyo Century Corp.      50,656  
  1,100      Zenkoku Hosho Co., Ltd.      42,131  
     

 

 

 
        1,600,457  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (2.3%):       
  900      ARTERIA Networks Corp.      8,490  
  492      BCE, Inc.      21,623  
  36,348      Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.      62,797  
  203,849      BT Group plc      276,736  
  930      Cellnex Telecom SAU(a)      30,923  
  17,708      Chorus, Ltd.      91,662  
  90,000      CITIC Telecom International Holdings, Ltd.      30,501  
  42,810      Deutsche Telekom AG      853,787  
  3,188      Elisa OYJ      168,958  
  2,209      Gamma Communications plc      28,895  
  14,874      Helios Towers PLC*      19,093  
  27,500      HKBN, Ltd.      17,724  
  98,295      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      120,152  
  3,856      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA(a)      38,946  
  2,800      Internet Initiative Japan, Inc.      52,251  
  69,090      Koninklijke KPN NV      213,731  
  3,548      Liberty Global plc, Class C*      68,938  
  41,300      NetLink NBN Trust      25,556  
  5,000      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      142,742  
  50,803      Orange SA      505,082  
  132,202      PCCW, Ltd.      59,626  
  5,067      Proximus SADP      48,783  
  21,500      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      41,286  
  16,483      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      56,481  
  12,209      Superloop, Ltd.*      5,996  
  761      Swisscom AG      416,624  
  334,376      Telecom Italia SpA*      77,681  
  210,041      Telecom Italia SpA*      46,966  
  35,713      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      87,980  
  107,420      Telefonica SA      388,985  
  4,768      Telekom Austria AG      29,468  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  4,475      Telenor ASA    $ 41,888  
  19,493      Telia Co AB      49,916  
  65,824      Telstra Corp., Ltd.      178,708  
  669      TELUS Corp.      12,912  
  4,669      TPG Telecom, Ltd.      15,530  
  7,091      Tuas, Ltd.*      6,419  
  3,566      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      72,087  
  900      Usen-Next Holdings Co., Ltd.      14,595  
     

 

 

 
        4,430,518  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.2%):       
  708      Acciona SA      130,200  
  334      BKW AG      45,586  
  5,400      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      55,889  
  2,800      Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      14,344  
  7,000      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      36,642  
  9,564      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      69,791  
  3,804      Contact Energy, Ltd.      18,510  
  21,672      EDP — Energias de Portugal SA      107,950  
  1,597      Electricite de France      20,512  
  484      Elia Group SA/NV      68,765  
  2,200      Emera, Inc.      84,097  
  3,566      Endesa SA      67,279  
  47,239      Enel SpA      254,029  
  240      Energiedienst Holding AG, Registered Shares      11,632  
  1,538      EVN AG      27,758  
  932      Fortis, Inc.      37,299  
  1,708      Fortis, Inc.      68,388  
  2,642      Fortum OYJ      44,004  
  16,045      Genesis Energy, Ltd.      26,266  
  30,000      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      19,800  
  7,700      Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.      27,178  
  3,500      Hokuriku Electric Power Co.      14,542  
  1,200      Hydro One, Ltd.(a)      32,149  
  17,168      Iberdrola SA      200,794  
  6,227      Infratil, Ltd.      34,090  
  5,700      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      55,339  
  7,200      Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.      40,616  
  1,800      Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      13,815  
  24,174      Origin Energy, Ltd.      126,889  
  730      Orsted A/S(a)      66,242  
  11,500      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      62,994  
  5,810      Red Electrica Corp SA      100,910  
  11      Romande Energie Holding SA, Registered Shares      13,290  
  3,724      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      76,795  
  3,300      Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc.      19,137  
  10,948      Terna SpA      81,023  
  3,900      Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.      20,464  
  13,500      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      48,748  
  284      Verbund AG, Class A      23,949  
     

 

 

 
        2,267,705  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.3%):       
  22,112      ABB, Ltd.      673,665  
  1,105      Accelleron Industries AG*      22,899  
  138      Alfen Beheer B.V.*(a)      12,460  
  1,156      Ballard Power Systems, Inc.*      5,533  
  600      Chiyoda Integre Co., Ltd.      9,806  
  1,300      Denyo Co., Ltd.      15,399  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electrical Equipment, continued       
  123      Energiekontor AG    $ 10,133  
  2,707      Fagerhult AB      10,530  
  1,500      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      57,129  
  8,700      Fujikura, Ltd.      65,925  
  2,400      Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (The)      45,053  
  1,200      Futaba Corp.      4,855  
  485      GARO AB      5,062  
  38      Gavazzi Carlo Holding AG      12,364  
  3,000      GS Yuasa Corp.      47,906  
  530      Hexatronic Group AB      7,226  
  400      Hirakawa Hewtech Corp.      3,394  
  553      Huber & Suhner AG      51,750  
  1,600      Idec Corp./Japan      35,591  
  1,291      Legrand SA      103,933  
  800      Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.      22,750  
  346      Mersen      14,025  
  6,800      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      67,324  
  839      Nexans SA      76,159  
  1,300      Nidec Corp.      67,710  
  500      Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd.      15,925  
  1,500      Nitto Kogyo Corp.      26,846  
  1,094      NKT A/S*      61,840  
  4,668      Nordex Se*      65,938  
  17      Phoenix Mecano AG      6,050  
  2,550      PNE AG      58,067  
  2,643      Prysmian SpA      97,828  
  400      Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.      17,401  
  1,524      Schneider Electric SA      214,304  
  200      SEC Carbon, Ltd.      10,765  
  2,150      SGL Carbon SE*^      15,954  
  5,246      Siemens Energy AG      98,690  
  3,816      Signify NV(a)      128,456  
  1,000      Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.      11,228  
  224      Somfy SA      34,275  
  1,500      SwCC Showa Holdings Co., Ltd.      20,400  
  900      Takaoka Toko Co., Ltd.      12,145  
  1,055      Tera Light, Ltd.*      1,435  
  957      TKH Group NV      38,121  
  600      Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd.      16,969  
  3,300      Ushio, Inc.      40,434  
  140      Varta AG      3,374  
  3,726      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      108,878  
  527      XP Power, Ltd.      12,953  
     

 

 

 
        2,566,857  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.6%):       
  600      Ai Holdings Corp.      9,480  
  7,060      Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.      64,361  
  288      ALSO Holding AG, Registered Shares      52,906  
  1,800      Amano Corp.      33,053  
  3,300      Anritsu Corp.      32,016  
  1,200      Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      11,827  
  883      Austria Technologie & Systemte      30,335  
  868      Barco N.V.      21,522  
  675      Basler AG      21,325  
  900      Canon Electronics, Inc.      10,321  
  1,300      Canon Marketing Japan, Inc.      29,604  
  3,104      Celestica, Inc.*      34,988  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  157      Cicor Technologies, Ltd.*    $ 7,285  
  9,300      Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.      41,874  
  3,400      CMK Corp.      11,914  
  3,981      Codan, Ltd./Australia      11,098  
  175      Comet Holding AG REG      37,258  
  1,300      Conexio Corp.      18,797  
  7,000      Cowell e Holdings, Inc.*      9,660  
  2,700      Daiwabo Holdings Co., Ltd.      39,631  
  1,700      Dexerials Corp.      33,015  
  999      Dicker Data, Ltd.      6,923  
  1,100      Elematec Corp.      12,954  
  700      Evertz Technologies, Ltd.      6,603  
  9,777      Fingerprint Cards AB*^      2,759  
  1,700      First Trust High Yield Opportunities Term Fund      40,260  
  160,000      FIT Hon Teng, Ltd.*(a)      41,757  
  2,100      Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.      15,364  
  400      Hagiwara Electric Co., Ltd.      7,406  
  500      Hakuto Co., Ltd.      15,901  
  1,329      Halma plc      31,749  
  900      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      43,300  
  5,897      Hexagon AB, Class B      62,022  
  500      Hioki EE Corp.      24,110  
  200      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      25,021  
  1,200      Hochiki Corp.      12,728  
  800      Horiba, Ltd.      34,916  
  2,600      Hosiden Corp.      31,281  
  1,400      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      51,010  
  47      Inficon Holding AG      41,073  
  400      I-PEX, Inc.      3,609  
  300      Iriso Electronics Co., Ltd.      9,666  
  2,300      Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.      36,950  
  1,100      Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd.      8,992  
  1,679      Jenoptik AG      45,853  
  1,000      Kaga Electronics Co., Ltd.      31,118  
  600      Keyence Corp.      234,939  
  7,710      Kitron ASA      22,111  
  1,200      Koa Corp.      17,009  
  1,400      Kyocera Corp.      69,877  
  3,500      Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      10,630  
  3,313      Lagercrantz Group AB      32,922  
  527      Landis+Gyr Group AG      37,187  
  18      Lem Holding SA, Registered Shares      34,950  
  200      Maruwa Co., Ltd./Aichi      23,545  
  900      Meiko Electronics Co., Ltd.      16,483  
  978      Micronic Mydata AB      18,396  
  2,156      Midwich Group plc      10,998  
  4,600      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      230,814  
  2,562      NCAB Group AB      16,020  
  267      Nederland Apparatenfabriek      15,705  
  2,800      Nichicon Corp.      25,816  
  600      Nippon Chemi-Con Corp.*      7,026  
  2,100      Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.      37,501  
  3,400      Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.      26,708  
  1,800      Nissha Co., Ltd.      25,091  
  600      Nohmi Bosai, Ltd.      7,182  
  3,600      OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.      19,500  
  500      Omron Corp.      24,390  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  3,000      Osaki Electric Co., Ltd.    $ 11,900  
  1,627      Oxford Instruments plc      44,470  
  3,149      Pricer AB      4,939  
  324      Renishaw plc      14,371  
  1,100      Restar Holdings Corp.      17,108  
  1,400      Ryoden Corp.      17,954  
  1,100      Ryosan Co., Ltd.      23,601  
  315      Sensirion Holding AG*(a)      33,518  
  221      Sesa SpA      27,545  
  400      Shibaura Electronics Co., Ltd.      14,975  
  2,400      Shimadzu Corp.      68,464  
  1,200      Shinko Shoji Co., Ltd.      10,749  
  2,000      Siix Corp.      19,204  
  2,281      Softwareone Holding AG      32,304  
  1,318      Spectris plc      47,606  
  6,120      Strix Group plc      6,071  
  2,000      Sumida Corp.      20,640  
  700      Tachibana Eletech Co., Ltd.      9,412  
  2,100      Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.      61,253  
  2,500      Tamura Corp.      13,363  
  7,000      TDK Corp.      227,331  
  2,600      Topcon Corp.      29,828  
  1,300      Toyo Corp.      13,531  
  7,103      TT Electronics plc      14,924  
  100      V Technology Co., Ltd.      1,904  
  312      Vaisala OYJ, Class A      13,175  
  4,400      Venture Corp., Ltd.      56,108  
  44,000      Vstecs Holdings, Ltd.      25,371  
  2,200      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      34,860  
  1,100      Yokowo Co., Ltd.      17,917  
     

 

 

 
        3,104,791  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.5%):       
  7,314      Akastor ASA*      6,843  
  5,393      Aker Solutions ASA      20,629  
  2,991      BW Offshore, Ltd.      7,640  
  5,874      Ces Energy Solutions Corp.      11,975  
  29,491      CGG SA*      19,199  
  4,726      Computer Modelling Group, Ltd.      20,352  
  6,058      Enerflex, Ltd.      38,215  
  8,606      Ensign Energy Services, Inc.*      21,677  
  106,730      Ezion Holdings, Ltd.*(b)       
  6,704      Hunting plc      26,982  
  18,612      John Wood Group plc*      30,253  
  679      Noble Corp. PLC*      25,484  
  2,400      North American Construction Group, Ltd.      32,052  
  7,269      Odfjell Drilling, Ltd.*      19,432  
  1,211      Odfjell Technology, Ltd.*      3,581  
  1,450      Pason Systems, Inc.      17,073  
  7,745      Petrofac, Ltd.*      6,578  
  21,614      Petroleum Geo-Services ASA*      15,612  
  518      Precision Drilling Corp.*      39,682  
  5,417      SBM Offshore NV      85,107  
  174      Schoeller-Blackman Oilfield Equipment AG      10,877  
  8,377      Secure Energy Services, Inc.      43,500  
  3,900      ShawCor, Ltd.*      39,582  
  3,432      Subsea 7 SA      39,524  
  5,044      Technip Energies NV      79,401  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  1,677      Tecnicas Reunidas SA*    $ 16,407  
  1,938      Tenaris SA      34,006  
  1,044      Tenaris SA, ADR      36,707  
  2,965      TGS ASA      40,164  
  900      Total Energy Services, Inc.      5,724  
  400      Toyo Kanetsu KK      7,726  
  13,311      Trican Well Service, Inc.*      35,986  
  2,831      Vallourec SA*      37,314  
  4,130      Worley, Ltd.      42,202  
     

 

 

 
        917,486  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.6%):       
  800      Akatsuki, Inc.      13,388  
  900      Avex, Inc.      11,487  
  11,278      Bollore, Inc.      63,193  
  2,427      Borussia Dortmund GMBH & Co. KGaA*      9,629  
  2,200      Capcom Co., Ltd.      70,568  
  1,403      CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA*      89,488  
  1,900      DeNA Co., Ltd.      25,351  
  2,590      Event Hospitality And Entertainment, Ltd.      22,417  
  1,590      Gungho Online Enetertainment, Inc.      25,826  
  38,000      IGG, Inc.*      13,981  
  82      Kinepolis Group NV*      3,415  
  1,100      Konami Holdings Corp.      50,027  
  3,270      Modern Times Group Mortgage AB*      28,013  
  1,100      Nexon Co., Ltd.      24,541  
  7,000      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      293,174  
  700      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      32,505  
  8,985      Stillfront Group AB*      15,061  
  510      Technicolor Creative Studios SA*^      122  
  100      Toei Animation Co., Ltd.      10,115  
  200      Toei Co., Ltd.      26,893  
  2,585      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      73,365  
  3,936      Universal Music Group NV      94,998  
  700      UUUM, Inc.*      4,371  
  9,273      Vivendi Universal SA      88,722  
  5,570      WildBrain, Ltd.*      12,837  
     

 

 

 
        1,103,487  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (2.2%):       
  5,600      AEON Co., Ltd.      117,896  
  500      Ain Holdings, Inc.      22,936  
  5,572      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.      244,891  
  1,200      Arcs Co., Ltd.      20,078  
  1,537      Axfood AB      42,190  
  800      Axial Retailing, Inc.      20,661  
  600      Belc Co., Ltd.      26,102  
  702      BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust      14,292  
  16,561      Carrefour SA      277,061  
  1,395      Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA*^      14,552  
  1,100      Cawachi, Ltd.      18,682  
  8,111      Coles Group, Ltd.      91,835  
  1,589      Colruyt SA      36,316  
  200      Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp.      20,328  
  1,300      Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.      32,451  
  500      Daikokutenbussan Co., Ltd.      20,459  
  4,900      Dairy Farm International Holdings, Ltd.      14,325  
  3,951      Empire Co., Ltd., Class A      104,072  
  9,117      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      39,585  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  500      Fuji Co., Ltd./Ehime    $ 6,927  
  500      Genky Drugstores Co., Ltd.      13,708  
  1,093      George Weston, Ltd.      135,628  
  1,600      Heiwado Co., Ltd.      26,044  
  2,689      HelloFresh SE*      58,944  
  200      Itochu-Shokuhin Co., Ltd.      7,496  
  43,950      J Sainsbury plc      115,345  
  1,939      Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA      41,921  
  600      JM Holdings Co., Ltd.      7,803  
  600      Kato Sangyo Co., Ltd.      16,045  
  6,632      Kesko Oyj, Class B      146,735  
  2,295      Kesko OYJ, Class A      50,025  
  1,700      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      49,079  
  14,419      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      414,255  
  400      Kusuri NO Aoki Holdings Co., Ltd.      23,405  
  900      LAWSON, Inc.      34,495  
  800      Life Corp.      16,005  
  2,011      Loblaw Cos., Ltd.      177,838  
  215      M Yochananof & Sons, Ltd.      11,568  
  73,250      Marks & Spencer Group plc*      108,616  
  780      Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd.      39,223  
  25,319      Metcash, Ltd.      68,555  
  5,881      METRO AG*      57,437  
  3,317      Metro, Inc.      183,687  
  600      Ministop Co., Ltd.      6,497  
  900      Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd.      21,249  
  1,200      Nihon Chouzai Co., Ltd.      11,103  
  1,801      North West Co., Inc.      47,320  
  821      Ocado Group plc*      6,177  
  10,925      Olam Group, Ltd.      11,921  
  1,200      Qol Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,622  
  1,094      Rallye SA*      3,153  
  337      Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikm      23,620  
  1,000      Retail Partners Co., Ltd.      10,088  
  600      San-A Co., Ltd.      19,649  
  5,600      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      239,595  
  28,900      Sheng Siong Group, Ltd.      35,589  
  4,880      Shufersal, Ltd.      28,212  
  1,454      Sligro Food Group NV      25,227  
  38,447      Sonae SGPS SA      38,440  
  900      Sugi Holdings Co., Ltd.      40,135  
  1,800      Sundrug Co., Ltd.      53,536  
  75,921      Tesco plc      205,798  
  1,000      Tsuruha Holdings, Inc.      77,717  
  2,100      United Supermarkets Holdings      17,976  
  2,200      Valor Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,347  
  1,400      Watahan & Co., Ltd.      14,225  
  1,400      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      32,616  
  7,800      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      178,082  
  800      YAKUODO Holdings Co., Ltd.      17,369  
  700      Yamatane Corp.      8,809  
  700      Yaoko Co., Ltd.      36,020  
  2,800      Yokorei Co., Ltd.      22,726  
     

 

 

 
        4,263,314  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (2.5%):       
  5,540      A2 Milk Co., Ltd.*      25,953  
  1,292      AAK AB      22,084  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  364      Agrana Beteiligungs AG    $ 5,822  
  1,400      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.      42,694  
  44,180      Aryzta AG*      52,702  
  2,737      Associated British Foods plc      52,133  
  772      Atria OYJ      7,659  
  2,327      Austevoll Seafood ASA      20,957  
  556      Bakkafrost P/F      34,797  
  58      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      114,943  
  8,561      Bega Cheese, Ltd.      22,591  
  125      Bell AG      32,108  
  854      Bonduelle S.C.A.      12,263  
  1,000      Calbee, Inc.      22,791  
  1      Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG      103,020  
  800      Chubu Shiryo Co., Ltd.      6,632  
  12,278      Cloetta AB      24,572  
  15,071      Costa Group Holdings, Ltd.      28,179  
  1,114      Cranswick plc      41,447  
  2,515      Danone SA      132,481  
  1,700      Delfi, Ltd.      981  
  10,007      Devro plc      37,287  
  500      DyDo Group Holdings, Inc.      18,134  
  2,372      Ebro Foods SA      37,210  
  4,736      Elders, Ltd.      32,465  
  60      Emmi AG      50,691  
  400      Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.      11,003  
  108,669      First Pacific Co., Ltd.      32,444  
  27,100      First Resources, Ltd.      29,982  
  1,616      Forfarmers NV      5,065  
  9,500      Fraser & Neave, Ltd.      9,002  
  1,700      Fuji Oil Holdings, Inc.      26,363  
  3,286      Glanbia plc      41,920  
  260,400      Golden Agri-Resources, Ltd.      48,564  
  8,123      GrainCorp, Ltd.      40,989  
  17,127      Greencore Group plc*      13,264  
  1,502      Grieg Seafood ASA      12,038  
  1,100      High Liner Foods, Inc.      11,189  
  1,923      Hilton Food Group plc      12,978  
  1,600      Hokuto Corp.      22,836  
  700      House Foods Group, Inc.      14,746  
  15,498      Inghams Group, Ltd.      30,152  
  2,700      Itoham Yonekyu Holdings, Inc.      14,358  
  300      Iwatsuka Confectionery Co., Ltd.      9,824  
  900      JDE Peet’s NV      26,010  
  600      J-Oil Mills, Inc.      6,902  
  800      Kagome Co., Ltd.      18,546  
  800      Kakiyasu Honten Co., Ltd.      12,697  
  400      Kameda Seika Co., Ltd.      13,258  
  700      Kenko Mayonnaise Co., Ltd.      7,282  
  506      Kerry Group plc, Class A      45,654  
  2,800      Kewpie Corp.      50,872  
  500      Kikkoman Corp.      26,434  
  300      Kotobuki Spirits Co., Ltd.      17,517  
  163      KWS Saat SE      11,183  
  500      Kyokuyo Co., Ltd.      14,449  
  147      Lassonde Industries, Inc.      12,083  
  3,154      Leroy Seafood Group ASA      17,783  
  17      Lotus Bakeries      115,176  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  2,349      Maple Leaf Foods, Inc.    $ 42,424  
  1,200      Marudai Food Co., Ltd.      12,977  
  2,100      Maruha Nichiro Corp.      40,162  
  1,700      Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd.      23,327  
  41      Mehadrin, Ltd.*      1,339  
  1,500      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      77,038  
  800      Mitsui Sugar Co., Ltd.      12,195  
  1,300      Morinaga & Co., Ltd.      38,856  
  1,100      Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.      41,853  
  1,396      Mowi ASA      23,864  
  11,739      Nestle SA      1,356,051  
  389      Neto Malinda Trading, Ltd.*      9,635  
  1,800      NH Foods, Ltd.      50,256  
  2,600      Nichirei Corp.      56,817  
  1,200      Nippn Corp.      14,759  
  800      Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      10,150  
  12,400      Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      51,865  
  1,200      Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd. (The)      29,924  
  2,700      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      33,854  
  300      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      23,756  
  326      Orior AG      25,881  
  3,996      Orkla ASA, Class A      28,907  
  30,027      Premier Foods plc      39,363  
  505      Premium Brands Holdings Corp.      30,692  
  1,300      Prima Meat Packers, Ltd.      21,675  
  8,255      Raisio Oyj, Class V      21,987  
  11,830      Ridley Corp., Ltd.      15,907  
  4,400      Rogers Sugar, Inc.      18,493  
  600      S Foods, Inc.      13,573  
  482      Salmar ASA      18,977  
  2,346      Sanford, Ltd.      6,090  
  1,456      Saputo, Inc.      36,050  
  127      Savencia SA      7,941  
  3,496      Scales Corp., Ltd.      9,096  
  3,767      Scandi Standard AB*      17,690  
  476      Schouw & Co.      35,842  
  2,906      Select Harvests, Ltd.      7,704  
  800      Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.      15,263  
  306      Sipef SA      19,311  
  114      Societe LDC SA      13,111  
  600      Starzen Co., Ltd.      9,444  
  1,353      Strauss Group, Ltd.      35,955  
  2,659      Suedzucker AG      46,499  
  2,839      Synlait Milk, Ltd.*      6,365  
  8,129      Tate & Lyle PLC      69,808  
  700      Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.      27,113  
  580      UIE PLC      14,922  
  13,688      United Malt Grp, Ltd.      32,297  
  217      Vilmorin & Cie SA      10,614  
  1,635      Viscofan SA      105,541  
  12,000      Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.      24,666  
  400      Warabeya Nichiyo Holdings Co., Ltd.      5,577  
  253,915      WH Group, Ltd.(a)      147,730  
  43,300      Wilmar International, Ltd.      134,931  
  600      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      39,133  
  3,700      Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd.      44,379  
     

 

 

 
        4,874,788  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Gas Utilities (0.5%):       
  6,384      AltaGas, Ltd.    $ 110,251  
  9,887      APA Group      72,373  
  1,671      Brookfield Infrastructure Corp., Class A      65,011  
  5,264      Enagas SA      87,508  
  96,850      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      92,084  
  10,984      Italgas SpA      60,899  
  800      K&O Energy Group, Inc.      12,373  
  1,049      Naturgy Energy Group SA      27,283  
  3,400      Nippon Gas Co., Ltd.      53,540  
  2,900      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      46,912  
  1,605      Rubis SCA      42,254  
  1,300      Saibu Gas Co., Ltd.      16,838  
  1,300      Shizuoka Gas Co. Ltd.      10,924  
  10,533      Snam SpA      51,133  
  3,450      Superior Plus Corp.      28,618  
  1,100      Toho Gas Co., Ltd.      21,093  
  3,300      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      64,884  
     

 

 

 
        863,978  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.4%):       
  2,536      Alcon, Inc.      174,231  
  2,508      Alcon, Inc.      171,923  
  1,070      Ambu A/S, Class B*      13,579  
  3,762      Ansell, Ltd.      72,258  
  2,637      Arjo AB, Class B      9,824  
  1,200      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      19,779  
  247      BioMerieux      25,971  
  385      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG      48,586  
  246      Cellavision AB      5,400  
  434      Cochlear, Ltd.      60,245  
  1,314      Coloplast A/S, Class B      153,986  
  251      Coltene Holding AG      20,733  
  15,236      Convatec Group plc(a)      42,833  
  1,946      Demant A/S*      54,122  
  254      DiaSorin SpA      35,587  
  509      Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA      22,691  
  238      Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA      9,254  
  458      Eckert & Ziegler AG      22,751  
  6,099      Elekta AB, Class B      36,669  
  1,167      EssilorLuxottica SA      212,476  
  2,109      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      30,010  
  600      Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd.      20,847  
  1,212      Getinge AB, Class B      25,251  
  4,399      GN Store Nord A/S      101,566  
  405      Guerbet      7,373  
  800      Hogy Medical Co., Ltd.      20,628  
  2,300      Hoya Corp.      222,571  
  800      Jeol, Ltd.      21,492  
  2,064      Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, NYS      30,939  
  5,281      Koninklijke Philips NV      79,252  
  700      Mani, Inc.      10,781  
  276      Medacta Group SA(a)      30,874  
  849      Medmix AG(a)      16,204  
  1,600      Menicon Co., Ltd.      33,854  
  10      Metall Zug AG      20,821  
  1,200      Nakanishi, Inc.      23,370  
  1,600      Nihon Kohden Corp.      39,046  
  4,200      Nipro Corp.      32,848  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  7,100      Olympus Corp.    $ 125,517  
  1,800      Paramount Bed Holdings Co., Ltd.      35,018  
  457      Revenio Group OYJ      18,919  
  16,500      Riverstone Holdings, Ltd.      7,560  
  174      Sartorius AG      68,799  
  645      Siemens Healthineers AG(a)      32,262  
  2,690      Smith & Nephew plc      35,930  
  1,168      Smith & Nephew plc, ADR      31,408  
  520      Sonova Holding AG      123,761  
  360      Stratec Se      31,261  
  819      Straumann Holding AG, Class R      92,771  
  1,200      Sysmex Corp.      73,104  
  1,400      Terumo Corp.      39,596  
  180      Ypsomed Holding AG      32,920  
     

 

 

 
        2,729,451  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.8%):       
  3,400      Alfresa Holdings Corp.      43,444  
  2,772      Amplifon SpA      82,796  
  400      Amvis Holdings, Inc.      10,176  
  400      Andlauer Healthcare Group, Inc.      13,990  
  18,908      Arvida Group, Ltd.      13,659  
  200      As One Corp.      8,775  
  6,164      Attendo AB*(a)      14,355  
  700      BML, Inc.      17,716  
  862      CVS Group plc      20,177  
  1,265      Ebos Group, Ltd.      35,030  
  1,000      Elan Corp.      7,077  
  4,012      Extendicare, Inc.      19,441  
  3,112      Fagron      44,263  
  1,400      France Bed Holdings Co., Ltd.      9,966  
  2,579      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      84,342  
  5,366      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      150,950  
  1,900      H.U. Group Holdings, Inc.      41,436  
  20,914      Healius, Ltd.      43,661  
  2,572      Humana AB*      9,497  
  4,771      Integral Diagnostics, Ltd.      9,512  
  2,000      Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.      13,956  
  1,000      Japan Medical Dynamic Marketing, Inc.      6,828  
  2,704      Korian SA      29,395  
  225      Lna Sante      7,126  
  3,204      Medical Facilities Corp.      19,028  
  15,698      Mediclinic International plc      94,502  
  1,044      Medicover AB, Class B      13,946  
  3,500      Medipal Holdings Corp.      46,129  
  3,565      Mediterranean Towers, Ltd.      8,272  
  1,110      NMC Health plc*       
  11,023      Novolog, Ltd.      8,673  
  22,733      Oceania Healthcare, Ltd.      10,989  
  6,310      Oriola Oyj, Class B      11,748  
  1,066      Orpea*      7,107  
  24,015      Raffles Medical Group, Ltd.      25,119  
  1,997      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      88,249  
  7,784      Regis Healthcare, Ltd.      9,947  
  2,854      Ryman Healthcare, Ltd.      9,652  
  2,100      Ship Healthcare Holdings, Inc.      42,968  
  59,044      Sigma Healthcare, Ltd.      24,518  
  1,900      Solasto Corp.      10,328  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  7,958      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.    $ 162,221  
  8,887      Spire Healthcare Group plc*(a)      24,468  
  6,744      Summerset Group Holdings, Ltd.      37,875  
  1,500      Suzuken Co., Ltd.      40,637  
  558      Synlab AG      6,770  
  2,544      Terveystalo OYJ(a)      17,023  
  1,800      Toho Holdings Co., Ltd.      30,056  
  500      Tokai Corp./Gifu      7,282  
  2,800      Vital Ksk Holdings, Inc.      18,131  
     

 

 

 
        1,513,206  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  7,980      AGFA-Gevaert NV*      22,831  
  1,026      Ascom Holding AG^      8,267  
  857      CompuGroup Medical SE & Co KgaA      32,984  
  2,389      Emis Group plc      54,058  
  500      JMDC, Inc.      14,393  
  2,400      M3, Inc.      65,389  
  700      MedPeer, Inc.*      7,329  
  330      Nexus AG      19,709  
  800      Nnit A/S*(a)      7,550  
  94      Pharmagest Interactive      7,510  
  1,258      Pro Medicus, Ltd.      47,233  
  1,213      Raysearch Laboratories AB*      7,936  
  2,743      Sectra AB*      39,048  
     

 

 

 
        334,237  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.7%):       
  2,190      888 Holdings plc*      2,306  
  3,140      Accor SA*      78,004  
  600      AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd.      12,268  
  1,000      Airtrip Corp.      18,605  
  1,000      Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.      16,459  
  23,206      Ardent Leisure Group, Ltd.      9,582  
  4,661      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      96,234  
  614      Basic-Fit NV*(a)      15,986  
  3,095      Betsson AB, Class B      25,187  
  20,000      Cafe de Coral Holdings, Ltd.      38,185  
  1,533      Carnival plc, ADR*      11,022  
  72,000      Century City International Holdings, Ltd.*      2,760  
  970      Cie des Alpes*      14,963  
  4,935      Collins Foods, Ltd.      24,136  
  700      Colowide Co., Ltd.      9,478  
  7,839      Compass Group plc      181,097  
  553      Corporate Travel Management, Ltd.      5,536  
  3,200      Create Restaurants Holdings In      22,186  
  2,300      Curves Holdings Co., Ltd.      15,049  
  799      Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Ltd.      35,979  
  10,911      Domino’s Pizza Group plc      38,713  
  1,600      Doutor Nichires Holdings Co., Ltd.      20,841  
  4,906      Elior Group*(a)      17,297  
  3,202      Entain plc      51,329  
  506      Evolution AB(a)      49,445  
  6,500      Fairwood Holdings, Ltd.      11,624  
  87      Fattal Holdings 1998, Ltd.*      7,357  
  1,821      Flight Centre Travel Group, Ltd.*      17,942  
  2,837      Flutter Entertainment plc*      387,686  
  2,000      Food & Life Cos., Ltd.      39,576  
  500      Fuji Kyuko Co., Ltd.      18,141  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  557      Fuller Smith & Turner plc, Class A    $ 3,343  
  4,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.      26,488  
  200      Genki Sushi Co., Ltd.      4,676  
  40,200      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      28,694  
  3,888      Greggs plc      109,713  
  2,921      Hollywood Bowl Group PLC      8,795  
  18,230      Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels (The)*      18,968  
  1,499      InterContinental Hotels Group plc, ADR      87,452  
  2,484      JD Wetherspoon plc*      13,368  
  868      Jumbo Interactive, Ltd.      8,252  
  1,100      KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd.      23,106  
  6,856      Kindred Group plc      71,602  
  1,700      Komeda Holdings Co., Ltd.      32,191  
  1,667      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM(a)      66,962  
  21,530      Lottery Corp., Ltd. (The)*      65,605  
  33,812      Marston’s plc*      16,237  
  500      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      19,027  
  23,000      Melco International Development Ltd.*      24,970  
  2,819      Melia Hotels International SA*      13,791  
  14,000      Miramar Hotel & Investment      21,849  
  11,969      Mitchells & Butlers plc*      19,957  
  400      Monogatari Corp. (The)      19,930  
  313      MTY Food Group, Inc.      13,195  
  46,435      NagaCorp, Ltd.*      40,938  
  200      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      29,142  
  2,702      Pandox AB*      30,250  
  900      Pizza Pizza Royalty Corp.      9,068  
  10,182      PlayTech plc*      62,518  
  600      Pollard Banknote, Ltd.      8,474  
  12,439      Rank Group plc*      12,263  
  1,500      Resorttrust, Inc.      26,747  
  2,849      Restaurant Brands International, Inc.^      184,286  
  3,018      Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.^      11,013  
  19,755      Restaurant Group plc (The)*      7,459  
  3,000      Round One Corp.      10,881  
  1,200      Saint Marc Holdings Co., Ltd.      15,385  
  3,788      Sands China, Ltd.*      12,550  
  5,463      Scandic Hotels Group AB*^(a)      16,850  
  44,000      Shangri-La Asia, Ltd.*      36,056  
  78,585      SJM Holdings, Ltd.*      45,591  
  1,360      SkiStar AB      14,507  
  28,026      Sky City Entertainment Group, Ltd.*      42,146  
  6,100      Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd.*      70,976  
  1,782      Sodexo SA      170,447  
  13,126      SSP Group plc*      36,188  
  30,737      Star Entertainment Group, Ltd. (The)*      37,001  
  40,053      Tabcorp Holdings, Ltd.      29,313  
  581      The Gym Group plc*(a)      766  
  137      Tivoli A/S*      14,938  
  800      Tokyotokeiba Co., Ltd.      23,068  
  1,300      Toridoll Holding Corp.      26,753  
  3,050      Whitbread plc      94,863  
  600      Yoshinoya Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,469  
  500      Young & Co.’s Brewery plc, Class A      6,190  
  187      Zeal Network SE      5,634  
  1,600      Zensho Holdings Co., Ltd.      40,353  
     

 

 

 
        3,196,227  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables (1.5%):       
  5,875      Azorim-Investment Development & Construction Co., Ltd.    $ 18,892  
  4,812      Bang & Olufsen A/S*      5,666  
  18,461      Barratt Developments plc      88,629  
  3,181      Bellway plc      73,174  
  1,689      Berkeley Group Holdings plc      76,886  
  1,566      Bigben Interactive      10,707  
  3,728      Bonava AB      10,566  
  6,992      Bovis Homes Group plc      52,917  
  1,520      Breville Group, Ltd.      18,958  
  27,975      Cairn Home plc      26,026  
  2,500      Casio Computer Co., Ltd.      25,574  
  600      Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.      8,782  
  6,556      Crest Nicholson Holdings plc      18,816  
  1,076      De’Longhi      24,105  
  7,507      DFS Furniture plc      14,060  
  1,000      Dorel Industries, Inc.      3,841  
  2,152      Duni AB*      17,797  
  5,109      Electrolux AB, Class B      69,185  
  1,200      Es-Con Japan, Ltd.      7,107  
  2,053      Fiskars OYJ Abp      33,781  
  36      Forbo Holding AG      42,322  
  1,600      Fuji Corp., Ltd.      7,991  
  900      Fujitsu General, Ltd.      21,701  
  25,820      Glenveagh Properties PLC*(a)      23,411  
  7,100      Haseko Corp.      79,316  
  2,710      Henry Boot plc      7,679  
  700      Hoosiers Holdings      3,949  
  2,100      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      31,747  
  2,147      JM AB      35,585  
  10,600      Jvc Kenwood Corp.      29,500  
  958      Kaufman & Broad SA      28,127  
  1,300      LEC, Inc.      8,974  
  540      Leifheit AG      7,818  
  43,200      Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.      42,533  
  704      Nacon SA*      1,959  
  1,363      Neinor Homes SA(a)      11,922  
  4,700      Nikon Corp.      41,683  
  5,576      Nobia AB      11,395  
  1,200      Open House Co., Ltd.      43,533  
  18,200      Panasonic Holdings Corp.      152,435  
  6,381      Persimmon plc      94,171  
  1,200      Pressance Corp.      14,069  
  6,708      Redrow plc      36,898  
  400      Rinnai Corp.      29,954  
  567      Sabaf SpA      10,138  
  1,300      Sangetsu Corp.      21,170  
  711      SEB SA      59,755  
  5,900      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      82,112  
  6,500      Sekisui House, Ltd.      114,976  
  5,800      Sharp Corp.      41,753  
  10,000      Sony Group Corp.      762,675  
  4,800      Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.      85,310  
  328      Surteco Group SE      6,703  
  1,100      Tama Home Co., Ltd.      21,020  
  1,100      Tamron Co., Ltd.      24,934  
  84,968      Taylor Wimpey plc      104,720  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  805      The Vitec Group plc    $ 10,501  
  1,000      TOA Corp.      5,866  
  100      V-ZUG Holding AG*      9,863  
  3,849      YIT OYJ      10,127  
     

 

 

 
        2,785,764  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.2%):       
  300      Earth Corp.      11,485  
  636      Essity AB      16,625  
  2,717      Essity AB, Class B      71,355  
  605      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      39,014  
  2,400      Lion Corp.      27,686  
  14,255      Mcbride plc*      3,528  
  2,300      Pigeon Corp.      37,817  
  5,635      PZ Cussons plc      14,336  
  1,797      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      124,989  
  1,600      Unicharm Corp.      61,365  
     

 

 

 
        408,200  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.5%):
      
  2,302      7C Solarparken AG      10,502  
  751      Boralex, Inc., Class A      22,201  
  1,800      Capital Power Corp.      61,600  
  7,088      Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA*      8,970  
  15,074      Drax Group plc      128,224  
  2,483      EDP Renovaveis SA      54,881  
  1,700      EF-ON, Inc.      6,291  
  1,300      Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.      20,683  
  2,373      Encavis AG      46,977  
  2,646      Energix-Renewable Energies, Ltd.      8,351  
  9,491      Enlight Renewable Energy, Ltd.*      19,465  
  1,000      eRex Co., Ltd.      16,546  
  574      Greenvolt-Energias Renovaveis SA*      4,805  
  596      Grenergy Renovables SA*      17,667  
  2,055      Innergex Renewable Energy, Inc.      24,591  
  690      Kenon Holdings, Ltd.      22,916  
  2,011      Lundin Energy AB      4,326  
  8,484      Meridian Energy, Ltd.      28,031  
  890      Neoen SA(a)      35,793  
  5,128      Northland Power, Inc.      140,643  
  1,351      OPC Energy, Ltd.*      15,081  
  1,500      Polaris Renewable Energy, Inc.      15,589  
  500      Renova, Inc.*      8,911  
  1,250      Scatec ASA(a)      10,012  
  1,714      Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente SA*      31,559  
  7,142      Transalta Corp.      63,887  
  2,200      Transalta Renewables, Inc.      18,282  
  882      Voltalia SA, Registered Shares*      16,095  
  910      West Holdings Corp.      30,137  
     

 

 

 
        893,016  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.0%):       
  182      Aker ASA, Class A Shares      13,388  
  865      Bonheur ASA      25,373  
  1,015      Chargeurs SA      15,284  
  8,000      Chevalier International Holdings Ltd.      7,195  
  22,930      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.      137,664  
  1,950      DCC plc      96,244  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates, continued       
  2,000      Guoco Group, Ltd.    $ 17,040  
  8,400      Hitachi, Ltd.      422,793  
  822      Indus Holding AG      19,310  
  515      Italmobiliare SpA      14,102  
  2,700      Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Ltd.      57,700  
  1,500      Katakura Industries Co., Ltd.      19,752  
  800      Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd.      20,989  
  11,800      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      64,025  
  1,149      Lifco AB, Class B      19,136  
  78,561      Melrose Industries plc      127,691  
  5,400      Nisshinbo Holdings, Inc.      39,726  
  6,522      Nolato AB, Class B      34,319  
  1,300      Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.      23,393  
  49,000      NWS Holdings, Ltd.      42,382  
  934      Rheinmetall AG      186,012  
  3,900      Seibu Holdings, Inc.      42,748  
  2,131      Siemens AG      295,725  
  5,554      Smiths Group plc      107,055  
  5,400      Tokai Holdings Corp.      35,331  
  700      Toshiba Corp.      24,541  
  933      Volati AB      7,797  
     

 

 

 
        1,916,715  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  335      Dredging Environmental Marine Engineering NV*      44,569  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (4.3%):       
  3,284      Admiral Group plc      84,858  
  34,599      Aegon NV      175,490  
  4,501      Ageas NV      200,230  
  77,240      AIA Group, Ltd.      851,002  
  31,584      Alm Brand A/S      51,271  
  4,544      ASR Nederland NV      215,417  
  8,596      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      152,638  
  1,493      AUB Group, Ltd.      22,871  
  34,934      Aviva plc      186,164  
  12,306      AXA SA      342,928  
  999      Baloise Holding AG      154,356  
  7,750      Beazley plc      63,419  
  4      Brookfield Reinsurance, Ltd.      125  
  7,384      Chesnara plc      25,328  
  2,213      Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings, Ltd.*      37,318  
  3,265      Coface SA      42,549  
  5,600      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      127,187  
  31,080      Direct Line Insurance Group plc      83,312  
  82      E-L Financial Corp., Ltd.      54,150  
  331      Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd.      196,104  
  1,054      FBD Holdings plc      12,472  
  1,341      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      26,348  
  1,300      Great Eastern Holdings, Ltd.      17,963  
  2,364      Great-West Lifeco, Inc.      54,656  
  1,465      Grupo Catalana Occidente SA      46,283  
  399      Hannover Rueck SE      79,306  
  4,262      Harel Insurance Investments &      37,643  
  1,387      Helvetia Holding AG      161,918  
  6,718      Hiscox, Ltd.      88,495  
  3,319      IA Financial Corp., Inc.      194,340  
  506      IDI Insurance Co., Ltd.      10,957  
  18,382      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      59,397  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  1,460      Intact Financial Corp.    $ 210,200  
  8,300      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      69,984  
  1,900      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      33,443  
  41,528      Just Group plc      40,961  
  7,487      Lancashire Holdings, Ltd.      58,464  
  58,863      Legal & General Group plc      177,737  
  16,597      Linea Directa Aseguradora SA Cia de Seguros y Reaseguros      18,312  
  10,482      Manulife Financial Corp.      186,999  
  1,683      Manulife Financial Corp.      30,022  
  25,567      Mapfre SA      49,563  
  35,229      Medibank Private, Ltd.      70,229  
  1,055      Menora Mivtachim Holdings, Ltd.      20,595  
  16,641      Migdal Insurance & Financial Holding, Ltd.*      19,008  
  2,100      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      67,223  
  244      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      79,329  
  6,991      NIB Holdings, Ltd.      36,585  
  3,154      NN Group NV      128,795  
  12,974      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      95,526  
  5,195      Phoenix Holdings, Ltd. (The)      55,485  
  6,349      Poste Italiane SpA(a)      61,906  
  1,147      Protector Forsikring ASA      14,744  
  1,083      Prudential plc, ADR      29,761  
  5,101      Prudential PLC      69,015  
  14,131      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      129,054  
  3,005      Sabre Insurance Group plc(a)      3,867  
  3,822      Saga plc*      5,832  
  5,219      Sampo Oyj, Class A      272,854  
  5,815      SCOR SA      133,503  
  445      Solid Forsakring AB*      2,813  
  2,600      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      115,465  
  9,536      Steadfast Group, Ltd.      35,477  
  5,818      Storebrand ASA      50,581  
  2,828      Sun Life Financial, Inc.      131,290  
  3,075      Sun Life Financial, Inc.      142,741  
  15,987      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      131,067  
  392      Swiss Life Holding AG      202,410  
  2,645      Swiss Re AG      248,194  
  4,000      T&D Holdings, Inc.      57,579  
  1,264      Talanx AG      59,957  
  4,800      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      102,767  
  1,470      Topdanmark A/S      77,126  
  792      Trisura Group, Ltd.*      26,496  
  2,899      Tryg A/S      68,772  
  15,269      Unipol Gruppo Finanziario SpA      74,350  
  14,182      UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA      34,890  
  5,733      Uniqa Insurance Group AG      42,958  
  54      Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA      24,676  
  1,638      Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe      39,114  
  1,796      Wuestenrot & Wuerttembergische AG      29,702  
  1,059      Zurich Insurance Group AG      506,207  
     

 

 

 
        8,230,123  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.3%):       
  3,192      Adevinta ASA*      21,109  
  16,102      Auto Trader Group plc(a)      100,460  
  400      Bengo4.com, Inc.*      7,777  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services, continued       
  575      Better Collective A/S*    $ 7,037  
  3,316      carsales.com, Ltd.      46,796  
  1,200      Dip Corp.      34,385  
  5,418      Domain Holdings Australia, Ltd.      9,975  
  2,200      Kakaku.com, Inc.      35,390  
  2,000      mixi, Inc.      37,326  
  22,749      Moneysupermarket.com Group plc      52,867  
  135      New Work SE      21,965  
  437      REA Group, Ltd.      32,900  
  11,094      Rightmove plc      68,670  
  897      Scout24 AG(a)      45,061  
  3,189      Seek, Ltd.      45,389  
  2,124      Solocal Group*      1,387  
  6,000      Z Holdings Corp.      15,171  
     

 

 

 
        583,665  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.3%):       
  1,600      ASKUL Corp.      20,788  
  1,900      Belluna Co., Ltd.      9,842  
  621      BHG Group AB*      1,111  
  18,446      Boohoo Group plc*      7,911  
  1,898      Cazoo Group, Ltd.*      298  
  518      Delivery Hero SE*(a)      24,812  
  4,443      Dustin Group AB*(a)      17,605  
  2,462      eDreams ODIGEO SA*      10,438  
  800      Enigmo, Inc.      3,888  
  10,000      Hong Kong Technology Venture Co., Ltd.      6,875  
  1,484      Just Eat Takeaway.com NV*(a)      31,241  
  500      Media Do Co., Ltd.      6,514  
  6,515      N Brown Group plc*      1,969  
  1,100      Oisix ra daichi, Inc.*      18,572  
  5,176      On The Beach Group plc*(a)      9,749  
  2,937      Prosus NV      201,612  
  6,100      Rakuten, Inc.      27,691  
  1,817      Takkt AG      26,335  
  6,523      Webjet, Ltd.*      27,407  
  724      Zalando SE*(a)      25,663  
  1,200      ZOZO, Inc.      29,798  
     

 

 

 
        510,119  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.6%):       
  4,024      Addnode Group AB*      38,060  
  114      Adesso SE      16,106  
  45      Adyen NV*(a)      62,263  
  370      Allgeier SE      11,225  
  597      Alten SA      74,955  
  2,476      Amadeus IT Group SA*      127,669  
  733      Appen, Ltd.      1,239  
  2,661      Atea ASA      31,001  
  2,869      Atos SE*^      27,863  
  180      Aubay      9,400  
  2,200      Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund      41,325  
  1,619      Bechtle AG      57,281  
  1,800      Bell System24 Holdings, Inc.      18,691  
  1,490      Bouvet ASA      9,074  
  853      Cancom SE      24,932  
  680      Capgemini SA      114,029  
  26,624      Capita plc*      7,804  
  2,210      CGI, Inc.*      190,347  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  4,933      Columbus A/S    $ 4,470  
  2,733      Computacenter plc      63,202  
  5,311      Computershare, Ltd.      94,727  
  1,100      Comture Corp.      20,136  
  7,824      Data#3, Ltd.      36,022  
  500      Densan System Holdings Co., Ltd.      8,261  
  700      Digital Garage, Inc.      24,067  
  1,400      DTS Corp.      31,474  
  8,624      Econocom Group SA/NV      26,343  
  2,054      Edenred      111,751  
  1,000      E-Guardian, Inc.      20,198  
  5,345      EML Payments, Ltd.*      2,291  
  558      Enea AB*      4,615  
  3,891      Fdm Group Holdings plc      35,185  
  348      Formula Systems 1985, Ltd.      25,268  
  1,400      Fujitsu, Ltd.      185,427  
  800      Future Corp.      10,035  
  1,075      GFT Technologies SE      39,042  
  6,665      Global Dominion Access SA(a)      25,604  
  400      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      33,265  
  1,200      ID Holdings Corp.      8,537  
  4,290      Indra Sistemas SA      48,829  
  1,200      Infocom Corp.      19,681  
  900      Information Services Internati      26,910  
  2,776      Iomart Group plc      4,198  
  1,100      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      25,768  
  3,504      Kainos Group plc      64,993  
  400      Kanematsu Electronics, Ltd.      13,528  
  816      Knowit AB      15,926  
  19,489      Link Administration Holdings, Ltd.      26,177  
  896      Matrix It, Ltd.      18,711  
  300      Mitsubishi Research Institute      11,155  
  193      Nagarro SE*      22,857  
  7,286      NCC Group plc      17,640  
  1,700      NEC Networks & System Integrat      21,212  
  1,300      NET One Systems Co., Ltd.      33,798  
  7,128      Nexi SpA*(a)      56,023  
  5,103      NEXTDC, Ltd.*      31,558  
  1,200      Nihon Unisys, Ltd.      30,357  
  2,056      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      48,884  
  800      NS Solutions Corp.      19,295  
  2,200      Nsd Co., Ltd.      37,943  
  5,500      NTT Data Corp.      80,942  
  200      Obic Co., Ltd.      29,573  
  4,539      Ordina NV      18,768  
  1,400      Otsuka Corp.      44,312  
  2,696      PayPoint plc      16,637  
  1,200      Poletowin Pitcrew Holdings, Inc.      7,481  
  9,052      Pushpay Holdings, Ltd.*      7,314  
  2,400      Relia, Inc.      18,220  
  209      Reply SpA      24,033  
  2,400      SCSK Corp.      36,231  
  39      Secunet Security Networks AG      8,212  
  200      SHIFT, Inc.*      35,548  
  650      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      22,561  
  219      Societe Pour l’Informatique Industrielle      10,642  
  800      Softbank Technology Corp.      11,316  
  3,194      Softcat plc      45,832  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  460      Sopra Steria Group    $ 69,407  
  16,000      Sunevision Holdings, Ltd.      8,606  
  1,200      TDC Soft, Inc.      13,403  
  1,700      TechMatrix Corp.      23,460  
  1,100      TELUS International Cda, Inc.*      21,719  
  2,278      Tieto OYJ      64,835  
  3,000      TIS, Inc.      79,531  
  700      Transcosmos, Inc.      17,357  
  315      Wavestone      14,540  
  2,809      Worldline SA*(a)      109,593  
     

 

 

 
        3,108,700  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.4%):       
  26,132      Apollo Tactical Income Fund, Inc.      36,397  
  1,100      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.      68,993  
  1,496      Beneteau SA      22,637  
  606      BRP, Inc.      46,209  
  1,042      Catana Group      6,588  
  891      Games Workshop Group plc      92,312  
  1,000      Globeride, Inc.      19,196  
  178      Harvia OYJ      3,380  
  1,200      Heiwa Corp.      22,629  
  500      Mars Group Holdings Corp.      9,260  
  1,659      Maytronics, Ltd.      16,538  
  562      MIPS AB      23,284  
  800      Mizuno Corp.      17,132  
  300      Roland Corp.      7,953  
  1,200      Sankyo Co., Ltd.      49,141  
  1,700      Sega Sammy Holdings, Inc.      25,598  
  500      Shimano, Inc.      79,676  
  700      Spin Master Corp.(a)      17,229  
  1,169      Technogym SpA(a)      8,928  
  2,105      Thule Group AB (The)^(a)      43,942  
  3,300      Tomy Co., Ltd.      31,502  
  385      Trigano SA      52,552  
  700      Universal Entertainment Corp.*      12,591  
  500      Yamaha Corp.      18,449  
     

 

 

 
        732,116  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.4%):       
  2,100      Addlife AB, Class B      21,959  
  840      Biotage AB      14,901  
  315      Chemometec A/S*      31,428  
  600      Cmic Holdings Co., Ltd.      8,105  
  878      Ergomed PLC*      13,508  
  1,522      Eurofins Scientific SE      109,587  
  870      Gerresheimer AG      58,490  
  404      Lonza Group AG      198,894  
  2,001      Qiagen NV*      99,790  
  120      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      39,090  
  1,600      Shin Nippon Biomedical Laborat      27,318  
  97      Siegfried Holding AG      64,588  
  46      Tecan Group AG      20,655  
     

 

 

 
        708,313  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.0%):       
  3,060      Aalberts NV      118,944  
  2,600      Aichi Corp.      15,281  
  2,100      Aida Engineering, Ltd.      12,341  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  781      Alfa Laval AB    $ 22,612  
  1,607      Alimak Group AB(a)      11,495  
  900      Alinco, Inc.      6,810  
  4,883      Alstom SA      119,872  
  8,100      Amada Holdings Co., Ltd.      63,112  
  1,932      Andritz AG      110,422  
  2,000      Anest Iwata Corp.      13,019  
  2,700      Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.      13,737  
  17,476      Atlas Copco AB, Class A*      207,019  
  9,476      Atlas Copco AB, Class B      101,301  
  1,149      Ats Corp.*      35,723  
  1,300      Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.      9,381  
  2,296      Beijer Alma AB      36,068  
  4,886      Bodycote plc      33,506  
  243      Bucher Industries AG      101,222  
  66      Burckhardt Compression Holding AG      39,286  
  56      Bystronic AG      38,904  
  459      Cargotec OYJ      20,378  
  900      CKD Corp.      12,868  
  14,452      CNH Industrial NV      232,068  
  1,560      Concentric AB      29,180  
  1,110      Construcc y Aux de Ferrocarr SA      31,583  
  178      Daetwyler Holding AG      35,557  
  700      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      32,948  
  5,734      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      177,633  
  2,100      Daiwa Industries, Ltd.      17,857  
  745      Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA      16,577  
  1,585      Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA      24,242  
  3,954      Deutz AG      17,118  
  4,700      DMG Mori Co., Ltd.      62,035  
  1,728      Duerr AG      58,303  
  2,300      Ebara Corp.      82,512  
  4,630      Electrolux Professional AB, Class B      19,415  
  4,138      Epiroc AB, Class A      75,661  
  2,535      Epiroc AB, Class B      40,884  
  400      FANUC Corp.      59,706  
  342      Feintool International Holding AG      7,459  
  19,282      Fincantieri SpA*^      10,956  
  1,579      Fluidra SA      24,485  
  13,800      Frencken Group, Ltd.      9,756  
  2,000      Fuji Corp.      29,053  
  1,700      Furukawa Co., Ltd.      16,260  
  2,221      GEA Group AG      90,711  
  3,040      Georg Fischer AG      187,072  
  371      Gesco AG      9,569  
  2,000      Glory, Ltd.      33,172  
  600      Harmonic Drive Systems, Inc.      16,973  
  8,175      Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG*      12,922  
  5,448      Hexagon Composites ASA*      15,190  
  9,100      Hino Motors, Ltd.*      34,871  
  500      Hirata Corp.      20,797  
  1,200      Hisaka Works, Ltd.      7,405  
  1,700      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      38,316  
  5,600      Hitachi Zosen Corp.      34,879  
  400      Hoshizaki Corp.      14,086  
  1,000      Hosokawa Micron Corp.      20,258  
  679      Husqvarna AB, Class A Shares      4,773  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  4,886      Husqvarna AB, Class B    $ 34,445  
  1,900      IHI Corp.      55,175  
  6,746      IMI plc      104,984  
  290      Interpump Group SpA      13,135  
  17      Interroll Holding AG, Registered Shares      43,381  
  1,300      Iseki & Co., Ltd.      11,507  
  3,448      Iveco Group NV*      20,467  
  500      Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (The)      9,931  
  885      JOST Werke AG(a)      49,741  
  2,512      Jungheinrich AG      71,463  
  197      Kardex Holding AG      32,520  
  900      Kato Works Co., Ltd.      4,841  
  4,700      Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.      109,770  
  2,612      Kion Group AG      74,732  
  400      Kitagawa Iron Works Co., Ltd.      3,464  
  5,100      Kitz Corp.      30,620  
  1,010      Knorr-Bremse AG      55,183  
  572      Koenig & Bauer AG*      9,963  
  9,000      Komatsu, Ltd.      195,286  
  115      Komax Holding AG      32,126  
  2,900      Komori Corp.      17,740  
  3,153      Kone Oyj, Class B      163,291  
  1,994      Konecranes OYJ      61,618  
  362      Krones AG      40,676  
  4,400      Kubota Corp.      60,621  
  900      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      37,367  
  1,000      Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.      10,994  
  1,200      Maezawa Kyuso Industries Co., Ltd.      8,366  
  700      Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.      22,871  
  2,100      Makita Corp.      49,176  
  586      Manitou Bf SA      15,547  
  800      Max Co., Ltd.      11,884  
  1,800      Meidensha Corp.      25,641  
  800      Metawater Co., Ltd.      9,814  
  9,279      Metso Outotec Oyj      95,717  
  4,832      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.      72,531  
  2,300      Misumi Group, Inc.      50,425  
  1,800      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      71,243  
  1,000      Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.      5,257  
  700      Mitsuboshi Belting Co., Ltd.      18,232  
  2,900      Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.*      8,448  
  1,100      Miura Co., Ltd.      25,154  
  10,151      Morgan Advanced Materials plc      38,611  
  1,500      Morita Holdings Corp.      13,267  
  900      Nabtesco Corp.      23,067  
  800      Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.      21,874  
  2,000      Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.*      5,870  
  1,456      NFI Group, Inc.      10,239  
  4,300      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      54,849  
  2,300      Nikkiso Co., Ltd.      16,585  
  1,267      Nilfisk Holding A/S*      26,577  
  3,900      Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.      15,329  
  400      Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.      12,936  
  800      Nitta Corp.      16,996  
  500      Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.      5,692  
  1,900      Nitto Seiko Co., Ltd.      7,077  
  300      Noritake Co., Ltd.      9,124  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  995      Norma Group SE    $ 18,099  
  7,700      NSK, Ltd.      40,690  
  14,800      NTN Corp.      29,419  
  7,984      OC Oerlikon Corp. AG      52,565  
  1,700      Oiles Corp.      18,817  
  600      Okuma Corp.      21,217  
  1,600      Organo Corp.      35,563  
  2,800      OSG Corp.      38,647  
  692      Palfinger AG      17,559  
  174      Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG      31,969  
  150      Plasson Industries, Ltd.      6,680  
  118      Rational AG      69,926  
  70      Rieter Holding AG      7,970  
  16,905      Rotork plc      62,749  
  1,800      Ryobi, Ltd.      15,675  
  7,878      Sandvik AB      142,318  
  304      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      54,618  
  289,500      SembCorp Marine, Ltd.*      29,859  
  564      SFS Group AG      53,542  
  100      Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.      1,970  
  1,200      Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.      16,721  
  1,900      Shinmaywa Industries, Ltd.      15,145  
  78,000      Singamas Container Holdings, Ltd.      7,273  
  2,200      Sintokogio, Ltd.      10,902  
  3,528      Skellerup Holdings, Ltd.      11,975  
  892      SKF AB      13,676  
  4,179      SKF AB, Class B      63,987  
  100      SMC Corp.      42,329  
  2,300      Sodick Co., Ltd.      12,416  
  796      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      102,257  
  891      Stabilus SE      59,961  
  1,600      Star Micronics Co., Ltd.      19,557  
  849      Sulzer AG, Registered Shares      66,308  
  3,700      Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.      73,821  
  3,900      Tadano, Ltd.      26,927  
  900      Takeuchi Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      19,757  
  1,300      Takuma Co., Ltd.      12,110  
  478      Technotrans SE      13,027  
  7,687      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      85,600  
  2,800      THK Co., Ltd.      52,896  
  2,100      Tocalo Co., Ltd.      18,215  
  1,400      Torishima Pump Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      15,281  
  3,641      Trelleborg AB      84,288  
  1,098      Troax Group AB      19,264  
  1,100      Tsubaki Nakashima Co., Ltd.      8,432  
  1,400      Tsubakimoto Chain Co.      31,488  
  1,800      Tsugami Corp.      15,712  
  1,200      Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.      8,700  
  600      Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      9,073  
  4,559      Valmet Corp.      123,214  
  616      VAT Group AG(a)      169,702  
  1,074      VBG Group AB, Class B      14,396  
  6,862      Vesuvius plc      33,391  
  3,392      Volvo AB, Class A      64,608  
  19,319      Volvo AB, Class B      349,995  
  229      Vossloh AG      9,582  
  1,416      Wacker Neuson SE      24,766  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  4,584      Wartsila Oyj Abp, Class B    $ 38,731  
  560      Washtec AG      20,706  
  3,157      Weir Group plc (The)      63,344  
  3,000      Yamabiko Corp.      24,918  
  54,100      Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, Ltd.      54,720  
  1,700      Yaskawa Electric Corp.      54,702  
     

 

 

 
        7,652,708  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.7%):       
  22      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class A      48,818  
  30      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class B      67,394  
  1,600      Algoma Central Corp.      21,533  
  3,578      American Shipping Co. ASA      15,961  
  556      Clarkson plc      21,668  
  1,333      D/S Norden A/S      79,986  
  1,307      DFDS A/S      48,374  
  3,255      Golden Ocean Group, Ltd.      28,605  
  331      Hapag-Lloyd AG(a)      62,914  
  3,300      Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.      23,152  
  5,897      Irish Continental Group      26,980  
  2,300      Japan Transcity Corp.      8,888  
  1,800      Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.      38,216  
  725      Kuehne + Nagel International AG      168,524  
  3,600      Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.      90,231  
  7,091      MPC Container Ships As      11,731  
  10,800      Nippon Yusen KK      255,895  
  600      NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.      17,713  
  215,000      Pacific Basin Shipping, Ltd.      72,739  
  41,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.      90,506  
  1,067      Stolt-Nielsen, Ltd.      29,393  
  1,677      Wallenius Wilhelmsen ASA      16,641  
     

 

 

 
        1,245,862  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.3%):       
  734      4imprint Group plc      37,692  
  3,715      Aimia, Inc.*      10,126  
  996      Alma Media Oyj      9,992  
  65      APG SGA SA      11,315  
  14,475      Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA      28,007  
  6,847      Ascential plc*      16,693  
  4,886      Atresmedia Corp. de Medios de Comuicacion SA      16,748  
  1,951      Bloomsbury Publishing plc      10,586  
  701      Cogeco Communications, Inc.      39,762  
  400      Cogeco, Inc.      18,783  
  5,394      Corus Entertainment, Inc.      8,606  
  5,200      Cyberagent, Inc.      46,259  
  2,600      Dentsu Group, Inc.      82,094  
  5,775      Eutelsat Communications SA      43,116  
  2,800      Fuji Media Holdings, Inc.      22,912  
  598      Future plc      9,168  
  5,300      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.      53,689  
  8,376      HT&E, Ltd.      5,505  
  8,773      Hyve Group plc*      7,786  
  12,288      Informa plc      92,107  
  2,000      Intage Holdings, Inc.      20,800  
  1,711      Ipsos      107,093  
  94,559      ITV plc      86,000  
  9,582      Ive Group, Ltd.      15,326  
  1,820      JCDecaux SA*      34,608  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media, continued       
  1,600      Kadokawa Corp.    $ 29,249  
  2,312      Kin And Carta plc*      5,982  
  1,449      Liberty Global plc, Class A*      27,430  
  1,664      M6 Metropole Television SA      27,310  
  1,300      Macromill, Inc.^      10,438  
  47,049      MFE-MediaForEurope NV, Class A      18,227  
  10,230      MFE-MediaForEurope NV, Class B      6,136  
  1,563      Next Fifteen Communications Group PLC      18,704  
  48,195      Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings, Ltd.      60,280  
  961      Nordic Entertainment Group AB, Class B*      18,322  
  8,252      NOS SGPS SA      33,395  
  1,307      NRJ Group      9,491  
  19,083      Ooh!media, Ltd.      16,676  
  2,872      Pearson plc, ADR      32,367  
  4,883      Pearson plc      55,337  
  68,000      PICO Far East Holdings, Ltd.      11,240  
  2,702      ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE      24,147  
  1,300      Proto Corp.      12,183  
  3,123      Publicis Groupe SA      198,285  
  3,026      Quebecor, Inc., Class B      67,503  
  4,571      RAI Way SpA(a)      26,497  
  12,118      Reach plc      13,930  
  1,406      RTL Group      59,285  
  1,116      S4 Capital plc*      2,551  
  3,469      Sanoma OYJ      36,468  
  1,693      Schibsted ASA, Class A      31,947  
  1,366      Schibsted ASA, Class B      24,988  
  14,211      SES Global, Class A      92,755  
  60,999      Seven West Media, Ltd.*      16,256  
  7,456      Shaw Communications, Inc.      214,584  
  6,212      Sky Network Television, Ltd.      9,068  
  7,900      SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings, Inc.      28,948  
  4,175      Societe Television Francaise 1      31,957  
  15,013      Southern Cross Media Group, Ltd.      10,879  
  1,167      Stroeer SE & Co. KGaA      54,294  
  1,900      TBS Holdings, Inc.      22,046  
  1,294      Telenet Group Holding NV      21,083  
  15,000      Television Broadcasts, Ltd.*      7,084  
  1,400      TV Asahi Holdings Corp.      14,189  
  500      TV Tokyo Holdings Corp.      6,995  
  232      TX Group AG      37,157  
  1,000      ValueCommerce Co., Ltd.      13,818  
  500      Wowow, Inc.      4,819  
  9,140      WPP plc      90,721  
  264      WPP PLC, ADR      12,978  
  700      Zenrin Co., Ltd.      4,383  
     

 

 

 
        2,407,155  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (6.0%):       
  3,860      Acerinox SA      38,135  
  3,517      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      182,786  
  1,039      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      54,018  
  400      Aichi Steel Corp.      6,582  
  11,590      Alamos Gold, Inc., Class A      117,201  
  2,048      Alleima AB*      7,565  
  4,473      Allkem, Ltd.*      33,973  
  25,386      Alumina, Ltd.      26,102  
  723      Amg Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.      26,457  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  15,278      Anglo American plc    $ 597,436  
  2,622      Antofagasta plc      48,667  
  1,842      Aperam SA      58,287  
  4,677      ArcelorMittal SA      122,267  
  2,977      ArcelorMittal SA, NYS      78,057  
  12,400      Argonaut Gold, Inc.*      4,763  
  2,200      Asahi Holdings, Inc.      32,004  
  16,100      Ascot Resources, Ltd.*      6,184  
  85,942      Aurelia Metals, Ltd.*^      7,115  
  1,297      Aurubis AG      105,998  
  25,622      AVZ Minerals, Ltd.*      5,373  
  38,815      B2Gold Corp.      137,908  
  9,585      Barrick Gold Corp.      164,328  
  1,629      Bekaert NV      63,173  
  28,371      BHP Group, Ltd.      878,205  
  7,437      BHP Group, Ltd., ADR      461,466  
  13,140      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      149,742  
  3,842      Boliden AB      144,556  
  4,719      Capricorn Metals, Ltd.*      14,380  
  10,300      Capstone Copper Corp.*      37,585  
  44,401      Centamin plc      60,634  
  8,200      Centerra Gold, Inc.      42,460  
  4,374      Central Asia Metals plc      13,118  
  6,803      Champion Iron, Ltd.      33,536  
  16,254      China Gold International Resources Corp., Ltd.      46,944  
  1,300      Daido Steel Co., Ltd.      42,359  
  1,400      Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd.      13,196  
  11,513      Deterra Royalties, Ltd.      35,742  
  1,900      DOWA Mining Co.      59,580  
  7,500      Dundee Precious Metals, Inc.      36,065  
  4,662      Eldorado Gold Corp.*      38,879  
  4,893      Endeavour Mining plc      104,742  
  1,907      Equinox Gold Corp.*      6,240  
  278      Eramet      24,894  
  2,899      Ero Copper Corp.*      39,915  
  31,853      Evolution Mining, Ltd.      63,660  
  7,778      EVRAZ plc(b)      9  
  15,230      Ferrexpo plc      28,948  
  2,800      First Majestic Silver Corp.      23,330  
  8,762      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.      183,097  
  14,945      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      208,306  
  401      Franco-Nevada Corp.      54,670  
  1,176      Fresnillo plc      12,763  
  8,215      Galiano Gold, Inc.*      4,369  
  125,097      Glencore plc      836,317  
  1,100      Godo Steel, Ltd.      17,830  
  20,380      Gold Road Resources, Ltd.      23,112  
  3,589      Granges AB      29,307  
  2,043      Hill & Smith Holdings plc      28,971  
  9,715      Hochschild Mining plc      8,230  
  8,995      Hudbay Minerals, Inc.      45,447  
  15,631      IAMGOLD Corp.*      40,065  
  4,682      IGO, Ltd.      42,542  
  10,885      Iluka Resources, Ltd.      70,099  
  14,498      Imdex, Ltd.      21,790  
  3,605      Ivanhoe Mines, Ltd., Class A*      28,493  
  12,600      JFE Holdings, Inc.      146,323  
  50,009      Jupiter Mines, Ltd.      7,472  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  2,436      K92 Mining, Inc.    $ 13,801  
  29,633      Kinross Gold Corp.      120,826  
  10,600      Kobe Steel, Ltd.      51,762  
  1,800      Kyoei Steel, Ltd.      17,064  
  1,500      Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp.      37,206  
  14,207      Lucara Diamond Corp.*      5,247  
  2,700      Lundin Gold, Inc.      26,386  
  19,726      Lundin Mining Corp.      121,084  
  10,575      Lynas Rare Earths, Ltd.*      56,076  
  48,387      Macmahon Holdings, Ltd.      4,777  
  1,600      Major Drilling Group International, Inc.*      12,433  
  1,400      Maruichi Steel Tube, Ltd.      28,579  
  176,000      Midas Holdings, Ltd.*       
  2,374      Mineral Resources, Ltd.      124,853  
  3,300      Mitsubishi Materials Corp.      51,960  
  500      Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      3,775  
  2,500      Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.      58,615  
  27,183      Mount Gibson Iron, Ltd.*      8,968  
  2,200      Neturen Co., Ltd.      10,938  
  27,410      New Gold, Inc.*      26,928  
  11,300      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      157,510  
  1,924      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      26,744  
  19,275      Nickel Industries, Ltd.      12,703  
  6,200      Nippon Denko Co., Ltd.      16,574  
  2,700      Nippon Light Metal Holdings Co.      30,863  
  10,595      Nippon Steel Corp.      184,497  
  930      Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd.      29,217  
  400      Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd.      9,650  
  13,201      Norsk Hydro ASA      98,992  
  14,937      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      109,354  
  28,628      OceanaGold Corp.*      54,558  
  21,175      OM Holdings, Ltd.      10,220  
  500      Osaka Steel Co., Ltd.      4,430  
  3,292      Osisko Gold Royalties, Ltd.      39,685  
  3,354      Osisko Mining, Inc.*      8,671  
  10,428      Outokumpu OYJ      52,726  
  10,015      OZ Minerals, Ltd.      187,348  
  900      Pacific Metals Co., Ltd.      12,892  
  5,017      Pan American Silver Corp.      81,900  
  33,353      Perenti Global, Ltd.*      29,723  
  55,326      Perseus Mining, Ltd.      77,631  
  18,665      Pilbara Minerals, Ltd.*      47,552  
  24,245      Ramelius Resources, Ltd.      15,135  
  26,859      Regis Resources, Ltd.      37,176  
  95,529      Resolute Mining, Ltd.*      12,648  
  1,698      Rio Tinto plc      119,117  
  9,664      Rio Tinto plc, Registered Shares, ADR      688,077  
  4,717      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      371,665  
  6,000      Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.*      5,894  
  1,335      Salzgitter AG      40,743  
  18,215      Sandfire Resources, Ltd.      66,779  
  4,142      Sandstorm Gold, Ltd.      21,784  
  21,718      Schmolz + Bickenbach AG*      4,869  
  1,200      Seabridge Gold, Inc.*      15,069  
  7,176      Sierra Rutile Holdings, Ltd.*      1,094  
  32,896      Silver Lake Resources, Ltd.*      26,139  
  5,690      Sims, Ltd.      50,616  
  59,783      South32, Ltd.      161,792  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  6,151      SSAB AB, Class A    $ 33,524  
  12,955      SSAB AB, Class B      67,607  
  7,749      SSR Mining, Inc.      121,289  
  30,000      St. Barbara, Ltd.*      15,571  
  700      Stelco Holdings, Inc.      22,901  
  4,366      Straits Trading Co., Ltd.      7,575  
  5,700      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      202,808  
  13,627      Syrah Resources, Ltd.*      18,723  
  5,674      Taseko Mines, Ltd.*      8,298  
  11,838      Teck Cominco, Ltd., Class B      447,445  
  12,945      ThyssenKrupp AG*      78,980  
  900      Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.      19,127  
  700      Toho Zinc Co., Ltd.      10,874  
  300      Tokyo Rope Manufacturing Co. Ltd.      1,931  
  2,300      Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      20,775  
  4,685      Torex Gold Resources, Inc.*      53,813  
  969      Trevali Mining Corp.*      110  
  1,500      UACJ Corp.      24,995  
  3,908      Voestalpine AG      103,140  
  4,200      Wesdome Gold Mines, Ltd.*      23,206  
  13,685      West African Resources, Ltd.*      10,922  
  14,470      Westgold Resources, Ltd.*      8,504  
  1,410      Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.      55,096  
  31,047      Yamana Gold, Inc.      172,458  
  1,000      Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd.      34,017  
  800      Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd.      15,322  
     

 

 

 
        11,416,093  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.6%):       
  16,302      B&M European Value Retail SA      81,209  
  1,259      Canadian Tire Corp., Class A      131,591  
  2,297      Dollarama, Inc.      134,362  
  6,286      Europris ASA(a)      44,174  
  3,300      H2O Retailing Corp.      32,318  
  15,674      Harvey Norman Holdings, Ltd.      44,024  
  4,600      Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Ltd.      50,179  
  1,000      Izumi Co., Ltd.      22,609  
  6,000      J. Front Retailing Co., Ltd.      54,738  
  30,000      Metro Holdings, Ltd.      14,215  
  47,139      Myer Holdings, Ltd.      21,800  
  1,643      Next plc      115,660  
  5,300      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      98,402  
  6,500      Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.      76,699  
  1,000      Seria Co., Ltd.      21,858  
  3,000      Takashimaya Co., Ltd.      42,068  
  2,195      Tokmanni Group Corp.      26,582  
  3,646      Warehouse Group, Ltd. (The)      6,015  
  5,589      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      174,482  
  4,000      Wing On Company International, Ltd.      7,226  
     

 

 

 
        1,200,211  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.0%):       
  2,232      Acea SpA      30,922  
  5,356      AGL Energy, Ltd.      29,401  
  7,086      Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.      46,165  
  1,505      Atco, Ltd.      47,113  
  1,466      Canadian Utilities, Ltd., Class A      39,687  
  239,191      Centrica plc      278,487  
  48,216      E.ON SE      481,148  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Multi-Utilities, continued       
  22,086      Engie Group    $ 316,316  
  23,363      Hera SpA      63,156  
  11,786      Iren SpA      18,577  
  33,157      ITL AEM SpA      44,307  
  84,623      Keppel Infrastructure Trust      34,076  
  2,361      National Grid plc, ADR      142,415  
  11,914      Ren — Redes Energeticas Nacion      32,180  
  2,755      RWE AG      122,489  
  24,600      SembCorp Industries, Ltd.      61,948  
  2,310      Telecom Plus plc      61,310  
  6,489      Vector, Ltd.      16,923  
  5,040      Veolia Environnement SA      129,462  
     

 

 

 
        1,996,082  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (7.4%):       
  7,481      Advantage Energy, Ltd.*      52,330  
  18,755      Africa Oil Corp.      34,495  
  3,154      Aker BP ASA      98,436  
  5,066      Ampol, Ltd.      97,221  
  7,200      Anglo Pacific Group plc      13,113  
  10,658      ARC Resources, Ltd.      143,676  
  18,809      Athabasca Oil Corp.*      33,483  
  2,064      Baytex Energy Corp.*      9,309  
  2,249      Baytex Energy Corp.*      10,100  
  51,245      Beach Energy, Ltd.      55,781  
  10,541      Birchcliff Energy, Ltd.      73,424  
  31,108      BP plc, ADR      1,086,602  
  10,317      BP plc      59,983  
  173,000      Brightoil Petroleum Holdings, Ltd.*       
  696      BW Energy, Ltd.*      1,789  
  2,656      BW LPG, Ltd.(a)      20,631  
  22,053      Cairn Energy plc*      69,866  
  789      Cameco Corp.      17,886  
  1,022      Cameco Corp.      23,169  
  7,637      Canacol Energy, Ltd.      11,057  
  9,654      Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.      536,087  
  3,012      Cardinal Energy, Ltd.      16,953  
  14,953      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      290,158  
  2,956      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      57,376  
  13,100      China Aviation Oil Singapore Corp., Ltd.      8,711  
  64,430      Cooper Energy, Ltd.*      8,116  
  2,400      Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.      63,483  
  8,781      Crescent Point Energy      62,784  
  7,561      Crescent Point Energy Corp.      53,951  
  8,223      Crew Energy, Inc.*      34,197  
  854      CropEnergies AG      11,888  
  252      Delek Group, Ltd.*      27,909  
  20,320      DNO ASA      24,638  
  6,087      Enbridge, Inc.      237,941  
  79,400      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      270,389  
  1,394      Energean PLC      22,074  
  7,800      Enerplus Corp.      137,701  
  33,738      ENI SpA      481,853  
  120,434      EnQuest plc*      31,263  
  7,441      Equinor ASA      267,229  
  1,081      Equital, Ltd.*      32,249  
  1,390      Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA      5,990  
  3,835      Euronav NV      64,609  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  1,579      Exmar NV    $ 13,376  
  762      FLEX LNG, Ltd.      25,086  
  3,700      Freehold Royalties, Ltd.      43,264  
  1,400      Frontera Energy Corp.*      12,689  
  2,211      Frontline, Ltd.      26,554  
  3,100      Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.      6,070  
  13,793      Galp Energia SGPS SA      186,613  
  891      Gaztransport et Technigaz SA      95,178  
  6,249      Genel Energy plc      9,411  
  4,350      Gibson Energy, Inc.      75,959  
  22,100      Golden Energy Resources, Ltd.*      12,918  
  19,607      Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.*      19,552  
  14,984      Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Ltd.      36,401  
  5,643      Harbour Energy plc      20,824  
  2,000      Headwater Exploration, Inc.      8,746  
  6,000      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      140,428  
  2,174      Imperial Oil, Ltd.      105,906  
  14,400      INPEX Corp.      153,680  
  2,244      International Petroleum Corp.*      25,526  
  2,823      International Petroleum Corp. / Sweden*      31,784  
  3,600      Itochu Enex Co., Ltd.      28,625  
  1,500      Iwatani Corp.      65,546  
  1,000      Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.      29,369  
  24,713      Karoon Energy, Ltd.*      36,795  
  7,300      Kelt Exploration, Ltd.*      27,015  
  4,401      Keyera Corp.      96,193  
  1,732      Koninklijke Vopak NV      51,525  
  10,707      MEG Energy Corp.*      149,082  
  1,700      Mitsuuroko Holdings Co., Ltd.      14,635  
  1,502      Naphtha Israel Petroleum Corp.*      6,915  
  1,723      Neste Oyj      79,571  
  14,065      New Hope Corp., Ltd.      60,691  
  7,392      New Zealand Refining Co., Ltd. (The)*      6,699  
  64,000      NewOcean Energy Holdings, Ltd.*      120  
  21,200      Nippon Coke & Engineering Co., Ltd.      13,730  
  575      Norwegian Energy Co. ASA*      23,139  
  7,654      Nuvista Energy, Ltd.*      70,558  
  104,047      Oil Refineries, Ltd.      36,483  
  3,195      OMV AG      164,954  
  41,785      Paladin Energy, Ltd.*      19,272  
  5,770      Panoro Energy ASA      16,629  
  1,307      Paramount Resouces, Ltd., Class A      27,650  
  4,173      Parex Resources, Inc.      62,111  
  5,000      Parkland Corp.      109,728  
  300      Paz Oil Co., Ltd.*      37,418  
  1,584      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      53,777  
  601      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      20,403  
  6,660      Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.      68,233  
  12,892      Pharos Energy plc*      3,616  
  7,163      Pipestone Energy Corp.*      15,873  
  5,032      Prairiesky Royalty, Ltd.      80,658  
  31,937      Repsol SA      509,045  
  1,600      Sala Corp.      8,863  
  3,100      San-Ai Oil Co., Ltd.      29,212  
  38,054      Santos, Ltd.      186,555  
  23,460      Saras SpA*      28,917  
  8,575      Serica Energy plc      29,403  
  40,338      Shell PLC, ADR      2,297,249  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  400      Sinanen Holdings Co., Ltd.    $ 11,787  
  15,527      Stobart Group, Ltd.*      956  
  9,472      Suncor Energy, Inc.      300,547  
  9,878      Suncor Energy, Inc.      313,385  
  16,600      Tamarack Valley Energy, Ltd.      54,688  
  1,103      TC Energy Corp.      43,980  
  1,817      TC Energy Corp.      72,426  
  13,400      Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure, Ltd.      9,997  
  1,559      Torm PLC      44,489  
  31,387      TotalEnergies SE^      1,958,746  
  5,238      Tourmaline Oil Corp.      264,337  
  64,721      Tullow Oil plc*      28,883  
  542      Verbio Vereinigte Bioenergie AG      35,155  
  5,883      Vermilion Energy, Inc.      104,163  
  24,351      Viva Energy Group, Ltd.(a)      45,214  
  17,452      Whitecap Resources, Inc.      138,451  
  22,746      Whitehaven Coal, Ltd.      145,798  
  17,225      Woodside Energy Group, Ltd.      416,668  
     

 

 

 
        14,265,792  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.7%):       
  2,718      Altri SGPS SA      14,548  
  2,729      Canfor Corp.*      42,957  
  600      Daiken Corp.      9,513  
  3,000      Daio Paper Corp.      23,130  
  8,317      Ence Energia y Celulosa S.A      24,972  
  301      Hadera Paper, Ltd.      29,571  
  6,700      Hokuetsu Corp.      38,809  
  780      Holmen AB, B Shares      31,048  
  2,627      Interfor Corp.*      40,750  
  5,272      Metsa Board OYJ      49,420  
  6,263      Mondi plc      106,345  
  11,089      Navigator Co. SA (The)      40,973  
  4,800      Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.      35,659  
  1,828      Norske Skog ASA*(a)      12,572  
  23,300      Oji Holdings Corp.      94,267  
  1,998      Stella-Jones, Inc.      71,608  
  6,977      Stora Enso Oyj, Class R      98,554  
  2,882      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      36,461  
  600      Tokushu Tokai Paper Co., Ltd.      12,879  
  7,592      UPM-Kymmene Oyj      284,553  
  2,154      West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd.      155,560  
  24,618      Western Forest Products, Inc.      21,094  
     

 

 

 
        1,275,243  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.8%):       
  306      Beiersdorf AG      35,109  
  3,201      Best World International, Ltd.*      4,255  
  307      Blackmores, Ltd.      15,041  
  800      Fancl Corp.      16,355  
  6,497      Haleon PLC*      25,982  
  5,222      Haleon PLC, ADR*      41,776  
  372      Interparfums SA      22,194  
  1,514      Jamieson Wellness, Inc.(a)      39,242  
  3,900      Kao Corp.      156,143  
  300      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      20,640  
  200      Kose Corp.      21,731  
  10,500      L’occitane International SA      32,705  
  724      L’Oreal SA      259,693  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Personal Products, continued       
  1,600      Mandom Corp.    $ 17,844  
  400      Milbon Co., Ltd.      17,276  
  600      Noevir Holdings Co., Ltd.      26,467  
  2,645      Ontex Group NV*      17,660  
  1,200      Pola Orbis Holdings, Inc.      16,980  
  3,200      Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      56,767  
  1,200      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      59,146  
  1,324      Unilever plc      66,780  
  11,923      Unilever plc, ADR      600,323  
  1,300      Ya-Man, Ltd.      14,249  
     

 

 

 
        1,584,358  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (4.1%):       
  3,440      Alk Abello A/S*      47,727  
  15,687      Alliance Pharma plc      10,044  
  1,963      Almirall SA      18,992  
  2,600      Astellas Pharma, Inc.      39,451  
  5,086      AstraZeneca plc, ADR      344,831  
  491      Aurora Cannabis, Inc.*      453  
  1,200      Bausch Health Cos., Inc.*      7,534  
  1,145      Bausch Health Cos., Inc.*      7,191  
  10,978      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      566,741  
  900      Canopy Growth Corp.*      2,087  
  3,200      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      81,325  
  900      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      28,847  
  300      Daito Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      5,705  
  1,021      Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc      32,335  
  324      Dermapharm Holding SE      13,000  
  500      Eisai Co., Ltd.      32,754  
  192      Euroapi Sasu*      2,845  
  11,707      Faes Farma SA      43,952  
  700      Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.      5,446  
  500      Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries. Ltd.      7,584  
  1,668      Galenica AG(a)      136,257  
  10,023      GSK PLC, ADR      352,208  
  5,197      GSK PLC      90,356  
  6,920      H Lundbeck A/S*      25,931  
  3,600      Haw Par Corp., Ltd.      25,750  
  4,157      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      78,043  
  800      Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.      23,729  
  5,240      Indivior PLC*      117,195  
  943      Ipsen SA      101,611  
  2,400      JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.      30,731  
  1,000      Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      29,419  
  1,000      Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      19,634  
  900      Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.      20,707  
  166      Laboratorios Farmaceuticos Rovi SA      6,400  
  98,378      Mayne Pharma Group, Ltd.*      13,312  
  743      Merck KGaA      143,869  
  400      Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      10,574  
  900      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      51,286  
  9,750      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      883,407  
  11,360      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      1,538,409  
  1,400      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      32,755  
  3,447      Orion Oyj, Class B      188,914  
  658      Orion OYJ      36,071  
  1,300      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      42,329  
  1,315      Recordati SpA      54,653  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  4,498      Roche Holding AG    $ 1,413,932  
  163      Roche Holding AG      63,191  
  4,192      Sanofi      405,563  
  2,200      Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      18,002  
  800      Sawai Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      24,955  
  1,300      Seikagaku Corp.      8,828  
  500      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      24,878  
  2,832      SNDL, Inc.*      5,919  
  3,200      Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.      24,354  
  800      Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd.      35,316  
  5,700      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      178,061  
  3,088      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      28,163  
  800      Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      17,723  
  1,200      Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      19,483  
  1,400      Tsumura & Co.      30,911  
  861      UCB SA      67,807  
  26,000      United Laboratories International Holdings, Ltd.      16,232  
  65      Vetoquinol SA      6,105  
  105      Virbac SA      25,737  
     

 

 

 
        7,767,554  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.7%):       
  3,499      Adecco Group AG      115,094  
  1,864      AFRY AB      30,644  
  6,654      ALS, Ltd.      55,325  
  770      Altech Corp.      12,307  
  111      Amadeus Fire AG      13,732  
  1,825      Applus Services SA      12,575  
  1,300      Baycurrent Consulting, Inc.      40,656  
  1,100      Benefit One, Inc.      16,134  
  372      Bertrandt AG      15,888  
  4,743      Bureau Veritas SA      124,810  
  180      Danel Adir Yeoshua, Ltd.      14,099  
  1,445      DKSH Holding, Ltd.      109,897  
  900      en Japan, Inc.      16,440  
  5,360      Experian plc      182,435  
  1,200      FULLCAST Holdings Co., Ltd.      25,813  
  900      Funai Soken Holdings, Inc.      18,621  
  175      Groupe Crit      11,426  
  22,373      Hays plc      31,311  
  2,075      Intertek Group plc      101,255  
  4,646      IPH, Ltd.      27,350  
  300      IR Japan Holdings, Ltd.      4,096  
  1,000      Jac Recruitment Co., Ltd.      18,364  
  1,000      Management Solutions Co., Ltd.      25,284  
  3,994      McMillan Shakespeare, Ltd.      36,545  
  1,500      Meitec Corp.      27,090  
  2,400      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      29,774  
  3,000      Outsourcing, Inc.      21,661  
  8,516      Pagegroup plc      47,524  
  1,400      Pasona Group, Inc.      19,832  
  2,100      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      44,604  
  3,572      Randstad NV      218,100  
  7,800      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      248,108  
  5,236      RELX plc, ADR      145,142  
  7,938      RELX plc      219,882  
  2,833      Ricardo plc      16,488  
  3,902      Robert Walters plc      25,388  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services, continued       
  2,331      RWS Holdings plc    $ 10,597  
  77      SGS SA, Registered Shares      178,328  
  1,500      SMS Co., Ltd.      38,326  
  3,200      S-Pool, Inc.      20,827  
  1,621      Stantec, Inc.      77,711  
  600      Stantec, Inc.      28,755  
  7,669      SThree plc      37,360  
  1,633      Talenom Oyj      15,909  
  1,100      Tanseisha Co., Ltd.      5,992  
  2,100      Technopro Holdings, Inc.      55,528  
  687      Teleperformance      163,912  
  304      Thomson Reuters Corp.      34,677  
  1,065      Tinexta SpA      26,065  
  1,100      UT Group Co., Ltd.      18,932  
  300      Visional, Inc.*      19,923  
  3,630      Wolters Kluwer NV      379,132  
     

 

 

 
        3,235,668  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (2.3%):       
  697      Aedas Homes SA(a)      10,292  
  1,700      AEON Mall Co., Ltd.      21,962  
  206      AFI Properties, Ltd.*      6,082  
  1,001      Airport City, Ltd.*      16,036  
  2,300      Airport Facilities Co., Ltd.      9,068  
  372      Allreal Holding AG      60,604  
  1,972      Alony Hetz Properties & Invest      20,107  
  492      Alrov Properties And Lodgings, Ltd.      25,604  
  700      Altus Group, Ltd.      27,942  
  2,393      Amot Investments, Ltd.      14,075  
  2,116      Annehem Fastigheter AB*      4,015  
  11,406      Aroundtown SA      26,623  
  46,000      Asia Standard International Group, Ltd.*      3,996  
  1,255      Aspen Group Holdings, Ltd.*      40  
  1,281      Atrium Ljungberg AB, Class B      21,043  
  233      Azrieli Group      15,502  
  210      Big Shopping Centers, Ltd.*      21,533  
  522      BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.      5,788  
  116      Blue Square Real Estate, Ltd.      6,856  
  59      Brack Capital Properties NV*      6,148  
  3,700      Bukit Sembawang Estates, Ltd.      12,664  
  695      CA Immobilien Anlagen AG      21,034  
  11,000      Capitaland Investment, Ltd.      30,427  
  1,420      Castellum AB^      17,143  
  626      Catena AB      23,337  
  2,946      Cedar Woods Properties, Ltd.      8,659  
  18,000      Chinese Estates Holdings, Ltd.*      5,813  
  52,000      Chuang’s Consortium International, Ltd.      4,724  
  851      Cibus Nordic Real Estate AB      11,728  
  7,300      City Developments, Ltd.      44,712  
  1,684      Citycon OYJ      11,283  
  12,675      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      78,042  
  3,571      CLS Holdings plc      6,877  
  127      Colliers International Group      11,689  
  300      Colliers International Group, Inc.      27,562  
  12,641      Corem Property Group AB, Class B      10,221  
  340,000      CSI Properties, Ltd.      5,532  
  1,000      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      102,791  
  8,200      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      188,185  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  712      Deutsche Wohnen SE    $ 15,163  
  1,139      Dic Asset AG      9,279  
  2,651      Dios Fastigheter AB      19,244  
  4,200      DoubleLine Yield Opportunities Fund      11,771  
  1,450      DREAM Unlimited Corp.      27,237  
  34,000      Emperor International Holdings      2,883  
  7,600      ESR Cayman, Ltd.(a)      15,953  
  2,062      Fabege AB      17,608  
  82,189      Far East Consortium International, Ltd.      19,627  
  3,102      Fastighets AB Balder, B Shares*      14,524  
  862      FastPartner AB, Class A      5,894  
  28,100      First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund      23,729  
  696      FirstService Corp.      85,295  
  11,092      Foxtons Group plc      3,981  
  16,000      Frasers Property, Ltd.      11,106  
  2,231      Gav-Yam Lands Corp., Ltd.      17,415  
  1,100      Goldcrest Co., Ltd.      14,087  
  17,039      Grainger plc      51,733  
  1,873      Grand City Properties SA      18,430  
  10,516      Great Eagle Holdings, Ltd.      23,122  
  17,100      GuocoLand, Ltd.      20,695  
  28,000      Hang Lung Group, Ltd.      51,448  
  34,984      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      67,928  
  1,200      Heiwa Real Estate Co., Ltd.      33,273  
  5,154      Helical plc      20,789  
  17,706      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      61,826  
  37,840      HKR International, Ltd.      11,817  
  9,400      Ho Bee Land, Ltd.      17,013  
  18,500      Hong Fok Corp., Ltd.      13,134  
  13,000      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      59,620  
  2,049      Hufvudstaden AB      29,205  
  6,800      Hulic Co., Ltd.      53,525  
  11,000      Hysan Development Co., Ltd.      35,488  
  151      IES Holdings, Ltd.      10,245  
  242      Immobel SA      11,654  
  218      Ina Invest Holding AG*      4,644  
  700      Information Services Corp.      12,497  
  1,253      Instone Real Estate Group AG(a)      10,819  
  29      Intershop Holdings AG      18,931  
  2,000      Invesque, Inc.*      1,600  
  164      Investis Holding SA      17,999  
  1,643      Israel Canada T.R, Ltd.      3,580  
  29,717      IWG plc*      59,595  
  25,000      K Wah International Holdings Ltd.      8,681  
  1,500      Katitas Co., Ltd.      34,504  
  22,225      Kerry Properties, Ltd.      48,415  
  2,347      K-fast Holding AB*      5,298  
  1,455      Kojamo Oyj      21,554  
  26,000      Kowloon Development Co., Ltd.      24,556  
  17,100      Lai Sun Development Co., Ltd.*      3,646  
  112,800      Landing International Development, Ltd.*      3,614  
  44,500      Langham Hospitality Investment      6,329  
  1,262      LEG Immobilien SE      82,228  
  7,615      Lend Lease Group      40,587  
  883      Lifestyle Communities, Ltd.      11,446  
  8,000      Liu Chong Hing Investment, Ltd.      7,383  
  4,644      LSL Property Services plc      14,046  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  276      Mega Or Holdings, Ltd.    $ 7,626  
  463      Melisron, Ltd.      33,178  
  59,000      Mingfa Group International Co., Ltd.*      3,024  
  3,100      Mirainovate Co., Ltd.      5,165  
  4,800      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.      62,125  
  4,100      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      74,914  
  9,306      Mivne Real Estate KD, Ltd.      29,687  
  280      Mobimo Holding AG, Registered Shares      71,273  
  100      Morguard Corp.      8,307  
  706      Neobo Fastigheter AB*      1,323  
  28,087      New World Development Co., Ltd.      79,187  
  1,539      Nexity SA      42,889  
  800      Nippon Commercial Development Co., Ltd.      11,254  
  1,700      Nisshin Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      5,545  
  2,200      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      47,040  
  522      NP3 Fastigheter AB      9,965  
  3,463      Nyfosa AB      26,858  
  17,900      Oue, Ltd.      16,710  
  54,608      Oxley Holdings, Ltd.      5,914  
  25,655      Pacific Century Premium Developments, Ltd.*      1,231  
  2,592      PEXA Group, Ltd.*      20,846  
  1,195      Platzer Fastigheter Holding AB, Class B      9,432  
  222      Prashkovsky Investments And Construction, Ltd.      5,118  
  779      PSP Swiss Property AG      91,633  
  125      Raysum Co., Ltd.      1,243  
  3,244      Real Matters, Inc.*      10,016  
  2,300      Relo Group, Inc.      37,212  
  914      Sagax AB, Class B      20,828  
  7,058      Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB      11,853  
  1,200      SAMTY Co., Ltd.      19,424  
  4,490      Savills plc      44,842  
  1,875      Selvaag Bolig ASA      6,145  
  70,000      Shun Tak Holdings, Ltd.*      15,070  
  795      Shurgard Self Storage SA      36,538  
  100,800      Sinarmas Land, Ltd.      13,549  
  46,317      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      57,691  
  11,926      Sirius Real Estate, Ltd.      10,624  
  5,000      Soundwill Holdings, Ltd.      4,379  
  200      SRE Holdings Corp.*      4,938  
  1,800      Starts Corp., Inc.      35,500  
  2,500      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      58,874  
  1,493      Summit Real Estate Holdings, Ltd.      18,879  
  1,800      Sun Frontier Fudousan Co., Ltd.      15,004  
  5,921      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      81,031  
  6,646      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A      58,292  
  17,500      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class B      23,799  
  8,600      Swire Properties, Ltd.      21,758  
  2,374      Swiss Prime Site AG      206,193  
  3,096      TAG Immobilien AG      20,042  
  21,000      TAI Cheung Holdings, Ltd.      11,822  
  2,900      Toc Co., Ltd.      14,807  
  6,400      Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.      77,487  
  17,000      Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corp.      80,700  
  2,400      Tosei Corp.      24,785  
  4,220      Tricon Residential, Inc.      32,543  
  213      UBM Development AG      5,191  
  7,900      UOL Group, Ltd.      39,682  
  241      VGP NV      20,148  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  4,424      Vonovia SE    $ 104,247  
  3,836      Wallenstam AB      16,221  
  6      Warteck Invest AG      14,725  
  6,203      Watkin Jones plc      7,525  
  9,829      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      57,308  
  4,068      Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB      30,781  
  20,700      Wing Tai Holdings, Ltd.      23,177  
  16,000      Wing Tai Properties, Ltd.      7,175  
  148      YH Dimri Construction & Development, Ltd.      9,215  
  17      Zug Estates Holding AG      32,554  
     

 

 

 
        4,407,493  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.2%):       
  52,525      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      132,453  
  2,571      Canadian National Railway Co.      305,640  
  1,007      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      75,112  
  600      Central Japan Railway Co.      73,825  
  1,200      Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,107  
  41,300      ComfortDelGro Corp., Ltd.      37,862  
  1,240      DSV A/S      196,706  
  1,300      East Japan Railway Co.      74,185  
  16,195      FirstGroup plc      19,817  
  1,200      Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd.      27,727  
  1,000      Hamakyorex Co., Ltd.      23,753  
  2,400      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      71,362  
  1,100      Ichinen Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,435  
  206      Jungfraubahn Holding AG, Registered Shares*      27,617  
  2,500      Keikyu Corp.      26,401  
  700      Keio Corp.      25,741  
  1,200      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      34,331  
  1,500      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      49,727  
  1,000      Kyushu Railway Co.      22,221  
  400      Maruzen Showa Unyu Co., Ltd.      9,249  
  7,711      MTR Corp., Ltd.      40,858  
  4,500      Mullen Group, Ltd.      48,364  
  2,300      Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd.      38,007  
  1,600      Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      34,686  
  13,705      National Express Group plc*      21,553  
  2,200      Nikkon Holdings Co., Ltd.      39,002  
  1,800      Nippon Express Holdings Co., Ltd.      102,665  
  1,300      Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.      24,370  
  147      NTG Nordic Transport Group A/S*      5,065  
  2,000      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      26,072  
  11,036      Redde Northgate plc      54,881  
  500      Sakai Moving Service Co., Ltd.      16,476  
  1,600      Sankyu, Inc.      58,271  
  4,500      Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.      39,862  
  3,900      Senko Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      28,674  
  483      Sixt SE      28,171  
  368      Sixt SE      33,847  
  1,000      Sotetsu Holdings, Inc.      16,860  
  278      Stef S.A.      26,954  
  1,298      TFI International, Inc.      130,020  
  1,500      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      35,126  
  3,400      Tokyu Corp.      42,829  
  300      Tonami Holdings Co., Ltd.      8,341  
  3,913      Tourism Holdings, Ltd.*      8,567  
  400      Trancom Co., Ltd.      22,499  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  15,330      Transport International Holdings, Ltd.    $ 22,350  
  1,600      West Japan Railway Co.      69,846  
     

 

 

 
        2,279,487  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.9%):       
  1,200      Advantest Corp.      77,484  
  9,500      Aem Holdings, Ltd.      24,299  
  7,502      ams AG*      55,221  
  458      ASM International NV      115,931  
  2,411      ASML Holding NV, NYS      1,317,370  
  9,019      ASMPT, Ltd.      64,302  
  1,796      BE Semiconductor Industries NV      109,087  
  300      Disco Corp.      86,254  
  185      Elmos Semiconductor SE      10,595  
  1,700      Ferrotec Holdings Corp.      36,044  
  6,535      Infineon Technologies AG      199,013  
  24,323      IQE plc*^      14,610  
  2,200      Japan Material Co., Ltd.      35,352  
  600      Lasertec Corp.      99,677  
  500      Megachips Corp.      9,254  
  879      Melexis NV      76,531  
  1,700      Micronics Japan Co., Ltd.      16,859  
  800      Mimasu Semiconductor Industry      14,082  
  500      Mitsui High-Tec, Inc.      23,343  
  1,737      Nordic Semiconductor ASA*      29,130  
  241      Nova Measuring Instruments, Ltd.*      19,663  
  1,100      Optorun Co., Ltd.      18,494  
  9,700      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      87,677  
  700      ROHM Co., Ltd.      49,961  
  300      Rorze Corp.      16,243  
  600      Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.      29,391  
  1,000      SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.      64,424  
  300      Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      6,844  
  1,100      Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.      27,752  
  709      Siltronic AG      51,672  
  310      Soitec*      51,071  
  5,416      STMicroelectronics NV      192,511  
  409      SUESS MicroTec SE      6,635  
  6,100      SUMCO Corp.      81,634  
  900      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.      267,398  
  800      Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.      25,996  
  1,000      Towa Corp.      12,870  
  2,902      Tower Semiconductor, Ltd.*      125,366  
  1,200      Tri Chemical Laboratories, Inc.      18,167  
  144      u-blox Holding AG      17,256  
  1,000      Ulvac, Inc.      41,632  
  24,700      UMS Holdings, Ltd.      21,847  
  1,978      X-Fab Silicon Foundries SE*(a)      13,992  
  1,200      Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.      15,499  
     

 

 

 
        3,678,433  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.0%):       
  1,800      Access Co., Ltd.*      11,215  
  1,484      Accesso Technology Group PLC*      14,883  
  1,000      Altium, Ltd.      23,838  
  50      Atoss Software AG      7,425  
  1,040      AVEVA Group plc      40,385  
  4,889      BlackBerry, Ltd.*      15,926  
  10,573      Bravura Solutions, Ltd.      6,223  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  5,897      Bytes Technology Group PLC    $ 27,553  
  500      Computer Engineering & Consulting, Ltd.      5,820  
  101      Constellation Software, Inc.      157,712  
  464      Crayon Group Holding ASA*(a)      4,751  
  1,400      Cresco, Ltd.      18,591  
  1,200      Cybozu, Inc.      22,156  
  1,150      Dassault Systemes SE      41,471  
  564      Descartes Systems Group, Inc.*      39,283  
  300      Digital Arts, Inc.      12,726  
  1,000      Enghouse Systems, Ltd.      26,570  
  5,800      Fortnox AB      26,422  
  1,966      F-Secure Oyj*      5,968  
  400      Fuji Soft, Inc.      23,038  
  900      Fukui Computer Holdings, Inc.      17,919  
  8,509      Hansen Technology, Ltd.      29,753  
  690      Hilan, Ltd.      34,318  
  3,100      Infomart Corp.      8,427  
  16,011      Infomedia, Ltd.      13,026  
  7,858      Integrated Research, Ltd.*      2,397  
  3,230      IRESS, Ltd.      20,976  
  600      Justsystems Corp.      12,873  
  200      Kinaxis, Inc.*      22,442  
  570      Lectra      21,513  
  3,211      Lightspeed Commerce, Inc.*      45,895  
  36      Linedata Services      1,776  
  1,195      Magic Software Enterprises, Ltd.      19,071  
  8,235      Micro Focus International plc, ADR      51,963  
  500      Miroku Jyoho Service Co., Ltd.      5,496  
  1,498      Nemetschek SE      76,501  
  621      Netcompany Group A/S*(a)      26,219  
  145      Nice, Ltd.*      28,149  
  400      OBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd.      13,087  
  3,485      Open Text Corp.      103,295  
  680      Open Text Corp.      20,152  
  400      Oracle Corp.      26,030  
  30      Otello Corp. ASA      24  
  65      QT Group Oyj*      3,115  
  900      Rakus Co., Ltd.      10,854  
  8,965      Sage Group plc (The)      80,496  
  1,181      SAP SE      121,861  
  1,060      SimCorp A/S      72,454  
  6,037      Sinch AB*(a)      22,046  
  1,484      Software AG      38,397  
  500      SRA Holdings      11,506  
  8,400      Systena Corp.      26,297  
  2,838      TeamViewer AG*(a)      36,592  
  5,567      Technology One, Ltd.      49,715  
  1,604      Temenos AG      88,629  
  3,468      TomTom NV*      24,117  
  1,900      Trend Micro, Inc.      88,862  
  12,001      Vista Group International, Ltd.*      11,596  
  271      Vitec Software Group AB B Sh      10,902  
  568      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      19,582  
  1,966      WithSecure Oyj*      2,892  
  423      Xero, Ltd.*      20,188  
     

 

 

 
        1,873,359  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail (1.5%):       
  400      ABC-Mart, Inc.    $ 22,721  
  16,866      Accent Group, Ltd.      19,265  
  11,214      Adairs, Ltd.      16,775  
  1,300      Adastria Co., Ltd.      23,037  
  900      Alpen Co., Ltd.      13,376  
  2,600      Aoki Holdings, Inc.      13,549  
  2,800      Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.      19,606  
  3,236      AP Eagers, Ltd.      23,823  
  1,143      Auto1 Group SE*(a)      9,518  
  2,500      Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd.      27,439  
  613      Autocanada, Inc.*      10,555  
  2,300      BIC Camera, Inc.      22,467  
  2,768      Bilia AB, Class A      30,426  
  1,681      Blackstone Strategic Credit Fund      18,136  
  3,245      Byggmax Group AB      15,495  
  2,609      Carasso Motors, Ltd.      15,066  
  16,294      Card Factory plc*      15,410  
  3,919      Ceconomy AG      7,780  
  800      Chiyoda Co., Ltd.      4,767  
  18,000      Chow Sang Sang Holdings International, Ltd.      23,848  
  19,600      Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.      39,986  
  1,435      Clas Ohlson AB, Class B      9,897  
  4,700      DCM Holdings Co., Ltd.      43,024  
  1,548      Delek Automotive Systems, Ltd.      18,170  
  39,375      Dixons Carphone plc      25,402  
  291      Dor ALON Energy In Israel 1988, Ltd.      7,703  
  2,720      Dufry AG, Registered Shares*      113,847  
  4,536      Dunelm Group plc      53,499  
  3,700      Edion Corp.      36,128  
  115,950      Esprit Holdings, Ltd.*      12,481  
  400      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.      242,439  
  995      Fielmann AG      39,447  
  878      Fnac Darty SA      32,470  
  4,126      Frasers Group plc*      35,441  
  2,300      Geo Holdings Corp.      37,987  
  130,000      Giordano International, Ltd.      28,702  
  10,860      Halfords Group plc      27,499  
  5,472      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B      59,101  
  200      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      28,139  
  484      Hornbach Holding AG & Co. KGaA      39,966  
  4,500      Hour Glass, Ltd. The      6,845  
  2,800      Idom, Inc.      14,046  
  5,629      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      149,868  
  2,829      JB Hi-Fi, Ltd.      80,688  
  26,753      JD Sports Fashion plc      40,829  
  700      JINS Holdings, Inc.      24,497  
  1,500      Joshin Denki Co., Ltd.      22,056  
  900      Joyful Honda Co., Ltd.      13,146  
  26,469      Kathmandu Holdings, Ltd.      17,260  
  1,700      Keiyo Co., Ltd.      11,657  
  744      Kid ASA(a)      5,501  
  43,202      Kingfisher plc      123,614  
  900      Kohnan Shoji Co., Ltd.      23,452  
  1,600      Komeri Co., Ltd.      33,157  
  5,800      K’s Holding Corp.      49,852  
  1,766      Leon’s Furniture, Ltd.      22,424  
  19,046      Lookers plc      17,520  
  1,029      Lovisa Holdings, Ltd.      16,159  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  14,000      Luk Fook Holdings International, Ltd.    $ 41,607  
  531      Maisons du Monde SA(a)      6,703  
  2,347      Matas A/S      23,531  
  1,563      Mobilezone Holding AG      25,872  
  234      Musti Group OYJ      3,915  
  1,800      Nextage Co., Ltd.      34,735  
  3,966      Nick Scali, Ltd.      28,685  
  1,900      Nishimatsuya Chain Co., Ltd.      22,440  
  900      Nitori Co., Ltd.      116,741  
  3,600      Nojima Corp.      39,139  
  28,290      Oriental Watch Holdings      14,788  
  76,677      Pendragon plc*      17,824  
  16,461      Pets At Home Group plc      56,417  
  2,736      Premier Investments, Ltd.      46,192  
  300      Shimamura Co., Ltd.      29,888  
  800      Sleep Country Canada Holdings, Inc.(a)      13,580  
  8,071      Super Retail Group, Ltd.      58,759  
  3,968      Superdry plc*      6,151  
  900      T-Gaia Corp.      11,129  
  2,400      USS Co., Ltd.      38,040  
  13,891      Vertu Motors plc      9,079  
  8,200      VT Holdings Co., Ltd.      29,303  
  6,052      Watches of Switzerland Group plc*(a)      60,108  
  3,396      WHSmith plc*      60,592  
  8,059      Wickes Group plc      14,252  
  300      Workman Co., Ltd.      12,340  
  800      World Co., Ltd.      7,959  
  700      Xebio Holdings Co., Ltd.      4,885  
  2,913      XXL ASA(a)      1,139  
  15,400      Yamada Holdings Co., Ltd.      54,759  
  800      Yellow Hat, Ltd.      10,935  
     

 

 

 
        2,858,445  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  5,200      Brother Industries, Ltd.      78,699  
  3,400      Canon, Inc.      73,529  
  700      EIZO Corp.      18,294  
  1,800      Elecom Co., Ltd.      18,510  
  900      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      45,415  
  10,700      Konica Minolta, Inc.      42,604  
  1,323      Logitech International SA, Class R      82,137  
  3,181      Logitech International SA, Class R      198,017  
  1,900      Maxell Holdings, Ltd.      19,512  
  4,000      Mcj Co., Ltd.      28,830  
  3,200      NEC Corp.      111,977  
  12,000      PC Partner Group, Ltd.^      7,597  
  1,935      Quadient SA      28,606  
  7,800      Ricoh Co., Ltd.      59,837  
  600      Roland Dg Corp.      12,638  
  2,197      S&T AG      35,900  
  6,200      Seiko Epson Corp.      90,008  
  900      Toshiba Tec Corp.      24,471  
  4,400      Wacom Co., Ltd.      19,571  
     

 

 

 
        996,152  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.1%):       
  1,596      Adidas AG      217,839  
  3,137      Aritzia, Inc.*      109,719  
  1,400      Asics Corp.      31,072  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

32


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued       
  1,383      Brunello Cucinelli SpA    $ 102,607  
  4,693      Burberry Group plc      114,649  
  364      Calida Holding AG      18,616  
  408      Canada Goose Holdings, Inc.*      7,266  
  600      Canada Goose Holdings, Inc.*      10,672  
  2,645      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      342,370  
  35,102      Coats Group plc      28,015  
  485      Delta-Galil Industries, Ltd.      20,351  
  6,098      Dr Martens PLC      14,090  
  280      Fox Wizel, Ltd.      25,674  
  1,142      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      31,291  
  3,031      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      83,018  
  400      Goldwin, Inc.      29,100  
  900      Gunze, Ltd.      28,773  
  189      Hermes International SA      291,612  
  1,899      Hugo Boss AG      110,069  
  1,500      Japan Wool Textile Co., Ltd. (The)      11,061  
  504      Kering      257,902  
  700      Kurabo Industries, Ltd.      11,551  
  1,705      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      1,238,412  
  1,945      Moncler SpA      103,519  
  1,479      New Wave Group AB      29,391  
  5,000      Onward Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,808  
  12,688      Ovs SpA(a)      28,700  
  44,000      Pacific Textiles Holdings, Ltd.      14,401  
  2,544      Pandora A/S      179,518  
  5,300      Prada SpA      29,736  
  1,974      Puma SE      119,769  
  687      Salvatore Ferragamo SpA      12,158  
  32,100      Samsonite International SA*(a)      83,942  
  2,100      Sankyo Seiko Co., Ltd.      7,559  
  500      Sanyo Shokai, Ltd.*      5,318  
  1,000      Seiren Co., Ltd.      18,314  
  17,500      Stella International Holdings, Ltd.      16,458  
  732      Swatch Group AG (The)      38,191  
  336      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      95,415  
  11,500      Texhong Textile Group, Ltd.      9,210  
  60,000      Texwinca Holdings, Ltd.      9,598  
  3,200      Tsi Holdings Co., Ltd.      10,796  
  5,500      Unitika, Ltd.*      10,309  
  377      Van de Velde NV      12,184  
  2,000      Wacoal Holdings Corp.      35,877  
  33,514      Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, Ltd.      46,672  
     

 

 

 
        4,064,572  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.2%):       
  1,484      Aareal Bank AG*      50,823  
  543      Aruhi Corp.      4,184  
  9,449      Australian Finance Group, Ltd.      9,301  
  3,618      Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG(a)      28,152  
  830      EQB, Inc.      34,781  
  1,100      Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.      8,686  
  900      First National Financial Corp.      24,212  
  16,190      Helia Group, Ltd.      30,313  
  2,112      Home Capital Group, Inc.      66,427  
  3      Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG      13,306  
  4,912      MyState, Ltd.      13,076  
  9,478      OSB Group plc      54,833  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  9,407      Paragon Banking Group plc    $ 64,074  
  3,600      Timbercreek Financial Corp.      18,907  
     

 

 

 
        421,075  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  9,206      British American Tobacco plc      365,168  
  16,148      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      403,365  
  9,300      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      188,075  
  1,637      Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S(a)      28,717  
     

 

 

 
        985,325  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (2.0%):       
  3,367      AddTech AB, Class B      48,223  
  1,000      Alconix Corp.      10,087  
  1,271      Alligo AB, Class B      9,672  
  3,638      Ashtead Group plc      207,783  
  653      BayWa AG      30,192  
  2,058      Beijer Ref AB      29,131  
  1,271      Bergman & Beving AB      13,552  
  70,000      BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.*      295  
  2,300      BOC Aviation, Ltd.(a)      19,120  
  230      Bossard Holding AG      49,900  
  3,175      Brenntag AG      202,967  
  1,375      Bufab AB      30,949  
  1,979      Bunzl plc      66,040  
  500      Chori Co., Ltd.      8,236  
  400      Daiichi Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.      13,366  
  1,457      Diploma plc      48,952  
  4,000      Doman Building Materials Group, Ltd.      16,989  
  6,737      Electrocomponents plc      73,016  
  2,293      Ferguson plc      289,643  
  5,100      Finning International, Inc.      126,803  
  5,923      Grafton Group plc      56,501  
  1,100      Hanwa Co., Ltd.      31,034  
  15,263      Howden Joinery Group plc      103,709  
  727      IMCD NV      103,827  
  1,800      Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd.      36,841  
  1,800      Inabata & Co., Ltd.      32,459  
  3,040      Indutrade AB      61,810  
  12,500      Itochu Corp.      390,896  
  616      Jacquet Metals SA      11,019  
  500      Japan Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.      19,368  
  700      Kamei Corp.      6,457  
  900      Kanaden Corp.      7,458  
  1,700      Kanamoto Co., Ltd.      29,316  
  3,100      Kanematsu Corp.      35,361  
  9,300      Marubeni Corp.      106,295  
  1,500      Mitani Corp.      14,729  
  8,500      Mitsubishi Corp.      275,032  
  6,500      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      189,031  
  1,271      Momentum Group AB*      7,125  
  3,600      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      50,915  
  3,500      Nagase & Co., Ltd.      52,812  
  600      Nichiden Corp.      7,866  
  500      Nippon Steel Trading Corp.      35,220  
  1,200      Nishio Rent All Co., Ltd.      28,336  
  1,132      Oem International AB      7,852  
  700      Onoken Co., Ltd.      7,719  
  1,494      Reece, Ltd.      14,364  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

33


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
  8,384      Rexel SA    $ 166,122  
  1,992      Richelieu Hardware, Ltd.      53,280  
  1,404      Russel Metals, Inc.      29,847  
  207      Scope Metals Group, Ltd.      7,729  
  1,200      Senshu Electric Co., Ltd.      30,143  
  2,458      Seven Group Holdings, Ltd.      35,052  
  3,400      Sojitz Corp.      64,628  
  409      Solar A/S      36,486  
  17,864      Speedy Hire plc      8,590  
  6,600      Sumitomo Corp.      109,459  
  117      Thermador Groupe      10,818  
  1,172      Toromont Industries, Ltd.      84,589  
  2,700      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      98,990  
  7,192      Travis Perkins plc      76,890  
  1,000      Trusco Nakayama Corp.      15,345  
  800      Wajax Corp.      11,659  
  2,700      Wakita & Co., Ltd.      24,363  
  2,700      Yamazen Corp.      20,465  
  800      Yuasa Trading Co., Ltd.      21,877  
     

 

 

 
        3,924,600  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.4%):       
  506      Aena SME SA*(a)      63,717  
  260      Aeroports de Paris*      34,960  
  14,115      Atlas Arteria, Ltd.      63,451  
  8,117      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      40,313  
  671      Flughafen Zuerich AG*      104,002  
  1,124      Fraport AG*      45,773  
  2,198      Getlink SE      35,218  
  1,618      Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG      20,581  
  182,200      Hutchison Port Holdings Trust      35,283  
  1,940      James Fisher & Sons plc*      9,153  
  400      Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.*      19,895  
  2,000      Kamigumi Co., Ltd.      40,689  
  1,400      Mitsubishi Logistics Corp.      32,220  
  400      Nissin Corp.      6,398  
  5,399      Port of Tauranga, Ltd.      21,498  
  32,939      Qube Holdings, Ltd.      62,944  
  5,500      SATS, Ltd.*      11,673  
  2,100      Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd. (The)      31,094  
  10,150      Transurban Group      89,607  
  1,941      Westshore Terminals Investment Corp.      32,159  
     

 

 

 
        800,628  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  4,740      Pennon Group plc      50,945  
  2,187      Severn Trent plc      70,121  
  45,000      Siic Environment Holdings, Ltd.      6,203  
  5,391      United Utilities Group plc      64,632  
     

 

 

 
        191,901  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.9%):       
  1,292      1&1 AG      16,043  
  27,529      Airtel Africa plc(a)      37,188  
  3,670      Cellcom Israel, Ltd.*      19,072  
  4,676      Freenet AG      102,202  
  88,000      Hutchison Telecommunications Holdings, Ltd.      13,756  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
  14,200      KDDI Corp.    $ 429,248  
  6,967      Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR*      88,145  
  1,000      Okinawa Cellular Telephone Co.      22,091  
  1,324      Orange Belgium SA*      24,475  
  5,106      Partner Communications Co.*      36,814  
  1,708      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      80,003  
  2,500      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      117,022  
  35,000      Smartone Telecommunications Ho      21,123  
  11,900      Softbank Corp.      134,571  
  4,400      SoftBank Group Corp.      186,360  
  21,800      StarHub, Ltd.      16,939  
  10,864      Tele2 AB      88,570  
  257,966      Vodafone Group plc      261,437  
     

 

 

 
        1,695,059  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $182,337,628)

     190,415,243  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.3%):       
Automobiles (0.3%):       
  635      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 7.32%, 5/15/20      54,074  
  1,645      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 5.00%, 5/20/20      90,234  
  2,865      Volkswagen AG, 6.49%, 5/8/20      357,039  
     

 

 

 
        501,347  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  847      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.84%, 4/21/20      58,955  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $726,178)

     560,302  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Warrants (0.0%):       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.0%):       
  465      Fingerprint Cards AB, 9/8/23*      31  
     

 

 

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

 

 

 
 

Total Warrants (Cost $—)

     31  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Rights (0.0%):       
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):       
  753      Vidrala SA RTS, Expires on 12/21/22*      3,240  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.0%):       
  1,302      Immofinanz AG, Expires on 1/2/23*(b)       
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $—)

     3,240  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (1.2%):
      
  2,350,328      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(c)(d)      2,350,328  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $2,350,328)

     2,350,328  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $185,414,134) — 100.9%(e)

     193,329,144  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.9)%

     (1,789,898
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 191,539,246  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

34


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $2,204,705.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(b)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022:

 

Country    Percentage  

Australia

     6.6

Austria

     0.6

Belgium

     1.3

Bermuda

     0.1

Cambodia

      % 

Canada

     10.6

China

     0.2

Colombia

      % 

Denmark

     2.5

Egypt

      % 

European Community

      % 

Faroe Islands

      % 

Finland

     1.6

France

     7.4

Germany

     6.4

Hong Kong

     2.3

India

      % 

Ireland

     1.2

Isle of Man

     0.1

Israel

     1.0

Italy

     2.2

Japan

     22.2
Country    Percentage  

Jersey

      % 

Liechtenstein

      % 

Luxembourg

     0.5

Macau

      % 

Malaysia

      % 

Malta

      % 

Mexico

      % 

Netherlands

     4.7

New Zealand

     0.4

Norway

     0.9

Peru

      % 

Portugal

     0.3

Singapore

     1.1

Spain

     2.3

Sweden

     2.7

Switzerland

     8.1

Taiwan, Province Of China

      % 

United Arab Emirates

      % 

United Kingdom

     11.3

United States

     1.4
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

35


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 185,414,134
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 193,329,144

Interest and dividends receivable

      285,652

Foreign currency, at value (cost $162,595)

      163,815

Receivable for investments sold

      796,114

Reclaims receivable

      906,178

Prepaid expenses

      32
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      195,480,935
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      799,837

Payable for investments purchased

      25,498

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      569,292

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      2,350,328

Management fees payable

      108,661

Administration fees payable

      17,243

Distribution fees payable

      41,793

Custodian fees payable

      17,814

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      797

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,234

Trustee fees payable

      1,992

Other accrued liabilities

      7,200
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,941,689
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 191,539,246
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 171,925,609

Total distributable earnings

      19,613,637
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 191,539,246
   

 

 

 

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

      20,446,554

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 9.37
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $2,204,705.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 7,736,039

Income from securities lending

      24,649

Foreign withholding tax

      (719,235 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      7,041,453
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,979,925

Administration fees

      90,002

Distribution fees

      521,032

Custodian fees

      82,439

Administrative and compliance services fees

      3,251

Transfer agent fees

      6,631

Trustee fees

      12,897

Professional fees

      10,093

Shareholder reports

      3,132

Other expenses

      6,502
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      2,715,904

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (464,860 )
   

 

 

 

Net Expenses

      2,251,044
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      4,790,409
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      8,471,993

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

      (45,642,578 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (37,170,585 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (32,380,176 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

36


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 4,790,409     $ 4,188,258

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      8,471,993       18,358,301

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (45,642,578 )       10,554,923
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (32,380,176 )       33,101,482
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (22,034,547 )       (3,585,492 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (22,034,547 )       (3,585,492 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      233,975       1,475,506

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      22,034,547       3,585,492

Value of shares redeemed

      (28,132,999 )       (47,818,960 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (5,864,477 )       (42,757,962 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (60,279,200 )       (13,241,972 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      251,818,446       265,060,418
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 191,539,246     $ 251,818,446
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      22,083       120,615

Dividends reinvested

      2,635,711       299,540

Shares redeemed

      (2,650,752 )       (3,943,848 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      7,042       (3,523,693 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

37


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 12.32     $ 11.06     $ 10.58     $ 9.20     $ 11.46
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

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

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.04 )       1.25       0.61       1.65       (2.16 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.80 )       1.44       0.73       1.86       (1.99 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.26 )       (0.18 )       (0.25 )       (0.15 )       (0.21 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.89 )                   (0.33 )       (0.06 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.15 )       (0.18 )       (0.25 )       (0.48 )       (0.27 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 9.37     $ 12.32     $ 11.06     $ 10.58     $ 9.20
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.49 )%       13.05 %       7.25 %       20.72 %       (17.65 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 191,539     $ 251,818     $ 265,060     $ 275,886     $ 253,044

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.30 %       1.61 %       1.29 %       2.09 %       1.63 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.30 %       1.31 %       1.34 %       1.33 %       1.38 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.08 %       1.11 %       1.14 %       1.13 %       1.18 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      13 %       7 %       14 %       6 %       20 %

 

(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.

 

38


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

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.

 

39


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $2,440 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $2,350,328 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 %

 

*

Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.65% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. Prior to October 1, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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.”

 

40


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 32,449,119        $ 157,966,115        $ 9        $ 190,415,243

Preferred Stocks+

                  560,302            —          560,302

Warrants+

         31                   #          31

Rights+

                  3,240          #          3,240

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         2,350,328                            2,350,328
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $   34,799,478        $   158,529,657        $ 9        $   193,329,144
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 27,842,366        $ 50,124,412

 

41


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies. 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $186,458,045. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 37,399,368  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (30,528,269
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 6,871,099  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

       $ 5,824,557        $ 16,209,990        $ 22,034,547

 

(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, 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.

 

42


AZL DFA International Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 4,378,997        $ 8,390,863        $        $ 6,843,777        $ 19,613,637

 

(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 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, 2022, the Fund had 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.

 

43


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

44


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 0.75% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $771,873.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $16,209,990.

 

45


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.

 

46


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the

 

47


Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond 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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks direct peers.

 

48


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

49


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 seven 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
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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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

  50   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.

 

50


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.

 

51


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 24

Statement of Operations

Page 24

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 25

Financial Highlights

Page 26

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 27

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 32

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 33

Other Information

Page 34

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 35

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 38

 

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, 2022?*

During the 12-month period, the AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund returned (15.38)% (net of fees). That compares to a total return of (19.21)% for the Russell 3000 Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark.1

Investor worries over high inflation, the war in Ukraine, and rising interest rates pressured equity markets in 2022. As a result, the S&P 500 Index2 posted its fourth worst annual return of the last 85 years. The year also ranks as one of the most volatile on record. Realized volatility, as measured by the standard deviation3 of daily returns for the S&P 500 Index, was the eighth highest in the last 85 years. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates seven times during 2022, leaving the federal funds rate target at between 4.25% and 4.5% by the end of the year.

The U.S. market’s performance during the period trailed developed non-U.S. markets, but outperformed emerging markets. Large-cap stocks outperformed small-cap stocks, and mid-cap stocks outperformed both large- and small-cap stocks. Value stocks outperformed growth stocks. Stocks with higher profitability outperformed stocks with lower profitability.

The Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmark was primarily driven by its emphasis on value stocks, high-profitability stocks and mid-cap stocks. The Fund’s

exclusion of real estate investment trusts (REITs) also contributed to its relative performance, as these assets underperformed 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, 2022.

 

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 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.

 

3 

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® 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, 2022
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

         (15.38 )%          8.24 %          8.69 %          9.30 %

Russell 3000® Index

         (19.21 )%          7.07 %          8.79 %          9.58 %

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

         1.10 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.48% through at least April 30, 2024. Prior to October 1, 2022, the Manager waived the management fee to 0.54%. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,042.20     $ 4.12       0.80 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.17     $ 4.08       0.80 %

 

*

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

      21.0 %

Financials

      14.6

Health Care

      13.3

Industrials

      12.6

Consumer Discretionary

      10.7

Communication Services

      6.7

Consumer Staples

      6.5

Energy

      6.3

Materials

      4.6

Utilities

      3.0

Real Estate

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.6

Rights

        
   

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.4

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.1

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.1 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.6%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.7%):       
  1,210      AAR Corp.*    $ 54,329  
  2,468      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.*      138,035  
  358      AeroVironment, Inc.*      30,666  
  712      Astronics Corp.*      7,333  
  415      Astronics Corp., Class B*      4,129  
  908      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*      150,664  
  3,878      Boeing Co. (The)*      738,720  
  1,885      BWX Technologies, Inc.      109,481  
  685      CPI Aerostructures, Inc.*      2,192  
  914      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      152,629  
  625      Ducommun, Inc.*      31,225  
  1,727      General Dynamics Corp.      428,486  
  569      HEICO Corp.      87,421  
  769      HEICO Corp., Class A      92,165  
  2,189      Hexcel Corp.      128,823  
  4,466      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      176,005  
  904      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      208,535  
  2,947      Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.*      30,413  
  1,062      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      221,119  
  2,867      Lockheed Martin Corp.      1,394,767  
  1,378      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      61,652  
  913      Moog, Inc., Class A      80,125  
  343      National Presto Industries, Inc.      23,482  
  865      Northrop Grumman Corp.      471,953  
  953      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      12,780  
  1,871      Parsons Corp.*      86,534  
  10,908      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      1,100,835  
  2,056      Textron, Inc.      145,565  
  521      TransDigm Group, Inc.      328,047  
  337      V2X, Inc.*      13,915  
     

 

 

 
        6,512,025  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.8%):       
  2,159      Air Transport Services Group, Inc.*      56,091  
  464      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      46,771  
  2,301      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      210,680  
  2,787      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      289,625  
  3,190      FedEx Corp.      552,508  
  619      Forward Air Corp.      64,927  
  1,805      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      77,055  
  766      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      60,889  
  3,266      Radiant Logistics, Inc.*      16,624  
  8,651      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      1,503,890  
  2,834      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      94,344  
     

 

 

 
        2,973,404  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  2,670      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      114,650  
  229      Allegiant Travel Co.*      15,570  
  9,299      American Airlines Group, Inc.*      118,283  
  841      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      69,946  
  9,886      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      324,854  
  1,057      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      10,845  
  9,359      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      60,646  
  1,602      SkyWest, Inc.*      26,449  
  5,986      Southwest Airlines Co.*      201,549  
  2,445      Spirit Airlines, Inc.      47,628  
  3,464      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      130,593  
     

 

 

 
        1,121,013  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components (0.4%):       
  2,780      Adient plc*    $ 96,438  
  4,269      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      33,383  
  1,883      Aptiv plc*      175,364  
  1,876      Autoliv, Inc.      143,664  
  6,004      BorgWarner, Inc.      241,661  
  1,256      Cooper-Standard Holdings, Inc.*      11,379  
  3,513      Dana, Inc.      53,152  
  687      Dorman Products, Inc.      55,558  
  798      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      72,801  
  6,025      Gentex Corp.      164,302  
  799      Gentherm, Inc.*      52,167  
  6,635      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      67,345  
  1,365      Horizon Global Corp.*      531  
  578      LCI Industries      53,436  
  1,505      Lear Corp.      186,650  
  3,637      Modine Manufacturing Co.*      72,231  
  1,190      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      14,113  
  856      Patrick Industries, Inc.      51,874  
  2,366      QuantumScape Corp.*^      13,415  
  616      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      21,437  
  587      Stoneridge, Inc.*      12,656  
  275      Strattec Security Corp.*      5,651  
  517      Visteon Corp.*      67,639  
     

 

 

 
        1,666,847  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.8%):       
  34,229      Ford Motor Co.      398,083  
  15,116      General Motors Co.      508,502  
  4,049      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      168,439  
  15,678      Tesla, Inc.*      1,931,216  
  1,289      Thor Industries, Inc.      97,307  
  729      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      38,418  
     

 

 

 
        3,141,965  
     

 

 

 
Banks (5.6%):       
  859      1st Source Corp.      45,604  
  504      ACNB Corp.      20,064  
  661      American National Bankshares, Inc.      24,411  
  1,776      Ameris Bancorp      83,721  
  704      Ames National Corp.      16,621  
  1,045      Arrow Financial Corp.      35,425  
  3,325      Associated Banc-Corp.      76,774  
  2,280      Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.      80,119  
  2,056      Banc of California, Inc.      32,752  
  646      BancFirst Corp.      56,964  
  2,831      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      80,344  
  52,973      Bank of America Corp.      1,754,466  
  1,028      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      79,732  
  724      Bank of Marin Bancorp      23,805  
  1,592      Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd. (The)      47,458  
  2,524      Bank OZK      101,111  
  2,950      BankUnited, Inc.      100,211  
  1,129      Banner Corp.      71,353  
  433      Bar Harbor Bankshares      13,873  
  842      BCB Bancorp, Inc.      15,148  
  1,898      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      56,750  
  1,565      BOK Financial Corp.      162,431  
  2,707      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      38,304  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  977      Byline BanCorp, Inc.    $ 22,442  
  74      C&F Financial Corp.      4,312  
  4,719      Cadence Bank      116,371  
  256      Cambridge Bancorp      21,263  
  843      Camden National Corp.      35,145  
  489      Capital City Bank Group, Inc.      15,892  
  1,023      Carter Bankshares, Inc.*      16,972  
  2,132      Cathay General Bancorp      86,964  
  1,402      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      28,433  
  933      Central Valley Community Bancorp      19,761  
  377      Chemung Financial Corp.      17,293  
  14,399      Citigroup, Inc.      651,267  
  943      Citizens & Northern Corp.      21,557  
  6,283      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      247,362  
  552      Citizens Holding Co.      7,562  
  365      City Holding Co.      33,978  
  938      Civista Bancshares, Inc.      20,645  
  735      CNB Financial Corp.      17,486  
  85      Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.      2,023  
  56      Colony Bankcorp, Inc.      711  
  2,267      Columbia Banking System, Inc.      68,305  
  3,274      Comerica, Inc.      218,867  
  3,194      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      217,416  
  1,393      Community Bank System, Inc.      87,689  
  517      Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.      23,746  
  1,154      ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.      27,938  
  1,311      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      175,281  
  1,643      Customers Bancorp, Inc.*      46,563  
  4,350      CVB Financial Corp.      112,012  
  1,876      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      59,713  
  1,065      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      46,935  
  3,269      East West Bancorp, Inc.      215,427  
  4,884      Eastern Bankshares, Inc.      84,249  
  820      Enterprise Financial Services Corp.      40,147  
  682      Equity Bancshares, Inc.      22,281  
  312      Evans Bancorp, Inc.      11,666  
  8,341      F.N.B. Corp.      108,850  
  1,329      Farmers National Banc Corp.      18,765  
  1,408      FB Financial Corp.      50,885  
  9,314      Fifth Third Bancorp      305,592  
  1,053      Financial Institutions, Inc.      25,651  
  6,611      First BanCorp      84,092  
  814      First Bancorp, Inc. (The)      24,371  
  1,262      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      54,064  
  611      First Bancshares, Inc. (The)      19,558  
  1,378      First Busey Corp.      34,064  
  664      First Business Financial Services, Inc.      24,269  
  221      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      167,598  
  2,520      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      35,204  
  512      First Community Bankshares      17,357  
  3,105      First Financial Bancorp      75,234  
  3,432      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      118,061  
  536      First Financial Corp.      24,699  
  733      First Financial Northwest, Inc.      10,980  
  1,155      First Foundation, Inc.      16,551  
  1,512      First Hawaiian, Inc.      39,372  
  12,573      First Horizon Corp.      308,038  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  3,226      First Interstate BancSystem, Inc., Class A    $ 124,685  
  1,606      First Merchants Corp.      66,023  
  660      First Mid Bancshares, Inc.      21,173  
  1,573      First of Long Island Corp. (The)      28,314  
  1,741      First Republic Bank      212,210  
  2,253      Flushing Financial Corp.      43,663  
  5,044      Fulton Financial Corp.      84,891  
  769      German American Bancorp, Inc.      28,684  
  2,814      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      139,068  
  397      Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.      23,618  
  2,782      Hancock Whitney Corp.      134,621  
  2,408      Hanmi Financial Corp.      59,598  
  1,642      HarborOne Bancorp, Inc.      22,824  
  44      Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.      958  
  636      HBT Financial, Inc.      12,447  
  1,853      Heartland Financial USA, Inc.      86,387  
  1,197      Heritage Financial Corp.      36,676  
  2,010      Hertiage Commerce Corp.      26,130  
  2,750      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.      82,527  
  4,922      Home Bancshares, Inc.      112,172  
  484      Hometrust Bancshares, Inc.      11,698  
  4,470      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      57,261  
  1,071      Horizon Bancorp, Inc.      16,151  
  17,788      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      250,811  
  1,236      Independent Bank Corp. Massachusetts      104,355  
  855      Independent Bank Corp. Michigan      20,452  
  1,169      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      70,234  
  1,836      International Bancshares Corp.      84,015  
  30,597      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      4,103,058  
  13,247      KeyCorp      230,763  
  1,465      Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.      25,799  
  582      Lakeland Financial Corp.      42,469  
  579      Landmark Bancorp, Inc.      13,103  
  712      LCNB Corp.      12,816  
  1,274      Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.      38,475  
  2,500      M&T Bank Corp.      362,650  
  2,571      Macatawa Bank Corp.      28,358  
  472      Mercantile Bank Corp.      15,803  
  241      Midland States BanCorp, Inc.      6,415  
  638      MidWestone Financial Group, Inc.      20,256  
  702      National Bank Holdings Corp.      29,533  
  514      National Bankshares, Inc.      20,714  
  1,264      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      54,883  
  373      Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.*      29,762  
  510      Northrim Bancorp, Inc.      27,831  
  511      Norwood Financial Corp.      17,088  
  2,292      OFG Bancorp      63,168  
  440      Ohio Valley Banc Corp.      11,625  
  9,356      Old National Bancorp      168,221  
  2,225      Old Second Bancorp, Inc.      35,689  
  550      Origin Bancorp, Inc.      20,185  
  638      Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.      14,776  
  2,518      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      79,468  
  2,447      PacWest Bancorp      56,159  
  467      Park National Corp.      65,730  
  1,165      Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp.      43,361  
  546      Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc.      14,534  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  608      Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.    $ 19,796  
  1,117      Peoples Bancorp, Inc.      31,555  
  1,752      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      128,597  
  3,044      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      480,769  
  1,986      Popular, Inc.      131,712  
  432      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      32,236  
  707      Primis Financial Corp.      8,378  
  2,191      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      159,242  
  606      QCR Holdings, Inc.      30,082  
  487      Rbb BanCorp      10,154  
  13,669      Regions Financial Corp.      294,704  
  1,373      Renasant Corp.      51,611  
  917      Republic Bancorp, Inc., Class A      37,524  
  869      S&T Bancorp, Inc.      29,702  
  296      Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.      9,294  
  1,366      Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.      48,124  
  1,366      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      42,606  
  1,110      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      76,490  
  1,113      Shore Bancshares, Inc.      19,400  
  1,028      Sierra Bancorp      21,835  
  784      Signature Bank      90,332  
  3,102      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      66,941  
  950      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      34,190  
  1,770      SouthState Corp.      135,157  
  2,578      Stellar Bancorp, Inc.      75,948  
  527      Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.      34,244  
  557      Summit Financial Group, Inc.      13,864  
  702      SVB Financial Group*      161,558  
  3,723      Synovus Financial Corp.      139,799  
  1,633      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      98,486  
  490      Tompkins Financial Corp.      38,014  
  2,209      TowneBank      68,126  
  820      TriCo Bancshares      41,812  
  1,001      Triumph Financial, Inc.*      48,919  
  9,462      Truist Financial Corp.      407,150  
  1,695      Trustmark Corp.      59,172  
  14,586      U.S. Bancorp      636,095  
  1,375      UMB Financial Corp.      114,840  
  6,312      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      112,669  
  3,681      United Bankshares, Inc.      149,044  
  1,942      United Community Banks, Inc.      65,640  
  1,190      United Security Bancshares      8,699  
  42      Unity Bancorp, Inc.      1,148  
  850      Univest Financial Corp.      22,210  
  9,343      Valley National Bancorp      105,669  
  690      Veritex Holdings, Inc.      19,375  
  501      Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.      23,637  
  4,185      Webster Financial Corp.      198,118  
  30,047      Wells Fargo & Co.      1,240,641  
  1,645      WesBanco, Inc.      60,832  
  1,062      West BanCorp, Inc.      27,134  
  685      Westamerica BanCorp      40,422  
  2,129      Western Alliance Bancorp      126,803  
  1,524      Wintrust Financial Corp.      128,808  
  3,716      Zions Bancorp      182,679  
     

 

 

 
        21,482,694  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages (1.5%):       
  145      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*    $ 47,780  
  1,105      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      72,665  
  3,136      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      205,972  
  374      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      38,911  
  31,967      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      2,033,421  
  179      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      91,712  
  919      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A      212,978  
  1,381      Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (The)*      22,883  
  4,758      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      169,670  
  615      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      65,424  
  2,230      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      114,890  
  1,888      Monster Beverage Corp.*      191,689  
  1,621      National Beverage Corp.*      75,425  
  13,728      PepsiCo, Inc.      2,480,101  
     

 

 

 
        5,823,521  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.8%):       
  16,653      AbbVie, Inc.      2,691,291  
  2,144      ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      34,132  
  3,964      Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.*      2,297  
  436      Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      12,243  
  1,012      Alkermes plc*      26,444  
  2,313      Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.*      14,549  
  471      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      111,933  
  4,988      Amgen, Inc.      1,310,048  
  955      AnaptysBio, Inc.*      29,595  
  990      Arcus Biosciences, Inc.*      20,473  
  1,907      Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      6,255  
  1,917      Biogen, Inc.*      530,856  
  2,087      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      215,984  
  1,469      Bluebird Bio, Inc.*      10,165  
  1,208      Blueprint Medicines Corp.*      52,922  
  723      CareDx, Inc.*      8,249  
  1,101      Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.*      49,072  
  718      Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      4,193  
  906      CRISPR Therapeutics AG*      36,829  
  1,534      Denali Therapeutics, Inc.*      42,661  
  2,000      Dynavax Technologies Corp.*^      21,280  
  233      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      6,811  
  1,370      Editas Medicine, Inc.*      12,152  
  1,656      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      19,557  
  585      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      27,214  
  1,700      Exact Sciences Corp.*      84,167  
  6,966      Exelixis, Inc.*      111,735  
  567      Fate Therapeutics, Inc.*      5,721  
  1,432      G1 Therapeutics, Inc.*      7,776  
  14,500      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      1,244,825  
  2,867      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      163,132  
  1,961      Incyte Corp.*      157,508  
  961      Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.*      33,529  
  1,964      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      74,180  
  2,315      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      14,793  
  2,568      Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      31,818  
  200      Kodiak Sciences, Inc.*      1,432  
  367      Krystal Biotech, Inc.*      29,074  
  1,263      Kura Oncology, Inc.*      15,674  
  757      Kymera Therapeutics, Inc.*      18,895  
  340      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      22,712  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  1,449      Macrogenics, Inc.*    $ 9,723  
  710      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      32,170  
  4,559      Moderna, Inc.*      818,888  
  2,351      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      34,113  
  715      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      85,400  
  10,235      OPKO Health, Inc.*      12,794  
  9,565      PDL BioPharma, Inc.*      25,443  
  1,720      Prothena Corp. plc*      103,630  
  1,074      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      774,880  
  895      REGENXBIO, Inc.*      20,299  
  1,529      Relay Therapeutics, Inc.*      22,843  
  1,975      REVOLUTION Medicines, Inc.*      47,044  
  1,053      Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      30,663  
  1,042      Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      20,392  
  1,793      Sage Therapeutics, Inc.*      68,385  
  2,916      Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.*      9,156  
  660      Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.*      85,523  
  1,210      Seagen, Inc.*      155,497  
  2,126      Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      783  
  602      SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.*      15,658  
  1,803      Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      45,886  
  900      Twist Bioscience Corp.*      21,429  
  1,104      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      51,148  
  725      United Therapeutics Corp.*      201,615  
  1,179      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      8,713  
  1,543      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      445,588  
  1,246      Xencor, Inc.*      32,446  
     

 

 

 
        10,494,285  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.0%):       
  2,754      A O Smith Corp.      157,639  
  1,062      AAON, Inc.      79,990  
  1,573      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.      128,939  
  1,795      Allegion plc      188,942  
  515      American Woodmark Corp.*      25,163  
  1,085      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.      48,239  
  1,077      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      73,871  
  3,106      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      63,114  
  4,473      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      290,208  
  723      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      170,375  
  11,181      Carrier Global Corp.      461,216  
  547      Csw Industrials, Inc.      63,414  
  2,444      Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.      139,577  
  715      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      32,804  
  1,993      Griffon Corp.      71,329  
  1,250      Hayward Holdings, Inc.*      11,750  
  1,209      Insteel Industries, Inc.      33,272  
  2,135      JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.*      20,603  
  3,721      Johnson Controls International plc      238,144  
  617      Lennox International, Inc.      147,605  
  2,484      Masco Corp.      115,928  
  681      Masonite International Corp.*      54,895  
  2,444      Masterbrand, Inc.*      18,452  
  2,995      Owens Corning      255,474  
  1,379      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      24,767  
  1,160      Quanex Building Products Corp.      27,469  
  3,728      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      61,326  
  1,119      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      99,211  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Building Products, continued       
  2,113      Trane Technologies plc    $ 355,174  
  1,485      Trex Co., Inc.*      62,860  
  1,914      UFP Industries, Inc.      151,684  
  2,409      Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp.      50,950  
     

 

 

 
        3,724,384  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.1%):       
  837      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      132,606  
  1,753      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      545,832  
  826      Ares Management Corp., Class A      56,531  
  1,585      Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A      47,075  
  1,095      AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc.*      25,185  
  734      B Riley Financial, Inc.      25,103  
  6,009      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      273,530  
  9,837      BGC Partners, Inc., Class A      37,085  
  1,088      BlackRock, Inc., Class A      770,989  
  4,413      Blackstone, Inc., Class A      327,400  
  2,377      Blucora, Inc.*      60,685  
  902      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      18,563  
  6,294      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)      187,813  
  1,257      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      157,716  
  7,675      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      639,020  
  1,955      CME Group, Inc.      328,753  
  1,396      Cohen & Steers, Inc.      90,126  
  190      Diamond Hill Investment Group      35,154  
  1,791      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      69,222  
  379      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      152,059  
  3,404      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      123,599  
  5,820      Franklin Resources, Inc.      153,532  
  2,787      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      957,000  
  255      Greenhill & Co., Inc.      2,614  
  569      Hamilton Lane, Inc.      36,348  
  211      Hennessy Advisors, Inc.      1,772  
  1,585      Houlihan Lokey, Inc.      138,149  
  693      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      50,139  
  2,995      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      307,257  
  9,972      Invesco, Ltd.      179,396  
  4,134      Janus Henderson Group plc      97,232  
  4,221      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      195,939  
  2,997      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      103,906  
  1,018      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      220,061  
  337      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      93,986  
  1,075      Moelis & Co., Class A      41,248  
  1,496      Moody’s Corp.      416,816  
  13,808      Morgan Stanley      1,173,956  
  806      Morningstar, Inc.      174,572  
  583      MSCI, Inc.      271,194  
  4,695      Nasdaq, Inc.      288,038  
  2,692      Northern Trust Corp.      238,215  
  365      Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc., Class A      15,450  
  613      Piper Sandler Cos.      79,806  
  394      PJT Partners, Inc.      29,034  
  2,737      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      292,448  
  4,238      Robinhood Markets, Inc., Class A*      34,497  
  1,896      S&P Global, Inc.      635,046  
  3,335      SEI Investments Co.      194,430  
  660      Silvercrest Asset Management Group, Inc., Class A      12,388  
  4,353      State Street Corp.      337,662  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  2,748      Stifel Financial Corp.    $ 160,401  
  597      StoneX Group, Inc.*      56,894  
  3,338      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      364,042  
  800      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      51,944  
  1,275      Victory Capital Holdings, Inc., Class A      34,208  
  2,529      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      51,617  
  154      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      29,482  
  425      Westwood Holdings, Inc.      4,732  
  3,476      WisdomTree, Inc.      18,944  
     

 

 

 
        11,648,441  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (2.4%):       
  1,366      AdvanSix, Inc.      51,935  
  1,374      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.      423,549  
  980      Albemarle Corp.      212,523  
  1,157      American Vanguard Corp.      25,119  
  994      Ashland, Inc.      106,885  
  2,333      Avient Corp.      78,762  
  5,056      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      128,776  
  538      Balchem Corp.      65,695  
  1,642      Cabot Corp.      109,751  
  2,236      Celanese Corp.      228,609  
  3,882      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      330,746  
  328      Chase Corp.      28,293  
  4,033      Chemours Co. (The)      123,490  
  578      Core Molding Technologies, Inc.*      7,508  
  5,660      Corteva, Inc.      332,695  
  14,175      Dow, Inc.      714,278  
  5,587      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      383,436  
  1,980      Eastman Chemical Co.      161,251  
  1,417      Ecolab, Inc.      206,259  
  1,630      Ecovyst, Inc.*      14,442  
  7,787      Element Solutions, Inc.      141,646  
  1,241      FMC Corp.      154,877  
  3,222      Futurefuel Corp.      26,195  
  1,438      H.B. Fuller Co.      102,990  
  5,566      Huntsman Corp.      152,954  
  962      Ingevity Corp.*      67,763  
  571      Innospec, Inc.      58,733  
  2,916      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      305,713  
  1,037      Intrepid Potash, Inc.*      29,938  
  783      Koppers Holdings, Inc.      22,081  
  2,011      Kronos Worldwide, Inc.      18,903  
  3,686      Linde plc      1,202,300  
  2,160      Livent Corp.*      42,919  
  1,603      LSB Industries, Inc.*      21,320  
  7,530      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      625,216  
  971      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      58,959  
  6,939      Mosaic Co. (The)      304,414  
  301      NewMarket Corp.      93,644  
  4,819      Olin Corp.      255,118  
  2,364      Orion Engineered Carbons SA      42,103  
  2,287      PPG Industries, Inc.      287,567  
  117      Quaker Chemical Corp.      19,527  
  3,631      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      34,858  
  1,718      RPM International, Inc.      167,419  
  1,131      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      54,955  
  1,042      Sensient Technologies Corp.      75,983  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  2,297      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)    $ 545,147  
  569      Stepan Co.      60,576  
  1,070      Tredegar Corp.      10,935  
  1,279      Trinseo PLC      29,046  
  4,906      Tronox Holdings plc, Class A      67,261  
  2,580      Valvoline, Inc.      84,237  
  4,276      Venator Materials plc*      2,309  
  1,774      Westlake Corp.      181,906  
     

 

 

 
        9,083,514  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.9%):       
  1,913      ABM Industries, Inc.      84,975  
  2,927      ACCO Brands Corp.      16,362  
  1,067      Brady Corp., Class A      50,256  
  844      Brink’s Co. (The)      45,331  
  1,028      Casella Waste Systems, Inc.*      81,531  
  2,003      CECO Environmental Corp.*      23,395  
  518      Cimpress plc*      14,302  
  753      Cintas Corp.      340,070  
  433      Civeo Corp.*      13,466  
  1,494      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      170,495  
  5,206      Copart, Inc.*      316,993  
  859      Deluxe Corp.      14,586  
  1,613      Ennis, Inc.      35,744  
  2,148      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      25,776  
  1,042      Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.*      33,844  
  1,467      HNI Corp.      41,707  
  2,623      IAA, Inc.*      104,920  
  2,041      Interface, Inc.      20,145  
  5,118      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      66,790  
  2,829      Kimball International, Inc., Class B      18,389  
  919      Matthews International Corp., Class A      27,974  
  1,866      MillerKnoll, Inc.      39,205  
  406      MSA Safety, Inc.      58,541  
  1,552      NL Industries, Inc.      10,569  
  4,238      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      16,104  
  2,606      Quad Graphics, Inc.*      10,633  
  2,027      Republic Services, Inc.      261,463  
  4,253      Rollins, Inc.      155,405  
  503      SP Plus Corp.*      17,464  
  2,563      Steelcase, Inc., Class A      18,120  
  2,286      Stericycle, Inc.*      114,049  
  1,039      Tetra Tech, Inc.      150,852  
  542      UniFirst Corp.      104,601  
  1,003      Viad Corp.*      24,463  
  824      Vse Corp.      38,629  
  4,883      Waste Management, Inc.      766,045  
     

 

 

 
        3,333,194  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.8%):       
  1,069      ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.      20,086  
  752      Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.*      1,421  
  1,277      Arista Networks, Inc.*      154,964  
  1,829      CalAmp Corp.*      8,194  
  644      Calix, Inc.*      44,069  
  2,888      Ciena Corp.*      147,230  
  34,156      Cisco Systems, Inc.      1,627,192  
  6,102      CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*      44,850  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Communications Equipment, continued       
  756      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.    $ 9,178  
  1,262      Digi International, Inc.*      46,126  
  1,189      EMCORE Corp.*      1,144  
  868      F5, Inc.*      124,567  
  2,194      Harmonic, Inc.*      28,741  
  2,944      Infinera Corp.*      19,843  
  441      InterDigital, Inc.      21,821  
  5,828      Juniper Networks, Inc.      186,263  
  909      KVH Industries, Inc.*      9,290  
  1,533      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      79,977  
  1,185      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      305,386  
  1,010      NETGEAR, Inc.*      18,291  
  1,838      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      59,753  
  3,679      Ribbon Communications, Inc.*      10,264  
  2,004      ViaSat, Inc.*      63,427  
  4,098      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      43,070  
     

 

 

 
        3,075,147  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.5%):       
  1,401      AECOM      118,987  
  673      Ameresco, Inc., Class A*      38,455  
  3,778      API Group Corp.*      71,064  
  1,062      Arcosa, Inc.      57,709  
  455      Argan, Inc.      16,780  
  1,049      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      120,719  
  1,213      Construction Partners, Inc., Class A*      32,375  
  710      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      66,456  
  1,291      EMCOR Group, Inc.      191,210  
  2,848      Fluor Corp.*      98,712  
  1,277      Granite Construction, Inc.      44,784  
  2,266      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.*      13,483  
  656      IES Holdings, Inc.*      23,334  
  1,682      MasTec, Inc.*      143,525  
  1,750      Matrix Service Co.*      10,885  
  5,409      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      164,109  
  487      MYR Group, Inc.*      44,838  
  346      NV5 Global, Inc.*      45,783  
  2,101      Orion Group Holdings, Inc.*      5,000  
  2,465      Primoris Services Corp.      54,082  
  1,798      Quanta Services, Inc.      256,215  
  888      Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.*      29,126  
  1,648      Tutor Perini Corp.*      12,443  
  568      Valmont Industries, Inc.      187,821  
  4,673      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      211,080  
     

 

 

 
        2,058,975  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  961      Eagle Materials, Inc.      127,669  
  754      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      254,829  
  3,328      Summit Materials, Inc., Class A*      94,482  
  131      U.S. Lime & Minerals, Inc.      18,440  
  1,485      Vulcan Materials Co.      260,038  
     

 

 

 
        755,458  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.9%):       
  6,825      Ally Financial, Inc.      166,871  
  5,736      American Express Co.      847,494  
  4,446      Capital One Financial Corp.      413,300  
  1,912      Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.*      16,921  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Consumer Finance, continued       
  490      Credit Acceptance Corp.*^    $ 232,456  
  6,177      Discover Financial Services      604,296  
  950      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      45,543  
  1,657      Enova International, Inc.*      63,579  
  3,948      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      32,176  
  1,170      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      101,685  
  1,425      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      22,544  
  5,431      LendingClub Corp.*      47,793  
  5,938      Navient Corp.      97,680  
  543      Nelnet, Inc., Class A      49,277  
  750      Nicholas Financial, Inc.*      4,733  
  4,313      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      143,666  
  1,392      PRA Group, Inc.*      47,022  
  2,187      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      36,938  
  568      Regional Mgmt Corp.      15,949  
  10,574      SLM Corp.      175,528  
  10,054      Synchrony Financial      330,375  
  237      World Acceptance Corp.*      15,628  
     

 

 

 
        3,511,454  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  21,700      Amcor plc      258,447  
  1,523      AptarGroup, Inc.      167,500  
  1,254      Avery Dennison Corp.      226,974  
  3,835      Ball Corp.      196,122  
  4,390      Berry Global Group, Inc.      265,288  
  2,418      Crown Holdings, Inc.      198,784  
  10,400      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      231,400  
  930      Greif, Inc., Class A      62,366  
  710      Greif, Inc., Class B      55,543  
  5,221      International Paper Co.      180,803  
  1,253      Myers Industries, Inc.      27,854  
  5,063      O-I Glass, Inc.*      83,894  
  1,879      Packaging Corp. of America      240,343  
  2,082      Sealed Air Corp.      103,850  
  3,830      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      198,547  
  2,780      Sonoco Products Co.      168,774  
  1,022      TriMas Corp.      28,350  
  3,552      Westrock Co.      124,888  
     

 

 

 
        2,819,727  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  1,267      Funko, Inc., Class A*      13,823  
  1,853      Genuine Parts Co.      321,514  
  3,391      LKQ Corp.      181,113  
  490      Pool Corp.      148,142  
  811      Weyco Group, Inc.      17,161  
     

 

 

 
        681,753  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.3%):       
  9,468      ADT, Inc.      85,875  
  1,249      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      44,339  
  541      American Public Education, Inc.*      6,649  
  927      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      58,494  
  418      Carriage Services, Inc.      11,512  
  1,372      Chegg, Inc.*      34,670  
  1,826      Frontdoor, Inc.*      37,981  
  112      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      67,672  
  875      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      92,452  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Consumer Services, continued       
  3,465      H&R Block, Inc.    $ 126,507  
  3,406      Laureate Education, Inc.      32,766  
  2,522      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      35,056  
  1,293      PowerSchool Holdings, Inc.*      29,842  
  3,783      Service Corp. International      261,557  
  825      Strategic Education, Inc.      64,614  
  1,002      Stride, Inc.*      31,343  
  1,696      Universal Technical Institute, Inc.*      11,397  
  1,419      WW International, Inc.*      5,477  
     

 

 

 
        1,038,203  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.4%):       
  5,097      Apollo Global Management, Inc.      325,138  
  13,439      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      4,151,307  
  2,704      Cannae Holdings, Inc.*      55,837  
  8,122      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      233,101  
  1,543      Jackson Financial, Inc., Class A      53,681  
  5,286      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      181,204  
  2,777      Voya Financial, Inc.      170,758  
     

 

 

 
        5,171,026  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.2%):       
  398      Anterix, Inc.*      12,804  
  75,599      AT&T, Inc.      1,391,777  
  461      ATN International, Inc.      20,888  
  857      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      48,917  
  4,558      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      16,318  
  1,548      EchoStar Corp., Class A*      25,821  
  1,703      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*      43,392  
  1,080      IDT Corp.*      30,424  
  3,009      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      154,662  
  26,553      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      138,607  
  72,623      Verizon Communications, Inc.      2,861,346  
     

 

 

 
        4,744,956  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.6%):       
  925      ALLETE, Inc.      59,672  
  2,285      Alliant Energy Corp.      126,155  
  3,720      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      353,214  
  1,163      Avangrid, Inc.      49,986  
  2,343      Constellation Energy Corp.      201,990  
  5,521      Duke Energy Corp.      568,608  
  3,306      Edison International      210,328  
  2,041      Entergy Corp.      229,612  
  2,102      Evergy, Inc.      132,279  
  3,330      Eversource Energy      279,187  
  7,030      Exelon Corp.      303,907  
  5,033      FirstEnergy Corp.      211,084  
  1,272      Genie Energy, Ltd., Class B      13,152  
  2,581      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      108,015  
  1,176      IDACORP, Inc.      126,832  
  734      MGE Energy, Inc.      51,674  
  13,851      NextEra Energy, Inc.      1,157,944  
  6,930      NRG Energy, Inc.      220,513  
  3,897      OGE Energy Corp.      154,126  
  737      Otter Tail Corp.      43,269  
  16,446      PG&E Corp.*      267,412  
  1,787      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      135,883  
  1,704      PNM Resources, Inc.      83,138  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
  2,036      Portland General Electric Co.    $ 99,764  
  7,492      PPL Corp.      218,916  
  7,460      Southern Co. (The)      532,719  
  3,977      Xcel Energy, Inc.      278,827  
     

 

 

 
        6,218,206  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.8%):       
  888      Acuity Brands, Inc.      147,062  
  424      Allied Motion Technologies, Inc.      14,759  
  2,435      AMETEK, Inc.      340,218  
  1,155      Atkore, Inc.*      131,000  
  394      AZZ, Inc.      15,839  
  2,912      Eaton Corp. plc      457,038  
  3,364      Emerson Electric Co.      323,146  
  823      Encore Wire Corp.      113,212  
  1,180      EnerSys      87,131  
  9,782      FuelCell Energy, Inc.*      27,194  
  736      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      74,086  
  5,506      GrafTech International, Ltd.      26,209  
  1,280      Hubbell, Inc.      300,390  
  1,831      LSI Industries, Inc.      22,411  
  3,947      nVent Electric plc      151,841  
  79      Pineapple Holdings, Inc.*      184  
  5,002      Plug Power, Inc.*      61,875  
  606      Powell Industries, Inc.      21,319  
  400      Preformed Line Products Co.      33,316  
  1,374      Regal Rexnord Corp.      164,853  
  1,092      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      281,266  
  3,842      Sensata Technologies Holding plc      155,140  
  4,144      Sunrun, Inc.*      99,539  
  1,298      Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.*      26,064  
  742      TPI Composites, Inc.*      7,524  
  348      Vicor Corp.*      18,705  
     

 

 

 
        3,101,321  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.3%):       
  870      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.      74,629  
  4,881      Amphenol Corp., Class A      371,639  
  2,582      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      9,063  
  1,826      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      190,945  
  2,249      Avnet, Inc.      93,513  
  724      Badger Meter, Inc.      78,938  
  550      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class B      18,106  
  1,417      Belden, Inc.      101,882  
  1,054      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      28,131  
  1,649      CDW Corp.      294,478  
  1,600      Cognex Corp.      75,376  
  1,971      Coherent Corp.*      69,182  
  10,530      Corning, Inc.      336,328  
  1,576      CTS Corp.      62,126  
  2,838      Daktronics, Inc.*      8,003  
  1,561      Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A      110,113  
  784      ePlus, Inc.*      34,715  
  839      Fabrinet*      107,577  
  392      FARO Technologies, Inc.*      11,529  
  10,032      Flex, Ltd.*      215,287  
  640      Frequency Electronics, Inc.      4,512  
  1,048      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      105,083  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  959      IPG Photonics Corp.    $ 90,788  
  1,060      Itron, Inc.*      53,689  
  4,868      Jabil, Inc.      331,998  
  1,829      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      312,887  
  1,603      Kimball Electronics, Inc.*      36,212  
  2,737      Knowles Corp.*      44,942  
  546      Littelfuse, Inc.      120,229  
  790      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      35,052  
  2,559      National Instruments Corp.      94,427  
  702      Novanta, Inc.*      95,381  
  594      OSI Systems, Inc.*      47,235  
  621      PC Connection, Inc.      29,125  
  800      Plexus Corp.*      82,344  
  438      Rogers Corp.*      52,271  
  1,757      Sanmina Corp.*      100,659  
  738      ScanSource, Inc.*      21,564  
  1,795      TD SYNNEX Corp.      170,004  
  2,600      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      298,480  
  458      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      183,159  
  2,694      Trimble, Inc.*      136,209  
  3,068      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      46,265  
  3,363      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      72,540  
  2,080      Vontier Corp.      40,206  
  448      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      114,872  
     

 

 

 
        5,011,693  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.7%):       
  4,779      Archrock, Inc.      42,915  
  10,629      Baker Hughes Co.      313,874  
  519      Bristow Group, Inc.*      14,080  
  562      Cactus, Inc., Class A      28,246  
  5,397      ChampionX Corp.      156,459  
  711      Core Laboratories NV      14,412  
  562      DMC Global, Inc.*      10,925  
  1,028      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      27,931  
  1,095      Expro Group Holdings NV*      19,852  
  306      Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.*      9,027  
  760      Geospace Technologies Corp.*      3,207  
  1,086      Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.*      5,571  
  9,819      Halliburton Co.      386,378  
  4,336      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      32,000  
  2,727      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      135,177  
  2,181      Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A      34,918  
  1,436      Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.*      12,421  
  359      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      55,598  
  935      Natural Gas Services Group*      10,715  
  4,799      Newpark Resources, Inc.*      19,916  
  8,513      NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.*      78,660  
  900      Noble Corp. PLC*      33,939  
  8,395      NOV, Inc.      175,372  
  3,444      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      60,236  
  3,066      Oil States International, Inc.*      22,872  
  6,531      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      109,982  
  2,684      Propetro Holding Corp.*      27,833  
  4,475      RPC, Inc.      39,783  
  8,661      Schlumberger, Ltd.      463,017  
  493      SEACOR Marine Holdings, Inc.*      4,516  
  3,974      Select Energy Services, Inc.      36,720  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  13,590      TechnipFMC plc*    $ 165,662  
  4,086      TETRA Technologies, Inc.*      14,138  
  2,510      Tidewater, Inc.*      92,494  
  14,584      Transocean, Ltd.*      66,503  
  4,546      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      56,825  
  489      Valaris, Ltd.*      33,066  
  780      Weatherford International plc*      39,718  
     

 

 

 
        2,854,958  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.0%):       
  5,649      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      432,431  
  2,561      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*      22,178  
  2,633      Electronic Arts, Inc.      321,700  
  873      Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc.*      19,677  
  1,045      Imax Corp.*      15,320  
  247      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class A*      8,069  
  527      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class C*      16,985  
  619      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class A*      33,073  
  2,037      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      121,772  
  2,111      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class A*      12,054  
  2,411      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class B*      13,092  
  2,071      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      144,431  
  894      Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.*      40,203  
  369      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A      67,649  
  1,459      Marcus Corp.      20,995  
  2,368      Netflix, Inc.*      698,276  
  3,472      Playtika Holding Corp.*      29,547  
  1,419      Reading International, Inc., Class A*      3,931  
  598      ROBLOX Corp., Class A*      17,019  
  454      Roku, Inc.*      18,478  
  823      Spotify Technology SA*      64,976  
  1,891      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      196,910  
  11,584      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      1,006,418  
  26,487      Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*      251,097  
  1,420      Warner Music Group Corp.      49,728  
  1,208      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      82,772  
     

 

 

 
        3,708,781  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.6%):       
  1,374      Albertsons Cos., Inc., Class A      28,497  
  3,262      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      215,814  
  998      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      223,901  
  3,697      Costco Wholesale Corp.      1,687,680  
  650      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      18,973  
  613      Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A      59,130  
  15,716      Kroger Co. (The)      700,619  
  1,720      Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.      15,721  
  3,349      Performance Food Group Co.*      195,548  
  678      PriceSmart, Inc.      41,209  
  1,048      SpartanNash Co.      31,692  
  4,494      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      145,471  
  4,671      Sysco Corp.      357,098  
  1,610      The Andersons, Inc.      56,334  
  1,143      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      38,039  
  1,907      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      73,820  
  5,735      US Foods Holding Corp.*      195,105  
  738      Village Super Market, Inc., Class A      17,188  
  8,238      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      307,772  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  12,188      Walmart, Inc.    $ 1,728,136  
  857      Weis Markets, Inc.      70,523  
     

 

 

 
        6,208,270  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.5%):       
  3,905      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      362,579  
  2,035      B&G Foods, Inc.^      22,690  
  2,357      Bunge, Ltd.      235,158  
  270      Calavo Growers, Inc.      7,938  
  1,477      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      80,423  
  4,734      Campbell Soup Co.      268,655  
  5,882      Conagra Brands, Inc.      227,633  
  2,701      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      169,056  
  1,004      Farmer Brothers Co.*      4,628  
  5,664      Flowers Foods, Inc.      162,783  
  1,375      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      36,011  
  640      Freshpet, Inc.*      33,773  
  5,036      General Mills, Inc.      422,269  
  2,709      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      43,832  
  1,341      Hershey Co. (The)      310,535  
  4,488      Hormel Foods Corp.      204,428  
  3,521      Hostess Brands, Inc.*      79,011  
  1,610      Ingredion, Inc.      157,667  
  376      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      56,291  
  1,263      JM Smucker Co. (The)      200,135  
  300      John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.      24,396  
  5,023      Kellogg Co.      357,839  
  5,691      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      231,681  
  2,371      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      211,873  
  452      Lancaster Colony Corp.      89,180  
  1,028      Lifecore Biomedical, Inc.*      6,662  
  2,497      McCormick & Co.      206,976  
  778      McCormick & Co., Inc.      63,928  
  7,023      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      468,083  
  3,553      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      84,313  
  1,836      Post Holdings, Inc.*      165,717  
  29      Seaboard Corp.      109,481  
  266      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      16,213  
  2,245      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      85,377  
  900      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      38,313  
  1,535      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      75,798  
  4,120      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      256,470  
     

 

 

 
        5,577,795  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.2%):       
  1,298      Atmos Energy Corp.      145,467  
  273      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      32,263  
  2,171      National Fuel Gas Co.      137,424  
  2,685      New Jersey Resources Corp.      133,230  
  620      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      29,506  
  1,069      ONE Gas, Inc.      80,945  
  232      RGC Resources, Inc.      5,116  
  1,202      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      42,707  
  944      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      58,415  
  912      Spire, Inc.      62,800  
  4,064      UGI Corp.      150,652  
     

 

 

 
        878,525  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care (0.0%):       
  129      Omniab, Inc. — Vesting 12.5*(a)(b)    $  
  129      Omniab, Inc. — Vesting 15*(a)(b)       
     

 

 

 
         
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.4%):       
  12,151      Abbott Laboratories      1,334,058  
  2,269      Accuray, Inc.*      4,742  
  345      Align Technology, Inc.*      72,761  
  912      AngioDynamics, Inc.*      12,558  
  955      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      28,268  
  1,619      Artivion, Inc.*      19,622  
  707      AtriCure, Inc.*      31,377  
  36      Atrion Corp.      20,140  
  991      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      26,817  
  744      Axonics, Inc.*      46,522  
  5,209      Baxter International, Inc.      265,503  
  1,470      Becton Dickinson and Co.      373,821  
  7,829      Boston Scientific Corp.*      362,248  
  629      CONMED Corp.      55,755  
  507      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      167,650  
  3,956      Danaher Corp.      1,050,002  
  3,528      DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.      112,332  
  1,128      Dexcom, Inc.*      127,735  
  3,086      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      230,246  
  294      Embecta Corp.      7,435  
  1,056      Enovis Corp.*      56,517  
  2,838      Envista Holdings Corp.*      95,555  
  946      Glaukos Corp.*      41,321  
  1,691      Globus Medical, Inc.*      125,591  
  1,463      Haemonetics Corp.*      115,065  
  149      Heska Corp.*      9,262  
  4,985      Hologic, Inc.*      372,928  
  824      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      336,159  
  516      Inari Medical, Inc.*      32,797  
  433      Inogen, Inc.*      8,534  
  334      Insulet Corp.*      98,326  
  940      Integer Holdings Corp.*      64,352  
  1,679      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      94,142  
  1,403      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      372,286  
  1,705      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*      86,887  
  809      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      37,230  
  725      LENSAR, Inc.*      2,146  
  1,168      LivaNova plc*      64,871  
  509      Masimo Corp.*      75,307  
  6,947      Medtronic plc      539,921  
  1,464      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      48,619  
  1,136      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      80,224  
  4,126      Neogen Corp.*      62,839  
  598      Novocure, Ltd.*      43,863  
  1,066      NuVasive, Inc.*      43,962  
  2,205      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      10,628  
  566      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      11,620  
  466      Penumbra, Inc.*      103,666  
  696      QuidelOrtho Corp.*      59,626  
  955      ResMed, Inc.      198,764  
  624      SeaSpine Holdings Corp.*      5,210  
  176      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      36,187  
  685      STAAR Surgical Co.*      33,250  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  1,032      STERIS plc    $ 190,600  
  1,764      Stryker Corp.      431,280  
  110      Surgalign Holdings, Inc.*      216  
  406      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      18,250  
  531      Teleflex, Inc.      132,554  
  538      UFP Technologies, Inc.*      63,425  
  227      Utah Medical Products, Inc.      22,820  
  1,100      Varex Imaging Corp.*      22,330  
  684      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      160,979  
  2,179      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      277,823  
  217      Zimvie, Inc.*      2,027  
     

 

 

 
        9,039,551  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.2%):       
  2,284      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      188,019  
  343      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      34,125  
  1,127      Agiliti, Inc.*      18,381  
  4,366      agilon health, Inc.*      70,467  
  78      AlerisLife, Inc.*      43  
  757      Amedisys, Inc.*      63,240  
  1,881      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      311,700  
  1,394      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      143,331  
  1,245      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      36,840  
  9,264      Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.*      25,291  
  4,191      Cardinal Health, Inc.      322,162  
  4,279      Centene Corp.*      350,921  
  301      Chemed Corp.      153,639  
  3,378      Cigna Corp.      1,119,267  
  5,028      Community Health Systems, Inc.      21,721  
  318      CorVel Corp.*      46,215  
  1,177      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      31,273  
  13,839      CVS Health Corp.      1,289,656  
  1,553      DaVita, Inc.*      115,962  
  1,761      Elevance Health, Inc.      903,340  
  2,542      Encompass Health Corp.      152,037  
  1,271      Enhabit, Inc.*      16,726  
  1,085      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      102,652  
  571      Fulgent Genetics, Inc.*      17,004  
  1,772      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      425,209  
  786      HealthEquity, Inc.*      48,449  
  2,772      Henry Schein, Inc.*      221,400  
  975      Humana, Inc.      499,385  
  1,529      InfuSystem Holdings, Inc.*      13,272  
  1,274      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings      300,002  
  742      LHC Group, Inc.*      119,974  
  1,101      McKesson Corp.      413,007  
  564      ModivCare, Inc.*      50,608  
  835      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      275,734  
  575      National Healthcare Corp.      34,212  
  819      National Research Corp.      30,549  
  3,895      Oak Street Health, Inc.*      83,781  
  2,228      Option Care Health, Inc.*      67,041  
  2,072      Owens & Minor, Inc.*      40,466  
  3,095      Patterson Cos., Inc.      86,753  
  1,710      Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.*      25,411  
  629      Petiq, Inc.*      5,799  
  2,269      Premier, Inc., Class A      79,370  
  861      Progyny, Inc.*      26,820  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  1,621      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.    $ 253,589  
  4,626      R1 RCM, Inc.*      50,655  
  1,355      RadNet, Inc.*      25,515  
  2,778      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      68,978  
  585      Surgery Partners, Inc.*      16,298  
  2,695      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      131,489  
  792      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      8,696  
  207      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      16,773  
  5,855      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      3,104,204  
  1,705      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      240,217  
     

 

 

 
        12,297,668  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  1,109      Certara, Inc.*      17,822  
  339      Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.*      9,228  
  1,873      Evolent Health, Inc., Class A*      52,594  
  1,357      HealthStream, Inc.*      33,708  
  1,430      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      26,855  
  574      Omnicell, Inc.*      28,941  
  928      Schrodinger, Inc.*      17,344  
  394      Simulations Plus, Inc.      14,409  
  1,470      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      34,765  
  705      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      113,773  
  4,097      Veradigm, Inc.*      72,271  
     

 

 

 
        421,710  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.9%):       
  4,796      Aramark      198,267  
  6      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class A*      4,134  
  67      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class B*      9,300  
  492      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      12,979  
  1,554      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.      31,266  
  290      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      584,431  
  1,059      Boyd Gaming Corp.      57,747  
  970      Brinker International, Inc.*      30,953  
  1,468      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      61,069  
  9,118      Carnival Corp., Class A*      73,491  
  2,943      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.*      4,002  
  665      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)      21,087  
  202      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      280,273  
  767      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      86,395  
  611      Churchill Downs, Inc.      129,184  
  429      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      12,141  
  613      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.      58,076  
  1,913      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      264,625  
  1,410      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      49,970  
  1,239      Denny’s Corp.*      11,411  
  376      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      130,246  
  1,862      DraftKings, Inc.*      21,208  
  1,288      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.      12,829  
  757      Expedia Group, Inc.*      66,313  
  1,277      Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.*      9,386  
  741      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*      28,558  
  2,080      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      262,829  
  1,051      Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A*      95,063  
  323      Jack in the Box, Inc.      22,038  
  2,311      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      111,090  
  1,893      Light & Wonder, Inc., Class A*      110,930  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  2,491      Marriott International, Inc., Class A    $ 370,885  
  844      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      113,594  
  5,177      McDonald’s Corp.      1,364,295  
  4,916      MGM Resorts International      164,833  
  341      Nathans Famous, Inc.      22,919  
  5,162      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      63,183  
  671      Papa John’s International, Inc.      55,230  
  2,176      Penn Entertainment, Inc.*      64,627  
  1,693      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      133,408  
  3,664      Playa Hotels & Resorts NV*      23,926  
  763      Potbelly Corp.*      4,250  
  878      Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.*      4,899  
  2,251      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      111,267  
  748      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.      11,579  
  1,359      SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.*      72,720  
  1,371      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      31,876  
  8,104      Starbucks Corp.      803,917  
  1,701      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      154,706  
  1,976      Travel + Leisure Co.      71,926  
  359      Vail Resorts, Inc.      85,568  
  6,284      Wendy’s Co. (The)      142,207  
  548      Wingstop, Inc.      75,416  
  1,326      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      94,557  
  1,374      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      113,314  
  2,639      Yum! Brands, Inc.      338,003  
     

 

 

 
        7,344,396  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.9%):       
  906      Beazer Homes USA, Inc.*      11,561  
  183      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      41,404  
  858      Century Communities, Inc.      42,909  
  6,194      DR Horton, Inc.      552,133  
  730      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      19,287  
  431      Flexsteel Industries, Inc.      6,637  
  2,269      Garmin, Ltd.      209,406  
  2,761      GoPro, Inc., Class A*      13,750  
  1,329      Green Brick Partners, Inc.*      32,202  
  484      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      53,680  
  500      Hooker Furnishings Corp.      9,350  
  830      Installed Building Products, Inc.      71,048  
  596      iRobot Corp.*      28,685  
  2,155      KB Home      68,637  
  1,350      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      30,807  
  4,086      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      131,692  
  3,605      Lennar Corp., Class A      326,252  
  119      Lennar Corp., Class B      8,899  
  585      LGI Homes, Inc.*      54,171  
  1,017      Lifetime Brands, Inc.      7,719  
  1,420      M/I Homes, Inc.*      65,576  
  1,985      MDC Holdings, Inc.      62,726  
  1,004      Meritage Homes Corp.*      92,569  
  1,361      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      139,121  
  10,746      Newell Brands, Inc.      140,558  
  61      NVR, Inc.*      281,367  
  5,734      PulteGroup, Inc.      261,069  
  1,139      Skyline Champion Corp.*      58,670  
  1,307      Sonos, Inc.*      22,088  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  3,736      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*    $ 113,388  
  3,449      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      118,404  
  2,183      Toll Brothers, Inc.      108,975  
  935      TopBuild Corp.*      146,318  
  3,273      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      60,845  
  905      Tupperware Brands Corp.*      3,747  
  320      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      6,659  
  1,621      VOXX International Corp.*      13,584  
  1,418      Whirlpool Corp.      200,590  
     

 

 

 
        3,616,483  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.3%):       
  1,509      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      54,022  
  2,611      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      210,473  
  1,448      Clorox Co. (The)      203,198  
  7,616      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      600,065  
  1,114      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      37,375  
  3,022      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      410,236  
  333      Oil-Dri Corp. of America      11,169  
  20,457      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      3,100,463  
  1,828      Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.      54,803  
  945      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      57,569  
  218      WD-40 Co.      35,144  
     

 

 

 
        4,774,517  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.2%):  
  7,504      AES Corp. (The)      215,815  
  2,247      Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc      58,197  
  2,755      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      75,873  
  1,323      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class A      39,584  
  2,153      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class C      68,616  
  1,462      Ormat Technologies, Inc.      126,434  
  1,658      Sunnova Energy International, Inc.*      29,861  
  10,410      Vistra Corp.      241,512  
     

 

 

 
        855,892  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.6%):       
  5,550      3M Co.      665,556  
  5,892      General Electric Co.      493,690  
  5,049      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,082,001  
     

 

 

 
        2,241,247  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.1%):       
  5,023      Aflac, Inc.      361,355  
  2,929      Allstate Corp. (The)      397,172  
  1,297      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      22,620  
  2,911      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      132,800  
  1,778      American Financial Group, Inc.      244,084  
  10,575      American International Group, Inc.      668,763  
  745      Amerisafe, Inc.      38,718  
  1,659      Aon plc, Class A      497,932  
  4,926      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      309,254  
  560      Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.      14,476  
  1,225      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      230,961  
  1,280      Assurant, Inc.      160,077  
  2,047      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      127,446  
  2,351      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      127,354  
  2,603      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      133,456  
  3,292      Brown & Brown, Inc.      187,545  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  1,701      BRP Group, Inc.*    $ 42,763  
  3,095      Chubb, Ltd.      682,757  
  1,844      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      188,807  
  2,176      Citizens, Inc.*      4,635  
  1,199      CNA Financial Corp.      50,694  
  2,354      Crawford & Co.      12,500  
  895      Crawford & Co., Class A      4,976  
  1,631      Donegal Group, Inc., Class A      23,160  
  800      eHealth, Inc.*      3,872  
  781      Employers Holdings, Inc.      33,685  
  447      Enstar Group, Ltd.*      103,275  
  887      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      220,615  
  521      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      172,592  
  419      F&G Annuities & Life, Inc.*      8,384  
  6,172      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      232,191  
  3,103      First American Financial Corp.      162,411  
  14,957      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      79,123  
  695      Global Indemnity Group LLC, Class A      16,200  
  1,730      Globe Life, Inc.      208,551  
  318      Goosehead Insurance, Inc.*      10,920  
  2,383      Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.*      19,421  
  1,469      Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.*      858  
  1,039      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      140,400  
  4,507      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      341,766  
  397      HCI Group, Inc.      15,717  
  387      Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.      697  
  1,293      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      48,319  
  153      Investors Title Co.      22,575  
  868      James River Group Holdings      18,150  
  2,246      Kemper Corp.      110,503  
  381      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      99,639  
  2,749      Lincoln National Corp.      84,449  
  2,831      Loews Corp.      165,132  
  5,556      Maiden Holdings, Ltd.*      11,723  
  162      Markel Corp.*      213,433  
  3,891      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      643,883  
  1,688      Mercury General Corp.      57,730  
  3,926      MetLife, Inc.      284,125  
  162      National Western Life Group, Inc., Class A      45,522  
  8,176      Old Republic International Corp.      197,450  
  1,239      Primerica, Inc.      175,715  
  5,198      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      436,216  
  1,399      ProAssurance Corp.      24,441  
  2,824      Progressive Corp. (The)      366,301  
  2,865      Prudential Financial, Inc.      284,953  
  1,379      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      195,942  
  830      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      152,911  
  852      RLI Corp.      111,842  
  321      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      27,047  
  1,293      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      114,573  
  5,145      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      30,355  
  612      Stewart Information Services Corp.      26,151  
  1,767      Tiptree, Inc., Class A      24,455  
  2,979      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      558,533  
  367      Trupanion, Inc.*      17,444  
  728      United Fire Group, Inc.      19,918  
  383      United Insurance Holdings Co.      406  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  1,869      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.    $ 19,793  
  5,139      Unum Group      210,853  
  85      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      120,218  
  1,342      Willis Towers Watson plc      328,226  
  3,333      WR Berkley Corp.      241,876  
     

 

 

 
        11,925,785  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (2.9%):       
  47,160      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      4,160,927  
  43,631      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      3,871,379  
  2,130      Bumble, Inc.*      44,836  
  2,370      Cargurus, Inc.*      33,204  
  1,955      Cars.com, Inc.*      26,920  
  2,881      DHI Group, Inc.*      15,240  
  2,717      Match Group, Inc.*      112,728  
  21,951      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      2,641,583  
  2,021      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      49,070  
  1,563      QuinStreet, Inc.*      22,429  
  2,381      Snap, Inc., Class A*      21,310  
  1,344      Travelzoo*      5,981  
  2,514      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      45,202  
  2,857      TrueCar, Inc.*      7,171  
  1,590      Yelp, Inc.*      43,471  
  664      Zedge, Inc., Class B*      1,169  
  1,474      Ziff Davis, Inc.*      116,593  
  742      ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*      22,342  
     

 

 

 
        11,241,555  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.7%):       
  893      1-800-Flowers.com, Inc., Class A*      8,537  
  66,871      Amazon.com, Inc.*      5,617,164  
  690      Chewy, Inc., Class A*      25,585  
  9,183      eBay, Inc.      380,819  
  1,489      Etsy, Inc.*      178,352  
  1,642      Lands’ End, Inc.*      12,463  
  1,736      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      24,408  
  588      PetMed Express, Inc.      10,408  
  1,526      Quotient Technology, Inc.*      5,234  
  8,810      Qurate Retail, Inc., Class A*      14,360  
  649      Revolve Group, Inc.*      14,447  
  764      Shutterstock, Inc.      40,278  
     

 

 

 
        6,332,055  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (3.9%):       
  5,591      Accenture plc, Class A      1,491,902  
  2,020      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      170,286  
  2,873      Amdocs, Ltd.      261,156  
  3,866      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      923,433  
  2,534      Black Knight, Inc.*      156,474  
  918      Block, Inc.*      57,687  
  252      BM Technologies, Inc.*      1,313  
  1,974      Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.      74,341  
  1,570      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      210,584  
  687      Cass Information Systems, Inc.      31,478  
  3,743      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      214,062  
  1,091      Concentrix Corp.      145,278  
  6,347      Conduent, Inc.*      25,705  
  1,011      CSG Systems International, Inc.      57,829  
  6,526      DXC Technology Co.*      172,939  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  435      EPAM Systems, Inc.*    $ 142,567  
  1,164      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      109,858  
  2,060      Evertec, Inc.      66,703  
  762      ExlService Holdings, Inc.*      129,106  
  4,406      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      298,947  
  3,464      Fiserv, Inc.*      350,106  
  1,367      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      251,091  
  861      Gartner, Inc.*      289,417  
  3,911      Genpact, Ltd.      181,158  
  2,351      Global Payments, Inc.      233,501  
  1,673      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      125,174  
  1,357      Hackett Group, Inc. (The)      27,642  
  8,574      International Business Machines Corp.      1,207,991  
  840      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      147,470  
  2,484      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      27,622  
  2,160      Limelight Networks, Inc.*      2,441  
  1,456      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      34,129  
  7,941      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      2,761,324  
  1,540      Maximus, Inc.      112,928  
  262      MongoDB, Inc.*      51,572  
  1,032      Okta, Inc.*      70,517  
  2,489      Paychex, Inc.      287,629  
  5,186      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      369,347  
  728      Perficient, Inc.*      50,836  
  840      PFSweb, Inc.      5,166  
  279      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      40,048  
  1,655      SolarWinds Corp.*      15,491  
  1,168      Squarespace, Inc., Class A*      25,895  
  1,653      Teradata Corp.*      55,640  
  1,284      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      56,663  
  891      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      43,623  
  2,221      Unisys Corp.*      11,349  
  1,083      VeriSign, Inc.*      222,491  
  3,457      Verra Mobility Corp.*      47,810  
  12,683      Visa, Inc., Class A      2,635,020  
  6,143      Western Union Co. (The.)      84,589  
  975      WEX, Inc.*      159,559  
     

 

 

 
        14,726,887  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.3%):       
  2,057      Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.      108,075  
  1,798      Acushnet Holdings Corp.      76,343  
  895      American Outdoor Brands, Inc.*      8,968  
  2,521      Brunswick Corp.      181,714  
  658      Escalade, Inc.      6,699  
  1,625      Hasbro, Inc.      99,141  
  303      Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Class A      20,034  
  531      Malibu Boats, Inc.*      28,302  
  662      Marine Products Corp.      7,792  
  8,660      Mattel, Inc.*      154,494  
  995      Nautilus Group, Inc.*      1,522  
  1,582      Polaris, Inc.      159,782  
  1,410      Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.      12,239  
  1,535      Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.*      30,316  
  1,612      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      39,284  
  1,824      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      75,350  
     

 

 

 
        1,010,055  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.0%):       
  237      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*    $ 8,636  
  2,005      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      300,048  
  7,162      Avantor, Inc.*      151,046  
  599      Azenta, Inc.*      34,874  
  314      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      132,034  
  1,028      Bio-Techne Corp.      85,201  
  2,812      Bruker Corp.      192,200  
  647      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      140,981  
  1,979      Harvard Bioscience, Inc.*      5,482  
  663      Illumina, Inc.*      134,059  
  2,166      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      443,792  
  1,682      Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A*      24,069  
  518      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      110,028  
  246      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      355,581  
  1,400      Neogenomics, Inc.*      12,936  
  1,666      OmniAb, Inc.*      5,998  
  4,607      Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.*      37,685  
  1,490      PerkinElmer, Inc.      208,928  
  440      Repligen Corp.*      74,496  
  3,399      Sotera Health Co.*      28,314  
  2,322      Syneos Health, Inc.*      85,171  
  2,036      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,121,205  
  670      Waters Corp.*      229,529  
     

 

 

 
        3,922,293  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (2.9%):       
  2,107      AGCO Corp.      292,220  
  228      Alamo Group, Inc.      32,285  
  737      Albany International Corp., Class A      72,661  
  3,290      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      136,864  
  1,335      Altra Industrial Motion Corp.      79,766  
  656      Astec Industries, Inc.      26,673  
  1,591      Barnes Group, Inc.      64,992  
  837      Blue Bird Corp.*      8,964  
  4,645      Caterpillar, Inc.      1,112,756  
  904      Chart Industries, Inc.*      104,168  
  468      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      11,213  
  653      Columbus McKinnon Corp.      21,203  
  707      Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.*      4,815  
  1,452      Crane Holdings Co.      145,853  
  1,826      Cummins, Inc.      442,422  
  2,612      Deere & Co.      1,119,921  
  2,678      Donaldson Co., Inc.      157,654  
  471      Douglas Dynamics, Inc.      17,031  
  2,058      Dover Corp.      278,674  
  1,250      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.      31,812  
  453      EnPro Industries, Inc.      49,237  
  1,056      Esab Corp.      49,547  
  372      ESCO Technologies, Inc.      32,565  
  2,747      Evoqua Water Technologies Co.*      108,781  
  1,153      Federal Signal Corp.      53,580  
  3,181      Flowserve Corp.      97,593  
  3,638      Fortive Corp.      233,741  
  983      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      78,394  
  4,714      Gates Industrial Corp. plc*      53,787  
  889      Gencor Industries, Inc.*      8,979  
  606      Gorman-Rupp Co. (The)      15,526  
  2,532      Graco, Inc.      170,302  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  2,503      Harsco Corp.*    $ 15,744  
  650      Helios Technologies, Inc.      35,386  
  2,088      Hillenbrand, Inc.      89,095  
  490      Hurco Cos., Inc.      12,804  
  896      Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Class A      22,678  
  704      IDEX Corp.      160,744  
  2,868      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      631,820  
  4,169      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      217,830  
  1,926      ITT, Inc.      156,199  
  757      John Bean Technologies Corp.      69,137  
  286      Kadant, Inc.      50,802  
  2,377      Kennametal, Inc.      57,191  
  787      L.B. Foster Co., Class A*      7,618  
  1,490      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      215,290  
  221      Lindsay Corp.      35,990  
  1,213      Manitex International, Inc.*      4,852  
  2,529      Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)*      23,166  
  1,184      Middleby Corp. (The)*      158,538  
  1,706      Mueller Industries, Inc.      100,654  
  4,883      Mueller Water Products, Inc., Class A      52,541  
  1,258      NN, Inc.*      1,887  
  656      Nordson Corp.      155,944  
  158      Omega Flex, Inc.      14,745  
  1,389      Oshkosh Corp.      122,496  
  3,878      Otis Worldwide Corp.      303,686  
  4,207      PACCAR, Inc.      416,367  
  1,980      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      576,180  
  1,058      Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.      12,939  
  3,448      Pentair PLC      155,091  
  524      Proto Labs, Inc.*      13,378  
  440      RBC Bearings, Inc.*      92,114  
  3,787      REV Group, Inc.      47,792  
  612      Shyft Group, Inc. (The)      15,214  
  645      Snap-On, Inc.      147,376  
  1,232      SPX Technologies, Inc.*      80,881  
  340      Standex International Corp.      34,819  
  1,980      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      148,738  
  537      Tennant Co.      33,063  
  1,823      Terex Corp.      77,879  
  863      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      28,936  
  2,219      Timken Co.      156,817  
  3,046      Titan International, Inc.*      46,665  
  2,441      Toro Co. (The)      276,321  
  2,542      Trinity Industries, Inc.      75,167  
  1,510      Wabash National Corp.      34,126  
  615      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      89,931  
  2,471      Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.      246,630  
  1,534      Woodward, Inc.      148,200  
  1,831      Xylem, Inc.      202,454  
     

 

 

 
        10,987,894  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.1%):       
  3,979      Costamare, Inc.      36,925  
  239      Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc.      11,936  
  147      Eneti, Inc.      1,477  
  1,300      Genco Shipping & Trading, Ltd.      19,968  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Marine, continued       
  1,654      Kirby Corp.*    $ 106,435  
  1,541      Matson, Inc.      96,328  
     

 

 

 
        273,069  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.4%):       
  3,595      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      16,537  
  1,413      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*      22,142  
  133      Cable One, Inc.      94,677  
  1,402      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      475,418  
  62,524      Comcast Corp., Class A      2,186,464  
  2,952      comScore, Inc.*      3,424  
  367      DallasNews Corp.      1,409  
  4,832      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      67,841  
  2,931      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      38,660  
  4,792      Entravision Communications Corp., Class A      23,002  
  4,335      Fox Corp., Class A      131,654  
  3,199      Fox Corp., Class B      91,012  
  7,573      Gannett Co, Inc.*      15,373  
  2,788      Gray Television, Inc.      31,198  
  1,323      iHeartMedia, Inc., Class A*      8,110  
  7,980      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      265,814  
  864      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      34,612  
  192      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class B      7,490  
  334      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      25,334  
  1,855      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      141,481  
  1,489      Liberty Latin America, Ltd.*      11,212  
  5,752      Liberty Latin America, Ltd., Class C*      43,715  
  2,706      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      105,886  
  1,327      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      52,164  
  4,135      Magnite, Inc.*      43,790  
  131      Marchex, Inc., Class B*      206  
  3,530      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      114,584  
  7,458      News Corp., Class A      135,736  
  2,563      News Corp., Class B      47,262  
  1,296      Nexstar Media Group, Inc.      226,839  
  3,505      Omnicom Group, Inc.      285,903  
  7,704      Paramount Global, Class B      130,044  
  1,353      Scholastic Corp.      53,389  
  1,768      Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Class A      27,422  
  10,861      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      63,428  
  474      TechTarget, Inc.*      20,884  
  7,839      TEGNA, Inc.      166,108  
  445      ViacomCBS, Inc., Class A^      8,726  
  2,431      WideOpenWest, Inc.*      22,146  
     

 

 

 
        5,241,096  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.2%):       
  5,171      Alcoa Corp.      235,125  
  391      Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.      57,238  
  799      Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.*      2,005  
  3,002      Arconic Corp.*      63,522  
  759      Ascent Industries Co.*      6,580  
  2,866      ATI, Inc.*      85,579  
  1,138      Carpenter Technology Corp.      42,038  
  2,210      Century Aluminum Co.*      18,078  
  13,357      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      215,181  
  5,449      Coeur Mining, Inc.*      18,309  
  3,300      Commercial Metals Co.      159,390  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  702      Compass Minerals International, Inc.    $ 28,782  
  7,323      Ferroglobe plc*      28,193  
  841      Fortitude Gold Corp.      4,634  
  13,761      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      522,918  
  2,945      Gold Resource Corp.      4,506  
  943      Haynes International, Inc.      43,086  
  14,180      Hecla Mining Co.      78,841  
  151      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      11,470  
  643      Materion Corp.      56,269  
  1,230      McEwen Mining, Inc.*      7,208  
  1,807      MP Materials Corp.*      43,874  
  7,453      Newmont Corp.      351,782  
  6,510      Nucor Corp.      858,083  
  700      Olympic Steel, Inc.      23,506  
  1,339      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      271,067  
  1,422      Royal Gold, Inc.      160,288  
  1,500      Ryerson Holding Corp.      45,390  
  1,365      Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A      41,837  
  1,446      Southern Copper Corp.      87,324  
  4,978      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      486,351  
  3,673      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      31,698  
  2,052      TimkenSteel Corp.*      37,285  
  7,629      United States Steel Corp.      191,106  
  548      Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.*      3,929  
  1,489      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.      51,579  
  1,135      Worthington Industries, Inc.      56,421  
     

 

 

 
        4,430,472  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.6%):       
  1,406      Big Lots, Inc.      20,668  
  868      Dillard’s, Inc., Class A      280,538  
  1,938      Dollar General Corp.      477,233  
  3,862      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      546,241  
  4,069      Kohl’s Corp.      102,742  
  9,155      Macy’s, Inc.      189,051  
  1,842      Nordstrom, Inc.      29,730  
  1,737      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      81,361  
  4,481      Target Corp.      667,848  
     

 

 

 
        2,395,412  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.7%):       
  2,267      Ameren Corp.      201,582  
  1,406      Avista Corp.      62,342  
  1,134      Black Hills Corp.      79,765  
  5,705      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      171,093  
  2,837      CMS Energy Corp.      179,667  
  3,188      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      303,848  
  5,526      Dominion Energy, Inc.      338,854  
  1,902      DTE Energy Co.      223,542  
  4,331      NiSource, Inc.      118,756  
  993      NorthWestern Corp.      58,925  
  4,932      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      302,184  
  2,268      Sempra Energy      350,497  
  305      Unitil Corp.      15,665  
  3,038      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      284,843  
     

 

 

 
        2,691,563  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (5.6%):       
  332      Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.    $ 12,921  
  10,610      Antero Midstream Corp.      114,482  
  7,652      Antero Resources Corp.*      237,135  
  4,071      APA Corp.      190,034  
  432      Arch Resources, Inc.      61,685  
  1,988      Berry Corp.      15,904  
  990      California Resources Corp.      43,075  
  2,165      Callon Petroleum Co.*      80,300  
  1,961      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      294,072  
  1,711      Chesapeake Energy Corp.      161,467  
  14,345      Chevron Corp.      2,574,784  
  831      Chord Energy Corp.      113,689  
  1,149      Civitas Resources, Inc.      66,562  
  7,534      Clean Energy Fuel Corp.*      39,177  
  6,372      CNX Resources Corp.*      107,304  
  7,595      Comstock Resources, Inc.      104,127  
  14,126      ConocoPhillips      1,666,868  
  1,846      CONSOL Energy, Inc.      119,990  
  12,392      Coterra Energy, Inc.      304,471  
  2,225      CVR Energy, Inc.      69,731  
  2,204      Delek US Holdings, Inc.      59,508  
  823      Denbury, Inc.*      71,617  
  9,188      Devon Energy Corp.      565,154  
  5,705      DHT Holdings, Inc.      50,660  
  2,901      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      396,799  
  58      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      1,099  
  1,795      DT Midstream, Inc.      99,192  
  11,550      Enlink Midstream LLC      142,065  
  6,280      EOG Resources, Inc.      813,386  
  5,366      EQT Corp.      181,532  
  7,111      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      47,644  
  40,091      Exxon Mobil Corp.      4,422,037  
  1,014      Green Plains, Inc.*      30,927  
  180      Gulfport Energy Corp.*      13,255  
  2,885      Hess Corp.      409,151  
  4,760      HF Sinclair Corp.      246,996  
  1,180      International Seaways, Inc.      43,684  
  15,716      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      284,145  
  17,233      Kosmos Energy, Ltd.*      109,602  
  609      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      31,315  
  4,177      Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A      97,951  
  13,453      Marathon Oil Corp.      364,173  
  5,910      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      687,865  
  3,899      Matador Resources Co.      223,179  
  4,219      Murphy Oil Corp.      181,459  
  2,184      New Fortress Energy, Inc.      92,645  
  15,376      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      968,534  
  6,354      ONEOK, Inc.      417,458  
  4,281      Ovintiv, Inc.      217,090  
  2,936      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*      68,262  
  3,458      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A      141,017  
  3,014      PDC Energy, Inc.      191,329  
  4,173      Peabody Energy Corp.*      110,251  
  6,243      Permian Resources Corp.      58,684  
  3,609      Phillips 66      375,625  
  1,401      PHX Minerals, Inc.      5,450  
  1,962      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      448,101  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  6      PrimeEnergy Resources Corp.*    $ 521  
  4,715      Range Resources Corp.      117,969  
  787      Ranger Oil Corp.      31,818  
  1,122      REX American Resources Corp.*      35,747  
  1,682      Scorpio Tankers, Inc.      90,441  
  3,507      SFL Corp., Ltd.      32,335  
  1,508      Sitio Royalties Corp., Class A      43,506  
  4,141      SM Energy Co.      144,231  
  24,131      Southwestern Energy Co.*      141,166  
  3,310      Talos Energy, Inc.*      62,493  
  2,420      Targa Resources Corp.      177,870  
  6,407      Teekay Shipping Corp.*      29,088  
  1,031      Teekay Tankers, Ltd., Class A*      31,765  
  114      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      267,242  
  4,901      Valero Energy Corp.      621,741  
  8,922      Williams Cos., Inc.      293,534  
  1,790      World Fuel Services Corp.      48,921  
     

 

 

 
        21,217,007  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.1%):       
  545      Clearwater Paper Corp.*      20,606  
  2,520      Glatfelter Corp.      7,005  
  2,840      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      168,128  
  1,502      Mativ Holdings, Inc.      31,392  
  3,875      Mercer International, Inc.      45,105  
  2,344      Resolute Forest Products*      50,607  
  474      Sylvamo Corp.      23,032  
     

 

 

 
        345,875  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.2%):       
  2,327      BellRing Brands, Inc.*      59,664  
  12,350      Coty, Inc., Class A*      105,716  
  1,291      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      49,755  
  854      elf Beauty, Inc.*      47,226  
  1,689      Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A      419,058  
  2,298      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      34,194  
  594      Inter Parfums, Inc.      57,333  
  186      Medifast, Inc.      21,455  
  1,236      Natures Sunshine Products, Inc.*      10,284  
  1,116      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      47,051  
  340      United-Guardian, Inc.      3,536  
  645      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      34,314  
     

 

 

 
        889,586  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (3.9%):       
  2,003      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      56,124  
  900      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      36,207  
  885      Assembly Biosciences, Inc.*      1,150  
  19,268      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      1,386,333  
  2,125      Catalent, Inc.*      95,646  
  1,951      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*      39,625  
  1,468      Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      3,303  
  1,054      Cymabay Therapeutics, Inc.*      6,609  
  6,155      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      75,214  
  7,636      Eli Lilly & Co.      2,793,554  
  1,104      Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.*      60,830  
  2,007      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      228,397  
  3,292      Innoviva, Inc.*      43,619  
  1,338      Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*      70,807  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  1,190      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*    $ 189,579  
  20,755      Johnson & Johnson      3,666,371  
  20,164      Merck & Co., Inc.      2,237,196  
  3,567      Nektar Therapeutics*      8,061  
  4,552      Organon & Co.      127,137  
  567      Pacira BioSciences, Inc.*      21,892  
  3,223      Perrigo Co. plc      109,872  
  47,752      Pfizer, Inc.      2,446,812  
  793      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      10,634  
  1,580      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      98,908  
  4,082      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      161,321  
  1,789      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      63,814  
  923      Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.*      26,804  
  14,776      Viatris, Inc.      164,457  
  3,638      Zoetis, Inc.      533,149  
     

 

 

 
        14,763,425  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.9%):       
  1,184      ASGN, Inc.*      96,472  
  494      Barrett Business Services, Inc.      46,080  
  2,016      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      210,712  
  549      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      165,024  
  1,617      CBIZ, Inc.*      75,756  
  2,143      Clarivate plc*      17,873  
  3,570      CoStar Group, Inc.*      275,890  
  456      CRA International, Inc.      55,828  
  6,802      Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.      83,393  
  1,531      Equifax, Inc.      297,565  
  715      Exponent, Inc.      70,849  
  4,023      First Advantage Corp.*      52,299  
  825      Forrester Research, Inc.*      29,502  
  723      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      114,812  
  421      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      11,775  
  660      Huron Consulting Group, Inc.*      47,916  
  329      ICF International, Inc.      32,588  
  514      Insperity, Inc.      58,390  
  1,326      Jacobs Solutions, Inc.      159,213  
  2,458      KBR, Inc.      129,782  
  1,042      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      17,610  
  577      Kforce, Inc.      31,637  
  1,558      Korn Ferry      78,866  
  1,762      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      185,345  
  1,391      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      115,745  
  659      Mistras Group, Inc.*      3,249  
  2,125      Resources Connection, Inc.      39,058  
  2,809      Robert Half International, Inc.      207,389  
  1,573      Science Applications International Corp.      174,493  
  2,327      TransUnion      132,057  
  1,673      TriNet Group, Inc.*      113,429  
  1,029      TrueBlue, Inc.*      20,148  
  1,755      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      309,617  
  633      Willdan Group, Inc.*      11,299  
     

 

 

 
        3,471,661  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.3%):       
  4,164      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      320,461  
  2,451      Cushman & Wakefield plc*      30,539  
  1,549      Douglas Elliman, Inc.      6,304  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  1,163      eXp World Holdings, Inc.^    $ 12,886  
  279      Forestar Group, Inc.*      4,299  
  232      FRP Holdings, Inc.*      12,496  
  1,280      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      97,818  
  954      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      152,039  
  4,260      Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.      67,010  
  977      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.      33,658  
  5,729      Newmark Group, Inc.      45,660  
  997      Rafael Holdings, Inc., Class B*      1,864  
  910      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      16,962  
  3,814      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      24,372  
  681      Redfin Corp.*      2,887  
  1,447      Tejon Ranch Co.*      27,262  
  357      The RMR Group, Inc., Class A      10,085  
  1,857      The St Joe Co.      71,773  
  642      Zillow Group, Inc., Class A*      20,037  
  1,617      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      52,084  
     

 

 

 
        1,010,496  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.3%):       
  757      ArcBest Corp.      53,020  
  478      Avis Budget Group, Inc.*      78,359  
  419      Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.      14,485  
  19,368      CSX Corp.      600,021  
  1,925      Heartland Express, Inc.      29,529  
  5,339      Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.*      82,167  
  1,793      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      312,627  
  4,311      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      225,939  
  896      Landstar System, Inc.      145,958  
  3,089      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      34,041  
  2,410      Marten Transport, Ltd.      47,670  
  2,089      Norfolk Southern Corp.      514,771  
  1,374      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      389,914  
  1,600      PAM Transportation Services, Inc.      41,440  
  2,834      RXO, Inc.*      48,745  
  1,902      Ryder System, Inc.      158,950  
  576      Saia, Inc.*      120,776  
  2,500      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      58,500  
  6,290      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      155,552  
  3,114      U-Haul Holding Co., Class B      171,208  
  346      U-Haul Holding Co.      20,826  
  7,472      Union Pacific Corp.      1,547,227  
  586      Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.      19,596  
  2,378      Werner Enterprises, Inc.      95,738  
  1,829      Yellow Corp.*      4,591  
     

 

 

 
        4,971,650  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (4.2%):       
  8,524      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      552,100  
  1,120      Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.*      31,998  
  630      Ambarella, Inc.*      51,805  
  8,710      Amkor Technology, Inc.      208,866  
  2,799      Analog Devices, Inc.      459,120  
  8,071      Applied Materials, Inc.      785,954  
  608      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      48,251  
  1,701      AXT, Inc.*      7,450  
  4,413      Broadcom, Inc.      2,467,441  
  437      CEVA, Inc.*      11,179  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  1,136      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*    $ 84,609  
  2,261      Cohu, Inc.*      72,465  
  1,027      Diodes, Inc.*      78,196  
  1,101      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      291,721  
  1,826      Entegris, Inc.      119,767  
  2,177      First Solar, Inc.*      326,093  
  1,662      FormFactor, Inc.*      36,946  
  1,314      GSI Technology, Inc.*      2,273  
  948      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*      25,425  
  32,454      Intel Corp.      857,759  
  1,375      KLA Corp.      518,416  
  1,562      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      69,134  
  1,575      Lam Research Corp.      661,973  
  1,316      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      85,382  
  876      MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      55,171  
  4,801      Marvell Technology, Inc.      177,829  
  1,132      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      38,431  
  5,484      Microchip Technology, Inc.      385,251  
  12,756      Micron Technology, Inc.      637,545  
  1,033      MKS Instruments, Inc.      87,526  
  242      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      85,574  
  150      NVE Corp.      9,713  
  10,024      NVIDIA Corp.      1,464,907  
  1,498      NXP Semiconductors NV      236,729  
  6,782      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      422,993  
  1,334      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      90,832  
  1,438      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      41,012  
  2,358      Photronics, Inc.*      39,685  
  1,116      Power Integrations, Inc.      80,040  
  1,567      Qorvo, Inc.*      142,033  
  12,060      Qualcomm, Inc.      1,325,876  
  2,888      Rambus, Inc.*      103,448  
  1,305      Semtech Corp.*      37,441  
  867      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      117,626  
  2,322      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      211,604  
  1,050      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      15,624  
  267      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      75,633  
  834      Synaptics, Inc.*      79,363  
  2,449      Teradyne, Inc.      213,920  
  10,811      Texas Instruments, Inc.      1,786,193  
  1,251      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      41,471  
  885      Universal Display Corp.      95,615  
  1,442      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      26,792  
  1,114      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      76,911  
     

 

 

 
        16,057,111  
     

 

 

 
Software (6.0%):       
  3,453      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      79,419  
  4,656      Adeia, Inc.      44,139  
  3,583      Adobe, Inc.*      1,205,787  
  695      Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.*      34,389  
  583      Altair Engineering, Inc.*      26,509  
  1,009      American Software, Inc., Class A      14,812  
  734      ANSYS, Inc.*      177,327  
  591      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      121,391  
  312      Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A*      40,148  
  1,957      Autodesk, Inc.*      365,705  
  2,272      Aware, Inc.*      3,885  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  1,257      Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B    $ 46,459  
  691      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      75,291  
  1,196      Blackbaud, Inc.*      70,397  
  2,029      Box, Inc.*      63,163  
  1,838      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      295,256  
  820      Cerence, Inc.*      15,195  
  1,198      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      76,852  
  519      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      23,464  
  1,830      Cognyte Software, Ltd.*      5,691  
  505      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      31,734  
  491      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      26,396  
  487      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      51,276  
  638      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      46,893  
  513      DocuSign, Inc.*      28,430  
  2,137      DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc.*      46,928  
  5,645      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      126,335  
  1,675      Duck Creek Technologies, Inc.*      20,184  
  1,822      Dynatrace, Inc.*      69,783  
  1,380      Ebix, Inc.      27,545  
  990      Envestnet, Inc.*      61,083  
  429      Everbridge, Inc.*      12,690  
  237      Fair Isaac Corp.*      141,863  
  5,286      Fortinet, Inc.*      258,433  
  5,406      Gen Digital, Inc.      115,851  
  485      Globant SA*      81,558  
  1,145      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      71,631  
  179      HubSpot, Inc.*      51,754  
  1,326      Intuit, Inc.      516,106  
  1,266      Jamf Holding Corp.*      26,966  
  857      JFrog, Ltd.*      18,280  
  811      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      98,455  
  59,208      Microsoft Corp.      14,199,263  
  1,654      N-Able, Inc.*      17,003  
  879      OneSpan, Inc.*      9,836  
  11,328      Oracle Corp.      925,951  
  7,336      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      47,097  
  768      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      107,167  
  513      Paycom Software, Inc.*      159,189  
  443      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      86,057  
  380      Procore Technologies, Inc.*      17,928  
  947      Progress Software Corp.      47,776  
  1,146      PTC, Inc.*      137,566  
  389      Q2 Holdings, Inc.*      10,452  
  894      Qualys, Inc.*      100,334  
  584      Roper Technologies, Inc.      252,341  
  5,162      Salesforce, Inc.*      684,430  
  1,200      Sapiens International Corp. NV      22,176  
  512      ServiceNow, Inc.*      198,794  
  710      Splunk, Inc.*      61,124  
  347      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      44,565  
  3,224      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      167,841  
  2,279      Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.*      1,409  
  704      Synopsys, Inc.*      224,780  
  1,923      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      86,208  
  328      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      105,750  
  537      Unity Software, Inc.*      15,353  
  1,022      Verint Systems, Inc.*      37,078  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  1,567      VMware, Inc., Class A*    $ 192,365  
  758      Workday, Inc., Class A*      126,836  
  1,862      Xperi, Inc.*      16,032  
  185      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      12,532  
  566      Zscaler, Inc.*      63,335  
     

 

 

 
        22,894,021  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.7%):       
  1,093      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      13,061  
  2,382      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      54,572  
  1,111      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      163,350  
  5,007      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      69,898  
  200      America’s Car-Mart, Inc.*      14,452  
  793      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      142,145  
  1,750      AutoNation, Inc.*      187,775  
  147      AutoZone, Inc.*      362,528  
  3,164      Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.*      5,537  
  1,784      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      75,178  
  4,465      Best Buy Co., Inc.      358,138  
  1,657      Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.^      14,631  
  841      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      52,579  
  583      Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.*      13,899  
  760      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      154,098  
  2,280      Caleres, Inc.      50,798  
  2,165      CarMax, Inc.*      131,827  
  1,987      Cato Corp., Class A      18,539  
  7,822      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      38,484  
  566      Citi Trends, Inc.*      14,988  
  1,572      Conn’s, Inc.*      10,815  
  3,425      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A      33,496  
  2,039      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      245,271  
  1,082      Five Below, Inc.*      191,373  
  2,136      Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A*      148,730  
  3,374      Foot Locker, Inc.      127,503  
  8,563      Gap, Inc. (The)      96,591  
  435      Genesco, Inc.*      20,019  
  630      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      113,633  
  2,846      Guess?, Inc.      58,884  
  583      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      17,432  
  499      Hibbett, Inc.      34,042  
  7,794      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      2,461,813  
  2,840      Leslie’s, Inc.*      34,676  
  717      Lithia Motors, Inc.      146,799  
  4,558      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      908,136  
  527      MarineMax, Inc.*      16,453  
  751      Monro, Inc.      33,945  
  542      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      151,511  
  1,200      National Vision Holdings, Inc.*      46,512  
  1,542      ODP Corp. (The)*      70,223  
  465      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      392,474  
  1,891      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      217,333  
  1,792      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      40,410  
  426      RH*      113,823  
  4,509      Ross Stores, Inc.      523,360  
  1,832      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      22,937  
  1,200      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      28,692  
  1,393      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      94,724  
  472      Sleep Number Corp.*      12,262  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  844      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A    $ 41,584  
  1,606      Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc.*      15,112  
  1,722      The Buckle, Inc.      78,093  
  501      The Children’s Place, Inc.*      18,246  
  854      Tilly’s, Inc.*      7,729  
  10,789      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      858,804  
  1,642      Tractor Supply Co.      369,401  
  732      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      343,359  
  2,187      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*      52,160  
  594      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      21,253  
  1,604      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      184,332  
  75      Winmark Corp.      17,687  
  729      Zumiez, Inc.*      15,848  
     

 

 

 
        10,373,957  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (4.8%):       
  2,378      3D Systems Corp.*      17,597  
  128,869      Apple, Inc.      16,743,949  
  728      AstroNova, Inc.*      9,333  
  1,682      Avid Technology, Inc.*      44,724  
  2,303      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      92,627  
  15,707      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      250,684  
  9,669      HP, Inc.      259,806  
  4,627      NCR Corp.*      108,318  
  2,576      NetApp, Inc.      154,715  
  4,094      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      109,555  
  2,694      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      141,731  
  1,794      Stratasys, Ltd.*      21,277  
  401      Super Micro Computer, Inc.*      32,922  
  4,585      Western Digital Corp.*      144,657  
  4,758      Xerox Holdings Corp.      69,467  
     

 

 

 
        18,201,362  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.8%):       
  3,367      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*      192,996  
  1,250      Carter’s, Inc.      93,262  
  1,677      Columbia Sportswear Co.      146,872  
  810      Culp, Inc.      3,718  
  624      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      249,076  
  1,494      Fossil Group, Inc.*      6,439  
  2,480      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      34,001  
  9,857      Hanesbrands, Inc.      62,691  
  1,206      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      48,228  
  1,887      Levi Strauss & Co.      29,286  
  898      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      287,701  
  1,088      Movado Group, Inc.      35,088  
  9,552      NIKE, Inc., Class B      1,117,680  
  405      Oxford Industries, Inc.      37,738  
  1,441      PVH Corp.      101,720  
  1,225      Ralph Lauren Corp.      129,446  
  570      Rocky Brands, Inc.      13,463  
  3,202      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      134,324  
  1,560      Steven Madden, Ltd.      49,858  
  700      Superior Group of Cos., Inc.      7,042  
  6,144      Tapestry, Inc.      233,964  
  3,369      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      34,229  
  3,746      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      33,414  
  1,027      Unifi, Inc.*      8,842  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued       
  802      Vera Bradley, Inc.*    $ 3,633  
  4,292      VF Corp.      118,502  
  1,153      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      12,602  
     

 

 

 
        3,225,815  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.5%):       
  1,866      Axos Financial, Inc.*      71,318  
  1,591      BankFinancial Corp.      16,753  
  3,362      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      29,081  
  2,223      Columbia Financial, Inc.*      48,061  
  855      ESSA Bancorp, Inc.      17,844  
  3,469      Essent Group, Ltd.      134,875  
  403      Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp.      45,422  
  408      First Capital, Inc.      10,159  
  8      Greene County Bancorp, Inc.      459  
  62      Hingham Institution for Savings (The)      17,109  
  628      HomeStreet, Inc.      17,320  
  413      IF Bancorp, Inc.      7,116  
  2,442      Kearny Financial Corp.      24,786  
  1,249      Kentucky First Federal Bancorp      8,468  
  750      Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc.      9,056  
  194      LendingTree, Inc.*      4,138  
  10,413      MGIC Investment Corp.      135,369  
  2,681      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      107,589  
  19,583      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      168,414  
  2,461      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      51,435  
  1,501      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      23,611  
  3,456      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      48,315  
  1,932      Oceanfirst Financial Corp.      41,055  
  503      Oconee Federal Financial Corp.      11,222  
  465      Ocwen Financial Corp.*      14,220  
  1,240      Pathward Financial, Inc.      53,382  
  1,203      PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.      68,162  
  1,369      Premier Financial Corp.      36,922  
  679      Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.      9,350  
  2,256      Provident Financial Services, Inc.      48,188  
  5,556      Radian Group, Inc.      105,953  
  420      Riverview Bancorp, Inc.      3,226  
  4,694      Rocket Cos., Inc., Class A^      32,858  
  561      Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.      25,711  
  1,764      Sterling Bancorp, Inc.*      10,743  
  733      Territorial Bancorp, Inc.      17,599  
  4,281      TFS Financial Corp.      61,689  
  559      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      21,013  
  1,074      Walker & Dunlop, Inc.      84,288  
  2,436      Washington Federal, Inc.      81,728  
  728      Waterstone Financial, Inc.      12,551  
  1,498      Western New England BanCorp, Inc.      14,171  
  1,909      WSFS Financial Corp.      86,554  
     

 

 

 
        1,837,283  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.4%):       
  12,442      Altria Group, Inc.      568,724  
  10,451      Philip Morris International, Inc.      1,057,746  
  518      Universal Corp.      27,355  
  3,098      Vector Group, Ltd.      36,742  
     

 

 

 
        1,690,567  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.9%):       
  3,334      Air Lease Corp.    $ 128,092  
  948      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.      119,476  
  2,106      Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.*      111,176  
  1,071      Boise Cascade Co.      73,546  
  891      Core & Main, Inc., Class A*      17,205  
  644      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      17,742  
  7,240      Fastenal Co.      342,597  
  876      GATX Corp.      93,154  
  977      Global Industrial Co.      22,989  
  1,243      GMS, Inc.*      61,901  
  1,047      H&E Equipment Services, Inc.      47,534  
  958      Herc Holdings, Inc.      126,044  
  870      Kaman Corp., Class A      19,401  
  730      McGrath Rentcorp      72,080  
  2,381      MRC Global, Inc.*      27,572  
  1,149      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      93,873  
  3,189      NOW, Inc.*      40,500  
  1,547      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class A      80,877  
  365      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class B      20,539  
  1,003      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      117,672  
  1,757      Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.      54,485  
  651      Titan Machinery, Inc.*      25,864  
  173      Transcat, Inc.*      12,261  
  2,472      Triton International, Ltd.      170,024  
  1,712      United Rentals, Inc.*      608,479  
  3,997      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      127,105  
  550      Veritiv Corp.      66,940  
  650      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      361,562  
  662      Watsco, Inc.      165,103  
  84      Watsco, Inc., Class B      20,656  
  1,396      WESCO International, Inc.*      174,779  
     

 

 

 
        3,421,228  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.2%):       
  830      American States Water Co.      76,816  
  1,750      American Water Works Co., Inc.      266,735  
  491      Artesian Resources Corp.      28,763  
  1,107      California Water Service Group      67,128  
  2,315      Essential Utilities, Inc.      110,495  
  355      Middlesex Water Co.      27,928  
  669      Pure Cycle Corp.*      7,011  
  498      SJW Group      40,433  
  372      York Water Co. (The)      16,733  
     

 

 

 
        642,042  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  2,565      Gogo, Inc.*    $ 37,860  
  1,333      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      21,168  
  1,649      Spok Holdings, Inc.      13,505  
  2,954      Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.      30,988  
  4,659      T-Mobile US, Inc.*      652,260  
  1,151      United States Cellular Corp.*      23,998  
     

 

 

 
        779,779  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $242,382,721)

     379,984,000  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stock (0.0%):       
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.0%):       
  1,076      WESCO International, Inc., Series A      28,213  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $28,514)

     28,213  
  

 

 

 
Rights (0.0%):       
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  3,743      Achillion Pharm CVR, Expires on 1/29/49*      5,352  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  1,297      Zogenix, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/1/25*      882  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):       
  278      ABIOMED, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/2/26*      284  
     

 

 

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

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.0%):       
  79      Communications Systems I CVR, Expires on 1/1/29*      349  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $173)

     7,040  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.1%):  
  327,869      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(c)(d)      327,869  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $327,869)

     327,869  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.4%):       
Money Markets (0.4%):       
  1,663,613      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(d)      1,663,613  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $1,663,613)

     1,663,613  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $244,402,890) — 100.1%(e)

     382,010,735  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.1)%

     (475,160
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 381,535,575  
     

 

 

 
 

CVR—Contingency Valued Rights

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $318,918.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(b)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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.

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 244,402,890
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 382,010,735

Interest and dividends receivable

      321,445

Receivable for investments sold

      2,295

Reclaims receivable

      3,108

Prepaid expenses

      36
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      382,337,619
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      8,954

Payable for investments purchased

      198,212

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      327,869

Management fees payable

      158,694

Administration fees payable

      9,760

Distribution fees payable

      82,653

Custodian fees payable

      1,803

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,057

Transfer agent fees payable

      856

Trustee fees payable

      2,640

Other accrued liabilities

      9,546
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      802,044
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 381,535,575
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 216,062,269

Total distributable earnings

      165,473,306
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 381,535,575
   

 

 

 

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

      31,098,016

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.27
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $318,918.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 6,937,310

Income from securities lending

      8,115

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,913 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      6,943,512
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      3,373,972

Administration fees

      80,840

Distribution fees

      1,054,364

Custodian fees

      11,020

Administrative and compliance services fees

      5,939

Transfer agent fees

      6,321

Trustee fees

      23,730

Professional fees

      18,516

Shareholder reports

      5,745

Other expenses

      11,522
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      4,591,969

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (1,155,085 )
   

 

 

 

Net Expenses

      3,436,884
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      3,506,628
   

 

 

 

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

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      25,326,678

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      (102,596,252 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (77,269,574 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (73,762,946 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 3,506,628     $ 3,094,263

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      25,326,678       52,255,025

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (102,596,252 )       62,514,091
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (73,762,946 )       117,863,379
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (54,549,277 )       (42,256,910 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (54,549,277 )       (42,256,910 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      457,485       38,872,269

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      54,549,277       42,256,910

Value of shares redeemed

      (49,090,021 )       (131,585,201 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      5,916,741       (50,456,022 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (122,395,482 )       25,150,447

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      503,931,057       478,780,610
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 381,535,575     $ 503,931,057
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      29,682       2,341,451

Dividends reinvested

      4,572,446       2,693,238

Shares redeemed

      (3,307,401 )       (7,999,959 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,294,727       (2,965,270 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 16.91     $ 14.61     $ 13.53     $ 11.32     $ 12.76
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

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

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.78 )       3.76       2.13       3.08       (1.06 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.66 )       3.87       2.25       3.21       (0.90 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.11 )       (0.16 )       (0.16 )       (0.15 )       (0.15 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.87 )       (1.41 )       (1.01 )       (0.85 )       (0.39 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.98 )       (1.57 )       (1.17 )       (1.00 )       (0.54 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.27     $ 16.91     $ 14.61     $ 13.53     $ 11.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (15.38 )%       27.31 %       17.70 %       29.36 %       (7.52 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 381,536     $ 503,931     $ 478,781     $ 496,318     $ 463,537

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.83 %       0.64 %       0.95 %       1.03 %       1.00 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.09 %       1.10 %       1.11 %       1.10 %       1.10 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.82 %       0.84 %       0.85 %       0.84 %       0.84 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      4 %       9 %       11 %       4 %       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.

 

26


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 period, 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.

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.

 

27


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $828 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $327,869 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 %

 

*

Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.48% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. Prior to October 1, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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.”

 

28


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 379,958,557        $ 25,443        $ #        $ 379,984,000

Preferred Stock+

         28,213                            28,213

Rights+

                  7,040                   7,040

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         327,869                            327,869

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         1,663,613                            1,663,613
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $   381,978,252        $   32,483        $   —        $   382,010,735
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 16,692,043        $ 60,453,417

 

29


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022- 06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $245,467,293. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 160,926,950  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (24,383,508
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 136,543,442  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

       $ 3,360,438        $ 51,188,839        $ 54,549,277

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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        $ 3,609,757        $ 25,320,107        $        $ 136,543,442        $ 165,473,306

 

(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 other miscellaneous differences.

 

30


AZL DFA U.S. Core Equity Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, 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 this 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.

 

31


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

32


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $320,175.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $51,188,839.

 

33


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.

 

34


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

35


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

36


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

37


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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.

 

38


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.

 

39


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

During the 12-month period, the AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund returned (12.91)% (net of fees). That compares to a total return of (20.44)% for the Russell 2000 Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark.1

Investor worries over high inflation, the war in Ukraine, and rising interest rates pressured equity markets in 2022. As a result, the S&P 500 Index2 posted its fourth worst annual return of the last 85 years. The year also ranks as one of the most volatile on record. Realized volatility, as measured by the standard deviation3 of daily returns for the S&P 500 Index, was the eighth highest in the last 85 years. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates seven times during 2022, leaving the federal funds rate target at between 4.25% and 4.5% by the end of the year.

The U.S. market’s performance during the period trailed developed non-U.S. markets, but outperformed emerging markets. Small-cap stocks underperformed large-cap stocks. In the small-cap universe, value stocks outperformed growth stocks. Stocks with higher profitability outperformed stocks with lower profitability.

The Fund’s outperformance relative to its benchmark was primarily driven by the Fund’s exclusion of stocks with the lowest profitability and highest relative prices, as well as

stocks with high asset growth, as stocks in these categories underperformed during the period. The Fund’s underweight to real estate investment trusts (REITs) also contributed to its 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, 2022.

 

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 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.

 

3 

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® 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, 2022
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

     Since
Inception
(4/27/15)

AZL® DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

         (12.91 )%          8.59 %          6.26 %          7.36 %

Russell 2000® Index

         (20.44 )%          3.10 %          4.13 %          5.96 %

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

         1.17 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.67% through at least April 30, 2024. Prior to October 1, 2022, the Manager waived the management fee to 0.70%. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,064.50     $ 5.20       1.00 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09       1.00 %

 

*

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

      21.0 %

Industrials

      19.7

Consumer Discretionary

      12.3

Information Technology

      11.2

Health Care

      11.0

Materials

      6.9

Energy

      6.6

Consumer Staples

      4.4

Utilities

      3.8

Communication Services

      2.4

Real Estate

      0.7
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

       100.0  
   

Rights

        
   

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

        
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

 

3


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.9%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.5%):       
  2,230      AAR Corp.*    $ 100,127  
  5,037      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.*      281,719  
  1,618      AeroVironment, Inc.*      138,598  
  2,615      Astronics Corp.*      26,935  
  392      Astronics Corp., Class B*      3,900  
  4,668      BWX Technologies, Inc.      271,117  
  763      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      127,413  
  766      Ducommun, Inc.*      38,269  
  2,314      Hexcel Corp.      136,179  
  3,376      Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.      27,751  
  6,280      Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.*      64,810  
  1,825      Maxar Technologies, Inc.      94,426  
  1,336      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      59,773  
  1,513      Moog, Inc., Class A      132,781  
  516      National Presto Industries, Inc.      35,325  
  2,564      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      34,383  
  2,014      Parsons Corp.*      93,148  
  759      V2X, Inc.*      31,339  
     

 

 

 
        1,697,993  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.5%):       
  738      Air T, Inc.      18,516  
  4,705      Air Transport Services Group, Inc.*      122,236  
  743      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      74,894  
  1,567      Forward Air Corp.      164,363  
  242      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      10,331  
  1,957      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      155,562  
  5,212      Radiant Logistics, Inc.*      26,529  
  774      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      25,767  
     

 

 

 
        598,198  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.6%):       
  7,402      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      317,842  
  1,401      Allegiant Travel Co.*      95,254  
  899      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      74,770  
  3,192      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      32,750  
  12,473      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      80,825  
  2,017      SkyWest, Inc.*      33,300  
  4,325      Spirit Airlines, Inc.      84,251  
     

 

 

 
        718,992  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.3%):       
  4,444      Adient plc*      154,162  
  4,351      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      34,025  
  151      Autoliv, Inc.      11,564  
  2,031      Cooper-Standard Holdings, Inc.*      18,401  
  7,251      Dana, Inc.      109,708  
  1,611      Dorman Products, Inc.      130,281  
  2,028      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      185,014  
  570      Gentex Corp.      15,544  
  1,825      Gentherm, Inc.*      119,154  
  14,426      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      146,424  
  1,306      LCI Industries      120,740  
  4,052      Modine Manufacturing Co.*      80,473  
  1,911      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      22,664  
  928      Patrick Industries, Inc.      56,237  
  1,385      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      48,198  
  1,639      Stoneridge, Inc.*      35,337  
  1,448      Visteon Corp.*      189,442  
     

 

 

 
        1,477,368  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Automobiles (0.3%):       
  3,785      Harley-Davidson, Inc.    $ 157,456  
  1,361      Thor Industries, Inc.      102,742  
  1,823      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      96,072  
     

 

 

 
        356,270  
     

 

 

 
Banks (12.2%):       
  1,184      1st Source Corp.      62,859  
  410      ACNB Corp.      16,322  
  600      Amalgamated Financial Corp.      13,824  
  846      Amerant Bancorp, Inc.      22,707  
  939      American National Bankshares, Inc.      34,677  
  4,600      Ameris Bancorp      216,844  
  1,149      Ames National Corp.      27,128  
  1,010      Arrow Financial Corp.      34,239  
  10,675      Associated Banc-Corp.      246,486  
  4,365      Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.      153,386  
  13      Auburn National Bancorp, Inc.      301  
  3,921      Banc of California, Inc.      62,462  
  2,202      BancFirst Corp.      194,172  
  3,525      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      100,039  
  2,473      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      191,806  
  1,191      Bank of Marin Bancorp      39,160  
  2,482      Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd. (The)      73,988  
  485      Bank of South Carolina Corp.      7,954  
  7,494      Bank OZK      300,210  
  4,416      BankUnited, Inc.      150,011  
  2,207      Banner Corp.      139,482  
  872      Bar Harbor Bankshares      27,939  
  1,217      Baycom Corp.      23,099  
  595      BCB Bancorp, Inc.      10,704  
  2,938      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      87,846  
  2,138      BOK Financial Corp.      221,903  
  3,537      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      50,049  
  667      Business First Bancshares, Inc.      14,767  
  2,546      Byline BanCorp, Inc.      58,482  
  227      C&F Financial Corp.      13,227  
  10,228      Cadence Bank      252,222  
  436      Cambridge Bancorp      36,214  
  1,059      Camden National Corp.      44,150  
  1,471      Capital City Bank Group, Inc.      47,807  
  700      Capstar Financial Holdings, Inc.      12,362  
  3,988      Cathay General Bancorp      162,670  
  1,822      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      36,950  
  1,141      Central Valley Community Bancorp      24,166  
  668      Chemung Financial Corp.      30,641  
  1,509      Citizens & Northern Corp.      34,496  
  718      Citizens Holding Co.      9,837  
  798      City Holding Co.      74,286  
  822      Civista Bancshares, Inc.      18,092  
  1,205      CNB Financial Corp.      28,667  
  271      Coastal Financial Corp.*      12,878  
  85      Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.      2,023  
  56      Colony Bankcorp, Inc.      711  
  4,190      Columbia Banking System, Inc.      126,245  
  2,562      Community Bank System, Inc.      161,278  
  1,343      Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.      61,684  
  525      Community West Bancshares      7,859  
  2,115      ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.      51,204  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  2,253      CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc.*    $ 27,960  
  2,120      Customers Bancorp, Inc.*      60,081  
  6,743      CVB Financial Corp.      173,632  
  2,220      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      70,663  
  609      Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc.      9,841  
  1,599      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      70,468  
  2,687      Eastern Bankshares, Inc.      46,351  
  2,149      Enterprise Financial Services Corp.      105,215  
  924      Equity Bancshares, Inc.      30,187  
  534      Evans Bancorp, Inc.      19,966  
  16,632      F.N.B. Corp.      217,048  
  2,582      Farmers National Banc Corp.      36,458  
  2,391      FB Financial Corp.      86,411  
  1,248      Financial Institutions, Inc.      30,401  
  10,810      First BanCorp      137,503  
  1,106      First Bancorp, Inc. (The)      33,114  
  1,761      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      75,441  
  1,053      First Bancshares, Inc. (The)      33,707  
  2,776      First Busey Corp.      68,623  
  940      First Business Financial Services, Inc.      34,357  
  4,622      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      64,569  
  1,099      First Community Bankshares      37,256  
  4,894      First Financial Bancorp      118,582  
  2,655      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      91,332  
  812      First Financial Corp.      37,417  
  1,717      First Financial Northwest, Inc.      25,721  
  2,543      First Foundation, Inc.      36,441  
  6,483      First Hawaiian, Inc.      168,817  
  402      First Internet BanCorp      9,761  
  4,476      First Interstate BancSystem, Inc., Class A      172,997  
  2,751      First Merchants Corp.      113,094  
  720      First Mid Bancshares, Inc.      23,098  
  1,367      First of Long Island Corp. (The)      24,606  
  84      First Savings Financial Group, Inc.      1,680  
  234      First United Corp.      4,598  
  908      First US Bancshares, Inc.      7,900  
  444      Five Star Bancorp      12,095  
  1,779      Flushing Financial Corp.      34,477  
  9,654      Fulton Financial Corp.      162,477  
  1,637      German American Bancorp, Inc.      61,060  
  5,467      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      270,179  
  1,038      Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.      61,751  
  440      Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.      15,242  
  4,491      Hancock Whitney Corp.      217,319  
  1,888      Hanmi Financial Corp.      46,728  
  3,865      HarborOne Bancorp, Inc.      53,723  
  44      Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.      958  
  2,024      Heartland Financial USA, Inc.      94,359  
  2,153      Heritage Financial Corp.      65,968  
  4,406      Hertiage Commerce Corp.      57,278  
  4,106      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.      123,221  
  8,713      Home Bancshares, Inc.      198,569  
  1,139      Hometrust Bancshares, Inc.      27,530  
  5,930      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      75,963  
  3,456      Horizon Bancorp, Inc.      52,116  
  2,325      Independent Bank Corp.      196,300  
  2,159      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      129,713  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  3,151      International Bancshares Corp.    $ 144,190  
  4,232      Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.      74,525  
  1,317      Lakeland Financial Corp.      96,101  
  997      Landmark Bancorp, Inc.      22,562  
  1,512      LCNB Corp.      27,216  
  2,612      Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.      78,882  
  3,707      Macatawa Bank Corp.      40,888  
  1,159      Mercantile Bank Corp.      38,803  
  400      Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.*      23,468  
  1,651      Midland States BanCorp, Inc.      43,950  
  1,041      MidWestone Financial Group, Inc.      33,052  
  300      MVB Financial Corp.      6,606  
  1,523      National Bank Holdings Corp.      64,073  
  769      National Bankshares, Inc.      30,991  
  2,224      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      96,566  
  974      Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.*      77,715  
  822      Northeast Bank      34,606  
  657      Northrim Bancorp, Inc.      35,852  
  609      Norwood Financial Corp.      20,365  
  2,428      OFG Bancorp      66,916  
  183      Ohio Valley Banc Corp.      4,835  
  14,709      Old National Bancorp      264,468  
  1,004      Old Point Financial Corp.      27,068  
  3,314      Old Second Bancorp, Inc.      53,157  
  1,182      Origin Bancorp, Inc.      43,379  
  1,208      Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.      27,977  
  4,752      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      149,973  
  6,187      PacWest Bancorp      141,992  
  534      Park National Corp.      75,160  
  1,636      Parke Bancorp, Inc.      33,931  
  1,140      Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp.      42,431  
  952      Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc.      25,342  
  434      Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.      14,131  
  2,085      Peoples Bancorp, Inc.      58,901  
  1,301      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      95,493  
  2,076      Popular, Inc.      137,680  
  977      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      72,904  
  2,309      Primis Financial Corp.      27,362  
  474      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      34,450  
  1,228      QCR Holdings, Inc.      60,958  
  351      Rbb BanCorp      7,318  
  2,844      Renasant Corp.      106,906  
  1,249      Republic Bancorp, Inc., Class A      51,109  
  6,466      Republic First Bancorp, Inc.*      13,902  
  2,122      S&T Bancorp, Inc.      72,530  
  640      Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.      20,096  
  2,295      Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.      80,853  
  579      SB Financial Group, Inc.      9,704  
  3,087      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      96,284  
  3,347      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      230,642  
  1,438      Shore Bancshares, Inc.      25,064  
  1,279      Sierra Bancorp      27,166  
  6,442      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      139,018  
  562      Southern First Bancshares, Inc.*      25,711  
  1,502      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      54,057  
  2,300      SouthState Corp.      175,628  
  2,894      Stellar Bancorp, Inc.      85,257  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,444      Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.    $ 93,831  
  682      Summit Financial Group, Inc.      16,975  
  1,323      Summit State Bank      20,903  
  3,267      Synovus Financial Corp.      122,676  
  2,562      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      154,514  
  694      Tompkins Financial Corp.      53,841  
  3,635      TowneBank      112,103  
  1,824      TriCo Bancshares      93,006  
  1,397      Triumph Financial, Inc.*      68,271  
  3,236      Trustmark Corp.      112,969  
  2,644      UMB Financial Corp.      220,827  
  11,136      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      198,778  
  249      Union Bankshares, Inc.      5,829  
  450      United Bancshares, Inc.      8,424  
  7,271      United Bankshares, Inc.      294,403  
  5,096      United Community Banks, Inc.      172,245  
  916      United Security Bancshares      6,696  
  42      Unity Bancorp, Inc.      1,148  
  1,651      Univest Financial Corp.      43,141  
  8,798      Valley National Bancorp      99,505  
  1,563      Veritex Holdings, Inc.      43,889  
  1,097      Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.      51,756  
  240      Webster Financial Corp.      11,362  
  3,367      WesBanco, Inc.      124,512  
  1,569      West BanCorp, Inc.      40,088  
  1,354      Westamerica BanCorp      79,900  
  3,109      Wintrust Financial Corp.      262,773  
     

 

 

 
        14,279,366  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.5%):       
  480      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*      158,170  
  321      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      33,397  
  476      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      243,883  
  1,140      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      121,273  
  1,568      National Beverage Corp.*      72,959  
  985      Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc.*      5,900  
     

 

 

 
        635,582  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (3.4%):       
  1,733      AC Immune SA*      3,535  
  1,950      ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      31,044  
  3,308      Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.*      1,917  
  3,549      Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      99,656  
  2,076      Akero Therapeutics, Inc.*      113,765  
  1,262      Albireo Pharma, Inc.*      27,272  
  2,035      Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc.*      14,164  
  8,283      Alkermes plc*      216,435  
  2,613      Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.*      16,436  
  2,056      AnaptysBio, Inc.*      63,715  
  283      Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.*      4,800  
  629      Arcus Biosciences, Inc.*      13,008  
  3,361      Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      49,743  
  6,613      Ardelyx, Inc.*      18,847  
  4,656      Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      15,272  
  2,342      Atreca, Inc., Class A*      1,875  
  2,657      Avid Bioservices, Inc.*      36,587  
  2,191      Avidity Biosciences, Inc.*      48,618  
  3,255      Bluebird Bio, Inc.*      22,525  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  1,971      Blueprint Medicines Corp.*    $ 86,350  
  2,880      Cara Therapeutics, Inc.*      30,931  
  1,034      CareDx, Inc.*      11,798  
  142      CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      248  
  1,148      Castle Biosciences, Inc.*      27,024  
  6,995      Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      130,107  
  1,100      Century Therapeutics, Inc.*      5,643  
  6,991      Chimerix, Inc.*      13,003  
  2,139      Chinook Therapeutics, Inc.*      56,042  
  3,561      Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      20,796  
  2,225      Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      40,717  
  1,225      CRISPR Therapeutics AG*      49,796  
  1,634      Cue Biopharma, Inc.*      4,657  
  2,539      Cytomx Therapeutics, Inc.*      4,062  
  1,720      Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      28,191  
  2,537      Denali Therapeutics, Inc.*      70,554  
  902      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      26,365  
  3,422      Editas Medicine, Inc.*      30,353  
  1,660      Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,959  
  2,263      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      26,726  
  1,198      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      55,731  
  11,564      Exelixis, Inc.*      185,487  
  2,705      G1 Therapeutics, Inc.*      14,688  
  2,547      Gritstone bio, Inc.*      8,787  
  3,860      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      219,634  
  3,072      Ideaya Biosciences, Inc.*      55,818  
  196      IGM Biosciences, Inc.*      3,334  
  592      ImmuCell Corp.*      3,623  
  1,281      Immunovant, Inc.*      22,738  
  2,885      Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.*      100,658  
  2,237      Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.*      14,294  
  9,160      Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      113,492  
  4,709      IVERIC bio, Inc.*      100,820  
  3,800      Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.*      4,218  
  856      KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      5,787  
  606      Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.*      119,079  
  1,356      Kezar Life Sciences, Inc.*      9,546  
  514      Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., Class A*      7,700  
  1,081      Krystal Biotech, Inc.*      85,637  
  2,093      Kura Oncology, Inc.*      25,974  
  4,768      Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      9,107  
  830      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      55,444  
  3,472      Macrogenics, Inc.*      23,297  
  2,522      Magenta Therapeutics, Inc.*      996  
  900      MediciNova, Inc.*      1,845  
  2,101      MeiraGTx Holdings plc*      13,699  
  1,843      Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.*      10,800  
  123      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      5,573  
  710      Morphic Holding, Inc.*      18,993  
  4,120      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      59,781  
  2,329      Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.*      25,572  
  26,516      OPKO Health, Inc.*      33,145  
  14,857      PDL BioPharma, Inc.*      39,520  
  2,083      Precision BioSciences, Inc.*      2,479  
  2,098      Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.*      22,889  
  2,444      Prothena Corp. plc*      147,251  
  2,162      RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.*      42,808  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  2,449      REGENXBIO, Inc.*    $ 55,543  
  427      Repare Therapeutics, Inc.*      6,281  
  1,686      Replimune Group, Inc.*      45,859  
  667      REVOLUTION Medicines, Inc.*      15,888  
  1,106      Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      32,207  
  2,920      Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      57,144  
  1,935      Sage Therapeutics, Inc.*      73,801  
  10,666      Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.*      33,491  
  1,550      Scholar Rock Holding Corp.*      14,028  
  9,500      Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      3,501  
  1,098      SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.*      28,559  
  954      Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.*      8,805  
  1,866      Surface Oncology, Inc.*      1,530  
  1,873      Sutro Biopharma, Inc.*      15,134  
  2,101      Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      53,470  
  1,755      TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc.*      1,753  
  446      Twist Bioscience Corp.*      10,619  
  1,189      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      55,086  
  139      United Therapeutics Corp.*      38,655  
  3,525      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      26,050  
  2,332      Vaxart, Inc.*      2,241  
  3,366      VBI Vaccines, Inc.*      1,316  
  574      Veracyte, Inc.*      13,621  
  8,204      Verastem, Inc.*      3,302  
  1,032      Vericel Corp.*      27,183  
  4,488      Viking Therapeutics, Inc.*      42,187  
  1,685      Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.*      10,278  
  3,464      Xencor, Inc.*      90,203  
  1,840      Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.*      8,979  
  784      Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      15,790  
     

 

 

 
        3,927,284  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.4%):       
  3,670      AAON, Inc.      276,424  
  824      American Woodmark Corp.*      40,261  
  1,464      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.      65,090  
  2,538      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      174,081  
  1,277      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      25,949  
  815      Csw Industrials, Inc.      94,483  
  1,452      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      66,618  
  1,043      Griffon Corp.      37,329  
  1,762      Insteel Industries, Inc.      48,490  
  3,941      JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.*      38,031  
  871      Masonite International Corp.*      70,211  
  3,341      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      60,004  
  2,436      Quanex Building Products Corp.      57,685  
  3,705      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      60,947  
  2,049      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      181,664  
  377      Trex Co., Inc.*      15,958  
  2,113      UFP Industries, Inc.      167,455  
  5,918      Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp.      125,166  
     

 

 

 
        1,605,846  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.9%):       
  2,408      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      381,499  
  4,015      Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A      119,246  
  866      AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc.*      19,918  
  16,135      BGC Partners, Inc., Class A      60,829  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  1,300      Blucora, Inc.*    $ 33,189  
  2,455      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      50,524  
  2,537      Cohen & Steers, Inc.      163,789  
  300      Cowen, Inc., Class A      11,586  
  239      Diamond Hill Investment Group      44,220  
  1,933      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      74,710  
  4,076      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      148,000  
  1,990      Greenhill & Co., Inc.      20,398  
  2,346      Hamilton Lane, Inc.      149,862  
  211      Hennessy Advisors, Inc.      1,772  
  375      Houlihan Lokey, Inc.      32,685  
  2,338      Janus Henderson Group plc      54,990  
  1,499      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      51,970  
  3,118      Moelis & Co., Class A      119,638  
  1,743      Open Lending Corp.*      11,765  
  853      Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc., Class A      36,108  
  671      Piper Sandler Cos.      87,357  
  1,393      PJT Partners, Inc.      102,650  
  3,824      Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.*      11,854  
  1,619      Silvercrest Asset Management Group, Inc., Class A      30,389  
  1,143      Stifel Financial Corp.      66,717  
  984      StoneX Group, Inc.*      93,775  
  207      Value Line, Inc.      10,532  
  5,549      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      113,255  
  411      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      78,682  
  1,478      Westwood Holdings, Inc.      16,456  
  10,429      WisdomTree, Inc.      56,838  
     

 

 

 
        2,255,203  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.4%):       
  1,064      Advanced Emmissions Solutions*      2,586  
  2,212      AdvanSix, Inc.      84,100  
  1,429      Agrofresh Solutions, Inc.*      4,230  
  2,805      American Vanguard Corp.      60,897  
  1,804      Ashland, Inc.      193,984  
  1,198      Aspen Aerogels, Inc.*      14,124  
  5,279      Avient Corp.      178,219  
  3,070      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      78,193  
  1,920      Balchem Corp.      234,451  
  3,126      Cabot Corp.      208,942  
  639      Chase Corp.      55,120  
  8,634      Chemours Co. (The)      264,373  
  1,403      Core Molding Technologies, Inc.*      18,225  
  6,378      Ecovyst, Inc.*      56,509  
  12,993      Element Solutions, Inc.      236,343  
  2,318      Flotek Industries, Inc.*      2,596  
  3,777      Futurefuel Corp.      30,707  
  2,900      H.B. Fuller Co.      207,698  
  1,565      Hawkins, Inc.      60,409  
  2,564      Huntsman Corp.      70,459  
  1,866      Ingevity Corp.*      131,441  
  1,207      Innospec, Inc.      124,152  
  1,047      Intrepid Potash, Inc.*      30,227  
  1,147      Koppers Holdings, Inc.      32,345  
  5,083      Kronos Worldwide, Inc.      47,780  
  8,513      Livent Corp.*      169,153  
  5,685      LSB Industries, Inc.*      75,610  
  1,815      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      110,207  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  389      NewMarket Corp.    $ 121,022  
  1,786      Northern Technologies International Corp.      23,772  
  2,647      Olin Corp.      140,132  
  2,431      Orion Engineered Carbons SA      43,296  
  241      Quaker Chemical Corp.      40,223  
  5,893      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      56,573  
  362      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      17,590  
  2,197      Sensient Technologies Corp.      160,205  
  1,187      Stepan Co.      126,368  
  2,589      Tredegar Corp.      26,460  
  2,135      Trinseo PLC      48,486  
  7,762      Tronox Holdings plc, Class A      106,417  
  8,685      Valvoline, Inc.      283,565  
  8,372      Venator Materials plc*      4,520  
     

 

 

 
        3,981,709  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (2.0%):       
  4,196      ABM Industries, Inc.      186,386  
  7,062      ACCO Brands Corp.      39,477  
  675      Acme United Corp.      14,783  
  1,238      ACV Auctions, Inc., Class A*      10,164  
  3,133      Brady Corp., Class A      147,564  
  3,882      BrightView Holdings, Inc.*      26,747  
  2,839      Brink’s Co. (The)      152,483  
  2,801      Casella Waste Systems, Inc.*      222,147  
  2,371      CECO Environmental Corp.*      27,693  
  1,426      Cimpress plc*      39,372  
  436      Civeo Corp.*      13,560  
  1,475      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      168,327  
  325      CompX International, Inc.      6,006  
  1,356      Deluxe Corp.      23,025  
  2,494      Ennis, Inc.      55,267  
  3,751      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      45,012  
  1,000      Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.*      32,480  
  2,059      HNI Corp.      58,537  
  1,400      Hudson Technologies, Inc.*      14,168  
  3,307      IAA, Inc.*      132,280  
  3,774      Interface, Inc.      37,249  
  3,764      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      49,120  
  2,673      Kimball International, Inc., Class B      17,375  
  1,775      Matthews International Corp., Class A      54,031  
  1,187      MillerKnoll, Inc.      24,939  
  319      Montrose Environmental Group, Inc.*      14,161  
  896      MSA Safety, Inc.      129,194  
  2,566      NL Industries, Inc.      17,475  
  2,198      Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.*      7,759  
  10,503      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      39,911  
  5,379      Quad Graphics, Inc.*      21,946  
  1,749      SP Plus Corp.*      60,725  
  4,831      Steelcase, Inc., Class A      34,155  
  1,927      Stericycle, Inc.*      96,138  
  308      Tetra Tech, Inc.      44,719  
  763      UniFirst Corp.      147,251  
  946      Viad Corp.*      23,073  
  3,364      Virco Manufacturing Co.*      15,205  
  1,177      Vse Corp.      55,178  
     

 

 

 
        2,305,082  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Communications Equipment (1.2%):       
  2,903      ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.    $ 54,547  
  1,444      Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.*      2,729  
  682      Aviat Networks, Inc.*      21,272  
  900      BK Technologies Corp.      2,988  
  3,195      CalAmp Corp.*      14,314  
  3,497      Calix, Inc.*      239,300  
  600      Cambium Networks Corp.*      13,002  
  980      Clearfield, Inc.*      92,257  
  4,785      CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*      35,170  
  1,983      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.      24,074  
  2,559      Digi International, Inc.*      93,531  
  1,222      DZS, Inc.*      15,495  
  3,157      EMCORE Corp.*      3,039  
  4,014      Extreme Networks, Inc.*      73,496  
  6,919      Harmonic, Inc.*      90,639  
  1,456      InterDigital, Inc.      72,043  
  2,325      KVH Industries, Inc.*      23,761  
  1,172      Lantronix, Inc.*      5,063  
  1,373      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      71,629  
  1,769      NETGEAR, Inc.*      32,037  
  4,188      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      136,152  
  2,391      Network-1 Technologies, Inc.      5,260  
  131      Optical Cable Corp.*      545  
  7,260      Ribbon Communications, Inc.*      20,255  
  3,617      ViaSat, Inc.*      114,478  
  9,904      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      104,091  
     

 

 

 
        1,361,167  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (2.0%):       
  2,016      Ameresco, Inc., Class A*      115,194  
  6,231      API Group Corp.*      117,205  
  2,944      Arcosa, Inc.      159,977  
  952      Argan, Inc.      35,110  
  1,799      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      207,029  
  1,234      Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.*      7,219  
  999      Construction Partners, Inc., Class A*      26,663  
  1,242      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      116,251  
  1,457      EMCOR Group, Inc.      215,796  
  2,655      Fluor Corp.*      92,022  
  2,210      Granite Construction, Inc.      77,505  
  4,498      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.*      26,763  
  1,379      IES Holdings, Inc.*      49,051  
  1,580      MasTec, Inc.*      134,821  
  3,068      Matrix Service Co.*      19,083  
  4,902      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      148,727  
  869      MYR Group, Inc.*      80,009  
  879      Northwest Pipe Co.*      29,622  
  949      NV5 Global, Inc.*      125,572  
  5,203      Orion Group Holdings, Inc.*      12,383  
  1,563      Primoris Services Corp.      34,292  
  2,151      Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.*      70,553  
  2,090      Tutor Perini Corp.*      15,780  
  1,016      Valmont Industries, Inc.      335,961  
  1,996      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      90,159  
     

 

 

 
        2,342,747  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials (0.4%):       
  1,908      Eagle Materials, Inc.    $ 253,478  
  5,547      Summit Materials, Inc., Class A*      157,479  
  466      U.S. Lime & Minerals, Inc.      65,594  
     

 

 

 
        476,551  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.0%):       
  1,070      Atlanticus Holdings Corp.*      28,034  
  1,688      Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.*      14,939  
  3,041      Curo Group Holdings Corp.      10,796  
  1,249      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      59,877  
  1,566      Enova International, Inc.*      60,088  
  5,775      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      47,066  
  2,530      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      219,882  
  2,615      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      41,369  
  6,374      Navient Corp.      104,852  
  1,353      Nelnet, Inc., Class A      122,785  
  1,556      Nicholas Financial, Inc.*      9,818  
  2,840      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      94,600  
  964      Oportun Financial Corp.*      5,312  
  2,222      PRA Group, Inc.*      75,059  
  3,430      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      57,933  
  821      Regional Mgmt Corp.      23,054  
  11,202      SLM Corp.      185,953  
  450      World Acceptance Corp.*      29,673  
     

 

 

 
        1,191,090  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.7%):       
  2,863      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      63,702  
  1,280      Greif, Inc., Class A      85,837  
  874      Greif, Inc., Class B      68,373  
  2,948      Myers Industries, Inc.      65,534  
  7,172      O-I Glass, Inc.*      118,840  
  613      Ranpak Holdings Corp.*      3,537  
  4,885      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      253,238  
  2,015      Sonoco Products Co.      122,331  
  2,053      TriMas Corp.      56,950  
     

 

 

 
        838,342  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  12      AMCON Distributing Co.      2,172  
  1,626      Educational Development Corp.      5,138  
  2,028      Funko, Inc., Class A*      22,126  
  1,262      Weyco Group, Inc.      26,704  
     

 

 

 
        56,140  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (1.0%):       
  2,828      2U, Inc.*      17,732  
  2,721      ADT, Inc.      24,679  
  3,285      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      116,617  
  1,366      American Public Education, Inc.*      16,788  
  253      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      15,964  
  1,394      Carriage Services, Inc.      38,391  
  492      Chegg, Inc.*      12,433  
  4,483      Frontdoor, Inc.*      93,246  
  201      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      121,446  
  1,756      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      185,539  
  5,660      H&R Block, Inc.      206,647  
  2,311      Laureate Education, Inc.      22,232  
  2,747      OneSpaWorld Holdings, Ltd.*      25,630  
  4,264      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      59,270  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Consumer Services, continued       
  1,432      Strategic Education, Inc.    $ 112,154  
  2,258      Stride, Inc.*      70,630  
  3,444      Universal Technical Institute, Inc.*      23,144  
  2,647      WW International, Inc.*      10,217  
     

 

 

 
        1,172,759  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
  1,888      Acacia Research Corp.*      7,948  
  500      Alerus Financial Corp.      11,675  
  1,292      A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc.      44,871  
  3,167      Cannae Holdings, Inc.*      65,399  
     

 

 

 
        129,893  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.6%):       
  1,146      Anterix, Inc.*      36,867  
  879      ATN International, Inc.      39,827  
  2,189      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      124,948  
  5,491      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      19,658  
  2,230      EchoStar Corp., Class A*      37,196  
  1,571      IDT Corp.*      44,255  
  6,317      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      324,694  
  845      Ooma, Inc.*      11,509  
     

 

 

 
        638,954  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.1%):       
  3,520      ALLETE, Inc.      227,075  
  3,043      Genie Energy, Ltd., Class B      31,465  
  5,125      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      214,481  
  1,240      IDACORP, Inc.      133,734  
  1,832      MGE Energy, Inc.      128,973  
  2,564      Otter Tail Corp.      150,533  
  4,675      PNM Resources, Inc.      228,093  
  2,371      Portland General Electric Co.      116,179  
     

 

 

 
        1,230,533  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.2%):       
  1,568      Acuity Brands, Inc.      259,676  
  1,194      Allied Motion Technologies, Inc.      41,563  
  2,221      American Superconductor Corp.*      8,173  
  1,547      Atkore, Inc.*      175,461  
  1,354      AZZ, Inc.      54,431  
  1,863      Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.*      10,750  
  1,177      Encore Wire Corp.      161,908  
  1,956      EnerSys      144,431  
  411      Espey Mfg. & Electronics Corp.*      5,836  
  9,534      GrafTech International, Ltd.      45,382  
  2,834      LSI Industries, Inc.      34,688  
  2,523      nVent Electric plc      97,060  
  79      Pineapple Holdings, Inc.*      184  
  569      Powell Industries, Inc.      20,017  
  527      Preformed Line Products Co.      43,894  
  75      Servotronics, Inc.*      792  
  924      Shoals Technologies Group, Inc., Class A*      22,795  
  3,399      Sunrun, Inc.*      81,644  
  2,714      Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.*      54,497  
  932      TPI Composites, Inc.*      9,451  
  3,104      Ultralife Corp.*      11,981  
  1,134      Vicor Corp.*      60,953  
     

 

 

 
        1,345,567  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (2.9%):       
  2,431      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.    $ 208,531  
  6,544      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      22,970  
  5,300      Avnet, Inc.      220,374  
  1,770      Badger Meter, Inc.      192,983  
  254      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class A      8,456  
  740      Bel Fuse, Inc., Class B      24,361  
  2,757      Belden, Inc.      198,228  
  1,596      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      42,597  
  1,324      Coherent Corp.*      46,472  
  1,860      CTS Corp.      73,321  
  6,442      Daktronics, Inc.*      18,167  
  1,365      Data I/O Corp.*      5,419  
  662      ePlus, Inc.*      29,313  
  1,860      Fabrinet*      238,489  
  1,055      FARO Technologies, Inc.*      31,028  
  640      Frequency Electronics, Inc.      4,512  
  865      Identiv, Inc.*      6,263  
  1,699      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      170,359  
  124      IPG Photonics Corp.      11,739  
  2,324      Itron, Inc.*      117,711  
  1,856      Kimball Electronics, Inc.*      41,927  
  4,627      Knowles Corp.*      75,975  
  226      Littelfuse, Inc.      49,765  
  1,600      Luna Innovations, Inc.*      14,064  
  1,993      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      88,429  
  2,686      Napco Security Technologies, Inc.*      73,811  
  3,997      National Instruments Corp.      147,489  
  1,187      nLight, Inc.*      12,036  
  1,812      Novanta, Inc.*      246,197  
  952      OSI Systems, Inc.*      75,703  
  1,367      PC Connection, Inc.      64,112  
  1,588      Plexus Corp.*      163,453  
  965      Rogers Corp.*      115,163  
  3,446      Sanmina Corp.*      197,421  
  1,880      ScanSource, Inc.*      54,934  
  5,308      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      80,045  
  6,181      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      133,324  
  999      Vishay Precision Group, Inc.*      38,611  
  2,612      Vontier Corp.      50,490  
  311      Wayside Technology Group, Inc.      9,806  
  3,952      Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.*      7,074  
     

 

 

 
        3,411,122  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (2.0%):       
  7,188      Archrock, Inc.      64,548  
  1,944      Bristow Group, Inc.*      52,741  
  2,624      Cactus, Inc., Class A      131,882  
  6,189      ChampionX Corp.      179,419  
  2,103      Core Laboratories NV      42,628  
  653      DMC Global, Inc.*      12,694  
  2,539      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      68,985  
  1,226      Expro Group Holdings NV*      22,227  
  56      Expro Group Holdings NV US*      1,015  
  1,260      Geospace Technologies Corp.*      5,317  
  2,641      Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.*      13,548  
  7,520      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      55,498  
  5,207      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      258,111  
  5,674      Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A      90,841  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services, continued       
  595      Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.*    $ 5,147  
  494      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      76,506  
  2,925      National Energy Services Reunited Corp.*      20,300  
  1,299      Natural Gas Services Group*      14,887  
  8,761      Newpark Resources, Inc.*      36,358  
  12,860      NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.*      118,826  
  2,994      NOV, Inc.      62,545  
  5,737      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      100,340  
  3,039      Oil States International, Inc.*      22,671  
  9,819      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      165,352  
  7,231      Propetro Holding Corp.*      74,985  
  8,632      RPC, Inc.      76,738  
  1,598      SEACOR Marine Holdings, Inc.*      14,638  
  4,229      Select Energy Services, Inc.      39,076  
  1,537      Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, Inc.      15,262  
  17,966      TechnipFMC plc*      219,006  
  5,480      TETRA Technologies, Inc.*      18,961  
  1,475      Tidewater, Inc.*      54,354  
  20,620      Transocean, Ltd.*      94,027  
  5,730      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      71,625  
  491      Valaris, Ltd.*      33,201  
  372      Weatherford International plc*      18,942  
     

 

 

 
        2,353,201  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.4%):       
  3,572      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*      30,933  
  2,527      FG Group Holdings, Inc.*      6,621  
  4,149      Imax Corp.*      60,824  
  783      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class A*      25,581  
  1,825      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Class C*      58,820  
  3,575      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class A*      20,413  
  7,603      Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Class B*      41,284  
  614      Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.*      27,612  
  233      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A      42,716  
  870      Marcus Corp.      12,519  
  2,544      Playtika Holding Corp.*      21,649  
  2,715      Reading International, Inc., Class A*      7,521  
  951      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      65,163  
     

 

 

 
        421,656  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.8%):       
  2,742      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      80,039  
  661      Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A      63,760  
  2,814      Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.      25,720  
  1,654      PriceSmart, Inc.      100,530  
  2,176      SpartanNash Co.      65,802  
  4,696      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      152,010  
  2,299      The Andersons, Inc.      80,442  
  2,098      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      69,821  
  3,444      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      133,317  
  1,419      Village Super Market, Inc., Class A      33,049  
  1,746      Weis Markets, Inc.      143,678  
     

 

 

 
        948,168  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.7%):       
  444      Alico, Inc.      10,598  
  2,325      B&G Foods, Inc.^      25,924  
  1,273      Calavo Growers, Inc.      37,426  
  2,146      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      116,850  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  1,318      Coffee Holding Co., Inc.    $ 2,689  
  2,411      Farmer Brothers Co.*      11,115  
  4,364      Flowers Foods, Inc.      125,421  
  2,300      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      60,237  
  3,206      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      51,873  
  6,361      Hostess Brands, Inc.*      142,741  
  1,009      Ingredion, Inc.      98,811  
  1,040      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      155,698  
  519      John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.      42,205  
  1,361      Lancaster Colony Corp.      268,525  
  2,754      Lifecore Biomedical, Inc.*      17,846  
  2,175      Limoneira Co.      26,557  
  397      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      9,421  
  1,419      Post Holdings, Inc.*      128,079  
  1,220      Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.*      6,954  
  46      Seaboard Corp.      173,660  
  708      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      43,153  
  12      Seneca Foods Corp., Class B*      726  
  4,807      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      182,810  
  2,295      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      97,698  
  1,779      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      87,847  
  2,649      Vital Farms, Inc.*      39,523  
     

 

 

 
        1,964,387  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (1.0%):       
  1,029      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      121,607  
  909      National Fuel Gas Co.      57,540  
  4,906      New Jersey Resources Corp.      243,436  
  1,406      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      66,912  
  2,413      ONE Gas, Inc.      182,712  
  873      RGC Resources, Inc.      19,250  
  6,542      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      232,437  
  1,722      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      106,557  
  2,644      Spire, Inc.      182,066  
     

 

 

 
        1,212,517  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  315      Omniab, Inc. — Vesting 12.5*(a)(b)       
  315      Omniab, Inc. — Vesting 15*(a)(b)       
     

 

 

 
         
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.8%):       
  6,691      Accuray, Inc.*      13,984  
  2,365      AngioDynamics, Inc.*      32,566  
  1,309      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      38,746  
  2,193      Apyx Medical Corp.*      5,132  
  2,615      Artivion, Inc.*      31,694  
  3,181      AtriCure, Inc.*      141,173  
  126      Atrion Corp.      70,491  
  2,426      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      65,648  
  2,841      Axogen, Inc.*      28,353  
  2,250      Axonics, Inc.*      140,692  
  3,014      Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*      41,051  
  1,500      CONMED Corp.      132,960  
  2,081      CytoSorbents Corp.*      3,226  
  1,118      Elctromed, Inc.*      11,728  
  1,048      Embecta Corp.      26,504  
  877      Enovis Corp.*      46,937  
  3,246      Envista Holdings Corp.*      109,293  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  427      Fonar Corp.*    $ 7,152  
  2,248      Glaukos Corp.*      98,193  
  841      Globus Medical, Inc.*      62,461  
  956      Haemonetics Corp.*      75,189  
  523      Heska Corp.*      32,510  
  706      Inari Medical, Inc.*      44,873  
  1,790      Inogen, Inc.*      35,281  
  1,778      Integer Holdings Corp.*      121,722  
  4,094      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      229,551  
  850      iRadimed Corp.      24,046  
  2,006      IRIDEX Corp.*      4,032  
  249      Kewaunee Scientific CP*      3,872  
  4,025      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*      205,114  
  1,449      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      66,683  
  1,127      LENSAR, Inc.*      3,336  
  2,723      LivaNova plc*      151,235  
  3,167      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      105,176  
  2,871      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      202,750  
  186      Mesa Laboratories, Inc.      30,915  
  5,233      Neogen Corp.*      79,699  
  2,684      NuVasive, Inc.*      110,688  
  5,745      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      27,691  
  1,375      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      28,229  
  1,277      Orthopediatrics Corp.*      50,735  
  627      Pulmonx Corp.*      5,286  
  162      QuidelOrtho Corp.*      13,878  
  2,363      SeaSpine Holdings Corp.*      19,731  
  76      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      15,626  
  1,010      SI-BONE, Inc.*      13,736  
  2,196      STAAR Surgical Co.*      106,594  
  364      Surgalign Holdings, Inc.*      713  
  879      Surmodics, Inc.*      29,991  
  1,169      Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.*      13,420  
  743      TransMedics Group, Inc.*      45,858  
  671      UFP Technologies, Inc.*      79,104  
  435      Utah Medical Products, Inc.      43,731  
  2,566      Varex Imaging Corp.*      52,090  
  8,600      ViewRay, Inc.*      38,528  
  755      Zynex, Inc.      10,502  
     

 

 

 
        3,230,099  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.0%):       
  2,268      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      186,702  
  787      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      78,299  
  190      AlerisLife, Inc.*      105  
  653      Amedisys, Inc.*      54,552  
  2,679      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      275,455  
  1,243      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      36,780  
  8,989      Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.*      24,540  
  7,998      Community Health Systems, Inc.      34,551  
  915      CorVel Corp.*      132,977  
  2,958      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      78,594  
  3,392      Encompass Health Corp.      202,876  
  794      Enhabit, Inc.*      10,449  
  2,966      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      280,613  
  280      Fulgent Genetics, Inc.*      8,338  
  2,636      HealthEquity, Inc.*      162,483  
  1,999      InfuSystem Holdings, Inc.*      17,351  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  1,190      Joint Corp. (The)*    $ 16,636  
  1,634      LHC Group, Inc.*      264,201  
  624      ModivCare, Inc.*      55,992  
  887      National Healthcare Corp.      52,776  
  1,645      National Research Corp.      61,359  
  9,359      Option Care Health, Inc.*      281,612  
  4,811      Owens & Minor, Inc.*      93,959  
  5,186      Patterson Cos., Inc.      145,364  
  5,006      Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.*      74,389  
  1,785      Petiq, Inc.*      16,458  
  5,882      Premier, Inc., Class A      205,752  
  3,375      Progyny, Inc.*      105,131  
  1,080      Psychemedics Corp.      5,335  
  2,898      RadNet, Inc.*      54,569  
  7,290      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      181,011  
  4,347      Surgery Partners, Inc.*      121,107  
  1,751      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      85,431  
  1,764      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      19,369  
  755      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      61,178  
     

 

 

 
        3,486,294  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.5%):       
  766      Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.*      20,850  
  4,744      Evolent Health, Inc., Class A*      133,212  
  2,021      Health Catalyst, Inc.*      21,483  
  1,818      HealthStream, Inc.*      45,159  
  1,239      iCAD, Inc.*      2,267  
  4,136      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      77,674  
  2,168      Omnicell, Inc.*      109,311  
  445      OptimizeRx Corp.*      7,476  
  279      Simulations Plus, Inc.      10,203  
  6,937      Veradigm, Inc.*      122,369  
     

 

 

 
        550,004  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.2%):       
  3      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class A*      2,067  
  168      Biglari Holdings, Inc., Class B*      23,318  
  1,766      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      46,587  
  5,714      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.      114,966  
  2,652      Brinker International, Inc.*      84,625  
  4,497      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.*      6,116  
  700      Century Casinos, Inc.*      4,921  
  3,080      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)      97,667  
  217      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      24,443  
  1,396      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      39,507  
  1,237      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.      117,193  
  2,902      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      102,847  
  3,256      Denny’s Corp.*      29,988  
  263      Dine Brands Global, Inc.      16,990  
  2,394      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.      23,844  
  2,608      Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.*      19,169  
  100      Flanigan’s Enterprises, Inc.      2,588  
  1,109      Full House Resorts, Inc.*      8,340  
  391      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*      15,069  
  5,547      International Game Technology plc      125,806  
  1,031      Jack in the Box, Inc.      70,345  
  3,369      Light & Wonder, Inc., Class A*      197,423  
  1,327      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      178,601  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  597      Nathans Famous, Inc.    $ 40,124  
  1,669      Noodles & Co.*      9,163  
  1,689      Papa John’s International, Inc.      139,022  
  809      Penn Entertainment, Inc.*      24,027  
  387      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      30,496  
  3,630      Playa Hotels & Resorts NV*      23,704  
  1,540      Playags, Inc.*      7,854  
  300      RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.      27,957  
  1,368      Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.*      7,633  
  662      Red Rock Resorts, Inc.      26,487  
  2,239      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.      34,660  
  3,760      SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.*      201,198  
  1,613      Shake Shack, Inc., Class A*      66,988  
  1,631      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      148,339  
  3,865      Travel + Leisure Co.      140,686  
  10,098      Wendy’s Co. (The)      228,518  
  496      Wingstop, Inc.      68,259  
  572      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      40,789  
     

 

 

 
        2,618,324  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (2.1%):       
  608      Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.      10,567  
  738      Beazer Homes USA, Inc.*      9,417  
  494      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      111,767  
  1,854      Century Communities, Inc.      92,719  
  1,650      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      43,593  
  820      Flexsteel Industries, Inc.      12,628  
  1,624      Green Brick Partners, Inc.*      39,350  
  1,347      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      149,396  
  670      Hooker Furnishings Corp.      12,529  
  1,677      Installed Building Products, Inc.      143,551  
  1,482      iRobot Corp.*      71,329  
  4,791      KB Home      152,593  
  1,138      Koss Corp.*      5,553  
  2,637      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      60,176  
  230      Legacy Housing Corp.*      4,361  
  3,296      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      106,230  
  1,096      LGI Homes, Inc.*      101,490  
  2,522      Lifetime Brands, Inc.      19,142  
  1,513      M/I Homes, Inc.*      69,870  
  3,450      MDC Holdings, Inc.      109,020  
  1,818      Meritage Homes Corp.*      167,620  
  2,534      Purple Innovation, Inc.*      12,138  
  3,015      Skyline Champion Corp.*      155,303  
  4,300      Sonos, Inc.*      72,670  
  6,288      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*      190,841  
  4,483      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      153,901  
  1,904      Toll Brothers, Inc.      95,048  
  520      TopBuild Corp.*      81,375  
  5,638      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      104,810  
  3,274      Tupperware Brands Corp.*      13,554  
  798      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      16,606  
     

 

 

 
        2,389,147  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.5%):       
  636      Central Garden & Pet Co.*      23,818  
  2,441      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      87,388  
  3,493      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      117,190  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Products, continued       
  640      Oil-Dri Corp. of America    $ 21,466  
  1,230      Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.      36,875  
  1,701      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      103,625  
  822      WD-40 Co.      132,515  
     

 

 

 
        522,877  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.4%):  
  4,220      Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc      109,298  
  703      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class A      21,034  
  765      Clearway Energy, Inc., Class C      24,380  
  2,863      Ormat Technologies, Inc.      247,592  
  5,158      Sunnova Energy International, Inc.*      92,896  
     

 

 

 
        495,200  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.3%):       
  2,802      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      48,867  
  5,367      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      244,843  
  1,053      Amerisafe, Inc.      54,724  
  1,862      Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.      48,133  
  3,675      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      228,806  
  2,314      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      125,349  
  3,866      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      198,210  
  5,374      Citizens, Inc.*      11,447  
  3,445      Crawford & Co.      18,293  
  2,876      Crawford & Co., Class A      15,991  
  2,691      Donegal Group, Inc., Class A      38,212  
  1,337      eHealth, Inc.*      6,471  
  1,475      Employers Holdings, Inc.      63,617  
  813      Enstar Group, Ltd.*      187,836  
  1,416      First American Financial Corp.      74,113  
  10,826      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      57,270  
  991      Global Indemnity Group LLC, Class A      23,100  
  3,055      Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.*      24,898  
  1,752      Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.*      1,024  
  1,817      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      245,531  
  489      HCI Group, Inc.      19,360  
  1,369      Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.      2,464  
  2,079      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      77,692  
  135      Investors Title Co.      19,919  
  1,855      James River Group Holdings      38,788  
  2,661      Kemper Corp.      130,921  
  1,473      Kingstone Cos., Inc.      1,989  
  714      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      186,725  
  12,677      Maiden Holdings, Ltd.*      26,748  
  2,856      Mercury General Corp.      97,675  
  198      National Western Life Group, Inc., Class A      55,638  
  929      NI Holdings, Inc.*      12,328  
  1,205      Old Republic International Corp.      29,101  
  1,464      Primerica, Inc.      207,624  
  2,637      ProAssurance Corp.      46,068  
  1,609      RLI Corp.      211,213  
  797      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      67,155  
  2,998      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      265,653  
  6,247      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      36,857  
  1,766      Stewart Information Services Corp.      75,461  
  2,849      Tiptree, Inc., Class A      39,430  
  2,000      United Fire Group, Inc.      54,720  
  895      United Insurance Holdings Co.      949  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  2,274      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.    $ 24,082  
  4,287      Unum Group      175,896  
  164      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      231,950  
     

 

 

 
        3,853,141  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.5%):       
  3,144      ANGI, Inc., Class A*      7,388  
  467      Bumble, Inc.*      9,830  
  5,278      Cargurus, Inc.*      73,945  
  4,413      Cars.com, Inc.*      60,767  
  6,181      DHI Group, Inc.*      32,698  
  3,238      QuinStreet, Inc.*      46,465  
  1,095      Travelzoo*      4,873  
  3,646      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      65,555  
  11,137      TrueCar, Inc.*      27,954  
  3,909      Yelp, Inc.*      106,872  
  2,347      Ziff Davis, Inc.*      185,648  
     

 

 

 
        621,995  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.2%):       
  1,021      1-800-Flowers.com, Inc., Class A*      9,761  
  738      Duluth Holdings, Inc.*      4,561  
  1,300      Lands’ End, Inc.*      9,867  
  2,418      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      33,997  
  1,724      PetMed Express, Inc.      30,515  
  3,615      Quotient Technology, Inc.*      12,399  
  16,641      Qurate Retail, Inc., Class A*      27,125  
  740      Revolve Group, Inc.*      16,472  
  1,857      Shutterstock, Inc.      97,901  
     

 

 

 
        242,598  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.7%):       
  622      BM Technologies, Inc.*      3,241  
  3,431      Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.      129,211  
  1,700      Brightcove, Inc.*      8,891  
  1,100      Cantaloupe, Inc.*      4,785  
  962      Cass Information Systems, Inc.      44,079  
  289      Concentrix Corp.      38,483  
  9,103      Conduent, Inc.*      36,867  
  1,673      CSG Systems International, Inc.      95,696  
  758      CSP, Inc.      7,148  
  1,282      DXC Technology Co.*      33,973  
  1,133      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      106,933  
  3,710      Evertec, Inc.      120,130  
  1,270      Evo Payments, Inc.*      42,977  
  1,949      ExlService Holdings, Inc.*      330,219  
  2,654      Hackett Group, Inc. (The)      54,062  
  1,488      I3 Verticals, Inc.*      36,218  
  1,300      Information Services Group, Inc.      5,980  
  1,362      International Money Express, Inc.*      33,192  
  10,373      Limelight Networks, Inc.*      11,721  
  3,634      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      85,181  
  6,322      Marqeta, Inc., Class A*      38,627  
  1,249      Maximus, Inc.      91,589  
  862      Paysign, Inc.*      2,224  
  1,859      Perficient, Inc.*      129,814  
  3,168      PFSweb, Inc.      19,483  
  494      Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A*      27,629  
  1,555      StarTek, Inc.*      5,831  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  4,882      Teradata Corp.*    $ 164,328  
  2,606      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      115,003  
  4,235      Unisys Corp.*      21,641  
  3,544      Verra Mobility Corp.*      49,014  
  2,485      Western Union Co. (The.)      34,218  
  267      WEX, Inc.*      43,695  
     

 

 

 
        1,972,083  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.9%):       
  5,175      Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.      271,895  
  4,211      Acushnet Holdings Corp.      178,799  
  2,004      American Outdoor Brands, Inc.*      20,080  
  2,314      Brunswick Corp.      166,793  
  1,402      Escalade, Inc.      14,272  
  723      Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Class A      47,805  
  1,065      Malibu Boats, Inc.*      56,765  
  2,419      Marine Products Corp.      28,472  
  850      Mastercraft Boat Holdings, Inc.*      21,990  
  2,293      Nautilus Group, Inc.*      3,508  
  204      Polaris, Inc.      20,604  
  2,353      Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.      20,424  
  4,511      Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.*      89,092  
  2,209      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      53,833  
  2,379      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      98,276  
     

 

 

 
        1,092,608  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.5%):       
  255      Azenta, Inc.*      14,846  
  2,937      Codexis, Inc.*      13,687  
  7,407      Enzo Biochem, Inc.*      10,592  
  5,439      Harvard Bioscience, Inc.*      15,066  
  514      Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A*      7,356  
  1,530      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      324,987  
  923      NanoString Technologies, Inc.*      7,356  
  5,166      Neogenomics, Inc.*      47,734  
  4,067      OmniAb, Inc.*      14,641  
  647      Personalis, Inc.*      1,281  
  1,700      Quanterix Corp.*      23,545  
  2,979      Sotera Health Co.*      24,815  
  537      Syneos Health, Inc.*      19,697  
     

 

 

 
        525,603  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.6%):       
  765      Alamo Group, Inc.      108,324  
  2,073      Albany International Corp., Class A      204,377  
  5,627      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      234,083  
  4,706      Altra Industrial Motion Corp.      281,183  
  806      Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.      1,556  
  1,143      Astec Industries, Inc.      46,474  
  3,236      Barnes Group, Inc.      132,191  
  1,185      Chart Industries, Inc.*      136,548  
  1,404      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      33,640  
  1,556      Columbus McKinnon Corp.      50,523  
  3,325      Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.*      22,643  
  1,142      Crane Holdings Co.      114,714  
  493      Donaldson Co., Inc.      29,023  
  1,772      Douglas Dynamics, Inc.      64,076  
  500      Eastern Co. (The)      9,640  
  3,670      Energy Recovery, Inc.*      75,198  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  2,752      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.    $ 70,038  
  1,044      EnPro Industries, Inc.      113,472  
  877      Esab Corp.      41,149  
  1,258      ESCO Technologies, Inc.      110,125  
  6,451      Evoqua Water Technologies Co.*      255,460  
  3,137      Federal Signal Corp.      145,776  
  5,909      Flowserve Corp.      181,288  
  2,482      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      197,939  
  5,795      Gates Industrial Corp. plc*      66,121  
  1,765      Gencor Industries, Inc.*      17,826  
  1,794      Gorman-Rupp Co. (The)      45,962  
  459      Graham Corp.*      4,416  
  4,634      Harsco Corp.*      29,148  
  1,812      Helios Technologies, Inc.      98,645  
  2,413      Hillenbrand, Inc.      102,963  
  785      Hurco Cos., Inc.      20,512  
  1,014      Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Class A      25,664  
  219      ITT, Inc.      17,761  
  1,705      John Bean Technologies Corp.      155,718  
  472      Kadant, Inc.      83,841  
  3,498      Kennametal, Inc.      84,162  
  1,529      L.B. Foster Co., Class A*      14,801  
  578      Lindsay Corp.      94,127  
  1,597      Luxfer Holdings plc      21,911  
  3,228      Manitex International, Inc.*      12,912  
  2,653      Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)*      24,301  
  589      Mayville Engineering Co., Inc.*      7,457  
  728      Miller Industries, Inc.      19,408  
  3,159      Mueller Industries, Inc.      186,381  
  8,533      Mueller Water Products, Inc., Class A      91,815  
  3,562      NN, Inc.*      5,343  
  638      Omega Flex, Inc.      59,538  
  1,312      Oshkosh Corp.      115,705  
  723      P&F Industries, Inc., Class A      3,608  
  1,229      Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.      15,031  
  1,599      Proto Labs, Inc.*      40,822  
  114      RBC Bearings, Inc.*      23,866  
  3,472      REV Group, Inc.      43,817  
  1,851      Shyft Group, Inc. (The)      46,016  
  1,692      SPX Technologies, Inc.*      111,080  
  731      Standex International Corp.      74,862  
  466      Taylor Devices, Inc.*      6,613  
  1,044      Tennant Co.      64,279  
  3,752      Terex Corp.      160,285  
  1,867      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      62,601  
  1,864      Timken Co.      131,729  
  5,430      Titan International, Inc.*      83,188  
  4,025      Trinity Industries, Inc.      119,019  
  1,747      Twin Disc, Inc.*      16,981  
  3,327      Wabash National Corp.      75,190  
  1,430      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      209,109  
  337      Woodward, Inc.      32,558  
     

 

 

 
        5,386,532  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.3%):       
  6,821      Costamare, Inc.      63,299  
  315      Eneti, Inc.      3,166  
  3,087      Genco Shipping & Trading, Ltd.      47,416  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Marine, continued       
  2,099      Kirby Corp.*    $ 135,071  
  2,096      Matson, Inc.      131,021  
     

 

 

 
        379,973  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.8%):       
  6,248      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      28,741  
  1,560      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*      24,445  
  478      Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., Class A*      440  
  1,823      Boston Omaha Corp.*      48,309  
  7,836      comScore, Inc.*      9,090  
  103      Daily Journal Corp.*      25,803  
  976      DallasNews Corp.      3,748  
  4,222      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      55,688  
  6,190      Entravision Communications Corp., Class A      29,712  
  5,880      Gannett Co, Inc.*      11,936  
  3,567      Gray Television, Inc.      39,915  
  1,608      iHeartMedia, Inc., Class A*      9,857  
  2,165      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      86,730  
  2,864      Liberty Latin America, Ltd.*      21,566  
  9,557      Liberty Latin America, Ltd., Class C*      72,633  
  348      Marchex, Inc., Class B*      546  
  1,885      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      61,187  
  299      Nexstar Media Group, Inc.      52,334  
  605      Pubmatic, Inc.*      7,750  
  1,732      Scholastic Corp.      68,345  
  1,559      TechTarget, Inc.*      68,690  
  10,206      TEGNA, Inc.      216,265  
  1,095      Thryv Holdings, Inc.*      20,805  
  1,165      WideOpenWest, Inc.*      10,613  
     

 

 

 
        975,148  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.8%):       
  958      Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.      140,242  
  2,124      Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.*      5,331  
  1,062      Arconic Corp.*      22,472  
  1,338      Ascent Industries Co.*      11,600  
  8,400      ATI, Inc.*      250,824  
  3,021      Carpenter Technology Corp.      111,596  
  6,425      Century Aluminum Co.*      52,556  
  8,414      Coeur Mining, Inc.*      28,271  
  6,250      Commercial Metals Co.      301,875  
  2,394      Compass Minerals International, Inc.      98,154  
  10,043      Ferroglobe plc*      38,666  
  515      Fortitude Gold Corp.      2,838  
  1,805      Gold Resource Corp.      2,762  
  1,257      Haynes International, Inc.      57,432  
  25,965      Hecla Mining Co.      144,365  
  754      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      57,274  
  1,117      Materion Corp.      97,749  
  937      McEwen Mining, Inc.*      5,491  
  1,803      MP Materials Corp.*      43,777  
  451      Royal Gold, Inc.      50,837  
  2,868      Ryerson Holding Corp.      86,786  
  1,487      Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A      45,576  
  3,318      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      28,634  
  3,542      TimkenSteel Corp.*      64,358  
  6,784      United States Steel Corp.      169,939  
  1,458      Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.*      10,454  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  2,207      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.    $ 76,450  
  2,629      Worthington Industries, Inc.      130,688  
     

 

 

 
        2,136,997  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.4%):       
  1,321      Big Lots, Inc.      19,419  
  518      Dillard’s, Inc., Class A      167,418  
  2,129      Kohl’s Corp.      53,757  
  7,277      Macy’s, Inc.      150,270  
  1,801      Nordstrom, Inc.      29,068  
  1,573      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      73,679  
     

 

 

 
        493,611  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.6%):       
  4,925      Avista Corp.      218,375  
  3,792      Black Hills Corp.      266,729  
  2,992      NorthWestern Corp.      177,545  
  1,043      Unitil Corp.      53,569  
  2,565      Via Renewables, Inc.      13,107  
     

 

 

 
        729,325  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.5%):       
  2,222      Alto Ingredients, Inc.*      6,399  
  1,382      Amplify Energy Corp.*      12,148  
  27,975      Antero Midstream Corp.      301,850  
  1,071      Arch Resources, Inc.      152,928  
  1,954      Ardmore Shipping Corp.*      28,157  
  4,767      Berry Corp.      38,136  
  2,716      California Resources Corp.      118,173  
  2,330      Callon Petroleum Co.*      86,420  
  254      Centrus Energy Corp., Class A*      8,250  
  1,266      Chord Energy Corp.      173,201  
  1,624      Civitas Resources, Inc.      94,078  
  11,183      Clean Energy Fuel Corp.*      58,152  
  11,288      CNX Resources Corp.*      190,090  
  8,019      Comstock Resources, Inc.      109,940  
  2,015      CONSOL Energy, Inc.      130,975  
  4,922      CVR Energy, Inc.      154,255  
  4,117      Delek US Holdings, Inc.      111,159  
  1,575      Denbury, Inc.*      137,057  
  8,834      DHT Holdings, Inc.      78,446  
  2,156      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      40,856  
  1,337      DT Midstream, Inc.      73,883  
  2,661      Earthstone Energy, Inc.*      37,866  
  10,143      Enlink Midstream LLC      124,759  
  15,991      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      107,140  
  2,943      Evolution Petroleum Corp.      22,220  
  2,611      Green Plains, Inc.*      79,636  
  373      Gulfport Energy Corp.*      27,468  
  1,720      International Seaways, Inc.      63,674  
  29,696      Kosmos Energy, Ltd.*      188,867  
  725      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      37,280  
  4,839      Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A      113,475  
  4,070      Matador Resources Co.      232,967  
  5,091      Murphy Oil Corp.      218,964  
  245      NACCO Industries, Inc., Class A      9,310  
  9,513      Nordic American Tankers, Ltd.      29,110  
  897      Northern Oil And Gas, Inc.      27,646  
  5,300      Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.*      15,317  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  2,838      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*    $ 65,983  
  6,480      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A      264,254  
  4,201      PDC Energy, Inc.      266,679  
  5,636      Peabody Energy Corp.*      148,903  
  7,813      Permian Resources Corp.      73,442  
  2,410      PHX Minerals, Inc.      9,375  
  6      PrimeEnergy Resources Corp.*      521  
  1,018      Range Resources Corp.      25,470  
  523      Ranger Oil Corp.      21,145  
  900      REX American Resources Corp.*      28,674  
  2,674      SandRidge Energy, Inc.*      45,538  
  3,705      Scorpio Tankers, Inc.      199,218  
  8,803      SFL Corp., Ltd.      81,164  
  3,500      Sitio Royalties Corp., Class A      100,975  
  6,858      SM Energy Co.      238,864  
  2,952      Talos Energy, Inc.*      55,734  
  1,980      Teekay Shipping Corp.*      8,989  
  2,363      Teekay Tankers, Ltd., Class A*      72,804  
  5,757      W&T Offshore, Inc.*      32,124  
  4,231      World Fuel Services Corp.      115,633  
     

 

 

 
        5,295,741  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.5%):       
  1,565      Clearwater Paper Corp.*      59,173  
  3,299      Glatfelter Corp.      9,171  
  3,993      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      236,386  
  3,596      Mativ Holdings, Inc.      75,156  
  5,170      Mercer International, Inc.      60,179  
  5,401      Resolute Forest Products*      116,607  
  364      Sylvamo Corp.      17,687  
     

 

 

 
        574,359  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.7%):       
  2,818      BellRing Brands, Inc.*      72,253  
  4,160      Coty, Inc., Class A*      35,610  
  2,807      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      108,182  
  2,868      elf Beauty, Inc.*      158,600  
  2,266      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      33,718  
  1,964      Inter Parfums, Inc.      189,565  
  900      Lifevantage Corp.      3,348  
  546      Medifast, Inc.      62,981  
  1,387      Natural Alternatives International, Inc.*      11,637  
  369      Natural Health Trends Corp.      1,255  
  2,257      Natures Sunshine Products, Inc.*      18,778  
  1,929      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      81,327  
  340      United-Guardian, Inc.      3,536  
  1,070      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      56,924  
     

 

 

 
        837,714  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.0%):       
  1,113      Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.*      17,530  
  900      Adicet Bio, Inc.*      8,046  
  9,876      Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      19,653  
  3,334      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      93,419  
  877      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      35,282  
  1,561      Assembly Biosciences, Inc.*      2,029  
  2,268      Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      52,618  
  4,076      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*      82,784  
  3,415      Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      7,684  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  5,512      Cymabay Therapeutics, Inc.*    $ 34,560  
  1,163      EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      4,070  
  1,035      Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.*      57,028  
  1,224      Harrow Health, Inc.*      18,066  
  4,514      Innoviva, Inc.*      59,810  
  460      Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.*      24,343  
  10,744      Nektar Therapeutics*      24,281  
  882      NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.*      4,428  
  2,257      Pacira BioSciences, Inc.*      87,143  
  3,432      Perrigo Co. plc      116,997  
  1,714      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      22,985  
  1,808      PMV Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      15,730  
  2,694      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      168,644  
  420      Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.*      1,466  
  911      scPharmaceuticals, Inc.*      6,532  
  5,073      SIGA Technologies, Inc.      37,337  
  2,677      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      95,489  
  1,505      Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.*      43,705  
     

 

 

 
        1,141,659  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (2.2%):       
  3,245      ASGN, Inc.*      264,403  
  572      Barrett Business Services, Inc.      53,356  
  323      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      97,091  
  3,153      CBIZ, Inc.*      147,718  
  490      CRA International, Inc.      59,991  
  2,812      Exponent, Inc.      278,641  
  1,273      Forrester Research, Inc.*      45,523  
  882      Franklin Covey Co.*      41,251  
  1,796      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      285,205  
  1,280      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      35,802  
  1,154      Huron Consulting Group, Inc.*      83,780  
  1,116      ICF International, Inc.      110,540  
  1,783      Insperity, Inc.      202,549  
  668      KBR, Inc.      35,270  
  2,340      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      39,546  
  1,439      Kforce, Inc.      78,900  
  2,641      Korn Ferry      133,687  
  958      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      79,715  
  1,332      Mastech Digital, Inc.*      14,665  
  3,943      Mistras Group, Inc.*      19,439  
  2,119      Resources Connection, Inc.      38,947  
  1,557      Science Applications International Corp.      172,718  
  3,186      TriNet Group, Inc.*      216,011  
  2,309      TrueBlue, Inc.*      45,210  
  505      Willdan Group, Inc.*      9,014  
     

 

 

 
        2,588,972  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.7%):       
  1,580      AMREP Corp.*      18,249  
  395      CKX Lands, Inc.*      3,930  
  6,494      Cushman & Wakefield plc*      80,915  
  4,771      Douglas Elliman, Inc.      19,418  
  913      eXp World Holdings, Inc.^      10,116  
  1,627      Five Point Holdings LLC, Class A*      3,791  
  1,972      Forestar Group, Inc.*      30,389  
  504      FRP Holdings, Inc.*      27,145  
  2,119      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      161,934  
  10      J.W. Mays, Inc.*      478  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  7,038      Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.    $ 110,708  
  2,463      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.      84,850  
  1,035      Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Inc.*      9,750  
  8,443      Newmark Group, Inc.      67,291  
  1,207      Rafael Holdings, Inc., Class B*      2,257  
  688      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      12,824  
  3,740      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      23,899  
  308      Stratus Properties, Inc.      5,941  
  2,279      Tejon Ranch Co.*      42,936  
  1,076      The RMR Group, Inc., Class A      30,397  
  2,980      The St Joe Co.      115,177  
     

 

 

 
        862,395  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.8%):       
  1,630      ArcBest Corp.      114,165  
  1,322      Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.      45,702  
  2,131      Daseke, Inc.*      12,125  
  4,045      Heartland Express, Inc.      62,050  
  1,040      Landstar System, Inc.      169,416  
  2,692      Marten Transport, Ltd.      53,248  
  880      PAM Transportation Services, Inc.      22,792  
  774      RXO, Inc.*      13,313  
  1,507      Ryder System, Inc.      125,940  
  526      Saia, Inc.*      110,292  
  2,170      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      50,778  
  1,009      U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., Class A*      1,826  
  1,170      Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.      39,125  
  2,850      Werner Enterprises, Inc.      114,741  
  2,752      Yellow Corp.*      6,907  
     

 

 

 
        942,420  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.8%):       
  1,480      Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.*      42,284  
  1,591      Ambarella, Inc.*      130,828  
  12,049      Amkor Technology, Inc.      288,935  
  1,301      Amtech Systems, Inc.*      9,887  
  2,235      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      177,369  
  2,777      AXT, Inc.*      12,163  
  1,210      CEVA, Inc.*      30,952  
  2,825      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      210,406  
  2,356      Cohu, Inc.*      75,510  
  2,615      Diodes, Inc.*      199,106  
  3,918      FormFactor, Inc.*      87,097  
  4,679      GSI Technology, Inc.*      8,095  
  1,254      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*      33,632  
  1,349      inTEST Corp.*      13,895  
  2,631      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      116,448  
  851      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      55,213  
  1,506      MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      94,848  
  1,636      MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp.*      15,362  
  4,167      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      141,470  
  393      MKS Instruments, Inc.      33,299  
  557      NVE Corp.      36,066  
  2,709      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      184,456  
  2,739      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      78,116  
  5,140      Photronics, Inc.*      86,506  
  2,109      Pixelworks, Inc.*      3,733  
  3,012      Power Integrations, Inc.      216,021  
  6,043      Rambus, Inc.*      216,460  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  3,315      Semtech Corp.*    $ 95,107  
  1,031      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      139,876  
  2,252      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      33,510  
  1,918      Synaptics, Inc.*      182,517  
  2,584      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      85,659  
  680      Universal Display Corp.      73,467  
  2,559      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      47,546  
     

 

 

 
        3,255,839  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.1%):       
  3,492      A10 Networks, Inc.      58,072  
  7,188      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      165,324  
  7,970      Adeia, Inc.      75,556  
  1,294      Agilysys, Inc.*      102,407  
  3,236      Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.*      160,117  
  3,091      Altair Engineering, Inc.*      140,548  
  2,494      American Software, Inc., Class A      36,612  
  796      Appfolio, Inc.*      83,883  
  935      Asure Software, Inc.*      8,733  
  2,785      Aware, Inc.*      4,762  
  3,104      Blackbaud, Inc.*      182,701  
  5,580      Box, Inc.*      173,705  
  1,046      Cerence, Inc.*      19,382  
  3,799      Cognyte Software, Ltd.*      11,815  
  2,139      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      134,415  
  782      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      42,040  
  1,386      DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc.*      30,437  
  1,708      Duck Creek Technologies, Inc.*      20,581  
  1,817      Ebix, Inc.      36,267  
  1,929      Envestnet, Inc.*      119,019  
  1,210      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      75,698  
  981      Jamf Holding Corp.*      20,895  
  2,038      Mitek Systems, Inc.*      19,748  
  554      Model N, Inc.*      22,470  
  1,242      ON24, Inc.*      10,719  
  2,582      OneSpan, Inc.*      28,893  
  2,333      Progress Software Corp.      117,700  
  293      Q2 Holdings, Inc.*      7,873  
  1,989      Qualys, Inc.*      223,226  
  2,532      Rimini Street, Inc.*      9,647  
  1,169      Sapiens International Corp. NV      21,603  
  539      Shotspotter, Inc.*      18,234  
  1,900      Smith Micro Software, Inc.*      3,990  
  843      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      108,267  
  3,200      Sumo Logic, Inc.*      25,920  
  3,280      Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.*      2,027  
  870      Upland Software, Inc.*      6,203  
  3,329      Verint Systems, Inc.*      120,776  
  3,188      Xperi, Inc.*      27,449  
     

 

 

 
        2,477,714  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.9%):       
  1,777      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      21,235  
  2,894      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      66,301  
  11,375      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      158,795  
  422      America’s Car-Mart, Inc.*      30,494  
  1,088      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      195,024  
  1,351      AutoNation, Inc.*      144,962  
  5,705      Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.*      9,984  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  1,634      Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.^    $ 14,428  
  1,510      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      94,405  
  1,732      Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.*      41,291  
  2,857      Caleres, Inc.      63,654  
  407      Camping World Holdings, Inc., Class A      9,084  
  1,799      Cato Corp., Class A      16,785  
  7,945      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      39,089  
  757      Citi Trends, Inc.*      20,045  
  2,251      Conn’s, Inc.*      15,487  
  4,771      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A      46,660  
  1,861      Destination XL Group, Inc.*      12,562  
  4,657      Foot Locker, Inc.      175,988  
  3,840      Gap, Inc. (The)      43,315  
  802      Genesco, Inc.*      36,908  
  753      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      135,819  
  3,762      Guess?, Inc.^      77,836  
  1,284      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      38,392  
  849      Hibbett, Inc.      57,919  
  1,353      Leslie’s, Inc.*      16,520  
  1,529      LL Flooring Holdings, Inc.*      8,593  
  1,251      MarineMax, Inc.*      39,056  
  1,923      Monro, Inc.      86,920  
  704      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      196,796  
  4,234      National Vision Holdings, Inc.*      164,110  
  2,301      ODP Corp. (The)*      104,787  
  443      OneWater Marine, Inc.*      12,670  
  1,560      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      179,291  
  3,598      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      81,135  
  6,055      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      75,809  
  1,818      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      43,468  
  2,746      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      186,728  
  1,362      Sleep Number Corp.*      35,385  
  1,462      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A      72,033  
  2,363      Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc.*      22,236  
  3,031      The Buckle, Inc.      137,456  
  823      The Children’s Place, Inc.*      29,974  
  4,201      The Container Store Group, Inc.*      18,106  
  1,307      Tile Shop Holdings, Inc.*      5,725  
  2,271      Tilly’s, Inc.*      20,553  
  624      TravelCenters of America, Inc.*      27,943  
  5,052      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*      120,490  
  321      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      11,485  
  303      Winmark Corp.      71,456  
  1,091      Zumiez, Inc.*      23,718  
     

 

 

 
        3,358,905  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  2,901      3D Systems Corp.*      21,467  
  1,308      AstroNova, Inc.*      16,769  
  2,793      Avid Technology, Inc.*      74,266  
  6,556      NCR Corp.*      153,476  
  3,811      Stratasys, Ltd.*      45,198  
  2,418      Super Micro Computer, Inc.*      198,518  
  1,590      TransAct Technologies, Inc.*      9,890  
  600      Turtle Beach Corp.*      4,302  
  3,587      Xerox Holdings Corp.      52,370  
     

 

 

 
        576,256  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.0%):       
  2,061      Carter’s, Inc.    $ 153,771  
  2,038      Columbia Sportswear Co.      178,488  
  2,291      Culp, Inc.      10,516  
  2,091      Fossil Group, Inc.*      9,012  
  2,571      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      35,248  
  1,322      Hanesbrands, Inc.      8,408  
  3,180      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      127,168  
  816      Lakeland Industries, Inc.*      10,853  
  844      Movado Group, Inc.      27,219  
  1,001      Oxford Industries, Inc.      93,273  
  1,640      PVH Corp.      115,768  
  674      Rocky Brands, Inc.      15,920  
  3,115      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      130,674  
  4,466      Steven Madden, Ltd.      142,733  
  418      Superior Group of Cos., Inc.      4,205  
  957      Unifi, Inc.*      8,240  
  1,916      Vera Bradley, Inc.*      8,680  
  4,779      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      52,235  
     

 

 

 
        1,132,411  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (2.4%):       
  3,501      Axos Financial, Inc.*      133,808  
  2,838      BankFinancial Corp.      29,884  
  2,024      Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.*      35,906  
  7,770      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      67,211  
  280      Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.      3,368  
  5,449      Columbia Financial, Inc.*      117,807  
  1,537      ESSA Bancorp, Inc.      32,077  
  4,677      Essent Group, Ltd.      181,842  
  596      Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp.      67,175  
  242      First Capital, Inc.      6,026  
  986      FS Bancorp, Inc.      32,972  
  150      Hingham Institution for Savings (The)      41,394  
  629      HMN Financial, Inc.      13,398  
  973      Home Bancorp, Inc.      38,949  
  86      Home Federal Bancorp, Inc.      1,534  
  1,162      HomeStreet, Inc.      32,048  
  869      IF Bancorp, Inc.      14,973  
  3,933      Kearny Financial Corp.      39,920  
  390      Kentucky First Federal Bancorp      2,644  
  289      LendingTree, Inc.*      6,164  
  1,892      Luther Burbank Corp.      21,020  
  940      Malvern Bancorp, Inc.*      16,685  
  1,851      Merchants Bancorp      45,016  
  2,242      MGIC Investment Corp.      29,146  
  3,941      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      158,152  
  21,283      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      183,034  
  4,642      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      97,018  
  3,578      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      56,282  
  6,541      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      91,443  
  3,132      Oceanfirst Financial Corp.      66,555  
  198      Oconee Federal Financial Corp.      4,417  
  1,129      Ocwen Financial Corp.*      34,525  
  1,842      Pathward Financial, Inc.      79,298  
  2,010      PCSB Financial Corp.      38,270  
  477      PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.      27,027  
  1,668      Premier Financial Corp.      44,986  
  1,677      Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.      23,092  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
  3,721      Provident Financial Services, Inc.    $ 79,481  
  4,780      Radian Group, Inc.      91,155  
  1,982      Riverview Bancorp, Inc.      15,222  
  3,589      Security National Financial Corp., Class A*      26,200  
  707      Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.      32,402  
  1,053      Sterling Bancorp, Inc.*      6,413  
  1,409      Territorial Bancorp, Inc.      33,830  
  3,100      TFS Financial Corp.      44,671  
  1,462      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      54,957  
  1,677      Walker & Dunlop, Inc.      131,611  
  3,395      Washington Federal, Inc.      113,902  
  1,247      Waterstone Financial, Inc.      21,498  
  3,601      Western New England BanCorp, Inc.      34,066  
  3,813      WSFS Financial Corp.      172,881  
  35      WVS Financial Corp.      490  
     

 

 

 
        2,773,845  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.2%):       
  763      Turning Point Brands, Inc.      16,504  
  975      Universal Corp.      51,490  
  9,542      Vector Group, Ltd.      113,168  
     

 

 

 
        181,162  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (2.5%):       
  6,925      Air Lease Corp.      266,058  
  1,077      Alta Equipment Group, Inc.      14,206  
  2,624      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.      330,703  
  3,664      Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.*      193,422  
  569      BlueLinx Holdings, Inc.*      40,461  
  1,324      Boise Cascade Co.      90,919  
  1,278      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      35,209  
  1,463      EVI Industries, Inc.*      34,922  
  1,550      GATX Corp.      164,827  
  2,103      Global Industrial Co.      49,484  
  573      GMS, Inc.*      28,535  
  1,299      H&E Equipment Services, Inc.      58,975  
  1,516      Herc Holdings, Inc.      199,460  
  1,475      Kaman Corp., Class A      32,892  
  1,489      McGrath Rentcorp      147,024  
  4,569      MRC Global, Inc.*      52,909  
  2,121      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      173,286  
  7,964      NOW, Inc.*      101,143  
  1,839      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class A      96,143  
  500      Rush Enterprises, Inc., Class B      28,135  
  480      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      56,314  
  2,140      Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.      66,361  
  1,548      Titan Machinery, Inc.*      61,502  
  577      Transcat, Inc.*      40,892  
  3,118      Triton International, Ltd.      214,456  
  5,651      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      179,702  
  1,034      Veritiv Corp.      125,848  
  696      WESCO International, Inc.*      87,139  
     

 

 

 
        2,970,927  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.6%):       
  2,465      American States Water Co.      228,136  
  824      Artesian Resources Corp.      48,270  
  2,717      California Water Service Group      164,759  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Water Utilities, continued       
  1,256      Consolidated Water Co., Ltd.    $ 18,589  
  925      Middlesex Water Co.      72,769  
  2,502      Pure Cycle Corp.*      26,221  
  1,615      SJW Group      131,122  
  859      York Water Co. (The)      38,638  
     

 

 

 
        728,504  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  2,500      Gogo, Inc.*      36,900  
  2,895      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      45,973  
  2,722      Spok Holdings, Inc.      22,293  
  5,534      Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.      58,052  
  2,003      United States Cellular Corp.*      41,762  
     

 

 

 
        204,980  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $98,449,704)

     116,539,049  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.1%):       
Media (0.0%):       
  430      Liberty Broadband Corp., Series A      10,019  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  2,540      WESCO International, Inc., Series A      66,599  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $70,827)

     76,618  
  

 

 

 
Rights (0.0%):       
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  8,857      Achillion Pharm CVR, Expires on 1/29/49*      12,666  
  2,004      Chinook Therapeutics-CVR, Expires on 12/31/49*      4,068  
     

 

 

 
        16,734  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  4,400      Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Expires on 12/31/49*      5,060  
  2,689      Zogenix, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/1/25*      1,828  
     

 

 

 
        6,888  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.0%):       
  4,044      Zagg, Inc. CVR, Expires on 1/2/49*      364  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  8,452      Xeris BioPharma Hold CVR, Expires on 10/6/49*      3,007  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.0%):       
  79      Communications Systems I CVR, Expires on 1/1/29*      349  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $364)

     27,342  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.0%):
      
  54,304      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(c)(d)      54,304  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $54,304)

     54,304  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $98,575,199) — 100.0%(e)

     116,697,313  
  

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.0%

     (25,869
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 116,671,444  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

CVR—Contingency Valued Rights

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $52,381.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(b)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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.

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 98,575,199
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 116,697,313

Interest and dividends receivable

      98,381

Receivable for investments sold

      278,693

Prepaid expenses

      10
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      117,074,397
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      28,196

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      214,758

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      54,304

Management fees payable

      67,858

Administration fees payable

      6,643

Distribution fees payable

      25,320

Custodian fees payable

      1,285

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      305

Transfer agent fees payable

      769

Trustee fees payable

      762

Other accrued liabilities

      2,753
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      402,953
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 116,671,444
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 86,958,705

Total distributable earnings

      29,712,739
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 116,671,444
   

 

 

 

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

      12,347,602

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 9.45
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $52,381.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 1,744,277

Interest

      10

Income from securities lending

      4,581

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,421 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      1,747,447
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,097,809

Administration fees

      45,855

Distribution fees

      322,884

Custodian fees

      8,748

Administrative and compliance services fees

      1,812

Transfer agent fees

      6,042

Trustee fees

      7,239

Professional fees

      5,666

Shareholder reports

      1,758

Other expenses

      3,976
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      1,501,789

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (202,749 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      1,299,040
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      448,407
   

 

 

 

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

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      11,018,027

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      (30,719,096 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (19,701,069 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (19,252,662 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 448,407     $ 661,574

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      11,018,027       30,812,302

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (30,719,096 )       12,016,166
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (19,252,662 )       43,490,042
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (31,426,517 )       (12,429,190 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (31,426,517 )       (12,429,190 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      30,390       663,840

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      31,426,517       12,429,190

Value of shares redeemed

      (19,090,502 )       (56,959,304 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      12,366,405       (43,866,274 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (38,312,774 )       (12,805,422 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      154,984,218       167,789,640
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 116,671,444     $ 154,984,218
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      2,230       44,285

Dividends reinvested

      3,457,263       881,503

Shares redeemed

      (1,593,498 )       (3,908,653 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,865,995       (2,982,865 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 14.79     $ 12.46     $ 11.33     $ 10.19     $ 12.40
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.04 (a)       0.06 (a)       0.05 (a)       0.05 (a)       0.07

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.08 )       3.50       1.46       2.00       (1.53 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.04 )       3.56       1.51       2.05       (1.46 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.08 )       (0.09 )       (0.05 )       (0.06 )       (0.07 )

Net Realized Gains

      (3.22 )       (1.14 )       (0.33 )       (0.85 )       (0.68 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (3.30 )       (1.23 )       (0.38 )       (0.91 )       (0.75 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 9.45     $ 14.79     $ 12.46     $ 11.33     $ 10.19
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (12.91 )%       29.02 %       13.97 %       21.10 %       (12.64 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 116,671     $ 154,984     $ 167,790     $ 170,336     $ 149,873

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.35 %       0.40 %       0.54 %       0.46 %       0.48 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.16 %       1.17 %       1.19 %       1.17 %       1.16 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.01 %       1.02 %       1.04 %       1.02 %       1.01 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      10 %       12 %       22 %       10 %       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, 2022

 

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 Trusts 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 and the 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, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $426 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $54,304 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 %

 

*

Effective October 1, 2022, the Manager waived, prior to any application of expense limit, the management fee to 0.67% on all assets in order to maintain a more competitive expense ratio. Prior to October 1, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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

 

25


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

based on the following schedule: 0.05% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 116,499,529        $ 39,520        $ #        $ 116,539,049

Preferred Stocks+

         76,618                            76,618

Rights+

                  27,342                   27,342

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         54,304                            54,304
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $ 116,630,451        $ 66,862        $        $ 116,697,313
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 13,037,547        $ 30,632,311

 

26


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $98,508,853. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 35,651,305  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (17,462,845
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 18,188,460  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

       $ 4,547,617        $ 26,878,900        $ 31,426,517

 

(a)

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

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.

 

27


AZL DFA U.S. Small Cap Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 695,184        $ 10,829,095        $        $ 18,188,460        $ 29,712,739

 

(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, 2022, 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 this 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.

 

28


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 50.40% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $3,799,842

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $26,878,900.

 

30


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

32


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

33


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned (13.68)%. That compared to a (13.01)% total return for its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.1

The year under review began with a dramatic rise in volatility driven by stubbornly high inflation and rising geopolitical uncertainty. The hawkish pivot by global central banks also drove some of the uptick in market volatility. The yield curve flattened during the first quarter as short-term rates rose along with rising inflation and hawkish rhetoric from the Federal Reserve (the Fed). Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February triggered a broad selloff in emerging market bonds and a flight from risk that drove a widening of credit spreads.

An increasingly hawkish Fed and growing fears of an economic recession caused additional market volatility during the second quarter, which drove credit spreads even wider. Risk assets staged a rally early in the third quarter but gave up nearly all their gains by the end of the quarter due to signs that inflation remained a significant problem. The Fed’s initially unexpected moves to implement several consecutive rate increases of 75 basis points led to further downward pressure on bond prices in September.

Bonds ended the period under review with a rally in October and November that lost steam in December. The rally was largely driven by signs that inflation had slowed, and that the Fed was willing to begin easing the pace of its rate increases. Credit spreads tightened somewhat during this final quarter of the period as yields on risk assets fell, even as a great deal of volatility remained in bond markets.

Amid this volatile period, the Fund underperformed its benchmark for the year. The main detractors for the period were the Fund’s duration and yield curve positioning, which had their largest negative effects during the first half of the period. Security selection in emerging markets also weighed on the Fund’s relative performance, as did its positioning and selection within the securitized asset sector.

The Fund benefited from its allocation to Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), which outperformed amid rising inflation. Security selection in agency mortgages, as well as positioning and selection in investment-grade credit, also benefited relative results, particularly during the first and third quarters.

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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
       

1

Year

    

3

Year

    

5

Year

    

10

Year

AZL® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

         (13.68 )%          (3.09 )%          (0.39 )%          0.64 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (13.01 )%          (2.71 )%          0.02 %          1.06 %

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® Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       0.66 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 969.00     $ 3.13       0.63 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.03     $ 3.21       0.63 %

 

*

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. Government Agency Mortgages

      32.0 %

Corporate Bonds

      24.9

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      19.7

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      9.3

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      8.0

Asset Backed Securities

      4.9

Yankee Debt Obligations

      3.7

Certificates of Deposit

      1.3

Foreign Bonds

      0.9

Municipal Bonds

      0.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.5
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      105.8

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (5.8 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (4.9%):       
$ 1,932,000      American Express Credit Account Master Trust, Class A, Series 2022-3, 3.75%, 8/16/27    $ 1,889,278  
  2,240,443      American Homes 4 Rent LLC, Class A, Series 2014-SFR3, 3.68%, 12/17/36(a)      2,146,963  
  5,977,000      BA Credit Card Trust, Class A2, Series 2022-A2, 5.00%, 4/17/28      6,043,074  
  1,640,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-B7, 4.51%, 11/15/51, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100      1,583,782  
  2,531,000      Capital One Multi-Asset Execution Trust, Class A, Series 2022-A2, 3.49%, 5/15/27      2,461,518  
  5,275,000      Capital One Multi-Asset Execution Trust, Class A, Series 2022-A3, 4.95%, 10/15/27      5,309,520  
  2,753,070      CarMax Auto Owner Trust, Class A2A, Series 2022-2, 2.81%, 5/15/25, Callable 1/15/26 @ 100      2,727,409  
  143,442      College Ave Student Loans LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 5.49%(US0001M+110bps), 7/25/51, Callable 2/25/32 @ 100(a)      143,190  
  995,669      College Ave Student Loans LLC, Class A2, Series 2021-C, 2.32%, 7/26/55(a)      861,815  
  1,078,379      College Avenue Student Loans LLC, Class A2, Series 2021-B, 1.76%, 6/25/52, Callable 1/25/34 @ 100(a)      924,749  
  74,426      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 20-2A, 1.37%, 7/16/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(a)      73,696  
  3,640,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 0.96%, 2/15/30, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(a)      3,490,799  
  3,400,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-4, 1.26%, 10/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100(a)      3,174,621  
  1,880,000      Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-3A, 1.00%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 100(a)      1,792,471  
  432,415      EDvestinU Private Education Loan Issue No 3 LLC, Class A, Series 2021-A, 1.80%, 11/25/45(a)      362,423  
  773,000      Enterprise Fleet Financing LLC, Class A3, Series 2022-3, 4.29%, 7/20/29, Callable 5/20/26 @ 100(a)      733,312  
  3,383,526      Ford Credit Auto Lease Trust, Class A2A, Series 2022-A, 2.78%, 10/15/24, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      3,344,608  
  737,000      Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust, Class A3, Series 2022-D, 5.27%, 5/17/27, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100      745,146  
  434,254      Goodleap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2022-1GS, 2.70%, 1/20/49, Callable 6/20/36 @ 100(a)      332,627  
  1,669,873      GoodLeap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2021-4GS, 1.93%, 7/20/48, Callable 7/20/36 @ 100(a)      1,301,743  
  911,493      GoodLeap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2021-5CS, 2.31%, 10/20/48, Callable 8/20/36 @ 100(a)      651,871  
  1,897,058      GoodLeap Sustainable Home Solutions Trust, Class A, Series 2022-3CS, 4.95%, 7/20/49, Callable 11/20/36 @ 100(a)      1,738,573  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 2,960,000      GPMT, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL4, 5.71%(US0001M+135bps), 11/15/36, Callable 11/20/23 @ 100(a)    $ 2,823,379  
  1,358,000      Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust, Class A3, Series 2022-C, 5.39%, 6/15/27, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      1,374,965  
  1,390,000      Lendmark Funding Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 1.90%, 11/20/31, Callable 5/20/26 @ 100(a)      1,182,176  
  1,200,000      Mariner Finance Issuance Trust, Class A, Series 2021-AA, 1.86%, 3/20/36, Callable 3/20/26 @ 100(a)      1,029,995  
  1,569,734      Mosaic Solar Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2022-1A, 2.64%, 1/20/53, Callable 3/20/36 @ 100(a)      1,304,376  
  947,292      Mosaic Solar Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2022-2A, 4.38%, 1/21/53, Callable 12/20/36 @ 100(a)      863,430  
  1,006,000      Mosaic Solar Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2022-D, 6.16%, 6/20/53, Callable 6/20/37 @ 100(a)      1,003,086  
  1,044,651      Navient Private Education Loan Trust, Class A1B, Series 2020-lA, 5.32%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/69, Callable 7/15/31 @ 100(a)      1,016,249  
  2,110,400      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 20-FA, 1.22%, 7/15/69, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,927,900  
  4,305,093      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2022-BA, 4.16%, 10/15/70, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100(a)      3,986,016  
  2,235,496      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-DA, 5.01%(PRIME-(199)bps), 4/15/60, Callable 5/15/32 @ 100(a)      2,058,585  
  452,651      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-A, 0.84%, 5/15/69, Callable 1/15/28 @ 100(a)      390,699  
  6,534,166      Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2021-EA, 0.97%, 12/16/69, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100(a)      5,524,374  
  130,250      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2, Series 2018-EA, 4.00%, 12/15/59, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100(a)      126,095  
  874,323      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2020-CA, 5.92%(US0001M+160bps), 11/15/68, Callable 3/15/31 @ 100(a)      852,748  
  1,682,585      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2019-D, 5.37%(US0001M+105bps), 12/15/59, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100(a)      1,632,753  
  3,719,000      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFL, Series 2021-CA, 5.09%(US0001M+74bps), 4/20/62, Callable 5/20/31 @ 100(a)      3,573,153  
  3,182,955      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class APT2, Series 2021-A, 1.36%, 4/20/62, Callable 9/20/29 @ 100(a)      2,806,127  
  2,626,243      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFX, Series 2021-DA, 1.63%, 4/20/62, Callable 8/20/31 @ 100(a)      2,364,547  
  6,079,851      Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Class AFL, Series 2021-BA, 5.13%(US0001M+78bps), 4/20/62, Callable 7/20/29 @ 100(a)      5,914,118  
  1,400,000      PFS Financing Corp., Class A, Series 2021-A, 0.71%, 4/15/26(a)      1,320,240  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 579,907      Prodigy Finance CM2021-1 DAC, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.64%(US0001M+125bps), 7/25/51, Callable 2/25/27 @ 100(a)    $ 558,581  
  2,009,000      Regional Management Issuance Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2, 1.90%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100(a)      1,707,856  
  1,210,570      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class APT1, Series 2021-C, 1.39%, 1/15/53(a)      1,039,018  
  339,278      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2017-B, 5.07%(US0001M+75bps), 10/15/35(a)      335,141  
  3,107,843      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class APT, Series 2022-A, 2.85%, 11/16/54(a)      2,814,347  
  283,747      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2B, Series 2020-A, 5.15%(US0001M+83bps), 9/15/37(a)      269,833  
  3,677,885      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A2A1, Series 2021-A, 5.05%(US0001M+73bps), 1/15/53(a)      3,481,905  
  490,000      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class B, Series 2021-A, 2.31%, 1/15/53(a)      411,754  
  1,956,323      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A1B, Series 2022-C, 5.66%(SOFR30A+185bps), 5/16/50(a)      1,944,691  
  1,721,362      SMB Private Education Loan Trust, Class A1A, Series BA, 1.29%, 7/15/53(a)      1,554,606  
  469,525      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2019-B, 3.09%, 8/17/48, Callable 5/15/26 @ 100(a)      441,805  
  1,173,484      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2020-A, 2.54%, 5/15/46, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,042,780  
  585,420      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class AFX, Series 2020-C, 1.95%, 2/15/46, Callable 4/15/28 @ 100(a)      532,018  
  9,374      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2B, Series 2016-D, 2.34%, 4/25/33, Callable 11/25/23 @ 100(a)      9,124  
  1,235,234      SoFi Professional Loan Program, Class A2FX, Series 2017-F, 2.84%, 1/25/41, Callable 5/25/25 @ 100(a)      1,187,605  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $109,347,988)

     102,239,263  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (8.0%):       
  1,930,000      ACRES Commercial Realty, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL2, 5.73%(US0001M+140bps), 1/15/37, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,842,898  
  2,000,000      AIMCO CLO, Class AR, Series 2017-AA, 5.29%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      1,944,258  
  2,810,000      Alen Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ACEN, 5.47%(US0001M+115bps), 4/15/38(a)      2,722,037  
  1,000,000      Anchorage Capital CLO 7, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2015-7A, 5.46%(US0003M+109bps), 1/28/31, Callable 1/28/23 @ 100(a)      984,531  
  2,008,848      Angel Oak Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-1, 2.88%, 12/25/66, Callable 1/25/25 @ 100(a)(b)      1,779,332  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 1,170,000      Apidos CLO XX, Class A1RA, Series 2015-20A, 5.89%(US0003M+110bps), 7/16/31, Callable 1/16/23 @ 100(a)    $ 1,144,716  
  4,240,000      Arbor Realty Commercial Real Estate Notes, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL4, 5.67%(US0001M+135bps), 11/15/36, Callable 6/15/24 @ 100(a)      4,098,301  
  500,894      Ares XL CLO, Ltd., Class A1RA, Series 2016-40A, 5.66%(US0003M+87bps), 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(a)      494,102  
  500,000      Ares XXXIIR CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2014-32RA, 5.55%(US0003M+94bps), 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/23 @ 100(a)      489,912  
  1,635,178      Arroyo Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-2, 4.95%, 7/25/57, Callable 7/25/25 @ 100(a)      1,591,800  
  1,330,000      BANK, Class A5, Series 2021-BN38, 2.52%, 12/15/64, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      1,081,181  
  3,850,000      Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2018-TALL, 5.04%(US0001M+72bps), 3/15/37(a)      3,654,183  
  1,232,856      Battalion CLO VIII, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-8A, 5.26%(US0003M+107bps), 7/18/30, Callable 1/18/23 @ 100(a)      1,211,304  
  2,290,000      Battalion CLO X, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2016-10A, 5.49%(US0003M+117bps), 1/25/35, Callable 1/24/23 @ 100(a)      2,227,783  
  4,580,000      BDS, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL10, 5.69%(US0001M+135bps), 12/18/36, Callable 12/16/23 @ 100(a)      4,422,640  
  1,040,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-B15, 3.56%, 12/15/72, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      822,035  
  1,540,000      BSPRT Issuer, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-FL7, 5.64%(US0001M+132bps), 12/15/38, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,471,252  
  1,120,000      BX, Class A, Series 2021-MFM1, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 1/15/34(a)      1,084,047  
  1,810,898      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-XL, 5.37%(US0001M+92bps), 10/15/36(a)      1,786,262  
  3,350,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-ViV4, 2.84%, 3/9/44, Callable 3/9/30 @ 100(a)      2,658,577  
  2,506,764      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-XL2, 5.01%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/36(a)      2,409,955  
  2,110,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-CIP, 5.24%(US0001M+92bps), 12/15/28(a)      2,036,210  
  4,800,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ARIA, 5.22%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(a)      4,566,216  
  551,000      BX Trust, Class D, Series 2019-OC11, 4.08%, 12/9/41, Callable 12/9/29 @ 100(a)      438,645  
  603,000      Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, Class B, Series 2019-CF3, 3.50%, 1/15/53, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100(b)      496,172  
  615,000      Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, Class A4, Series 2019-CF2, 2.62%, 11/15/52, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      520,639  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 400,000      CARLYLE US CLO, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-5A, 5.36%(US0003M+112bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(a)    $ 386,605  
  2,235,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 5.29%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      2,161,766  
  1,950,000      CEDR Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-SNAI, 5.32%(TSFR1M+99bps), 2/15/39(a)      1,832,955  
  250,677      Chase Home Lending Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-ATR2, 4.94%(US0001M+90bps), 7/25/49, Callable 6/25/36 @ 100(a)      242,403  
  1,250,000      CIFC Funding, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2013-3RA, 5.30%(US0003M+98bps), 4/24/31, Callable 1/24/23 @ 100(a)      1,229,288  
  731,573      CIM Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV3, 4.97%(US0001M+100bps), 8/25/49, Callable 10/25/41 @ 100(a)      672,806  
  667,000      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A5, Series 2015-CR24, 3.70%, 8/10/48, Callable 6/10/26 @ 100      633,634  
  1,279,058      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class AM, Series 2013-CR7, 3.31%, 3/10/46, Callable 4/10/23 @ 100(a)      1,268,796  
  3,075,000      Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-CCRE26, 3.63%, 10/10/48, Callable 9/10/25 @ 100      2,911,635  
  2,253,698      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(a)      2,018,067  
  210,000      CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-CX11, 4.03%, 4/15/51, Callable 4/15/28 @ 100(b)      195,552  
  1,195,000      CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-C15, 4.48%, 3/15/52, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100      1,054,113  
  1,727,569      CSMC, Class A1, Series 2021-NQM8, 1.84%, 10/25/66, Callable 11/25/24 @ 100(a)(b)      1,447,871  
  2,335,000      CSMC, Class B, Series 2021-BHAR, 5.82%(US0001M+150bps), 11/15/38(a)      2,190,660  
  2,000,000      Dewolf Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 5.00%(US0003M+92bps), 10/15/30, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,973,324  
  1,440,000      Diameter Capital CLO 1, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-1A, 5.32%(US0003M+124bps), 7/15/36, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,387,069  
  2,000,000      Dryden 37 Senior Loan Fund, Class AR, Series 2015-37A, 5.18%(US0003M+110bps), 1/15/31, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,973,604  
  2,095,000      Dryden 43 Senior Loan Fund, Class AR2, Series 2016-43A, 5.28%(US0003M+104bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      2,030,968  
  800,000      Dryden 75 CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2019-75A, 5.12%(US0003M+104bps), 4/15/34, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100(a)      772,197  
  4,750,000      Elmwood CLO II, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-2A, 5.39%(US0003M+115bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      4,637,634  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 5,281,200      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 5.40%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(a)    $ 5,129,205  
  515,126      Flagstar Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-1, 4.97%(US0001M+95bps), 10/25/49, Callable 3/25/36 @ 100(a)      474,127  
  1,050,000      Flatiron CLO 18, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-1A, 5.87%(TSFR3M+121bps), 4/17/31, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(a)      1,034,401  
  1,045,467      FRESB Multifamily Mortgage Pass Through, Class A10H, Series 2019-SB60, 3.50%(US0001M+350bps), 1/25/39, Callable 12/25/28 @ 100      968,377  
  1,230,000      FS RIALTO, Class A, Series 2021-FL2, 5.55%(US0001M+122bps), 4/16/26, Callable 4/16/23 @ 100(a)      1,168,041  
  2,720,000      FS Rialto Issuer LLC, Class A, Series 2022-FL4, 5.71%(SOFR30A+190bps), 1/19/39, Callable 4/17/24 @ 100(a)      2,598,040  
  1,122,000      Galaxy XXVII CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-27A, 5.66%(US0003M+102bps), 5/16/31, Callable 2/16/23 @ 100(a)      1,098,313  
  3,027,534      GCAT Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-NQM7, 1.92%, 8/25/66, Callable 3/25/40 @ 100(a)(b)      2,607,810  
  3,664,911      GS Mortgage Backed Securities Corp. Trust, Class A4, Series 2022-PJ2, 2.50%, 6/25/52, Callable 1/25/46 @ 100(a)(b)      2,947,105  
  2,820,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class A, Series 2022-SHIP, 5.07%(TSFR1M+73bps), 8/15/24      2,780,101  
  1,666,642      GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust, Class A2, Series 2021-PJ6, 2.50%, 11/25/51, Callable 11/25/48 @ 100(a)(b)      1,329,407  
  1,040,221      Homeward Opportunities Fund Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-1, 5.08%, 7/25/67, Callable 8/25/25 @ 100(a)(b)      1,033,817  
  1,525,000      IMT Trust, Class BFX, Series 2017-APTS, 3.50%, 6/15/34(a)(b)      1,443,962  
  270,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class D, Series 2022-OPO, 3.45%, 1/5/39(a)(b)      199,043  
  2,403,353      J.P. Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A3B, Series 2022-INV3, 3.00%, 9/25/52, Callable 2/25/41 @ 100(a)(b)      2,010,179  
  585,836      JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., Class A, Series 2021-MHC, 5.12%(US0001M+80bps), 4/15/38(a)      570,476  
  3,660,000      JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2021-NYAH, 5.08%(US0001M+76bps), 6/15/38      3,545,757  
  461,169      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV2, 4.94%(US0001M+90bps), 2/25/50, Callable 5/25/32 @ 100(a)      426,661  
  421,148      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-INV3, 5.04%(US0001M+100bps), 5/25/50, Callable 3/25/43 @ 100(a)      385,201  
  93,896      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-LTV3, 4.89%(US0001M+85bps), 2/25/50, Callable 3/25/33 @ 100(a)      90,369  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 125,568      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2019-LTV3, 3.50%, 2/25/50, Callable 3/25/33 @ 100(a)(b)    $ 120,876  
  168,803      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2019-7, 4.94%(US0001M+90bps), 2/25/50, Callable 12/25/26 @ 100(a)      154,760  
  94,397      JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Class A11, Series 2020-LTV1, 5.04%(US0001M+100bps), 6/25/50, Callable 6/25/28 @ 100(a)      92,087  
  700,000      JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A5, Series 2017-C5, 3.69%, 3/15/50, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      652,812  
  2,904,000      KNDL Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-KNSQ, 5.12%(US0001M+80bps), 5/15/36(a)      2,870,705  
  1,000,000      LCM XVIII, LP, Class A1R, Series 18A, 5.26%(US0003M+102bps), 4/20/31, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(a)      978,332  
  1,503,944      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(a)      1,456,776  
  1,875,000      LoanCore Issuer, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-CRE6, 5.62%(US0001M+130bps), 11/15/38, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,791,307  
  1,120,000      Madison Park Funding LXII, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-62A, 4.76%(TSFR3M+225bps), 7/17/33, Callable 7/17/23 @ 100(a)      1,115,931  
  1,000,000      Madison Park Funding XVII, Ltd., Class ARR, Series 2015-18A, 5.22%(US0003M+94bps), 10/21/30, Callable 1/21/23 @ 100(a)      986,000  
  1,000,000      Madison Park Funding XXXV, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-35A, 5.23%(US0003M+99bps), 4/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(a)      972,106  
  2,975,689      Mello Mortgage Capital Acceptance, Class A3, Series 2022-INV2, 3.00%, 4/25/52, Callable 7/25/46 @ 100(a)(b)      2,479,585  
  630,000      MF1, Class A, Series 2021-W10, 5.41%(SOFR30A+107bps), 12/15/24(a)      598,076  
  3,570,000      MHP, Class A, Series 2021-STOR, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 7/15/38(a)      3,444,571  
  1,109,959      Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Class A3, Series 2015-C24, 3.48%, 5/15/48, Callable 8/15/25 @ 100      1,053,944  
  1,540,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2016-BNK2, 3.05%, 11/15/49, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      1,405,427  
  2,545,000      MTN Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-LPFL, 5.73%(TSFR1M+140bps), 3/15/39(a)      2,473,841  
  800,000      Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 32, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-32A, 5.79%(US0003M+99bps), 1/20/32, Callable 1/19/23 @ 100(a)      782,532  
  1,510,519      OBX Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-INV3, 3.00%, 2/25/52, Callable 2/25/48 @ 100(a)(b)      1,254,911  
  1,905,000      Octagon 66, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-1A, 4.59%(TSFR3M+194bps), 8/16/33, Callable 8/16/23 @ 100(a)      1,880,349  
  360,000      Octagon Investment Partners 30, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2017-1A, 5.24%(US0003M+100bps), 3/17/30, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(a)      353,318  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 1,000,000      Octagon Investment Partners XVI, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2013-1A, 5.10%(US0003M+102bps), 7/17/30, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(a)    $ 984,949  
  1,200,000      Octagon Investment Partners XVII, Ltd., Class A2R2, Series 2013-1A, 5.46%(US0003M+110bps), 1/25/31, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(a)      1,161,458  
  2,487,884      One Lincoln Street Commercial Mortgage, Class A1, Series 2004-C3, 5.72%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(a)(b)      2,490,770  
  1,510,000      One New York Plaza Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1NYP, 5.27%(US0001M+95bps), 1/15/26(a)      1,427,102  
  2,700,000      Palmer Square CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2022-4A, 6.22%(TSFR3M+215bps), 10/20/35, Callable 1/20/25 @ 100(a)      2,689,288  
  2,260,144      PRKCM Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-AFC2, 2.07%, 11/25/56, Callable 9/25/42 @ 100(a)(b)      1,837,356  
  1,250,000      RR 3, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2018-3A, 5.17%(US0003M+109bps), 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,233,033  
  588,364      Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Class MA, Series 2018-2, 3.50%, 11/25/57, Callable 8/25/43 @ 100      563,225  
  1,498,975      Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Class MA, Series 2019-2, 3.50%, 8/25/58, Callable 7/25/53 @ 100      1,418,607  
  125,000      SG Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A4, Series 2016-C5, 3.06%, 10/10/48, Callable 7/10/26 @ 100      113,327  
  870,344      SG Residential Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-2, 5.35%, 9/25/67, Callable 8/25/25 @ 100(a)(b)      881,885  
  1,000,000      Signal Peak CLO 5, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-5A, 5.47%(US0003M+111bps), 4/25/31, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(a)      981,700  
  1,000,000      Signal Peak CLO 8, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-8A, 5.51%(US0003M+127bps), 4/20/33, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(a)      972,585  
  2,300,000      Taubman Centers Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-DPM, 6.52%(TSFR1M+219bps), 5/15/37(a)      2,230,349  
  388,839      Tharaldson Hotel Portfolio Trust, Class A, Series 2018-THL, 5.27%(US0001M+75bps), 11/11/34(a)      379,354  
  2,788,916      Verus Securitization Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-3, 4.13%, 2/25/67, Callable 3/25/25 @ 100(a)      2,611,504  
  725,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-1A, 5.14%(US0003M+106bps), 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(a)      713,554  
  1,000,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2017-3A, 5.28%(US0003M+104bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(a)      969,634  
  8,673,210      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class XA, Series 2016-LC25, 0.83%, 12/15/59, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100(b)      223,747  
  775,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-C28, 3.54%, 5/15/48, Callable 5/15/25 @ 100      736,535  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 1,015,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A4, Series 2015-NXS4, 3.72%, 12/15/48, Callable 11/15/25 @ 100    $ 963,721  
  1,250,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class AS, Series 2015-NXS1, 3.41%, 5/15/48, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      1,162,966  
  1,500,000      Whitebox CLO III, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-3A, 5.30%(US0003M+122bps), 10/15/34, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(a)      1,460,586  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $176,026,489)

     165,965,808  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (24.9%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.2%):       
  3,133,000      BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 3.80%, 10/7/24(a)      3,046,868  
  647,000      BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 3.85%, 12/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100(a)      622,116  
  903,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100      834,171  
  796,000      General Dynamics Corp., 3.75%, 5/15/28, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100      760,561  
  1,249,000      Harris Corp., 4.40%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,204,043  
  1,192,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 3.48%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      1,075,780  
  1,518,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 2.04%, 8/16/28, Callable 6/16/28 @ 100      1,254,161  
  360,000      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 4.20%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      326,272  
  1,315,000      L3Harris Technologies, Inc., 3.85%, 12/15/26, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100      1,255,166  
  1,383,000      L3Harris Technologies, Inc., 4.40%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,334,493  
  305,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 3.90%, 6/15/32, Callable 3/15/32 @ 100      288,007  
  188,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., Series B, 6.15%, 9/1/36      205,589  
  1,051,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 3.80%, 3/1/45, Callable 9/1/44 @ 100      867,650  
  259,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 4.15%, 6/15/53, Callable 12/15/52 @ 100      221,585  
  229,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 4.30%, 6/15/62, Callable 12/15/61 @ 100      194,320  
  610,000      Lockheed Martin Corp., 5.90%, 11/15/63, Callable 5/15/63 @ 100      661,807  
  217,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 3.85%, 4/15/45, Callable 10/15/44 @ 100      174,236  
  1,655,000      Northrop Grumman Corp., 4.03%, 10/15/47, Callable 4/15/47 @ 100      1,378,507  
  115,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 7.00%, 11/1/28      123,642  
  2,427,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.13%, 11/16/28, Callable 8/16/28 @ 100      2,331,107  
  533,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 2.25%, 7/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      444,786  
  852,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 2.38%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      693,061  
  168,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.50%, 6/1/42      152,364  
  415,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.20%, 12/15/44, Callable 6/15/44 @ 100      329,243  
  709,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.35%, 4/15/47, Callable 10/15/46 @ 100      609,090  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Aerospace & Defense, continued       
$ 469,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.05%, 5/4/47, Callable 11/4/46 @ 100    $ 387,059  
  1,426,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.63%, 11/16/48, Callable 5/16/48 @ 100      1,304,838  
  405,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 2.82%, 9/1/51, Callable 3/1/51 @ 100      266,226  
  875,000      Raytheon Technologies Corp., 3.03%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100      600,510  
  264,000      Textron, Inc., 3.65%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100      246,794  
  1,098,000      Textron, Inc., 3.90%, 9/17/29, Callable 6/17/29 @ 100      996,293  
  661,000      The Boeing Co., 3.95%, 8/1/59, Callable 2/1/59 @ 100      449,044  
     

 

 

 
        24,639,389  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.0%):       
  695,000      United Parcel Service, Inc., 0.38%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      729,054  
     

 

 

 
        729,054  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  801,857      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-2, Class B, 4.40%, 3/22/25      781,105  
  458,859      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-2, Class AA, 3.60%, 3/22/29      407,578  
  194,985      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class AA, 3.20%, 12/15/29      169,135  
  384,907      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-3, Class AA, 3.00%, 4/15/30      329,820  
  159,224      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2017-1, Class AA, 3.65%, 8/15/30      140,871  
  635,355      American Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-1, 3.15%, 8/15/33      527,749  
  420,000      Delta Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-1, Class AA, 3.20%, 10/25/25      407,032  
  5,718      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class B, 3.65%, 4/7/27      5,043  
  234,123      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2018-1, Class B, 4.60%, 9/1/27      213,539  
  1,027,498      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2020-1, Class A, 5.88%, 4/15/29      1,008,233  
  10,286      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2015-1, Class AA, 3.45%, 6/1/29      9,145  
  330,416      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class B, 3.50%, 11/1/29      279,561  
  42,698      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-2, Class AA, 3.10%, 1/7/30      37,485  
  165,530      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class AA, 2.88%, 4/7/30      140,384  
  202,278      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2018-1, Class AA, 3.50%, 9/1/31      171,809  
  324,747      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2016-1, Class AA, 4.15%, 2/25/33      289,095  
  446,685      United Airlines Pass Through Trust, Series 2019-2, Class AA, 2.70%, 11/1/33      362,013  
     

 

 

 
        5,279,597  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Automobiles (0.1%):       
$ 1,237,000      General Motors Co., 5.40%, 10/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100    $ 1,183,536  
     

 

 

 
Banks (4.0%):       
  418,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.55% (US0003M+78 bps), 3/5/24, Callable 3/5/23 @ 100      416,598  
  218,000      Bank of America Corp., 0.98% (SOFR+69 bps), 4/22/25, Callable 4/22/24 @ 100      203,610  
  77,000      Bank of America Corp., 0.98% (SOFR+91 bps), 9/25/25, Callable 9/25/24 @ 100, MTN      70,729  
  6,244,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.32% (SOFR+115 bps), 6/19/26, Callable 6/19/25 @ 100, MTN      5,625,469  
  5,787,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.20% (SOFR+101 bps), 10/24/26, Callable 10/24/25 @ 100, MTN      5,163,306  
  3,133,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.56% (US0003M+106 bps), 4/23/27, Callable 4/23/26 @ 100, MTN      2,936,270  
  1,338,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.73% (SOFR+96 bps), 7/22/27, Callable 7/22/26 @ 100      1,177,346  
  2,767,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.82% (US0003M+158 bps), 1/20/28, Callable 1/20/27 @ 100, MTN      2,583,028  
  1,925,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.55% (SOFR+105 bps), 2/4/28, Callable 2/4/27 @ 100      1,713,281  
  730,000      Bank of America Corp., 6.20% (SOFR+199 bps), 11/10/28, Callable 11/10/27 @ 100      741,421  
  3,800,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.42% (US0003M+104 bps), 12/20/28, Callable 12/20/27 @ 100      3,440,265  
  821,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+107 bps), 3/5/29, Callable 3/5/28 @ 100, MTN      759,944  
  1,535,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.27% (US0003M+131 bps), 7/23/29, Callable 7/23/28 @ 100      1,435,274  
  938,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+121 bps), 2/7/30, Callable 2/7/29 @ 100, MTN      851,444  
  1,510,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.19% (US0003M+118 bps), 7/23/30, Callable 7/23/29 @ 100, MTN      1,301,904  
  2,592,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.88% (US0003M+119 bps), 10/22/30, Callable 10/22/29 @ 100, MTN      2,175,932  
  4,778,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.50% (US0003M+99 bps), 2/13/31, Callable 2/13/30 @ 100, MTN      3,891,385  
  793,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.59% (SOFR+215 bps), 4/29/31, Callable 4/29/30 @ 100      648,492  
  295,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.90% (SOFR+153 bps), 7/23/31, Callable 7/23/30 @ 100, MTN      227,404  
  1,134,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.92% (SOFR+137 bps), 10/24/31, Callable 10/24/30 @ 100, MTN      868,116  
  111,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.69% (SOFR+132 bps), 4/22/32, Callable 4/22/31 @ 100      88,864  
  1,197,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.57% (SOFR+121 bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/31 @ 100      939,746  
  2,442,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.97% (SOFR+133 bps), 2/4/33, Callable 2/4/32 @ 100      1,971,480  
  4,316,000      Bank of America Corp., 4.57% (SOFR+183 bps), 4/27/33, Callable 4/27/32 @ 100      3,981,329  
  591,000      Bank of America Corp., 5.87% (US0003M+293 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      518,603  
  2,898,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.07% (SOFR+128 bps), 2/24/28, Callable 2/24/27 @ 100      2,612,593  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 3,659,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.98% (US0003M+134 bps), 3/20/30, Callable 3/20/29 @ 100    $ 3,298,497  
  4,621,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.98% (SOFR+142 bps), 11/5/30, Callable 11/5/29 @ 100      3,898,807  
  479,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.57% (SOFR+211 bps), 6/3/31, Callable 6/3/30 @ 100      386,211  
  412,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.79% (SOFR+194 bps), 3/17/33, Callable 3/17/32 @ 100      353,483  
  525,000      Citigroup, Inc., 6.27% (SOFR+234 bps), 11/17/33, Callable 11/17/32 @ 100      545,239  
  1,633,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.56% (US0003M+73 bps), 4/23/24, Callable 4/23/23 @ 100      1,621,643  
  1,702,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 5.55% (SOFR+107 bps), 12/15/25, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100      1,702,819  
  1,398,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.60% (SOFR+92 bps), 2/24/26, Callable 2/24/25 @ 100      1,317,184  
  956,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.00% (SOFR+159 bps), 3/13/26, Callable 3/13/25 @ 100      884,203  
  2,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.20%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      1,889  
  1,962,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.96% (US0003M+125 bps), 1/29/27, Callable 1/29/26 @ 100      1,868,936  
  4,797,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.78% (US0003M+134 bps), 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      4,497,859  
  1,801,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.95% (SOFR+117 bps), 2/24/28, Callable 2/24/27 @ 100      1,633,303  
  2,224,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.18% (SOFR+189 bps), 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/27 @ 100      1,947,314  
  1,750,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.01% (US0003M+112 bps), 4/23/29, Callable 4/23/28 @ 100      1,620,537  
  1,318,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.70% (US0003M+116 bps), 5/6/30, Callable 5/6/29 @ 100      1,189,730  
  526,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.76% (TSFR3M+111 bps), 11/19/31, Callable 11/19/30 @ 100      400,442  
  1,797,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.96% (SOFR+126 bps), 1/25/33, Callable 1/25/32 @ 100      1,469,558  
  1,878,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.59% (SOFR+180 bps), 4/26/33, Callable 4/26/32 @ 100      1,737,240  
  3,145,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.91% (SOFR+208 bps), 7/25/33, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100^      3,002,330  
  1,039,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.16% (US0003M+75 bps), 2/11/26, Callable 2/11/25 @ 100, MTN      970,611  
  3,030,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.53% (SOFR+151 bps), 3/24/28, Callable 3/24/27 @ 100      2,819,173  
  798,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.58% (US0003M+131 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100, MTN      740,864  
     

 

 

 
        84,251,705  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.0%):       
  556,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.70%, 2/1/36, Callable 8/1/35 @ 100      525,865  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.4%):       
  2,680,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.55%, 3/15/35, Callable 9/15/34 @ 100      2,507,521  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
$ 1,789,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.50%, 5/14/35, Callable 11/14/34 @ 100    $ 1,667,811  
  520,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.40%, 11/6/42      454,370  
  992,000      Amgen, Inc., 2.45%, 2/21/30, Callable 11/21/29 @ 100      840,227  
  527,000      Amgen, Inc., 4.40%, 5/1/45, Callable 11/1/44 @ 100      445,566  
  612,000      Amgen, Inc., 4.56%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      524,130  
  307,000      Gilead Sciences, Inc., 2.60%, 10/1/40, Callable 4/1/40 @ 100      216,480  
  1,178,000      Gilead Sciences, Inc., 4.80%, 4/1/44, Callable 10/1/43 @ 100      1,091,444  
     

 

 

 
        7,747,549  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  566,000      Owens Corning, 4.40%, 1/30/48, Callable 7/30/47 @ 100      442,625  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.5%):       
  622,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      571,497  
  704,000      Ares Capital Corp., 2.15%, 7/15/26, Callable 6/15/26 @ 100      596,677  
  215,000      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The), 4.62% (US0003M+313 bps), 12/29/49, Callable 9/20/26 @ 100      182,750  
  1,291,000      FactSet Research Systems, 3.45%, 3/1/32, Callable 12/1/31 @ 100      1,094,663  
  1,234,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 5.78% (US0003M+117 bps), 5/15/26, Callable 5/15/25 @ 100      1,221,965  
  1,623,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 4.48% (SOFR+173 bps), 8/23/28, Callable 8/23/27 @ 100      1,557,264  
  366,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.99% (SOFR+1 bps), 1/27/32, Callable 1/27/31 @ 100      279,489  
  9,381,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.10% (SOFR+141 bps), 2/24/33, Callable 2/24/32 @ 100      7,674,924  
  1,580,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The, 0.66% (SOFR+51 bps), 9/10/24, Callable 9/10/23 @ 100      1,520,862  
  9,080,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The, 2.64% (SOFR+111 bps), 2/24/28, Callable 2/24/27 @ 100      8,086,357  
  331,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The, 2.62% (SOFR+128 bps), 4/22/32, Callable 4/22/31 @ 100      264,729  
  267,000      Moody’s Corp., 2.00%, 8/19/31, Callable 5/19/31 @ 100      211,360  
  1,203,000      Moody’s Corp., 4.25%, 8/8/32, Callable 5/8/32 @ 100      1,129,793  
  683,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.10%, 11/29/61, Callable 5/29/61 @ 100      433,506  
  520,000      Morgan Stanley, 0.73% (SOFR+62 bps), 4/5/24, Callable 4/5/23 @ 100      512,275  
  740,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.63%, 1/20/27      697,685  
  9,921,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.59% (SOFR+88 bps), 5/4/27, Callable 5/4/26 @ 100      8,697,026  
  4,092,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.59% (US0003M+134 bps), 7/22/28, Callable 7/22/27 @ 100      3,761,424  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 287,000      Morgan Stanley, 6.30% (SOFR+224 bps), 10/18/28, Callable 10/18/27 @ 100    $ 295,820  
  1,102,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.77% (US0003M+114 bps), 1/24/29, Callable 1/24/28 @ 100      1,008,378  
  6,959,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.70% (SOFR+114 bps), 1/22/31, Callable 1/22/30 @ 100, MTN      5,784,147  
  884,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.79% (SOFR+1 bps), 2/13/32, Callable 2/13/31 @ 100, MTN      665,424  
  210,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.93% (SOFR+102 bps), 4/28/32, Callable 4/28/31 @ 100, MTN      159,300  
  478,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.24% (SOFR+118 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100, MTN      367,143  
  611,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.51% (SOFR+120 bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/31 @ 100, MTN      478,695  
  806,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.94% (SOFR+129 bps), 1/21/33, Callable 1/21/32 @ 100      655,115  
  1,500,000      Morgan Stanley, 6.34% (SOFR+256 bps), 10/18/33, Callable 10/18/32 @ 100      1,576,104  
  162,000      S P Global, Inc., 3.90%, 3/1/62, Callable 9/1/61 @ 100(a)      126,737  
  661,000      State Street Corp., Series F, 8.37% (US0003M+360 bps), Callable 3/15/23 @ 100      660,174  
  1,415,000      State Street Corp., Series H, 5.63% (US0003M+254 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 12/15/23 @ 100^      1,315,950  
     

 

 

 
        51,587,233  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  1,150,000      DowDuPont, Inc., 4.49%, 11/15/25, Callable 9/15/25 @ 100      1,132,443  
  525,000      Ecolab, Inc., 2.75%, 8/18/55, Callable 2/18/55 @ 100      318,913  
  493,000      Westlake Chemical Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/61, Callable 2/15/61 @ 100      295,935  
     

 

 

 
        1,747,291  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.0%):       
  258,000      Republic Services, Inc., 2.38%, 3/15/33, Callable 12/15/32 @ 100      206,730  
  107,000      Waste Management, Inc., 2.95%, 6/1/41, Callable 12/1/40 @ 100      79,874  
     

 

 

 
        286,604  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.3%):       
  1,085,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 4.60%, 2/23/28, Callable 11/23/27 @ 100      1,051,057  
  1,662,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 4.60%, 5/23/29, Callable 2/23/29 @ 100      1,585,325  
  1,835,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 2.30%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      1,437,055  
  1,822,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 2.75%, 5/24/31, Callable 2/24/31 @ 100      1,465,491  
  1,115,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 5.60%, 6/1/32, Callable 3/1/32 @ 100      1,091,048  
  112,000      Motorola Solutions, Inc., 5.50%, 9/1/44      101,918  
     

 

 

 
        6,731,894  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.0%):       
$ 347,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.30%, 4/6/29, Callable 2/6/29 @ 100    $ 311,225  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  1,731,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.27% (SOFR+179 bps), 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      1,485,987  
  2,321,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.35%, 4/9/25, Callable 2/9/25 @ 100      2,257,725  
  632,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.60%, 6/21/30, Callable 3/21/30 @ 100      532,665  
  494,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 2.35%, 1/8/31, Callable 10/8/30 @ 100      373,466  
  1,317,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.10%, 1/12/32, Callable 10/12/31 @ 100      1,035,855  
  2,065,000      Hyundai Capital America, 2.38%, 2/10/23(a)      2,056,484  
     

 

 

 
        7,742,182  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  1,876,000      Amcor Flexibles North America, Inc., 2.69%, 5/25/31, Callable 2/25/31 @ 100^      1,537,774  
  349,000      International Paper Co., 4.80%, 6/15/44, Callable 12/15/43 @ 100      305,666  
     

 

 

 
        1,843,440  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  145,000      California Institute of Technology, 4.32%, 8/1/45      128,284  
  360,000      Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4.68%, 7/1/14      313,037  
     

 

 

 
        441,321  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.2%):       
  355,000      Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp., 2.50%, 1/15/51, Callable 7/15/50 @ 100      223,542  
  2,727,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 1.63%, 4/27/26, Callable 3/27/26 @ 100(a)      2,412,951  
  1,032,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 6/1/30 @ 100(a)      835,642  
  536,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.85%, 4/27/31, Callable 1/27/31 @ 100(a)      437,770  
  316,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 2.63%, 9/23/31, Callable 6/23/31 @ 100(a)      251,860  
  331,000      Glencore Funding LLC, 3.38%, 9/23/51, Callable 3/23/51 @ 100(a)      215,758  
     

 

 

 
        4,377,523  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.3%):       
  435,000      AT&T, Inc., 1.65%, 2/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      368,533  
  375,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.10%, 2/15/28, Callable 11/15/27 @ 100      357,064  
  1,173,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.35%, 3/1/29, Callable 12/1/28 @ 100      1,116,135  
  2,753,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      2,599,421  
  1,859,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.55%, 12/1/33, Callable 9/1/33 @ 100      1,434,338  
  935,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.50%, 5/15/35, Callable 11/15/34 @ 100      853,721  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 490,000      AT&T, Inc., 2.60%, 5/19/38, Callable 11/19/37 @ 100    $ 412,613  
  498,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/41, Callable 12/1/40 @ 100      374,910  
  806,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.75%, 5/15/46, Callable 11/15/45 @ 100      688,685  
  786,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      547,503  
  585,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.65%, 9/15/59, Callable 3/15/59 @ 100      398,122  
  190,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.85%, 6/1/60, Callable 12/1/59 @ 100      133,242  
  849,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.50%, 2/1/61, Callable 8/1/60 @ 100      561,935  
  807,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.33%, 9/21/28      779,914  
  2,123,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.02%, 12/3/29, Callable 9/3/29 @ 100      1,994,312  
  5,577,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.15%, 3/22/30, Callable 12/22/29 @ 100      4,937,313  
  466,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 1.50%, 9/18/30, Callable 6/18/30 @ 100      361,946  
  1,836,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 1.68%, 10/30/30, Callable 7/30/30 @ 100      1,430,881  
  2,604,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      2,145,605  
  3,194,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.36%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      2,539,735  
  2,288,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.65%, 11/20/40, Callable 5/20/40 @ 100      1,557,062  
  760,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.88%, 11/20/50, Callable 5/20/50 @ 100      479,669  
  1,224,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.00%, 11/20/60, Callable 5/20/60 @ 100      735,153  
     

 

 

 
        26,807,812  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.9%):       
  527,000      AEP Texas, Inc., Series H, 3.45%, 1/15/50, Callable 7/15/49 @ 100      375,014  
  901,000      AEP Texas, Inc., 3.45%, 5/15/51, Callable 11/15/50 @ 100      634,387  
  221,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 3.75%, 12/1/47, Callable 6/1/47 @ 100      172,691  
  565,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 3.15%, 9/15/49, Callable 3/15/49 @ 100      394,330  
  269,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 3.65%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      204,488  
  557,000      AEP Transmission Co. LLC, 2.75%, 8/15/51, Callable 2/15/51 @ 100      356,286  
  1,044,000      Alabama Power Co., 3.45%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      752,006  
  819,000      American Transmission Systems, Inc., 2.65%, 1/15/32, Callable 10/15/31 @ 100(a)      672,702  
  1,216,000      Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 3.75%, 8/15/47, Callable 2/15/47 @ 100      947,530  
  335,000      Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 3.20%, 9/15/49, Callable 3/15/49 @ 100      236,192  
  750,000      Commonwealth Edison Co., 3.13%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      519,517  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 119,000      DTE Electric Co., Series A, 4.05%, 5/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100    $ 98,624  
  1,088,000      DTE Electric Co., 3.95%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      889,376  
  118,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.75%, 6/1/45, Callable 12/1/44 @ 100      92,944  
  718,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.88%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      569,421  
  287,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.95%, 3/15/48, Callable 9/15/47 @ 100      232,914  
  259,000      Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, 3.45%, 4/15/51, Callable 10/15/50 @ 100^      189,838  
  160,000      Duke Energy Corp., 5.00%, 12/8/25      159,618  
  2,310,000      Duke Energy Corp., 4.30%, 3/15/28, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100      2,230,869  
  2,718,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 2.50%, 12/1/29, Callable 9/1/29 @ 100      2,325,744  
  955,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 1.75%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      763,384  
  397,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 3.40%, 10/1/46, Callable 4/1/46 @ 100      286,023  
  393,000      Duke Energy Florida LLC, 5.95%, 11/15/52, Callable 5/15/52 @ 100      421,289  
  223,000      Duke Energy Ohio, Inc., 3.65%, 2/1/29, Callable 11/1/28 @ 100      206,581  
  95,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 3.45%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      87,044  
  337,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 4.20%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      281,893  
  315,000      Duke Energy Progress LLC, 2.90%, 8/15/51, Callable 2/15/51 @ 100      209,179  
  220,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 5.70%, 4/1/35      219,379  
  471,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.10%, 5/15/42, Callable 11/15/41 @ 100      394,800  
  258,000      Edison International, 4.95%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      254,365  
  1,210,000      Edison International, 6.95%, 11/15/29, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100      1,270,525  
  258,000      Entergy Arkansas LLC, 3.35%, 6/15/52, Callable 12/15/51 @ 100      182,966  
  754,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 1.60%, 12/15/30, Callable 9/15/30 @ 100      581,165  
  386,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 2.35%, 6/15/32, Callable 3/15/32 @ 100      306,663  
  511,000      Entergy Louisiana LLC, 2.90%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      329,334  
  450,000      Entergy Mississippi LLC, 3.85%, 6/1/49, Callable 12/1/48 @ 100      349,522  
  180,000      Exelon Corp., 2.75%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(a)      165,629  
  382,000      Exelon Corp., 5.63%, 6/15/35      386,194  
  898,000      Exelon Corp., 4.70%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      794,622  
  193,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 2.05%, 3/1/25, Callable 2/1/25 @ 100      178,460  
  636,000      FirstEnergy Corp., Series C, 3.40%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      420,876  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 505,000      FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 4.35%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100(a)    $ 494,045  
  637,000      FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 4.55%, 4/1/49, Callable 10/1/48 @ 100(a)      519,373  
  557,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.70%, 12/1/47, Callable 6/1/47 @ 100      449,699  
  449,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.99%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      374,695  
  1,120,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.15%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      817,757  
  658,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.10%, 5/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      614,373  
  1,639,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.65%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      1,535,323  
  399,000      MidAmerican Energy Co., 3.15%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      283,608  
  705,000      Northern States Power Co., 2.90%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      489,720  
  1,070,000      Northern States Power Co., 2.60%, 6/1/51, Callable 12/1/50 @ 100      690,073  
  174,000      Northern States Power Co., 3.20%, 4/1/52, Callable 10/1/51 @ 100      127,019  
  1,676,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 4.45%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100(a)      1,479,070  
  362,000      Ohio Power Co., 4.00%, 6/1/49, Callable 12/1/48 @ 100      285,740  
  301,000      Ohio Power Co., 2.90%, 10/1/51, Callable 4/1/51 @ 100      197,076  
  1,406,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 3.70%, 11/15/28, Callable 8/15/28 @ 100      1,319,105  
  10,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 5.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      10,362  
  355,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 4.55%, 9/15/32, Callable 6/15/32 @ 100(a)      348,302  
  271,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 3.80%, 9/30/47, Callable 3/30/47 @ 100      224,001  
  383,000      Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 4.10%, 11/15/48, Callable 5/15/48 @ 100      326,435  
  614,000      PECO Energy Co., 3.05%, 3/15/51, Callable 9/15/50 @ 100      421,329  
  535,000      Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 3.65%, 9/1/28, Callable 6/1/28 @ 100      502,990  
  340,000      Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 2.05%, 8/1/50, Callable 2/1/50 @ 100, MTN      187,101  
  705,000      Public Service Electric and Gas Co., 2.45%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100, MTN      602,447  
  355,000      Public Service Electric and Gas Co., 4.90%, 12/15/32, Callable 9/15/32 @ 100^      356,609  
  2,928,000      Southern California Edison Co., Series E, 3.70%, 8/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      2,827,918  
  1,131,000      Southern California Edison Co., 5.95%, 11/1/32, Callable 8/1/32 @ 100      1,201,691  
  869,000      Southwestern Public Service Co., 3.15%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      600,077  
  215,000      Tampa Electric Co., 4.20%, 5/15/45, Callable 11/15/44 @ 100      166,713  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 3,000      Tampa Electric Co., 4.45%, 6/15/49, Callable 12/15/48 @ 100    $ 2,531  
  540,000      Tampa Electric Co., 3.63%, 6/15/50, Callable 12/15/49 @ 100      395,091  
  381,000      Virginia Electric & Power Co., Series A, 6.00%, 5/15/37      393,823  
  451,000      Virginia Electric & Power Co., Series D, 4.65%, 8/15/43, Callable 2/15/43 @ 100      398,393  
  715,000      Virginia Electric and Power Co., Series B, 4.20%, 5/15/45, Callable 11/15/44 @ 100      585,508  
     

 

 

 
        39,372,381  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  293,000      Electronic Arts, Inc., 1.85%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100      230,911  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.6%):       
  914,000      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., 1.88%, 2/1/33, Callable 11/1/32 @ 100      679,962  
  2,584,000      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., 2.95%, 3/15/34, Callable 12/15/33 @ 100      2,105,167  
  2,748,000      American Tower Corp., 2.95%, 1/15/25, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100      2,620,548  
  3,000,000      American Tower Corp., 0.45%, 1/15/27, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      2,745,697  
  810,000      American Tower Corp., 0.40%, 2/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100      739,102  
  244,000      American Tower Corp., 3.65%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      228,263  
  861,000      American Tower Corp., 1.50%, 1/31/28, Callable 11/30/27 @ 100^      712,712  
  1,738,000      American Tower Corp., 2.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      1,379,094  
  2,165,000      American Tower Corp., 2.30%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      1,689,932  
  232,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 3.15%, 7/15/23, Callable 6/15/23 @ 100      229,394  
  430,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 3.70%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      408,387  
  592,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 2.90%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      539,224  
  829,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 3.10%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      724,002  
  1,703,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 2.25%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      1,362,913  
  3,819,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 2.50%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      3,084,847  
  342,000      Crown Castle International Corp., 5.20%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100      310,447  
  2,070,000      Equinix, Inc., 2.00%, 5/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      1,738,380  
  2,299,000      Equinix, Inc., 3.20%, 11/18/29, Callable 8/18/29 @ 100      2,001,916  
  278,000      Equinix, Inc., 2.15%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100      222,628  
  2,242,000      Equinix, Inc., 3.90%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100      1,998,709  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 329,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 2.30%, 11/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100    $ 272,620  
  265,000      Kimco Realty Corp., 4.60%, 2/1/33, Callable 11/1/32 @ 100^      243,532  
  534,000      Kimco Realty OP LLC, 2.25%, 12/1/31, Callable 9/1/31 @ 100      410,739  
  593,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.10%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      366,409  
  1,548,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.50%, 4/15/51, Callable 10/15/50 @ 100      1,037,555  
  402,000      National Retail Properties, Inc., 3.00%, 4/15/52, Callable 10/15/51 @ 100      240,091  
  362,000      Prologis LP, 4.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 6/15/28 @ 100      344,865  
  403,000      Prologis LP, 2.25%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      337,264  
  722,000      Prologis LP, 1.25%, 10/15/30, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100      549,290  
  1,892,000      Prologis LP, 1.75%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      1,471,370  
  274,000      Prologis LP, 1.63%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      211,401  
  1,150,000      Prologis LP, 4.63%, 1/15/33, Callable 10/15/32 @ 100      1,116,658  
  1,081,000      Realty Income Corp., 3.25%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      939,119  
  350,000      WP Carey, Inc., 2.40%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      279,240  
     

 

 

 
        33,341,477  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.0%):       
  295,000      Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Inc., Series B, 3.91%, 7/1/49, Callable 1/1/49 @ 100      224,542  
  281,000      GE Capital Funding LLC, 4.55%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100      267,414  
     

 

 

 
        491,956  
     

 

 

 
Financials (0.1%):       
  942,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 3.25%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      792,760  
  1,152,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 4.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100      953,125  
     

 

 

 
        1,745,885  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.0%):       
  420,000      General Mills, Inc., 0.45%, 1/15/26, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100      408,825  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  262,000      Atmos Energy Corp., 4.13%, 10/15/44, Callable 4/15/44 @ 100      216,750  
  500,000      Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc., 2.50%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      408,313  
     

 

 

 
        625,063  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.2%):       
  965,000      BHSH System Obligated Group, Series 2019-A, 3.49%, 7/15/49, Callable 1/15/49 @ 100      701,586  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care, continued       
$ 610,000      City of Hope, Series 2013, 5.62%, 11/15/43    $ 590,721  
  197,000      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, 3.80%, 7/15/52, Callable 1/15/52 @ 100      156,355  
  410,000      Mount Nittany Medical Center Obligated Group, Series 2022, 3.80%, 11/15/52      312,486  
  462,000      Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Inc., 4.56%, 11/1/52, Callable 5/1/52 @ 100      417,211  
  430,000      Presbyterian Healthcare Services, 4.88%, 8/1/52, Callable 2/1/52 @ 100      406,637  
  520,000      Queen’s Health Systems (The), 4.81%, 7/1/52, Callable 1/1/52 @ 100      481,613  
  300,000      Seattle Children’s Hospital, Series 2021, 2.72%, 10/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      188,814  
     

 

 

 
        3,255,423  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.1%):       
  259,000      Baxter International, Inc., 2.54%, 2/1/32, Callable 11/1/31 @ 100      206,319  
  525,000      Becton Dickinson & Co., 1.40%, 5/24/23, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      558,765  
  510,000      Becton Dickinson & Co., 0.03%, 8/13/25, Callable 7/13/25 @ 100      495,606  
  333,000      Boston Scientific Corp., 2.65%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      285,274  
     

 

 

 
        1,545,964  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.2%):       
  410,000      Aetna, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/44, Callable 9/15/43 @ 100      362,630  
  275,000      AHS Hospital Corp., 2.78%, 7/1/51, Callable 1/1/51 @ 100      171,936  
  448,000      Anthem, Inc., 4.55%, 3/1/48, Callable 9/1/47 @ 100      391,944  
  350,000      CommonSpirit Health, 2.78%, 10/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      289,258  
  825,000      CommonSpirit Health, 3.82%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      620,401  
  498,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.00%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      494,949  
  1,470,000      CVS Health Corp., 3.63%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      1,396,331  
  2,293,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 12/25/27 @ 100      2,215,393  
  1,817,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.13%, 7/20/45, Callable 1/20/45 @ 100      1,670,699  
  1,240,000      Duke University Health, 3.92%, 6/1/47, Callable 12/1/46 @ 100      1,004,440  
  752,000      Elevance Health, Inc., 6.10%, 10/15/52, Callable 4/15/52 @ 100      811,959  
  4,474,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/25      4,462,815  
  3,927,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      3,868,095  
  260,000      HCA, Inc., 5.38%, 9/1/26, Callable 3/1/26 @ 100      256,750  
  1,461,000      HCA, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(a)      1,240,339  
  2,871,000      HCA, Inc., 3.50%, 7/15/51, Callable 1/15/51 @ 100      1,864,482  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 221,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.75%, 7/15/45    $ 208,736  
  957,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.20%, 1/15/47, Callable 7/15/46 @ 100      829,160  
  530,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 3.75%, 10/15/47, Callable 4/15/47 @ 100      427,940  
  1,099,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 2.90%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      752,532  
  996,000      UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 6.05%, 2/15/63, Callable 8/15/62 @ 100      1,097,798  
     

 

 

 
        24,438,587  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.0%):       
  744,000      GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc., 5.60%, 11/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(a)      749,382  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):       
  1,200,000      McDonald’s Corp., Series G, 1.00%, 11/15/23, MTN(a)      1,265,566  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.0%):       
  785,000      3M Co., Series E, 0.95%, 5/15/23      835,782  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.2%):       
  348,000      American International Group, Inc., 4.80%, 7/10/45, Callable 1/10/45 @ 100      312,412  
  330,000      American International Group, Inc., 4.38%, 6/30/50, Callable 12/30/49 @ 100      284,477  
  572,000      Aon Corp., 4.50%, 12/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100      552,503  
  1,350,000      Aon Corp., 2.80%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      1,154,419  
  378,000      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 4.30%, 4/15/43      303,842  
  480,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 1.35%, 9/21/26, Callable 6/21/26 @ 100      465,220  
  433,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 4.38%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      419,814  
  833,000      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 2.25%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100^      681,905  
  843,000      Marsh McLennan Cos., Inc., 2.38%, 12/15/31, Callable 9/15/31 @ 100      683,806  
     

 

 

 
        4,858,398  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.1%):       
  2,431,000      Meta Platforms, Inc., 4.45%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      1,944,119  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.2%):       
  1,117,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 4.70%, 12/1/32, Callable 9/1/32 @ 100      1,113,505  
  1,205,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 4.95%, 12/5/44, Callable 6/5/44 @ 100      1,195,412  
  657,000      Amazon.com, Inc., 4.25%, 8/22/57, Callable 2/22/57 @ 100      568,696  
  256,000      eBay, Inc., 2.60%, 5/10/31, Callable 2/10/31 @ 100      208,654  
  1,325,000      eBay, Inc., 6.30%, 11/22/32, Callable 8/22/32 @ 100      1,380,262  
     

 

 

 
        4,466,529  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
IT Services (0.3%):       
$ 1,661,000      Global Payments, Inc., 4.95%, 8/15/27, Callable 7/15/27 @ 100    $ 1,615,102  
  2,838,000      Global Payments, Inc., 3.20%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      2,427,628  
  1,898,000      Global Payments, Inc., 2.90%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      1,563,785  
  461,000      Global Payments, Inc., 5.95%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      421,520  
     

 

 

 
        6,028,035  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):       
  958,000      Agilent Technologies, Inc., 2.30%, 3/12/31, Callable 12/12/30 @ 100      775,596  
  833,000      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., 2.00%, 10/15/31, Callable 7/15/31 @ 100      677,849  
     

 

 

 
        1,453,445  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.6%):       
  2,976,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 3.95%, 6/30/62, Callable 12/30/61 @ 100      1,760,855  
  3,978,000      Comcast Corp., 2.65%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      3,452,263  
  999,000      Comcast Corp., 1.95%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      807,575  
  1,868,000      Comcast Corp., 5.50%, 11/15/32, Callable 8/15/32 @ 100      1,952,562  
  492,000      Comcast Corp., 3.25%, 11/1/39, Callable 5/1/39 @ 100      384,279  
  937,000      Comcast Corp., 3.40%, 7/15/46, Callable 1/15/46 @ 100      690,705  
  275,000      Comcast Corp., 3.97%, 11/1/47, Callable 5/1/47 @ 100      219,551  
  1,944,000      Comcast Corp., 2.94%, 11/1/56, Callable 5/1/56 @ 100      1,225,328  
  799,000      Cox Communications, Inc., 3.60%, 6/15/51, Callable 12/15/50 @ 100(a)      549,453  
  1,153,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 1.90%, 3/19/27, Callable 12/19/26 @ 100      1,110,598  
  301,000      NBCUniversal Media LLC, 4.45%, 1/15/43      266,212  
  844,000      Paramount Global, 4.85%, 7/1/42, Callable 1/1/42 @ 100      633,420  
     

 

 

 
        13,052,801  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.0%):       
  203,000      Newmont Corp., 5.88%, 4/1/35      208,130  
  367,000      Nucor Corp., 4.30%, 5/23/27, Callable 4/23/27 @ 100      356,183  
     

 

 

 
        564,313  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  762,000      Ameren Illinois Co., 3.25%, 3/15/50, Callable 9/15/49 @ 100      545,366  
  176,000      CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC, 3.95%, 3/1/48, Callable 9/1/47 @ 100      143,646  
  695,000      CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC, 3.35%, 4/1/51, Callable 10/1/50 @ 100      510,822  
  1,542,000      CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., 1.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100      1,203,933  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Multi-Utilities, continued       
$ 301,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.80%, 11/15/28, Callable 8/15/28 @ 100    $ 283,621  
  430,000      Consumers Energy Co., 4.05%, 5/15/48, Callable 11/15/47 @ 100      361,666  
  531,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.75%, 2/15/50, Callable 8/15/49 @ 100      414,962  
  778,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.10%, 8/15/50, Callable 2/15/50 @ 100      539,433  
  180,000      Consumers Energy Co., 3.50%, 8/1/51, Callable 2/1/51 @ 100      137,852  
  337,000      Consumers Energy Co., 4.20%, 9/1/52, Callable 3/1/52 @ 100      290,948  
     

 

 

 
        4,432,249  
     

 

 

 
National (0.1%):       
  625,000      Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp., 3.50%, 9/1/32      578,238  
  1,045,000      Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp., 3.88%, 9/20/32      997,079  
     

 

 

 
        1,575,317  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.8%):       
  762,000      Cameron LNG LLC, 2.90%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100(a)      644,731  
  1,695,000      Cameron LNG LLC, 3.30%, 1/15/35, Callable 9/15/34 @ 100(a)      1,380,654  
  1,037,000      Cameron LNG LLC, 3.40%, 1/15/38, Callable 7/15/37 @ 100(a)      841,253  
  4,397,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 5.13%, 6/30/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      4,342,037  
  1,380,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 3.70%, 11/15/29, Callable 5/18/29 @ 100      1,250,625  
  196,000      Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 2.74%, 12/31/39, Callable 7/4/39 @ 100      152,520  
  469,000      Devon Energy Corp., 8.25%, 8/1/23, Callable 6/1/23 @ 100      475,742  
  338,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.63      333,500  
  78,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.88%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.94      77,350  
  3,600,000      Devon Energy Corp., 4.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.25      3,368,275  
  854,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.60%, 7/15/41, Callable 1/15/41 @ 100      800,366  
  619,000      Devon Energy Corp., 4.75%, 5/15/42, Callable 11/15/41 @ 100      526,376  
  4,555,000      Diamondback Energy, Inc., 3.25%, 12/1/26, Callable 10/1/26 @ 100      4,230,456  
  6,164,000      Diamondback Energy, Inc., 3.50%, 12/1/29, Callable 9/1/29 @ 100      5,422,304  
  530,000      Diamondback Energy, Inc., 4.40%, 3/24/51, Callable 9/24/50 @ 100      402,673  
  711,000      Enable Midstream Partners LP, 3.90%, 5/15/24, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100      693,695  
  1,007,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.88%, 1/15/24, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100      1,009,943  
  1,064,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.95%, 12/1/25, Callable 9/1/25 @ 100      1,072,624  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 270,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.40%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100    $ 256,794  
  2,400,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      2,313,816  
  1,725,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      1,673,057  
  236,000      Energy Transfer LP, 8.25%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      259,814  
  497,000      Energy Transfer LP, 3.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      438,337  
  1,775,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      1,434,186  
  266,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      262,551  
  269,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.05%, 3/15/25, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100      260,906  
  670,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 3.60%, 2/1/23      668,886  
  675,000      Energy Transfer, LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      633,292  
  251,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 4.80%, 2/1/49, Callable 8/1/48 @ 100      216,586  
  515,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 4.20%, 1/31/50, Callable 7/31/49 @ 100      407,532  
  221,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 3.20%, 2/15/52, Callable 8/15/51 @ 100      147,460  
  240,000      EQT Corp., 5.70%, 4/1/28, Callable 3/1/28 @ 100      239,100  
  1,090,000      Exxon Mobil Corp., 1.41%, 6/26/39, Callable 12/26/38 @ 100      755,809  
  228,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, SERIES MTN, 6.95%, 1/15/38, MTN      241,299  
  37,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 7.50%, 11/15/40      40,814  
  639,000      Kinder Morgan, Inc., 3.60%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100      444,683  
  675,000      Kinder Morgan, Inc., Series MTN, 5.45%, 8/1/52, Callable 2/1/52 @ 100      610,109  
  1,313,000      NGPL PipeCo LLC, 3.25%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100(a)      1,069,481  
  1,292,000      NGPL PipeCo. LLC, 4.88%, 8/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,229,015  
  770,000      Northern Natural Gas Co., 4.30%, 1/15/49, Callable 7/15/48 @ 100(a)      612,484  
  596,000      Northern Natural Gas Co., 3.40%, 10/16/51, Callable 4/16/51 @ 100(a)      406,486  
  2,523,000      Northwest Pipeline LLC, 4.00%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      2,386,041  
  2,296,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 5.00%, 3/15/27, Callable 9/15/26 @ 100      2,252,950  
  228,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.20%, 3/15/28, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      214,605  
  470,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp, 5.00%, 1/15/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5      452,375  
  1,130,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 102.75      1,063,613  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 1,110,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.88%, 2/1/31, Callable 2/1/26 @ 102.44    $ 1,000,387  
  1,373,000      Texas Eastern Transmission LP, 3.50%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,240,489  
  1,702,000      Texas Eastern Transmission LP, 4.15%, 1/15/48, Callable 7/15/47 @ 100(a)      1,358,606  
  2,610,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 7.85%, 2/1/26, Callable 11/1/25 @ 100      2,784,353  
  2,198,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 4.00%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100      2,065,199  
  772,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 3.95%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      603,733  
  240,000      Williams Cos., Inc., Series A, 7.50%, 1/15/31      262,331  
  911,000      Williams Cos., Inc. (The), 2.60%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      740,553  
     

 

 

 
        58,072,856  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.1%):       
  858,000      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 2.95%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      750,833  
  312,000      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 3.25%, 8/1/42      239,593  
  442,000      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 4.63%, 5/15/44, Callable 11/15/43 @ 100      407,542  
     

 

 

 
        1,397,968  
     

 

 

 
Power (0.1%):       
  1,783,000      Texas Electric Market Stabilization Funding N LLC, 4.26%, 8/1/36(a)      1,687,057  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  2,555,000      Leidos, Inc., 4.38%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      2,309,081  
  3,657,000      RELX Capital, Inc., 3.50%, 3/16/23, Callable 2/16/23 @ 100      3,643,663  
  1,797,000      RELX Capital, Inc., 3.00%, 5/22/30, Callable 2/22/30 @ 100      1,540,013  
     

 

 

 
        7,492,757  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  915,000      Northwest Florida Timber Finance LLC, 4.75%, 3/4/29(a)      813,601  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.7%):       
  1,369,000      Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, 4.15%, 12/15/48, Callable 6/15/48 @ 100      1,171,913  
  313,000      Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, 2.88%, 6/15/52, Callable 12/15/51 @ 100      210,862  
  1,849,000      CSX Corp., 3.25%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      1,731,927  
  293,000      CSX Corp., 4.10%, 3/15/44, Callable 9/15/43 @ 100      247,014  
  504,000      CSX Corp., 4.50%, 11/15/52, Callable 5/15/52 @ 100      442,271  
  145,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 2.90%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      136,093  
  1,356,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 2.55%, 11/1/29, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100      1,163,321  
  1,101,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 3.00%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      945,425  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
$ 243,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 3.40%, 11/1/49, Callable 5/1/49 @ 100    $ 175,153  
  340,000      Norfolk Southern Corp., 4.55%, 6/1/53, Callable 12/1/52 @ 100      299,951  
  478,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 3.95%, 3/10/25, Callable 1/10/25 @ 100(a)      461,077  
  1,490,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 1.20%, 11/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(a)      1,314,968  
  397,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP / PTL Finance Corp., 4.45%, 1/29/26, Callable 11/29/25 @ 100(a)      383,523  
  870,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP/PTL Finance Corp., 3.90%, 2/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100(a)      852,685  
  982,000      Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP/PTL Finance Corp., 5.88%, 11/15/27, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100(a)      992,775  
  349,000      Ryder System, Inc., 2.90%, 12/1/26, Callable 10/1/26 @ 100      317,937  
  3,066,000      Union Pacific Corp., 2.80%, 2/14/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      2,657,820  
  269,000      Union Pacific Corp., 2.89%, 4/6/36, Callable 1/6/36 @ 100      214,874  
  2,000      Union Pacific Corp., 4.50%, 9/10/48, Callable 3/10/48 @ 100      1,774  
  299,000      Union Pacific Corp., 3.25%, 2/5/50, Callable 8/5/49 @ 100      219,168  
  366,025      Union Pacific Railroad Co., Series 2014-1, 3.23%, 5/14/26      351,112  
     

 

 

 
        14,291,643  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.7%):       
  519,000      Broadcom Corp/Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd., 3.50%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100      473,903  
  195,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.46%, 9/15/26, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100      183,920  
  859,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.15%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      772,482  
  5,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(a)      3,950  
  850,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.15%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100(a)      750,647  
  569,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.42%, 4/15/33, Callable 1/15/33 @ 100(a)      458,790  
  1,493,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.47%, 4/15/34, Callable 1/15/34 @ 100(a)      1,187,447  
  2,265,000      Broadcom, Inc., 4.93%, 5/15/37, Callable 2/15/37 @ 100(a)      1,986,396  
  5,000      KLA Corp., 4.65%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      4,994  
  925,000      KLA Corp., 3.30%, 3/1/50, Callable 8/28/49 @ 100      672,850  
  1,038,000      KLA Corp., 5.25%, 7/15/62, Callable 1/15/62 @ 100      1,013,632  
  1,426,000      KLA-Tencor Corp., 4.10%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      1,381,838  
  303,000      Lam Research Corp., 4.88%, 3/15/49, Callable 9/15/48 @ 100      290,693  
  627,000      Lam Research Corp., 2.88%, 6/15/50, Callable 12/15/49 @ 100      427,055  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
$ 689,000      NVIDIA Corp., 3.50%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100    $ 524,990  
  2,209,000      QUALCOMM, Inc., 5.40%, 5/20/33, Callable 2/20/33 @ 100^      2,306,189  
  1,205,000      QUALCOMM, Inc., 4.65%, 5/20/35, Callable 11/20/34 @ 100      1,168,545  
  470,000      QUALCOMM, Inc., 6.00%, 5/20/53, Callable 11/20/52 @ 100      503,504  
  494,000      TSMC Arizona Corp., 4.25%, 4/22/32, Callable 1/22/32 @ 100      477,398  
     

 

 

 
        14,589,223  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.7%):       
  1,438,000      Autodesk, Inc., 2.85%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      1,239,357  
  1,021,000      Oracle Corp., 4.30%, 7/8/34, Callable 1/8/34 @ 100      897,494  
  1,560,000      Oracle Corp., 3.85%, 7/15/36, Callable 1/15/36 @ 100      1,261,063  
  3,324,000      Oracle Corp., 3.80%, 11/15/37, Callable 5/15/37 @ 100      2,643,574  
  591,000      Oracle Corp., 6.13%, 7/8/39      592,679  
  1,611,000      Oracle Corp., 3.60%, 4/1/40, Callable 10/1/39 @ 100      1,198,834  
  1,375,000      Oracle Corp., 5.38%, 7/15/40      1,271,992  
  962,000      Oracle Corp., 3.65%, 3/25/41, Callable 9/25/40 @ 100      717,888  
  1,147,000      Oracle Corp., 4.00%, 11/15/47, Callable 5/15/47 @ 100      839,756  
  1,612,000      Oracle Corp., 3.60%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      1,099,421  
  744,000      salesforce.com, Inc., 3.05%, 7/15/61, Callable 1/15/61 @ 100      479,105  
  1,419,000      ServiceNow, Inc., 1.40%, 9/1/30, Callable 6/1/30 @ 100      1,088,593  
  281,000      Vmware, Inc., 4.65%, 5/15/27, Callable 3/15/27 @ 100      271,778  
  427,000      Vmware, Inc., 3.90%, 8/21/27, Callable 5/21/27 @ 100      399,448  
  361,000      Vmware, Inc., 1.80%, 8/15/28, Callable 6/15/28 @ 100      295,065  
  1,164,000      Vmware, Inc., 2.20%, 8/15/31, Callable 5/15/31 @ 100      888,499  
  545,000      Workday, Inc., 3.80%, 4/1/32, Callable 1/1/32 @ 100      483,586  
     

 

 

 
        15,668,132  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.1%):       
  861,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 3.65%, 4/5/29, Callable 1/5/29 @ 100      797,735  
  1,307,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 2.80%, 9/15/41, Callable 3/15/41 @ 100      896,299  
     

 

 

 
        1,694,034  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.1%):       
  592,000      Apple, Inc., 4.10%, 8/8/62, Callable 2/8/62 @ 100      501,294  
  98,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 8.35%, 7/15/46, Callable 1/15/46 @ 100      112,365  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals, continued       
$ 541,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 3.45%, 12/15/51, Callable 6/15/51 @ 100(a)    $ 332,706  
  344,000      Hp, Inc., 2.65%, 6/17/31, Callable 3/17/31 @ 100      269,929  
     

 

 

 
        1,216,294  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.1%):       
  1,708,000      Federal National Mortgage Association, 1.55%, 8/24/35, Callable 8/24/23 @ 100      1,171,464  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  415,000      Altria Group, Inc., 2.20%, 6/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      398,006  
  1,448,000      Altria Group, Inc., 2.45%, 2/4/32, Callable 11/4/31 @ 100      1,097,594  
  3,327,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.80%, 2/14/39, Callable 8/14/38 @ 100      3,055,091  
  84,000      Altria Group, Inc., 6.20%, 2/14/59, Callable 8/14/58 @ 100      78,432  
  562,000      BAT Capital Corp., 2.26%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      467,506  
  567,000      BAT Capital Corp., 4.76%, 9/6/49, Callable 3/6/49 @ 100      417,246  
  3,745,000      Philip Morris International, Inc., 5.13%, 11/17/27, Callable 10/17/27 @ 100      3,781,207  
  1,000,000      Philip Morris International, Inc., 1.88%, 11/6/37, Callable 8/6/37 @ 100      665,907  
  1,732,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.85%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      1,487,720  
     

 

 

 
        11,448,709  
     

 

 

 
Utilities (0.2%):       
  470,000      CenterPoint Ener Houston, 3.60%, 3/1/52, Callable 9/1/51 @ 100      363,884  
  919,000      Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc., 6.15%, 11/15/52, Callable 5/15/52 @ 100      996,337  
  240,000      PECO Energy Co., 4.38%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      210,493  
  3,266,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.13%, 5/13/25(a)      3,199,373  
     

 

 

 
        4,770,087  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.6%):       
  11,257,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      10,637,696  
  2,779,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.30%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100      1,874,038  
     

 

 

 
        12,511,734  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $592,714,177)

     520,183,812  
  

 

 

 
Foreign Bonds (0.9%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.0%):       
  410,000      Airbus SE, 2.38%, 6/9/40, Callable 3/9/40 @ 100, MTN+(a)      328,594  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.0%):       
  300,000      Volkswagen International Finance NV, 4.13%, 11/16/38+(a)      290,717  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.3%):       
  900,000      Banco de Sabadell SA, 1.12%(EUSA1+155bps), 3/11/27, Callable 3/11/26 @ 100+(a)      859,128  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 2,000,000      BNP Paribas SA, 0.25%(EUR003M+70bps), 4/13/27, Callable 4/13/26 @ 100, MTN+(a)    $ 1,867,155  
  800,000      BNP Paribas SA, 0.50%(EUR0003M+83bps), 1/19/30, Callable 1/19/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      673,534  
  500,000      BPCE SA, 0.25%, 1/15/26+(a)      482,972  
  300,000      de Volksbank NV, 1.75%(EUSA5+2.1bps), 10/22/30, Callable 10/22/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      290,509  
  1,013,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 4.50%(EUR003M+172.2bps), 3/18/30, Callable 3/18/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,041,124  
  1,000,000      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The), Series E, 0.38%, 4/25/24, MTN+(a)      1,029,144  
     

 

 

 
        6,243,566  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.0%):       
  600,000      Pernod Ricard SA, 3.00%, 10/24/23, Callable 9/24/23 @ 100+(a)      626,894  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.2%):       
  700,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 1.00%(EUR003M+1.6bps), 11/19/25, Callable 11/19/24 @ 100+(a)      698,719  
  1,200,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 1.88%(EUR003M+138bps), 2/23/28, Callable 2/23/27 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,121,140  
  670,000      SELP Finance Sarl, 0.88%, 5/27/29, Callable 2/27/29 @ 100+(a)      536,562  
  1,140,000      Viterra Finance BV, 0.38%, 9/24/25, Callable 8/24/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,082,190  
     

 

 

 
        3,438,611  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  390,000      Covestro AG, 0.88%, 2/3/26, Callable 11/3/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      381,076  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.0%):       
  515,000      BAT International Finance plc, 1.25%, 3/13/27, Callable 12/13/26 @ 100, MTN+(a)      486,696  
  400,000      Total Capital International SA, Series E, 2.13%, 3/15/23, MTN+(a)      427,875  
     

 

 

 
        914,571  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):       
  200,000      DH Europe Finance II Sarl, 1.35%, 9/18/39, Callable 3/18/39 @ 100+      144,238  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.0%):       
  390,000      Fresenius Finance Ireland plc, 0.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 7/1/31 @ 100, MTN+(a)      288,259  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  870,000      Informa plc, 2.13%, 10/6/25, Callable 7/6/25 @ 100, MTN+(a)      882,319  
  160,000      WPP Finance SA, 2.38%, 5/19/27, MTN^+(a)      159,749  
     

 

 

 
        1,042,068  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.1%):       
  330,000      Aker BP ASA, 1.13%, 5/12/29, Callable 2/12/29 @ 100, MTN+(a)      284,716  
  600,000      Digital Dutch Finco BV, 1.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 10/15/31 @ 100+(a)      443,681  
  1,100,000      TotalEnergies SE, 1.75%(EUSA5+176.5bps), 12/31/99, Callable 4/4/24 @ 100, MTN+(a)      1,108,265  
     

 

 

 
        1,836,662  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Pharmaceuticals (0.1%):       
$ 375,000      Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 2.00%, 7/9/40, Callable 1/9/40 @ 100+    $ 281,113  
  840,000      Upjohn Finance BV, 1.02%, 6/23/24, Callable 5/23/24 @ 100+(a)      859,159  
     

 

 

 
        1,140,272  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  520,000      RELX Finance BV, 3.39%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100+(a)      534,515  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.1%):       
  1,650,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 1.45%, 10/25/33, Callable 7/25/33 @ 100, MTN+      1,236,317  
  714,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 2.13%, 10/25/51, Callable 4/25/51 @ 100+      415,568  
  57,000      Romanian Government International Bond, 2.88%, 3/11/29, MTN+(a)      50,172  
  60,000      Romanian Government International Bond, Registered Shares, 2.50%, 2/8/30, MTN+(a)      49,361  
     

 

 

 
        1,751,418  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.0%):       
  410,000      Imperial Brands Finance Netherlands BV, 1.75%, 3/18/33, Callable 12/18/32 @ 100, MTN+(a)      302,230  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bonds (Cost $23,840,619)

     19,263,691  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (3.7%):       
Airlines (0.0%):       
  266,392      Air Canada Pass Through Trust, Series 2017-1, Class A, 3.30%, 7/15/31(a)      225,622  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  1,122,000      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 4.81%, 9/17/30, Callable 6/17/30 @ 100(a)      956,395  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.4%):       
  278,000      Banco Inbursa SA Institucion De Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Inbursa, 4.13%, 6/6/24(a)      272,269  
  200,000      Banco Santander SA, 2.71%, 6/27/24      191,686  
  302,000      Barclays plc, 2.89% (H15T1Y+130 bps), 11/24/32, Callable 11/24/31 @ 100      231,030  
  1,880,000      Barclays plc, 5.75% (H15T1Y+300 bps), 8/9/33, Callable 8/9/32 @ 100      1,791,251  
  1,076,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.25% (SOFR+110 bps), 11/22/27, Callable 11/22/26 @ 100      934,147  
  726,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 5.21% (SOFR+261 bps), 8/11/28, Callable 8/11/27 @ 100      700,770  
  628,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.58% (US0003M+153 bps), 6/19/29, Callable 6/19/28 @ 100      579,223  
  278,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.21% (SOFR+129 bps), 8/17/29, Callable 8/17/28 @ 100      225,683  
  2,195,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 5.40% (SOFR+287 bps), 8/11/33, Callable 8/11/32 @ 100      2,046,761  
  348,000      Intercorp Peru, Ltd., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100(a)      290,346  
  811,000      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., 2.26% (H15T1Y+90 bps), 7/9/32, Callable 7/9/31 @ 100      621,393  
  965,000      Standard Chartered PLC, 2.61% (H15T1Y+118 bps), 1/12/28, Callable 1/12/27 @ 100(a)      839,642  
     

 

 

 
        8,724,201  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Beverages (0.1%):       
$ 1,457,000      Suntory Holdings, Ltd., 2.25%, 10/16/24, Callable 9/16/24 @ 100(a)    $ 1,367,587  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.2%):       
  3,546,000      Shire Acquisitions Investments, 3.20%, 9/23/26, Callable 6/23/26 @ 100      3,331,460  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.1%):       
  2,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 4.65% (US0003M+173 bps), 3/27/29, Callable 3/27/28 @ 100(a)      1,890  
  958,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc., 2.68%, 7/16/30      762,827  
  475,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc., 2.61%, 7/14/31      367,010  
  650,000      SA Global Sukuk, Ltd., 2.69%, 6/17/31, Callable 3/17/31 @ 100(a)      557,638  
     

 

 

 
        1,689,365  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  330,000      Nutrien, Ltd., 5.90%, 11/7/24      333,892  
  255,000      Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, 4.25%, 1/22/50, Callable 7/22/49 @ 100(a)      216,113  
     

 

 

 
        550,005  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.1%):       
  1,390,000      Hyundai Capital Services, Inc., 3.75%, 3/5/23(a)      1,385,524  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.0%):       
  270,000      Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior SA, 2.38%, 9/14/25, Callable 8/15/25 @ 100(a)      246,264  
  570,000      ORIX Corp., 5.20%, 9/13/32      556,769  
     

 

 

 
        803,033  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.0%):       
  389,000      Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, 2.49%, 9/19/23, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(a)      381,687  
     

 

 

 
Energy Production (0.0%):       
  327,000      Kallpa Generacion SA, 4.13%, 8/16/27, Callable 5/16/27 @ 100(a)      301,814  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.0%):       
  269,000      Trust Fibra Uno, 5.25%, 12/15/24, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100(a)      266,646  
  253,000      Trust Fibra Uno, 6.39%, 1/15/50, Callable 7/15/49 @ 100(a)      208,089  
     

 

 

 
        474,735  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.0%):       
  344,000      Eig Pearl Holdings Sarl, 4.39%, 11/30/46(a)      265,310  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.0%):       
  250,000      Cencosud SA, 5.15%, 2/12/25, Callable 11/12/24 @ 100(a)      248,455  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.0%):
      
  270,000      AES Panama Generation Holdings SRL, 4.38%, 5/31/30, Callable 2/28/30 @ 100(a)      233,550  
  210,000      Colbun SA, 3.15%, 1/19/32, Callable 10/19/31 @ 100(a)      179,648  
     

 

 

 
        413,198  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.2%):       
  490,000      Baidu, Inc., 4.38%, 5/14/24, Callable 4/14/24 @ 100      482,037  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Interactive Media & Services, continued       
$ 475,000      Baidu, Inc., 4.38%, 3/29/28, Callable 12/29/27 @ 100    $ 448,964  
  1,511,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 2.99%, 1/19/23^(a)      1,508,682  
  515,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 3.60%, 1/19/28, Callable 10/19/27 @ 100(a)      474,535  
     

 

 

 
        2,914,218  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.0%):       
  320,000      Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., 2.80%, 6/6/23, Callable 5/6/23 @ 100^      316,372  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.1%):       
  1,119,000      CNH Industrial N.V., 3.85%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100, MTN      1,052,019  
  670,000      Trane Technologies Luxembourg Finance SA, 3.50%, 3/21/26, Callable 1/21/26 @ 100      632,811  
     

 

 

 
        1,684,830  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.1%):       
  260,000      Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA, 4.20%, 1/29/30, Callable 10/29/29 @ 100(a)      244,313  
  366,000      Equate Petrochemical BV, 4.25%, 11/3/26(a)      349,814  
  137,000      Fibria Overseas Finance, Ltd., 5.50%, 1/17/27      136,829  
  200,000      Freeport Indonesia PT, Registered Shares, 4.76%, 4/14/27, Callable 3/14/27 @ 100(a)      191,966  
  240,000      SABIC Capital II BV, 4.50%, 10/10/28(a)      236,567  
     

 

 

 
        1,159,489  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.3%):       
  2,171,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.75%, 4/10/27(a)      2,110,012  
  807,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.00%, 9/11/27(a)      758,317  
  1,332,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 4.50%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(a)      1,265,261  
  1,074,000      Anglo American Capital plc, 2.25%, 3/17/28, Callable 1/17/28 @ 100(a)      904,594  
  404,000      Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile, Registered Shares, 3.63%, 8/1/27, Callable 5/1/27 @ 100(a)      381,025  
     

 

 

 
        5,419,209  
     

 

 

 
National (0.0%):       
  200,000      Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN Indonesia III, 4.40%, 6/6/27(a)      198,000  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.1%):       
  1,022,000      Cenovus Energy, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/52, Callable 8/15/51 @ 100^      725,254  
  555,000      Ecopetrol SA, 4.13%, 1/16/25      530,025  
  222,302      Galaxy Pipeline Assets Bidco, Ltd., 2.94%, 9/30/40(a)      178,647  
  270,000      KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, 3.50%, 4/14/33, Callable 10/14/32 @ 100(a)      200,070  
  270,000      Pertamina Persero PT, 3.10%, 1/21/30, Callable 10/21/29 @ 100(a)      234,900  
  275,000      Qatar Energy, 2.25%, 7/12/31, Callable 4/12/31 @ 100(a)      228,715  
  290,000      Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 3.25%, 11/24/50, Callable 5/24/50 @ 100(a)      204,861  
  290,000      Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 3.50%, 11/24/70, Callable 5/24/70 @ 100(a)      197,416  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 298,000      Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.80%, 5/15/38    $ 312,974  
     

 

 

 
        2,812,862  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  240,000      Suzano Austria GmbH, 5.75%, 7/14/26(a)      241,068  
  156,000      Suzano Austria GmbH, 3.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      130,784  
     

 

 

 
        371,852  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.0%):       
  250,000      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., 2.95%, 1/23/23(a)      249,576  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.3%):       
  200,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(a)      170,173  
  200,000      Chile Government International Bond, 3.24%, 2/6/28, Callable 11/6/27 @ 100      186,026  
  1,560,000      Chile Government International Bond, 2.55%, 1/27/32, Callable 10/27/31 @ 100^      1,283,426  
  200,000      Chile Government International Bond, 3.86%, 6/21/47      157,587  
  1,905,000      Colombia Government International Bond, 3.13%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100      1,418,804  
  860,000      Colombia Government International Bond, 3.25%, 4/22/32, Callable 1/22/32 @ 100      627,773  
  114,000      Hungary Government International Bond, 5.38%, 3/25/24      113,858  
  200,000      Hungary Government International Bond, 5.25%, 6/16/29(a)      190,998  
  236,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 7.75%, 1/17/38(a)      283,502  
  200,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 6.75%, 1/15/44(a)      224,745  
  210,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 3.75%, 1/11/28      198,786  
  90,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 4.75%, 4/27/32, Callable 1/27/32 @ 100^      84,616  
  108,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 5.75%, 10/12/10      92,061  
  393,041      Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.50%, 8/14/24^      392,635  
  2,265,000      Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.38%, 10/27/27      2,290,481  
  655,000      Panama Government International Bond, 3.16%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      564,119  
  1,550,000      Panama Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/1/56, Callable 10/1/55 @ 100      1,143,125  
  245,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 2.78%, 1/23/31, Callable 10/23/30 @ 100      203,859  
  129,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 1.86%, 12/1/32, Callable 9/1/32 @ 100      94,884  
  30,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 3.00%, 1/15/34, Callable 10/15/33 @ 100      23,736  
  230,000      Philippine Government International Bond, 1.65%, 6/10/31      184,085  
  1,725,000      Philippine Government International Bond, 1.95%, 1/6/32^      1,408,870  
  689,000      Province of Manitoba, 3.05%, 5/14/24      673,704  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.00%, 3/14/29(a)      196,891  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Sovereign Bond, continued       
$ 200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 3.75%, 4/16/30(a)    $ 194,256  
  3,516,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.88%, 4/25/27, Callable 1/25/27 @ 100      3,115,327  
  275,000      Republic of Colombia, 4.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      237,996  
  567,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.00%, 1/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100      435,709  
  581,000      Republic of Indonesia, 4.10%, 4/24/28      568,659  
  2,840,000      Republic of Indonesia, 2.85%, 2/14/30      2,541,854  
  820,000      Republic of Panama, 3.88%, 3/17/28, Callable 12/17/27 @ 100      770,800  
  1,091,000      Republic of Peru, 4.13%, 8/25/27      1,049,157  
  1,031,000      Republic of Peru, 5.63%, 11/18/50      1,035,827  
  3,200,000      Republic of Philippines, 3.00%, 2/1/28      2,978,611  
  124,000      Romanian Government International Bond, 5.25%, 11/25/27(a)      119,260  
  236,000      Romanian Government International Bond, 4.00%, 2/14/51(a)      156,496  
  212,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 2.75%, 2/3/32(a)      185,294  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 5.00%, 4/17/49(a)      188,604  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.25%, 11/17/51, MTN(a)      144,441  
  1,034,264      Uruguay Government International Bond, 4.38%, 1/23/31, Callable 10/23/30 @ 100      1,027,800  
  209,820      Uruguay Government International Bond, 5.75%, 10/28/34, Callable 7/28/34 @ 100^      232,376  
     

 

 

 
        27,191,211  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware & Semiconductors (0.4%):       
  1,077,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 3.15%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      983,983  
  4,280,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 4.30%, 6/18/29, Callable 3/18/29 @ 100      3,979,454  
  1,174,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 3.40%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      1,015,270  
  2,838,000      NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA, Inc., 2.50%, 5/11/31, Callable 2/11/31 @ 100      2,242,403  
     

 

 

 
        8,221,110  
     

 

 

 
Telecommunications (0.0%):       
  330,000      NTT Finance Corp., 4.14%, 7/26/24(a)      324,882  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.0%):       
  270,000      Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Ltd., 3.38%, 7/24/24(a)      255,825  
     

 

 

 
Utilities (0.0%):       
  200,000      Comision Federal de Electricidad, 4.88%, 1/15/24^(a)      198,216  
  285,000      Israel Electric Corp., Ltd., 4.25%, 8/14/28, MTN(a)      268,740  
     

 

 

 
        466,956  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.2%):       
  280,000      Bharti Airtel, Ltd., 3.25%, 6/3/31, Callable 3/5/31 @ 100(a)      237,311  
  200,000      Empresa Nacional del Petroleo, 4.38%, 10/30/24(a)      194,250  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 235,000      Empresa Nacional del Petroleo, 3.75%, 8/5/26, Callable 5/5/26 @ 100(a)    $ 221,543  
  3,243,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.80%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(a)      2,795,365  
  209,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 4.55%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100(a)      161,835  
     

 

 

 
        3,610,304  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $86,167,174)

     76,315,087  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.6%):       
California (0.3%):  
  905,000      California State University Revenue, Series B, 2.72%, 11/1/52      584,078  
  435,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.50%, 4/1/34      530,852  
  600,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.55%, 4/1/39      760,956  
  2,545,000      City of San Francisco CA Public Utilities Commission Water Revenue, 2.83%, 11/1/41, Continuously Callable @100      1,793,360  
  1,240,000      Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Power System Revenue, 6.57%, 7/1/45      1,454,309  
  645,000      Regents of the University of California Medical Center Pooled Revenue, 4.13%, 5/15/32, Continuously Callable @100      596,760  
  440,000      University of California Revenue, Series BF, 2.65%, 5/15/50, Continuously Callable @100      277,314  
  347,000      University of California Revenue, 4.77%, 5/15/15      287,323  
  50,000      University of California Revenue, 4.86%, 5/15/12      42,712  
     

 

 

 
        6,327,664  
     

 

 

 
Michigan (0.0%):  
  801,000      University of Michigan Revenue, 3.50%, 4/1/52, Continuously Callable @100      633,511  
     

 

 

 
Minnesota (0.0%):  
  406,000      University of Minnesota Revenue, 4.05%, 4/1/52      349,533  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.1%):  
  575,000      New Jersey State Transportation Authority Revenue, Build America Bonds, GO, 6.56%, 12/15/40      617,768  
  270,000      New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Revenue, 4.13%, 6/15/42      214,345  
  165,000      New Jersey Turnpike Authority Revenue, Series B, 2.78%, 1/1/40, Continuously Callable @100      117,990  
     

 

 

 
        950,103  
     

 

 

 
New York (0.2%):  
  1,420,000      New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue, 2.15%, 3/15/31      1,127,892  
  1,045,000      New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue, 2.05%, 3/15/30      854,026  
  1,160,000      New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue, 5.00%, 2/15/31, Continuously Callable @100      1,319,848  
     

 

 

 
        3,301,766  
     

 

 

 
Oklahoma (0.0%):  
  255,000      Oklahoma Development Finance Authority Revenue, Series A2, 4.62%, 6/1/44      236,599  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Municipal Bonds, continued       
Texas (0.0%):  
$ 710,000      City of Houston TX, GO, 3.96%, 3/1/47    $ 604,778  
  430,000      State of Texas, GO, Series B, 2.75%, 10/1/41, Continuously Callable @100      304,092  
     

 

 

 
        908,870  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $15,459,386)

     12,708,046  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (32.0%):       
Federal National Mortgage Association (16.5%):  
  40,650      2.50%, 9/1/27, Pool #AP5205      38,039  
  61,385      2.50%, 9/1/27, Pool #AB6194      56,970  
  15,752      2.50%, 2/1/28, Pool #AB8446      14,889  
  36,291      2.50%, 4/1/28, Pool #AB8870      33,965  
  23,912      3.00%, 4/1/28, Pool #AT3121      23,144  
  28,094      3.00%, 5/1/28, Pool #AT6033      27,190  
  106,966      2.50%, 8/1/28, Pool #AS0190      100,090  
  123,951      3.50%, 10/1/28, Pool #AV0198      121,259  
  63,867      3.00%, 10/1/28, Pool #AU8774      61,817  
  5,703      3.00%, 10/1/28, Pool #AQ4132      5,406  
  241,117      3.50%, 11/1/28, Pool #AV1360      235,872  
  7,033      3.00%, 11/1/28, Pool #AV0298      6,666  
  153,185      3.00%, 4/1/29, Pool #AW0937      147,595  
  141,086      3.00%, 5/1/29, Pool #AW2544      135,583  
  226,012      3.00%, 6/1/29, Pool #AS2676      217,746  
  53,420      3.00%, 7/1/29, Pool #AW1281      51,053  
  312,520      3.00%, 7/1/29, Pool #AW4229      300,376  
  143,335      3.00%, 9/1/29, Pool #AS3220      138,101  
  52,462      3.50%, 9/1/29, Pool #AX0105      50,846  
  446,842      3.00%, 9/1/29, Pool #AL6897      429,406  
  86,254      3.00%, 10/1/29, Pool #AS3594      82,903  
  18,313      3.50%, 10/1/29, Pool #AX2741      17,748  
  320,888      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #AL6144      309,169  
  2,605,000      4.99%, 1/15/30(c)      1,920,552  
  11,350      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #AS4485      10,800  
  12,669      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #AS4488      11,833  
  40,511      2.50%, 2/1/30, Pool #BM3403      38,045  
  86,581      2.50%, 3/1/30, Pool #AS4688      79,447  
  66,971      3.00%, 3/1/30, Pool #AL6583      64,504  
  33,275      2.50%, 4/1/30, Pool #AY3416      30,540  
  54,713      3.00%, 4/1/30, Pool #AL6584      51,848  
  18,459      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #AY0828      17,215  
  31,444      3.00%, 5/1/30, Pool #AL6761      30,216  
  3,901,000      5.04%, 5/15/30(c)      2,832,746  
  169,525      3.00%, 6/1/30, Pool #AL9381      163,015  
  59,868      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AX9701      56,729  
  70,672      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AS5403      66,057  
  12,019      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AX9700      11,575  
  45,869      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AL7139      43,466  
  8,293      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #AZ2297      7,987  
  12,508      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AS5405      11,666  
  21,885      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #AZ2170      20,078  
  55,182      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5622      52,295  
  11,260      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AZ7833      10,845  
  59,285      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5623      56,443  
  11,291      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AX3298      10,877  
  80,143      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AL7225      75,952  
  71,057      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5616      67,622  
  44,200      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5614      40,563  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 121,813      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #BM3552    $ 113,601  
  46,360      3.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5708      45,252  
  65,398      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AL7227      62,268  
  31,955      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #AS5548      29,868  
  4,567      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #AZ8597      4,399  
  48,684      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5714      46,138  
  57,034      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5872      52,322  
  14,972      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AL7320      14,392  
  57,587      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5728      55,468  
  43,238      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #AS5786      40,419  
  23,998      3.00%, 9/1/30, Pool #AZ5719      23,114  
  47,140      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6115      44,858  
  41,359      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6116      38,584  
  55,168      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6141      50,609  
  44,984      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AS6142      42,048  
  7,031      2.50%, 11/1/30, Pool #AL7800      6,691  
  779,719      3.00%, 1/1/31, Pool #BM3537      741,215  
  65,868      2.50%, 3/1/31, Pool #BM1595      61,570  
  84,146      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #AS7320      77,194  
  141,139      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #AS7617      129,501  
  136,257      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #AS7605      125,017  
  5,351      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #BC2777      4,910  
  15,783      4.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AY4688      15,573  
  22,957      4.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AY4707      22,809  
  957,641      3.00%, 8/1/31, Pool #AL9376      907,558  
  94,737      3.00%, 9/1/31, Pool #AL9378      90,818  
  241,736      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8193      227,434  
  584,658      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8195      547,595  
  47,883      2.00%, 10/1/31, Pool #MA2774      44,367  
  339,984      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8208      311,912  
  1,141,839      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #BC4773      1,069,369  
  182,794      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8009      171,995  
  179,421      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2631      167,512  
  115,972      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2628      108,617  
  97,457      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8245      91,280  
  85,712      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC2629      78,618  
  128,127      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8241      120,552  
  80,515      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #BC9040      74,600  
  241,289      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8251      223,556  
  14,774      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8291      13,688  
  280,288      2.00%, 11/1/31, Pool #BM3054      259,687  
  203,956      2.50%, 11/1/31, Pool #AS8240      187,105  
  66,423      2.00%, 12/1/31, Pool #MA2845      61,542  
  10,886      3.00%, 2/1/32, Pool #BE5670      10,369  
  17,827      2.50%, 2/1/32, Pool #BM1036      16,633  
  182,269      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9317      169,603  
  323,816      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9321      304,500  
  196,311      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9316      180,083  
  315,403      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9318      297,731  
  269,442      3.00%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9327      256,648  
  352,327      2.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #AS9319      330,985  
  436,777      2.00%, 3/1/32, Pool #BM3061      404,709  
  1,353,286      3.50%, 4/1/32, Pool #BM3503      1,313,639  
  2,060,000      Class A2 , Series 2022-M1S2.08%, 4/25/32      1,702,280  
  985,589      3.50%, 5/1/32, Pool #BM1602      960,681  
  1,401,156      3.00%, 6/1/32, Pool #BM1791      1,337,458  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 424,782      2.50%, 8/1/32, Pool #BM3578    $ 401,299  
  162,107      3.00%, 9/1/32, Pool #BM3240      155,475  
  55,340      3.50%, 11/1/32, Pool #BJ2054      53,716  
  34,173      3.50%, 1/1/33, Pool #BJ2096      33,232  
  58,230      5.50%, 1/1/33, Pool #676661      59,349  
  816,495      2.50%, 2/1/33, Pool #BM3793      749,129  
  1,833,510      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #FM1880      1,741,412  
  39,469      5.50%, 5/1/33, Pool #555424      40,313  
  50,797      4.00%, 9/1/33, Pool #BK7642      50,072  
  162,129      4.00%, 10/1/33, Pool #CA2527      159,324  
  156,966      4.00%, 11/1/33, Pool #CA2555      156,268  
  299,727      2.50%, 12/1/33, Pool #FM1680      277,596  
  3,430,000      Class A3 , Series 2022-M52.37%, 1/1/34      2,762,918  
  290,281      5.00%, 2/1/35, Pool #735226      296,266  
  96,884      5.50%, 2/1/35, Pool #735989      98,956  
  23,334      5.00%, 3/1/35, Pool #735288      23,591  
  9,092      6.00%, 4/1/35, Pool #735504      9,200  
  171,681      3.00%, 8/1/35, Pool #CA6849      161,755  
  167,476      3.00%, 8/1/35, Pool #CA6876      158,125  
  44,918      5.00%, 9/1/35, Pool #889974      45,710  
  51,992      3.00%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8391      49,135  
  103,179      3.00%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8389      97,436  
  943,372      2.50%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8387      872,131  
  1,068,430      2.50%, 12/1/35, Pool #CA8388      986,063  
  108,521      4.00%, 1/1/36, Pool #AB0686      107,719  
  649,234      3.50%, 1/25/36, TBA      621,844  
  222,855      5.50%, 9/1/36, Pool #995113      227,960  
  24,704      3.00%, 10/1/36, Pool #AL9227      22,464  
  200,161      3.00%, 11/1/36, Pool #AS8348      178,658  
  81,582      3.00%, 11/1/36, Pool #AS8349      74,312  
  263,315      3.00%, 12/1/36, Pool #AS8553      239,858  
  192,292      3.00%, 12/1/36, Pool #BE1896      174,843  
  7,376,000      1.50%, 1/25/37, TBA      6,403,290  
  19,981,400      2.00%, 1/25/37, TBA      17,814,667  
  1,574,089      2.00%, 3/1/37, Pool #FS1331      1,404,670  
  10,869      5.50%, 2/1/38, Pool #961545      11,093  
  7,971      6.00%, 3/1/38, Pool #889529      8,109  
  22,616      6.00%, 5/1/38, Pool #889466      23,005  
  46,076      5.50%, 5/1/38, Pool #889441      46,265  
  50,434      5.50%, 5/1/38, Pool #889692      51,742  
  33,836      5.50%, 6/1/38, Pool #995018      35,207  
  9,749      5.50%, 9/1/38, Pool #889995      9,981  
  23,577      6.00%, 10/1/38, Pool #889983      25,000  
  136,429      5.50%, 1/1/39, Pool #AB0200      139,231  
  42,964      4.50%, 4/1/39, Pool #930922      42,719  
  35,788      3.50%, 5/1/39, Pool #MA3660      33,333  
  54,751      4.50%, 5/1/39, Pool #AL1472      54,391  
  539,221      5.00%, 6/1/39, Pool #AL7521      548,737  
  360,228      6.00%, 7/1/39, Pool #BF0056      379,334  
  25,362      5.50%, 10/1/39, Pool #AD0362      25,882  
  185,292      5.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #AC6680      189,078  
  25,783      5.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #AD0571      27,592  
  151,374      3.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #MA3869      140,998  
  66,147      3.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #MA3891      61,613  
  2,458,012      4.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #AC8568      2,434,501  
  113,725      3.50%, 2/1/40, Pool #MA3935      104,480  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 19,808      5.50%, 3/1/40, Pool #AL5304    $ 21,343  
  18,289      4.50%, 4/1/40, Pool #AD4038      18,120  
  156,259      6.00%, 4/1/40, Pool #AL4141      165,943  
  29,536      6.50%, 5/1/40, Pool #AL1704      31,261  
  33,760      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #AB1226      33,436  
  43,943      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #AD7127      42,948  
  17,407      6.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #AE0823      18,109  
  2,680,000      Class CY , Series 2010-1364.00%, 12/25/40      2,553,223  
  18,703      4.00%, 1/1/41, Pool #AL7167      17,929  
  2,789,593      Class ZA , Series 2011-84.00%, 2/25/41      2,671,913  
  39,443      6.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #AL4142      41,876  
  14,666      4.50%, 7/1/41, Pool #AB3314      14,531  
  257,792      5.00%, 7/1/41, Pool #AL7524      265,182  
  464,210      5.50%, 9/1/41, Pool #AL8430      480,842  
  26,703      4.50%, 9/1/41, Pool #AI8961      26,468  
  14,811,736      1.50%, 11/1/41, Pool #FS0316      12,034,710  
  2,371,809      2.00%, 12/1/41, Pool #MA4501      1,995,769  
  7,534,020      1.50%, 12/1/41, Pool #MA4500      6,121,392  
  136,019      3.50%, 1/1/42, Pool #AW8154      125,697  
  581,329      4.00%, 1/1/42, Pool #AB4307      563,714  
  599,272      2.00%, 2/1/42, Pool #MA4540      508,153  
  5,783,853      2.00%, 3/1/42, Pool #MA4570      4,904,065  
  892,580      2.00%, 3/1/42, Pool #MA4586      756,779  
  23,232      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #AK7510      22,145  
  54,842      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #AO0777      49,928  
  10,037      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #AO2881      9,567  
  117,402      4.00%, 5/1/42, Pool #AO2961      113,401  
  30,588      4.00%, 5/1/42, Pool #A02114      29,553  
  9,248      3.50%, 6/1/42, Pool #AO3048      8,816  
  11,345      3.50%, 6/1/42, Pool #AK9225      10,817  
  25,034      3.50%, 7/1/42, Pool #AO9707      23,866  
  117,539      4.50%, 9/1/42, Pool #AL2482      115,857  
  695,318      4.50%, 1/1/43, Pool #AL8206      686,453  
  64,547      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR9218      56,877  
  43,697      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR7568      39,409  
  55,059      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #AR7576      48,462  
  22,688      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2037      20,460  
  87,592      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2040      77,195  
  58,741      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AT2043      51,719  
  57,665      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AB8923      50,830  
  52,004      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AB8924      45,797  
  66,789      3.00%, 4/1/43, Pool #AR8630      58,848  
  646      3.50%, 4/1/43, Pool #CA1530      599  
  7,449      3.00%, 6/1/43, Pool #AB9564      6,826  
  468,108      5.00%, 12/1/43, Pool #AL7777      477,901  
  240,889      5.00%, 11/1/44, Pool #AL8878      242,990  
  603,355      3.50%, 2/1/45, Pool #FM5294      561,097  
  195,309      3.50%, 2/1/45, Pool #BM1100      183,772  
  140,189      5.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #BM3784      142,698  
  98,095      4.50%, 9/1/45, Pool #AL7936      98,631  
  2,679,612      3.50%, 9/1/45, Pool #FM3224      2,496,621  
  56,861      4.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #AL9501      57,841  
  2,989      4.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #AS6233      2,914  
  5,676,987      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #FM6411      5,299,290  
  135,088      4.50%, 12/1/45, Pool #BM1756      131,825  
  14,447      3.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #AS7365      12,916  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 966,238      3.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BA7748    $ 902,307  
  321,254      4.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BM3053      329,146  
  409,037      4.50%, 7/1/46, Pool #BM1920      413,287  
  18,178      3.00%, 8/1/46, Pool #AL9031      16,420  
  582,578      Class UF , Series 2016-484.79%(US0001M+40bps), 8/25/46      577,786  
  974,472      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BD1469      863,955  
  114,399      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9643      103,039  
  147,940      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9645      130,610  
  287,244      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #BD9644      258,717  
  958,347      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #AS8486      849,756  
  232,035      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BE2103      215,055  
  366,096      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE1534      336,587  
  836,281      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9920      775,221  
  72,057      3.50%, 3/1/47, Pool #BH0158      66,245  
  356,691      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BM1174      335,827  
  500,298      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BD2417      460,113  
  285,263      4.00%, 5/1/47, Pool #BH0398      274,761  
  179,081      3.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #BE9375      164,638  
  134,694      3.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH0567      123,850  
  223,473      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #BH3401      215,200  
  318,430      4.00%, 8/1/47, Pool #BM1619      306,637  
  21,252      4.00%, 9/1/47, Pool #MA3121      20,349  
  160,100      4.50%, 10/1/47, Pool #BM3052      159,297  
  662,832      3.50%, 11/1/47, Pool #MA3182      615,259  
  194,606      4.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #BH7067      192,072  
  399,918      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #MA3238      371,207  
  1,410,997      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #FM5293      1,317,740  
  68,791      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #BJ9057      66,134  
  305,707      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #BH9277      283,350  
  76,852      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #BJ9058      74,228  
  393,345      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BJ4916      364,491  
  203,117      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BJ0648      188,268  
  129,468      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #BK1958      120,002  
  38,345      4.00%, 4/1/48, Pool # MA3333      36,639  
  239,405      3.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #FM5295      225,431  
  3,619,821      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #FM7783      3,515,563  
  155,055      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #BM3846      154,130  
  13,858      3.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #MA3356      12,843  
  43,161      4.00%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA2708      41,242  
  2,102,125      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1704      2,070,986  
  31,508      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool # MA3384      30,107  
  171,308      5.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #CA2317      170,665  
  31,707      4.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #MA3415      30,296  
  14,680      4.50%, 7/1/48, Pool #BK4471      14,461  
  75,267      4.50%, 7/1/48, Pool #BK6113      74,816  
  706,214      5.00%, 9/1/48, Pool #MA3472      703,566  
  134,686      5.00%, 10/1/48, Pool #BK7881      134,181  
  92,336      4.00%, 10/1/48, Pool #CA2469      87,921  
  51,866      5.00%, 10/1/48, Pool #MA3501      51,671  
  9,095      3.50%, 11/1/48, Pool #FM1543      8,450  
  93,572      5.00%, 11/1/48, Pool #MA3527      93,222  
  30,541      5.00%, 12/1/48, Pool #BN4404      30,498  
  99,282      5.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #BN3949      98,910  
  1,314,637      4.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #FM5296      1,272,926  
  28,531      5.00%, 1/1/49, Pool #BN4430      28,490  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 282,580      3.50%, 6/1/49, Pool #FM5315    $ 262,569  
  837,258      4.00%, 9/1/49, Pool #FM3665      797,280  
  665,041      3.50%, 12/1/49, Pool #MA3210      617,301  
  4,948,704      3.00%, 3/1/50, Pool #FM5290      4,444,982  
  386,175      4.00%, 3/1/50, Pool #CA5368      366,203  
  346,078      4.00%, 5/1/50, Pool #FM7973      330,639  
  479,171      4.00%, 6/1/50, Pool #CA6106      456,169  
  3,086,808      2.50%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6343      2,667,534  
  3,068,533      2.50%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6341      2,651,802  
  3,027,317      2.50%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6342      2,616,324  
  1,792,627      2.50%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6359      1,563,546  
  1,849,252      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM5292      1,653,908  
  286,902      4.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM7703      273,661  
  3,575,934      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #CA6577      3,090,317  
  2,926,358      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #CA6636      2,529,271  
  907,777      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #CA6711      784,309  
  1,268,541      2.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #MA4119      1,040,341  
  394,372      2.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #BQ0697      323,424  
  2,283,198      2.00%, 10/1/50, Pool #MA4158      1,872,419  
  2,060,755      1.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #MA4157      1,582,344  
  585,803      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #FM4874      510,972  
  328,427      2.00%, 11/1/50, Pool #BQ6334      270,287  
  2,052,448      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #CA7597      1,789,977  
  1,787,256      1.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #MA4181      1,372,338  
  445,622      2.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #FM5305      370,319  
  1,398,534      2.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #FM5176      1,157,049  
  528,984      2.50%, 1/1/51, Pool #CA8592      457,062  
  1,747,854      4.00%, 1/1/51, Pool #FM7031      1,664,041  
  15,091,064      3.50%, 1/1/51, Pool #FM7599      13,845,487  
  2,801,276      2.00%, 2/1/51, Pool #BR1615      2,292,636  
  1,483,428      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #CA9038      1,270,417  
  182,971      2.50%, 3/1/51, Pool #BR4654      156,682  
  1,927,881      4.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #FM7460      1,830,621  
  2,387,801      1.50%, 3/1/51, Pool #MA4280      1,833,262  
  509,683      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #BN9004      422,023  
  908,112      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #BN8997      752,293  
  229,838      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #BR8896      196,851  
  849,130      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #BR7802      703,424  
  323,632      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #FS0599      268,913  
  1,292,806      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #FM6863      1,074,692  
  133,430      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #BR8283      114,279  
  690,283      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #BR7241      571,777  
  72,391      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #BR8296      61,969  
  123,205      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #BR8915      105,463  
  2,196,830      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #CB0383      1,883,424  
  4,752,989      4.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #FS1463      4,533,499  
  6,432,895      3.00%, 6/1/51, Pool #CB0848      5,691,819  
  205,157      2.50%, 7/1/51, Pool #BP3574      175,662  
  9,060,657      2.00%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1310      7,414,790  
  10,734,729      2.00%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1309      8,784,973  
  472,620      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #MA4465      386,795  
  71,593      2.50%, 10/1/51, Pool #BT8452      60,837  
  743,584      2.50%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1806      638,860  
  1,104,473      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9452      910,745  
  2,704,526      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #CB2165      2,402,008  
  3,142,048      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FS1334      2,571,270  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 2,278,273      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9538    $ 1,879,548  
  1,255,101      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #CB2139      1,036,973  
  2,568,248      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #CB2054      2,121,705  
  991,530      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #FS0026      854,026  
  2,377,260      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #CB2079      1,941,748  
  6,747,469      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #MA4492      5,522,173  
  1,210,979      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2418      1,078,739  
  319,226      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #FS0598      264,338  
  1,628,524      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #FS0211      1,336,957  
  1,622,542      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #FS0212      1,336,524  
  566,771      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2372      486,957  
  720,686      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9730      595,209  
  1,076,708      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9925      890,505  
  1,990,673      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0497      1,641,630  
  1,291,734      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0290      1,065,589  
  2,734,520      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0378      2,384,147  
  1,864,697      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0193      1,597,566  
  3,678,931      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2622      3,159,650  
  1,144,129      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2633      986,274  
  2,436,652      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2621      2,094,248  
  823,358      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS1406      673,689  
  2,008,324      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2620      1,727,924  
  2,437,868      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0208      2,093,799  
  1,485,411      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2601      1,225,266  
  3,040,166      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0209      2,606,256  
  1,745,633      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2837      1,428,448  
  766,308      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2836      627,579  
  33,463,207      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS2040      27,370,695  
  2,467,149      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2856      2,106,496  
  405,958      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2863      347,925  
  3,876,005      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2838      3,169,268  
  919,253      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0646      752,169  
  582,718      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2854      498,664  
  2,077,892      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2855      1,776,167  
  2,373,772      2.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3101      1,941,054  
  1,653,767      2.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3105      1,353,295  
  304,544      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3115      269,069  
  950,115      2.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #FS1661      822,910  
  4,352,773      2.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3102      3,557,877  
  870,453      3.00%, 4/1/52, Pool #FS1520      769,971  
  866,846      4.00%, 4/1/52, Pool #FS1267      822,347  
  650,665      3.50%, 5/1/52, Pool #BV8545      597,933  
  4,662,972      4.00%, 5/1/52, Pool #FS1133      4,439,263  
  1,380,489      3.00%, 5/1/52, Pool #FS1522      1,218,898  
  648,267      3.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #FS2812      594,873  
  498,854      4.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #MA4656      481,881  
  468,736      3.50%, 8/1/52, Pool #CB4324      430,733  
  487,961      3.50%, 9/1/52, Pool #CB4661      444,989  
  393,611      3.50%, 9/1/52, Pool #CB4660      359,581  
  299,827      3.50%, 9/1/52, Pool #CB4658      276,386  
  102,082      3.50%, 9/1/52, Pool #CB4657      94,224  
  2,713,000      2.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      2,487,482  
  10,150,000      5.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      10,008,852  
  5,700,000      4.50%, 2/25/53, TBA      5,501,613  
  2,500,000      5.00%, 2/25/53, TBA      2,463,672  
     

 

 

 
        344,496,245  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association (6.1%):  
$ 9,025      4.50%, 9/15/33, Pool #615516    $ 9,072  
  32,373      5.00%, 12/15/33, Pool #783571      33,344  
  10,169      6.50%, 8/20/38, Pool #4223      10,973  
  7,802      6.50%, 10/15/38, Pool #673213      7,865  
  5,799      6.50%, 11/20/38, Pool #4292      6,257  
  10,527      6.50%, 12/15/38, Pool #782510      10,824  
  112,602      5.00%, 1/15/39, Pool #782557      114,774  
  70,309      5.00%, 4/15/39, Pool #782619      72,425  
  53,408      5.00%, 4/15/39, Pool #711939      55,018  
  6,895      4.00%, 4/20/39, Pool #4422      6,754  
  6,719      5.00%, 6/15/39, Pool #782696      6,921  
  23,441      4.00%, 7/20/39, Pool #4494      22,959  
  40,491      5.00%, 10/20/39, Pool #4559      41,882  
  4,490      4.50%, 12/20/39, Pool #G24598      4,509  
  11,442      4.50%, 1/15/40, Pool #728627      11,519  
  5,490      4.50%, 1/20/40, Pool #4617      5,512  
  4,492      4.50%, 2/20/40, Pool #G24636      4,615  
  31,687      5.00%, 5/15/40, Pool #782958      32,637  
  287      4.50%, 5/20/40, Pool #G24696      287  
  19,591      5.00%, 6/15/40, Pool #697862      20,553  
  206,536      4.50%, 7/15/40, Pool #733795      207,920  
  27,388      4.50%, 7/15/40, Pool #745793      27,442  
  11,163      4.50%, 7/20/40, Pool #4746      11,164  
  20,422      4.50%, 8/20/40, Pool #4771      20,425  
  13,154      4.50%, 9/20/40, Pool #748948      13,223  
  6,143      4.00%, 9/20/40, Pool #G24800      5,975  
  45,347      4.50%, 10/15/40, Pool #783609      45,304  
  20,663      4.50%, 10/20/40, Pool #4834      20,666  
  161,372      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      156,961  
  300,721      4.00%, 11/20/40, Pool #4853      298,068  
  147,862      4.00%, 12/20/40, Pool #G24882      143,820  
  80,758      4.00%, 1/15/41, Pool #759138      78,447  
  132,891      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      129,258  
  12,876      4.50%, 2/15/41, Pool #738019      12,887  
  569,439      4.00%, 2/20/41, Pool #742887      545,347  
  2,281      4.00%, 2/20/41, Pool #4945      2,219  
  44,647      4.00%, 3/15/41, Pool #762838      43,369  
  3,340      5.00%, 4/20/41, Pool #5018      3,410  
  52,565      4.50%, 6/20/41, Pool #783590      52,215  
  7,219      5.00%, 6/20/41, Pool #5083      7,371  
  3,842      5.00%, 7/20/41, Pool #5116      3,923  
  124,513      4.00%, 7/20/41, Pool #742895      119,231  
  123,387      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #5115      127,955  
  36,611      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #783584      36,367  
  16,065      4.50%, 7/20/41, Pool #754367      16,173  
  37,588      4.50%, 11/15/41, Pool #783610      37,842  
  106,736      3.50%, 1/15/42, Pool #553461      101,298  
  146,598      4.00%, 4/20/42, Pool #MA0023      142,592  
  63,935      5.00%, 7/20/42, Pool #MA0223      65,913  
  149,289      3.50%, 4/15/43, Pool #AD2334      145,520  
  281,035      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #MA0934      268,021  
  158,947      3.50%, 5/20/43, Pool #MA1012      151,587  
  13,671      4.00%, 7/20/43, Pool #MA1158      13,297  
  545,397      4.50%, 6/20/44, Pool #MA1997      547,649  
  804      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AI4166      765  
  10,085      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AJ2723      9,577  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 442,055      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #MA2149    $ 429,980  
  14,672      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AI4167      13,929  
  10,916      4.00%, 8/20/44, Pool #AJ4687      10,365  
  257,804      5.00%, 12/20/44, Pool #MA2448      263,269  
  21,296      3.00%, 12/20/44, Pool #MA2444      19,515  
  250,039      3.00%, 2/15/45, Pool #784439      222,271  
  1,127,156      3.50%, 5/20/45, Pool #MA2826      1,057,312  
  153,084      5.00%, 12/20/45, Pool #MA3313      155,699  
  5,695,262      3.50%, 3/20/46, Pool #MA3521      5,325,957  
  1,093,192      3.50%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3663      1,022,283  
  365,467      3.50%, 7/20/46, Pool #MA3803      341,764  
  1,482,360      3.50%, 9/20/46, Pool #MA3937      1,386,237  
  96,390      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4345      91,858  
  146,060      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4344      137,391  
  10,054      4.00%, 10/20/46, Pool #AQ0542      9,747  
  72,454      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4342      67,895  
  56,237      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4343      52,103  
  65,525      3.50%, 10/20/46, Pool #AX4341      61,283  
  79,517      4.50%, 3/15/47, Pool #AZ8560      80,229  
  64,044      4.50%, 4/15/47, Pool #AZ8597      64,614  
  116,567      4.50%, 4/15/47, Pool #AZ8596      115,094  
  65,770      4.50%, 5/15/47, Pool #BA7888      64,941  
  1,416,161      4.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4511      1,366,635  
  15,370      4.00%, 9/15/47, Pool #BC5919      14,787  
  17,470      4.00%, 10/15/47, Pool #BE1031      16,805  
  15,903      4.00%, 10/15/47, Pool #BD3187      15,300  
  16,968      4.00%, 11/15/47, Pool #BE1030      16,323  
  1,101,904      4.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4838      1,063,394  
  20,267      4.00%, 12/15/47, Pool #BE4664      19,494  
  539,365      4.00%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4901      520,509  
  17,529      4.00%, 1/15/48, Pool #BE0204      16,680  
  22,898      4.00%, 1/15/48, Pool #BE0143      22,028  
  247,709      4.50%, 9/20/48, Pool #BD0560      245,361  
  451,948      4.50%, 3/20/49, Pool #MA5818      445,485  
  19,155      4.50%, 4/20/49, Pool #MA5877      18,881  
  203,983      4.50%, 5/20/49, Pool #MA5932      201,065  
  376,204      4.50%, 4/20/50, Pool #MA6602      367,110  
  627,831      3.00%, 4/20/50, Pool #MA6599      563,488  
  288,393      4.00%, 5/20/50, Pool #MA6658      277,615  
  80,288      3.00%, 5/20/50, Pool #MA6656      72,402  
  6,039,786      2.00%, 8/20/50, Pool #MA6818      5,065,891  
  1,452,323      3.00%, 10/20/50, Pool #MA6932      1,303,467  
  5,627,695      2.00%, 11/20/50, Pool #MA6994      4,751,383  
  5,662,000      5.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      5,609,803  
  3,124,700      3.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      2,785,377  
  1,316,427      3.00%, 1/20/51, Pool #MA7137      1,177,721  
  13,235,188      2.00%, 1/20/51, Pool #MA7135      11,100,145  
  2,007,281      2.00%, 2/20/51, Pool #MA7192      1,683,489  
  6,001,403      2.50%, 4/20/51, Pool #MA7312      5,233,790  
  6,847,591      3.00%, 6/20/51, Pool #MA7419      6,107,155  
  8,802,401      3.00%, 8/20/51, Pool #MA7535      7,875,637  
  6,201,983      2.50%, 10/20/51, Pool #MA7649      5,388,975  
  2,206,833      3.00%, 12/20/51, Pool #MA7768      1,974,248  
  11,761,318      2.50%, 12/20/51, Pool #MA7767      10,224,296  
  92,430      3.00%, 1/20/52, Pool #MA7828      82,419  
  2,396,005      2.50%, 5/20/52, Pool #MA8042      2,080,286  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 7,994,297      2.50%, 6/20/52, Pool #MA8097    $ 6,941,255  
  4,507,308      2.50%, 7/20/52, Pool #MA8147      3,910,446  
  249,025      2.50%, 8/20/52, Pool #MA8197      216,239  
  6,632,300      2.00%, 1/20/53, TBA      5,561,805  
  5,618,000      4.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      5,457,360  
  6,501,000      4.00%, 1/20/53, TBA      6,160,713  
  7,974,797      3.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      7,331,829  
     

 

 

 
        128,372,728  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (9.1%):  
  3,339,862      Class A2 , Series KC023.37%, 7/25/25, Callable 8/25/25 @ 100.00      3,227,551  
  78,664      3.00%, 9/1/27, Pool #U70060      75,075  
  44,007      3.00%, 7/1/28, Pool #U79018      41,501  
  591,000      4.93%, 9/15/29(c)      442,639  
  4,510,000      Class XFX , Series KL061.36%, 12/25/29, Callable 9/25/29 @ 100.00      335,484  
  19,975      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #V60696      18,956  
  24,475      3.00%, 1/1/30, Pool #V60724      23,306  
  42,869      2.50%, 3/1/30, Pool #V60770      40,076  
  100,931      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31728      94,474  
  88,482      3.00%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31689      85,415  
  48,564      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #J31418      46,285  
  64,932      2.50%, 5/1/30, Pool #V60796      60,689  
  174,705      3.00%, 6/1/30, Pool #V60840      166,255  
  83,732      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #G15520      78,956  
  16,504      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32204      15,421  
  3,815      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32491      3,573  
  4,715      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #V60905      4,406  
  15,251      2.50%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32209      14,540  
  11,706      3.00%, 7/1/30, Pool #J32181      11,299  
  10,867      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #J32436      10,252  
  60,498      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60902      57,606  
  18,364      3.00%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60909      17,477  
  71,902      2.50%, 8/1/30, Pool #V60886      68,456  
  57,272      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #V60903      53,538  
  181,423      2.50%, 9/1/30, Pool #V60904      169,546  
  7,227,133      Class X1 , Series K1211.02%, 10/25/30, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100.00      419,444  
  197,000      5.21%, 3/15/31(c)      137,415  
  190,000      6.75%, 3/15/31      222,421  
  316,486      2.50%, 4/1/31, Pool #G16186      294,440  
  570,000      Class A2 , Series K1422.40%, 3/25/32, Callable 3/25/32 @ 100.00      479,424  
  2,300,000      Class A2 , Series K1442.45%, 4/25/32, Callable 5/25/32 @ 100.00      1,939,997  
  5,130,000      Class A2 , Series K1452.58%, 5/25/32, Callable 6/25/32 @ 100.00      4,372,012  
  1,740,000      Class A2 , Series K1462.92%, 6/25/32, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100.00      1,525,432  
  6,407      3.00%, 10/1/32, Pool #J37706      6,054  
  8,652      3.00%, 11/1/32, Pool #J37835      8,177  
  1,480,000      Class A2 , Series K-1523.78%, 11/25/32, Callable 11/25/32 @ 100.00      1,395,049  
  6,202      3.00%, 12/1/32, Pool #J38060      5,862  
  2,164,746      2.50%, 4/1/33, Pool #ZS8087      2,001,106  
  105,938      3.50%, 1/1/34, Pool #ZS9068      96,607  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 64,982      5.50%, 2/1/35, Pool #G04692    $ 65,601  
  398,474      3.50%, 5/1/35, Pool #SC0063      378,686  
  1,550,000      1.46%, 8/17/35, Callable 8/17/23 @ 100.00      1,051,887  
  1,226,397      2.00%, 2/1/36, Pool #SB8507      1,100,210  
  3,155,000      1.72%, 9/22/36, Callable 3/22/23 @ 100.00      2,146,706  
  45,069      3.00%, 9/1/37, Pool #ZA2471      41,118  
  928,560      3.00%, 6/1/38, Pool #SC0111      858,277  
  104,284      6.00%, 4/1/39, Pool #G07613      113,309  
  15,253      4.50%, 12/1/39, Pool #A90196      15,159  
  469,399      3.50%, 1/1/40, Pool #RB5028      437,164  
  59,023      3.50%, 2/1/40, Pool #RB5034      54,222  
  15,579      4.50%, 7/1/40, Pool #A93010      15,430  
  16,686      4.00%, 8/1/40, Pool #A93534      16,216  
  321,521      4.50%, 9/1/40, Pool #A93700      319,977  
  113,310      4.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #A93851      108,466  
  22,737      4.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #A95923      22,107  
  15,263      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A95144      14,838  
  15,994      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A94977      15,548  
  16,140      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A94779      15,690  
  1,045      4.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #Q00093      1,017  
  40,832      4.50%, 5/1/41, Pool #Q00959      40,518  
  34,665      4.50%, 5/1/41, Pool #Q00804      34,398  
  229,068      Class FL , Series 42484.77%(US0001M+45bps), 5/15/41      228,130  
  254,181      5.50%, 6/1/41, Pool #G07553      257,731  
  18,259      4.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #Q03841      17,734  
  26,187      4.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #Q04022      25,436  
  53,785      5.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #G07642      54,478  
  365,831      2.00%, 2/1/42, Pool #RB5145      310,192  
  1,916,531      2.00%, 3/1/42, Pool #RB5148      1,625,021  
  125,067      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #Q07417      117,188  
  380,587      2.00%, 4/1/42, Pool #RB5153      322,698  
  138,873      3.50%, 4/1/42, Pool #C03811      130,782  
  11,968      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #Q08239      11,281  
  4,075      3.50%, 5/1/42, Pool #Q08306      3,841  
  17,699      3.50%, 8/1/42, Pool #Q12162      16,582  
  108,158      3.50%, 8/1/42, Pool #G07106      101,359  
  6,910      3.50%, 10/1/42, Pool #Q11909      6,473  
  168,400      3.00%, 1/1/43, Pool #Q14866      156,076  
  66,635      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #Q16403      60,035  
  130,005      3.00%, 3/1/43, Pool #Q16673      117,084  
  73,545      3.50%, 6/1/43, Pool #Q18718      68,091  
  119,241      3.50%, 7/1/43, Pool #Q20206      109,327  
  49,349      4.00%, 9/1/43, Pool #Q21579      47,887  
  126,922      4.50%, 12/1/43, Pool #Q23779      124,472  
  95,284      4.50%, 12/1/43, Pool #G60018      92,930  
  13,266      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #Q24368      12,159  
  1,029,600      Class XZ , Series 43164.50%, 3/15/44      1,021,802  
  55,983      4.00%, 4/1/44, Pool #Q25643      53,864  
  559,789      3.50%, 4/1/44, Pool #G07848      520,169  
  985,954      Class ZX , Series 43524.00%, 4/15/44      943,883  
  13,509      3.50%, 5/1/44, Pool #Q26218      12,763  
  67,339      3.50%, 6/1/44, Pool #Q28764      63,093  
  1,839,886      3.00%, 6/1/44, Pool #SD0498      1,688,480  
  47,292      4.00%, 7/1/44, Pool #G60901      45,636  
  12,483      3.50%, 7/1/44, Pool #Q27319      11,792  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 20,912      3.50%, 9/1/44, Pool #Q28604    $ 19,754  
  1,908,057      3.50%, 9/1/44, Pool #SD0481      1,784,928  
  2,111,597      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #SD0490      2,046,620  
  1,850,876      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #SD0478      1,788,893  
  15,170      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #Q31338      14,760  
  7,016      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #Q31128      6,825  
  2,812,449      4.00%, 9/1/45, Pool #SD0507      2,742,638  
  14,510      3.50%, 9/1/45, Pool #Q36302      13,779  
  20,421      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #Q37955      19,870  
  17,132      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #Q37957      16,650  
  1,291,607      3.50%, 3/1/46, Pool #SD0485      1,208,487  
  404,148      Class FB , Series 46064.82%(US0001M+50bps), 8/15/46      400,242  
  230,336      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #G60718      203,144  
  572,850      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q42979      506,033  
  241,615      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #SD0486      225,696  
  246,750      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45064      217,567  
  796,234      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #V82781      720,144  
  66,634      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45083      60,271  
  136,151      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45080      120,754  
  659,442      3.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #SD0496      596,985  
  380,684      3.50%, 3/1/47, Pool #G60968      371,067  
  681,788      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #SD0504      656,399  
  868,462      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #G61047      856,599  
  362,367      3.50%, 10/1/47, Pool #G61178      341,248  
  449,898      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G61208      423,730  
  401,642      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #ZS4751      372,450  
  92,795      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #Q53648      86,996  
  60,637      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #Q53630      57,105  
  408,368      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #ZT1353      379,161  
  618,843      4.00%, 4/1/48, Pool #SD0489      600,226  
  2,954,573      4.00%, 8/1/48, Pool #SD0492      2,862,088  
  990,702      4.50%, 8/1/48, Pool #G67715      988,161  
  2,317,725      4.00%, 5/1/49, Pool #SD0488      2,227,251  
  13,608      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1488      12,210  
  526,424      2.50%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1193      453,159  
  12,575      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1158      11,367  
  29,641      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1486      26,605  
  108,534      3.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #QB1479      97,394  
  785,748      1.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #RA3217      603,417  
  821,956      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #RA3313      725,618  
  86,732      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #QB2339      77,863  
  842,658      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #RA3282      745,692  
  282,906      2.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #QB2296      234,170  
  5,640,416      3.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #SD0592      5,085,219  
  1,967,893      1.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #SD8082      1,511,105  
  630,669      2.00%, 11/1/50, Pool #SD7528      524,286  
  1,089,324      3.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #SD0519      974,998  
  920,830      4.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #SD0520      888,293  
  3,950,614      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #SD7534      3,445,713  
  5,483,585      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #SD8134      4,488,286  
  2,079,084      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #SD7539      1,721,907  
  8,773,903      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #RA5077      7,558,839  
  2,479,092      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD0702      2,140,372  
  1,128,154      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7541      934,379  
  3,636,210      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #SD0716      3,029,538  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 1,206,331      3.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #SD7544    $ 1,080,346  
  785,751      2.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #SD0730      646,754  
  795,830      2.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #SD8172      651,312  
  1,055,720      2.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #SD0732      866,672  
  1,048,070      3.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6015      932,856  
  3,458,422      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6071      2,824,836  
  7,685,663      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #SD7548      6,581,718  
  2,392,001      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6397      2,070,414  
  4,679,173      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6388      4,013,246  
  5,845,455      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD8182      4,783,809  
  208,472      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD0789      172,094  
  424,633      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD0783      350,739  
  1,096,368      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD0785      910,073  
  1,137,252      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD0786      938,244  
  7,303,906      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #SD0923      6,208,928  
  1,985,206      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #SD0894      1,653,079  
  2,684,094      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #SD0892      2,213,836  
  24,169,820      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #SD7552      20,816,670  
  8,293,273      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #SD7549      6,892,585  
  889,560      3.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #SD7550      796,496  
  1,392,255      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #RA6768      1,136,200  
  24,165,896      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #SD7553      21,563,628  
  431,819      3.50%, 6/1/52, Pool #SD1086      395,301  
  1,050,761      3.50%, 6/1/52, Pool #SD1053      964,291  
  1,137,656      3.50%, 6/1/52, Pool #SD1049      1,041,579  
  2,948,867      4.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #RA7506      2,846,270  
  469,279      4.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #SD8231      453,427  
  908,632      4.50%, 8/1/52, Pool #QE8252      877,377  
  3,502,689      3.00%, 8/1/52, Pool #SD7556      3,107,672  
     

 

 

 
        189,328,632  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Bank (0.3%):  
  3,020,000      0.92%, 2/26/27, Callable 2/26/23 @ 100.00      2,623,915  
  4,080,000      3.56%, 5/16/33      3,754,852  
     

 

 

 
        6,378,767  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $731,059,346)

     668,576,372  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (19.7%):       
U.S. Treasury Bonds (11.2%):  
  2,480,000      5.38%, 2/15/31      2,725,287  
  14,025,000      4.75%, 2/15/37      15,379,289  
  10,000,000      5.00%, 5/15/37      11,212,500  
  12,855,000      1.13%, 8/15/40      8,050,444  
  35,585,000      1.88%, 2/15/41(d)      25,320,952  
  30,115,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      20,765,234  
  2,795,000      2.00%, 11/15/41      2,011,090  
  29,385,000      3.13%, 11/15/41(d)      25,528,219  
  5,045,000      2.38%, 2/15/42      3,878,344  
  2,325,000      4.00%, 11/15/42^      2,292,305  
  7,022,500      3.63%, 8/15/43      6,498,007  
  1,205,000      3.13%, 8/15/44      1,023,685  
  15,000      2.50%, 2/15/45      11,377  
  955,000      3.00%, 5/15/45      791,755  
  1,770,000      2.88%, 8/15/45      1,434,806  
  12,235,000      3.00%, 11/15/45      10,128,286  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Bonds, continued  
$ 22,700,000      2.25%, 8/15/46    $ 16,195,031  
  6,855,000      2.88%, 11/15/46      5,531,128  
  3,105,000      2.75%, 11/15/47      2,442,277  
  5,645,000      3.00%, 2/15/48      4,660,653  
  30,570,000      3.13%, 5/15/48(d)      25,888,969  
  4,055,000      3.38%, 11/15/48      3,603,248  
  8,700,000      3.00%, 2/15/49      7,221,000  
  125,000      2.88%, 5/15/49      101,328  
  10,975,000      1.25%, 5/15/50      5,965,941  
  8,590,000      1.38%, 8/15/50      4,821,137  
  5,954,000      1.63%, 11/15/50      3,578,912  
  1,102,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      704,591  
  629,000      2.25%, 2/15/52      441,774  
  2,633,000      2.88%, 5/15/52      2,129,027  
  6,737,000      3.00%, 8/15/52      5,610,658  
  9,073,000      4.00%, 11/15/52      9,170,818  
     

 

 

 
        235,118,072  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (8.5%):  
  1,595,000      1.75%, 3/15/25      1,507,275  
  3,164,000      0.50%, 3/31/25      2,906,925  
  16,246,000      0.38%, 4/30/25      14,834,629  
  13,710,000      0.25%, 5/31/25      12,446,109  
  12,997,000      2.88%, 6/15/25      12,566,474  
  12,640,000      3.00%, 7/15/25      12,250,925  
  890,000      3.00%, 10/31/25      860,241  
  1,550,000      2.88%, 11/30/25      1,492,602  
  7,810,000      0.38%, 12/31/25      6,982,628  
  4,310,000      0.50%, 2/28/26      3,843,308  
  2,435,000      2.38%, 4/30/26      2,302,216  
  2,033,000      4.13%, 9/30/27      2,043,165  
  16,540,000      4.13%, 10/31/27      16,622,700  
  22,114,000      3.88%, 11/30/27      22,024,162  
  5,585,000      3.88%, 12/31/27      5,563,280  
  110,000      1.25%, 6/30/28      95,253  
  11,165,000      4.00%, 10/31/29      11,199,891  
  998,000      3.88%, 11/30/29      993,634  
  29,630,000      3.88%, 12/31/29      29,542,037  
  3,120,000      0.63%, 5/15/30      2,475,525  
  925,000      0.63%, 8/15/30      730,027  
  6,599,000      2.75%, 8/15/32      6,025,712  
  7,411,000      4.13%, 11/15/32      7,588,169  
     

 

 

 
            176,896,887  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $486,966,374)

     412,014,959  
  

 

 

 
Certificate of Deposit (1.3%):       
  26,335,000      MUFG Bank, Ltd., 4.58%, 1/27/23      26,323,676  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Certificate of Deposit (Cost $26,335,000)

     26,323,676  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.5%):  
  10,944,091      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(c)(e)      10,944,091  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $10,944,091)

     10,944,091  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (9.3%):       
Money Markets (9.3%):       
  194,947,943      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(c)    $ 194,947,943  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $194,947,943)

     194,947,943  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $2,453,808,587) — 105.8%(f)

     2,209,482,748  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (5.8)%

     (121,613,776
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 2,087,868,972  
  

 

 

 
 

EUR003M—3 Month EUR LIBOR

EUSA1—Euro 1 Year Swap Rate

EUSA5—Euro 5 Year Swap Rate

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

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $10,596,798.

 

+

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.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(f)

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

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022:

 

Country   Percentage  

Canada

    0.3

Cayman Islands

    2.3

Chile

    0.2

China

    0.4 %

Columbia

    0.3 %

France

    0.2 %

Indonesia

    0.2

Ireland

    0.2

Japan

    1.5

Netherlands

    0.3

Philippines

    0.2

United Kingdom

    0.6

United States

    92.2

Uruguay

    0.2

All other countries

    0.9
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Securities Sold Short (-2.2%):

At December 31, 2022, 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 Mortgages

             

Federal National Mortgage Association

 

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     4.00%       1/25/53      $ (3,491,800    $ (3,333,116    $ (3,281,746

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     4.50%       1/25/51        (414,600      (404,446      (400,089

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.00%       1/25/53        (4,700,768      (4,132,520      (4,133,738

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.50%       1/25/53        (1,960,945      (1,784,862      (1,784,766

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.00%       1/25/36        (454,000      (428,924      (425,696

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.50%       2/25/51        (700,000      (655,156      (637,492

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     4.00%       2/25/53        (1,500,000      (1,443,516      (1,410,176

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     2.50%       2/25/51        (11,975,500      (10,324,825      (10,180,112

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     2.50%       1/25/53        (457,000      (388,271      (388,093

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     2.00%       2/25/53        (22,098,512      (18,289,108      (18,051,722

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     2.00%       1/25/52        (658,000      (536,707      (536,887

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     1.50%       1/25/53        (1,448,800      (1,123,423      (1,111,954

Government National Mortgage Association

 

Government National Mortgage Association, TBA

     2.50%       7/20/53        (5,389,400      (4,680,923      (4,675,304
          

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $ (47,525,797    $ (47,017,775
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s open futures contracts were as follows:

Short Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

30-Day Federal Funds December Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     1/2/23        24      $ (9,590,517    $ (1,535

Euro Buxl 30-Year Bond March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        10        (1,447,470      272,585  

Euro-Bobl March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        94        (11,645,368      357,368  

Euro-Bund March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        53        (7,540,554      464,085  

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/23        9        (1,064,531      31,625  

U.S. Treasury 30-Year Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/23        116        (14,539,875      20,697  

Ultra Long Term U.S. Treasury Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/23        127        (17,057,688      13,946  
           

 

 

 
            $ 1,158,771  
           

 

 

 

Long Futures

 

Description    Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Euro Schatz Index March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        36      $ 4,061,906      $ (29,124

U.S. Treasury 2-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/23        1,144        234,609,375        261,366  

U.S. Treasury 5-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/23        1,185        127,896,680        (123,434
           

 

 

 
            $ 108,808  
           

 

 

 

Total Net Futures Contracts

            $ 1,267,579  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Forward Currency Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:

 

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

European Euro

     3,601,000      U.S. Dollar      3,846,711      Natwest Capital Markets, Ltd.      3/15/23      $ 26,816  

U.S. Dollar

     102,459      European Euro      96,700      JP Morgan      3/15/23        (1,559

U.S. Dollar

     31,996,514      European Euro      29,975,000      UBS      3/15/23        (247,023
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (248,582
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

 

         $ (221,766
                 

 

 

 

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

 

      Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Forward currency contracts

   $ 26,816      $ (248,582

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 2,453,808,587
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 2,209,482,748

Cash

      61,453

Interest and dividends receivable

      13,084,272

Foreign currency, at value (cost $305,468)

      301,481

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts

      26,816

Receivable for investments sold

      144,261

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      149,300,034

Prepaid expenses

      502
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      2,372,401,567
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts

      248,582

Payable for investments purchased

      43,099,507

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      181,315,939

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      178,706

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      10,944,091

Securities sold short (Proceeds received $47,525,797)

      47,017,775

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      432,371

Management fees payable

      630,268

Administration fees payable

      111,646

Distribution fees payable

      450,193

Custodian fees payable

      15,014

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      6,908

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,286

Trustee fees payable

      17,257

Other accrued liabilities

      63,052
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      284,532,595
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,087,868,972
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 2,428,743,966

Total distributable earnings

      (340,874,994 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,087,868,972
   

 

 

 

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

      220,217,104

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 9.48
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $10,596,798.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 60,066,664

Dividends

      1,313,286

Income from securities lending

      70,209

Foreign withholding tax

      (263 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      61,449,896
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      8,056,848

Administration fees

      375,376

Distribution fees

      5,754,904

Custodian fees

      79,986

Administrative and compliance services fees

      32,430

Transfer agent fees

      7,875

Trustee fees

      129,733

Professional fees

      100,751

Shareholder reports

      32,521

Other expenses

      62,594
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      14,633,018
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      46,816,878
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      (144,841,769 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

      6,086,013

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      (3,985,123 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities held short

      3,250,619

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

      (267,671,703 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

      475,815

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      1,280,812

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities held short

      507,129
   

 

 

 

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

      (404,898,207 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (358,081,329 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 46,816,878     $ 19,502,658

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      (139,490,260 )       15,203,675

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (265,407,947 )       (74,635,557 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (358,081,329 )       (39,929,224 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (34,867,754 )       (89,324,077 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (34,867,754 )       (89,324,077 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      6,443,530       711,480,744

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      34,867,754       89,324,077

Value of shares redeemed

      (250,225,785 )       (63,249,445 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (208,914,501 )       737,555,376
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (601,863,584 )       608,302,075

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      2,689,732,556       2,081,430,481
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 2,087,868,972     $ 2,689,732,556
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      632,822       61,577,341

Dividends reinvested

      3,733,164       7,989,631

Shares redeemed

      (24,963,335 )       (5,508,649 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (20,597,349 )       64,058,323
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.17     $ 11.78     $ 11.21     $ 10.59     $ 10.89
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.20 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.17 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.28

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.73 )       (0.32 )       0.67       0.64       (0.35 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.53 )       (0.23 )       0.84       0.89       (0.07 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.15 )       (0.09 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )       (0.23 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.01 )       (0.29 )                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.16 )       (0.38 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )       (0.23 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 9.48     $ 11.17     $ 11.78     $ 11.21     $ 10.59
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.68 )%       (1.94 )%       7.53 %       8.38 %       (0.58 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 2,087,869     $ 2,689,733     $ 2,081,430     $ 2,239,557     $ 1,936,318

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.03 %       0.80 %       1.45 %       2.28 %       2.41 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.64 %       0.66 %       0.66 %       0.65 %       0.65 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.64 %       0.66 %       0.66 %       0.65 %       0.65 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      133 %       137 %       140 %       119 %       144 %

 

(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, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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 period, 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.

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.

 

35


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $7,062 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $10,944,091 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, no collateral had been posted by the Fund to counterparties for TBAs.

 

36


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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, 2022, the Fund participated in the following cross-trade transactions:

 

        Purchases      Sales      Realized
Gains/(Losses)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 1,026,981        $        $

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, 2022, 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, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $9.8 million and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $65.7 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $313.5 million, and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $110.2 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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 1,421,672     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 154,093  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts     26,816   Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts     248,582

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (3,985,123    $ 1,280,812  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts      6,086,013      475,815  

 

37


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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, 2022. 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, 2022.

As of December 31, 2022, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Forward currency contracts

       $ 26,816        $ 248,582

Futures contracts

                  432,371
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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

         26,816          680,953

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

                  (432,371 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $ 26,816        $ 248,582
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

Natwest Capital Markets, Ltd.

     $ 26,816      $      $      $      $ 26,816
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 26,816      $      $      $      $ 26,816
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

JP Morgan

     $ 1,559      $      $      $      $ 1,559

UBS

       247,023                             247,023
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 248,582      $      $      $      $ 248,582
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

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 BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock Financial”), BlackRock Financial 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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no such waivers.

 

38


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

 

39


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 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

       $        $ 102,239,263        $        $ 102,239,263

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  165,965,808                   165,965,808

Corporate Bonds+

                  520,183,812                   520,183,812

Foreign Bonds+

                  19,263,691                   19,263,691

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  76,315,087                   76,315,087

Municipal Bonds

                  12,708,046                   12,708,046

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  668,576,372                   668,576,372

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  412,014,959                   412,014,959

Certificate of Deposit

                  26,323,676                   26,323,676

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         10,944,091                            10,944,091

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         194,947,943                            194,947,943
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         205,892,034          2,003,590,714                   2,209,482,748
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Securities Sold Short

                  (47,017,775 )                   (47,017,775 )

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         1,267,579                            1,267,579

Forward Currency Contracts

                  (221,766 )                   (221,766 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $     207,159,613        $     1,956,351,173        $     —        $     2,163,510,786
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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 for forward currency contracts.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 2,941,214,275        $ 2,749,108,441

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 2,358,281,654        $ 2,093,182,411

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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.

 

40


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $2,410,443,059. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 2,965,741  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (250,943,827
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (247,978,086
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

 

41


AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
     Total
Amount

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 51,350,351        $ 89,856,106        $ 141,206,457

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
     Net
Long-Term
Capital Gains
     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

       $ 33,654,146        $ 1,213,608        $ 34,867,754

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 49,043,424        $        $ (141,206,457 )        $ (248,193,827 )        $ (340,356,860 )

 

(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.

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, 2022, 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 this 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

43


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $1,213,608.

 

44


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

46


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

47


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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

  50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 33

Statement of Operations

Page 33

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 34

Financial Highlights

Page 35

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 36

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 44

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 45

Other Information

Page 46

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 47

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 50

 

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 serves as Subadviser to the Fund.

 

 

What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (14.56)%. That compared to a (18.11)%, (13.01)% and a (14.89)% 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

The Fund’s investments are managed by its subadviser, FIAM LLC. Approximately 60% of the Fund’s underlying assets are invested primarily in investment-grade fixed income securities, and approximately 40% of the Fund’s underlying assets are invested primarily in large-cap common stocks.

U.S. equity markets declined in 2022, reacting in large part to a slowing economy and a shift away from COVID-era monetary easing. Persistent inflation led to the U.S. Federal Reserve tightening monetary policy. This move, combined with a deceleration in both global manufacturing and profit margins, drove stock prices lower. Eight of 11 sectors posted negative contributions to returns, with communication services and consumer discretionary the largest detractors to the Fund’s absolute performance. The positive contributions from the energy sector only partially offset this negative impact.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bond market posted negative returns in 2022 as the U.S. Federal Reserve took aggressive steps to reign in inflation, which remained elevated due to supply chain challenges and spikes in food and energy prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, among other factors. This notable strategic shift began in late 2021 when the Fed indicated that it was planning to stop bond purchases as part of its quantitative easing program. The trend continued in 2022 as the Fed made a series of increases to its federal funds target rate, starting in March and continuing through December.

The Fund outperformed its composite benchmark during the period under review, and the Fund’s equity component outperformed its equity benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. The Fund’s investment process looks at multiple viewpoints in determining the attractiveness of a security, which helped

deliver positive relative results during a period of low market performance. In this low-risk market investing environment, the Fund’s defensively postured factors boosted relative returns, with companies exhibiting stable financials and high-quality earnings performing well compared to their peers. The shift to a risk-averse environment was also well captured by the Fund’s momentum factors. Stock selection within health care and information technology contributed to relative returns, as did an overweight position in energy. Meanwhile, stock selection in utilities detracted from the Fund’s performance relative to its equity benchmark, as did modest exposure to growth-oriented companies and economically sensitive cyclical value factors.

The Fund’s fixed income component underperformed its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The fixed income component’s relative return was hurt by an overweight allocation to high-yield corporate bonds, as spreads widened amid growing market concern over the possibility of a recession. The Fund’s fixed income relative performance benefitted from its modestly shorter duration compared to that of the benchmark throughout the period, as bond yields rose materially during the year. An underweight position in mortgage-backed securities also contributed to relative returns as spreads widened considerably.

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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

 

10

Year

 

Since
Inception

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      6/21/2021       (14.40 )%                         (6.11 )%

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      10/23/2009       (14.56 )%       2.68 %       4.46 %       5.32 %       5.91 %

S&P 500® Index

      10/23/2009       (18.11 )%       7.66 %       9.42 %       12.56 %       12.30 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

      10/23/2009       (13.01 )%       (2.71 )%       0.02 %       1.06 %       2.20 %

Income & Growth Composite Index

      10/23/2009       (14.89 )%       1.91 %       4.18 %       5.83 %       6.48 %

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)

         0.51 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Multi-Strategy Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.76 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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 0.46% for Class 1 Shares and 0.71% for Class 2 Shares through April 30, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 993.10     $ 2.31       0.46 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 992.50     $ 3.57       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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

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

      38.7 %

Corporate Bonds

      21.5

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      14.9

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      12.2

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      6.0

Yankee Debt Obligations

      5.6

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      5.1

Asset Backed Securities

      0.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.4

Municipal Bonds

      0.3

Convertible Bonds

      0.2

Bank Loans

     
 


 
   

Preferred Stock

        
   

Warrants

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      105.5

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (5.5 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (38.7%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.1%):  
  10,477      General Dynamics Corp.    $ 2,599,448  
  8,971      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      2,069,430  
  9,225      Lockheed Martin Corp.      4,487,870  
  5,408      Northrop Grumman Corp.      2,950,659  
  26,416      Parsons Corp.*      1,221,740  
  33,942      Textron, Inc.      2,403,094  
     

 

 

 
        15,732,241  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.2%):  
  12,084      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      2,100,683  
  9,300      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      309,597  
     

 

 

 
        2,410,280  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.0%):  
  4,395      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      188,721  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):  
  4,000      Gentex Corp.      109,080  
  700      Visteon Corp.*      91,581  
     

 

 

 
        200,661  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.4%):  
  27,179      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      1,130,646  
  40,170      Tesla, Inc.*      4,948,141  
     

 

 

 
        6,078,787  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.4%):  
  156,824      Bank of America Corp.      5,194,011  
  204      Citigroup, Inc.      9,227  
  3,924      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      154,488  
  1,014      Community Bank System, Inc.      63,831  
  2,300      East West Bancorp, Inc.      151,570  
  20,384      Fifth Third Bancorp      668,799  
  8,450      First Republic Bank      1,029,970  
  60,737      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      8,144,832  
  7,261      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1,146,802  
  27,053      U.S. Bancorp      1,179,781  
  32,657      Wells Fargo & Co.      1,348,408  
     

 

 

 
        19,091,719  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.9%):  
  109,199      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      6,946,148  
  284      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      145,510  
  7,091      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A      1,643,339  
  21,940      PepsiCo, Inc.      3,963,681  
     

 

 

 
        12,698,678  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.9%):  
  10,957      AbbVie, Inc.      1,770,761  
  10,679      Amgen, Inc.      2,804,733  
  3,620      Biogen, Inc.*      1,002,450  
  53,611      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      4,602,504  
  375      Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.*      48,593  
  4,692      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      217,380  
  5,722      United Therapeutics Corp.*      1,591,231  
  1,754      Vir Biotechnology, Inc.*      44,394  
     

 

 

 
        12,082,046  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.1%):  
  3,282      Allegion plc      345,463  
  25,478      Carrier Global Corp.      1,050,968  
     

 

 

 
        1,396,431  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets (0.6%):  
  4,190      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)    $ 125,030  
  4,303      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      539,897  
  9,484      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      789,638  
  252      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      101,105  
  7,500      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      2,575,350  
  6,012      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      616,771  
  12,448      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      2,690,884  
  578      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      161,198  
  85      MSCI, Inc.      39,540  
  6,772      Nasdaq, Inc.      415,462  
  5,025      Stifel Financial Corp.      293,309  
  8,407      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      545,867  
     

 

 

 
        8,894,051  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.5%):       
  23,103      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      1,968,376  
  886      Chemours Co. (The)      27,129  
  4,966      Eastman Chemical Co.      404,431  
  1,727      Ecolab, Inc.      251,382  
  61,583      Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.*      104,075  
  4,736      Linde plc      1,544,789  
  19,427      Olin Corp.      1,028,466  
  4,306      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)      1,021,943  
  11,395      Westlake Corp.      1,168,443  
     

 

 

 
        7,519,034  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.3%):       
  5,418      Cintas Corp.      2,446,877  
  5,256      Republic Services, Inc.      677,971  
  3,283      Rollins, Inc.      119,961  
  2,083      Waste Management, Inc.      326,781  
     

 

 

 
        3,571,590  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.7%):       
  26,244      Arista Networks, Inc.*      3,184,710  
  130,085      Cisco Systems, Inc.      6,197,249  
  5,559      F5, Inc.*      797,772  
     

 

 

 
        10,179,731  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  6,005      AECOM      510,005  
  1,073      EMCOR Group, Inc.      158,922  
     

 

 

 
        668,927  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.1%):       
  7,840      Eagle Materials, Inc.      1,041,544  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.1%):       
  8,237      Capital One Financial Corp.      765,711  
  2,367      Synchrony Financial      77,780  
     

 

 

 
        843,491  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.2%):       
  421      Avery Dennison Corp.      76,201  
  35,774      Sealed Air Corp.      1,784,407  
  36,731      Westrock Co.      1,291,462  
     

 

 

 
        3,152,070  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  23,203      LKQ Corp.      1,239,272  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.2%):       
  37,634      Service Corp. International      2,602,015  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  39,802      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*    $ 12,294,838  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  1,791      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*      45,635  
  133,529      Verizon Communications, Inc.      5,261,042  
     

 

 

 
        5,306,677  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.7%):       
  36,829      Duke Energy Corp.      3,793,019  
  22,542      FirstEnergy Corp.      945,411  
  38,553      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      1,613,443  
  2,320      NextEra Energy, Inc.      193,952  
  41,097      Xcel Energy, Inc.      2,881,311  
     

 

 

 
        9,427,136  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.2%):  
  3,202      Acuity Brands, Inc.      530,284  
  7,743      AMETEK, Inc.      1,081,852  
  2,029      Atkore, Inc.*      230,129  
  6,303      Emerson Electric Co.      605,466  
     

 

 

 
        2,447,731  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.2%):  
  9,946      CDW Corp.      1,776,157  
  368      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      62,954  
  262      Littelfuse, Inc.      57,692  
  41,734      Vontier Corp.      806,718  
     

 

 

 
        2,703,521  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.3%):  
  14,219      Baker Hughes Co.      419,887  
  6,015      Halliburton Co.      236,690  
  59,406      Schlumberger, Ltd.      3,175,845  
     

 

 

 
        3,832,422  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):  
  3,623      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      277,341  
  7,879      Electronic Arts, Inc.      962,656  
  9,832      Spotify Technology SA*      776,236  
     

 

 

 
        2,016,233  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.5%):  
  561      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      90,613  
  1,914      Crown Castle, Inc.      259,615  
  2,421      Kilroy Realty Corp.      93,620  
  4,034      National Retail Properties, Inc.      184,596  
  8,368      National Storage Affiliates Trust      302,252  
  9,197      Public Storage      2,576,908  
  29,376      Realty Income Corp.      1,863,320  
  1,249      SBA Communications Corp.      350,107  
  26,584      Ventas, Inc.      1,197,609  
     

 

 

 
        6,918,640  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.7%):  
  6,671      Costco Wholesale Corp.      3,045,311  
  14,303      Kroger Co. (The)      637,628  
  1,526      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      49,397  
  44,294      Walmart, Inc.      6,280,446  
     

 

 

 
        10,012,782  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products (0.7%):  
  12,725      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.    $ 1,181,516  
  28,199      Conagra Brands, Inc.      1,091,301  
  221      Hershey Co. (The)      51,177  
  56,503      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      2,300,237  
  3,804      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      339,926  
  67,337      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      4,488,011  
     

 

 

 
        9,452,168  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.8%):  
  52,342      Abbott Laboratories      5,746,628  
  1,030      Becton Dickinson and Co.      261,929  
  7,352      Danaher Corp.      1,951,368  
  1,503      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      398,821  
  11,460      Medtronic plc      890,671  
  561      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      115,347  
  2,173      Stryker Corp.      531,277  
  2,213      Teleflex, Inc.      552,431  
  980      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      124,950  
  3,144      Zimvie, Inc.*      29,365  
     

 

 

 
        10,602,787  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.8%):  
  9,856      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      1,633,238  
  4,700      Cigna Corp.      1,557,298  
  32,931      CVS Health Corp.      3,068,840  
  9,783      Elevance Health, Inc.      5,018,385  
  576      Humana, Inc.      295,021  
  3,800      McKesson Corp.      1,425,456  
  5,186      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      811,298  
  21,044      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      11,157,108  
     

 

 

 
        24,966,644  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.0%):  
  1,638      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      264,340  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.3%):  
  31,403      Airbnb, Inc., Class A*      2,684,956  
  2,012      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      4,054,743  
  3,435      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      142,896  
  1,034      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      1,434,665  
  5,418      Expedia Group, Inc.*      474,617  
  8,166      Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A*      738,615  
  16,139      McDonald’s Corp.      4,253,111  
  40,637      Starbucks Corp.      4,031,190  
  4,725      Yum! Brands, Inc.      605,178  
     

 

 

 
        18,419,971  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.1%):  
  5,146      Toll Brothers, Inc.      256,888  
  1,749      TopBuild Corp.*      273,701  
  2,651      Whirlpool Corp.      375,011  
     

 

 

 
        905,600  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.5%):  
  11,890      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      958,453  
  18,243      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      1,437,366  
  29,504      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      4,471,626  
     

 

 

 
        6,867,445  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):  
  25,646      3M Co.      3,075,468  
  1,572      Honeywell International, Inc.      336,880  
     

 

 

 
        3,412,348  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance (0.6%):  
  4,421      Aon plc, Class A    $ 1,326,919  
  15,613      First American Financial Corp.      817,184  
  9,536      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      723,115  
  118      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      30,859  
  4,457      Loews Corp.      259,977  
  4,037      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      668,043  
  10,297      Progressive Corp. (The)      1,335,624  
  12,712      Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.*      527,675  
  7,199      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      1,349,741  
  10,393      WR Berkley Corp.      754,220  
     

 

 

 
        7,793,357  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (1.7%):  
  103,269      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      9,111,424  
  85,667      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      7,601,233  
  62,975      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      7,578,411  
     

 

 

 
        24,291,068  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.1%):  
  151,320      Amazon.com, Inc.*      12,710,880  
  62,606      eBay, Inc.      2,596,271  
     

 

 

 
        15,307,151  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.2%):  
  4,871      Accenture plc, Class A      1,299,778  
  1,021      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      243,876  
  4,008      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      736,190  
  1,774      Gartner, Inc.*      596,312  
  12,600      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      942,732  
  17,999      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      6,258,792  
  2,313      Paychex, Inc.      267,290  
  20,460      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      1,457,161  
  987      Teradata Corp.*      33,222  
  10,374      VeriSign, Inc.*      2,131,235  
  13,902      Visa, Inc., Class A      2,888,280  
     

 

 

 
        16,854,868  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):  
  4,388      Brunswick Corp.      316,287  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.3%):  
  7,864      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*      286,564  
  4,778      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      2,009,101  
  274      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      56,140  
  3,892      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      826,700  
  14,160      Sotera Health Co.*      117,953  
  2,222      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,223,633  
     

 

 

 
        4,520,091  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.8%):  
  3,999      AGCO Corp.      554,621  
  17,406      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      724,090  
  10,321      Caterpillar, Inc.      2,472,499  
  4,965      Deere & Co.      2,128,793  
  31,547      Fortive Corp.      2,026,895  
  7,461      Otis Worldwide Corp.      584,271  
  6,423      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      1,869,093  
  6,612      Pentair PLC      297,408  
     

 

 

 
        10,657,670  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Media (0.3%):  
  5,200      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*    $ 23,920  
  118,938      Comcast Corp., Class A      4,159,262  
  1,899      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      61,641  
     

 

 

 
        4,244,823  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):  
  14,371      Newmont Corp.      678,311  
  8,552      Nucor Corp.      1,127,239  
     

 

 

 
        1,805,550  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.2%):  
  12,330      Dollar General Corp.      3,036,263  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.6%):  
  30,423      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      2,899,616  
  15,493      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      949,256  
  11,274      Sempra Energy      1,742,284  
  27,308      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      2,560,398  
     

 

 

 
        8,151,554  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.3%):  
  11,252      APA Corp.      525,243  
  816      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      122,367  
  1,201      Chesapeake Energy Corp.      113,338  
  36,157      Chevron Corp.      6,489,820  
  22,119      ConocoPhillips      2,610,042  
  10,306      Coterra Energy, Inc.      253,218  
  5,526      Denbury, Inc.*      480,873  
  4,053      Devon Energy Corp.      249,300  
  1,326      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      181,370  
  13,925      DT Midstream, Inc.      769,496  
  16,173      EOG Resources, Inc.      2,094,727  
  11,434      EQT Corp.      386,812  
  75,514      Exxon Mobil Corp.      8,329,194  
  4,666      Hess Corp.      661,732  
  35,455      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      641,026  
  25,807      Marathon Oil Corp.      698,596  
  16,744      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      1,948,834  
  7,772      Murphy Oil Corp.      334,274  
  22,161      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      1,395,921  
  14,571      Phillips 66      1,516,550  
  2,402      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      548,593  
  4,011      Sanchez Energy Corp.*(a)      238,990  
  9,145      Targa Resources Corp.      672,158  
  5,741      Valero Energy Corp.      728,303  
     

 

 

 
        31,990,777  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (2.4%):  
  62,926      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      4,527,525  
  15,013      Eli Lilly & Co.      5,492,356  
  56,783      Johnson & Johnson      10,030,717  
  54,717      Merck & Co., Inc.      6,070,851  
  151,699      Pfizer, Inc.      7,773,057  
     

 

 

 
        33,894,506  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.2%):  
  16,743      CoStar Group, Inc.*      1,293,899  
  7,665      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      806,281  
  7,338      TriNet Group, Inc.*      497,517  
     

 

 

 
        2,597,697  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail (0.5%):  
  73,965      CSX Corp.    $ 2,291,436  
  2,488      Norfolk Southern Corp.      613,093  
  7,186      RXO, Inc.*      123,599  
  16,009      Union Pacific Corp.      3,314,984  
     

 

 

 
        6,343,112  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.7%):  
  2,735      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      177,146  
  3,081      Applied Materials, Inc.      300,028  
  12,277      Broadcom, Inc.      6,864,439  
  161      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      42,658  
  2,920      Impinj, Inc.*      318,806  
  133,962      Intel Corp.      3,540,616  
  30,445      Microchip Technology, Inc.      2,138,761  
  436      Micron Technology, Inc.      21,791  
  28,771      NVIDIA Corp.      4,204,594  
  4,320      NXP Semiconductors NV      682,690  
  13,494      Qorvo, Inc.*      1,223,096  
  42,859      Qualcomm, Inc.      4,711,918  
     

 

 

 
        24,226,543  
     

 

 

 
Software (3.1%):  
  16,589      Adobe, Inc.*      5,582,696  
  11,425      Box, Inc.*      355,660  
  97,452      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      2,180,976  
  732      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      88,865  
  123,104      Microsoft Corp.      29,522,801  
  7,784      New Relic, Inc.*      439,407  
  2,919      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      407,317  
  11,435      Salesforce, Inc.*      1,516,167  
  11,322      Splunk, Inc.*      974,711  
  5,978      Synopsys, Inc.*      1,908,716  
  576      Workday, Inc., Class A*      96,382  
     

 

 

 
        43,073,698  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (1.2%):  
  498      AutoZone, Inc.*      1,228,158  
  19,139      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      6,045,244  
  11,766      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      2,344,258  
  2,447      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      2,065,341  
  48,122      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      3,830,511  
  3,139      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      1,472,411  
  2,574      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      295,804  
     

 

 

 
        17,281,727  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (2.7%):  
  254,440      Apple, Inc.      33,059,389  
  7,555      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      303,862  
  22,231      NetApp, Inc.      1,335,194  
  94,436      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      2,527,108  
     

 

 

 
        37,225,553  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.0%):  
  9,502      TFS Financial Corp.      136,924  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.2%):  
  34,288      Altria Group, Inc.      1,567,304  
  18,019      Philip Morris International, Inc.      1,823,703  
     

 

 

 
        3,391,007  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):  
  11,937      Fastenal Co.    $ 564,859  
  8,333      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      680,806  
  8,372      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      266,230  
     

 

 

 
        1,511,895  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):  
  5,324      American Water Works Co., Inc.      811,484  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.0%):  
  4,502      T-Mobile US, Inc.*      630,280  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $552,305,235)

     539,536,457  
     

 

 

 
Preferred Stock (0.0%):  
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  1,000      PG&E Corp., 8/16/23      144,240  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $117,395)

     144,240  
     

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Warrants (0.0%):  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  63      California Resources Corp., 10/27/24*      794  
  2,121      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8/3/27      87,449  
     

 

 

 
        88,243  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Warrants (Cost $20,366)

     88,243  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (0.6%):  
$ 619,862      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2017-1A, 3.97%, 5/16/42(b)      480,707  
  683,761      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.95%, 11/16/41(b)      537,841  
  1,386,194      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 2.80%, 1/15/47(b)      1,115,478  
  189,708      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 3.84%, 1/16/38(b)      114,947  
  124,544      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.35%, 1/16/40(b)      98,117  
  138,939      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 1/16/40(b)      59,870  
  240,761      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-2, 3.38%, 10/16/39(b)      178,170  
  106,581      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.84%, 5/15/39(b)      69,546  
  59,947      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class AA, Series 2016-1A, 2.49%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      55,965  
  498,768      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2016-1A, 4.21%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      412,620  
  1,002,519      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.44%, 7/15/46, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      834,140  
  141,603      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 4.13%, 6/15/43(b)      124,114  
  186,315      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class B, Series 2019-1, 5.10%, 4/15/39(b)      138,092  
  208,292      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 4/15/39(b)      176,035  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued  
$ 188,188      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 3.47%, 1/15/46(b)    $ 157,503  
  362,606      CF Hippolyta LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 1.53%, 3/15/61, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100(b)      312,842  
  350,520      DB Master Finance LLC, Class A2II, Series 2017-1A, 4.03%, 11/20/47, Callable 11/20/23 @ 100(b)      314,234  
  198,362      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.72%, 7/15/39(b)      156,038  
  197,562      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-1, 4.46%, 12/15/38(b)      162,097  
  213,400      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 1A, 3.86%, 12/5/49, Callable 12/5/25 @ 100(b)      175,191  
  614,358      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2I, Series 2022-1A, 3.25%, 12/5/51, Callable 12/5/24 @ 100(b)      532,675  
  551,830      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2II, Series 2022-1A, 4.01%, 12/5/51, Callable 12/5/27 @ 100(b)      431,180  
  221,745      Project Silver, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 7/15/44(b)      174,792  
  233,783      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class B, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 3/15/40(b)      136,884  
  216,523      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.23%, 3/15/40(b)      163,870  
  323,003      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.67%, 11/15/39(b)      253,642  
  207,734      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2017-A, 4.21%, 5/17/32, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      178,720  
  287,010      Thunderbolt II Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018, 4.15%, 9/15/38, Callable 7/15/2022 @ 100(b)(c)      217,419  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $9,727,162)

     7,762,729  
     

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (6.0%):       
  250,000      Aimco CLO, Class AR, Series 2018-BA, 5.18%(US0003M+110bps), 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      245,514  
  523,000      Aimco CLO 11, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-11A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 10/17/34, Callable 10/17/23 @ 100(b)      509,093  
  387,000      Aimco CLO 14, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-14A, 5.23%(US0003M+99bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      373,093  
  250,000      Allegro CLO XIII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.38%(US0003M+114bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      242,971  
  2,812,000      Allegro CLO XIV, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-2A, 5.24%(US0003M+116bps), 10/15/34, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      2,737,558  
  624,000      Allegro CLO XV, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-1A, 3.18%(TSFR3M+150bps), 7/20/35, Callable 7/20/24 @ 100(b)      607,024  
  256,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-54A, 5.40%(US0003M+132bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      251,094  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 853,000      Ares LV CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-55A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)    $ 833,610  
  273,000      Ares XLI CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2016-41A, 5.15%(US0003M+107bps), 4/15/34, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100(b)      264,945  
  177,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class ANM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.11%, 11/5/32(b)      163,924  
  100,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class C, Series 2022-DKLX, 6.49%(TSFR1M+215bps), 1/15/39(b)      94,870  
  105,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class B, Series 2022-DKLX, 5.89%(TSFR1M+155bps), 1/15/39(b)      100,527  
  555,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2022-DKLX, 5.49%(TSFR1M+115bps), 1/15/39(b)      537,018  
  30,000      Bank, Class A5, Series 2019-BN21, 2.85%, 10/15/52, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      25,881  
  310,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-4A, 5.46%(US0003M+122bps), 1/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      305,068  
  536,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/36, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      521,535  
  34,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-B4, 4.12%, 7/15/51, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(c)      32,296  
  808,000      Bethpage Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 1/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      784,131  
  139,000      BFLD Trust, Class A, Series 2020-OBRK, 6.37%(US0001M+205bps), 11/15/28(b)      137,961  
  1,835,000      BPR Trust, Class A, Series 2022-OANA, 6.23%(TSFR1M+190bps), 4/15/37(b)      1,806,979  
  488,000      BPR Trust, Class B, Series 2022-OANA, 6.78%(TSFR1M+245bps), 4/15/37(b)      458,075  
  296,390      Bristol Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2016-1A, 5.07%(US0003M+99bps), 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      292,268  
  169,348      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-XL, 5.37%(US0001M+92bps), 10/15/36(b)      167,044  
  124,100      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-XL, 5.53%(US0001M+108bps), 10/15/36(b)      121,934  
  155,550      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-XL, 5.70%(US0001M+125bps), 10/15/36(b)      151,698  
  76,300      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2018-EXCL, 6.94%(US0001M+263bps), 9/15/37(b)      68,036  
  390,852      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-LP2, 5.65%(TSFR1M+131bps), 2/15/39(b)      372,367  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 5,017,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-IMC, 5.32%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/34(b)    $ 4,899,694  
  390,852      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-LP2, 5.90%(TSFR1M+156bps), 2/15/39(b)      370,327  
  172,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-IMC, 5.62%(US0001M+130bps), 4/15/34(b)      165,956  
  390,852      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2022-LP2, 6.30%(TSFR1M+196bps), 2/15/39(b)      365,897  
  113,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-IMC, 5.92%(US0001M+160bps), 4/15/34(b)      108,128  
  119,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-IMC, 6.22%(US0001M+190bps), 4/15/34(b)      114,072  
  220,150      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-XL, 5.90%(US0001M+145bps), 10/15/36(b)      213,252  
  309,400      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2019-XL, 6.25%(US0001M+180bps), 10/15/36(b)      298,723  
  1,297,889      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-LP2, 5.35%(TSFR1M+101bps), 2/15/39(b)      1,241,644  
  162,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-PAC, 5.22%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(b)      153,300  
  216,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-PAC, 5.42%(US0001M+110bps), 10/15/36(b)      203,052  
  730,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-PAC, 6.27%(US0001M+195bps), 10/15/36(b)      682,138  
  1,081,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-PAC, 5.01%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/36(b)      1,037,799  
  210,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-PAC, 5.62%(US0001M+130bps), 10/15/36(b)      195,460  
  472,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2022-GPA, 6.50%(TSFR1M+217bps), 10/15/39(b)      467,027  
  106,429      BX Trust, Class C, Series 2022-IND, 6.62%(TSFR1M+229bps), 4/15/24(b)      101,640  
  88,691      BX Trust, Class D, Series 2022-IND, 7.16%(TSFR1M+284bps), 4/15/24(b)      83,678  
  4,962,409      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2021-SOAR, 4.99%(US0001M+67bps), 6/15/38(b)      4,777,185  
  922,384      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2022-IND A, 5.82%(TSFR1M+149bps), 4/15/24(b)      901,729  
  470,528      BX Trust, Class B, Series 2022-IND, 6.27%(TSFR1M+194bps), 4/15/24(b)      454,438  
  445,693      Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-HB6, 0.90%, 6/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)      421,653  
  17,105,000      Cedar Funding V CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2016-5A, 5.18%(US0003M+110bps), 7/17/31, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(b)      16,838,986  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 235,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 5.29%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)    $ 227,300  
  643,000      Cedar Funding X CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-10A, 5.34%(US0003M+110bps), 10/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      627,439  
  485,000      Cedar Funding XII CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-12A, 5.49%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      470,785  
  942,000      Cedar Funding XV CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-15A, 5.28%(TSFR3M+132bps), 4/20/35, Callable 4/20/24 @ 100(b)      907,238  
  99,251      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-CHC, 6.07%(US0001M+175bps), 6/15/34(b)      92,112  
  402,957      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-CHC, 5.44%(US0001M+112bps), 6/15/34(b)      393,224  
  99,251      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-CHC, 5.82%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/34(b)      97,234  
  153,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class D, Series 2021-RETL, 7.37%(US0001M+305bps), 8/15/36(b)      147,790  
  11,091      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class C, Series 2021-RETL, 6.62%(US0001M+230bps), 8/15/36(b)      10,639  
  791,000      Columbia Cent CLO 29, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-29A, 5.41%(US0003M+117bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      767,295  
  410,000      Columbia Cent CLO 30, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2020-30A, 5.55%(US0003M+131bps), 1/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      401,403  
  310,000      Columbia Cent CLO 31, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-31A, 5.44%(US0003M+120bps), 4/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      301,065  
  920,000      Columbia Cent CLO 32, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-32A, 4.20%(TSFR3M+170bps), 7/20/34, Callable 1/24/24 @ 100(b)      883,658  
  57,000      Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2014-CR18, 3.83%, 7/15/47, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100      55,198  
  3,680,584      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(b)      3,295,767  
  243,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class B, Series 2019-ICE4, 5.55%(US0001M+123bps), 5/15/36(b)      238,801  
  205,000      CSMC Trust, Class A, Series 2018, 4.28%, 4/15/36(b)      196,566  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class B, Series 2018, 4.53%, 4/15/36(b)      96,320  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class C, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      95,949  
  860,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2017-PFHP, 6.57%(US0001M+225bps), 12/15/30(b)      813,162  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      92,157  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 527,000      Dryden 76 CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-76A, 5.39%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)    $ 512,406  
  577,000      Dryden 83 CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-83A, 5.41%(US0003M+122bps), 1/18/32, Callable 1/18/23 @ 100(b)      567,601  
  723,000      Dryden 85 CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-85A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      702,261  
  420,000      Dryden 90 CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-90A, 5.81%(US0003M+113bps), 2/20/35, Callable 2/20/24 @ 100(b)      407,338  
  250,000      Dryden CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-78A, 5.26%(US0003M+118bps), 4/17/33, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(b)      244,676  
  250,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class A13R, Series 2013-1A, 5.33%(US0003M+125bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      243,866  
  363,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-1A, 5.18%(US0003M+110bps), 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      356,123  
  930,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-2A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 1/15/35, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      907,499  
  1,469,000      ELP Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ELP, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 11/15/36(b)      1,406,766  
  522,263      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 5.40%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(b)      507,232  
  439,287      Extended Stay America Trust, Class D, Series 2021-ESH, 6.57%(US0001M+225bps), 7/15/38(b)      420,719  
  297,739      Extended Stay America Trust, Class B, Series 2021-ESH, 5.70%(US0001M+138bps), 7/15/38(b)      286,213  
  219,643      Extended Stay America Trust, Class C, Series 2021-ESH, 6.02%(US0001M+170bps), 7/15/38(b)      210,866  
  508,000      Flatiron CLO 20, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 5.98%(US0003M+130bps), 11/20/33, Callable 2/20/23 @ 100(b)      496,469  
  250,000      Flatiron CLO 21, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 5.34%(US0003M+111bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      243,887  
  643,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class A, Series 2021-IP, 5.27%(US0001M+95bps), 10/15/36(b)      599,474  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class B, Series 2021-IP, 5.47%(US0001M+115bps), 10/15/36(b)      92,449  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class C, Series 2021-IP, 5.87%(US0001M+155bps), 10/15/36(b)      92,379  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 800,000      INTOWN STAY Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022, 6.82%(TSFR1M+249bps), 8/15/37, Callable 8/15/24 @ 100(b)    $ 790,463  
  556,000      Invesco CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-3A, 5.45%(US0003M+113bps), 10/22/34, Callable 10/22/23 @ 100(b)      539,393  
  41,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class CFX, Series 2018-WPT, 4.95%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      40,304  
  64,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class DFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.35%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      62,913  
  87,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class EFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.54%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      85,228  
  280,147      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(b)      271,360  
  426,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.88%(TSFR1M+254bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      408,022  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-BMR, 5.20%(US0001M+88bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,962  
  855,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.13%(TSFR1M+179bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      828,301  
  1,420,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-BMR2, 5.63%(TSFR1M+130bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      1,384,526  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-BMR, 6.07%(US0001M+175bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,039  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-BMR, 5.72%(US0001M+140bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,173  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-BMR, 5.42%(US0001M+110bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,451  
  479,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.43%(TSFR1M+209bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      463,445  
  250,000      Lucali CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 5.29%(US0003M+121bps), 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      246,595  
  320,000      Madison Park Funding L, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-50A, 5.37%(US0003M+114bps), 4/19/34, Callable 4/19/23 @ 100(b)      313,016  
  910,000      Madison Park Funding LII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-52A, 5.42%(US0003M+110bps), 1/22/35, Callable 1/22/24 @ 100(b)      880,862  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding XLV, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-45A, 5.20%(US0003M+112bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      243,722  
  229,458      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-19A, 5.24%(US0003M+92bps), 1/22/28, Callable 1/22/23 @ 100(b)      226,917  
  250,000      Magnetite XXI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-21A, 5.26%(US0003M+102bps), 4/20/34, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      242,883  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 280,000      Magnetite XXIX, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-29A, 5.07%(US0003M+99bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)    $ 274,626  
  250,000      Magnetite XXVII, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-27A, 5.38%(US0003M+114bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      243,340  
  968,000      Magnetite XXX, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-30A, 5.49%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      942,522  
  260,000      MHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MHC, 5.12%(US0001M+80bps), 4/15/38(b)      251,975  
  315,000      Milos CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 5.31%(US0003M+107bps), 10/20/30, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      310,496  
  56,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      51,953  
  196,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2018-BOP, 5.57%(US0001M+125bps), 6/15/35(b)      194,107  
  385,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A, Series 2019-Mead, 3.17%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      358,332  
  132,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-H4, 4.31%, 12/15/51, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      124,875  
  53,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)(c)      48,327  
  471,200      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2018-BOP, 5.82%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/35(b)      438,953  
  326,000      Peace Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.37%(US0003M+113bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      317,419  
  17,385      Prima Capital CRE Securitization, Class A, Series 2021-9A, 5.39%(US0001M+145bps), 12/15/37, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      17,169  
  333,000      Rockland Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.36%(US0003M+112bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      324,962  
  130,000      SPGN Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-TFLM, 6.99%(TSFR1M+265bps), 2/15/39, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100(b)      121,692  
  250,000      SPGN Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-TFLM, 6.34%(TSFR1M+200bps), 2/15/39, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100(b)      235,257  
  1,013,000      SREIT Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MFP, 5.05%(US0001M+73bps), 11/15/38(b)      974,139  
  360,000      SREIT Trust, Class C, Series 2021-MFP, 5.65%(US0001M+133bps), 11/15/38(b)      341,905  
  237,000      SREIT Trust, Class D, Series 2021-MFP, 5.90%(US0001M+158bps), 11/15/38(b)      223,620  
  580,000      SREIT Trust, Class B, Series 2021-MFP, 5.40%(US0001M+108bps), 11/15/38(b)      552,278  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 248,046      Stratus CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-1A, 5.71%(TSFR3M+175bps), 7/20/30, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)    $ 244,671  
  403,000      Symphony CLO XIX, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018-19A, 5.04%(US0003M+96bps), 4/16/31, Callable 1/16/23 @ 100(b)      394,444  
  500,000      Symphony CLO XXVI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2021-26A, 5.32%(US0003M+108bps), 4/20/33, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      485,649  
  1,054,000      Symphony CLO XXXII, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-32A, 5.36%(TSFR3M+132bps), 4/23/35, Callable 4/23/24 @ 100(b)      1,029,810  
  285,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-LAB, 2.13%, 10/10/42(b)      218,865  
  20,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-LAB, 2.45%, 10/10/42(b)      15,134  
  551,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-2A, 5.39%(US0003M+116bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      539,186  
  564,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 7/16/34, Callable 7/16/23 @ 100(b)      549,719  
  335,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-2, 5.51%(US0003M+127bps), 7/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      329,104  
  1,073,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-3A, 5.39%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      1,043,940  
  155,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-C48, 4.30%, 1/15/52, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      146,714  
  185,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-FCMT, 5.52%(US0001M+120bps), 5/15/31(b)      176,121  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $86,698,745)

     83,734,497  
  

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds (0.2%):       
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  25,000      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 2.00%, 2/15/25      24,634  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  37,000      Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.75%, 5/1/25      49,515  
  27,000      Vail Resorts, Inc., 2.55%, 1/1/26      25,033  
     

 

 

 
        74,548  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  19,000      Callaway Golf Co., 2.75%, 5/1/26      24,594  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  54,000      DISH Network Corp., 2.38%, 3/15/24      48,843  
  846,000      DISH Network Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/26      531,210  
     

 

 

 
        580,053  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.1%):       
  31,702      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)(b)      202,024  
  54,850      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)(b)      349,537  
     

 

 

 
        551,561  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Convertible Bonds, continued       
Professional Services (0.0%):       
$ 16,000      FTI Consulting, Inc., 2.00%, 8/15/23    $ 25,192  
  23,000      KBR, Inc., 2.50%, 11/1/23      47,738  
     

 

 

 
        72,930  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  8,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 1.63%, 10/15/23      23,988  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $1,082,922)

     1,352,308  
  

 

 

 
Bank Loans (0.0%):       
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  14,813      Consolidated Energy Term Incr B 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 5/7/25      14,109  
  19,850      Diamond (BC) B.V. Term B 1Ln, 7.07% (LIBOR+275bps ), 9/29/28      19,155  
     

 

 

 
        33,264  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.0%):       
  35,000      DG Investment Intermediate Holdings Term 2Ln, 11.07% (LIBOR+675bps ), 3/31/29      30,742  
  4,938      DG Investment Intermediate Holdings Term B 1Ln, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 3/31/28      4,715  
     

 

 

 
        35,457  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  15,000      Ascend Learning Term 2Ln, 10.07% (LIBOR+575bps ), 12/10/29      12,806  
  163,763      Ascend Learning Term B 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/10/28      154,551  
     

 

 

 
        167,357  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  248,125      City Football Group Term B 1Ln, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 7/21/28      231,377  
  172,804      Diamond Sports Group Term 2Ln, 7.71% (Term SOFR+335bps ), 8/24/26      19,008  
  104,275      Golden Entertainment Term B 1Ln, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 10/20/24      103,884  
     

 

 

 
        354,269  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Products (0.0%):       
  120,000      Brookfield WEC Holding Inc. Term 1Ln, 8.11% (Term SOFR+375bps ), 8/1/25      119,363  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  44,887      ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC Term B1 1LN, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 12/21/28      43,373  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  3,385      Acuris Finance US Inc. Term 1Ln, 8.36% (Term SOFR+400bps ), 2/16/28      3,322  
     

 

 

 
Software & Tech Services (0.0%):       
  106,617      Athenahealth Term B 1Ln, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 2/15/29      95,993  
  18,116      Athenahealth Term DD 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 2/15/29+      16,311  
  300,000      Nielsen Holdings Term B 1Ln, 4.36% (Term SOFR+0bps ), 4/11/29      267,189  
     

 

 

 
        379,493  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $1,268,042)

     1,135,898  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds (21.5%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.5%):       
$ 1,145,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.04%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100    $ 1,134,022  
  145,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.15%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      141,841  
  1,100,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.71%, 5/1/40, Callable 11/1/39 @ 100      1,055,568  
  100,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.81%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      93,944  
  1,150,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100      1,062,345  
  310,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/23 @ 102.06(b)      276,287  
  445,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      389,375  
  5,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.95%, 2/1/37      4,844  
  145,000      Moog, Inc., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.19(b)      133,400  
  40,000      TransDigm UK Holdings plc, 6.88%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44      39,300  
  40,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.59      38,950  
  35,000      TransDigm, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.75      34,606  
  1,655,000      TransDigm, Inc., 5.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75      1,539,150  
  310,000      TransDigm, Inc., 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44      269,700  
     

 

 

 
        6,213,332  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.0%):       
  255,000      Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38(b)      229,500  
  237,000      XPO Logistics, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13(b)      239,370  
     

 

 

 
        468,870  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  125,000      Dana, Inc., 4.50%, 2/15/32, Callable 2/15/27 @ 102.25      101,406  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  485,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.43%, 3/15/24(b)      470,465  
  265,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.64%, 3/15/25(b)      252,195  
  519,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.76%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(b)      468,676  
  180,000      Magallanes, Inc., 4.05%, 3/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100(b)      156,306  
  753,000      Magallanes, Inc., 4.28%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      621,853  
  391,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.05%, 3/15/42, Callable 9/15/41 @ 100(b)      301,414  
  576,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.14%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100(b)      423,909  
  40,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 5.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 11/1/23 @ 102.63(b)      32,000  
  270,000      Michaels Cos., Inc. (The), 7.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      179,550  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Automobiles, continued       
$ 165,000      Thor Industries, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102(b)    $ 129,525  
  209,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 3.13%, 5/12/23(b)      207,219  
     

 

 

 
        3,243,112  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.4%):       
  410,000      Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95%, 4/21/25      398,850  
  151,000      Bank of America Corp., Series G, 4.45%, 3/3/26      148,118  
  1,300,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.42% (US0003M+104 bps), 12/20/28, Callable 12/20/27 @ 100      1,176,933  
  980,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.30% (SOFR+122 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      756,607  
  6,359,000      Bank of America Corp., 5.02% (SOFR+216 bps), 7/22/33, Callable 7/22/32 @ 100      6,069,933  
  70,000      CIT Group, Inc., 3.93% (SOFR+4 bps), 6/19/24, Callable 6/19/23 @ 100      69,212  
  165,000      CIT Group, Inc., 6.13%, 3/9/28      168,506  
  2,455,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.35% (US0003M+90 bps), 4/24/25, Callable 4/24/24 @ 100      2,380,977  
  1,098,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.30%, 11/20/26      1,063,292  
  1,156,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.41% (SOFR+391 bps), 3/31/31, Callable 3/31/30 @ 100      1,064,330  
  2,635,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.91% (SOFR+209 bps), 5/24/33, Callable 5/24/32 @ 100      2,480,752  
  2,500,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.49% (SOFR+379 bps), 3/24/31, Callable 3/24/30 @ 100      2,348,908  
  181,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.96% (SOFR+252 bps), 5/13/31, Callable 5/13/30 @ 100      149,686  
  5,828,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.59% (SOFR+180 bps), 4/26/33, Callable 4/26/32 @ 100      5,391,180  
  937,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.91% (SOFR+208 bps), 7/25/33, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100      894,494  
  3,705,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.41% (US0003M+83 bps), 10/30/25, Callable 10/30/24 @ 100, MTN      3,509,976  
  1,099,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.53% (SOFR+151 bps), 3/24/28, Callable 3/24/27 @ 100      1,022,532  
  2,645,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.48% (US0003M+4 bps), 4/4/31, Callable 4/4/30 @ 100, MTN      2,478,138  
  1,800,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 5.01% (US0003M+424 bps), 4/4/51, Callable 4/4/50 @ 100, MTN      1,627,096  
     

 

 

 
        33,199,520  
     

 

 

 
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      2,269,922  
  3,100,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      2,836,906  
  150,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.35%, 6/1/40, Callable 12/1/39 @ 100      133,346  
  333,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/58, Callable 10/15/57 @ 100      294,398  
  2,445,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 5.80%, 1/23/59, Callable 7/23/58 @ 100      2,553,067  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Beverages, continued       
$ 285,000      Triton Water Holdings, Inc., 6.25%, 4/1/29, Callable 4/1/24 @ 103.13(b)    $ 228,712  
     

 

 

 
        8,316,351  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  555,000      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      269,175  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.1%):       
  795,000      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/30/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.5(b)      743,325  
  120,000      Builders FirstSource, Inc., 4.25%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.13(b)      97,350  
  35,000      Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      30,800  
     

 

 

 
        871,475  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.1%):       
  457,000      Ares Capital Corp., 4.20%, 6/10/24, Callable 5/10/24 @ 100      442,874  
  2,707,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      2,487,208  
  888,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 7.05%, 9/29/25(b)      878,983  
  315,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.38%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.69(b)      165,375  
  380,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      181,450  
  2,880,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.80%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      2,597,256  
  1,263,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.38% (SOFR+125 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      983,445  
  3,062,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.10% (SOFR+141 bps), 2/24/33, Callable 2/24/32 @ 100      2,505,130  
  128,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.75%, 10/1/37      136,977  
  50,000      HAT Holdings I LLC / HAT Holdings II LLC, 3.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100(b)      43,250  
  55,000      LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44(b)      45,100  
  380,000      Medline Borrower, LP, 3.88%, 4/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      304,000  
  55,000      ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      45,925  
  1,100,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.75%, 3/24/25, Callable 2/24/25 @ 100      1,071,457  
  1,100,000      Moody’s Corp., 3.25%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100      1,018,328  
  6,619,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.74% (US0003M+85 bps), 4/24/24, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      6,585,349  
  2,534,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.62% (SOFR+312 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      2,219,713  
  2,236,000      Morgan Stanley, 4.89% (SOFR+208 bps), 7/20/33, Callable 7/20/32 @ 100      2,111,582  
  1,700,000      Morgan Stanley, 6.34% (SOFR+256 bps), 10/18/33, Callable 10/18/32 @ 100      1,786,251  
  150,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 5.25%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      118,875  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 100,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/27 @ 101.63(b)    $ 77,250  
  485,000      Navios South American Logistics, Inc. / Navios Logistics Finance US, Inc., 10.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 108.06(b)      460,750  
  2,296,000      Pine Street Trust I, 4.57%, 2/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100(b)      2,125,215  
  300,000      Pine Street Trust II, 5.57%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100(b)      264,637  
  15,000      Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc., 6.25%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      10,425  
  35,000      US Renal Care, Inc., 10.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 105.31(b)      7,350  
  55,000      Victors Merger Corp., 6.38%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      30,250  
     

 

 

 
        28,704,405  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.2%):       
  15,000      CF Industries, Inc., 4.95%, 6/1/43      12,806  
  510,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.38%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      467,287  
  915,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.75%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      816,638  
  60,000      Diamond BC BV, 4.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      48,150  
  555,000      LSB Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      499,500  
  375,000      Olin Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.5      342,187  
  650,000      Olympus Water US Holding Corp., 4.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      536,250  
  135,000      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), 4.38%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.19      102,263  
  25,000      Valvoline, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      24,375  
  350,000      Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/31, Callable 6/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      280,000  
  350,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 10/1/24(b)      345,625  
  50,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 4.88%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      44,295  
  125,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.81(b)      100,781  
     

 

 

 
        3,620,157  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  125,000      ADT Security Corp. (The), 4.13%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100(b)      105,938  
  430,000      Aramark Services, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      400,437  
  615,000      CoreCivic, Inc., 8.25%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/24 @ 104.13      627,300  
  41,000      GEO Group, Inc. (The), 10.50%, 6/30/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103      41,461  
  85,000      GEO Group, Inc. (The), 9.50%, 12/31/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103(b)      81,388  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
$ 25,000      Legends Hospitality Holding Co. LLC / Legends Hospitality Co-Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)    $ 22,156  
  25,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 6.88%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      21,344  
  45,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 7.25%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.63(b)      35,156  
  270,000      Stericycle, Inc., 3.88%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      235,575  
     

 

 

 
        1,570,755  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.1%):       
  405,000      CommScope, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103(b)      373,613  
  205,000      CommScope, Inc., 7.13%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      146,575  
  200,000      CommScope, Inc., 4.75%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      161,250  
  250,000      Viavi Solutions, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.88(b)      207,500  
     

 

 

 
        888,938  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  25,000      Arcosa, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      21,625  
  845,000      Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 8.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(b)      673,887  
  270,000      Dycom Industries, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      235,575  
  55,000      Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., 5.63%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      42,763  
  25,000      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      19,156  
  785,000      Pike Corp., 5.50%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.75(b)      681,969  
     

 

 

 
        1,674,975  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.1%):       
  275,000      Fertitta Entertainment LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., 4.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.31(b)      232,375  
  160,000      Fertitta Entertainment LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., 6.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103.38(b)      128,800  
  900,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 5.88%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100(b)      711,000  
     

 

 

 
        1,072,175  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.7%):       
  2,090,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 3.05%, 6/5/23, Callable 5/5/23 @ 100      2,071,995  
  90,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 1.45%, 10/2/23, Callable 9/2/23 @ 100      87,104  
  100,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.13%, 9/30/24      98,940  
  224,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.80%, 5/1/25, Callable 4/1/25 @ 100      222,960  
  1,500,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.75%, 11/20/25, Callable 10/21/25 @ 100      1,451,806  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Finance, continued       
$ 1,000,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 7.10%, 11/15/27, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100^    $ 1,020,833  
  590,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 4.70% (H15T5Y+387 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 5/15/26 @ 100      400,844  
  577,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 2.64% (SOFR+129 bps), 3/3/26, Callable 3/3/25 @ 100      540,205  
  740,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 4.99% (SOFR+216 bps), 7/24/26, Callable 7/24/25 @ 100      725,466  
  2,665,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.65%, 5/11/27, Callable 4/11/27 @ 100      2,515,573  
  343,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.80%, 1/31/28, Callable 12/31/27 @ 100      320,410  
  738,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.27% (SOFR+179 bps), 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      633,541  
  1,100,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 5.25% (SOFR+260 bps), 7/26/30, Callable 7/26/29 @ 100      1,054,297  
  250,000      Discover Bank, Series B, 4.68% (USSW5+173 bps), 8/9/28, Callable 8/9/23 @ 100      240,719  
  2,253,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.50%, 1/30/26, Callable 11/30/25 @ 100      2,168,569  
  174,000      Discover Financial Services, 6.70%, 11/29/32, Callable 8/29/32 @ 100      177,359  
  295,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.13%, 8/17/27, Callable 6/17/27 @ 100      264,642  
  550,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.00%, 11/13/30, Callable 8/13/30 @ 100      453,683  
  329,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.58%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100      325,333  
  968,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 4.06%, 11/1/24, Callable 10/1/24 @ 100      932,572  
  55,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.13%, 6/16/25, Callable 5/16/25 @ 100      52,848  
  620,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.11%, 5/3/29, Callable 2/3/29 @ 100      556,594  
  2,100,000      General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.00%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      2,038,483  
  445,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 6.88%, 3/15/25      427,756  
  295,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.75      243,744  
  155,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.88%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/24 @ 101.94      122,837  
  430,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 4.00%, 9/15/30, Callable 9/15/25 @ 102      322,500  
  244,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.38%, 3/19/24, Callable 2/19/24 @ 100      239,729  
  797,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.25%, 8/15/24, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100      779,267  
  3,605,000      Synchrony Financial, 3.95%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      3,217,495  
     

 

 

 
        23,708,104  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staple Products (0.1%):       
  475,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/28, Callable 1/1/28 @ 100(b)      449,469  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Staple Products, continued       
$ 975,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/1/33, Callable 1/1/33 @ 100(b)    $ 926,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,375,719  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):       
  5,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.06(b)      4,338  
  190,000      Ball Corp., 3.13%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      152,475  
  65,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 3.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100(b)      54,762  
     

 

 

 
        211,575  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  232,000      Adtalem Global Education, Inc., 5.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      211,990  
  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)      18,040  
  350,000      APX Group, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      335,562  
     

 

 

 
        565,592  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.2%):       
  185,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 6.00%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103(b)      147,306  
  38,000      AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 3.90%, 4/20/23, Callable 3/20/23 @ 100      37,852  
  358,000      Jackson Financial, Inc., 5.17%, 6/8/27, Callable 5/8/27 @ 100^      352,046  
  452,000      Jackson Financial, Inc., 5.67%, 6/8/32, Callable 3/8/32 @ 100      426,283  
  1,530,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 4.25%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      1,204,875  
  15,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.81(b)      10,913  
  130,000      OI European Group BV, 4.75%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      114,400  
  500,000      Peachtree Funding Trust, 3.98%, 2/15/25(b)      481,615  
  155,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      134,850  
  150,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 2/15/31 @ 100(b)      127,125  
  125,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 11/1/33, Callable 5/1/33 @ 100(b)      101,719  
     

 

 

 
        3,138,984  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.5%):       
  138,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      130,301  
  400,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.15%, 11/15/46, Callable 5/15/46 @ 100      359,103  
  1,200,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      835,883  
  55,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 3.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/1/26 @ 100(b)      49,844  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 25,000      Consolidated Communications, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.75(b)    $ 18,375  
  185,000      Front Range BidCo, Inc., 6.13%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      105,219  
  640,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.94(b)      594,400  
  45,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      39,094  
  45,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 6.75%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      37,069  
  5,496      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94      4,245  
  155,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103(b)      122,256  
  3,725,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.10%, 3/22/28, Callable 1/22/28 @ 100      3,235,639  
  209,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      172,209  
  1,250,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.99%, 10/30/56, Callable 4/30/56 @ 100      772,899  
  555,000      Windstream Escrow LLC / Windstream Escrow Finance Corp., 7.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.88(b)      449,550  
  55,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      40,494  
     

 

 

 
        6,966,580  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.7%):       
  941,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC / Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.38(b)      845,724  
  10,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(b)      8,975  
  155,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      127,100  
  165,000      Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, 3.38%, 9/15/29, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100      141,873  
  54,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.53%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100(b)      42,879  
  587,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.78%, 1/7/32, Callable 10/7/31 @ 100(b)      462,032  
  1,000,000      Emera US Finance LP, 3.55%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      937,788  
  173,000      Exelon Corp., 2.75%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      159,188  
  1,075,000      Exelon Corp., 4.05%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      1,001,335  
  210,000      Exelon Corp., 3.35%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      183,259  
  1,278,000      FirstEnergy Corp., 7.38%, 11/15/31      1,423,967  
  255,000      Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 8.00%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104      239,700  
  136,000      IPALCO Enterprises, Inc., 3.70%, 9/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      131,920  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 17,000      NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP, 4.25%, 9/15/24, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100(b)    $ 15,682  
  430,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.88      402,587  
  20,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.69(b)      16,025  
  40,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.63%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      30,350  
  202,282      NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 12/15/25(b)      195,708  
  795,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 7/1/50, Callable 1/1/50 @ 100      625,620  
  1,370,000      PG&E Corp., 5.00%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.5      1,253,550  
  311,000      PG&E Corp., 5.25%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.63      283,010  
  605,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.00%, 7/31/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.5(b)      561,138  
     

 

 

 
        9,089,410  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
  55,000      Artera Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.52(b)      45,650  
  65,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.00%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102(b)      56,062  
  310,000      Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      264,275  
     

 

 

 
        365,987  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.0%):       
  565,000      II-VI, Inc., 5.00%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/14/24 @ 102.5(b)      497,200  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  400,000      Transocean, Inc., 11.50%, 1/30/27, Callable 7/30/23 @ 105.75(b)      400,000  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  310,000      ROBLOX Corp., 3.88%, 5/1/30, Callable 11/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      241,800  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.6%):       
  371,000      American Homes 4 Rent LP, 3.63%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100      311,315  
  536,000      Boston Properties LP, 6.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 11/1/27 @ 100      553,382  
  1,039,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.10%, 10/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      991,796  
  1,265,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 3.95%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      1,063,150  
  62,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.55%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      52,046  
  719,000      Brandywine Operating Partnership LP, 7.55%, 3/15/28, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100      706,840  
  355,000      Brixmor Operating Partners LP, 3.85%, 2/1/25, Callable 11/1/24 @ 100      340,121  
  68,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.25%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100      59,656  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 93,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.75%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100    $ 69,776  
  10,000      Corrections Corp. of America, 4.63%, 5/1/23, Callable 2/1/23 @ 100      9,988  
  45,000      CTR Partnership LP / CareTrust Capital Corp., 3.88%, 6/30/28, Callable 3/30/28 @ 100(b)      37,969  
  430,000      Global Net Lease, Inc. / Global Net Lease Operating Partnership LP, 3.75%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100(b)      359,461  
  66,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.50%, 8/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      61,721  
  63,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      52,967  
  400,000      Hudson Pacific Properties LP, 4.65%, 4/1/29, Callable 1/1/29 @ 100      343,588  
  735,000      Lexington Realty Trust, 4.40%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      715,088  
  535,000      MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., 5.25%, 8/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.75^      486,850  
  335,000      MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., 5.00%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5      281,400  
  114,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.38%, 8/1/23, Callable 6/1/23 @ 100      112,497  
  101,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      97,790  
  1,278,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      1,189,689  
  2,482,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      2,082,884  
  133,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.38%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      102,327  
  189,000      Piedmont Operating Partnership LP, 2.75%, 4/1/32, Callable 1/1/32 @ 100      132,408  
  15,000      Retail Properties of America, Inc., 4.75%, 9/15/30, Callable 6/15/30 @ 100      13,203  
  1,214,000      Sabra Health Care LP, 3.20%, 12/1/31, Callable 9/1/31 @ 100      906,533  
  297,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.84%, 1/15/25, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      279,694  
  97,000      SBA Tower Trust, 1.88%, 7/15/50, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      86,047  
  74,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.33%, 7/15/52, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100(b)      61,687  
  40,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 2/15/27, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100      31,500  
  40,000      Service Properties Trust, 5.50%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      34,450  
  45,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      31,444  
  310,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      206,150  
  96,000      STORE Capital Corp., 4.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      86,291  
  1,277,000      STORE Capital Corp., 2.75%, 11/18/30, Callable 8/18/30 @ 100      977,794  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 212,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.30%, 11/1/28, Callable 9/1/28 @ 100    $ 175,400  
  272,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.70%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      214,869  
  2,200,000      Tanger Properties LP, 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      1,979,210  
  581,000      Tanger Properties LP, 2.75%, 9/1/31, Callable 6/1/31 @ 100      422,025  
  780,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 7.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.94(b)      754,650  
  355,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103(b)      224,538  
  131,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.00%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      120,964  
  367,000      Ventas Realty LP, 3.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      309,439  
  1,430,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.75%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      1,341,677  
  60,000      Vici Properties, 3.50%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.75(b)      56,550  
  335,000      Vici Properties, 4.25%, 12/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(b)      312,806  
  93,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.38%, 5/15/25      90,094  
  249,000      VICI Properties LP, 5.13%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100      230,325  
  72,000      Vornado Realty LP, 2.15%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      60,635  
  400,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.60%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      394,861  
  3,000,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.25%, 10/1/26, Callable 7/1/26 @ 100      2,889,762  
  66,000      WP Carey, Inc., 3.85%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100      59,507  
     

 

 

 
        22,566,814  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.1%):       
  70,000      Clydesdale Acquisition Holdings, Inc., 6.63%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/25 @ 103.31(b)      66,675  
  120,000      Cobra AcquisitionCo LLC, 6.38%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      69,600  
  640,000      Hightower Holding LLC, 6.75%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.38(b)      535,200  
  70,000      Jane Street Group/JSG Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      61,075  
     

 

 

 
        732,550  
     

 

 

 
Financials (0.1%):       
  2,052,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 4.70%, 3/24/25^      1,969,356  
     

 

 

 
        1,969,356  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.1%):       
  25,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.63%, 1/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.47(b)      23,125  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
$ 50,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 3.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.75(b)    $ 41,938  
  605,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.88%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.66(b)      539,962  
  445,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 3/13/23 @ 103.44(b)      445,000  
  335,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 5.50%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      317,831  
  70,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      60,463  
  93,000      Sysco Corp., 5.95%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      96,668  
  140,000      Sysco Corp., 6.60%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      154,046  
  45,000      United Natural Foods, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      43,031  
  160,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      141,400  
  60,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      52,800  
     

 

 

 
        1,916,264  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.2%):       
  110,000      C&S Group Enterprises LLC, 5.00%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      83,050  
  154,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 3.63%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 101.81(b)      125,125  
  880,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(b)      837,100  
  1,375,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.00%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      1,055,313  
  350,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 4.25%, 4/15/31, Callable 4/15/26 @ 102.13(b)      296,625  
  45,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.81(b)      42,356  
  69,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/31, Callable 9/15/26 @ 102.25(b)      58,305  
  270,000      TreeHouse Foods, Inc., 4.00%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102      229,500  
     

 

 

 
        2,727,374  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  200,000      180 Medical, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/7/24 @ 101.94(b)      171,940  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.1%):       
  400,000      Hologic, Inc., 4.63%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.31(b)      372,000  
  350,000      Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 9/28/23 @ 101.63(b)      301,000  
     

 

 

 
        673,000  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services (1.4%):       
$ 140,000      AHP Health Partners, Inc., 5.75%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.88(b)    $ 110,600  
  35,000      Cano Health LLC, 6.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      19,950  
  3,765,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.13      3,539,100  
  1,485,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      1,247,400  
  1,190,000      Centene Corp., 4.63%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/15/24 @ 102.31      1,082,900  
  245,000      Centene Corp., 3.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 101.69      206,413  
  610,000      Centene Corp., 2.63%, 8/1/31, Callable 5/1/31 @ 100      477,325  
  255,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.63%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      218,025  
  255,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103(b)      212,287  
  385,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.13%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 103.06(b)      188,650  
  285,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.25%, 5/15/30, Callable 5/15/25 @ 102.63(b)      215,175  
  45,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 102.38(b)      32,625  
  4,341,000      Cigna Corp., 4.38%, 10/15/28, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      4,200,030  
  605,000      Community Health Systems, Inc., 8.00%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104(b)      547,525  
  780,000      DaVita, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      627,900  
  55,000      Garden Spinco Corp., 8.63%, 7/20/30, Callable 7/20/27 @ 102.16(b)      57,475  
  780,000      HCA, Inc., 5.38%, 2/1/25      780,000  
  534,000      HCA, Inc., 5.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 3/1/28 @ 100      531,998  
  503,000      HCA, Inc., 5.88%, 2/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100      501,742  
  1,170,000      HCA, Inc., 3.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      1,007,663  
  99,000      HCA, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      84,048  
  50,000      HealthEquity, Inc., 4.50%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      44,250  
  314,000      Humana, Inc., 3.70%, 3/23/29, Callable 2/23/29 @ 100      288,989  
  40,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(b)      34,200  
  170,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      144,075  
  25,000      Owens & Minor, Inc., 4.50%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.25(b)      19,625  
  255,000      Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 6.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      251,175  
  600,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.88%, 1/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.44(b)      567,000  
  590,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.56(b)      567,875  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 510,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.13%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.06(b)    $ 456,450  
  295,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      255,175  
  140,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.38%, 1/15/30, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.19(b)      121,275  
  117,000      Toledo Hospital (The), Series B, 5.33%, 11/15/28      91,014  
     

 

 

 
        18,729,934  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.4%):       
  15,000      Affinity Gaming, 6.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.44(b)      12,713  
  445,000      Boyd Gaming Corp., 4.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.38^      413,850  
  145,000      Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      117,994  
  350,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.25(b)      351,312  
  565,000      Carnival Corp., 7.63%, 3/1/26, Callable 3/1/24 @ 101.91(b)      453,412  
  245,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 105.25^(b)      199,675  
  125,000      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94^(b)      87,187  
  765,000      Golden Entertainment, Inc., 7.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.81(b)      751,612  
  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)      34,700  
  75,000      Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.38(b)      67,313  
  45,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)      41,625  
  40,000      Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., 4.50%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      33,100  
  170,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 5.88%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      147,145  
  20,000      NCL Finance, Ltd., 6.13%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      14,900  
  280,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 11.50%, 6/1/25, Callable 1/17/23 @ 108.63(b)      300,300  
  310,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.50%, 8/31/26, Callable 2/28/26 @ 100(b)      261,175  
  115,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.38%, 7/15/27, Callable 10/15/26 @ 100(b)      93,438  
  510,000      Station Casinos LLC, 4.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      443,700  
  255,000      Viking Cruises, Ltd., 13.00%, 5/15/25, Callable 1/23/23 @ 109.75(b)      270,300  
  255,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100(b)      241,613  
  390,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^(b)      351,000  
  350,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.63%, 1/31/32, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.31      309,750  
     

 

 

 
        4,997,814  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Household Durables (0.1%):       
$ 65,000      Ambience Merger Sub, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.44(b)    $ 46,150  
  70,000      Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co., 4.63%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      55,913  
  150,000      Century Communities, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      117,937  
  295,000      LBM Acquisition LLC, 6.25%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      187,325  
  10,000      Newell Brands, Inc., 5.38%, 4/1/36, Callable 10/1/35 @ 100      8,650  
  90,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 4.75%, 4/30/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      79,200  
  15,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)      11,625  
  510,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 10.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/23 @ 105.38(b)      471,750  
  130,000      Tempur Sealy International, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/31, Callable 10/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      102,050  
  265,000      TopBuild Corp., 4.13%, 2/15/32, Callable 10/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      214,319  
     

 

 

 
        1,294,919  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  55,000      Central Garden & Pet Co., 4.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.06(b)      45,100  
     

 

 

 
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)      1,376,869  
  1,412,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.95%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100(b)      1,246,769  
  218,000      AES Corp. (The), 2.45%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100      173,443  
  30,000      Clearway Energy Operating LLC, 4.75%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      27,713  
  35,000      Pattern Energy Operations LP/Pattern Energy Operations, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      31,413  
  85,000      Sunnova Energy Corp., 5.88%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.94^(b)      75,650  
  15,000      TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 5.00%, 1/31/28, Callable 7/31/27 @ 100(b)      13,500  
     

 

 

 
        2,945,357  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):       
  1,750,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13      1,680,000  
  1,165,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      1,067,431  
     

 

 

 
        2,747,431  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  465,000      Minerva Merger Sub, Inc., 6.50%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.25(b)      344,100  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Industrial Services, continued       
$ 190,000      Railworks Holdings LP/Railworks Rally, Inc., 8.25%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 104.13(b)    $ 178,125  
     

 

 

 
        522,225  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.6%):       
  395,000      Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.13(b)      325,875  
  400,000      American International Group, Inc., 2.50%, 6/30/25, Callable 5/30/25 @ 100      376,370  
  70,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      59,938  
  40,000      AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      32,600  
  70,000      BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      59,850  
  242,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.50%, 4/4/25, Callable 3/4/25 @ 100(b)      232,123  
  824,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.65%, 4/5/27, Callable 3/5/27 @ 100(b)      769,073  
  339,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.85%, 4/5/29, Callable 2/5/29 @ 100(b)      310,911  
  404,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.90%, 4/5/32, Callable 1/5/32 @ 100(b)      354,901  
  92,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 4.35%, 4/5/42, Callable 10/5/41 @ 100(b)      75,924  
  271,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 4.40%, 4/5/52, Callable 10/5/51 @ 100(b)      217,583  
  2,771,000      Five Corners Funding Trust II, 2.85%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(b)      2,324,176  
  115,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 101.75(b)      112,556  
  105,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      91,875  
  436,000      Pacific Lifecorp, 5.13%, 1/30/43(b)      400,735  
  185,000      Ryan Specialty Group LLC, 4.38%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 102.19(b)      160,719  
  227,000      Unum Group, 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      205,898  
  1,000,000      Unum Group, 5.75%, 8/15/42      900,987  
  685,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      670,444  
     

 

 

 
        7,682,538  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.0%):       
  190,000      Match Group Holdings II LLC, 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      145,588  
  25,000      Match Group, Inc., 4.13%, 8/1/30, Callable 5/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      20,312  
     

 

 

 
        165,900  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.1%):       
  25,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      19,500  
  10,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 6.13%, 12/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      7,900  
  470,000      Black Knight InfoServ LLC, 3.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.81(b)      407,725  
  40,000      Block, Inc., 2.75%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      35,635  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
IT Services, continued       
$ 40,000      Block, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100    $ 31,780  
  15,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 4.00%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102(b)      13,219  
  550,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 8.13%, 7/1/27, Callable 7/1/23 @ 104.06(b)      539,687  
  255,000      Gartner, Inc., 4.50%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.25(b)      237,150  
  45,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 101.88(b)      38,756  
  35,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.81      28,394  
  35,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.88%, 3/15/31, Callable 3/15/26 @ 101.94      27,650  
     

 

 

 
        1,387,396  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  202,000      Hasbro, Inc., 3.00%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100      194,185  
  5,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.41(b)      4,888  
     

 

 

 
        199,073  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.0%):       
  510,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      463,463  
  15,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      13,725  
  30,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 3.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.88(b)      26,400  
     

 

 

 
        503,588  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.1%):       
  55,000      GrafTech Finance, Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      44,000  
  170,000      ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      143,012  
  230,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      192,050  
  650,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 5.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.94(b)      448,500  
  45,000      Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102(b)      39,544  
     

 

 

 
        867,106  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.0%):       
  200,000      Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC / Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC, 6.00%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103(b)      194,750  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.3%):       
  615,000      Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc., 6.50%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 103.25(b)      458,944  
  255,000      Allen Media LLC / Allen Media Co-Issuer, Inc., 10.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 113(b)      104,550  
  25,000      Austin BidCo, Inc., 7.13%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      19,000  
  20,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 3.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      16,600  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media, continued       
$ 15,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 5.63%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.81(b)    $ 11,138  
  1,250,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.75%, 3/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      1,053,125  
  1,460,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 8/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.25(b)      1,204,500  
  390,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 5/1/32, Callable 5/1/26 @ 102.25      310,050  
  270,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 6/1/33, Callable 6/1/27 @ 102.25(b)      206,550  
  1,500,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 4.91%, 7/23/25, Callable 4/23/25 @ 100      1,472,743  
  813,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 4.40%, 4/1/33, Callable 1/1/33 @ 100      698,886  
  1,000,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.38%, 5/1/47, Callable 11/1/46 @ 100      803,208  
  1,064,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.25%, 4/1/53, Callable 10/1/52 @ 100      828,787  
  1,064,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.50%, 4/1/63, Callable 10/1/62 @ 100      814,081  
  1,130,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.88(b)      641,275  
  335,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.13%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      234,500  
  845,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.63%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      464,750  
  680,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.69(b)      74,800  
  2,346,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 3.63%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      1,945,519  
  392,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 4.65%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      271,431  
  605,000      DISH DBS Corp., 7.75%, 7/1/26      488,537  
  605,000      DISH Network Corp., 11.75%, 11/15/27, Callable 5/15/25 @ 105.88(b)      620,125  
  65,000      Fox Corp., 4.03%, 1/25/24, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100      64,167  
  1,094,000      Fox Corp., 4.71%, 1/25/29, Callable 10/25/28 @ 100      1,059,935  
  93,000      Fox Corp., 5.48%, 1/25/39, Callable 7/25/38 @ 100      85,765  
  140,000      Gray Television, Inc., 4.75%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      99,400  
  430,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/26, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      311,213  
  525,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 103.25(b)      215,250  
  95,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.56(b)      84,075  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media, continued       
$ 270,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)    $ 249,412  
  30,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.50%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      27,375  
  25,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 4.13%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      20,625  
  185,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.88%, 9/1/31, Callable 9/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      144,300  
  350,000      TEGNA, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      339,063  
  230,000      Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., 8.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 104.44(b)      171,925  
  69,000      Time Warner Cable LLC, 5.50%, 9/1/41, Callable 3/1/41 @ 100      57,543  
  1,620,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.55%, 5/1/37      1,540,380  
  280,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 7.30%, 7/1/38      277,985  
  435,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 6.63%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/23 @ 103.31(b)      419,775  
  245,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 4.50%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      203,656  
     

 

 

 
        18,114,943  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  45,000      Alcoa Nederland Holding BV, 4.13%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.06(b)      39,544  
  686,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.94      655,130  
  60,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 4.88%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.44      53,024  
  45,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.13%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.56      39,206  
  45,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.63%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      39,825  
  45,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.88%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102.44^(b)      39,600  
  60,000      Commercial Metals Co., 4.13%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.06      52,800  
  60,000      Commercial Metals Co., 4.38%, 3/15/32, Callable 3/15/27 @ 102.19      51,900  
  485,000      Kaiser Aluminun Corp., 4.63%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 102.31(b)      423,769  
  125,000      Novelis Corp., 3.88%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      101,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,496,048  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (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)      32,250  
  45,000      Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/25, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      43,031  
     

 

 

 
        75,281  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  1,100,000      NiSource, Inc., 2.95%, 9/1/29, Callable 6/1/29 @ 100      954,780  
  1,000,000      NiSource, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/43, Callable 8/15/42 @ 100      938,541  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Multi-Utilities, continued       
$ 140,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100    $ 125,209  
  714,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.22%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      634,010  
     

 

 

 
        2,652,540  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.4%):       
  45,000      Apache Corp., 5.10%, 9/1/40, Callable 3/1/40 @ 100      37,350  
  10,000      Apache Corp., 7.38%, 8/15/47      9,925  
  145,000      Cheniere Energy Partners LP, 4.00%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102      123,069  
  125,000      Cheniere Energy Partners, LP, 3.25%, 1/31/32, Callable 1/31/27 @ 101.63      99,219  
  247,000      Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC/Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP, 5.13%, 4/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100(b)      246,329  
  375,000      CITGO Petroleum Corp., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.19(b)      359,531  
  50,000      Cnx Midstream Partners LP, 4.75%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      41,250  
  20,000      CNX Resources Corp., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104.5(b)      18,450  
  65,000      Colgate Energy Partners III LLC, 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      55,819  
  305,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 6.75%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      274,500  
  25,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 5.88%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      21,562  
  485,000      Continental Resources, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100(b)      449,837  
  42,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.44      40,845  
  795,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103(b)      733,388  
  605,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.63(b)      556,600  
  20,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      17,200  
  230,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.38%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      227,412  
  2,905,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      2,890,475  
  700,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.85% (US0003M+385 bps), 5/21/43, Callable 5/21/23 @ 100(b)      680,750  
  25,000      Delek Logistics Partners LP / Delek Logistics Finance Corp., 7.13%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.56(b)      22,344  
  26,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.63      25,654  
  40,000      DT Midstream, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      34,000  
  124,000      Enable Midstream Partners LP, 3.90%, 5/15/24, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100      120,982  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 295,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 1/30/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)    $ 281,725  
  2,229,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      2,148,957  
  106,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      102,808  
  109,000      Energy Transfer LP, 3.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      96,134  
  1,908,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      1,541,649  
  52,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.25%, 3/15/23, Callable 1/23/23 @ 100      51,873  
  65,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      64,157  
  67,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 4.20%, 9/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      66,312  
  128,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 5.80%, 6/15/38, Callable 12/15/37 @ 100      118,002  
  83,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 6.00%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      75,427  
  73,000      Energy Transfer, LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      68,489  
  350,000      EnLink Midstream LLC, 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 7/15/27 @ 100(b)      333,813  
  255,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 7.50%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.75(b)      248,944  
  50,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 6.50%, 7/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(b)      47,687  
  45,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 4.50%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      38,081  
  295,000      EQT Corp., 3.90%, 10/1/27, Callable 7/1/27 @ 100      272,875  
  30,000      EQT Corp., 5.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      28,275  
  650,000      Hess Corp., 4.30%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      621,606  
  71,000      Hess Corp., 7.30%, 8/15/31      77,348  
  50,000      Hess Corp., 7.13%, 3/15/33      54,122  
  2,002,000      Hess Corp., 5.60%, 2/15/41      1,888,399  
  1,166,000      Hess Corp., 5.80%, 4/1/47, Callable 10/1/46 @ 100      1,120,414  
  405,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.81(b)      392,850  
  80,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      68,400  
  110,000      Holly Energy Partners LP / Holly Energy Finance Corp., 6.38%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      108,213  
  97,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 3.45%, 2/15/23, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      96,738  
  125,000      Kinetik Holdings LP, 5.88%, 6/15/30, Callable 6/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      117,567  
  125,000      Leeward Renewable Energy Operations LLC, 4.25%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      106,250  
  113,000      MPLX LP, 4.50%, 7/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      112,539  
  159,000      MPLX LP, 4.88%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      157,801  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 722,000      MPLX, LP, 4.95%, 9/1/32, Callable 6/1/32 @ 100    $ 680,398  
  390,000      Murphy Oil Corp., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.94      373,425  
  400,000      New Fortress Energy, Inc., 6.75%, 9/15/25, Callable 1/27/23 @ 103.38(b)      382,500  
  250,000      New Fortress Energy, Inc., 6.50%, 9/30/26, Callable 3/31/23 @ 103.25(b)      232,188  
  375,000      NGL Energy Operating LLC / NGL Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.75(b)      332,812  
  1,506,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 5.55%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      1,500,352  
  310,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      279,000  
  255,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8.88%, 7/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      285,600  
  1,464,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.50%, 5/1/31      1,566,480  
  16,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/31      17,460  
  78,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.45%, 9/15/36      79,560  
  30,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.30%, 8/15/39, Callable 2/15/39 @ 100      23,925  
  25,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.20%, 3/15/40      24,250  
  410,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.60%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      421,275  
  295,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 4/15/46, Callable 10/15/45 @ 100      235,262  
  430,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.10%, 2/15/47, Callable 8/15/46 @ 100      331,100  
  55,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.20%, 3/15/48, Callable 9/15/47 @ 100      42,487  
  65,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 8/15/49, Callable 2/15/49 @ 100      51,350  
  80,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103      71,400  
  20,000      PDC Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88      18,900  
  26,000      Phillips 66, 3.85%, 4/9/25, Callable 3/9/25 @ 100      25,327  
  1,172,000      Plains All Amer Pipeline, 3.60%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      1,130,251  
  270,000      Range Resources Corp., 4.88%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/15/25 @ 100      257,175  
  335,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.50%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      310,713  
  278,000      Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(a)(b)       
  10,000      SM Energy Co., 5.63%, 6/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100.94      9,550  
  50,000      SM Energy Co., 6.75%, 9/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.25      48,750  
  130,000      Southwestern Energy Co., 4.75%, 2/1/32, Callable 2/1/27 @ 102.38      110,013  
  5,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103      4,912  
  242,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 5.88%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.94      228,690  
  430,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.25      375,175  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 1,200,000      Tallgrass Energy Partners LP / Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 10/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 105.63(b)    $ 1,210,500  
  350,000      Tallgrass Energy Partners LP / Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., 6.00%, 12/31/30, Callable 12/31/25 @ 103(b)      303,187  
  45,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 7/15/26 @ 102      37,856  
  25,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 102.75      23,531  
  445,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.88%, 2/1/31, Callable 2/1/26 @ 102.44      401,056  
  43,000      Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 3.25%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      37,487  
  40,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 3.95%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      37,800  
  137,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.65%, 7/1/26, Callable 4/1/26 @ 100      129,808  
  1,000,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      915,000  
  66,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      60,555  
  1,000,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 4.35%, 2/1/25, Callable 1/1/25 @ 100      945,000  
  525,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 5.30%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      462,000  
  755,000      Williams Cos., Inc. (The), 4.65%, 8/15/32, Callable 5/15/32 @ 100      705,963  
  171,000      Williams Cos., Inc. (The), 5.30%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      154,671  
  162,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.50%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      160,780  
  285,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.30%, 3/4/24, Callable 12/4/23 @ 100      280,830  
     

 

 

 
        32,910,250  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  100,000      Glatfelter Corp., 4.75%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      60,000  
  45,000      Mercer International, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.56      37,462  
     

 

 

 
        97,462  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.0%):       
  125,000      BellRing Brands, Inc., 7.00%, 3/15/30, Callable 3/15/27 @ 101.75(b)      120,937  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.3%):       
  97,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 11.00%, 9/30/28(b)      75,660  
  19,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 14.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 106(b)      11,305  
  1,000,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.25%, 12/15/25, Callable 10/15/25 @ 100(b)      970,533  
  445,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.13%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      352,662  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
$ 115,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.50%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 101.75^(b)    $ 90,706  
  180,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.27%, 8/28/23, Callable 7/28/23 @ 100      178,841  
  76,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.90%, 8/28/28, Callable 5/28/28 @ 100      71,820  
  30,000      Jazz Securities DAC, 4.38%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      26,625  
  315,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 4.13%, 4/30/28, Callable 4/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      280,350  
  540,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 5.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.56(b)      469,800  
  40,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.65%, 6/22/25, Callable 5/22/25 @ 100      36,284  
  1,406,000      Viatris, Inc., 2.70%, 6/22/30, Callable 3/22/30 @ 100      1,107,547  
  90,000      Viatris, Inc., 3.85%, 6/22/40, Callable 12/22/39 @ 100      60,648  
     

 

 

 
        3,732,781  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  140,000      Asgn, Inc., 4.63%, 5/15/28, Callable 5/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      126,700  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.2%):       
  68,000      Corporate Office Properties, LP, 2.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100      52,295  
  550,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 4.15%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100      483,363  
  250,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.25%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.63(b)      182,187  
  731,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 1/15/28 @ 100      692,623  
  1,082,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.95%, 2/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      1,021,137  
  25,000      VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co., Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      23,906  
  765,000      VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co., Inc., 4.50%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100(b)      717,188  
     

 

 

 
        3,172,699  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.1%):       
  210,000      CBRE Services, Inc., 2.50%, 4/1/31, Callable 1/1/31 @ 100      166,030  
  175,000      Kennedy-Wilson, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38      132,344  
  145,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      109,475  
  725,000      TK Elevator US Newco, Inc., 5.25%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.63(b)      645,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,053,099  
     

 

 

 
Retail & Wholesale —Discretionary (0.0%):       
  35,000      MIWD Holdco II LLC / MIWD Finance Corp., 5.50%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 102.75(b)      28,087  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.0%):       
  135,000      Uber Technologies, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      117,281  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.4%):       
$ 65,000      Broadcom, Inc., 1.95%, 2/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)    $ 55,138  
  4,136,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(b)      3,267,440  
  564,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.60%, 2/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      424,840  
  1,648,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/41, Callable 8/15/40 @ 100(b)      1,190,734  
  210,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100(b)      147,719  
  310,000      Entegris, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/28, Callable 4/15/23 @ 102.19(b)      274,350  
  375,000      Entegris, Inc., 3.63%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.72^(b)      302,813  
  50,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 3.88%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.94(b)      43,625  
     

 

 

 
        5,706,659  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.4%):       
  40,000      Acuris Finance US, Inc. / Acuris Finance SARL, 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      31,650  
  35,000      Boxer Parent Co., Inc., 7.13%, 10/2/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)      34,038  
  25,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(b)      21,312  
  25,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      21,187  
  65,000      Elastic NV, 4.13%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      52,000  
  150,000      Fair Isaac Corp., 4.00%, 6/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102(b)      136,125  
  220,000      MicroStrategy, Inc., 6.13%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.06^(b)      157,300  
  253,000      Oracle Corp., 1.65%, 3/25/26, Callable 2/25/26 @ 100      227,198  
  2,200,000      Oracle Corp., 2.80%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      2,009,951  
  400,000      Oracle Corp., 2.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      347,278  
  2,990,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100      2,492,494  
     

 

 

 
        5,530,533  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.3%):       
  80,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      67,200  
  85,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 5.00%, 2/15/32, Callable 11/15/26 @ 102.5(b)      71,081  
  32,000      AutoNation, Inc., 4.75%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      28,624  
  49,000      AutoZone, Inc., 3.63%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      47,416  
  1,229,000      AutoZone, Inc., 4.00%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      1,137,405  
  150,000      Carvana Co., 5.88%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 104.41(b)      58,500  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
$ 20,000      Carvana Co., 4.88%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.44(b)    $ 7,700  
  125,000      Carvana Co., 10.25%, 5/1/30, Callable 5/1/27 @ 105.13(b)      59,688  
  65,000      Foot Locker, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102(b)      52,813  
  125,000      Gap, Inc. (The), 3.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      87,813  
  565,000      L Brands, Inc., 6.63%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 103.31(b)      528,981  
  80,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 3.35%, 4/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      75,246  
  1,003,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.25%, 4/1/52, Callable 10/1/51 @ 100      805,750  
  1,138,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.45%, 4/1/62, Callable 10/1/61 @ 100      892,754  
  20,000      Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.75%, 2/15/26, Callable 8/15/23 @ 104.38(b)      5,850  
  15,000      Rent-A-Center, Inc., 6.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      12,019  
  85,000      Victoria’s Secret & Co., 4.63%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      66,725  
     

 

 

 
        4,005,565  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.1%):       
  320,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.45%, 6/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      320,048  
  55,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.85%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      55,434  
  83,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.02%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      84,812  
  101,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.10%, 7/15/27, Callable 5/15/27 @ 100      103,901  
  87,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.20%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100      88,722  
     

 

 

 
        652,917  
     

 

 

 
Telecommunications (0.0%):       
  305,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 7.00%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.5(b)      298,900  
  145,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 8.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 5/15/25 @ 104.38(b)      147,538  
     

 

 

 
        446,438  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.0%):       
  130,000      Crocs, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      105,787  
  40,000      Kontoor Brands, Inc., 4.13%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      32,550  
  45,000      Levi Strauss & Co., 3.50%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 101.75(b)      35,494  
  235,000      Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 4.00%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102(b)      174,781  
     

 

 

 
        348,612  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.1%):       
  294,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/9/42      218,400  
  191,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.50%, 5/2/43      144,744  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Tobacco, continued       
$ 175,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.38%, 1/31/44    $ 155,515  
  72,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.95%, 2/14/49, Callable 8/14/48 @ 100      64,058  
  232,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 4.45%, 6/12/25, Callable 3/12/25 @ 100      227,319  
  120,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.70%, 8/15/35, Callable 2/15/35 @ 100      108,881  
  45,000      Turning Point Brands, Inc., 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      38,925  
     

 

 

 
        957,842  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  295,000      Air Lease Corp., 4.25%, 2/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      290,408  
  2,465,000      Air Lease Corp., 3.38%, 7/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      2,326,238  
  30,000      Foundation Building Materials, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103(b)      22,463  
  30,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 4.63%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      26,587  
  15,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.13%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 103.06(b)      12,112  
  90,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.00%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 103(b)      71,550  
     

 

 

 
        2,749,358  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  1,155,000      Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 3/15/32      1,374,450  
  1,265,000      Sprint Communications, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/28      1,312,437  
  2,860,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      2,702,657  
  40,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38      39,000  
  45,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 101.69      39,738  
  430,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      389,847  
  56,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      48,165  
  110,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      91,291  
     

 

 

 
        5,997,585  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $347,482,145)

     299,909,643  
  

 

 

 
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)      1,842,500  
  23,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.25(b)      22,799  
  35,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.13%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      34,037  
  620,000      Bombardier, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)      572,725  
     

 

 

 
        2,472,061  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Airlines (0.0%):       
$ 240,000      VistaJet Malta Finance PLC / XO Management Holding, Inc., 7.88%, 5/1/27, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)    $ 216,000  
  215,000      VistaJet Malta Finance PLC / XO Management Holding, Inc., 6.38%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 103.19(b)      170,119  
     

 

 

 
        386,119  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.5%):       
  585,000      Barclays plc, 4.38%, 1/12/26      565,564  
  2,543,000      Barclays plc, 2.85% (US0003M+245 bps), 5/7/26, Callable 5/7/25 @ 100      2,359,787  
  2,377,000      Barclays plc, 5.09% (US0003M+305 bps), 6/20/30, Callable 6/20/29 @ 100      2,189,017  
  200,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 3.61%, 9/12/34, Callable 9/12/29 @ 100(b)      165,176  
  530,000      Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, 4.38%, 8/4/25      515,621  
  205,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.25%, 3/14/24      201,196  
  1,000,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.95%, 3/31/30      951,613  
  200,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.02%, 6/26/24(b)      192,679  
  6,069,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.71%, 1/15/26(b)      5,827,514  
  3,200,000      Natwest Group plc, 5.13%, 5/28/24      3,172,080  
  680,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.04% (H15T1Y+75 bps), 6/18/25, Callable 6/18/24 @ 100(b)      629,749  
  3,863,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.49% (H15T1Y+110 bps), 12/14/26, Callable 12/14/25 @ 100(b)      3,356,928  
  186,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.11% (H15T5Y+200 bps), 7/24/34, Callable 7/24/29 @ 100      159,305  
     

 

 

 
        20,286,229  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  200,000      Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 4.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      173,250  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.8%):       
  787,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.80%, 6/9/23      768,398  
  4,009,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.59% (SOFR+156 bps), 9/11/25, Callable 9/11/24 @ 100(b)      3,578,129  
  2,514,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 4.19% (SOFR+373 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100(b)      1,951,955  
  470,000      Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey, Ltd., 3.75%, 3/26/25      423,705  
  4,610,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 4.50%, 4/1/25      4,384,175  
  774,000      UBS Group AG, 1.49% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 8/10/27, Callable 8/10/26 @ 100(b)      666,738  
     

 

 

 
        11,773,100  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  510,000      Methanex Corp., 5.13%, 10/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      473,025  
  230,000      Methanex Corp., 5.25%, 12/15/29, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100      204,125  
  255,000      Methanex Corp., 5.65%, 12/1/44, Callable 6/1/44 @ 100      196,740  
  125,000      SPCM SA, 3.13%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      107,812  
     

 

 

 
        981,702  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Consumer Discretionary Services (0.0%):       
$ 115,000      Studio City Co., Ltd., 7.00%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.5(b)    $ 107,525  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staple Products (0.1%):       
  390,000      Imperial Brands Finance plc, 6.13%, 7/27/27, Callable 6/27/27 @ 100(b)      385,613  
  1,380,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 2.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100(b)      1,200,630  
     

 

 

 
        1,586,243  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  15,000      Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC, 6.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103(b)      12,150  
  740,000      Trivium Packaging Finance BV, 5.50%, 8/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      689,125  
     

 

 

 
        701,275  
     

 

 

 
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)      27,225  
  980,000      GEMS MENASA Cayman, Ltd. / GEMS Education Delaware LLC, 7.13%, 7/31/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)      940,800  
     

 

 

 
        968,025  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.3%):       
  1,245,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.00%, 1/15/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      1,006,894  
  711,000      C&W Senior Financing Dac, 6.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103.44(b)      663,008  
  430,000      Dolya Holdco 18 DAC, 5.00%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.5(b)      375,712  
  250,000      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, 6.50%, 3/15/30, Callable 3/15/25 @ 102(b)      224,263  
  1,355,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(b)      1,338,062  
  780,000      Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc, 4.25%, 1/31/31, Callable 1/31/26 @ 102.13(b)      624,000  
     

 

 

 
        4,231,939  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.0%):       
  365,000      Altice France SA, 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103^(b)      215,350  
  470,000      Altice France SA, 5.13%, 1/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.56(b)      373,063  
  55,000      Telecom Italia SpA, 6.00%, 9/30/34      42,281  
     

 

 

 
        630,694  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  354,375      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44(b)      345,516  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  35,000      1011778 BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)      34,737  
  525,000      1011778 BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102(b)      427,875  
  45,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.75%, 7/21/28, Callable 7/21/23 @ 102.88(b)      37,519  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
$ 40,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.38%, 12/4/29, Callable 12/4/24 @ 102.69(b)    $ 32,000  
     

 

 

 
        532,131  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  54,000      1375209 BC, Ltd., 9.00%, 1/30/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103(b)      52,448  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.2%):       
  1,414,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.38%, 4/7/30, Callable 1/7/30 @ 100(b)      1,254,721  
  1,200,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.20%, 9/16/40, Callable 3/16/40 @ 100(b)      863,526  
  200,000      Swiss Re Finance Luxembourg SA, 5.00% (H15T5Y+358 bps), 4/2/49, Callable 4/2/29 @ 100(b)      181,300  
     

 

 

 
        2,299,547  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.1%):       
  125,000      Cerdia Finanz GmbH, 10.50%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 105.25(b)      105,625  
  530,000      NOVA Chemicals Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/3/27 @ 100(b)      472,362  
  500,000      Nufarm Australia, Ltd. / Nufarm Americas, Inc., 5.00%, 1/27/30, Callable 1/27/25 @ 102.5(b)      437,500  
     

 

 

 
        1,015,487  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  565,000      VZ Secured Financing BV, 5.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 102.5(b)      452,706  
  335,000      Ziggo BV, 5.13%, 2/28/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.56(b)      275,538  
     

 

 

 
        728,244  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  695,000      ERO Copper Corp., 6.50%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.25(b)      557,737  
  370,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 3/1/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103.44(b)      350,575  
  35,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.44(b)      32,594  
  5,000      FMG Resources Pty, Ltd., 4.50%, 9/15/27, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100(b)      4,569  
  85,000      Infrabuild Australia Pty, Ltd., 12.00%, 10/1/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 106(b)      82,450  
  180,000      Mineral Resources, Ltd., 8.00%, 11/1/27, Callable 11/1/24 @ 104(b)      183,375  
     

 

 

 
        1,211,300  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,373,000      InterGen NV, 7.00%, 6/30/23, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      1,345,540  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.9%):       
  335,000      eG Global Finance plc, 6.75%, 2/7/25, Callable 1/17/23 @ 101.69(b)      289,775  
  510,000      eG Global Finance plc, 8.50%, 10/30/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(b)      477,488  
  145,000      Enbridge, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/23, Callable 7/1/23 @ 100      143,493  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 565,000      Meg Energy Corp., 7.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)    $ 577,006  
  2,500,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 4.50%, 1/23/26^      2,265,345  
  916,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.84%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      758,071  
  4,780,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 5.95%, 1/28/31, Callable 10/28/30 @ 100      3,641,533  
  2,228,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      1,429,616  
  5,000,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.35%, 2/12/48      3,069,685  
  336,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100      212,012  
  45,000      Teine Energy, Ltd., 6.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      40,500  
     

 

 

 
        12,904,524  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  295,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 5.50%, 11/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      250,750  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  60,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      51,375  
  460,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      370,300  
     

 

 

 
        421,675  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.4%):       
  300,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(b)      255,260  
  37,622      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.00%, 7/9/29, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      10,111  
  342,505      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.50%, 7/9/30, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      94,189  
  627,494      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.50%, 7/9/35, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      164,717  
  300,000      Corp. Andina de Fomento, 2.38%, 5/12/23      297,005  
  900,000      Dominican Republic, 5.50%, 1/27/25(b)      893,250  
  3,150,000      Dominican Republic, 6.00%, 7/19/28(b)      3,024,000  
  375,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 4.20%, 10/15/50      308,415  
  350,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.40%, 4/16/50(b)      320,949  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.25%, 10/22/30(b)      182,570  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/22/60(b)      177,987  
     

 

 

 
        5,728,453  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.4%):       
  2,200,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC / AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.88%, 8/14/24, Callable 7/14/24 @ 100      2,083,600  
  320,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.88%, 1/16/24, Callable 12/16/23 @ 100      316,877  
  1,379,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 1.65%, 10/29/24, Callable 9/29/24 @ 100      1,273,729  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
$ 151,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 6.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100    $ 152,898  
  163,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.45%, 4/3/26, Callable 2/3/26 @ 100      155,131  
  503,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.45%, 10/29/26, Callable 9/29/26 @ 100      439,322  
  527,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.00%, 10/29/28, Callable 8/29/28 @ 100      441,276  
  564,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      439,699  
     

 

 

 
        5,302,532  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  330,000      Empresa Nacional del Pet, 4.38%, 10/30/24(b)      320,513  
  450,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 6.25%, 3/25/29, Callable 3/25/24 @ 103.13(b)      429,750  
  295,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 4.50%, 4/27/31, Callable 4/27/26 @ 102.25(b)      248,906  
  562,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.20%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(b)      520,468  
  490,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.80%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      422,365  
     

 

 

 
        1,942,002  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $91,631,185)

     78,378,311  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.3%):       
California (0.0%):  
  10,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.35%, 11/1/39      12,222  
  140,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.55%, 4/1/39      177,556  
     

 

 

 
        189,778  
     

 

 

 
Illinois (0.2%):  
  34,091      Illinois State, GO, 4.95%, 6/1/23      34,017  
  3,235,000      Illinois State, GO, 5.10%, 6/1/33      3,120,643  
     

 

 

 
        3,154,660  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.1%):  
  339,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority Revenue, GO, Series A, 7.43%, 2/15/29      366,283  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $3,768,913)

     3,710,721  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (12.2%):       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (2.1%):  
  29,251      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #J34501      27,218  
  20,620      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #G18604      19,332  
  36,387      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #V61246      33,852  
  61,448      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #V61273      58,203  
  161,298      3.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #C91403      154,807  
  484,615      3.50%, 7/1/32, Pool #C91467      465,112  
  125,328      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #G18669      115,595  
  28,281      2.50%, 3/1/33, Pool #G18680      26,457  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 114,760      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18684    $ 108,323  
  36,919      3.00%, 5/1/33, Pool #G16550      34,871  
  95,007      2.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #G16661      87,970  
  26,731      3.00%, 4/1/34, Pool #G16829      25,689  
  138,159      3.50%, 10/1/34, Pool #C91793      133,411  
  379,109      4.00%, 5/1/37, Pool #C91938      367,444  
  166,427      4.00%, 11/1/40, Pool #A95150      159,066  
  33,614      1.50%, 12/1/40, Pool #RB5089      27,021  
  55,617      1.50%, 2/1/41, Pool #RB5099      45,175  
  56,516      1.50%, 3/1/41, Pool #RB5104      45,905  
  56,181      1.50%, 4/1/41, Pool #RB5107      45,629  
  20,742      2.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #RB5108      17,673  
  21,568      2.00%, 7/1/41, Pool #RB5118      18,375  
  22,594      2.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #RB5131      18,999  
  236,811      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G60271      216,248  
  472,493      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G07922      440,157  
  59,291      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #G07949      57,766  
  54,652      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q37467      51,430  
  13,652      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #V82292      13,135  
  6,013      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #Q39975      5,775  
  111,069      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q43257      103,942  
  5,777      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #Q45028      5,706  
  175,528      3.00%, 12/1/46, Pool #G60989      154,440  
  5,862      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #Q45635      5,789  
  10,606      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #Q46222      10,475  
  8,926      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q47942      8,815  
  17,648      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q47935      17,431  
  27,936      4.50%, 5/1/47, Pool #Q48095      27,590  
  222,469      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #Q48877      214,447  
  36,313      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #Q48759      35,862  
  18,969      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #Q49393      18,734  
  85,620      4.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #Q53017      83,428  
  11,657      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #Q54499      11,228  
  26,379      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #G61343      25,073  
  20,379      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55724      19,954  
  48,457      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55660      47,444  
  34,009      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #Q55500      33,298  
  26,953      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55839      26,396  
  101,079      4.00%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55992      97,381  
  144,677      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      139,430  
  45,782      4.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #Q59935      44,232  
  24,849      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #G67716      24,517  
  147,153      3.00%, 6/1/49, Pool #ZT2090      130,877  
  702,934      4.50%, 7/1/49, Pool #RA1171      699,745  
  5,969      3.00%, 10/1/49, Pool #QA3907      5,319  
  8,819      3.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #QA4483      7,858  
  9,562      3.00%, 12/1/49, Pool #QA5521      8,523  
  24,316      3.00%, 12/1/49, Pool #QA5154      21,671  
  146,379      3.00%, 4/1/50, Pool #QA9049      130,291  
  339,335      2.00%, 6/1/50, Pool #RA2677      280,725  
  437,306      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #SD7530      374,949  
  2,221,001      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #SD7535      1,909,690  
  1,323,106      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7541      1,095,845  
  2,154,036      2.50%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7540      1,846,690  
  45,612      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #QC1514      37,772  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 27,343      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #QC4163    $ 22,643  
  354,748      2.50%, 7/1/51, Pool #RA5574      305,491  
  470,293      3.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #QC7496      416,017  
  388,150      3.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #QC6608      343,008  
  693,376      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6076      569,337  
  442,515      3.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #QC9077      391,588  
  463,608      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #QD1240      410,113  
  419,731      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6302      343,519  
  1,213,101      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6241      995,794  
  440,937      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #QD3200      388,229  
  2,132,877      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6435      1,830,578  
  470,516      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6510      387,287  
  282,706      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6496      241,369  
  652,712      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6434      560,096  
  804,167      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #RA6622      687,984  
  401,376      3.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #RA6604      353,257  
  248,710      3.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #QD5561      218,772  
  1,045,831      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #RA6823      854,105  
  1,037,760      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #RA6824      848,269  
  688,227      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6949      630,184  
  423,529      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6989      372,526  
  724,248      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6950      661,728  
  1,235,114      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6987      1,130,510  
  2,380,609      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6988      2,095,297  
  197,018      3.50%, 4/1/52, Pool #SD0927      181,279  
  1,549,999      3.00%, 5/1/52, Pool #QE8223      1,362,973  
  251,431      2.50%, 8/1/52, Pool #QE8026      213,498  
  197,649      5.00%, 9/1/52, Pool #SD1572      197,514  
  59,826      3.00%, 9/1/52, Pool #QF0179      52,623  
  297,753      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool # SD1862      301,898  
  698,276      5.00%, 12/1/52, Pool # SD1924      697,800  
  893,048      3.00%, 1/1/53, Pool #SD8284      787,421  
     

 

 

 
        29,378,912  
     

 

 

 
Federal National Mortgage Association (7.7%):  
  31,997      2.50%, 5/1/31, Pool #BC0919      29,928  
  46,091      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #BC2778      43,110  
  32,085      2.50%, 10/1/31, Pool #AS8010      29,947  
  204,301      2.50%, 1/1/32, Pool #BE3032      191,549  
  35,857      2.50%, 9/1/32, Pool #MA3124      33,206  
  19,054      3.00%, 3/1/33, Pool #BM4614      18,193  
  620,354      2.00%, 10/1/35, Pool # BK5705      553,004  
  450,000      3.00%, 1/25/36, TBA      421,945  
  324,061      6.00%, 5/1/36, Pool #745512      342,930  
  124,345      2.00%, 12/1/36, Pool #BU1384      110,846  
  1,400,000      2.00%, 1/25/37, TBA      1,248,187  
  2,100,000      1.50%, 1/25/37, TBA      1,823,062  
  5,600,000      1.50%, 2/25/38      4,865,000  
  7,200,000      2.00%, 2/25/38      6,427,688  
  482,584      2.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #MA4176      410,726  
  51,590      1.50%, 11/1/40, Pool #MA4175      41,475  
  51,616      1.50%, 12/1/40, Pool #MA4202      41,492  
  12,590      3.50%, 12/1/40, Pool #AH1556      11,782  
  18,661      2.00%, 12/1/40, Pool #MA4204      15,941  
  55,495      1.50%, 1/1/41, Pool #MA4266      45,075  
  54,421      1.50%, 1/1/41, Pool #MA4231      43,750  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 56,618      1.50%, 2/1/41, Pool #MA4286    $ 45,985  
  19,980      2.00%, 2/1/41, Pool #MA4268      17,022  
  20,409      2.00%, 3/1/41, Pool #MA4287      17,388  
  21,002      2.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #MA4311      17,893  
  326,639      2.00%, 5/1/41, Pool #MA4333      278,284  
  21,577      2.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #MA4364      18,383  
  22,367      2.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #MA4446      18,812  
  351,422      2.00%, 2/1/42, Pool #MA4540      297,989  
  33,444      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #BM1167      32,170  
  254,446      4.50%, 3/1/44, Pool #AV0957      250,961  
  133,731      4.50%, 7/1/44, Pool #AS3062      133,303  
  151,147      4.50%, 12/1/44, Pool #AS4176      147,990  
  82,657      4.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AZ1207      77,795  
  58,410      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8126      56,576  
  124,793      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8096      117,382  
  22,611      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #AS6352      21,904  
  7,033      4.50%, 1/1/46, Pool #AY3890      7,013  
  59,504      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #BC1578      56,018  
  2,962      4.50%, 3/1/46, Pool #BC0287      2,915  
  19,646      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #AS7024      18,669  
  226,835      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #AL8468      215,268  
  22,976      4.50%, 6/1/46, Pool #BD1238      22,677  
  152,470      4.00%, 6/1/46, Pool #AL9282      143,565  
  87,416      4.00%, 7/1/46, Pool #BC1443      84,255  
  96,408      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BC2843      92,913  
  26,115      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BD1489      24,581  
  39,307      4.50%, 10/1/46, Pool #BE1671      38,715  
  90,084      4.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #BC4754      86,818  
  17,364      4.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #BD7599      16,345  
  50,449      4.50%, 11/1/46, Pool #BE2386      49,640  
  241,424      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9077      225,522  
  4,671      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9079      4,597  
  100,428      4.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BE4488      98,815  
  18,061      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #BE7087      17,771  
  29,860      4.50%, 1/1/47, Pool #BE6506      29,471  
  347,439      4.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9779      336,415  
  47,278      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE8498      46,661  
  45,233      4.00%, 5/1/47, Pool #BM1277      43,564  
  5,261      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH4269      5,066  
  19,028      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH0561      18,739  
  50,655      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BE3663      49,845  
  8,548      4.50%, 6/1/47, Pool #BE9387      8,411  
  42,543      4.50%, 7/1/47, Pool #BE3749      41,863  
  24,805      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #AS9968      23,890  
  19,153      4.50%, 4/1/48, Pool #BJ5454      18,753  
  47,616      4.00%, 4/1/48, Pool #BM3700      45,859  
  6,065      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #BJ5507      5,938  
  250,604      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #CA2432      244,564  
  63,450      4.50%, 10/25/48, Pool #BM4548      62,817  
  293,352      4.50%, 12/1/48, Pool #CA2797      289,009  
  167,205      4.50%, 9/1/49, Pool #FM1534      168,429  
  39,344      3.50%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4557      36,301  
  9,073      3.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #BO8254      8,087  
  235,652      4.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4628      225,973  
  127,203      3.00%, 1/1/50, Pool #CA5019      113,318  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 170,073      3.00%, 1/1/50, Pool #MA3905    $ 151,397  
  509,931      4.00%, 3/1/50, Pool #FM3663      485,940  
  128,457      3.00%, 4/1/50, Pool #MA3991      114,054  
  124,662      2.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #CA6275      102,730  
  88,256      2.00%, 7/1/50, Pool #FM3897      73,022  
  339,725      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #SD0430      291,866  
  2,573,230      3.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM7147      2,371,167  
  571,168      3.00%, 8/1/50, Pool #FM6118      504,232  
  51,356      3.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #FM4317      45,505  
  132,483      3.00%, 9/1/50, Pool #CA6998      117,425  
  131,561      2.00%, 10/1/50, Pool #CA7323      108,925  
  156,803      2.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #CA7229      135,505  
  87,095      2.00%, 11/1/50, Pool #C47616      71,796  
  145,736      3.00%, 12/1/50, Pool #FM7827      129,578  
  1,250,000      4.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      1,206,250  
  8,500,000      2.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      7,225,664  
  7,350,000      3.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      6,693,668  
  2,123,852      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #MA4281      1,738,392  
  2,066,862      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #MA4305      1,691,660  
  1,053,617      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #FM6540      918,795  
  4,274,661      3.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #BR9775      3,782,779  
  579,263      3.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #CB0531      511,191  
  1,338,482      3.00%, 6/1/51, Pool #CB0850      1,185,603  
  501,096      3.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #FM8077      443,446  
  20,087      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BT1461      16,630  
  44,218      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BQ1010      36,346  
  500,616      2.50%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1384      429,649  
  367,807      2.50%, 9/1/51, Pool #CB1549      312,662  
  489,310      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1799      403,590  
  645,550      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1801      531,413  
  47,125      3.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1878      41,539  
  824,433      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9568      680,972  
  522,038      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9539      429,806  
  1,294,087      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9501      1,100,083  
  887,471      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2289      761,627  
  422,502      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #BT9503      371,942  
  373,394      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2320      317,400  
  1,576,882      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9865      1,340,544  
  372,626      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2350      305,923  
  1,042,714      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2349      858,218  
  279,837      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2348      230,356  
  282,653      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2347      233,465  
  396,505      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2321      340,237  
  348,923      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2376      299,447  
  274,106      3.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2662      241,957  
  685,938      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0288      561,236  
  1,581,461      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0286      1,292,561  
  349,304      3.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #MA4514      318,194  
  9,275,000      2.00%, 1/25/52, TBA      7,567,820  
  988,550      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0605      846,134  
  1,621,390      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2842      1,323,098  
  935,897      3.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0631      826,035  
  1,676,469      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3169      1,474,192  
  646,953      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #BV0350      569,484  
  446,609      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3174      406,731  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 407,388      2.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #BV4139    $ 346,986  
  2,224,134      2.50%, 4/1/52, Pool #BV4656      1,890,906  
  684,676      4.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #CB4064      670,583  
  1,633,533      4.00%, 9/1/52, Pool #FS3083      1,539,915  
  640,840      5.00%, 9/1/52, Pool #CB4682      640,403  
  391,814      5.50%, 10/1/52, Pool #CB4843      394,168  
  1,099,998      4.00%, 10/1/52, Pool #MA4783      1,033,868  
  49,813      5.00%, 10/1/52, Pool #CB4893      49,779  
  497,712      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #CB5128      498,454  
  149,066      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #FS3295      148,454  
  1,524,998      4.50%, 11/1/52, Pool #BX1765      1,472,283  
  299,112      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #FS3248      298,908  
  49,995      5.00%, 12/1/52, Pool #BX1076      49,317  
  149,911      5.00%, 12/1/52, Pool #CB5273      149,809  
  3,000,000      4.00%, 1/1/53, Pool #MA4866      2,819,542  
  266,734      2.50%, 1/1/53, Pool #MA4910      226,492  
  2,050,000      4.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      1,926,680  
  300,000      5.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      295,828  
  1,100,000      3.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      967,312  
  1,700,000      2.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      1,443,672  
  4,900,000      1.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      3,760,750  
  12,950,000      2.00%, 2/25/53, TBA      10,578,531  
     

 

 

 
        107,100,264  
     

 

 

 
Government National Mortgage Association (2.4%):  
  17,195      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      16,724  
  51,655      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      50,243  
  55,835      4.00%, 8/15/41, Pool #430354      53,418  
  588,996      4.00%, 1/20/42, Pool #5280      572,895  
  78,317      4.00%, 11/20/42, Pool #MA0535      76,178  
  191,960      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #AA5872      172,049  
  23,834      3.50%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8884      22,144  
  124,940      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AA6146      117,974  
  53,856      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8812      49,691  
  8,868      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AB9891      8,240  
  24,311      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AD9075      22,585  
  50,663      4.00%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3664      49,281  
  253,857      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      231,157  
  42,259      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5857      40,692  
  36,997      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5831      35,584  
  360,725      3.00%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4195      328,467  
  151,301      4.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4322      146,013  
  25,711      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #MA4383      24,813  
  85,915      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784304      81,228  
  84,790      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784303      80,147  
  27,971      4.00%, 5/20/47, Pool #MA4452      26,993  
  18,150      3.50%, 2/20/48, Pool #MA5019      16,792  
  16,610      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG3507      15,842  
  14,198      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG7744      13,538  
  2,809      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8984      2,596  
  7,071      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8985      6,591  
  3,360      3.50%, 12/20/49, Pool #BR8987      3,170  
  3,700,000      3.00%, 2/20/50, TBA      3,300,516  
  425,000      3.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      378,848  
  578,969      2.00%, 2/20/51, Pool #MA7192      485,576  
  6,900,000      2.00%, 2/20/51, TBA      5,789,531  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

30


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 2,700,000      3.50%, 2/20/51, TBA    $ 2,484,105  
  4,000,000      2.50%, 2/20/51, TBA      3,473,437  
  1,132,825      2.50%, 7/20/51, Pool #MA7472      986,457  
  69,253      2.50%, 12/20/51, Pool #MA7767      60,203  
  850,000      2.00%, 3/20/52      713,602  
  3,200,000      4.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      3,108,500  
  3,750,000      2.00%, 1/20/53, TBA      3,144,727  
  1,200,000      4.00%, 1/20/53, TBA      1,137,187  
  2,400,000      3.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      2,206,500  
  4,675,000      2.50%, 7/20/53, TBA      4,055,562  
     

 

 

 
        33,589,796  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $181,514,024)

     170,068,972  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (14.9%):       
U.S. Treasury Bonds (6.0%):  
  32,428,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      22,360,120  
  3,796,700      3.38%, 8/15/42      3,415,844  
  1,605,300      3.00%, 2/15/47      1,323,118  
  66,722,000      2.00%, 8/15/51      44,078,221  
  6,906,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      4,415,524  
  7,300,000      2.25%, 2/15/52      5,127,109  
  3,500,000      2.88%, 5/15/52      2,830,078  
     

 

 

 
        83,550,014  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Notes (8.9%):  
$ 74,500,000      0.75%, 5/31/26    $ 66,502,891  
  18,472,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      16,558,416  
  5,255,200      1.25%, 5/31/28      4,557,244  
  17,310,000      1.25%, 9/30/28      14,894,714  
  23,500,000      2.88%, 5/15/32      21,730,156  
     

 

 

 
        124,243,421  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $260,588,509)

     207,793,435  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.4%):  
  6,021,821      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(d)(e)      6,021,821  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $6,021,821)

     6,021,821  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (5.1%):       
Money Markets (5.1%):       
  71,683,826      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(e)      71,683,826  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $71,683,826)

     71,683,826  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,613,910,290) — 105.5%(f)

     1,471,321,101  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (5.5)%

     (76,221,924
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,395,099,177  
  

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $5,795,158.

 

+

This security, in part or entirely, represents an unfunded loan commitment.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(b)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

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, 2022.

 

(e)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(f)

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

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

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

31


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        110      $ 21,235,500      $ (478,780
           

 

 

 
            $ (478,780
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

32


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 1,613,910,290
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 1,471,321,101

Cash

      433,611

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      1,166,000

Interest and dividends receivable

      8,430,417

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1)

      1

Receivable for capital shares issued

      16,395

Receivable for investments sold

      8,060,357

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      86,575,825

Reclaims receivable

      6,405

Prepaid expenses

      11,084
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,576,021,196
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      243,974

Payable for investments purchased

      829,146

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      172,816,827

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      6,021,821

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      62,719

Management fees payable

      465,856

Administration fees payable

      139,677

Distribution fees payable

      283,307

Custodian fees payable

      10,067

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,383

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,663

Trustee fees payable

      8,452

Other accrued liabilities

      35,127
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      180,922,019
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,395,099,177
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,555,585,319

Total distributable earnings

      (160,486,142 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,395,099,177
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 85,004,154

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

      11,051,223

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 7.69
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,310,095,023

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

      105,770,684

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.39
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $5,795,158.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 26,454,673

Dividends

      11,130,433

Income from securities lending

      48,974

Foreign withholding tax

      (34,517 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      37,599,563
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      6,723,693

Administration fees

      282,790

Distribution fees — Class 2

      3,670,925

Custodian fees

      64,815

Administrative and compliance services fees

      23,449

Transfer agent fees

      14,445

Trustee fees

      95,048

Professional fees

      71,377

Shareholder reports

      35,306

Other expenses

      45,515
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      11,027,363

Less expense contractually waived/reimbursed by the Manager

      (228,020 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      10,799,343
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      26,800,220
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      (37,348,427 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      (4,309,208 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities held short

      (2,355 )

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

      (247,101,165 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (460,540 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities held short

      219
   

 

 

 

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

      (289,221,476 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (262,421,256 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

33


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021^

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 26,800,220     $ 15,670,060

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      (41,659,990 )       104,247,562

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (247,561,486 )       19,318,995
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (262,421,256 )       139,236,617
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (10,958,966 )       (3,330,348 )

Class 2

      (109,130,381 )       (34,061,423 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (120,089,347 )       (37,391,771 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      213,171       116,811,345

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      10,958,966       3,330,348

Value of shares redeemed

      (12,968,837 )       (9,762,492 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      (1,796,700 )       110,379,201
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      5,307,519       1,259,772,914

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      109,130,381       34,061,423

Value of shares redeemed

      (202,741,466 )       (196,875,194 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (88,303,566 )       1,096,959,143
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (90,100,266 )       1,207,338,344
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (472,610,869 )       1,309,183,190

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,867,710,046       558,526,856
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,395,099,177     $ 1,867,710,046
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      25,660       11,643,238

Dividends reinvested

      1,451,519       336,739

Shares redeemed

      (1,449,051 )       (956,882 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      28,128       11,023,095
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      382,308       82,739,673

Dividends reinvested

      8,967,163       2,240,883

Shares redeemed

      (14,515,051 )       (12,725,870 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (5,165,580 )       72,254,686
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (5,137,452 )       83,277,781
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

^

Class 1 activity is for the period June 21, 2021 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2021.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

34


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021^   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.29     $ 10.00            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.17 (a)       0.07 (a)            

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.67 )       0.52            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.50 )       0.59            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.14 )       (0.08 )            

Net Realized Gains

      (0.96 )       (0.22 )            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total Dividends

      (1.10 )       (0.30 )            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.69     $ 10.29            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total Return(b)

      (14.40 )%       6.03 %(c)            

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 85,004     $ 113,445            

Net Investment Income/(Loss)(d)

      1.95 %       1.35 %            

Expenses Before Reductions(d)(e)

      0.47 %       0.51 %            

Expenses Net of Reductions(d)

      0.46 %       0.46 %            

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      72 %       115 %            

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 15.81     $ 14.44     $ 13.45     $ 12.26     $ 13.35
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.24 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.31 (a)       0.34

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.56 )       1.48       1.51       1.76       (0.58 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.32 )       1.67       1.77       2.07       (0.24 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.14 )       (0.08 )       (0.35 )       (0.33 )       (0.32 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.96 )       (0.22 )       (0.43 )       (0.55 )       (0.53 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.10 )       (0.30 )       (0.78 )       (0.88 )       (0.85 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.39     $ 15.81     $ 14.44     $ 13.45     $ 12.26
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (14.56 )%       11.65 %       13.47 %       17.27 %       (2.02 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,310,095     $ 1,754,265     $ 558,527     $ 559,027     $ 539,355

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.70 %       1.22 %       1.92 %       2.35 %       2.24 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.72 %       0.80 %       1.03 %       1.02 %       1.01 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %       0.71 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      72 %       115 %       77 %       77 %       66 %

 

^

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.

 

35


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL Gateway Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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 period, 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. 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

 

36


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 Fund reflects both the funded portion of a bank loan, as well as its unfunded commitment in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. 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, 2022 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 $4,852 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $6,021,821 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, there were no master netting provisions in the securities lending agreement.

 

37


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 June 30, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $17.9 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.

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 478,780  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (4,309,208      $(460,540)  

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, FIAM LLC (“FIAM”) to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund. Pursuant to a subadvisory agreement with the Manager, FIAM provides investment advisory services as the subadviser for the

 

38


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

Fund subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and the Manager. Prior to March 18, 2022, pursuant to a separate sub-subadvisory agreement with FIAM, Geode Capital Management, LLC (“Geode”) acted as sub-subadviser, made investment decisions with respect to certain designated assets of the Fund, and was paid a fee by FIAM, not the Fund. 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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

Any amounts 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, 2022, the contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years were as follows:

 

        Expires
12/31/2023
     Expires
12/31/2024
     Expires
12/31/2025
     Total

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 353,628        $ 564,106        $ 228,020        $ 1,145,754

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 to 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.

 

39


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

Security prices are determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 539,297,467        $        $ 238,990        $ 539,536,457

Preferred Stock+

         144,240                            144,240

Warrants+

         88,243                            88,243

Asset Backed Securities

                  7,762,729                   7,762,729

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  83,734,497                   83,734,497

Convertible Bonds+

                  800,747          551,561          1,352,308

Bank Loans

                  1,135,898                   1,135,898

Corporate Bonds+

                  299,909,643          #          299,909,643

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  78,378,311                   78,378,311

Municipal Bonds

                  3,710,721                   3,710,721

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  170,068,972                   170,068,972

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  207,793,435                   207,793,435

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         6,021,821                            6,021,821

Unaffiliated Investment Companies

         71,683,826                            71,683,826
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         617,235,597          853,294,953          790,551          1,471,321,101
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (478,780 )                            (478,780 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 616,756,817        $ 853,294,953        $ 790,551        $ 1,470,842,321
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

 

*

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, 2022, 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

       $ 1,078,844,483        $ 1,290,542,050

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 140,117,868        $ 262,420,011

 

40


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022 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          31,702        $ 202,024          0.01 %

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

         11/5/20          46,000          54,850          349,537          0.03 %

Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/7/23 @ 100

         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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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

 

41


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

9. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $1,640,453,507. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 7,775,519  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (176,907,925
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (169,132,406
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
     Total
Amount

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 17,799,083        $ —          $ 17,799,083

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

       $ 42,108,022        $ 77,981,325        $ 120,089,347

 

(a)

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

 

42


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 26,438,940        $ —          $ (17,799,083 )      $ (169,125,999 )      $ (160,486,142 )

 

(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, investments in real estate investment trusts 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, 2022, 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 this 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL Gateway Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

43


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for 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, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

44


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 15.38% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $27,144,505.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $77,981,325.

 

45


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.

 

46


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the

 

47


Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond 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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks direct peers.

 

48


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

49


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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.

 

50


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.

 

51


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management

Total Bond Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 28

Statement of Operations

Page 28

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 29

Financial Highlights

Page 30

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 31

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 38

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 39

Other Information

Page 40

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 41

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 44

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 shares) (the “Fund”) returned (13.37)%. That compared to a (13.01)% total return for its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.1

The U.S. bond market posted negative returns in 2022 as the U.S. Federal Reserve took aggressive steps to reign in inflation, which persisted at high levels due to supply chain challenges and spikes in food and energy prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, among other factors. This notable strategic shift began in late 2021 when the Fed indicated that it was planning to stop bond purchases as part of its quantitative easing program. The trend continued in 2022 as the Fed made a series of increases to its federal funds target rate, starting in March and continuing through December.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark for the period. An overweight allocation to high-yield corporate bonds hurt relative returns, as spreads widened amid growing market concern over the possibility of a recession.

The Fund’s relative performance was helped by its modestly shorter duration compared to that of the benchmark throughout the period, as bond yields rose materially during the year. An underweight position in mortgage-backed securities also contributed to relative returns as spreads widened considerably.

The Fund did not hold derivatives during the period under review.

 

 

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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
  1
Year
  3
Year
  5
Year
  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/28/2016       (13.20 )%       (1.60 )%       0.85 %             1.03 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      9/5/2012       (13.37 )%       (1.84 )%       0.59 %       1.47 %       1.49 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

      9/5/2012       (13.01 )%       (2.71 )%       0.02 %       1.06 %       1.06 %

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 Ratios      Gross

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.57 %

AZL® Fidelity Institutional Asset Management® Total Bond Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.82 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 979.60     $ 2.84       0.57 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 978.00     $ 4.09       0.82 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.33     $ 2.91       0.57 %

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.07     $ 4.18       0.82 %

 

*

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

Corporate Bonds

      37.1 %

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      21.4

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      20.3

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      10.8

Yankee Debt Obligations

      9.4

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      4.5

Asset Backed Securities

      2.1

Municipal Bonds

      0.7

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.7

Convertible Bonds

      0.4

Common Stocks

      0.2

Bank Loans

      0.2

Preferred Stock

        
   

Warrant

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      107.8

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (7.8 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares

           Value  
Common Stocks (0.2%):       
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.0%):       
  1,287      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*    $ 32,793  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  1,100      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      45,760  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  2,400      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      11,040  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.2%):       
  22      Amplify Energy Corp.*      193  
  2,649      Denbury, Inc.*      230,516  
  1,400      EQT Corp.      47,362  
  5,889      Sanchez Energy Corp.*(a)      350,845  
     

 

 

 
        628,916  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  698      Micron Technology, Inc.      34,886  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $355,578)

     753,395  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stock (0.0%):       
Electric Utilities (0.0%):       
  600      PG&E Corp., 8/16/23      86,544  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $70,437)

     86,544  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Warrant (0.0%):       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.0%):       
  95      California Resources Corp., 10/27/24*      1,197  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Warrant (Cost $–)

     1,197  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (2.1%):       
$ 561,996      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-2A, 2.80%, 1/15/47(b)      452,241  
  921,568      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2017-1A, 3.97%, 5/16/42(b)      714,681  
  209,785      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 3.84%, 1/16/38(b)      127,112  
  138,939      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 1/16/40(b)      59,870  
  124,544      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.35%, 1/16/40(b)      98,117  
  164,232      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1,
3.84%, 5/15/39(b)
     107,164  
  369,987      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2019-2, 3.38%, 10/16/39(b)      273,801  
  285,174      Aaset Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.95%, 11/16/41(b)      224,316  
  425,027      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 2.44%, 7/15/46, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      353,642  
  521,264      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class A, Series 2016-1A, 4.21%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      431,231  
  59,947      Blackbird Capital Aircraft, Class AA, Series 2016-1A, 2.49%, 12/16/41, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      55,965  
  321,244      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 4/15/39(b)      271,494  
  186,315      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class B, Series 2019-1, 5.10%, 4/15/39(b)      138,092  
  170,236      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2021-1A, 3.47%, 1/15/46(b)      142,478  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities, continued       
$ 215,893      Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust, Class A, Series 2018-1A, 4.13%, 6/15/43(b)    $ 189,227  
  519,639      CF Hippolyta LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-A, 1.53%, 3/15/61, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100(b)      448,325  
  545,783      DB Master Finance LLC, Class A2II, Series 2017-1A, 4.03%, 11/20/47, Callable 11/20/23 @ 100(b)      489,282  
  202,303      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A,
Series 2018-1, 4.46%, 12/15/38(b)
     165,988  
  198,362      Horizon Aircraft Finance, Ltd., Class A,
Series 2019-1, 3.72%, 7/15/39(b)
     156,038  
  252,095      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2I, Series 2022-1A, 3.25%, 12/5/51, Callable 12/5/24 @ 100(b)      218,577  
  215,373      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2II, Series 2022-1A, 4.01%, 12/5/51, Callable 12/5/27 @ 100(b)      168,284  
  326,890      Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 1A, 3.86%, 12/5/49, Callable 12/5/25 @ 100(b)      268,361  
  342,922      Project Silver, Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.97%, 7/15/44(b)      270,310  
  321,051      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 3.23%, 3/15/40(b)      242,980  
  233,783      Sapphire Aviation Finance, Ltd., Class B, Series 2020-1A, 4.34%, 3/15/40(b)      136,884  
  314,611      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2017-A, 4.21%, 5/17/32, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(b)(c)      270,670  
  495,272      Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-1, 3.67%, 11/15/39(b)      388,919  
  437,655      Thunderbolt II Aircraft Lease, Ltd., Class A, Series 2018, 4.15%, 9/15/38, Callable 7/15/2022 @ 100(b)(c)      331,537  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $9,058,147)

     7,195,586  
  

 

 

 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (10.8%):       
  250,000      Aimco CLO 11, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-11A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 10/17/34, Callable 10/17/23 @ 100(b)      243,352  
  460,000      Aimco CLO 14, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-14A, 5.23%(US0003M+99bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      443,470  
  273,000      Allegro CLO XIII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.38%(US0003M+114bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      265,325  
  254,000      Allegro CLO XV, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-1A, 3.18%(TSFR3M+150bps), 7/20/35, Callable 7/20/24 @ 100(b)      247,090  
  250,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2015-2A, 5.33%(US0003M+125bps), 4/17/33, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(b)      244,911  
  393,000      Ares CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-54A, 5.40%(US0003M+132bps), 10/15/32, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      385,469  
  342,000      Ares LV CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-55A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      334,226  
  408,000      Ares LVIII CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-58A, 5.19%(TSFR3M+133bps), 1/15/35, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      391,582  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 387,000      Ares XLI CLO, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2016-41A, 5.15%(US0003M+107bps), 4/15/34, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100(b)    $ 375,582  
  273,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class ANM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.11%, 11/5/32(b)      252,833  
  100,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class BNM, Series 2019-BPR, 3.47%, 11/5/32(b)      93,181  
  227,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2022-DKLX, 5.49%(TSFR1M+115bps), 1/15/39(b)      219,645  
  100,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class C, Series 2022-DKLX, 6.49%(TSFR1M+215bps), 1/15/39(b)      94,870  
  43,000      Bank, Class A5, Series 2019-BN21, 2.85%, 10/15/52, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      37,096  
  250,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/36, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      243,253  
  440,000      Barings CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-4A, 5.46%(US0003M+122bps), 1/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      433,000  
  417,000      Beechwood Park CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-1A, 5.16%(TSFR3M+130bps), 1/17/35, Callable 1/17/24 @ 100(b)      410,348  
  49,000      Benchmark Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-B4, 4.12%, 7/15/51, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(c)      46,544  
  331,000      Bethpage Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.21%(US0003M+113bps), 1/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      321,222  
  201,000      BFLD Trust, Class A, Series 2020-OBRK, 6.37%(US0001M+205bps), 11/15/28(b)      199,498  
  743,000      BPR Trust, Class A, Series 2022-OANA, 6.23%(TSFR1M+190bps), 4/15/37(b)      731,654  
  197,000      BPR Trust, Class B, Series 2022-OANA, 6.78%(TSFR1M+245bps), 4/15/37(b)      184,920  
  442,187      Bristol Park CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2016-1A, 5.07%(US0003M+99bps), 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      436,038  
  238,850      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-XL, 5.70%(US0001M+125bps), 10/15/36(b)      232,935  
  339,150      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-XL, 5.90%(US0001M+145bps), 10/15/36(b)      328,524  
  160,611      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-LP2, 5.90%(TSFR1M+156bps), 2/15/39(b)      152,177  
  476,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2019-XL, 6.25%(US0001M+180bps), 10/15/36(b)      459,574  
  160,611      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-LP2, 5.65%(TSFR1M+131bps), 2/15/39(b)      153,016  
  532,896      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-LP2, 5.35%(TSFR1M+101bps), 2/15/39(b)      509,802  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 190,400      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-XL, 5.53%(US0001M+108bps), 10/15/36(b)    $ 187,077  
  119,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2018-EXCL, 6.94%(US0001M+263bps), 9/15/37(b)      106,111  
  160,611      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2022-LP2, 6.30%(TSFR1M+196bps), 2/15/39(b)      150,357  
  185,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2019-IMC, 6.22%(US0001M+190bps), 4/15/34(b)      177,339  
  75,266      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-XL, 5.37%(US0001M+92bps), 10/15/36(b)      74,242  
  266,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-IMC, 5.62%(US0001M+130bps), 4/15/34(b)      256,653  
  400,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-IMC, 5.32%(US0001M+100bps), 4/15/34(b)      390,647  
  176,000      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-IMC, 5.92%(US0001M+160bps), 4/15/34(b)      168,411  
  447,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-PAC, 5.01%(US0001M+69bps), 10/15/36(b)      429,136  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-PAC, 5.62%(US0001M+130bps), 10/15/36(b)      93,076  
  302,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-PAC, 6.27%(US0001M+195bps), 10/15/36(b)      282,200  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-PAC, 5.42%(US0001M+110bps), 10/15/36(b)      94,006  
  100,000      BX Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-PAC, 5.22%(US0001M+90bps), 10/15/36(b)      94,630  
  373,434      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2022-IND A, 5.82%(TSFR1M+149bps), 4/15/24(b)      365,072  
  190,452      BX Trust, Class B, Series 2022-IND, 6.27%(TSFR1M+194bps), 4/15/24(b)      183,939  
  42,945      BX Trust, Class C, Series 2022-IND, 6.62%(TSFR1M+229bps), 4/15/24(b)      41,012  
  36,410      BX Trust, Class D, Series 2022-IND, 7.16%(TSFR1M+284bps), 4/15/24(b)      34,352  
  187,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2022-GPA, 6.50%(TSFR1M+217bps), 10/15/39(b)      185,030  
  189,101      Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-HB6, 0.90%, 6/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)      178,901  
  336,000      Cedar Funding VI CLO, Ltd., Class AAA, Series 2016-6A, 5.29%(US0003M+105bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      324,990  
  264,000      Cedar Funding X CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-10A, 5.34%(US0003M+110bps), 10/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      257,611  
  250,000      Cedar Funding XII CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-12A, 5.49%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      242,673  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 387,000      Cedar Funding XV CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-15A, 5.28%(TSFR3M+132bps), 4/20/35, Callable 4/20/24 @ 100(b)    $ 372,719  
  137,958      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2019-CHC, 6.07%(US0001M+175bps), 6/15/34(b)      128,035  
  122,078      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2019-CHC, 5.82%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/34(b)      119,598  
  622,301      CHC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-CHC, 5.44%(US0001M+112bps), 6/15/34(b)      607,270  
  75,000      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class D, Series 2021-RETL, 7.37%(US0001M+305bps), 8/15/36(b)      72,446  
  6,722      CIM Retail Portfolio Trust, Class C, Series 2021-RETL, 6.62%(US0001M+230bps), 8/15/36(b)      6,448  
  328,000      Columbia Cent CLO 29, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-29A, 5.41%(US0003M+117bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      318,170  
  580,000      Columbia Cent CLO 30, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2020-30A, 5.55%(US0003M+131bps), 1/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      567,838  
  440,000      Columbia Cent CLO 31, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-31A, 5.44%(US0003M+120bps), 4/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      427,317  
  83,000      Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2014-CR18, 3.83%, 7/15/47, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100      80,376  
  205,000      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class B, Series 2019-ICE4, 5.55%(US0001M+123bps), 5/15/36(b)      201,457  
  116,301      Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Class A, Series 2020-NET, 2.26%, 8/15/37(b)      104,141  
  128,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      117,960  
  1,384,000      CSMC Trust, Class D, Series 2017-PFHP, 6.57%(US0001M+225bps), 12/15/30(b)      1,308,624  
  309,000      CSMC Trust, Class A, Series 2018, 4.28%, 4/15/36(b)      296,288  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class B, Series 2018, 4.53%, 4/15/36(b)      96,320  
  100,000      CSMC Trust, Class C, Series 2018, 4.78%, 4/15/36(b)      95,949  
  250,000      Dryden 76 CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2019-76A, 5.39%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      243,077  
  382,000      Dryden 83 CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-83A, 5.41%(US0003M+122bps), 1/18/32, Callable 1/18/23 @ 100(b)      375,778  
  296,000      Dryden 85 CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-85A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 10/15/35, Callable 10/15/23 @ 100(b)      287,509  
  250,000      Dryden 90 CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-90A, 5.81%(US0003M+113bps), 2/20/35, Callable 2/20/24 @ 100(b)      242,463  
  250,000      Dryden 98 CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-98A, 5.26%(TSFR3M+130bps), 4/20/35, Callable 4/20/24 @ 100(b)      241,406  
  300,000      Dryden CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-78A, 5.26%(US0003M+118bps), 4/17/33, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(b)      293,611  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 250,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class A13R, Series 2013-1A, 5.33%(US0003M+125bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)    $ 243,866  
  378,000      Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-2A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 1/15/35, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      368,854  
  612,000      ELP Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ELP, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 11/15/36(b)      586,073  
  131,786      Extended Stay America Trust, Class D, Series 2021-ESH, 6.57%(US0001M+225bps), 7/15/38(b)      126,216  
  97,619      Extended Stay America Trust, Class C, Series 2021-ESH, 6.02%(US0001M+170bps), 7/15/38(b)      93,718  
  119,095      Extended Stay America Trust, Class B, Series 2021-ESH, 5.70%(US0001M+138bps), 7/15/38(b)      114,485  
  209,881      Extended Stay America Trust, Class A, Series 2021-ESH, 5.40%(US0001M+108bps), 7/15/38(b)      203,841  
  250,000      Flatiron CLO 19, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-1A, 5.72%(US0003M+108bps), 11/16/34, Callable 2/16/23 @ 100(b)      243,929  
  430,000      Flatiron CLO 20, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 5.98%(US0003M+130bps), 11/20/33, Callable 2/20/23 @ 100(b)      420,240  
  250,000      Flatiron CLO 21, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 5.34%(US0003M+111bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      243,887  
  264,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class A, Series 2021-IP, 5.27%(US0001M+95bps), 10/15/36(b)      246,129  
  100,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Class B, Series 2021-IP, 5.47%(US0001M+115bps), 10/15/36(b)      92,449  
  319,000      INTOWN STAY Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022, 6.82%(TSFR1M+249bps), 8/15/37, Callable 8/15/24 @ 100(b)      315,197  
  250,000      Invesco CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-3A, 5.45%(US0003M+113bps), 10/22/34, Callable 10/22/23 @ 100(b)      242,533  
  63,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class CFX, Series 2018-WPT, 4.95%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      61,930  
  97,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class DFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.35%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      95,352  
  133,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class EFX, Series 2018-WPT, 5.54%, 7/5/23, Callable 7/5/23 @ 100(b)      130,291  
  506,000      KKR CLO 41, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-41A, 5.19%(TSFR3M+133bps), 4/15/35, Callable 4/15/24 @ 100(b)      487,365  
  388,273      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-BMR, 5.02%(US0001M+70bps), 3/15/38(b)      376,096  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 173,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.88%(TSFR1M+254bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)    $ 165,699  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class D, Series 2021-BMR, 5.72%(US0001M+140bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,173  
  580,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-BMR2, 5.63%(TSFR1M+130bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      565,511  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class E, Series 2021-BMR, 6.07%(US0001M+175bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,039  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2021-BMR, 5.42%(US0001M+110bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,451  
  194,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.43%(TSFR1M+209bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      187,700  
  98,297      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2021-BMR, 5.20%(US0001M+88bps), 3/15/38(b)      93,962  
  347,000      Life Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-BMR2, 6.13%(TSFR1M+179bps), 5/15/39, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100(b)      336,164  
  250,000      Lucali CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2020-1A, 5.29%(US0003M+121bps), 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      246,595  
  460,000      Madison Park Funding L, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-50A, 5.37%(US0003M+114bps), 4/19/34, Callable 4/19/23 @ 100(b)      449,960  
  369,000      Madison Park Funding LII, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-52A, 5.42%(US0003M+110bps), 1/22/35, Callable 1/22/24 @ 100(b)      357,185  
  250,000      Madison Park Funding XLV, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-45A, 5.20%(US0003M+112bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)      243,722  
  270,761      Madison Park Funding, Ltd., Class A1R2, Series 2015-19A, 5.24%(US0003M+92bps), 1/22/28, Callable 1/22/23 @ 100(b)      267,762  
  325,000      Magnetite XXI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-21A, 5.26%(US0003M+102bps), 4/20/34, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      315,748  
  271,000      Magnetite XXIII, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2019-23A, 5.49%(US0003M+113bps), 1/25/35, Callable 1/25/24 @ 100(b)      263,316  
  400,000      Magnetite XXIX, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-29A, 5.07%(US0003M+99bps), 1/15/34, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      392,322  
  250,000      Magnetite XXVII, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-27A, 5.38%(US0003M+114bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      243,340  
  400,000      Magnetite XXX, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-30A, 5.49%(US0003M+113bps), 10/25/34, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      389,472  
  464,000      Milos CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2017-1A, 5.31%(US0003M+107bps), 10/20/30, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      457,366  
  82,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)(c)      74,770  
  86,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2019-Mead, 3.18%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)      79,784  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 593,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A, Series 2019-Mead, 3.17%, 11/10/36, Callable 11/10/24 @ 100(b)    $ 551,924  
  200,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class A4, Series 2018-H4, 4.31%, 12/15/51, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      189,205  
  723,200      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class C, Series 2018-BOP, 5.82%(US0001M+150bps), 6/15/35(b)      673,708  
  300,000      Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Class B, Series 2018-BOP, 5.57%(US0001M+125bps), 6/15/35(b)      297,103  
  250,000      Peace Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.37%(US0003M+113bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      243,419  
  24,835      Prima Capital CRE Securitization, Class A, Series 2021-9A, 5.39%(US0001M+145bps), 12/15/37, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100(b)      24,527  
  470,000      Rockland Park CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2021-1A, 5.36%(US0003M+112bps), 4/20/34, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      458,655  
  420,000      RR 7, Ltd., Class A1AB, Series 2019-7A, 5.20%(TSFR3M+134bps), 1/15/37, Callable 1/15/23 @ 100(b)      409,589  
  103,000      SPGN Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2022-TFLM, 6.34%(TSFR1M+200bps), 2/15/39, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100(b)      96,926  
  53,000      SPGN Mortgage Trust, Class C, Series 2022-TFLM, 6.99%(TSFR1M+265bps), 2/15/39, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100(b)      49,613  
  146,000      SREIT Trust, Class C, Series 2021-MFP, 5.65%(US0001M+133bps), 11/15/38(b)      138,662  
  235,000      SREIT Trust, Class B, Series 2021-MFP, 5.40%(US0001M+108bps), 11/15/38(b)      223,768  
  410,000      SREIT Trust, Class A, Series 2021-MFP, 5.05%(US0001M+73bps), 11/15/38(b)      394,271  
  100,000      SREIT Trust, Class D, Series 2021-MFP, 5.90%(US0001M+158bps), 11/15/38(b)      94,354  
  350,000      Symphony CLO XXVI, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2021-26A, 5.32%(US0003M+108bps), 4/20/33, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      339,955  
  434,000      Symphony CLO XXXII, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-32A, 5.36%(TSFR3M+132bps), 4/23/35, Callable 4/23/24 @ 100(b)      424,039  
  370,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-LAB, 2.13%, 10/10/42(b)      284,140  
  20,000      VLS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class B, Series 2020-LAB, 2.45%, 10/10/42(b)      15,134  
  250,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A1R, Series 2020-2A, 5.39%(US0003M+116bps), 7/19/34, Callable 7/19/23 @ 100(b)      244,640  
  250,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-1A, 5.23%(US0003M+115bps), 7/16/34, Callable 7/16/23 @ 100(b)      243,670  
  516,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2019-2, 5.51%(US0003M+127bps), 7/20/32, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)      506,919  
  444,000      Voya CLO, Ltd., Class AR, Series 2020-3A, 5.39%(US0003M+115bps), 10/20/34, Callable 10/20/23 @ 100(b)      431,975  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 261,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2021-FCMT, 5.52%(US0001M+120bps), 5/15/31(b)    $ 248,473  
  234,000      Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A5, Series 2018-C48, 4.30%, 1/15/52, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      221,491  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $37,681,612)

     36,302,054  
     

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds (0.4%):       
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  37,000      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 2.00%, 2/15/25      36,458  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  38,000      Booking Holdings, Inc., 0.75%, 5/1/25      50,854  
  40,000      Vail Resorts, Inc., 2.55%, 1/1/26      37,085  
     

 

 

 
        87,939  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  28,000      Callaway Golf Co., 2.75%, 5/1/26      36,244  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  85,000      DISH Network Corp., 2.38%, 3/15/24      76,882  
  209,000      DISH Network Corp., 3.38%, 8/15/26      131,233  
     

 

 

 
        208,115  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.2%):       
  46,865      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)(b)      298,652  
  79,890      Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23(a)(b)      509,107  
     

 

 

 
        807,759  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.1%):       
  23,000      FTI Consulting, Inc., 2.00%, 8/15/23      36,214  
  33,000      KBR, Inc., 2.50%, 11/1/23      68,493  
     

 

 

 
        104,707  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  13,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 1.63%, 10/15/23      38,981  
     

 

 

 
        38,981  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $626,832)

     1,320,203  
     

 

 

 
Bank Loans (0.2%):       
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  24,688      Consolidated Energy Term Incr B 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 5/7/25      23,515  
  9,925      Diamond (BC) B.V. Term B 1Ln, 7.07% (LIBOR+275bps ), 9/29/28      9,577  
     

 

 

 
        33,092  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.0%):       
  50,000      DG Investment Intermediate Holdings Term 2Ln, 11.07% (LIBOR+675bps ), 3/31/29      43,916  
  9,875      DG Investment Intermediate Holdings Term B 1Ln, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 3/31/28      9,431  
     

 

 

 
        53,347  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  5,000      Ascend Learning Term 2Ln, 10.07% (LIBOR+575bps ), 12/10/29      4,269  
  74,438      Ascend Learning Term B 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/10/28      70,250  
     

 

 

 
        74,519  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):       
$ 109,175      City Football Group Term B 1Ln, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 7/21/28    $ 101,806  
  75,285      Diamond Sports Group Term 2Ln, 7.71% (Term SOFR+335bps ), 8/24/26      8,281  
  156,412      Golden Entertainment Term B 1Ln, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 10/20/24      155,825  
     

 

 

 
        265,912  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Products (0.0%):       
  50,000      Brookfield WEC Holding Inc. Term 1Ln, 8.11% (Term SOFR+375bps ), 8/1/25      49,735  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  19,950      ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC Term B1 1LN, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 12/21/28      19,277  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  6,771      Acuris Finance US Inc. Term 1Ln, 8.36% (Term SOFR+400bps ), 2/16/28      6,644  
     

 

 

 
Software & Tech Services (0.1%):       
  46,911      Athenahealth Term B 1Ln, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 2/15/29      42,237  
  7,971      Athenahealth Term DD 1Ln, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 2/15/29+      7,177  
  125,000      Nielsen Holdings Term B 1Ln, 4.36% (Term SOFR+0bps ), 4/11/29      111,329  
     

 

 

 
        160,743  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $725,499)

     663,269  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (37.1%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.6%):       
  214,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.04%, 5/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      211,948  
  214,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.15%, 5/1/30, Callable 2/1/30 @ 100      209,339  
  200,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.71%, 5/1/40, Callable 11/1/39 @ 100      191,922  
  200,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.81%, 5/1/50, Callable 11/1/49 @ 100      187,888  
  210,000      Boeing Co. (The), 5.93%, 5/1/60, Callable 11/1/59 @ 100      193,993  
  125,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/23 @ 102.06(b)      111,406  
  170,000      BWX Technologies, Inc., 4.13%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      148,750  
  5,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.95%, 2/1/37      4,844  
  65,000      Moog, Inc., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.19(b)      59,800  
  60,000      TransDigm UK Holdings plc, 6.88%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44      58,950  
  60,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.59      58,425  
  55,000      TransDigm, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.75      54,381  
  610,000      TransDigm, Inc., 5.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75      567,300  
  115,000      TransDigm, Inc., 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44      100,050  
     

 

 

 
        2,158,996  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Air Freight & Logistics (0.1%):       
$ 100,000      Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38(b)    $ 90,000  
  93,000      XPO Logistics, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13(b)      93,930  
     

 

 

 
        183,930  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  55,000      Dana, Inc., 4.50%, 2/15/32, Callable 2/15/27 @ 102.25      44,619  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.5%):       
  199,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.43%, 3/15/24(b)      193,036  
  109,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.64%, 3/15/25(b)      103,733  
  213,000      Magallanes, Inc., 3.76%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(b)      192,347  
  74,000      Magallanes, Inc., 4.05%, 3/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100(b)      64,259  
  310,000      Magallanes, Inc., 4.28%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      256,009  
  155,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.05%, 3/15/42, Callable 9/15/41 @ 100(b)      119,487  
  234,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.14%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100(b)      172,213  
  55,000      Magic Mergeco, Inc., 5.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 11/1/23 @ 102.63(b)      44,000  
  105,000      Michaels Cos., Inc. (The), 7.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      69,825  
  75,000      Thor Industries, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102(b)      58,875  
  309,000      Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, 3.13%, 5/12/23(b)      306,366  
     

 

 

 
        1,580,150  
     

 

 

 
Banks (4.0%):       
  612,000      Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95%, 4/21/25      595,357  
  128,000      Bank of America Corp., Series G, 4.45%, 3/3/26      125,557  
  930,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.30% (SOFR+122 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      718,005  
  2,462,000      Bank of America Corp., 5.02% (SOFR+216 bps), 7/22/33, Callable 7/22/32 @ 100      2,350,082  
  100,000      CIT Group, Inc., 3.93% (SOFR+4 bps), 6/19/24, Callable 6/19/23 @ 100      98,875  
  245,000      CIT Group, Inc., 6.13%, 3/9/28      250,206  
  393,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.35% (US0003M+90 bps), 4/24/25, Callable 4/24/24 @ 100      381,150  
  1,642,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.30%, 11/20/26      1,590,096  
  954,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.91% (SOFR+209 bps), 5/24/33, Callable 5/24/32 @ 100      898,155  
  200,000      Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 2.64%, 9/30/32, Callable 7/2/32 @ 100      149,519  
  267,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.96% (SOFR+252 bps), 5/13/31, Callable 5/13/30 @ 100      220,807  
  2,747,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.59% (SOFR+180 bps), 4/26/33, Callable 4/26/32 @ 100      2,541,107  
  374,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.91% (SOFR+208 bps), 7/25/33, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100      357,034  
  296,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.41% (US0003M+83 bps), 10/30/25, Callable 10/30/24 @ 100, MTN      280,419  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 449,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.53% (SOFR+151 bps), 3/24/28, Callable 3/24/27 @ 100    $ 417,759  
  938,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.48% (US0003M+4 bps), 4/4/31, Callable 4/4/30 @ 100, MTN      878,825  
  1,677,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.90% (SOFR+210 bps), 7/25/33, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100      1,596,692  
     

 

 

 
        13,449,645  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.5%):       
  500,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      457,566  
  220,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.35%, 6/1/40, Callable 12/1/39 @ 100      195,573  
  509,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/58, Callable 10/15/57 @ 100      449,996  
  523,000      Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 5.80%, 1/23/59, Callable 7/23/58 @ 100      546,116  
  150,000      Triton Water Holdings, Inc., 6.25%, 4/1/29, Callable 4/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      120,375  
     

 

 

 
        1,769,626  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  245,000      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      118,825  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.1%):       
  255,000      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/30/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.5(b)      238,425  
  55,000      Builders FirstSource, Inc., 4.25%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.13(b)      44,619  
  15,000      Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      13,200  
     

 

 

 
        296,244  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.6%):       
  282,000      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/24      279,684  
  572,000      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 3.50%, 8/1/25      548,877  
  706,000      Ares Capital Corp., 4.20%, 6/10/24, Callable 5/10/24 @ 100      684,178  
  751,000      Ares Capital Corp., 3.88%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      690,023  
  353,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 7.05%, 9/29/25(b)      349,416  
  140,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.38%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.69(b)      73,500  
  145,000      Coinbase Global, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      69,237  
  1,140,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.80%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      1,028,080  
  510,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.38% (SOFR+125 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      397,116  
  1,009,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.10% (SOFR+141 bps), 2/24/33, Callable 2/24/32 @ 100      825,498  
  194,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.75%, 10/1/37      207,606  
  70,000      HAT Holdings I LLC / HAT Holdings II LLC, 3.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100(b)      60,550  
  25,000      LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 4.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.44(b)      20,500  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 170,000      Medline Borrower, LP, 3.88%, 4/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.94(b)    $ 136,000  
  25,000      ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      20,875  
  2,124,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.74% (US0003M+85 bps), 4/24/24, Callable 4/24/23 @ 100      2,113,202  
  632,000      Morgan Stanley, 3.62% (SOFR+312 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      553,614  
  891,000      Morgan Stanley, 4.89% (SOFR+208 bps), 7/20/33, Callable 7/20/32 @ 100      841,422  
  1,600,000      Morgan Stanley, 6.34% (SOFR+256 bps), 10/18/33, Callable 10/18/32 @ 100      1,681,178  
  70,000      Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 5.25%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      55,475  
  45,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/27 @ 101.63(b)      34,762  
  190,000      Navios South American Logistics, Inc. / Navios Logistics Finance US, Inc., 10.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 108.06(b)      180,500  
  457,000      Pine Street Trust I, 4.57%, 2/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100(b)      423,007  
  500,000      Pine Street Trust II, 5.57%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100(b)      441,062  
  20,000      Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc., 6.25%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      13,900  
  50,000      US Renal Care, Inc., 10.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 105.31(b)      10,500  
  80,000      Victors Merger Corp., 6.38%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      44,000  
     

 

 

 
        11,783,762  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.3%):       
  16,000      CF Industries, Inc., 4.95%, 6/1/43      13,660  
  170,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.38%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100^      155,762  
  355,000      Chemours Co. (The), 5.75%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      316,838  
  25,000      Diamond BC BV, 4.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      20,063  
  115,000      LSB Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      103,500  
  125,000      Olin Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.5      114,062  
  200,000      Olympus Water US Holding Corp., 4.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      165,000  
  60,000      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), 4.38%, 2/1/32, Callable 8/1/26 @ 102.19      45,450  
  35,000      Valvoline, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      34,125  
  135,000      Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/31, Callable 6/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      108,000  
  80,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 4.88%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      70,871  
  55,000      WR Grace Holdings LLC, 5.63%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.81(b)      44,344  
     

 

 

 
        1,191,675  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.3%):       
$ 55,000      ADT Security Corp. (The), 4.13%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100(b)    $ 46,612  
  165,000      Aramark Services, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      153,656  
  255,000      CoreCivic, Inc., 8.25%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/24 @ 104.13      260,100  
  56,000      GEO Group, Inc. (The), 10.50%, 6/30/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103      56,630  
  95,000      GEO Group, Inc. (The), 9.50%, 12/31/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103(b)      90,963  
  35,000      Legends Hospitality Holding Co. LLC / Legends Hospitality Co-Issuer, Inc., 5.00%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      31,019  
  35,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 6.88%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      29,881  
  70,000      Pitney Bowes, Inc., 7.25%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 103.63(b)      54,688  
  120,000      Stericycle, Inc., 3.88%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      104,700  
     

 

 

 
        828,249  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.1%):       
  170,000      CommScope, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103(b)      156,825  
  90,000      CommScope, Inc., 7.13%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 103.56(b)      64,350  
  90,000      CommScope, Inc., 4.75%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      72,562  
  115,000      Viavi Solutions, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 101.88(b)      95,450  
     

 

 

 
        389,187  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.2%):       
  40,000      Arcosa, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      34,600  
  330,000      Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 8.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(b)      263,175  
  105,000      Dycom Industries, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      91,612  
  80,000      Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., 5.63%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      62,200  
  35,000      Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.63(b)      26,819  
  350,000      Pike Corp., 5.50%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.75(b)      304,063  
     

 

 

 
        782,469  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Products (0.1%):       
  125,000      Fertitta Entertainment LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., 4.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.31(b)      105,625  
  70,000      Fertitta Entertainment LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., 6.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103.38(b)      56,350  
     

 

 

 
        161,975  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (2.9%):       
  578,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 3.05%, 6/5/23, Callable 5/5/23 @ 100      573,021  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Finance, continued       
$ 130,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 1.45%, 10/2/23, Callable 9/2/23 @ 100    $ 125,816  
  148,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.13%, 9/30/24      146,431  
  330,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 5.80%, 5/1/25, Callable 4/1/25 @ 100      328,468  
  370,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 7.10%, 11/15/27, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100^      377,708  
  200,000      Ally Financial, Inc., 4.70% (H15T5Y+387 bps), 12/31/99, Callable 5/15/26 @ 100      135,879  
  237,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 2.64% (SOFR+129 bps), 3/3/26, Callable 3/3/25 @ 100      221,887  
  295,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 4.99% (SOFR+216 bps), 7/24/26, Callable 7/24/25 @ 100      289,206  
  833,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.65%, 5/11/27, Callable 4/11/27 @ 100      786,294  
  636,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.80%, 1/31/28, Callable 12/31/27 @ 100      594,114  
  303,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.27% (SOFR+179 bps), 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      260,112  
  440,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 5.25% (SOFR+260 bps), 7/26/30, Callable 7/26/29 @ 100      421,719  
  250,000      Discover Bank, Series B, 4.68% (USSW5+173 bps), 8/9/28, Callable 8/9/23 @ 100      240,719  
  383,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.50%, 1/30/26, Callable 11/30/25 @ 100      368,647  
  355,000      Discover Financial Services, 4.10%, 2/9/27, Callable 11/9/26 @ 100      335,418  
  69,000      Discover Financial Services, 6.70%, 11/29/32, Callable 8/29/32 @ 100      70,332  
  110,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.13%, 8/17/27, Callable 6/17/27 @ 100      98,680  
  215,000      Ford Motor Credit Co LLC, 4.00%, 11/13/30, Callable 8/13/30 @ 100      177,349  
  504,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.58%, 3/18/24, Callable 2/18/24 @ 100      498,382  
  1,490,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 4.06%, 11/1/24, Callable 10/1/24 @ 100      1,435,467  
  80,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.13%, 6/16/25, Callable 5/16/25 @ 100      76,869  
  240,000      Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.11%, 5/3/29, Callable 2/3/29 @ 100      215,456  
  175,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 6.88%, 3/15/25      168,219  
  110,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.75      90,887  
  100,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 3.88%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/24 @ 101.94      79,250  
  170,000      OneMain Finance Corp., 4.00%, 9/15/30, Callable 9/15/25 @ 102      127,500  
  381,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.38%, 3/19/24, Callable 2/19/24 @ 100      374,331  
  577,000      Synchrony Financial, 4.25%, 8/15/24, Callable 5/15/24 @ 100      564,162  
  663,000      Synchrony Financial, 3.95%, 12/1/27, Callable 9/1/27 @ 100      591,733  
     

 

 

 
        9,774,056  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Consumer Staple Products (0.2%):       
$ 190,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/28, Callable 1/1/28 @ 100(b)    $ 179,788  
  395,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/1/33, Callable 1/1/33 @ 100(b)      375,250  
     

 

 

 
        555,038  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.0%):       
  5,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.06(b)      4,337  
  85,000      Ball Corp., 3.13%, 9/15/31, Callable 6/15/31 @ 100      68,213  
  30,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 3.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 8/1/29 @ 100(b)      25,275  
     

 

 

 
        97,825  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  89,000      Adtalem Global Education, Inc., 5.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      81,323  
  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)      26,240  
  141,000      APX Group, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      135,184  
     

 

 

 
        242,747  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.5%):       
  85,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 6.00%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103(b)      67,681  
  59,000      AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 3.90%, 4/20/23, Callable 3/20/23 @ 100      58,770  
  144,000      Jackson Financial, Inc., 5.17%, 6/8/27, Callable 5/8/27 @ 100^      141,605  
  182,000      Jackson Financial, Inc., 5.67%, 6/8/32, Callable 3/8/32 @ 100      171,645  
  635,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 4.25%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      500,063  
  20,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.81(b)      14,550  
  55,000      OI European Group BV, 4.75%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      48,400  
  500,000      Peachtree Funding Trust, 3.98%, 2/15/25(b)      481,615  
  70,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      60,900  
  65,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 2/15/31 @ 100(b)      55,088  
  55,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 11/1/33, Callable 5/1/33 @ 100(b)      44,756  
     

 

 

 
        1,645,073  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.6%):       
  215,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      203,006  
  500,000      AT&T, Inc., 5.15%, 11/15/46, Callable 5/15/46 @ 100      448,880  
  351,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      244,496  
  80,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 3.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/1/26 @ 100(b)      72,500  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
$ 40,000      Consolidated Communications, Inc., 5.00%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.75(b)    $ 29,400  
  30,000      Front Range BidCo, Inc., 6.13%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      17,062  
  60,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.94(b)      55,725  
  65,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      56,469  
  70,000      Frontier Communications Corp., 6.75%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      57,662  
  8,244      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94      6,368  
  70,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103(b)      55,213  
  323,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.10%, 3/22/28, Callable 1/22/28 @ 100      280,567  
  299,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      246,366  
  250,000      Windstream Escrow LLC / Windstream Escrow Finance Corp., 7.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.88(b)      202,500  
  85,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      62,581  
     

 

 

 
        2,038,795  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.8%):       
  326,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC / Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.38(b)      292,993  
  20,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(b)      17,950  
  70,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      57,400  
  255,000      Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, 3.38%, 9/15/29, Callable 6/15/29 @ 100      219,258  
  78,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.53%, 10/1/30, Callable 7/1/30 @ 100(b)      61,936  
  249,000      Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc., 2.78%, 1/7/32, Callable 10/7/31 @ 100(b)      195,990  
  71,000      Exelon Corp., 2.75%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      65,331  
  110,000      Exelon Corp., 4.05%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      102,462  
  86,000      Exelon Corp., 3.35%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      75,049  
  100,000      Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 8.00%, 1/15/27, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104      94,000  
  211,000      IPALCO Enterprises, Inc., 3.70%, 9/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      204,670  
  29,000      NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP, 4.25%, 9/15/24, Callable 7/15/24 @ 100(b)      26,752  
  140,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.88      131,075  
  30,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.69(b)      24,038  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Electric Utilities, continued       
$ 55,000      NRG Energy, Inc., 3.63%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 101.81(b)    $ 41,731  
  77,445      NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 12/15/25(b)      74,928  
  310,000      Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 7/1/50, Callable 1/1/50 @ 100      243,953  
  575,000      PG&E Corp., 5.00%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.5      526,125  
  140,000      PG&E Corp., 5.25%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.63      127,400  
  260,000      Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.00%, 7/31/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.5(b)      241,150  
     

 

 

 
        2,824,191  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.1%):       
  85,000      Artera Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.52(b)      70,550  
  105,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.00%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102(b)      90,562  
  140,000      Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      119,350  
     

 

 

 
        280,462  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.1%):       
  255,000      II-VI, Inc., 5.00%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/14/24 @ 102.5(b)      224,400  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  140,000      ROBLOX Corp., 3.88%, 5/1/30, Callable 11/1/24 @ 101.94(b)      109,200  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (3.4%):       
  150,000      American Homes 4 Rent LP, 3.63%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100      125,869  
  213,000      Boston Properties LP, 6.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 11/1/27 @ 100      219,907  
  454,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.10%, 10/1/24, Callable 7/1/24 @ 100      433,374  
  421,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 3.95%, 11/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      353,823  
  522,000      Brandywine Operating Partners LP, 4.55%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      438,198  
  288,000      Brandywine Operating Partnership LP, 7.55%, 3/15/28, Callable 2/15/28 @ 100      283,129  
  98,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.25%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/15/26 @ 100      85,976  
  85,000      Corporate Office Properties LP, 2.75%, 4/15/31, Callable 1/15/31 @ 100      63,774  
  35,000      Corrections Corp. of America, 4.63%, 5/1/23, Callable 2/1/23 @ 100      34,956  
  65,000      CTR Partnership LP / CareTrust Capital Corp., 3.88%, 6/30/28, Callable 3/30/28 @ 100(b)      54,844  
  170,000      Global Net Lease, Inc. / Global Net Lease Operating Partnership LP, 3.75%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100(b)      142,113  
  102,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.50%, 8/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      95,387  
  98,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      82,393  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 615,000      Hudson Pacific Properties LP, 4.65%, 4/1/29, Callable 1/1/29 @ 100    $ 528,266  
  135,000      Lexington Realty Trust, 4.40%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      131,343  
  220,000      MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., 5.25%, 8/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.75^      200,200  
  140,000      MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., 5.00%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5      117,600  
  169,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.38%, 8/1/23, Callable 6/1/23 @ 100      166,772  
  126,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.95%, 4/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      124,355  
  281,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 1/15/25, Callable 10/15/24 @ 100      272,070  
  1,931,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 4.50%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      1,797,566  
  435,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.63%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      365,050  
  194,000      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 3.38%, 2/1/31, Callable 11/1/30 @ 100      149,258  
  78,000      Piedmont Operating Partnership LP, 2.75%, 4/1/32, Callable 1/1/32 @ 100      54,645  
  68,000      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., 5.00%, 12/15/23, Callable 9/15/23 @ 100      67,224  
  104,000      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., 4.00%, 12/15/24, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      99,493  
  22,000      Retail Properties of America, Inc., 4.75%, 9/15/30, Callable 6/15/30 @ 100      19,364  
  498,000      Sabra Health Care LP, 3.20%, 12/1/31, Callable 9/1/31 @ 100      371,873  
  458,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.84%, 1/15/25, Callable 1/15/24 @ 100(b)      431,313  
  146,000      SBA Tower Trust, 1.88%, 7/15/50, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      129,515  
  111,000      SBA Tower Trust, 2.33%, 7/15/52, Callable 7/15/26 @ 100(b)      92,531  
  65,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 2/15/27, Callable 8/15/26 @ 100      51,187  
  55,000      Service Properties Trust, 5.50%, 12/15/27, Callable 9/15/27 @ 100      47,369  
  60,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.95%, 10/1/29, Callable 7/1/29 @ 100      41,925  
  125,000      Service Properties Trust, 4.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100      83,125  
  147,000      STORE Capital Corp., 4.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 12/15/28 @ 100      132,134  
  112,000      STORE Capital Corp., 2.75%, 11/18/30, Callable 8/18/30 @ 100      85,758  
  87,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.30%, 11/1/28, Callable 9/1/28 @ 100      71,980  
  232,000      Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.70%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      183,270  
  387,000      Tanger Properties LP, 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100      348,161  
  237,000      Tanger Properties LP, 2.75%, 9/1/31, Callable 6/1/31 @ 100      172,151  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 300,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 7.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.94(b)    $ 290,250  
  160,000      Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103(b)      101,200  
  199,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.00%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      183,754  
  569,000      Ventas Realty LP, 3.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      479,757  
  631,000      Ventas Realty LP, 4.75%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/15/30 @ 100      592,027  
  38,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.38%, 5/15/25      36,812  
  100,000      VICI Properties LP, 5.13%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100      92,500  
  103,000      Vornado Realty LP, 2.15%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      86,741  
  814,000      WP Carey, Inc., 4.00%, 2/1/25, Callable 11/1/24 @ 100      792,081  
  101,000      WP Carey, Inc., 3.85%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100      91,064  
     

 

 

 
        11,495,427  
     

 

 

 
Financial Services (0.1%):       
  30,000      Clydesdale Acquisition Holdings, Inc., 6.63%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/25 @ 103.31(b)      28,575  
  60,000      Cobra AcquisitionCo LLC, 6.38%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      34,800  
  175,000      Hightower Holding LLC, 6.75%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.38(b)      146,344  
  30,000      Jane Street Group/JSG Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      26,175  
     

 

 

 
        235,894  
     

 

 

 
Financials (0.2%):       
  843,000      Blackstone Private Credit Fund, 4.70%, 3/24/25^      809,048  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.4%):       
  35,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.63%, 1/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.47(b)      32,375  
  80,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 3.50%, 3/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.75(b)      67,100  
  240,000      Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 4.88%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.66(b)      214,200  
  165,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 3/13/23 @ 103.44(b)      165,000  
  125,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 5.50%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      118,594  
  30,000      Performance Food Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      25,912  
  140,000      Sysco Corp., 5.95%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100      145,521  
  210,000      Sysco Corp., 6.60%, 4/1/50, Callable 10/1/49 @ 100      231,069  
  65,000      United Natural Foods, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      62,156  
  90,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      79,538  
  25,000      US Foods, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      22,000  
     

 

 

 
        1,163,465  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Food Products (0.3%):       
$ 170,000      C&S Group Enterprises LLC, 5.00%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.5(b)    $ 128,350  
  50,000      JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 3.63%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 101.81(b)      40,625  
  300,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(b)      285,375  
  550,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.00%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      422,125  
  135,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 4.25%, 4/15/31, Callable 4/15/26 @ 102.13(b)      114,412  
  55,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.81(b)      51,769  
  28,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/31, Callable 9/15/26 @ 102.25(b)      23,660  
  95,000      TreeHouse Foods, Inc., 4.00%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102      80,750  
     

 

 

 
        1,147,066  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.0%):       
  140,000      Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 9/28/23 @ 101.63(b)      120,400  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.9%):       
  65,000      AHP Health Partners, Inc., 5.75%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      51,350  
  15,000      Cano Health LLC, 6.25%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/24 @ 103.13(b)      8,550  
  405,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.13      380,700  
  600,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      504,000  
  985,000      Centene Corp., 4.63%, 12/15/29, Callable 12/15/24 @ 102.31      896,350  
  360,000      Centene Corp., 3.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 101.69      303,300  
  245,000      Centene Corp., 2.63%, 8/1/31, Callable 5/1/31 @ 100      191,713  
  100,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.63%, 3/15/27, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      85,500  
  100,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103(b)      83,250  
  240,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.13%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 103.06(b)      117,600  
  130,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.25%, 5/15/30, Callable 5/15/25 @ 102.63(b)      98,150  
  70,000      CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 4.75%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 102.38(b)      50,750  
  526,000      Cigna Corp., 4.38%, 10/15/28, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      508,919  
  315,000      Community Health Systems, Inc., 8.00%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104(b)      285,075  
  114,000      CVS Health Corp., 3.63%, 4/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100      108,287  
  260,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.78%, 3/25/38, Callable 9/25/37 @ 100      238,796  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 310,000      DaVita, Inc., 4.63%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 102.31(b)    $ 249,550  
  25,000      Garden Spinco Corp., 8.63%, 7/20/30, Callable 7/20/27 @ 102.16(b)      26,125  
  235,000      HCA, Inc., 5.38%, 2/1/25      235,000  
  217,000      HCA, Inc., 5.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 3/1/28 @ 100      216,186  
  203,000      HCA, Inc., 5.88%, 2/1/29, Callable 8/1/28 @ 100      202,492  
  470,000      HCA, Inc., 3.50%, 9/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      404,787  
  40,000      HCA, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      33,959  
  25,000      HealthEquity, Inc., 4.50%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      22,125  
  128,000      Humana, Inc., 3.70%, 3/23/29, Callable 2/23/29 @ 100      117,805  
  60,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(b)      51,300  
  75,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100(b)      63,563  
  40,000      Owens & Minor, Inc., 4.50%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.25(b)      31,400  
  105,000      Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 6.75%, 7/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      103,425  
  215,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.56(b)      206,937  
  195,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.13%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      174,525  
  110,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.25%, 6/1/29, Callable 6/1/24 @ 102.13(b)      95,150  
  65,000      Tenet Healthcare Corp., 4.38%, 1/15/30, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.19(b)      56,306  
  181,000      Toledo Hospital (The), Series B, 5.33%, 11/15/28      140,800  
     

 

 

 
        6,343,725  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.7%):       
  25,000      Affinity Gaming, 6.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.44(b)      21,187  
  175,000      Boyd Gaming Corp., 4.75%, 12/1/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.38      162,750  
  65,000      Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      52,894  
  130,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 8/1/23 @ 105.25(b)      130,487  
  220,000      Carnival Corp., 7.63%, 3/1/26, Callable 3/1/24 @ 101.91(b)      176,550  
  100,000      Carnival Corp., 10.50%, 6/1/30, Callable 6/1/25 @ 105.25^(b)      81,500  
  55,000      Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94^(b)      38,363  
  100,000      Golden Entertainment, Inc., 7.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.81(b)      98,250  
  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)      47,712  
  30,000      Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.38(b)      26,925  
  70,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)      64,750  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
$ 55,000      Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., 4.50%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.25(b)    $ 45,512  
  250,000      MGM Resorts International, 5.75%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      242,188  
  285,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 3.63%, 12/15/24, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100.91(b)      243,675  
  75,000      NCL Corp., Ltd., 5.88%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      64,917  
  25,000      NCL Finance, Ltd., 6.13%, 3/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      18,625  
  117,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 11.50%, 6/1/25, Callable 1/17/23 @ 108.63(b)      125,483  
  140,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.50%, 8/31/26, Callable 2/28/26 @ 100(b)      117,950  
  50,000      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.38%, 7/15/27, Callable 10/15/26 @ 100(b)      40,625  
  200,000      Station Casinos LLC, 4.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      174,000  
  100,000      Viking Cruises, Ltd., 13.00%, 5/15/25, Callable 1/23/23 @ 109.75(b)      106,000  
  100,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/25, Callable 12/1/24 @ 100(b)      94,750  
  150,000      Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(b)      135,000  
  135,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.63%, 1/31/32, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.31      119,475  
     

 

 

 
        2,429,568  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.2%):       
  30,000      Ambience Merger Sub, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.44(b)      21,300  
  35,000      Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co., 4.63%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      27,956  
  65,000      Century Communities, Inc., 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      51,106  
  150,000      LBM Acquisition LLC, 6.25%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 103.13(b)      95,250  
  15,000      Newell Brands, Inc., 5.38%, 4/1/36, Callable 10/1/35 @ 100      12,975  
  40,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 4.75%, 4/30/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      35,200  
  25,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)      19,375  
  195,000      Northwest Fiber LLC / Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., 10.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/23 @ 105.38(b)      180,375  
  60,000      Tempur Sealy International, Inc., 3.88%, 10/15/31, Callable 10/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      47,100  
  120,000      TopBuild Corp., 4.13%, 2/15/32, Callable 10/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      97,050  
     

 

 

 
        587,687  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  80,000      Central Garden & Pet Co., 4.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.06(b)      65,600  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.3%):  
  528,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.30%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100(b)      498,962  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers, continued  
$ 461,000      AES Corp. (The), 3.95%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100(b)    $ 407,054  
  87,000      AES Corp. (The), 2.45%, 1/15/31, Callable 10/15/30 @ 100(b)      69,218  
  45,000      Clearway Energy Operating LLC, 4.75%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      41,569  
  50,000      Pattern Energy Operations LP/Pattern Energy Operations, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/28, Callable 8/15/23 @ 103.38(b)      44,875  
  40,000      Sunnova Energy Corp., 5.88%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 102.94^(b)      35,600  
  40,000      TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 5.00%, 1/31/28, Callable 7/31/27 @ 100(b)      36,000  
     

 

 

 
        1,133,278  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.2%):       
  205,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13      196,800  
  510,000      Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/27, Callable 11/15/26 @ 100      467,288  
     

 

 

 
        664,088  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.1%):       
  210,000      Minerva Merger Sub, Inc., 6.50%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.25(b)      155,400  
  85,000      Railworks Holdings LP/Railworks Rally, Inc., 8.25%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/24 @ 104.13(b)      79,688  
     

 

 

 
        235,088  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.2%):       
  175,000      Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.13(b)      144,375  
  600,000      American International Group, Inc., 2.50%, 6/30/25, Callable 5/30/25 @ 100      564,556  
  35,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      29,969  
  55,000      AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      44,825  
  30,000      BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.94(b)      25,650  
  98,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.50%, 4/4/25, Callable 3/4/25 @ 100(b)      94,000  
  334,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.65%, 4/5/27, Callable 3/5/27 @ 100(b)      311,736  
  137,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.85%, 4/5/29, Callable 2/5/29 @ 100(b)      125,649  
  163,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 3.90%, 4/5/32, Callable 1/5/32 @ 100(b)      143,190  
  37,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 4.35%, 4/5/42, Callable 10/5/41 @ 100(b)      30,534  
  110,000      Corebridge Financial, Inc., 4.40%, 4/5/52, Callable 10/5/51 @ 100(b)      88,318  
  686,000      Five Corners Funding Trust II, 2.85%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(b)      575,382  
  55,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 101.75(b)      53,831  
  50,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(b)      43,750  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Insurance, continued       
$ 40,000      Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.25%, 6/15/23(b)    $ 39,703  
  140,000      Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.57%, 2/1/29      131,460  
  651,000      Pacific Lifecorp, 5.13%, 1/30/43(b)      598,345  
  85,000      Ryan Specialty Group LLC, 4.38%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 102.19(b)      73,844  
  463,000      Unum Group, 3.88%, 11/5/25      442,904  
  349,000      Unum Group, 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      316,557  
  260,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      254,475  
     

 

 

 
        4,133,053  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.0%):       
  85,000      Match Group Holdings II LLC, 3.63%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.81(b)      65,131  
  40,000      Match Group, Inc., 4.13%, 8/1/30, Callable 5/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      32,500  
     

 

 

 
        97,631  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.2%):       
  40,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      31,200  
  15,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 6.13%, 12/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 103.06(b)      11,850  
  175,000      Black Knight InfoServ LLC, 3.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.81(b)      151,812  
  55,000      Block, Inc., 2.75%, 6/1/26, Callable 5/1/26 @ 100      48,998  
  55,000      Block, Inc., 3.50%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100      43,698  
  20,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 4.00%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102(b)      17,625  
  215,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 8.13%, 7/1/27, Callable 7/1/23 @ 104.06(b)      210,969  
  100,000      Gartner, Inc., 4.50%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.25(b)      93,000  
  65,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 101.88(b)      55,981  
  50,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.81      40,562  
  50,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.88%, 3/15/31, Callable 3/15/26 @ 101.94      39,500  
     

 

 

 
        745,195  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  311,000      Hasbro, Inc., 3.00%, 11/19/24, Callable 10/19/24 @ 100      298,969  
  5,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.41(b)      4,887  
     

 

 

 
        303,856  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):       
  195,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      177,206  
  20,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.13(b)      18,300  
  45,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 3.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.88(b)      39,600  
     

 

 

 
        235,106  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Machinery (0.1%):       
$ 80,000      GrafTech Finance, Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.31(b)    $ 64,000  
  75,000      ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      63,094  
  40,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 4.13%, 6/30/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.06(b)      33,400  
  335,000      Madison IAQ LLC, 5.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.94(b)      231,150  
  60,000      Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.00%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102(b)      52,725  
     

 

 

 
        444,369  
     

 

 

 
Media (2.1%):       
  275,000      Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc., 6.50%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 103.25(b)      205,219  
  100,000      Allen Media LLC / Allen Media Co-Issuer, Inc., 10.50%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 113(b)      41,000  
  35,000      Austin BidCo, Inc., 7.13%, 12/15/28, Callable 12/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      26,600  
  30,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 3.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 9/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      24,900  
  25,000      Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 5.63%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      18,563  
  105,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.5(b)      94,500  
  395,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.75%, 3/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      332,787  
  585,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 8/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.25(b)      482,625  
  155,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 5/1/32, Callable 5/1/26 @ 102.25      123,225  
  105,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 4.50%, 6/1/33, Callable 6/1/27 @ 102.25(b)      80,325  
  332,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 4.40%, 4/1/33, Callable 1/1/33 @ 100      285,400  
  332,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.25%, 4/1/53, Callable 10/1/52 @ 100      258,606  
  332,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.50%, 4/1/63, Callable 10/1/62 @ 100      254,018  
  440,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.88(b)      249,700  
  130,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.13%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      91,000  
  360,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 4.63%, 12/1/30, Callable 12/1/25 @ 102.31(b)      198,000  
  280,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.69(b)      30,800  
  215,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 3.63%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      178,298  
  580,000      Discovery Communications LLC, 4.65%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      401,607  
  230,000      DISH DBS Corp., 7.75%, 7/1/26      185,725  
  250,000      DISH Network Corp., 11.75%, 11/15/27, Callable 5/15/25 @ 105.88(b)      256,250  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Media, continued       
$ 103,000      Fox Corp., 4.03%, 1/25/24, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100    $ 101,680  
  149,000      Fox Corp., 4.71%, 1/25/29, Callable 10/25/28 @ 100      144,360  
  147,000      Fox Corp., 5.48%, 1/25/39, Callable 7/25/38 @ 100      135,565  
  65,000      Gray Television, Inc., 4.75%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      46,150  
  165,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 4.50%, 9/15/26, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.25(b)      119,419  
  200,000      Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., 6.50%, 9/15/28, Callable 9/15/23 @ 103.25(b)      82,000  
  45,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.13%, 9/1/26, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.56(b)      39,825  
  105,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      96,994  
  45,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.50%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      41,062  
  40,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 4.13%, 7/1/30, Callable 7/1/25 @ 102.06(b)      33,000  
  85,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 3.88%, 9/1/31, Callable 9/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      66,300  
  140,000      TEGNA, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/26, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.38(b)      135,625  
  80,000      Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., 8.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 104.44(b)      59,800  
  103,000      Time Warner Cable LLC, 5.50%, 9/1/41, Callable 3/1/41 @ 100      85,897  
  359,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.55%, 5/1/37      341,356  
  418,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 7.30%, 7/1/38      414,992  
  1,100,000      Time Warner Cable, Inc., 6.75%, 6/15/39      1,045,505  
  55,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 6.63%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/23 @ 103.31(b)      53,075  
  65,000      Univision Communications, Inc., 4.50%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.25(b)      54,031  
     

 

 

 
        6,915,784  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.2%):       
  70,000      Alcoa Nederland Holding BV, 4.13%, 3/31/29, Callable 3/31/24 @ 102.06(b)      61,512  
  265,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.94      253,075  
  30,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 4.88%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102.44      26,512  
  20,000      Allegheny Technologies, Inc., 5.13%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.56      17,425  
  70,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.63%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      61,950  
  70,000      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 4.88%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102.44^(b)      61,600  
  25,000      Commercial Metals Co., 4.13%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.06      22,000  
  25,000      Commercial Metals Co., 4.38%, 3/15/32, Callable 3/15/27 @ 102.19      21,625  
  185,000      Kaiser Aluminun Corp., 4.63%, 3/1/28, Callable 3/1/23 @ 102.31(b)      161,644  
  55,000      Novelis Corp., 3.88%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 101.94(b)      44,550  
     

 

 

 
        731,893  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (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)    $ 44,344  
  65,000      Starwood Property Trust, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/25, Callable 9/15/24 @ 100      62,156  
     

 

 

 
        106,500  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  207,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.10%, 6/15/30, Callable 3/15/30 @ 100      185,131  
  292,000      Puget Energy, Inc., 4.22%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      259,287  
  110,000      Sempra Energy, 6.00%, 10/15/39      111,338  
     

 

 

 
        555,756  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (5.0%):       
  55,000      Apache Corp., 5.10%, 9/1/40, Callable 3/1/40 @ 100      45,650  
  25,000      Apache Corp., 7.38%, 8/15/47      24,813  
  70,000      Cheniere Energy Partners LP, 4.00%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 102      59,413  
  55,000      Cheniere Energy Partners, LP, 3.25%, 1/31/32, Callable 1/31/27 @ 101.63      43,656  
  361,000      Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC/Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP, 5.13%, 4/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100(b)      360,019  
  145,000      CITGO Petroleum Corp., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.19(b)      139,019  
  25,000      Cnx Midstream Partners LP, 4.75%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.38(b)      20,625  
  30,000      CNX Resources Corp., 6.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 104.5(b)      27,675  
  30,000      Colgate Energy Partners III LLC, 5.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.94(b)      25,763  
  80,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 6.75%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103.38(b)      72,000  
  40,000      Comstock Resources, Inc., 5.88%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      34,500  
  195,000      Continental Resources, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/31, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100(b)      180,863  
  167,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, 4/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.44      162,407  
  305,000      Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103(b)      281,363  
  230,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.25%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.63(b)      211,600  
  25,000      CVR Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      21,500  
  163,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 3.88%, 3/15/23, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      161,777  
  105,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.38%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100      103,819  
  160,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      159,200  
  750,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.85% (US0003M+385 bps), 5/21/43, Callable 5/21/23 @ 100(b)      729,375  
  185,000      DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.60%, 4/1/44, Callable 10/1/43 @ 100      172,975  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 35,000      Delek Logistics Partners LP / Delek Logistics Finance Corp., 7.13%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.56(b)    $ 31,281  
  43,000      Devon Energy Corp., 5.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.63      42,428  
  55,000      DT Midstream, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      46,750  
  124,000      Enable Midstream Partners LP, 3.90%, 5/15/24, Callable 2/15/24 @ 100      120,982  
  110,000      Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 1/30/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)      105,050  
  350,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      337,432  
  167,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.25%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100      161,971  
  161,000      Energy Transfer LP, 3.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100      141,996  
  427,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.00%, 5/15/50, Callable 11/15/49 @ 100      345,013  
  81,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.25%, 3/15/23, Callable 1/23/23 @ 100      80,802  
  103,000      Energy Transfer Operating LP, 4.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      101,664  
  103,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 4.20%, 9/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      101,943  
  195,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 5.80%, 6/15/38, Callable 12/15/37 @ 100      179,769  
  127,000      Energy Transfer Partners LP, 6.00%, 6/15/48, Callable 12/15/47 @ 100      115,412  
  115,000      Energy Transfer, LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      107,894  
  135,000      EnLink Midstream LLC, 5.63%, 1/15/28, Callable 7/15/27 @ 100(b)      128,756  
  105,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 7.50%, 6/1/27, Callable 6/1/24 @ 103.75(b)      102,506  
  80,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 6.50%, 7/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(b)      76,300  
  70,000      EQM Midstream Partners LP, 4.50%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100(b)      59,237  
  115,000      EQT Corp., 3.90%, 10/1/27, Callable 7/1/27 @ 100      106,375  
  45,000      EQT Corp., 5.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/28 @ 100      42,413  
  311,000      Hess Corp., 4.30%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100      297,415  
  109,000      Hess Corp., 7.30%, 8/15/31      118,746  
  78,000      Hess Corp., 7.13%, 3/15/33      84,430  
  900,000      Hess Corp., 5.60%, 2/15/41      848,930  
  302,000      Hess Corp., 5.80%, 4/1/47, Callable 10/1/46 @ 100      290,193  
  190,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.81(b)      184,300  
  35,000      Hess Midstream Operations LP, 4.25%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.13(b)      29,925  
  45,000      Holly Energy Partners LP / Holly Energy Finance Corp., 6.38%, 4/15/27, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      44,269  
  150,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 3.45%, 2/15/23, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      149,594  
  63,000      Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 6.55%, 9/15/40      63,032  
  50,000      Kinetik Holdings LP, 5.88%, 6/15/30, Callable 6/15/25 @ 102.94(b)      47,027  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 55,000      Leeward Renewable Energy Operations LLC, 4.25%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.13(b)    $ 46,750  
  172,000      MPLX LP, 4.50%, 7/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      171,298  
  242,000      MPLX LP, 4.88%, 12/1/24, Callable 9/1/24 @ 100      240,174  
  70,000      MPLX LP, 5.50%, 2/15/49, Callable 8/15/48 @ 100      62,356  
  289,000      MPLX, LP, 4.95%, 9/1/32, Callable 6/1/32 @ 100      272,348  
  150,000      Murphy Oil Corp., 5.88%, 12/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.94      143,625  
  135,000      NGL Energy Operating LLC / NGL Energy Finance Corp., 7.50%, 2/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.75(b)      119,813  
  609,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 5.55%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      606,716  
  120,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 3.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 5/15/29 @ 100      108,000  
  85,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 8.88%, 7/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      95,200  
  1,047,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.50%, 5/1/31      1,120,290  
  25,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/31      27,281  
  422,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.45%, 9/15/36      430,440  
  40,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.30%, 8/15/39, Callable 2/15/39 @ 100      31,900  
  40,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.20%, 3/15/40      38,800  
  712,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 6.60%, 3/15/46, Callable 9/15/45 @ 100      731,580  
  120,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 4/15/46, Callable 10/15/45 @ 100      95,700  
  165,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.10%, 2/15/47, Callable 8/15/46 @ 100      127,050  
  80,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.20%, 3/15/48, Callable 9/15/47 @ 100      61,800  
  95,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.40%, 8/15/49, Callable 2/15/49 @ 100      75,050  
  120,000      PBF Holding Co. LLC / PBF Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103      107,100  
  35,000      PDC Energy, Inc., 5.75%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88      33,075  
  39,000      Phillips 66, 3.85%, 4/9/25, Callable 3/9/25 @ 100      37,991  
  110,000      Plains All Amer Pipeline, 3.60%, 11/1/24, Callable 8/1/24 @ 100      106,082  
  110,000      Range Resources Corp., 4.88%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/15/25 @ 100      104,775  
  493,000      Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.50%, 5/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      457,258  
  408,000      Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/17/23 @ 100(a)(b)       
  20,000      SM Energy Co., 5.63%, 6/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100.94      19,100  
  75,000      SM Energy Co., 6.75%, 9/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.25      73,125  
  346,000      Southeast Supply Header LLC, 4.25%, 6/15/24, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100(b)      319,185  
  55,000      Southwestern Energy Co., 4.75%, 2/1/32, Callable 2/1/27 @ 102.38      46,544  
  5,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103      4,912  
  95,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 5.88%, 3/15/28, Callable 3/15/23 @ 102.94      89,775  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 165,000      Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 5/15/29, Callable 5/15/24 @ 102.25    $ 143,962  
  135,000      Tallgrass Energy Partners LP / Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., 6.00%, 12/31/30, Callable 12/31/25 @ 103(b)      116,944  
  70,000      Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 7/15/26 @ 102      58,888  
  30,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 5.50%, 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 102.75      28,237  
  185,000      Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 4.88%, 2/1/31, Callable 2/1/26 @ 102.44      166,731  
  62,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 3.95%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      58,590  
  205,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.65%, 7/1/26, Callable 4/1/26 @ 100      194,237  
  900,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.50%, 3/1/28, Callable 12/1/27 @ 100      823,500  
  101,000      Western Gas Partners LP, 4.75%, 8/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100      92,667  
  205,000      Western Midstream Operating LP, 5.30%, 2/1/30, Callable 11/1/29 @ 100      180,400  
  301,000      Williams Cos., Inc. (The), 4.65%, 8/15/32, Callable 5/15/32 @ 100      281,450  
  68,000      Williams Cos., Inc. (The), 5.30%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      61,507  
  242,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.50%, 11/15/23, Callable 8/15/23 @ 100      240,177  
  426,000      Williams Partners LP, 4.30%, 3/4/24, Callable 12/4/23 @ 100      419,767  
     

 

 

 
        16,603,997  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  45,000      Glatfelter Corp., 4.75%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      27,000  
  70,000      Mercer International, Inc., 5.13%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 102.56      58,275  
     

 

 

 
        85,275  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.0%):       
  55,000      BellRing Brands, Inc., 7.00%, 3/15/30, Callable 3/15/27 @ 101.75(b)      53,212  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.4%):       
  37,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 11.00%, 9/30/28(b)      28,860  
  7,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 14.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 106(b)      4,165  
  170,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.13%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      134,725  
  50,000      Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 3.50%, 4/1/30, Callable 4/1/25 @ 101.75^(b)      39,438  
  275,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.27%, 8/28/23, Callable 7/28/23 @ 100      273,229  
  116,000      Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.90%, 8/28/28, Callable 5/28/28 @ 100      109,620  
  45,000      Jazz Securities DAC, 4.38%, 1/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.19(b)      39,937  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
$ 160,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 4.13%, 4/30/28, Callable 4/30/24 @ 102.06(b)    $ 142,400  
  215,000      Organon & Co. / Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, 5.13%, 4/30/31, Callable 4/30/26 @ 102.56(b)      187,050  
  60,000      Viatris, Inc., 1.65%, 6/22/25, Callable 5/22/25 @ 100      54,425  
  305,000      Viatris, Inc., 2.70%, 6/22/30, Callable 3/22/30 @ 100      240,257  
  133,000      Viatris, Inc., 3.85%, 6/22/40, Callable 12/22/39 @ 100      89,624  
     

 

 

 
        1,343,730  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  60,000      Asgn, Inc., 4.63%, 5/15/28, Callable 5/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      54,300  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.3%):       
  27,000      Corporate Office Properties, LP, 2.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100      20,764  
  225,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 4.15%, 4/15/32, Callable 1/15/32 @ 100      197,739  
  115,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.25%, 4/15/30, Callable 4/15/25 @ 102.63(b)      83,806  
  297,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 1/15/28 @ 100      281,408  
  441,000      VICI Properties LP, 4.95%, 2/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      416,194  
  40,000      VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co., Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      38,250  
     

 

 

 
        1,038,161  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.2%):       
  301,000      CBRE Services, Inc., 2.50%, 4/1/31, Callable 1/1/31 @ 100      237,976  
  85,000      Kennedy-Wilson, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/30, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38      64,281  
  70,000      Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 102.88(b)      52,850  
  275,000      TK Elevator US Newco, Inc., 5.25%, 7/15/27, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.63(b)      244,750  
     

 

 

 
        599,857  
     

 

 

 
Retail & Wholesale — Discretionary (0.0%):       
  15,000      MIWD Holdco II LLC / MIWD Finance Corp., 5.50%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 102.75(b)      12,038  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.0%):       
  60,000      Uber Technologies, Inc., 4.50%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102.25(b)      52,125  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.7%):       
  92,000      Broadcom, Inc., 1.95%, 2/15/28, Callable 12/15/27 @ 100(b)      78,042  
  899,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.45%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100(b)      710,210  
  797,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.60%, 2/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      600,351  
  633,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.50%, 2/15/41, Callable 8/15/40 @ 100(b)      457,363  
  297,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/51, Callable 8/15/50 @ 100(b)      208,916  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
$ 135,000      Entegris, Inc., 3.63%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.72^(b)    $ 109,012  
  75,000      ON Semiconductor Corp., 3.88%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.94(b)      65,438  
     

 

 

 
        2,229,332  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.5%):       
  55,000      Acuris Finance US, Inc. / Acuris Finance SARL, 5.00%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/24 @ 102.5(b)      43,519  
  60,000      Boxer Parent Co., Inc., 7.13%, 10/2/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)      58,350  
  40,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(b)      34,100  
  40,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(b)      33,900  
  30,000      Elastic NV, 4.13%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      24,000  
  70,000      Fair Isaac Corp., 4.00%, 6/15/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102(b)      63,525  
  125,000      MicroStrategy, Inc., 6.13%, 6/15/28, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.06^(b)      89,375  
  351,000      Oracle Corp., 1.65%, 3/25/26, Callable 2/25/26 @ 100      315,203  
  555,000      Oracle Corp., 2.30%, 3/25/28, Callable 1/25/28 @ 100      481,848  
  690,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100      575,191  
     

 

 

 
        1,719,011  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.5%):       
  35,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      29,400  
  40,000      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 5.00%, 2/15/32, Callable 11/15/26 @ 102.5(b)      33,450  
  47,000      AutoNation, Inc., 4.75%, 6/1/30, Callable 3/1/30 @ 100      42,042  
  72,000      AutoZone, Inc., 3.63%, 4/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100      69,673  
  333,000      AutoZone, Inc., 4.00%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      308,182  
  66,000      Carvana Co., 5.88%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 104.41(b)      25,740  
  10,000      Carvana Co., 4.88%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.44(b)      3,850  
  55,000      Carvana Co., 10.25%, 5/1/30, Callable 5/1/27 @ 105.13(b)      26,263  
  30,000      Foot Locker, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/29, Callable 10/1/24 @ 102(b)      24,375  
  55,000      Gap, Inc. (The), 3.88%, 10/1/31, Callable 10/1/26 @ 101.94(b)      38,638  
  220,000      L Brands, Inc., 6.63%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 103.31(b)      205,975  
  33,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 3.35%, 4/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      31,039  
  410,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.25%, 4/1/52, Callable 10/1/51 @ 100      329,369  
  464,000      Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 4.45%, 4/1/62, Callable 10/1/61 @ 100      364,005  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
$ 74,000      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., 4.20%, 4/1/30, Callable 1/1/30 @ 100    $ 69,885  
  30,000      Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.75%, 2/15/26, Callable 8/15/23 @ 104.38(b)      8,775  
  20,000      Rent-A-Center, Inc., 6.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      16,025  
  40,000      Victoria’s Secret & Co., 4.63%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.31(b)      31,400  
     

 

 

 
        1,658,086  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.2%):       
  106,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.45%, 6/15/23, Callable 4/15/23 @ 100      106,016  
  81,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 5.85%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      81,640  
  129,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.02%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100      131,817  
  148,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.10%, 7/15/27, Callable 5/15/27 @ 100      152,250  
  128,000      Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 6.20%, 7/15/30, Callable 4/15/30 @ 100      130,534  
     

 

 

 
        602,257  
     

 

 

 
Telecommunications (0.1%):       
  130,000      Cogent Communications Group, Inc., 7.00%, 6/15/27, Callable 6/15/24 @ 103.5(b)      127,400  
  60,000      Frontier Communications Holdings LLC, 8.75%, 5/15/30, Callable 5/15/25 @ 104.38(b)      61,050  
     

 

 

 
        188,450  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.1%):       
  60,000      Crocs, Inc., 4.13%, 8/15/31, Callable 8/15/26 @ 102.06(b)      48,825  
  20,000      Kontoor Brands, Inc., 4.13%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102.06(b)      16,275  
  70,000      Levi Strauss & Co., 3.50%, 3/1/31, Callable 3/1/26 @ 101.75(b)      55,212  
  105,000      Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 4.00%, 8/15/29, Callable 8/15/24 @ 102(b)      78,094  
     

 

 

 
        198,406  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  452,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.25%, 8/9/42      335,771  
  302,000      Altria Group, Inc., 4.50%, 5/2/43      228,862  
  262,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.38%, 1/31/44      232,828  
  108,000      Altria Group, Inc., 5.95%, 2/14/49, Callable 8/14/48 @ 100      96,087  
  179,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.70%, 8/15/35, Callable 2/15/35 @ 100      162,414  
  600,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 7.25%, 6/15/37      612,471  
  70,000      Turning Point Brands, Inc., 5.63%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      60,550  
     

 

 

 
        1,728,983  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  467,000      Air Lease Corp., 4.25%, 2/1/24, Callable 1/1/24 @ 100      459,730  
  393,000      Air Lease Corp., 3.38%, 7/1/25, Callable 6/1/25 @ 100      370,877  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
$ 40,000      Foundation Building Materials, Inc., 6.00%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 103(b)    $ 29,950  
  45,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 4.63%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      39,881  
  25,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.13%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 103.06(b)      20,188  
  40,000      SRS Distribution, Inc., 6.00%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 103(b)      31,800  
     

 

 

 
        952,426  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.6%):       
  445,000      Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 3/15/32      529,550  
  300,000      Sprint Communications, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/28      311,250  
  380,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.75%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100      359,094  
  65,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.75%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/1/23 @ 102.38      63,375  
  70,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.38%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 101.69      61,815  
  630,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      571,172  
  82,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      70,527  
  161,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/50, Callable 10/15/49 @ 100      133,616  
     

 

 

 
        2,100,399  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $138,988,661)

     124,450,661  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (9.4%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.1%):       
  38,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.50%, 3/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.25(b)      37,667  
  55,000      Bombardier, Inc., 7.13%, 6/15/26, Callable 6/15/23 @ 103.56(b)      53,488  
  170,000      Bombardier, Inc., 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103(b)      157,037  
     

 

 

 
        248,192  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.0%):       
  100,000      VistaJet Malta Finance PLC / XO Management Holding, Inc., 7.88%, 5/1/27, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      90,000  
  95,000      VistaJet Malta Finance PLC / XO Management Holding, Inc., 6.38%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 103.19(b)      75,169  
     

 

 

 
        165,169  
     

 

 

 
Banks (1.9%):       
  874,000      Barclays plc, 4.38%, 1/12/26      844,962  
  503,000      Barclays plc, 2.85% (US0003M+245 bps), 5/7/26, Callable 5/7/25 @ 100      466,761  
  580,000      Barclays plc, 5.09% (US0003M+305 bps), 6/20/30, Callable 6/20/29 @ 100      534,131  
  200,000      Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 3.61%, 9/12/34, Callable 9/12/29 @ 100(b)      165,176  
  791,000      Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, 4.38%, 8/4/25      769,539  
  205,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 4.25%, 3/14/24      201,196  
  200,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.02%, 6/26/24(b)      192,679  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 1,432,000      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.71%, 1/15/26(b)    $ 1,375,021  
  286,000      Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 3.07% (H15T1Y+255 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100      256,227  
  980,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.04% (H15T1Y+75 bps), 6/18/25, Callable 6/18/24 @ 100(b)      907,580  
  513,000      Societe Generale SA, 1.49% (H15T1Y+110 bps), 12/14/26, Callable 12/14/25 @ 100(b)      445,795  
  289,000      Westpac Banking Corp., 4.11% (H15T5Y+200 bps), 7/24/34, Callable 7/24/29 @ 100      247,522  
     

 

 

 
        6,406,589  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.1%):       
  200,000      Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 4.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      173,250  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.4%):       
  1,175,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.80%, 6/9/23      1,147,228  
  788,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 2.59% (SOFR+156 bps), 9/11/25, Callable 9/11/24 @ 100(b)      703,309  
  602,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 4.19% (SOFR+373 bps), 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100(b)      467,413  
  720,000      Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey, Ltd., 3.75%, 3/26/25      649,080  
  1,462,000      Deutsche Bank AG, 4.50%, 4/1/25      1,390,382  
  314,000      UBS Group AG, 1.49% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 8/10/27, Callable 8/10/26 @ 100(b)      270,486  
     

 

 

 
        4,627,898  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  130,000      Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 6.50%, 5/15/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103.25(b)      120,575  
  195,000      Methanex Corp., 5.13%, 10/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100      180,863  
  95,000      Methanex Corp., 5.25%, 12/15/29, Callable 9/15/29 @ 100      84,312  
  55,000      SPCM SA, 3.13%, 3/15/27, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.56(b)      47,437  
     

 

 

 
        433,187  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Services (0.0%):       
  55,000      Studio City Co., Ltd., 7.00%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.5(b)      51,425  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staple Products (0.2%):       
  200,000      Imperial Brands Finance plc, 6.13%, 7/27/27, Callable 6/27/27 @ 100(b)      197,750  
  555,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 2.50%, 1/15/27, Callable 12/15/26 @ 100(b)      482,862  
     

 

 

 
        680,612  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  25,000      Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC, 6.00%, 9/15/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103(b)      20,250  
  255,000      Trivium Packaging Finance BV, 5.50%, 8/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      237,469  
     

 

 

 
        257,719  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

21


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
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)    $ 39,600  
  225,000      GEMS MENASA Cayman, Ltd. / GEMS Education Delaware LLC, 7.13%, 7/31/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)      216,000  
     

 

 

 
        255,600  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  395,000      Altice Financing SA, 5.00%, 1/15/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(b)      319,456  
  300,000      C&W Senior Financing Dac, 6.88%, 9/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103.44(b)      279,750  
  110,000      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, 6.50%, 3/15/30, Callable 3/15/25 @ 102(b)      98,676  
  2,052,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(b)      2,026,350  
  305,000      Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc, 4.25%, 1/31/31, Callable 1/31/26 @ 102.13(b)      244,000  
     

 

 

 
        2,968,232  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  270,000      Altice France SA, 6.00%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 103^(b)      159,300  
  185,000      Altice France SA, 5.13%, 1/15/29, Callable 9/15/23 @ 102.56(b)      146,844  
  80,000      Telecom Italia SpA, 6.00%, 9/30/34      61,500  
     

 

 

 
        367,644  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.0%):       
  140,000      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44(b)      136,500  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.1%):       
  55,000      1011778 BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(b)      54,588  
  210,000      1011778 BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/25 @ 102(b)      171,150  
  75,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.75%, 7/21/28, Callable 7/21/23 @ 102.88(b)      62,531  
  65,000      Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd., 5.38%, 12/4/29, Callable 12/4/24 @ 102.69(b)      52,000  
     

 

 

 
        340,269  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  21,000      1375209 BC, Ltd., 9.00%, 1/30/28, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103(b)      20,396  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.2%):       
  465,000      AIA Group, Ltd., 3.38%, 4/7/30, Callable 1/7/30 @ 100(b)      412,620  
  200,000      Swiss Re Finance Luxembourg SA, 5.00% (H15T5Y+358 bps), 4/2/49, Callable 4/2/29 @ 100(b)      181,300  
     

 

 

 
        593,920  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.0%):       
  85,000      Seaspan Corp., 5.50%, 8/1/29, Callable 8/1/24 @ 102.75(b)      64,069  
     

 

 

 
Materials (0.1%):       
  55,000      Cerdia Finanz GmbH, 10.50%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/24 @ 105.25(b)      46,475  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Materials, continued       
$ 220,000      NOVA Chemicals Corp., 5.25%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/3/27 @ 100(b)    $ 196,075  
  225,000      Nufarm Australia, Ltd. / Nufarm Americas, Inc., 5.00%, 1/27/30, Callable 1/27/25 @ 102.5(b)      196,875  
     

 

 

 
        439,425  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.1%):       
  255,000      VZ Secured Financing BV, 5.00%, 1/15/32, Callable 1/15/27 @ 102.5(b)      204,319  
  120,000      Ziggo BV, 5.13%, 2/28/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 102.56(b)      98,700  
     

 

 

 
        303,019  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  200,000      ERO Copper Corp., 6.50%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/25 @ 103.25(b)      160,500  
  115,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 3/1/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 103.44(b)      108,962  
  55,000      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.88%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 103.44(b)      51,219  
  5,000      FMG Resources Pty, Ltd., 4.50%, 9/15/27, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100(b)      4,569  
  105,000      Infrabuild Australia Pty, Ltd., 12.00%, 10/1/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 106(b)      101,850  
  75,000      Mineral Resources, Ltd., 8.00%, 11/1/27, Callable 11/1/24 @ 104(b)      76,406  
     

 

 

 
        503,506  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.2%):       
  525,000      InterGen NV, 7.00%, 6/30/23, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      514,500  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.3%):       
  115,000      eG Global Finance plc, 6.75%, 2/7/25, Callable 1/17/23 @ 101.69(b)      99,475  
  205,000      eG Global Finance plc, 8.50%, 10/30/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(b)      191,931  
  223,000      Enbridge, Inc., 4.00%, 10/1/23, Callable 7/1/23 @ 100      220,683  
  235,000      Meg Energy Corp., 7.13%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.56(b)      239,994  
  1,385,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.84%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      1,146,210  
  120,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 5.95%, 1/28/31, Callable 10/28/30 @ 100      91,419  
  295,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.70%, 2/16/32, Callable 11/16/31 @ 100      232,930  
  2,762,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      1,772,262  
  502,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100      316,756  
  70,000      Teine Energy, Ltd., 6.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 103.44(b)      63,000  
     

 

 

 
        4,374,660  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.0%):       
  115,000      Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 5.50%, 11/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      97,750  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.1%):       
  95,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94(b)      81,344  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Software, continued       
$ 115,000      Open Text Corp., 3.88%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 101.94(b)    $ 92,575  
     

 

 

 
        173,919  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.2%):       
  355,000      Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, 3.88%, 4/16/50(b)      302,057  
  56,434      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.00%, 7/9/29, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      15,167  
  513,757      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 0.50%, 7/9/30, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      141,283  
  941,242      Argentine Republic Government International Bond, 1.50%, 7/9/35, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100      247,076  
  400,000      Corp. Andina de Fomento, 2.38%, 5/12/23      396,006  
  1,344,000      Dominican Republic, 5.50%, 1/27/25^(b)      1,333,920  
  250,000      Dominican Republic, 6.00%, 7/19/28(b)      240,000  
  600,000      Indonesia Government International Bond, 4.20%, 10/15/50      493,464  
  470,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.40%, 4/16/50(b)      430,989  
  230,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.25%, 10/22/30(b)      209,956  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/22/60(b)      177,987  
     

 

 

 
        3,987,905  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.6%):       
  412,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.88%, 1/16/24, Callable 12/16/23 @ 100      407,979  
  637,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 1.65%, 10/29/24, Callable 9/29/24 @ 100      588,372  
  217,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 6.50%, 7/15/25, Callable 6/15/25 @ 100      219,728  
  251,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 4.45%, 4/3/26, Callable 2/3/26 @ 100      238,884  
  209,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.45%, 10/29/26, Callable 9/29/26 @ 100      182,542  
  219,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.00%, 10/29/28, Callable 8/29/28 @ 100      183,376  
  234,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      182,428  
     

 

 

 
        2,003,309  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  330,000      Empresa Nacional del Pet, 4.38%, 10/30/24(b)      320,512  
  630,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 6.25%, 3/25/29, Callable 3/25/24 @ 103.13(b)      601,650  
  135,000      Millicom International Cellular SA, 4.50%, 4/27/31, Callable 4/27/26 @ 102.25(b)      113,906  
  230,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.20%, 3/15/27, Callable 2/15/27 @ 100(b)      213,003  
  201,000      Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.80%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      173,256  
     

 

 

 
        1,422,327  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $36,578,822)

     31,610,991  
  

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Municipal Bonds (0.7%):  
California (0.2%):  
$ 10,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.35%, 11/1/39    $ 12,222  
  460,000      California State, Build America Bonds, GO, 7.30%, 10/1/39      559,314  
     

 

 

 
        571,536  
     

 

 

 
Illinois (0.4%):  
  310,000      Chicago Illinois, Taxable Project, GO, Series C1, 7.78%, 1/1/35      326,594  
  315,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, 6.63%, 2/1/35      321,300  
  425,000      Illinois State, Build America Bonds, GO, Series 3, 6.73%, 4/1/35      433,220  
  295,000      Illinois State, GO, 5.10%, 6/1/33      284,572  
  34,091      Illinois State, GO, 4.95%, 6/1/23      34,017  
     

 

 

 
        1,399,703  
     

 

 

 
New Jersey (0.1%):  
  504,000      New Jersey Economic Development Authority Revenue, GO, Series A, 7.43%, 2/15/29      544,562  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $2,652,682)

     2,515,801  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (20.3%):  
Federal National Mortgage Association (11.6%):  
  92,143      2.50%, 6/1/29, Pool #MA3734      84,816  
  52,473      2.50%, 9/1/31, Pool #AS8012      49,288  
  300,333      3.00%, 4/1/32, Pool #BD9809      282,832  
  343,347      3.00%, 12/1/32, Pool #BM5345      327,711  
  218,661      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #CA3748      202,680  
  19,054      3.00%, 3/1/33, Pool #BM4614      18,193  
  2,513      4.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #729327      2,464  
  1,055      4.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #720240      1,043  
  2,959      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #729713      2,924  
  14,628      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #729380      14,466  
  2,735      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #727160      2,703  
  2,236      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #727029      2,209  
  7,362      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #726956      7,282  
  3,722      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #723124      3,681  
  9,371      4.50%, 8/1/33, Pool #726928      9,267  
  5,501      4.50%, 9/1/33, Pool #734922      5,723  
  13,746      4.50%, 9/1/33, Pool #727147      14,299  
  22,537      4.50%, 12/1/33, Pool #AL5321      23,445  
  392,818      2.50%, 6/1/34, Pool #BN7572      362,329  
  17,393      6.00%, 10/1/34, Pool #AL2130      18,334  
  34,455      4.50%, 9/1/35, Pool #AB8198      35,847  
  190,878      2.00%, 10/1/35, Pool # BK5705      170,155  
  324,061      6.00%, 5/1/36, Pool #745512      342,930  
  165,186      6.00%, 1/1/37, Pool #932030      174,921  
  450,000      1.50%, 1/25/37, TBA      390,656  
  500,000      2.00%, 1/25/37, TBA      445,781  
  29,116      6.00%, 3/1/37, Pool #889506      30,604  
  42,211      6.00%, 1/1/38, Pool #889371      44,234  
  1,150,000      1.50%, 2/25/38      999,063  
  2,500,000      2.00%, 2/25/38      2,231,836  
  15,554      6.00%, 3/1/38, Pool #889219      15,826  
  7,279      6.00%, 7/1/38, Pool #889733      7,404  
  45,801      4.50%, 3/1/39, Pool #AB0051      47,647  
  232,401      4.50%, 4/1/39, Pool #AB0043      241,757  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

23


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 143,038      2.50%, 8/1/39, Pool #MA3761    $ 127,623  
  18,587      4.50%, 11/1/39, Pool #AC5442      18,473  
  60,840      6.00%, 5/1/40, Pool #AL2129      61,909  
  18,132      2.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #MA4176      15,432  
  23,063      4.00%, 12/1/40, Pool #AA4757      22,413  
  18,660      2.00%, 12/1/40, Pool #MA4204      15,940  
  28,401      4.50%, 2/1/41, Pool #AH5580      28,152  
  19,980      2.00%, 2/1/41, Pool #MA4268      17,022  
  20,409      2.00%, 3/1/41, Pool #MA4287      17,388  
  21,002      2.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #MA4311      17,893  
  21,295      2.00%, 5/1/41, Pool #MA4333      18,143  
  21,577      2.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #MA4364      18,383  
  168,260      2.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #MA4446      141,516  
  460,682      1.50%, 11/1/41, Pool #MA4473      374,308  
  4,484      6.00%, 1/1/42, Pool #AL2128      4,486  
  138,130      2.50%, 2/1/43, Pool #AB8465      118,458  
  33,444      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #BM1167      32,170  
  142,538      4.50%, 3/1/44, Pool #AL5082      137,767  
  70,517      4.00%, 12/1/44, Pool #AX8459      66,917  
  7,337      4.00%, 12/1/44, Pool #AY0045      7,043  
  107,235      4.00%, 3/1/45, Pool #AL6541      101,758  
  45,067      3.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AS4972      40,274  
  67,779      4.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #AZ1207      63,791  
  47,897      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8126      46,393  
  102,330      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AY8096      96,253  
  28,569      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ3341      26,884  
  22,027      4.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ2719      20,726  
  24,043      5.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #AZ3448      24,505  
  113,495      4.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #AZ0833      106,810  
  95,970      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AS5634      85,786  
  15,395      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AZ3728      13,754  
  36,424      3.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #AZ8288      32,570  
  273,543      4.00%, 10/1/45, Pool #AL7593      265,690  
  50,758      4.00%, 10/1/45, Pool #AL7413      49,293  
  14,067      4.00%, 11/1/45, Pool #AZ0560      13,231  
  17,921      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #AS6350      17,403  
  42,084      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #BA6404      39,580  
  32,595      4.50%, 2/1/46, Pool #BM5199      32,229  
  8,021      4.00%, 5/1/46, Pool #BC2276      7,719  
  241,164      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #BC0880      225,219  
  93,722      4.00%, 7/1/46, Pool #BC1443      90,333  
  29,400      4.50%, 8/1/46, Pool #AL9111      28,852  
  103,351      4.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #BC2843      99,604  
  320,501      3.50%, 12/1/46, Pool #BC9077      299,390  
  48,617      3.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #BE5696      44,981  
  399,519      4.50%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9846      393,187  
  1,071,271      4.00%, 2/1/47, Pool #AL9779      1,037,280  
  5,261      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #BH4269      5,066  
  29,049      3.00%, 5/1/49, Pool #MA3670      25,863  
  297,132      4.50%, 9/1/49, Pool #FM1534      299,306  
  364,189      4.00%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4628      349,231  
  78,689      3.50%, 11/1/49, Pool #CA4557      72,601  
  305,752      2.50%, 8/1/50, Pool #SD0430      262,679  
  400,000      4.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      386,000  
  629,333      3.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #CA9319      586,599  
  3,050,000      2.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      2,592,738  
  825,000      3.50%, 2/25/51, TBA      751,330  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 442,500      2.00%, 3/1/51, Pool #MA4281    $ 362,191  
  263,404      2.50%, 4/1/51, Pool #FM6540      229,699  
  441,185      2.00%, 4/1/51, Pool #MA4305      361,095  
  535,393      3.00%, 6/1/51, Pool #CB0850      474,241  
  10,043      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #BT1461      8,315  
  45,511      2.50%, 8/1/51, Pool #CB1384      39,060  
  87,995      3.00%, 8/1/51, Pool #FM9973      78,423  
  183,904      2.50%, 9/1/51, Pool #CB1549      156,331  
  322,775      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1801      265,707  
  244,655      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #CB1799      201,795  
  739,473      2.50%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9501      628,614  
  341,145      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9568      281,782  
  183,585      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9633      163,205  
  216,016      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9539      177,851  
  197,828      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #CB2164      176,085  
  147,565      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #FM9632      131,275  
  141,327      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2347      116,732  
  186,697      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2320      158,700  
  513,799      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2289      440,942  
  148,689      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2321      127,589  
  521,356      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2349      429,108  
  139,735      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2350      114,721  
  130,846      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2376      112,293  
  62,279      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2420      55,427  
  1,113,093      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #FM9865      946,266  
  93,279      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #CB2348      76,786  
  93,889      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #BT9503      82,654  
  856,625      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0286      700,138  
  371,550      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #FS0288      304,003  
  3,775,000      2.00%, 1/25/52, TBA      3,080,164  
  870,700      3.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0671      765,773  
  906,071      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #CB2842      739,379  
  376,590      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0605      322,337  
  233,974      3.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #FS0631      206,509  
  36,457      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #CB3174      33,202  
  385,630      3.00%, 4/1/52, Pool # BU8933      339,087  
  29,858      3.00%, 4/1/52, Pool #CB3242      26,259  
  934,512      3.00%, 4/1/52, Pool # BV6599      822,738  
  449,999      4.50%, 7/1/52, Pool #MA4656      434,689  
  69,844      2.50%, 8/1/52, Pool #MA4743      59,369  
  99,001      4.00%, 9/1/52, Pool #FS3083      93,327  
  195,907      5.50%, 10/1/52, Pool #CB4843      197,084  
  49,812      5.00%, 10/1/52, Pool #CB4893      49,778  
  49,688      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #FS3295      49,484  
  99,704      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #FS3248      99,636  
  199,085      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool #CB5128      199,381  
  49,970      5.00%, 12/1/52, Pool #CB5273      49,936  
  600,000      2.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      509,531  
  150,000      5.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      147,914  
  2,500,000      1.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      1,918,750  
  450,000      3.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      395,719  
  150,000      3.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      136,523  
  100,000      4.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      93,984  
  4,900,000      2.00%, 2/25/53, TBA      4,002,688  
     

 

 

 
        38,684,963  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

24


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Government National Mortgage Association (4.2%):  
$ 4,017      5.00%, 6/15/34, Pool #629493    $ 4,043  
  2,468      5.00%, 3/15/38, Pool #676766      2,541  
  1,577      5.00%, 4/15/38, Pool #672672      1,625  
  5,533      5.00%, 8/15/38, Pool #687818      5,700  
  48,471      5.00%, 1/15/39, Pool #705997      49,925  
  97,196      5.00%, 3/15/39, Pool #646746      100,121  
  599      5.00%, 3/15/39, Pool #697946      602  
  92,926      4.00%, 10/15/40, Pool #783143      90,387  
  25,792      4.00%, 10/20/40, Pool #G24833      25,087  
  77,482      4.00%, 1/20/41, Pool #4922      75,364  
  213,819      4.50%, 3/20/41, Pool #4978      213,846  
  157,019      4.00%, 5/20/41, Pool #5054      152,731  
  74,204      4.50%, 5/20/41, Pool #005055      74,213  
  73,084      4.50%, 6/15/41, Pool #366975      73,487  
  49,466      4.50%, 6/20/41, Pool #005082      49,473  
  176,732      4.00%, 10/20/41, Pool #5203      171,902  
  199,804      3.50%, 12/20/41, Pool #5258      188,995  
  348,045      4.00%, 1/20/42, Pool #5280      338,530  
  123,478      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #MA0624      112,967  
  191,960      3.00%, 12/20/42, Pool #AA5872      172,049  
  21,576      3.00%, 1/20/43, Pool #MA0698      19,240  
  267,281      3.50%, 2/20/43, Pool #MA0783      254,900  
  35,750      3.50%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8884      33,216  
  53,856      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AD8812      49,691  
  124,941      3.00%, 3/20/43, Pool #AA6146      117,974  
  13,302      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AB9891      12,360  
  36,467      3.50%, 4/20/43, Pool #AD9075      33,877  
  3,097      4.00%, 7/20/44, Pool #MA2074      3,012  
  45,328      4.00%, 5/20/45, Pool #MA2893      44,090  
  64,830      4.00%, 8/20/45, Pool #MA3035      63,062  
  2,455      4.00%, 9/20/45, Pool #MA3106      2,388  
  2,605      4.00%, 10/20/45, Pool #MA3174      2,534  
  3,024      4.00%, 12/20/45, Pool #MA3311      2,941  
  2,937      4.00%, 1/20/46, Pool #MA3377      2,857  
  133,222      4.00%, 4/15/46, Pool #784232      132,272  
  177,321      4.00%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3664      172,484  
  20,419      3.50%, 7/20/46, Pool #784391      19,127  
  11,298      3.00%, 10/20/46, Pool #MA4003      10,288  
  588,986      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      536,319  
  58,106      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5857      55,952  
  50,871      4.00%, 1/15/47, Pool #AX5831      48,928  
  185,661      3.00%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4195      169,058  
  111,732      3.00%, 2/20/47, Pool #MA4261      101,560  
  21,614      4.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4322      20,859  
  186,540      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784303      176,325  
  21,557      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #MA4383      20,803  
  189,012      4.00%, 4/20/47, Pool #784304      178,702  
  13,986      4.00%, 5/20/47, Pool #MA4452      13,497  
  59,797      4.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4511      57,706  
  66,439      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG3507      63,367  
  56,792      4.00%, 4/20/48, Pool #BG7744      54,151  
  800,000      3.00%, 2/20/50, TBA      713,625  
  100,000      3.00%, 1/20/51, TBA      89,141  
  192,731      2.00%, 2/20/51, Pool #MA7192      161,641  
  2,850,000      2.00%, 2/20/51, TBA      2,391,328  
  800,000      3.50%, 2/20/51, TBA      736,031  
  1,700,000      2.50%, 2/20/51, TBA      1,476,211  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Government National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 350,000      2.00%, 3/20/52    $ 293,836  
  1,250,000      2.00%, 1/20/53, TBA      1,048,242  
  700,000      4.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      679,984  
  750,000      3.50%, 1/20/53, TBA      689,531  
  1,925,000      2.50%, 7/20/53, TBA      1,669,937  
     

 

 

 
        14,326,635  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (4.5%):  
  20,620      2.50%, 6/1/31, Pool #G18604      19,332  
  36,387      2.50%, 7/1/31, Pool #V61246      33,853  
  61,448      2.50%, 8/1/31, Pool #V61273      58,203  
  219,951      3.50%, 3/1/32, Pool #C91403      211,100  
  660,839      3.50%, 7/1/32, Pool #C91467      634,243  
  5,751      2.50%, 8/1/32, Pool #G18654      5,327  
  6,175      2.50%, 11/1/32, Pool #G18665      5,718  
  187,992      2.50%, 12/1/32, Pool #G18669      173,393  
  28,281      2.50%, 3/1/33, Pool #G18680      26,457  
  11,472      2.50%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18683      10,732  
  67,833      3.00%, 4/1/33, Pool #G18684      64,029  
  5,914      2.50%, 5/1/33, Pool #G18687      5,533  
  126,676      2.50%, 7/1/33, Pool #G16661      117,293  
  26,731      3.00%, 4/1/34, Pool #G16829      25,689  
  241,778      3.50%, 10/1/34, Pool #C91793      233,470  
  473,886      4.00%, 5/1/37, Pool #C91938      459,305  
  19,147      3.50%, 4/1/40, Pool #V81744      17,884  
  39,126      3.50%, 5/1/40, Pool #V81750      36,522  
  43,933      3.50%, 6/1/40, Pool #V81792      41,020  
  23,761      3.50%, 8/1/40, Pool #V81886      22,180  
  16,173      3.50%, 9/1/40, Pool #V81958      15,098  
  27,862      4.50%, 1/1/41, Pool #A96051      27,233  
  25,844      4.50%, 3/1/41, Pool #A97673      25,645  
  40,948      4.50%, 4/1/41, Pool #A97942      40,632  
  20,742      2.00%, 4/1/41, Pool #RB5108      17,673  
  151,423      5.00%, 6/1/41, Pool #G06596      154,776  
  21,568      2.00%, 7/1/41, Pool #RB5118      18,376  
  22,594      2.00%, 10/1/41, Pool #RB5131      18,999  
  536,548      4.50%, 1/1/42, Pool #G60517      532,187  
  74,633      3.00%, 12/1/42, Pool #C04320      68,609  
  25,940      4.00%, 5/1/43, Pool #Q18481      24,434  
  25,813      4.00%, 7/1/43, Pool #Q19597      24,314  
  23,307      4.00%, 10/1/43, Pool #Q22499      21,959  
  28,010      4.00%, 1/1/44, Pool #V80950      26,416  
  88,803      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G60271      81,092  
  177,186      3.50%, 1/1/44, Pool #G07922      165,060  
  106,890      4.00%, 1/1/45, Pool #Q30720      102,990  
  88,937      4.00%, 2/1/45, Pool #G07949      86,649  
  26,779      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q31974      25,192  
  44,285      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q32008      41,666  
  24,140      3.50%, 3/1/45, Pool #Q32328      22,722  
  104,188      3.50%, 5/1/45, Pool #Q33547      95,592  
  16,124      3.00%, 5/1/45, Pool #Q33468      14,652  
  142,566      3.50%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q34164      130,771  
  22,188      3.50%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q33791      20,359  
  116,908      3.00%, 6/1/45, Pool #Q34156      106,224  
  33,528      3.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #Q34759      30,313  
  10,040      3.00%, 7/1/45, Pool #Q34979      9,089  
  46,650      4.00%, 8/1/45, Pool #Q35845      44,290  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

25


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 9,150      4.00%, 9/1/45, Pool #Q37853    $ 8,766  
  4,190      4.00%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q38812      3,989  
  163,945      3.50%, 11/1/45, Pool #Q37467      154,279  
  1,755      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38879      1,686  
  10,275      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38782      9,867  
  11,554      4.00%, 2/1/46, Pool #Q38783      11,094  
  6,013      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #Q39975      5,775  
  25,561      4.00%, 4/1/46, Pool #V82292      24,593  
  63,129      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #G60603      59,079  
  187,655      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #G60553      175,466  
  53,368      3.50%, 5/1/46, Pool #Q40647      48,996  
  166,603      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #Q43257      155,912  
  8,094      4.00%, 9/1/47, Pool #Q50433      7,792  
  14,628      4.00%, 10/1/47, Pool #Q51189      14,081  
  11,026      4.00%, 2/1/48, Pool #Q54192      10,621  
  124,477      4.00%, 5/1/48, Pool #Q55992      119,923  
  376,161      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      362,517  
  45,782      4.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #Q59935      44,232  
  355,059      2.50%, 10/1/50, Pool #SD7525      305,215  
  510,190      2.50%, 11/1/50, Pool #SD7530      437,440  
  40,382      2.50%, 2/1/51, Pool #SD7535      34,722  
  132,112      2.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #SD7541      109,420  
  597,424      3.00%, 5/1/51, Pool #QC1881      535,925  
  13,672      2.00%, 7/1/51, Pool #QC4163      11,322  
  141,088      3.00%, 9/1/51, Pool #QC7496      124,805  
  323,575      2.00%, 10/1/51, Pool #RA6076      265,690  
  139,082      3.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #QD1240      123,034  
  466,578      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6241      382,998  
  186,547      2.00%, 11/1/51, Pool #RA6302      152,675  
  1,912,671      3.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #SD8184      1,692,349  
  372,978      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6434      320,055  
  94,235      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6496      80,456  
  188,206      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6510      154,915  
  1,112,805      2.50%, 12/1/51, Pool #RA6435      955,084  
  331,128      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #RA6622      283,288  
  285,227      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #RA6823      232,938  
  570,608      2.00%, 2/1/52, Pool #RA6820      465,717  
  241,416      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6950      220,576  
  173,094      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #SD8202      157,565  
  618,958      3.00%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6988      544,777  
  229,409      3.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #RA6949      210,061  
  1,055,044      2.50%, 4/1/52, Pool #QD9578      896,859  
  200,000      4.00%, 7/1/52, Pool #QE5611      188,444  
  399,999      3.00%, 7/1/52, Pool #QE5364      351,842  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, continued  
$ 99,251      5.00%, 11/1/52, Pool # SD1862    $ 100,632  
  299,261      5.00%, 12/1/52, Pool # SD1924      299,058  
     

 

 

 
        15,050,825  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $73,053,036)

     68,062,423  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (21.4%):       
U.S. Treasury Bills (0.7%):  
  2,501,800      3.38%, 8/15/42      2,250,838  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Bonds (9.9%):  
  2,566,000      1.13%, 5/15/40      1,618,184  
  7,103,000      1.75%, 8/15/41      4,897,741  
  1,600,000      2.00%, 11/15/41      1,151,250  
  11,313,000      3.00%, 2/15/47      9,324,387  
  18,386,000      2.00%, 8/15/51      12,146,251  
  3,222,000      1.88%, 11/15/51      2,060,066  
  2,100,000      2.25%, 2/15/52      1,474,922  
  600,000      2.88%, 5/15/52      485,156  
     

 

 

 
        33,157,957  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (10.8%):  
  4,700,000      0.38%, 1/31/26      4,184,469  
  9,253,000      0.75%, 3/31/26      8,301,676  
  3,457,000      1.25%, 12/31/26      3,098,876  
  4,965,000      1.25%, 5/31/28      4,305,586  
  6,946,000      1.13%, 8/31/28      5,945,342  
  1,460,000      1.25%, 9/30/28      1,256,284  
  10,012,000      2.88%, 5/15/32      9,257,971  
     

 

 

 
        36,350,204  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $94,198,659)

     71,758,999  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.7%):  
  2,283,733      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(d)(e)      2,283,733  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $2,283,733)

     2,283,733  
     

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (4.5%):  
Money Markets (4.5%):  
  15,095,928      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(e)      15,095,928  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $15,095,928)

     15,095,928  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $411,369,626) — 107.8%(f)

     362,100,784  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (7.8)%

     (26,316,943
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 335,783,841  
     

 

 

 
 

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

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

26


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $2,190,133.

 

+

This security, in part or entirely, represents an unfunded loan commitment.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(b)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

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, 2022.

 

(e)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(f)

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

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

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022:

 

Country   Percentage  

Argentina

    0.1

Australia

    0.2

Brazil

     % 

Canada

    0.6

Cayman Islands

    3.7

Chile

    0.1

Colombia

     % 

Dominican Republic

    0.4

France

    0.4

Germany

    0.4

Guernsey

    0.5

Hong Kong

    0.2

Indonesia

    0.1

Ireland

    0.6

Italy

    0.4

Jersey

    0.1
Country   Percentage  

Luxembourg

    0.6

Macau

     % 

Mexico

    1.1

Netherlands

    0.5

Qatar

    0.1

Saudi Arabia

    0.1

Spain

   

Supranational

    0.1

Switzerland

    0.4

United Arab Emirates

    0.1

United Kingdom

    0.9

United States

    88.3

Zambia

     % 
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Securities Sold Short (0.0%):

At December 31, 2022, 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

             

Federal National Mortgage Association

 

Federal National Mortgage Association, TBA

     3.50     1/25/53      $ (150,000    $ (138,035    $ (136,523
          

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $ (138,035    $ (136,523
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

27


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 411,369,626
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 362,100,784

Cash

      339

Interest and dividends receivable

      3,390,555

Receivable for capital shares issued

      38,101

Receivable for investments sold

      856,495

Receivable for TBA investments sold

      25,998,582

Prepaid expenses

      1,366
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      392,386,222
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      244,835

Payable for TBA investments purchased

      53,677,509

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      1,996

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      2,283,733

Securities sold short (Proceeds received $138,035)

      136,523

Management fees payable

      145,007

Administration fees payable

      23,513

Distribution fees payable

      68,927

Custodian fees payable

      1,732

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      938

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,639

Trustee fees payable

      2,342

Other accrued liabilities

      13,687
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      56,602,381
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 335,783,841
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 385,147,792

Total distributable earnings

      (49,363,951 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 335,783,841
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 16,552,849

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

      1,972,947

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 8.39
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 319,230,992

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

      36,730,154

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 8.69
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $2,190,133.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 12,716,102

Dividends

      200,073

Income from securities lending

      20,560
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      12,936,735
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,877,415

Administration fees

      135,276

Distribution fees — Class 2

      893,284

Custodian fees

      10,248

Administrative and compliance services fees

      5,295

Transfer agent fees

      12,053

Trustee fees

      21,193

Professional fees

      16,350

Shareholder reports

      17,964

Other expenses

      10,402
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      2,999,480
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      9,937,255
   

 

 

 

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

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      (10,019,415 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities sold short

      (1,570 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      (57,360,055 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities sold short

      1,512
   

 

 

 

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

      (67,379,528 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (57,442,273 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

28


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 9,937,255      $ 9,068,641

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       (10,020,985 )        9,167,385

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (57,358,543 )        (16,702,827 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (57,442,273 )        1,533,199
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Class 1

       (974,029 )        (1,066,245 )

Class 2

       (17,125,298 )        (19,280,232 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (18,099,327 )        (20,346,477 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       253,242        1,261,069

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       974,029        1,066,245

Value of shares redeemed

       (2,198,278 )        (2,670,478 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (971,007 )        (343,164 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       5,486,206        23,765,497

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       17,125,298        19,280,232

Value of shares redeemed

       (56,817,482 )        (36,684,713 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (34,205,978 )        6,361,016
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       (35,176,985 )        6,017,852
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (110,718,585 )        (12,795,426 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       446,502,426        459,297,852
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 335,783,841      $ 446,502,426
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Shares issued

       27,965        118,697

Dividends reinvested

       118,064        104,227

Shares redeemed

       (238,277 )        (254,331 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (92,248 )        (31,407 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Shares issued

       589,079        2,167,150

Dividends reinvested

       2,002,959        1,822,328

Shares redeemed

       (5,969,228 )        (3,362,418 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (3,377,190 )        627,060
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       (3,469,438 )        595,653
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

29


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,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.27     $ 10.73     $ 10.20     $ 9.54     $ 9.96
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.27 (a)       0.23 (a)       0.29 (a)       0.32 (a)       0.32

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.64 )       (0.17 )       0.63       0.69       (0.42 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.37 )       0.06       0.92       1.01       (0.10 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.27 )       (0.31 )       (0.39 )       (0.35 )       (0.32 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.24 )       (0.21 )                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.51 )       (0.52 )       (0.39 )       (0.35 )       (0.32 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.39     $ 10.27     $ 10.73     $ 10.20     $ 9.54
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.20 )%       0.59 %       9.12 %       10.57 %       (1.00 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 16,553     $ 21,203     $ 22,495     $ 22,823     $ 21,476

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.89 %       2.21 %       2.78 %       3.17 %       2.96 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.56 %       0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.56 %       0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      24 %       76 %       71 %       68 %       38 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.60     $ 11.06     $ 10.50     $ 9.81     $ 10.23
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.25 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.27 (a)       0.30 (a)       0.31

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.68 )       (0.18 )       0.65       0.71       (0.44 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.43 )       0.03       0.92       1.01       (0.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.24 )       (0.28 )       (0.36 )       (0.32 )       (0.29 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.24 )       (0.21 )                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.48 )       (0.49 )       (0.36 )       (0.32 )       (0.29 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.69     $ 10.60     $ 11.06     $ 10.50     $ 9.81
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.37 )%       0.31 %       8.84 %       10.28 %       (1.25 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 319,231     $ 425,299     $ 436,803     $ 470,864     $ 478,991

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.64 %       1.96 %       2.53 %       2.92 %       2.71 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.81 %       0.82 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.81 %       0.82 %       0.83 %       0.82 %       0.81 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      24 %       76 %       71 %       68 %       38 %

 

(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.

 

30


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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 period, 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.

 

31


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 Fund reflects both the funded portion of a bank loan, as well as its unfunded commitment in the Schedule of Portfolio Investments. 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, 2022 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 $2,045 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $2,283,733 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

 

32


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets over of the Funds $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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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

 

33


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 402,550        $        $ 350,845        $ 753,395

Preferred Stock+

         86,544                            86,544

Warrant+

         1,197                            1,197

Asset Backed Securities

                  7,195,586                   7,195,586

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

                  36,302,054                   36,302,054

Convertible Bonds+

                  512,444          807,759          1,320,203

Bank Loans

                  663,269                   663,269

Corporate Bonds+

                  124,450,661          #          124,450,661

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  31,610,991                   31,610,991

Municipal Bonds

                  2,515,801                   2,515,801

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

                  68,062,423                   68,062,423

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  71,758,999                   71,758,999

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         2,283,733                            2,283,733

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         15,095,928                            15,095,928
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         17,869,952          343,072,228          1,158,604          362,100,784
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Securities Sold Short

                  (136,523 )                   (136,523 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 17,869,952        $ 342,935,705        $ 1,158,604        $ 361,964,261
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 85,589,900        $ 126,210,546

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 42,551,133        $ 84,056,202

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.

 

34


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022 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        46,865      $ 298,652        0.09 %

Mesquite Energy, Inc., 15.00%, 7/15/23

       11/5/20        67,000        79,890        509,107        0.15 %

Sanchez Energy Corp., 7.25%, 2/15/23, Callable 1/7/23 @ 100

       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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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.

 

35


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $411,273,278. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 1,746,827  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (51,055,844
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (49,309,017
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

       

Short-Term

Amount

    

Long-Term

Amount

    

Total

Amount

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 5,836,668        $ 4,156,354        $ 9,993,022

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

       $ 9,225,806        $ 8,873,521        $ 18,099,327

 

(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, 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.

 

36


AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 9,938,088        $        $ (9,993,022 )        $ (49,309,017 )        $ (49,363,951 )

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales 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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

37


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

38


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 0.05% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $156,968.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $8,873,521.

 

39


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.

 

40


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

41


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

42


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

43


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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

  50   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.

 

44


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.

 

45


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Gateway Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

The Fund’s total return for the year was (12.34)%. That compares to a (18.11)% total return for the S&P 500 Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark. 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 12.99% compared to 24.18% 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 as compared to the broad equity markets. To accomplish this goal, the Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks. In addition, the Fund sells index call options to lower volatility and generate cash flow; the Fund then uses a portion of this cash flow to purchase index put options, which helps mitigate any sharp, sudden price declines in the equity portfolio.

Investor worries over high inflation, the war in Ukraine, and rising interest rates pressured equity markets in 2022. As a result, the S&P 500 Index posted its fourth worst annual return of the last 85 years. The year also ranks as one of the most volatile on record. Realized volatility, as measured by the standard deviation2 of daily returns for the S&P 500 Index, was the eighth highest in the last 85 years. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates seven times during 2022, leaving the federal funds rate target at between 4.25% and 4.5% by the end of the year.

The Fund outperformed its primary benchmark for 2022 and achieved its risk objective by exhibiting significantly less risk than the equity market as measured by standard deviation of daily returns. The Fund’s downside risk-reducing options strategy generated gains that contributed to returns as markets experienced losses during the majority of the year.

Higher-than-normal implied volatility helped support the Fund’s relative returns as Fund managers took advantage of higher volatility priced into longer-dated call option contracts in deteriorating market conditions. Throughout 2022, the Fund’s two-part options 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. Consistent with its investment objective, the measured risk of the Fund was lower than the U.S. equity market. In mitigating downside risk, the derivatives had an overall positive impact on the Fund’s return relative to its 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® Gateway Fund

         (12.34 )%          1.48 %          2.01 %          3.75 %

S&P 500® Index

         (18.11 )%          7.66 %          9.42 %          12.56 %

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® Gateway Fund

         1.12 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Gateway Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,002.80     $ 5.60       1.11 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Gateway Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.61     $ 5.65       1.11 %

 

*

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

      25.6 %

Health Care

      15.5

Financials

      11.1

Consumer Discretionary

      9.6

Industrials

      9.0

Consumer Staples

      7.0

Communication Services

      6.7

Energy

      5.2

Utilities

      3.2

Materials

      2.5

Real Estate

      2.3
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      97.7

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      2.7

Purchased Put Options

      1.0
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      101.4

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (1.4 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (97.7%):       
Aerospace & Defense+ (1.7%):       
  2,605      Boeing Co. (The)*    $ 496,226  
  704      HEICO Corp.      108,163  
  1,640      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      341,464  
  9,028      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      911,106  
     

 

 

 
        1,856,959  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics+ (0.7%):       
  555      FedEx Corp.      96,126  
  568      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      24,248  
  3,591      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      624,260  
  629      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      20,939  
     

 

 

 
        765,573  
     

 

 

 
Airlines+ (0.3%):       
  2,713      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      116,496  
  11,608      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      75,220  
  2,475      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      93,308  
     

 

 

 
        285,024  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components+ (0.1%):       
  659      Autoliv, Inc.      50,466  
  1,865      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      18,930  
     

 

 

 
        69,396  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles+ (1.3%):       
  19,487      Ford Motor Co.      226,634  
  6,475      General Motors Co.      217,819  
  8,451      Tesla, Inc.*      1,040,994  
     

 

 

 
        1,485,447  
     

 

 

 
Banks+ (3.5%):       
  4,184      Associated Banc-Corp.      96,609  
  34,939      Bank of America Corp.      1,157,180  
  12,799      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      1,716,346  
  410      Signature Bank      47,240  
  21,166      Wells Fargo & Co.      873,944  
     

 

 

 
        3,891,319  
     

 

 

 
Beverages+ (1.8%):       
  11,429      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      407,558  
  3,501      Monster Beverage Corp.*      355,457  
  6,985      PepsiCo, Inc.      1,261,910  
     

 

 

 
        2,024,925  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology+ (2.3%):       
  6,582      AbbVie, Inc.      1,063,717  
  129      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      30,657  
  2,225      Amgen, Inc.      584,374  
  692      Biogen, Inc.*      191,629  
  426      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      44,087  
  294      Exact Sciences Corp.*      14,556  
  844      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      31,878  
  1,259      Moderna, Inc.*      226,141  
  451      Seagen, Inc.*      57,958  
  1,213      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      350,290  
     

 

 

 
        2,595,287  
     

 

 

 
Building Products+ (0.3%):       
  235      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      55,378  
  5,718      Carrier Global Corp.      235,867  
  357      Lennox International, Inc.      85,405  
     

 

 

 
        376,650  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets+ (2.6%):       
  682      Blackstone, Inc., Class A    $ 50,597  
  6,947      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      578,407  
  481      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      192,982  
  4,074      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      417,952  
  1,390      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      64,524  
  293      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      63,338  
  7,751      Morgan Stanley      658,990  
  688      MSCI, Inc.      320,037  
  1,570      S&P Global, Inc.      525,856  
     

 

 

 
        2,872,683  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals+ (1.6%):       
  1,367      Ashland, Inc.      146,994  
  1,171      Celanese Corp.      119,723  
  5,563      Corteva, Inc.      326,993  
  4,853      Dow, Inc.      244,543  
  2,128      Eastman Chemical Co.      173,304  
  898      Ingevity Corp.*      63,255  
  2,694      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      223,683  
  2,112      Mosaic Co. (The)      92,653  
  609      Nutrien, Ltd.      44,475  
  1,087      Olin Corp.      57,546  
  1,577      RPM International, Inc.      153,679  
  3,199      Valvoline, Inc.      104,447  
     

 

 

 
        1,751,295  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies+ (0.8%):       
  3,976      Copart, Inc.*      242,098  
  1,178      Waste Connections, Inc.      156,156  
  3,368      Waste Management, Inc.      528,372  
     

 

 

 
        926,626  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment+ (0.9%):       
  465      Ciena Corp.*      23,705  
  20,334      Cisco Systems, Inc.      968,712  
     

 

 

 
        992,417  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials+ (0.2%):       
  782      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      264,293  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance+ (0.5%):       
  2,123      Ally Financial, Inc.      51,907  
  3,031      Discover Financial Services      296,523  
  7,415      Synchrony Financial      243,657  
     

 

 

 
        592,087  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging+ (0.4%):       
  876      Avery Dennison Corp.      158,556  
  1,000      Crown Holdings, Inc.      82,210  
  2,073      Sonoco Products Co.      125,852  
  2,157      Westrock Co.      75,840  
     

 

 

 
        442,458  
     

 

 

 
Distributors+ (0.3%):       
  1,753      Genuine Parts Co.      304,163  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services+ (0.1%):       
  1,149      Service Corp. International      79,442  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services+ (2.1%):       
  7,098      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      2,192,572  
  2,150      Voya Financial, Inc.      132,204  
     

 

 

 
        2,324,776  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services+ (0.9%):       
  5,251      Liberty Global plc, Class C*    $ 102,027  
  11,761      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      61,392  
  19,937      Verizon Communications, Inc.      785,518  
     

 

 

 
        948,937  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities+ (1.5%):       
  5,329      Alliant Energy Corp.      294,214  
  6,782      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      643,951  
  1,537      Constellation Energy Corp.      132,505  
  2,195      Evergy, Inc.      138,131  
  5,905      FirstEnergy Corp.      247,656  
  2,651      OGE Energy Corp.      104,847  
  8,112      PG&E Corp.*      131,901  
     

 

 

 
        1,693,205  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment+ (0.6%):       
  2,943      Eaton Corp. plc      461,904  
  237      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      23,856  
  850      Hubbell, Inc.      199,478  
     

 

 

 
        685,238  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components+ (0.7%):       
  1,598      CDW Corp.      285,371  
  6,358      Corning, Inc.      203,075  
  440      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      175,960  
  547      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      140,256  
     

 

 

 
        804,662  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services+ (0.5%):       
  11,765      Halliburton Co.      462,953  
  1,692      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      83,872  
     

 

 

 
        546,825  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment+ (1.2%):       
  1,339      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      93,382  
  1,836      Netflix, Inc.*      541,400  
  111      Roku, Inc.*      4,518  
  7,773      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      675,318  
     

 

 

 
        1,314,618  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts+ (2.3%):       
  2,277      American Tower Corp.      482,405  
  3,862      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      116,401  
  1,436      Camden Property Trust      160,660  
  2,565      CubeSmart      103,241  
  2,981      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      46,742  
  2,308      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      149,097  
  4,178      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      80,510  
  6,940      Invitation Homes, Inc.      205,701  
  1,058      Kilroy Realty Corp.      40,913  
  7,335      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      81,712  
  3,442      National Retail Properties, Inc.      157,506  
  2,875      Prologis, Inc.      324,099  
  7,189      Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.      89,359  
  1,102      Sun Communities, Inc.      157,586  
  4,534      UDR, Inc.      175,602  
  1,711      WP Carey, Inc.      133,715  
     

 

 

 
        2,505,249  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing+ (1.8%):       
  418      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.    $ 93,778  
  1,779      Costco Wholesale Corp.      812,113  
  4,575      Kroger Co. (The)      203,954  
  1,996      US Foods Holding Corp.*      67,904  
  5,571      Walmart, Inc.      789,912  
     

 

 

 
        1,967,661  
     

 

 

 
Food Products+ (1.2%):       
  1,028      Bunge, Ltd.      102,564  
  4,697      Hormel Foods Corp.      213,948  
  1,292      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      115,453  
  11,503      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      766,675  
  905      Post Holdings, Inc.*      81,685  
     

 

 

 
        1,280,325  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities+ (0.0%):       
  1,211      UGI Corp.      44,892  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies+ (3.2%):       
  7,535      Abbott Laboratories      827,268  
  3,051      Baxter International, Inc.      155,510  
  9,195      Boston Scientific Corp.*      425,453  
  2,451      Danaher Corp.      650,544  
  3,594      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      268,148  
  55      Insulet Corp.*      16,191  
  1,792      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      475,507  
  5,987      Medtronic plc      465,310  
  904      STERIS plc      166,960  
  405      Teleflex, Inc.      101,100  
     

 

 

 
        3,551,991  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services+ (3.5%):       
  6,570      CVS Health Corp.      612,258  
  1,381      Elevance Health, Inc.      708,412  
  1,456      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      349,382  
  268      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      88,499  
  3,723      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      1,973,860  
  1,059      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      149,202  
     

 

 

 
        3,881,613  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology+ (0.1%):       
  568      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      91,664  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure+ (1.8%):       
  211      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      425,224  
  2,798      Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.*      107,835  
  3,120      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      394,243  
  3,323      McDonald’s Corp.      875,710  
  2,975      Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd., ADR*      34,213  
  251      Vail Resorts, Inc.      59,826  
  4,006      Wendy’s Co. (The)      90,656  
     

 

 

 
        1,987,707  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables+ (0.3%):       
  41      NVR, Inc.*      189,116  
  2,068      Toll Brothers, Inc.      103,234  
     

 

 

 
        292,350  
     

 

 

 
Household Products+ (1.6%):       
  1,225      Clorox Co. (The)      171,904  
  10,789      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      1,635,181  
     

 

 

 
        1,807,085  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates+ (1.3%):       
  3,306      3M Co.    $ 396,455  
  3,497      General Electric Co.      293,014  
  3,546      Honeywell International, Inc.      759,908  
     

 

 

 
        1,449,377  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.3%):       
  9,635      Aflac, Inc.+      693,142  
  1,031      American Financial Group, Inc.+      141,536  
  1,688      Aon plc, Class A+      506,636  
  3,886      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*+      243,963  
  3,063      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.+      577,498  
  84      F&G Annuities & Life, Inc.*      1,681  
  1,245      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.+      46,837  
  2,562      Lincoln National Corp.+      78,705  
  50      Markel Corp.*+      65,874  
  441      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.+      81,245  
  3,962      Unum Group+      162,561  
     

 

 

 
        2,599,678  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services+ (4.0%):       
  9,322      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      822,480  
  29,397      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      2,608,396  
  810      Match Group, Inc.*      33,607  
  7,997      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      962,359  
  670      ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*      20,173  
     

 

 

 
        4,447,015  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail+ (2.4%):       
  29,736      Amazon.com, Inc.*      2,497,824  
  746      Etsy, Inc.*      89,356  
  58      MercadoLibre, Inc.*      49,082  
     

 

 

 
        2,636,262  
     

 

 

 
IT Services+ (4.7%):       
  2,482      Accenture plc, Class A      662,297  
  2,332      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      557,021  
  525      Black Knight, Inc.*      32,419  
  772      Block, Inc.*      48,512  
  1,984      DXC Technology Co.*      52,576  
  267      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      87,507  
  3,223      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      218,680  
  634      Gartner, Inc.*      213,113  
  3,221      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      1,120,038  
  2,660      Paychex, Inc.      307,390  
  4,953      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      352,753  
  1,201      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      41,687  
  156      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      7,638  
  1,176      VeriSign, Inc.*      241,597  
  6,174      Visa, Inc., Class A      1,282,710  
     

 

 

 
        5,225,938  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products+ (0.0%):       
  331      Polaris, Inc.      33,431  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services+ (1.1%):       
  2,514      Avantor, Inc.*      53,020  
  499      ICON plc*      96,931  
  868      Illumina, Inc.*      175,510  
  1,658      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      913,044  
     

 

 

 
        1,238,505  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery+ (2.0%):       
  2,720      Caterpillar, Inc.    $ 651,603  
  1,462      Cummins, Inc.      354,228  
  1,299      Deere & Co.      556,959  
  1,507      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      438,537  
  1,935      Pentair PLC      87,036  
  1,101      Timken Co.      77,808  
     

 

 

 
        2,166,171  
     

 

 

 
Media+ (0.7%):       
  18,347      Comcast Corp., Class A      641,595  
  582      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      44,389  
  8,669      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.      50,627  
     

 

 

 
        736,611  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining+ (0.3%):       
  491      Alcoa Corp.      22,326  
  2,982      Newmont Corp.      140,750  
  1,912      Southern Copper Corp.      115,466  
  794      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      77,574  
     

 

 

 
        356,116  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)+ (0.0%):       
  2,365      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      49,854  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail+ (0.4%):       
  1,768      Nordstrom, Inc.      28,536  
  2,484      Target Corp.      370,215  
     

 

 

 
        398,751  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities+ (1.7%):       
  5,247      Ameren Corp.      466,563  
  5,781      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      550,987  
  5,693      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      348,810  
  5,050      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      473,488  
     

 

 

 
        1,839,848  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels+ (4.7%):       
  5,525      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      107,240  
  817      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      122,517  
  7,078      Chevron Corp.      1,270,430  
  7,217      ConocoPhillips      851,606  
  652      Enbridge, Inc.      25,493  
  2,045      EQT Corp.      69,182  
  15,763      Exxon Mobil Corp.      1,738,659  
  978      HF Sinclair Corp.      50,749  
  3,613      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      227,583  
  4,110      ONEOK, Inc.      270,027  
  2,069      Suncor Energy, Inc.      65,650  
  1,826      Targa Resources Corp.      134,211  
  1,744      Valero Energy Corp.      221,244  
     

 

 

 
        5,154,591  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products+ (0.0%):       
  2,072      Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd.*      30,831  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals+ (5.2%):       
  9,549      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      687,051  
  3,078      Eli Lilly & Co.      1,126,055  
  444      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      50,527  
  248      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      39,509  
  9,538      Johnson & Johnson      1,684,888  
  9,791      Merck & Co., Inc.      1,086,311  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Gateway Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals, continued       
  20,613      Pfizer, Inc.    $ 1,056,210  
     

 

 

 
        5,730,551  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services+ (0.3%):       
  820      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      85,706  
  1,659      CoStar Group, Inc.*      128,208  
  1,006      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      83,709  
  817      TransUnion      46,365  
     

 

 

 
        343,988  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development+ (0.0%):       
  865      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      27,862  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.9%):       
  1,878      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.+      140,080  
  13,934      CSX Corp.+      431,675  
  789      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.+      137,570  
  809      Lyft, Inc., Class A*+      8,915  
  701      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.+      198,930  
  629      RXO, Inc.*      10,819  
  1,740      Uber Technologies, Inc.*+      43,030  
     

 

 

 
        971,019  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment+ (4.9%):       
  6,462      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      418,544  
  2,821      Analog Devices, Inc.      462,729  
  2,601      Applied Materials, Inc.      253,285  
  1,642      Broadcom, Inc.      918,091  
  258      First Solar, Inc.*      38,646  
  15,805      Intel Corp.      417,726  
  2,546      Marvell Technology, Inc.      94,304  
  5,019      Micron Technology, Inc.      250,850  
  8,617      NVIDIA Corp.      1,259,288  
  4,387      Qualcomm, Inc.      482,307  
  1,753      Teradyne, Inc.      153,124  
  4,241      Texas Instruments, Inc.      700,698  
     

 

 

 
        5,449,592  
     

 

 

 
Software+ (8.2%):       
  1,990      Adobe, Inc.*      669,695  
  230      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      47,242  
  2,250      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      361,440  
  1,350      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      86,602  
  25,832      Microsoft Corp.      6,195,030  
  6,835      Oracle Corp.      558,693  
  666      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      92,934  
  3,508      Salesforce, Inc.*      465,126  
  876      ServiceNow, Inc.*      340,125  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  366      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.    $ 19,054  
  794      VMware, Inc., Class A*      97,471  
  458      Workday, Inc., Class A*      76,637  
  450      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      30,483  
     

 

 

 
        9,040,532  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail+ (2.4%):       
  2,912      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      40,651  
  301      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      61,031  
  326      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      39,215  
  1,818      Foot Locker, Inc.      68,702  
  4,200      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      1,326,612  
  3,445      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      686,382  
  447      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      377,281  
  287      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      32,982  
     

 

 

 
        2,632,856  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals+ (6.2%):       
  52,380      Apple, Inc.      6,805,733  
  1,086      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      43,679  
     

 

 

 
        6,849,412  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods+ (0.6%):       
  257      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      82,338  
  5,342      NIKE, Inc., Class B      625,067  
     

 

 

 
        707,405  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco+ (0.6%):       
  13,489      Altria Group, Inc.      616,582  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors+ (0.1%):       
  679      GATX Corp.      72,205  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $53,298,053)

     108,109,825  
  

 

 

 
Contracts            Value  
Purchased Options (1.0%)^:       
 

Total Purchased Options (Cost $1,632,278)

     1,069,165  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Unaffiliated Investment Company (2.7%):       
Money Markets (2.7%):       
  2,983,491      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(a)      2,983,491  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $2,983,491)

     2,983,491  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $57,913,822) — 101.4%(b)

     112,162,481  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (1.4)%

     (1,517,249
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 110,645,232  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

ADR—American Depository Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

^

See Options table below for more details.

 

+

All or a portion of this security has been pledged as collateral for outstanding call options written.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022

 

Options Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s exchange traded options purchased were as follows:     

 

Description    Put/Call    Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Fair
Value
 

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3425.00 USD        2/20/23        40      $ 137,000      $ 63,800  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3500.00 USD        2/20/23        40        140,000        95,200  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3400.00 USD        3/17/23        40        136,000        124,000  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3425.00 USD        3/17/23        38        130,150        130,150  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3500.00 USD        3/17/23        41        143,500        187,575  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3550.00 USD        3/17/23        40        142,000        220,800  

S&P 500 Index

   Put      3575.00 USD        3/17/23        41        146,575        247,640  
                 

 

 

 

Total (Cost $1,632,278)

               $ 1,069,165  
              

 

 

 

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s exchange traded options written were as follows:     

 

Description    Put/Call    Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Fair Value  

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3850.00 USD        1/20/23        31      $ 119,350      $ (233,430

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4075.00 USD        1/20/23        32        130,400        (21,120

S&P 500 Index

   Call      4100.00 USD        1/20/23        31        127,100        (14,415

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3925.00 USD        1/31/23        31        121,675        (173,445

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3825.00 USD        2/20/23        31        118,575        (433,380

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3900.00 USD        2/20/23        31        120,900        (306,435

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3950.00 USD        2/20/23        31        122,450        (234,825

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3975.00 USD        2/20/23        31        123,225        (203,050

S&P 500 Index

   Call      3900.00 USD        3/17/23        31        120,900        (419,430
                 

 

 

 

Total (Premiums $3,267,549)

               $ (2,039,530
              

 

 

 

 

(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

   $ (2,039,530

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Gateway Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 57,913,822
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value

      112,162,481

Interest and dividends receivable

      81,550

Receivable for investments sold

      561,255

Reclaims receivable

      1,747

Prepaid expenses

      1,039
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      112,808,072
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      20,545

Written Options (Premiums received $3,267,549)

      2,039,530

Management fees payable

      76,127

Administration fees payable

      2,848

Distribution fees payable

      23,790
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,162,840
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 110,645,232
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 58,145,169

Total distributable earnings

      52,500,063
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 110,645,232
   

 

 

 

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

      7,851,175

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 14.09
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends

     $ 1,906,367

Interest

       333

Foreign withholding tax

       (1,699 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       1,905,001
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       977,673

Administration fees

       33,683

Distribution fees

       305,522

Custodian fees

       5,117

Administrative and compliance services fees

       1,757

Transfer agent fees

       6,147

Trustee fees

       7,021

Professional fees

       5,462

Shareholder reports

       3,892

Other expenses

       3,820
    

 

 

 

Total expenses

       1,350,094
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       554,907
    

 

 

 

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

    

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

       9,374,155

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

       7,539,629

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

       (35,750,491 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

       1,396,504
    

 

 

 

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

       (17,440,203 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (16,885,296 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Gateway Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 554,907      $ 401,273

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       16,913,784        (180,532 )

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (34,353,987 )        15,292,644
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (16,885,296 )        15,513,385
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Distributions

       (392,433 )        (927,444 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (392,433 )        (927,444 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       4,738,589        7,578,785

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       392,433        927,444

Value of shares redeemed

       (19,618,083 )        (25,065,408 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       (14,487,061 )        (16,559,179 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (31,764,790 )        (1,973,238 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       142,410,022        144,383,260
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 110,645,232      $ 142,410,022
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Shares issued

       314,037        501,529

Dividends reinvested

       28,152        59,490

Shares redeemed

       (1,318,473 )        (1,614,036 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       (976,284 )        (1,053,017 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 16.13     $ 14.61     $ 13.76     $ 12.54     $ 13.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.07 (a)       0.04 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.18

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.06 )       1.58       0.91       1.22       (0.79 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.99 )       1.62       1.00       1.35       (0.61 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.05 )       (0.10 )       (0.15 )       (0.13 )       (0.17 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.05 )       (0.10 )       (0.15 )       (0.13 )       (0.17 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 14.09     $ 16.13     $ 14.61     $ 13.76     $ 12.54
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (12.34 )%       11.13 %       7.30 %       10.82 %       (4.65 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 110,645     $ 142,410     $ 144,383     $ 150,961     $ 147,792

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.45 %       0.27 %       0.67 %       1.01 %       0.93 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.11 %       1.12 %       1.12 %       1.11 %       1.10 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      1.11 %       1.12 %       1.12 %       1.11 %       1.10 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      14 %       11 %       30 %       19 %       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.

 

11


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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

 

12


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for written options contracts was $1.2 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, 2022:

 

   

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   Purchased Options Contracts   $ 1,069,165     Written Options Contracts   $ 2,039,530  

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, 2022:

 

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

     
Purchased Options Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on securities and foreign currencies/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities and foreign currencies    $ (10,883      $18,361  
Written Options Contracts  

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts/

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

     7,539,629        1,396,504  

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, 2024.

 

13


AZL Gateway Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 %

Any amounts waived or reimbursed by the Manager 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to be repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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, 2022

 

The Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 108,109,825        $        $        $ 108,109,825

Purchased Options

         1,069,165                            1,069,165

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         2,983,491                            2,983,491
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         112,162,481                            112,162,481
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Written Options

         (2,039,530 )                            (2,039,530 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 110,122,951        $        $        $ 110,122,951
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 17,015,699        $ 23,413,323

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022

 

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2022 is $55,221,346. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 59,090,553  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (4,188,948
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 54,901,605  
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
     Total Amount

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 2,304,939        $        $ 2,304,939

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund utilized $18,387,137 in CLCFs to offset capital gains.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Gateway Fund

       $ 392,433        $        $ 392,433

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 568,316        $        $ (2,304,939 )        $ 54,236,686        $ 52,500,063

 

(a)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/depreciation was attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales, foreign currency gains or losses, 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, 2022, 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Multi-Strategy Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

20


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Government Money Market Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Government Money Market Fund (the “Fund”) returned 0.77%. That compared to a 2.01% total return for its benchmark, the Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index.1

The year under review began with a shift by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to a less accommodative interest rate policy as it sought to cool rising inflation. Consumer prices continued to rise as the year began, driven in part by ongoing supply chain issues and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.

Despite growing concerns of an economic recession and declining GDP growth in the U.S., the FOMC opted to raise short-term interest rates by 25 basis points at its March 2022 meeting. It was the first such increase since 2018.

Throughout the year, the FOMC remained focused on the consumer price appreciation present across all sectors of the U.S. economy. It announced another rate increase, this time of 50 basis points, at its May meeting. Inflation remained on the rise, however, peaking above 9% in June. The persistently high inflation ushered in a series of 75-basis-point increases throughout the summer and into the fall, with large rate hikes announced at the FOMC’s June, August, September, and November meetings. The FOMC closed out the year with a 50-basis-point increase at its December meeting.

In all, the FOMC raised interest rates by 425 basis points for the year under review, ending 2022 with the federal funds target rate set within a range of 4.25% and 4.50%.

The shift in monetary policy dominated the year for investors, as did concerns about the FOMC’s ability to avoid causing a recession as it sought to bring inflation under control. Against this policy backdrop during the first half of the year, the Fund selectively added longer-term securities that, at the time, we believed fairly compensated for expected additional rate hikes. Those select positions ultimately dragged on relative results, however, as the Fed’s unexpectedly aggressive rate hikes, which began in June, drove yields higher at a faster-than-expected pace.

In the latter half of the year, the Fund repositioned itself to target investments in overnight repurchase agreements and short-dated securities to fully capture the increase in yields that typically followed each FOMC meeting. This positioning added to relative results as the markets underpriced FOMC rate action.

The Fund did not hold derivatives during the period under review.

 

 

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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® Government Money Market Fund

         0.77 %          0.32 %          0.67 %          0.34 %

Three-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index

         2.01 %          0.80 %          1.28 %          0.78 %

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

         0.65 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.34% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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, 2022
        7 Day
Average
     7 Day
Effective
     30 Day
Average

AZL® Government Money Market Fund

         3.28 %          3.34 %          3.07 %

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, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Government Money Market Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,007.60     $ 6.58       1.30 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Government Money Market Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.65     $ 6.61       1.30 %

 

*

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

      49.2 %

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

      36.4

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      9.6
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      95.2

Net other assets (liabilities)

      4.8
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (36.4%):       
Federal Farm Credit Bank (7.7%)  
$ 4,150,000      4.33%(SOFR+3bps), 1/12/23    $ 4,149,994  
  1,070,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 1/20/23      1,070,000  
  1,290,000      4.32%(SOFR+4bps), 3/10/23      1,290,036  
  1,480,000      4.38%, 3/16/23(a)      1,466,858  
  3,240,000      4.32%(SOFR+2bps), 5/16/23      3,239,971  
  710,000      2.26%, 6/7/23      709,975  
  370,000      4.34%(SOFR+4bps), 7/12/23      369,990  
  1,420,000      4.33%(SOFR+3bps), 7/25/23      1,419,976  
  2,740,000      4.35%(SOFR+5bps), 8/22/23      2,740,000  
  1,870,000      4.35%(SOFR+5bps), 9/28/23      1,870,000  
  2,955,000      4.34%(SOFR+5bps), 10/16/23      2,955,000  
  3,435,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 11/22/23      3,435,000  
  580,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 1/10/24      580,000  
  3,825,000      4.34%(SOFR+5bps), 2/20/24      3,825,000  
  2,425,000      4.35%(SOFR+5bps), 5/9/24      2,425,000  
  1,040,000      4.40%(SOFR+10bps), 8/1/24      1,040,000  
  4,180,000      4.39%(SOFR+9bps), 8/26/24      4,180,000  
  2,885,000      4.44%(SOFR+14bps), 11/7/24      2,885,000  
     

 

 

 
        39,651,800  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Bank (28.7%)  
  10,100,000      4.31%(SOFR+1bps), 1/4/23      10,100,000  
  5,895,000      3.27%, 1/9/23      5,894,972  
  10,220,000      4.31%(SOFR+1bps), 1/17/23      10,220,000  
  16,575,000      4.31%(SOFR+1bps), 1/25/23      16,575,000  
  12,500,000      4.33%(SOFR+3bps), 2/3/23      12,500,000  
  5,000,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 2/3/23      5,000,000  
  7,430,000      4.27%, 2/10/23(a)      7,394,996  
  2,410,000      3.46%, 2/10/23      2,409,874  
  3,835,000      2.08%, 2/13/23, Callable 1/13/23 @ 100.00      3,835,000  
  8,035,000      4.34%(SOFR+4bps), 2/13/23      8,035,000  
  5,080,000      4.34%(SOFR+4bps), 2/17/23      5,080,000  
  7,820,000      4.32%(SOFR+2bps), 3/2/23      7,820,000  
  7,200,000      4.33%(SOFR+3bps), 3/2/23      7,200,000  
  3,215,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 3/10/23      3,215,000  
  9,100,000      4.32%(SOFR+2bps), 3/13/23      9,100,000  
  3,465,000      4.48%, 3/15/23(a)      3,433,874  
  5,915,000      4.31%(SOFR+1bps), 3/23/23      5,915,000  
  2,210,000      4.37%(SOFR+7bps), 3/27/23      2,210,000  
  785,000      4.37%(SOFR+7bps), 3/28/23      785,000  
  4,660,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 4/10/23      4,660,000  
  10,400,000      4.36%(SOFR+6bps), 4/18/23      10,400,000  
  800,000      4.32%(SOFR+2bps), 5/2/23      800,000  
  3,040,000      4.39%(SOFR+9bps), 5/23/23      3,040,000  
  3,210,000      3.60%, 9/1/23      3,205,376  
     

 

 

 
        148,829,092  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $188,480,892)

     188,480,892  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (9.6%):       
U.S. Treasury Bills (4.7%)  
  7,960,000      2.75%, 1/12/23(a)      7,953,494  
  2,345,000      0.64%, 1/26/23(a)      2,343,974  
  5,760,000      4.32%, 2/23/23(a)      5,733,427  
  6,825,000      3.58%, 3/16/23(a)      6,776,389  
  575,000      2.16%, 5/18/23(a)      570,405  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Bills, continued  
$ 1,080,000      4.57%, 11/30/23(a)    $ 1,036,368  
     

 

 

 
        24,414,057  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (4.9%)  
  5,000,000      4.44%(USBMMY3M+5bps), 1/31/23      5,000,027  
  4,260,000      1.31%, 2/28/23(a)      4,268,789  
  9,565,000      2.02%, 2/28/23(a)      9,536,560  
  635,000      2.12%, 4/30/23(a)      630,918  
  1,260,000      2.19%, 5/15/23(a)      1,257,972  
  4,660,000      4.43%(USBMMY3M+4bps), 10/31/23      4,660,000  
     

 

 

 
        25,354,266  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $49,768,323)

     49,768,323  
  

 

 

 
Repurchase Agreements (49.2%):       
  25,000,000      Bank of Montreal, 4.25%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $25,011,806, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.63% — 2.25%, 12/31/24 — 5/15/26, fair value of $25,500,087)      25,000,000  
  25,000,000      Bank of Nova Scotia, 4.25%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $25,011,806, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.88% — 3.38%, 5/31/23 — 11/15/48, fair value of $25,512,062)      25,000,000  
  32,000,000      BNP Paribas, 4.30%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $32,015,289, Collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 0.38% — 6.50%, 7/15/27 — 12/20/52, fair value of $32,800,799)      32,000,000  
  30,000,000      Citigroup Global Markets, 4.30%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $30,014,333, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.25% — 2.88%, 5/15/24 — 5/15/32, fair value of $30,600,042)      30,000,000  
  38,000,000      Mitsubishi UFJ Securities USA, Inc., 4.25%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $38,017,944, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Obligations, 0.00% — 0.50%, 7/15/27 — 11/15/44, fair value of $38,760,003)      38,000,000  
  38,000,000      Morgan Stanley & Co., 4.30%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $38,018,156, Collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Obligations, 0.00% — 6.00%, 2/23/23 — 12/1/52, fair value of $38,903,789)      38,000,000  
  30,000,000      Natixis, 4.25%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $30,014,167, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.50% — 2.50%, 8/15/23 — 1/31/27, fair value of $30,600,061)      30,000,000  
  22,000,000      Toronto Dominion Bank NY, 4.30%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $22,010,511, Collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Obligation, 4.50%, 9/20/52, fair value of $22,440,000)      22,000,000  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Repurchase Agreements, continued       
$ 14,000,000      Toronto Dominion Bank NY, 4.27%, 1/3/23, (Purchased on 12/30/22, proceeds at maturity $14,006,642, Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.25% — 2.88%, 1/31/23 — 4/30/29, fair value of $14,280,060)    $ 14,000,000  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $254,000,000)

     254,000,000  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $492,249,215) —
95.2%(b)

     492,249,215  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — 4.8%

     24,960,379  
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 517,209,594  
  

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

USBMMY3M—3 Month Treasury Bill Rate

 

(a)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

(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, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 238,249,215
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value

    $ 238,249,215

Repurchase agreements, at value/cost

      254,000,000

Cash

      582,422

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,172,237

Receivable for capital shares issued

      23,565,791

Prepaid expenses

      4,638
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      517,574,303
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Management fees payable

      239,907

Distribution fees payable

      101,512

Custodian fees payable

      861

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      1,440

Transfer agent fees payable

      948

Trustee fees payable

      3,598

Other accrued liabilities

      16,443
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      364,709
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 517,209,594
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 517,193,301

Total distributable earnings

      16,293
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 517,209,594
   

 

 

 

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

      517,193,423

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 1.00
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 7,953,070
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      7,953,070
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,704,916

Administration fees

      54,621

Distribution fees

      1,217,800

Custodian fees

      7,031

Administrative and compliance services fees

      7,029

Transfer agent fees

      6,566

Trustee fees

      28,372

Professional fees

      22,898

Shareholder reports

      17,431

Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the Manager

      1,189,766

Other expenses

      13,633
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      4,270,063

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (48,718 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      4,221,345
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      3,731,725
   

 

 

 

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

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      7,260
   

 

 

 

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

      7,260
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ 3,738,985
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 3,731,725     $ 267

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      7,260       8,732
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      3,738,985       8,999
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (3,731,691 )       (4,913 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (3,731,691 )       (4,913 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      777,345,401       890,444,096

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      3,731,690       4,913

Value of shares redeemed

      (803,770,501 )       (958,627,851 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (22,693,410 )       (68,178,842 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (22,686,116 )       (68,174,756 )

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      539,895,710       608,070,466
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 517,209,594     $ 539,895,710
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      777,345,400       890,444,096

Dividends reinvested

      3,731,690       4,913

Shares redeemed

      (803,770,501 )       (958,627,850 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (22,693,411 )       (68,178,841 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.01 (a)       (a)(b)       (a)       0.01 (a)       0.01

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (b)       (b)       (b)       (b)       (b)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      0.01       (b)             0.01       0.01
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.01 )       (b)       (b)       (0.01 )       (0.01 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.01 )       (b)       (b)       (0.01 )       (0.01 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(c)

      0.77 %       0.00 %       0.21 %       1.39 %       1.01 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 517,210     $ 539,896     $ 608,070     $ 481,524     $ 453,175

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.77 %       0.00 %(b)       0.18 %       1.37 %       1.00 %

Expenses Before Reductions(d)

      0.88 %       0.65 %       0.66 %       0.88 %       0.87 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.87 %       0.08 %(e)       0.35 %(e)       0.87 %       0.87 %

 

(a)

Calculated using the average shares method.

 

(b)

Represents less than $.005 or 0.005%.

 

(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, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

 

9


AZL Government Money Market Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2024.

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, 2022 are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager for minimum daily yield.”

At December 31, 2022, the reimbursements of voluntary 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

       $ 309,380        $ 2,758,972        $ 3,068,352

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 may waive 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, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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, 2022

 

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, 2022 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

       $        $ 188,480,892        $        $ 188,480,892

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  49,768,323                   49,768,323

Repurchase Agreements

                  254,000,000                   254,000,000
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       $        $ 492,249,215        $        $ 492,249,215
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

7. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

8. 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, 2022

 

Cost of securities, including derivatives and short positions as applicable, for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2022 is $492,249,215. 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, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Government Money Market Fund

       $ 3,731,691        $        $ 3,731,691

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $16,293          $—          $—          $—          $16,293  

9. 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, 2022, 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 this shareholder could have a material impact to the Fund.

10. 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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $8,999.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

16


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® International Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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® 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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® International Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned (14.52)%. That compared to a (14.45)% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index (net of withholding taxes).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.

The year under review began with concern over rising inflation, a spike in commodity prices, and the financial and economic implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Investor sentiment declined in the face of these challenges while global central banks focused on bringing inflation under control. The European Central Bank (ECB) announced it planned to end bond repurchasing by September 2022, while the Bank of England (BoE) raised rates 50 basis points in the first quarter of 2022.

Inflation continued to rise in the second quarter, along with growing fears of a recession. These fears weighed on developed market performance, with European countries directly affected by the reduced gas supply from Russia due to the war, which caused energy prices to spike. The BoE raised rates again in June 2022, while the ECB announced its first rate hike for 2022 in July. It also reaffirmed its commitment to end its asset purchasing efforts in the third quarter. For its part, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintained its accommodative monetary policies in the face of ongoing weakness in the yen.

In the third quarter, fears of a recession put pressure on developed equity markets, as did the hawkish tone from most central banks. In the eurozone, the intensifying energy crisis added fuel to geopolitical tensions and further weakened the euro. Inflation continued to rise, however, pushing the BoE and the ECB to raise rates again, although the latter chose not to

end its bond repurchasing policy as planned. The BoJ left its interest rates unchanged once again.

Equity markets rallied at the start of the fourth quarter on the hopes that inflation had finally peaked and that central banks would ease their tightening policies. But in December, central banks reiterated their plans for further tightening, pushing markets lower. Both the ECB and BoE raised interest rates over the quarter, while the BoJ surprised markets with its own interest rate increase of 25 basis points. Japanese companies had reported strong earnings thanks to a weaker yen, and the country was dealing with its highest inflation in 40 years.

The energy sector was the only sector in the Index to post a positive performance during the reporting period. The information technology, consumer discretionary, and real estate sectors were the worst performing sectors.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to the impacts of fair value adjustments and expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses exchange traded equity index futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio. Futures contracts are purchased to provide immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the portfolio. Successful implementation of cash management and cash equitization techniques is 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Years
  Since
Inception

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       (14.25 )%       0.76 %       1.42 %             4.97 %

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       (14.52 )%       0.49 %       1.16 %       4.07 %       5.89 %

MSCI EAFE Index (gross of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       (14.01 )%       1.34 %       2.03 %       5.16 %       7.04 %

MSCI EAFE Index (net of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       (14.45 )%       0.87 %       1.54 %       4.67 %       6.55 %

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® International Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.45 %

AZL® International Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.70 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL International Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,059.50     $ 2.28       0.44 %

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,058.40     $ 3.58       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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL International Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.99     $ 2.24       0.44 %

AZL International 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

      18.5 %

Industrials

      14.9

Health Care

      13.5

Consumer Discretionary

      10.9

Consumer Staples

      10.4

Information Technology

      7.8

Materials

      7.7

Energy

      4.9

Communication Services

      4.5

Utilities

      3.4

Real Estate

      2.6
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.1

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      1.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.4

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.4 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (98.8%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.4%):       
  53,134      Airbus SE    $ 6,316,854  
  282,993      BAE Systems plc      2,924,164  
  2,166      Dassault Aviation SA      367,450  
  2,303      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      375,301  
  8,611      Kongsberg Gruppen ASA      365,917  
  4,822      MTU Aero Engines AG      1,043,527  
  750,647      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      840,239  
  30,541      Safran SA      3,815,958  
  151,200      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      378,505  
  9,590      Thales SA      1,225,777  
     

 

 

 
        17,653,692  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.3%):       
  89,568      Deutsche Post AG      3,371,024  
  25,000      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      348,552  
  26,400      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      419,752  
     

 

 

 
        4,139,328  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  15,100      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      321,738  
  54,268      Deutsche Lufthansa AG*      450,915  
  12,270      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      251,742  
  83,673      Qantas Airways, Ltd.*      336,814  
  115,850      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.^      477,528  
     

 

 

 
        1,838,737  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.7%):       
  12,900      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      343,651  
  51,900      Bridgestone Corp.      1,848,010  
  61,728      Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA      1,716,220  
  9,545      Continental AG      570,193  
  38,900      Denso Corp.      1,907,231  
  20,600      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      306,900  
  65,900      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      747,663  
  13,000      Toyota Industries Corp.      708,880  
  17,882      Valeo SA      318,697  
     

 

 

 
        8,467,445  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.7%):       
  29,605      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      2,642,023  
  72,250      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      4,740,625  
  10,242      Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG*      1,038,967  
  11,365      Ferrari NV      2,431,263  
  147,200      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      3,366,117  
  52,100      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      608,617  
  46,700      Mazda Motor Corp.      353,060  
  206,900      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.      651,057  
  17,987      Renault SA*      599,208  
  197,452      Stellantis NV      2,798,810  
  55,400      Subaru Corp.      850,215  
  32,200      Suzuki Motor Corp.      1,036,133  
  951,530      Toyota Motor Corp.      13,006,675  
  2,783      Volkswagen AG      439,899  
  57,386      Volvo Car AB, Class B*^      262,323  
  26,300      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      597,759  
     

 

 

 
        35,422,751  
     

 

 

 
Banks (9.7%):       
  34,118      ABN AMRO Group NV      471,161  
  99,531      AIB Group plc      383,605  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  266,879      ANZ Group Holdings, Ltd.*    $ 4,298,171  
  542,641      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      3,276,421  
  1,510,037      Banco Santander SA      4,521,668  
  114,094      Bank Hapoalim BM      1,030,747  
  135,795      Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM      1,133,570  
  92,631      Bank of Ireland Group plc      878,174  
  2,804      Banque Cantonale Vaudoise      269,379  
  1,428,562      Barclays plc      2,745,951  
  99,079      BNP Paribas SA      5,637,518  
  336,000      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      1,142,234  
  396,973      CaixaBank SA      1,558,009  
  50,300      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      368,697  
  94,893      Commerzbank AG*      897,175  
  152,674      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      10,654,432  
  93,800      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      392,544  
  105,605      Credit Agricole SA      1,113,028  
  63,093      Danske Bank A/S      1,243,183  
  161,600      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      4,092,049  
  82,278      DNB Bank ASA      1,630,982  
  31,508      Erste Group Bank AG      1,004,571  
  54,182      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA      902,844  
  70,200      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      1,162,415  
  1,791,676      HSBC Holdings plc      11,171,356  
  339,542      ING Groep NV      4,141,962  
  1,505,796      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      3,358,937  
  117,795      Isreal Discount Bank      619,974  
  39,400      Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.      338,584  
  22,777      KBC Group NV      1,462,241  
  6,084,772      Lloyds Banking Group plc      3,340,638  
  50,767      Mediobanca SpA      487,716  
  1,075,600      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      7,257,135  
  14,664      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      475,721  
  215,663      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      3,048,587  
  283,777      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      5,749,209  
  482,703      NatWest Group PLC      1,540,527  
  299,061      Nordea Bank AB      3,200,080  
  306,299      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      2,779,927  
  198,987      Resona Holdings, Inc.      1,093,307  
  40,300      Shizuoka Financial Group, Inc.      323,962  
  144,896      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      1,668,419  
  71,320      Societe Generale      1,789,174  
  226,511      Standard Chartered plc      1,699,767  
  117,469      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      4,734,049  
  30,203      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      1,054,017  
  129,741      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      1,306,211  
  80,939      Swedbank AB, Class A      1,375,809  
  173,714      Unicredit SpA      2,469,904  
  108,073      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      2,479,067  
  312,463      Westpac Banking Corp.      4,913,325  
     

 

 

 
        124,688,133  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (2.1%):       
  78,366      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      4,710,551  
  41,500      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      1,292,407  
  159,300      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.      501,159  
  8,680      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      1,149,226  
  18,470      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      1,014,606  
  18,675      Coca-Cola HBC AG      445,661  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  47,617      David Campari-Milano NV    $ 482,540  
  204,309      Diageo plc      9,020,221  
  8,848      Heineken Holding NV      681,194  
  23,243      Heineken NV      2,183,405  
  4,600      ITO EN, Ltd.      167,861  
  72,100      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,104,759  
  18,452      Pernod Ricard SA      3,626,401  
  2,253      Remy Cointreau SA      379,817  
  12,700      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      433,403  
  61,908      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      571,919  
     

 

 

 
        27,765,130  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.0%):       
  4,897      Argenx SE*      1,845,040  
  43,222      CSL, Ltd.      8,426,011  
  5,897      Genmab A/S*      2,498,269  
  26,848      Grifols SA*      311,290  
  16,266      Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB*      336,255  
     

 

 

 
        13,416,865  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (1.0%):       
  16,700      AGC, Inc.      553,308  
  89,572      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      1,928,286  
  44,929      Cie de Saint-Gobain      2,205,421  
  22,200      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      3,415,536  
  3,222      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      1,526,160  
  13,496      Kingspan Group plc      726,565  
  24,300      Lixil Corp.      370,376  
  138,888      Nibe Industrier AB, Class B      1,299,460  
  817      ROCKWOOL A/S, Class B      192,763  
  12,900      TOTO, Ltd.      436,610  
  160,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      297,479  
     

 

 

 
        12,951,964  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.6%):       
  87,482      3i Group plc      1,420,115  
  4,937      Amundi SA      280,483  
  17,465      ASX, Ltd.      800,742  
  318,467      Credit Suisse Group AG      957,081  
  121,000      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      536,491  
  183,236      Deutsche Bank AG      2,076,594  
  17,165      Deutsche Boerse AG      2,961,241  
  28,000      EQT AB      597,075  
  7,706      Euronext NV      571,123  
  5,295      Futu Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      215,242  
  32,892      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      340,820  
  108,493      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      4,688,811  
  44,400      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      641,784  
  19,344      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      1,124,693  
  29,832      London Stock Exchange Group plc      2,573,478  
  32,851      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      3,728,586  
  262,100      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      975,707  
  2,055      Partners Group Holding AG      1,827,163  
  21,790      SBI Holdings, Inc.      417,835  
  63,588      Schroders PLC      334,190  
  73,500      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      491,630  
  47,487      St. James Place plc      628,694  
  300,650      UBS Group AG      5,605,507  
     

 

 

 
        33,795,085  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (3.0%):       
  46,995      Air Liquide SA    $ 6,683,584  
  16,362      Akzo Nobel NV      1,091,616  
  5,093      Arkema SA      459,325  
  112,400      Asahi Kasei Corp.      798,836  
  82,947      BASF SE      4,117,251  
  9,119      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      657,527  
  21,010      Clariant AG      334,430  
  17,037      Covestro AG      666,447  
  12,204      Croda International plc      975,117  
  671      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      453,642  
  19,386      Evonik Industries AG      372,152  
  826      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      2,518,934  
  64,507      ICL Group, Ltd.      465,843  
  15,179      Johnson Matthey plc      390,674  
  17,200      JSR Corp.      339,035  
  15,561      Koninklijke DSM NV      1,907,437  
  109,400      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      565,313  
  16,300      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      365,581  
  74,000      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      585,634  
  13,900      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      200,244  
  10,600      Nissan Chemical Corp.      466,667  
  13,300      Nitto Denko Corp.      765,193  
  18,280      Novozymes A/S, Class B      928,466  
  10,146      OCI NV      362,004  
  40,418      Orica, Ltd.      412,919  
  33,700      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.      4,106,482  
  13,266      Sika AG      3,201,811  
  6,323      Solvay SA      640,811  
  138,500      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      495,991  
  11,605      Symrise AG      1,262,357  
  120,500      Toray Industries, Inc.      669,021  
  23,300      Tosoh Corp.      276,504  
  19,106      Umicore SA      704,779  
  15,521      Yara International ASA      683,278  
     

 

 

 
        38,924,905  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.4%):       
  125,286      Brambles, Ltd.      1,028,733  
  18,700      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      374,949  
  221,969      Rentokil Initial plc      1,363,995  
  19,500      Secom Co., Ltd.      1,112,555  
  43,693      Securitas AB, Class B      363,925  
  21,700      TOPPAN, INC.      320,406  
     

 

 

 
        4,564,563  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.3%):       
  489,315      Nokia OYJ      2,273,229  
  262,625      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      1,538,877  
     

 

 

 
        3,812,106  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.8%):       
  20,051      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      574,428  
  21,607      Bouygues SA      648,117  
  7,273      Eiffage SA      717,057  
  43,699      Ferrovial SA      1,142,975  
  36,400      Kajima Corp.      423,491  
  58,500      Obayashi Corp.      442,340  
  49,500      Shimizu Corp.      263,751  
  32,096      Skanska AB, Class B      509,751  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction & Engineering, continued       
  15,600      Taisei Corp.    $ 502,629  
  48,123      Vinci SA      4,805,601  
     

 

 

 
        10,030,140  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.5%):       
  68,093      CRH plc      2,695,596  
  13,132      HeidelbergCement AG      748,855  
  49,543      Holcim, Ltd.      2,555,483  
  40,937      James Hardie Industries SE      733,047  
     

 

 

 
        6,732,981  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.0%):       
       Isracard, Ltd.      1  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  26,202      SIG Group AB      574,421  
  22,201      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      822,438  
     

 

 

 
        1,396,859  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.0%):       
  2,056      D’ieteren Group      395,765  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  17,801      IDP Education, Ltd.      328,889  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.8%):       
  3,632      Eurazeo SE      226,672  
  9,456      EXOR NV*      690,161  
  9,157      Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA      733,397  
  10,704      Industrivarden AB, Class A      261,055  
  13,871      Industrivarden AB, Class C      337,684  
  43,417      Investor AB      809,984  
  163,487      Investor AB, Class B      2,966,844  
  23,067      Kinnevik AB, Class B*      318,605  
  6,442      L E Lundbergforetagen AB      274,756  
  213,077      M&G plc      484,229  
  63,300      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      311,881  
  106,100      ORIX Corp.      1,711,103  
  1,465      Sofina SA      324,131  
  202,311      Standard Life Aberdeen plc      460,717  
  2,640      Wendel      247,389  
     

 

 

 
        10,158,608  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.8%):       
  197,570      Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.      341,334  
  624,234      BT Group plc      847,431  
  48,630      Cellnex Telecom SAU      1,616,990  
  290,782      Deutsche Telekom AG      5,799,249  
  13,416      Elisa OYJ      711,022  
  345,525      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      422,356  
  28,351      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA      286,345  
  305,489      Koninklijke KPN NV      945,037  
  106,504      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      3,040,522  
  180,605      Orange SA      1,795,571  
  739,400      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      1,419,858  
  171,151      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      586,466  
  2,289      Swisscom AG      1,253,156  
  761,503      Telecom Italia SpA*      176,910  
  87,057      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      214,468  
  459,423      Telefonica SA      1,663,644  
  60,426      Telenor ASA      565,611  
  231,763      Telia Co AB      593,480  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  355,083      Telstra Corp., Ltd.    $ 964,026  
  9,884      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      199,806  
     

 

 

 
        23,443,282  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.9%):       
  2,377      Acciona SA      437,125  
  1,966      BKW AG      268,328  
  55,400      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      573,382  
  52,070      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      272,566  
  146,000      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      1,065,393  
  243,578      EDP — Energias de Portugal SA      1,213,283  
  50,960      Electricite de France      654,532  
  2,922      Elia Group SA/NV      415,148  
  29,444      Endesa SA      555,513  
  729,162      Enel SpA      3,921,085  
  39,135      Fortum OYJ      651,811  
  199,000      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      131,339  
  543,373      Iberdrola SA      6,355,199  
  60,300      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      585,427  
  61,309      Mercury NZ, Ltd.      216,315  
  152,435      Origin Energy, Ltd.      800,129  
  16,915      Orsted A/S      1,534,909  
  131,500      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      720,326  
  37,548      Red Electrica Corp SA      652,147  
  97,449      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      2,009,546  
  126,382      Terna SpA      935,317  
  141,400      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      510,593  
  5,869      Verbund AG, Class A      494,925  
     

 

 

 
        24,974,338  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.7%):       
  139,962      ABB, Ltd.      4,264,084  
  11,800      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      449,418  
  23,792      Legrand SA      1,915,398  
  172,600      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      1,708,843  
  40,700      Nidec Corp.      2,119,856  
  23,019      Prysmian SpA      852,022  
  48,821      Schneider Electric SA      6,865,181  
  38,201      Siemens Energy AG      718,653  
  91,692      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      2,679,350  
     

 

 

 
        21,572,805  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.4%):       
  10,300      Azbil Corp.      260,861  
  34,714      Halma plc      829,302  
  12,900      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      620,636  
  176,245      Hexagon AB, Class B      1,853,667  
  2,714      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      339,541  
  9,300      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      338,853  
  17,480      Keyence Corp.      6,844,545  
  29,200      Kyocera Corp.      1,457,429  
  51,200      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      2,569,059  
  17,100      Omron Corp.      834,153  
  20,600      Shimadzu Corp.      587,649  
  34,200      TDK Corp.      1,110,677  
  22,100      Venture Corp., Ltd.      281,817  
  21,900      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      347,019  
     

 

 

 
        18,275,208  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  44,339      Tenaris SA    $ 778,017  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.9%):       
  82,040      Bollore, Inc.      459,688  
  15,700      Capcom Co., Ltd.      503,597  
  61,516      Embracer Group AB*^      278,230  
  11,960      Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.      215,593  
  8,600      Konami Holdings Corp.      391,123  
  43,700      Nexon Co., Ltd.      974,944  
  99,600      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      4,171,446  
  32,359      Sea, Ltd., ADR*      1,683,639  
  8,000      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      371,490  
  9,200      Toho Co., Ltd.      356,060  
  8,761      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      248,645  
  65,325      Universal Music Group NV      1,576,667  
  65,985      Vivendi Universal SA      631,326  
     

 

 

 
        11,862,448  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.2%):       
  71,275      British Land Co. plc      340,736  
  301,983      CapitaLand Ascendas REIT      618,415  
  481,113      CapitaLand Mall Trust      733,756  
  4,592      Covivio      273,384  
  206      Daiwahouse Residential Investment Corp.      459,849  
  90,412      Dexus      475,171  
  4,333      Gecina SA      441,403  
  394      GLP J-REIT      453,369  
  152,036      Goodman Group      1,785,814  
  181,051      GPT Group      517,002  
  588      Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest      467,396  
  116      Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.      508,127  
  20,015      Klepierre      462,890  
  67,234      Land Securities Group plc      505,551  
  188,100      Link REIT (The)      1,381,208  
  323,434      Mapletree Logistics Trust      384,432  
  182,400      Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust      227,676  
  333,781      Mirvac Group      483,420  
  141      Nippon Building Fund, Inc.      629,765  
  184      Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.      430,989  
  387      Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.      480,681  
  467,335      Scentre Group      908,510  
  107,502      Segro plc      993,593  
  223,911      Stockland      552,764  
  10,831      Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield*^      565,073  
  351,082      Vicinity Centres      477,582  
  14,324      Warehouses De Pauw CVA      409,531  
     

 

 

 
        15,968,087  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.3%):       
  58,000      AEON Co., Ltd.      1,221,069  
  52,159      Carrefour SA      872,605  
  120,704      Coles Group, Ltd.      1,366,641  
  117,755      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      511,274  
  13,849      HelloFresh SE*      303,574  
  155,527      J Sainsbury plc      408,173  
  26,690      Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA      577,035  
  25,562      Kesko Oyj, Class B      565,568  
  13,900      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      401,296  
  94,206      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      2,706,519  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food & Staples Retailing, continued       
  54,985      Ocado Group plc*    $ 413,684  
  67,700      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      2,896,537  
  667,295      Tesco plc      1,808,829  
  9,400      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      218,993  
  109,158      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      2,492,184  
     

 

 

 
        16,763,981  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (3.3%):       
  41,100      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.      1,253,381  
  33,925      Associated British Foods plc      646,185  
  309      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      612,370  
  9      Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG      927,177  
  57,380      Danone SA      3,022,572  
  7,602      JDE Peet’s NV      219,698  
  14,563      Kerry Group plc, Class A      1,313,939  
  12,700      Kikkoman Corp.      671,414  
  92      Lindt & Spruengli AG      937,782  
  10,252      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      526,526  
  35,726      Mowi ASA      610,726  
  246,750      Nestle SA      28,503,750  
  19,545      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      245,065  
  5,900      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      467,201  
  70,114      Orkla ASA, Class A      507,201  
  5,672      Salmar ASA      223,314  
  769,797      WH Group, Ltd.      447,875  
  174,600      Wilmar International, Ltd.      544,087  
  11,100      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      723,969  
     

 

 

 
        42,404,232  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.4%):       
  103,955      APA Group      760,951  
  22,895      Enagas SA      380,601  
  993,135      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      944,264  
  11,581      Naturgy Energy Group SA      301,202  
  34,500      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      558,094  
  182,141      Snam SpA      884,205  
  34,900      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      686,198  
     

 

 

 
        4,515,515  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.1%):       
  44,909      Alcon, Inc.      3,085,386  
  17,500      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      288,440  
  3,676      BioMerieux      386,517  
  3,661      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG      462,004  
  5,789      Cochlear, Ltd.      803,595  
  10,731      Coloplast A/S, Class B      1,257,554  
  7,748      Demant A/S*      215,487  
  2,417      DiaSorin SpA      338,641  
  26,030      EssilorLuxottica SA      4,739,287  
  51,659      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      735,069  
  20,226      Getinge AB, Class B      421,399  
  32,700      Hoya Corp.      3,164,377  
  80,756      Koninklijke Philips NV      1,211,914  
  109,000      Olympus Corp.      1,926,945  
  2,202      Sartorius AG      870,669  
  25,339      Siemens Healthineers AG      1,267,427  
  76,825      Smith & Nephew plc      1,026,146  
  4,807      Sonova Holding AG      1,144,073  
  10,175      Straumann Holding AG, Class R      1,152,561  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  15,500      Sysmex Corp.    $ 944,254  
  58,100      Terumo Corp.      1,643,251  
     

 

 

 
        27,084,996  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.3%):       
  10,391      Amplifon SpA      310,366  
  17,827      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      583,005  
  37,425      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      1,052,798  
  17,176      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      759,025  
  41,271      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.      841,294  
     

 

 

 
        3,546,488  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  40,200      M3, Inc.      1,095,261  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.4%):       
  14,861      Accor SA*      369,176  
  54,303      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      1,121,176  
  158,765      Compass Group plc      3,667,794  
  52,885      Entain plc      847,761  
  16,267      Evolution AB      1,589,573  
  14,886      Flutter Entertainment plc*      2,039,456  
  197,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.      1,304,511  
  516,457      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      368,644  
  16,565      InterContinental Hotels Group plc      953,257  
  9,051      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM      363,573  
  196,452      Lottery Corp., Ltd. (The)*      598,617  
  7,029      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      267,488  
  18,200      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      2,651,912  
  212,332      Sands China, Ltd.*      703,490  
  7,642      Sodexo SA      730,951  
  19,102      Whitbread plc      594,121  
     

 

 

 
        18,171,500  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (1.1%):       
  94,382      Barratt Developments plc      453,115  
  9,461      Berkeley Group Holdings plc      430,681  
  18,646      Electrolux AB, Class B^      252,500  
  11,900      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      179,899  
  6,700      Open House Co., Ltd.      243,062  
  199,600      Panasonic Holdings Corp.      1,671,756  
  26,735      Persimmon plc      394,555  
  2,415      SEB SA      202,965  
  34,500      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      480,144  
  56,100      Sekisui House, Ltd.      992,334  
  16,000      Sharp Corp.^      115,180  
  113,600      Sony Group Corp.      8,663,991  
  299,279      Taylor Wimpey plc      368,850  
     

 

 

 
        14,449,032  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.6%):       
  54,943      Essity AB, Class B      1,442,936  
  9,738      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      627,959  
  64,295      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      4,471,990  
  36,000      Unicharm Corp.      1,380,714  
     

 

 

 
        7,923,599  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  6,129      Corp ACCIONA Energias Renovables SA      236,838  
  24,696      EDP Renovaveis SA      545,850  
  123,351      Meridian Energy, Ltd.      407,556  
     

 

 

 
        1,190,244  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Industrial Conglomerates (1.6%):       
  244,744      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.    $ 1,469,365  
  9,292      DCC plc      458,615  
  86,620      Hitachi, Ltd.      4,359,803  
  12,438      Investment AB Latour, Class B      236,255  
  9,200      Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Ltd.      196,607  
  13,800      Jardine Matheson Holdings, Ltd.      701,699  
  136,400      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      740,081  
  19,705      Lifco AB, Class B      328,178  
  375,201      Melrose Industries plc      609,839  
  3,869      Rheinmetall AG      770,536  
  68,488      Siemens AG      9,504,277  
  33,896      Smiths Group plc      653,356  
  34,300      Toshiba Corp.      1,202,493  
     

 

 

 
        21,231,104  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (5.4%):       
  15,361      Admiral Group plc      396,926  
  157,912      Aegon NV      800,949  
  14,998      Ageas NV      667,196  
  1,075,400      AIA Group, Ltd.      11,848,369  
  36,791      Allianz SE+      7,909,903  
  99,499      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      1,766,788  
  252,412      Aviva plc      1,345,106  
  168,666      AXA SA      4,700,176  
  3,908      Baloise Holding AG      603,828  
  87,100      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      1,978,212  
  19,206      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      377,363  
  5,479      Hannover Rueck SE      1,089,011  
  229,877      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      742,786  
  211,600      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,784,178  
  19,500      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      343,231  
  530,811      Legal & General Group plc      1,602,786  
  233,167      Medibank Private, Ltd.      464,816  
  39,311      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      1,258,380  
  12,526      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      4,072,422  
  24,342      NN Group NV      994,018  
  65,334      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      481,045  
  49,390      Poste Italiane SpA      481,581  
  245,435      Prudential PLC      3,320,675  
  135,506      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      1,237,532  
  42,823      Sampo Oyj, Class A      2,238,823  
  27,725      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      1,231,254  
  115,102      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      943,643  
  2,780      Swiss Life Holding AG      1,435,460  
  27,279      Swiss Re AG      2,559,730  
  45,336      T&D Holdings, Inc.      652,605  
  165,200      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      3,536,905  
  31,291      Tryg A/S      742,306  
  13,500      Zurich Insurance Group AG      6,453,062  
     

 

 

 
        70,061,065  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.2%):       
  25,768      Adevinta ASA*      170,409  
  82,344      Auto Trader Group plc      513,740  
  13,000      Kakaku.com, Inc.      209,123  
  4,710      REA Group, Ltd.      354,601  
  7,342      Scout24 AG      368,831  
  28,451      Seek, Ltd.      404,947  
  234,400      Z Holdings Corp.      592,673  
     

 

 

 
        2,614,324  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.6%):       
  14,920      Delivery Hero SE*    $ 714,677  
  17,726      Just Eat Takeaway*      377,409  
  74,327      Prosus NV      5,102,227  
  80,900      Rakuten, Inc.      367,240  
  19,666      Zalando SE*      697,081  
  10,300      ZOZO, Inc.      255,770  
     

 

 

 
        7,514,404  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.4%):       
  1,948      Adyen NV*      2,695,290  
  40,587      Amadeus IT Group SA*      2,092,776  
  6,832      Bechtle AG      241,719  
  14,843      Capgemini SA      2,489,022  
  48,959      Computershare, Ltd.      873,228  
  22,817      Edenred      1,241,391  
  17,700      Fujitsu, Ltd.      2,344,334  
  3,900      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      324,331  
  9,500      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      222,539  
  54,936      Nexi SpA*      431,772  
  32,038      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      761,739  
  56,900      NTT Data Corp.      837,379  
  6,300      Obic Co., Ltd.      931,541  
  10,700      Otsuka Corp.      338,671  
  13,500      SCSK Corp.      203,798  
  20,800      TIS, Inc.      551,416  
  5,014      Wix.com, Ltd.*      385,226  
  21,734      Worldline SA*      847,947  
     

 

 

 
        17,814,119  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.2%):       
  17,500      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.      1,097,619  
  6,600      Shimano, Inc.      1,051,724  
  12,200      Yamaha Corp.      450,166  
     

 

 

 
        2,599,509  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.5%):       
  3,125      Bachem Holding AG, Registered B      272,628  
  11,542      Eurofins Scientific SE      831,044  
  6,665      Lonza Group AG      3,281,253  
  20,949      Qiagen NV*      1,054,182  
  2,518      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      820,233  
     

 

 

 
        6,259,340  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (2.7%):       
  25,765      Alfa Laval AB      745,967  
  29,752      Alstom SA      730,378  
  240,464      Atlas Copco AB, Class A*      2,848,509  
  143,529      Atlas Copco AB, Class B      1,534,360  
  92,390      CNH Industrial NV      1,483,587  
  9,400      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      442,445  
  41,344      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      1,280,790  
  58,182      Epiroc AB, Class A      1,063,823  
  33,372      Epiroc AB, Class B      538,211  
  17,100      FANUC Corp.      2,552,426  
  12,683      GEA Group AG      518,005  
  10,100      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      227,642  
  9,300      Hoshizaki Corp.      327,501  
  41,082      Husqvarna AB, Class B      289,619  
  6,939      Knorr-Bremse AG      379,126  
  83,000      Komatsu, Ltd.      1,800,974  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  30,132      Kone Oyj, Class B    $ 1,560,507  
  89,500      Kubota Corp.      1,233,080  
  9,900      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      411,035  
  20,900      Makita Corp.      489,423  
  30,400      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.      456,321  
  25,000      Misumi Group, Inc.      548,099  
  28,600      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      1,131,968  
  20,700      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      264,040  
  423      Rational AG      250,667  
  95,453      Sandvik AB      1,724,376  
  3,563      Schindler Holding AG      669,202  
  2,261      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      406,222  
  36,282      SKF AB, Class B      555,536  
  5,200      SMC Corp.      2,201,129  
  6,679      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      858,006  
  122,500      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      1,364,118  
  2,473      VAT Group AG      681,288  
  18,388      Volvo AB, Class A      350,240  
  134,149      Volvo AB, Class B      2,430,329  
  44,492      Wartsila Oyj Abp, Class B      375,924  
  21,200      Yaskawa Electric Corp.      682,164  
     

 

 

 
        35,407,037  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.4%):       
  270      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class A      599,129  
  448      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class B      1,006,411  
  4,755      Kuehne & Nagel International AG      1,105,284  
  30,500      Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.      764,454  
  44,700      Nippon Yusen KK      1,059,120  
  104,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.      229,577  
  8,076      ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Ltd.^      138,826  
     

 

 

 
        4,902,801  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.4%):       
  42,100      Cyberagent, Inc.      374,519  
  18,577      Dentsu Group, Inc.      586,563  
  22,700      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.      229,952  
  134,484      Informa plc      1,008,055  
  57,836      Pearson plc      655,430  
  19,949      Publicis Groupe SA      1,266,598  
  95,596      WPP plc      948,861  
     

 

 

 
        5,069,978  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (3.7%):       
  113,580      Anglo American plc      4,441,474  
  33,818      Antofagasta plc      627,703  
  47,646      ArcelorMittal SA      1,245,571  
  453,886      BHP Group, Ltd.      14,049,727  
  40,958      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      466,753  
  24,593      Boliden AB      925,320  
  150,854      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      2,102,630  
  875,149      Glencore plc      5,850,680  
  63,434      IGO, Ltd.      576,382  
  41,800      JFE Holdings, Inc.      485,422  
  15,315      Mineral Resources, Ltd.      805,446  
  81,817      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      1,140,440  
  73,348      Nippon Steel Corp.      1,277,254  
  120,439      Norsk Hydro ASA      903,155  
  107,364      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      786,012  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  236,133      Pilbara Minerals, Ltd.*    $ 601,581  
  101,204      Rio Tinto plc      7,099,591  
  33,649      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      2,651,295  
  412,447      South32, Ltd.      1,116,211  
  21,800      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      775,650  
  11,188      Voestalpine AG      295,274  
     

 

 

 
        48,223,571  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.4%):       
  12,058      Next plc      848,831  
  35,600      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      660,961  
  101,115      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      3,156,691  
     

 

 

 
        4,666,483  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.0%):       
  199,977      E.ON SE      1,995,572  
  164,058      Engie Group      2,349,639  
  329,549      National Grid plc      3,957,496  
  57,907      RWE AG      2,574,572  
  59,255      Veolia Environnement SA      1,522,074  
     

 

 

 
        12,399,353  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.9%):       
  28,296      Aker BP ASA      883,117  
  21,748      Ampol, Ltd.      417,362  
  1,683,407      BP plc      9,787,324  
  276,620      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      942,004  
  225,291      ENI SpA      3,217,653  
  84,643      Equinor ASA      3,039,794  
  46,470      Galp Energia SGPS SA      628,717  
  17,787      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      416,298  
  91,700      INPEX Corp.      978,642  
  37,846      Neste Oyj      1,747,783  
  12,793      OMV AG      660,488  
  123,496      Repsol SA      1,968,407  
  287,421      Santos, Ltd.      1,409,044  
  651,811      Shell plc      18,519,041  
  222,860      TotalEnergies SE^      13,907,861  
  18,540      Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.      348,770  
  171,980      Woodside Energy Group, Ltd.      4,149,548  
     

 

 

 
        63,021,853  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.4%):       
  9,034      Holmen AB, B Shares      359,603  
  43,762      Mondi plc      743,073  
  79,100      Oji Holdings Corp.      320,023  
  48,220      Stora Enso Oyj, Class R      681,134  
  53,376      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      675,276  
  47,348      UPM-Kymmene Oyj      1,774,632  
     

 

 

 
        4,553,741  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (2.0%):       
  9,098      Beiersdorf AG      1,043,862  
  449,652      Haleon PLC*      1,798,173  
  43,500      Kao Corp.      1,741,595  
  5,200      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      357,754  
  3,000      Kose Corp.      325,964  
  21,684      L’Oreal SA      7,777,872  
  35,300      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      1,739,871  
  228,627      Unilever plc      11,531,547  
     

 

 

 
        26,316,638  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Pharmaceuticals (9.5%):       
  164,900      Astellas Pharma, Inc.    $ 2,502,094  
  139,031      AstraZeneca plc      18,864,629  
  88,858      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      4,587,306  
  59,500      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      1,512,133  
  156,400      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      5,012,999  
  22,200      Eisai Co., Ltd.      1,454,296  
  365,743      GSK PLC      6,358,848  
  15,559      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      292,103  
  3,643      Ipsen SA      392,545  
  24,800      Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.      570,590  
  11,623      Merck KGaA      2,250,592  
  4,100      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      233,634  
  194,111      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      17,587,584  
  148,538      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      20,115,513  
  32,700      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      765,058  
  10,166      Orion Oyj, Class B      557,152  
  34,300      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      1,116,843  
  8,891      Recordati SpA      369,522  
  2,402      Roche Holding AG      931,197  
  63,039      Roche Holding AG      19,816,110  
  102,250      Sanofi      9,892,365  
  23,600      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      1,174,242  
  135,373      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      4,228,899  
  97,906      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      892,903  
  11,480      UCB SA      904,091  
     

 

 

 
        122,383,248  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.5%):       
  14,494      Adecco Group AG      476,756  
  25,993      Bureau Veritas SA      683,994  
  81,578      Experian plc      2,776,616  
  14,328      Intertek Group plc      699,170  
  24,900      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      308,904  
  16,700      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      354,708  
  11,087      Randstad NV      676,952  
  130,500      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      4,151,036  
  172,462      RELX plc      4,777,178  
  558      SGS SA, Registered Shares      1,292,298  
  5,179      Teleperformance      1,235,662  
  23,595      Wolters Kluwer NV      2,464,361  
     

 

 

 
        19,897,635  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (1.4%):       
  90,617      Aroundtown SA      211,512  
  3,664      Azrieli Group      243,779  
  243,900      Capitaland Investment, Ltd.      674,653  
  33,900      City Developments, Ltd.      207,637  
  182,244      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      1,122,105  
  5,500      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      565,352  
  53,200      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      1,220,907  
  196,400      ESR Cayman, Ltd.      412,262  
  61,620      Fastighets AB Balder, B Shares*      288,516  
  170,000      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      330,087  
  132,956      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      464,256  
  95,400      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      437,516  
  38,200      Hulic Co., Ltd.      300,686  
  6,876      LEG Immobilien SE      448,020  
  61,935      Lend Lease Group      330,105  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development, continued       
  107,600      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.    $ 1,392,631  
  81,300      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      1,485,491  
  138,655      New World Development Co., Ltd.      390,917  
  9,400      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      200,990  
  16,235      Sagax AB, Class B      369,967  
  298,601      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      371,927  
  26,700      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      628,777  
  128,500      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      1,758,575  
  41,964      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A      368,064  
  96,400      Swire Properties, Ltd.      243,890  
  6,556      Swiss Prime Site AG      569,418  
  36,896      UOL Group, Ltd.      185,328  
  64,649      Vonovia SE      1,523,389  
  158,300      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      922,962  
     

 

 

 
        17,669,719  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.9%):       
  165,259      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      416,735  
  13,100      Central Japan Railway Co.      1,611,841  
  16,756      DSV A/S      2,658,063  
  27,513      East Japan Railway Co.      1,570,047  
  105,487      Grab Holdings, Ltd.*      339,668  
  21,100      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      627,392  
  10,000      Keio Corp.      367,727  
  10,500      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      300,395  
  14,600      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      484,007  
  135,494      MTR Corp., Ltd.      717,930  
  6,800      Nippon Express Holdings Co., Ltd.      387,845  
  28,800      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      375,432  
  16,900      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      395,758  
  46,600      Tokyu Corp.      587,006  
  20,400      West Japan Railway Co.      890,532  
     

 

 

 
        11,730,378  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.8%):       
  16,600      Advantest Corp.      1,071,861  
  4,226      ASM International NV      1,069,705  
  36,472      ASML Holding NV      19,739,590  
  2,700      Disco Corp.      776,281  
  116,990      Infineon Technologies AG      3,562,737  
  6,900      Lasertec Corp.      1,146,281  
  107,000      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      967,161  
  7,500      ROHM Co., Ltd.      535,295  
  61,754      STMicroelectronics NV      2,195,041  
  33,500      SUMCO Corp.      448,318  
  13,200      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.      3,921,835  
  10,504      Tower Semiconductor, Ltd.*      459,013  
     

 

 

 
        35,893,118  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.4%):       
  10,767      AVEVA Group plc      418,106  
  9,179      Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.*      1,158,023  
  3,816      CyberArk Software, Ltd.*      494,744  
  60,410      Dassault Systemes SE      2,178,502  
  5,434      Nemetschek SE      277,508  
  5,619      Nice, Ltd.*      1,090,811  
  3,700      Oracle Corp.      240,774  
  89,961      Sage Group plc (The)      807,756  
  93,465      SAP SE      9,644,159  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  5,103      Temenos AG    $ 281,966  
  12,600      Trend Micro, Inc.      589,295  
  12,712      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      438,261  
  11,459      Xero, Ltd.*      546,879  
     

 

 

 
        18,166,784  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.7%):       
  5,100      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.      3,091,093  
  66,596      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B^      719,274  
  2,000      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      281,395  
  97,663      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      2,600,215  
  250,320      JD Sports Fashion plc      382,024  
  178,428      Kingfisher plc      510,539  
  7,100      Nitori Co., Ltd.      920,955  
  16,600      USS Co., Ltd.      263,111  
     

 

 

 
        8,768,606  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  22,600      Brother Industries, Ltd.      342,038  
  91,100      Canon, Inc.      1,970,153  
  32,400      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      1,634,932  
  15,826      Logitech International SA, Class R      982,541  
  21,500      NEC Corp.      752,345  
  52,700      Ricoh Co., Ltd.      404,285  
  23,500      Seiko Epson Corp.      341,158  
     

 

 

 
        6,427,452  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.9%):       
  15,613      Adidas AG      2,131,030  
  36,012      Burberry Group plc      879,767  
  46,908      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      6,071,801  
  2,833      Hermes International SA      4,371,093  
  6,762      Kering      3,460,180  
  24,836      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      18,039,417  
  18,768      Moncler SpA      998,891  
  7,916      Pandora A/S      558,594  
  9,076      Puma SE      550,672  
  4,961      Swatch Group AG (The)      258,834  
  2,728      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      774,677  
     

 

 

 
        38,094,956  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.9%):       
  190,909      British American Tobacco plc      7,572,648  
  81,764      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      2,042,405  
  109,200      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      2,208,368  
     

 

 

 
        11,823,421  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (1.7%):       
  11,992      AerCap Holdings NV*      699,373  
  39,747      Ashtead Group plc      2,270,132  
  14,171      Brenntag AG      905,905  
  30,751      Bunzl plc      1,026,167  
  5,255      IMCD NV      750,495  
  23,244      Indutrade AB      472,599  
  106,400      Itochu Corp.      3,327,307  
  139,600      Marubeni Corp.      1,595,561  
  112,600      Mitsubishi Corp.      3,643,360  
  128,900      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      3,748,634  
  22,800      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      322,464  
  20,849      Reece, Ltd.      200,457  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Trading Companies & Distributors, continued       
  102,700      Sumitomo Corp.    $ 1,703,244  
  18,300      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      670,929  
     

 

 

 
        21,336,627  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.4%):       
  6,729      Aena SME SA*      847,333  
  2,693      Aeroports de Paris*      362,110  
  118,376      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      587,910  
  38,510      Getlink SE      617,028  
  277,021      Transurban Group      2,445,607  
     

 

 

 
        4,859,988  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  21,868      Severn Trent plc      701,150  
  59,837      United Utilities Group plc      717,380  
     

 

 

 
        1,418,530  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.1%):       
  145,500      KDDI Corp.      4,398,280  
  254,800      Softbank Corp.      2,881,398  
  107,800      SoftBank Group Corp.      4,565,817  
  54,662      Tele2 AB      445,638  
  2,376,863      Vodafone Group plc      2,408,844  
     

 

 

 
        14,699,977  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $978,537,534)

     1,276,328,739  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Preferred Stocks (0.3%):       
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  5,192      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 7.32%, 5/15/20    $ 442,125  
  14,102      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 5.00%, 5/20/20      773,547  
  16,779      Volkswagen AG, 6.49%, 5/8/20      2,091,017  
     

 

 

 
        3,306,689  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.1%):       
  15,577      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.84%, 4/21/20      1,084,222  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $4,681,457)

     4,390,911  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (1.3%):
      
  16,632,606      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(a)(b)      16,632,606  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $16,632,606)

     16,632,606  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $999,851,597) — 100.4%(c)

     1,297,352,256  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.4)%

     (5,225,299
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,292,126,957  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $15,603,963.

+

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, 2022.

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

(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, 2022:

 

Country    Percentage  

Australia

     7.7

Austria

     0.2

Belgium

     0.9

Bermuda

     0.1

China

      % 

Denmark

     2.9

Finland

     1.3

France

     10.8

Germany

     8.0

Hong Kong

     2.8

Ireland

     1.1

Isle of Man

     0.1

Israel

     0.7
Country    Percentage  

Italy

     1.9

Japan

     21.7

Luxembourg

     0.2

Netherlands

     6.6

New Zealand

     0.2

Norway

     0.8

Portugal

     0.2

Singapore

     1.5

Spain

     2.4

Sweden

     3.0

Switzerland

     10.5

United Kingdom

     13.1

United States

     1.3
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL International Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/16/23        9      $ 1,070,874      $ (2,761

DJ EURO STOXX 50 March Futures (Euro)

     3/17/23        59        2,390,134        (5,044

FTSE 100 Index March Futures (British Pounds)

     3/17/23        23        2,075,543        12,291  

SGX NIKKEI 225 Index March Futures (Japanese Yen)

     3/9/23        19        1,881,973        (4,140
           

 

 

 
            $ 346  
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL International Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 994,700,665

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      5,150,932
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

    $ 1,289,442,353

Investments in affiliates, at value

      7,909,903

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      413,513

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,355,517

Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,637,324)

      1,646,865

Receivable for investments sold

      5,454,840

Reclaims receivable

      6,154,572

Prepaid expenses

      3,223
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,312,380,786
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      872,871

Payable for investments purchased

      157,926

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      1,581,495

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      16,632,606

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      26,584

Management fees payable

      392,767

Administration fees payable

      59,698

Distribution fees payable

      264,167

Custodian fees payable

      44,300

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      5,446

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,687

Trustee fees payable

      13,607

Other accrued liabilities

      199,675
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      20,253,829
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,292,126,957
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,021,525,693

Total distributable earnings

      270,601,264
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,292,126,957
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 76,241,033

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

      7,724,401

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 9.87
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 1,215,885,924

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

      79,662,507

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 15.26
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $15,603,963.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from non-affiliates

    $ 47,962,830

Dividends from affiliates

      452,207

Income from securities lending

      205,697

Foreign withholding tax

      (4,041,958 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      44,578,776
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      4,951,310

Administration fees

      198,567

Distribution fees — Class 2

      3,334,426

Custodian fees

      223,246

Administrative and compliance services fees

      20,078

Transfer agent fees

      12,917

Trustee fees

      79,614

Professional fees

      61,995

Licensing fees

      485,035

Shareholder reports

      41,124

Other expenses

      39,035
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      9,447,347
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      35,131,429
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      (10,297,251 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

      79,767

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      40,706

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

      (271,155,720 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

      (939,715 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (77,365 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (282,349,578 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (247,218,149 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL International Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 35,131,429      $ 31,730,879

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       (10,176,778 )        39,607,132

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (272,172,800 )        93,451,593
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (247,218,149 )        164,789,604
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Class 1

       (6,471,396 )        (2,576,720 )

Class 2

       (68,421,061 )        (24,890,149 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (74,892,457 )        (27,466,869 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       128,793        483,730

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       6,471,396        2,576,719

Value of shares redeemed

       (9,090,033 )        (12,651,416 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (2,489,844 )        (9,590,967 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       5,011,709        209,571,173

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       68,421,061        24,890,149

Value of shares redeemed

       (206,126,900 )        (210,685,832 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (132,694,130 )        23,775,490
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       (135,183,974 )        14,184,523
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (457,294,580 )        151,507,258

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       1,749,421,537        1,597,914,279
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 1,292,126,957      $ 1,749,421,537
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Shares issued

       12,242        38,580

Dividends reinvested

       737,061        210,688

Shares redeemed

       (847,600 )        (1,008,121 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (98,297 )        (758,853 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Shares issued

       330,418        10,982,020

Dividends reinvested

       5,038,369        1,360,861

Shares redeemed

       (12,702,582 )        (11,251,145 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (7,333,795 )        1,091,736
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       (7,432,092 )        332,883
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 12.69     $ 11.76     $ 11.53     $ 9.94     $ 12.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.29 (a)       0.27 (a)       0.20 (a)       0.32 (a)       0.36

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.21 )       0.99       0.61       1.79       (2.00 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.92 )       1.26       0.81       2.11       (1.64 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.51 )       (0.33 )       (0.55 )       (0.42 )       (0.50 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.39 )             (0.03 )       (0.10 )       (0.22 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.90 )       (0.33 )       (0.58 )       (0.52 )       (0.72 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 9.87     $ 12.69     $ 11.76     $ 11.53     $ 9.94
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (14.25 )%       10.80 %       7.66 %       21.67 %       (13.80 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 76,241     $ 99,304     $ 100,924     $ 106,657     $ 98,902

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.72 %       2.13 %       1.93 %       2.89 %       2.62 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.43 %       0.45 %       0.46 %       0.44 %       0.45 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.43 %       0.45 %       0.46 %       0.44 %       0.45 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      2 %       14 %       9 %       4 %       2 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 18.97     $ 17.43     $ 16.79     $ 14.25     $ 17.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.40 (a)       0.35 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.42 (a)       0.43

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (3.26 )       1.48       0.91       2.60       (2.81 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.86 )       1.83       1.17       3.02       (2.38 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.46 )       (0.29 )       (0.50 )       (0.38 )       (0.45 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.39 )             (0.03 )       (0.10 )       (0.22 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.85 )       (0.29 )       (0.53 )       (0.48 )       (0.67 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 15.26     $ 18.97     $ 17.43     $ 16.79     $ 14.25
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (14.52 )%       10.55 %       7.40 %       21.44 %       (14.04 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,215,886     $ 1,650,118     $ 1,496,990     $ 1,591,233     $ 1,422,711

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.47 %       1.85 %       1.69 %       2.64 %       2.36 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.68 %       0.70 %       0.71 %       0.69 %       0.70 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.68 %       0.70 %       0.71 %       0.69 %       0.70 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      2 %       14 %       9 %       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.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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 period, 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, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 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, 2022 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 $19,962 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $16,632,606 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $8.8 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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 12,291     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 11,945  

 

*

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, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

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    $ 40,706      $ (77,365

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no such waivers.

At December 31, 2022, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

     Value
12/31/2021
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds
from Sales
  Net
Realized
Gains(Losses)
  Change in
Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2022
  Shares as of
12/31/2022
  Dividend
Income
  Capital Gains
Distributions

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    $ 9,823,501     $     $ (1,053,650 )     $ 79,767     $ (939,715 )     $ 7,909,903       36,791     $ 452,207     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 9,823,501     $     $ (1,053,650 )     $ 79,767     $ (939,715 )     $ 7,909,903       36,791     $ 452,207     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 to 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, 2022

 

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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 10,305,815        $ 1,266,022,924        $        $ 1,276,328,739

Preferred Stocks+

                  4,390,911                   4,390,911

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         16,632,606                            16,632,606
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         26,938,421          1,270,413,835                   1,297,352,256
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         346                            346
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 26,938,767        $ 1,270,413,835        $        $ 1,297,352,602
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 25,084,757        $ 205,887,104

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

 

20


AZL International Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $1,043,866,512. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 345,703,798  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (92,218,054
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 253,485,744  
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

       

Short-Term
Amount

    

Long-Term
Amount

    

Total Amount

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 2,628,421        $ 9,717,567        $ 12,345,988

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL International Index Fund

       $ 42,815,668        $ 32,076,789        $ 74,892,457

 

(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, 2022

 

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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 29,669,843        $        $ (12,345,988 )        $ 253,277,409        $ 270,601,264

 

(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, 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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 55% of the Fund. Investment activities of this 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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)

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $2,222,082.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $32,076,789.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

26


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

27


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to
present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 16

Statement of Operations

Page 16

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 17

Financial Highlights

Page 18

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 19

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page 28

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 29

Other Information

Page 30

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 31

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 34

 

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, 2022?*

During the 12-month period, the AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund returned (14.76)% (net of fees). That compares to a return of (13.01)% for the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark.1

High inflation and the Federal Reserve’s response in the form of a series of interest rate hikes were major factors affecting Fund performance during the period. 10-Year yields reached 4.24% in October but stabilized to end 2022 slightly lower at 3.89%. This rise of nearly 240 basis points during the period hurt absolute performance, as bond prices move in the opposite direction of rates. As the rate of rate hikes decreased, reduced rate volatility offset some of this negative impact.

Credit spreads widened in investment-grade and high-yield markets. Non-agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) outperformed agency MBS, though both ended the year with deeply negative returns.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark for the year. The Fund’s overweight position in agency MBS holdings hurt relative performance as agency MBS underperformed

duration-matched Treasuries during the period. Among corporate bonds, the Fund’s overweight position in communications detracted from relative performance, as communications was one of the worst performing sectors during the period. The Fund’s longer-than-index duration position and bias toward a steepening yield curve also hurt relative performance as Treasury yields continued to rise.

Despite meaningful underperformance for the corporate sector for the year, the Fund’s underweight position early in the year combined with opportunistic additions in the middle of the year provided a boost to the Fund’s relative performance.

The Fund held derivatives in the form of futures and interest rate swaps during the period under review. Neither 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     

1

Year

  

3

Year

  

5

Year

  

Since

Inception

(11/17/14)

AZL® MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       (14.76 )%        (2.98 )%        (0.23 )%        0.58 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

       (13.01 )%        (2.71 )%        0.02 %        0.93 %

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

         0.91 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 963.10     $ 4.01       0.81 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.12     $ 4.13       0.81 %

 

*

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. Government Agency Mortgages

      36.8 %

U.S. Treasury Obligations

      27.4

Corporate Bonds

      23.1

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

      11.9

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      9.6

Yankee Debt Obligations

      8.1

Asset Backed Securities

      6.1

Municipal Bonds

      0.6

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.2

Foreign Bonds

      0.2

Rights

        
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      124.0

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (24.0 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (6.1%):       
$ 666,733      Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A1, Series 2019-F, 2.86%, 7/25/59, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)    $ 627,080  
  505,000      AMSR Trust, Class B, Series 2022-SFR3, 4.00%, 10/17/39, Callable 10/17/27 @ 100(b)      454,314  
  1,288,000      CWABS Asset-Backed Certificates Trust, Class MV5, Series 2005-7, 5.51%(US0001M+113bps), 11/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      1,235,516  
  1,354,568      CWABS Asset-Backed Certificates Trust, Class MV4, Series 2004-10, 3.78%(US0001M+158bps), 12/25/34, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      1,217,522  
  582,542      Firstkey Homes 2020 Sfr1 Trust, Class A, Series 2020-SFR1, 1.34%, 8/17/37(b)      520,568  
  858,833      Navient Student Loan Trust, Class A3, Series 2016-2, 5.89%(US0001M+150bps), 6/25/65, Callable 2/25/35 @ 100(b)      832,319  
  1,352,078      Park Place Securities, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates, Class M5, Series 2004-WWF1, 6.19%(US0001M+180bps), 12/25/34, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      1,286,089  
  330,000      Progress Residential, Class G, Series 2021-SFR1, 3.86%, 4/17/38(b)      282,231  
  270,000      Progress Residential Trust, Class F, Series 2020-SFR3, 2.80%, 10/17/27(b)      236,756  
  513,590      SLC Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-1, 6.37%(US0003M+160bps), 12/15/32, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      507,910  
  392,315      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2003-7, 5.34%(US0003M+57bps), 9/15/39, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      364,360  
  452,622      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2007-7, 4.69%(US0003M+33bps), 1/25/22, Callable 10/25/24 @ 100      446,062  
  728,796      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A4, Series 2008-6, 5.46%(US0003M+110bps), 7/25/23, Callable 1/25/26 @ 100      705,745  
  499,280      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A3, Series 2012-1, 5.34%(US0001M+95bps), 9/25/28, Callable 4/25/30 @ 100      483,946  
  47,088      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2009-3, 5.14%(US0001M+75bps), 1/25/45, Callable 10/25/36 @ 100(b)      44,616  
  240,000      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-9, 6.61%(US0003M+225bps), 10/25/83, Callable 7/25/23 @ 100      229,780  
  1,220,000      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2008-5, 6.21%(US0003M+185bps), 7/25/73, Callable 4/25/23 @ 100      1,147,828  
  251,393      SLM Student Loan Trust, Class A, Series 2008-9, 5.86%(US0003M+150bps), 4/25/23, Callable 7/25/23 @ 100      247,350  
  1,403,612      VOLT XCIX LLC, Class A1, Series 2021-NPL8, 2.12%, 4/25/51, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)      1,244,029  
  1,053,574      Wachovia Student Loan Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2006-1, 4.53%(US0003M+17bps), 4/25/40, Callable 10/25/25 @ 100(b)      1,005,865  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $13,813,063)

     13,119,886  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (11.9%):       
$ 750,000      AGL CLO 7, Ltd., Class BR, Series 2020-7A, 5.78%(US0003M+170bps), 7/15/34, Callable 7/15/23 @ 100(b)    $ 716,875  
  725,000      AIG CLO, Ltd., Class BR, Series 2019-2A, 5.96%(US0003M+160bps), 10/25/33, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(b)      696,898  
  850,000      AIMCO CLO, Class AR2, Series 2015-AA, 5.22%(US0003M+114bps), 10/17/34, Callable 10/17/23 @ 100(b)      824,916  
  893,935      Alternative Loan Trust, Class 4A1, Series 2005-56, 5.01%(US0001M+31bps), 11/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      787,130  
  270,094      America Home Mortgage Investment Trust, Class 6A, Series 2005-1, 7.16%(US0006M+200bps), 6/25/45, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      263,059  
  652,090      Angel Oak Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2022-6, 4.30%, 7/25/67, Callable 9/25/24 @ 100(b)(c)      613,488  
  166,163      Angel Oak Mortgage Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-7, 1.98%, 10/25/66, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)      129,460  
  515,000      BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2018-PARK, 4.09%, 8/10/38(b)(c)      459,553  
  140,565      Banc of America Mortgage Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2005-F, 3.94%, 7/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      126,463  
  525,000      Bx Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2022-CSMO, 6.45%(TSFR1M+211bps), 6/15/27(b)      520,988  
  769,970      BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-XL, 5.37%(US0001M+92bps), 10/15/36(b)      759,495  
  155,000      BX Trust, Class A, Series 2019-OC11, 3.20%, 12/9/41, Callable 12/9/29 @ 100(b)      129,518  
  355,000      CALI Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-101C, 3.96%, 3/10/39(b)      305,707  
  703,652      C-BASS Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A2E, Series 2007-CB2, 3.55%, 2/25/37, Callable 7/25/23 @ 100(c)      474,996  
  300,000      Century Plaza Towers, Class A, Series 2019-CPT, 2.87%, 11/13/39, Callable 11/13/29 @ 100(b)      238,851  
  700,000      CIFC Funding VII, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-7A, 5.45%(US0003M+113bps), 1/23/35, Callable 1/23/24 @ 100(b)      678,220  
  501,863      Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc., Class 1A1A, Series 2007-AR5, 3.54%, 4/25/37, Callable 12/25/35 @ 100(c)      424,492  
  595,296      Colt 2021 6 Mortgage Loan Trust, Class A1, Series 2021-6, 1.91%, 12/25/66, Callable 12/25/23 @ 100(b)(c)      481,720  
  837,608      COMM Mortgage Trust, Class A3, Series 2015-CR27, 3.35%, 10/10/48, Callable 10/10/25 @ 100      787,862  
  850,000      Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust, Class 1M2, Series 2021-R03, 5.58%(SOFR30A+165bps), 12/25/41, Callable 12/25/26 @ 100(b)      801,688  
  325,000      DC Office Trust, Class A, Series 2019-MTC, 2.97%, 9/15/45(b)      254,989  
  407,850      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AA1, 3.86%, 3/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      305,523  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 299,830      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2006-AA1, 3.94%, 4/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)    $ 259,305  
  334,981      First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2005-AA12, 4.03%, 2/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      251,531  
  186,811      First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, Class 2A1, Series 2005-AR3, 3.87%, 8/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      127,966  
  460,980      GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AR1, 2.98%, 4/19/36, Callable 1/19/23 @ 100(c)      345,430  
  307,179      GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, Class 3A1, Series 2005-AR5, 3.88%, 9/19/35, Callable 1/19/23 @ 100(c)      258,999  
  801,154      GoldenTree Loan Opportunities IX, Ltd., Class AR2, Series 2014-9A, 5.52%(US0003M+111bps), 10/29/29, Callable 1/29/23 @ 100(b)      792,808  
  736,269      GreenPoint Mortgage Funding Trust, Class A1A, Series 2006-AR1, 4.97%(US0001M+58bps), 2/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      618,476  
  1,135,000      GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II, Class A, Series 2021-ARDN, 5.57%(US0001M+125bps), 11/15/26(b)      1,095,853  
  1,287,216      GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust, Class A4, Series 2022-PJ6, 3.00%, 11/25/52, Callable 1/25/50 @ 100(b)(c)      1,078,340  
  1,043,615      HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, Class 1A1A, Series 2006-10, 4.54%(US0001M+20bps), 11/19/36, Callable 3/19/24 @ 100      818,316  
  200,000      Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-55HY, 3.04%, 12/10/41(b)(c)      167,365  
  330,000      Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2019-30HY, 3.23%, 6/10/37(b)      283,414  
  701,000      J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Class A, Series 2021-HTL5, 5.43%(US0001M+112bps), 11/15/38(b)      670,361  
  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(b)      281,941  
  634,001      Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Class 2A2, Series 2007-4, 4.51%(US0001M+12bps), 7/25/37, Callable 10/25/23 @ 100      306,390  
  220,000      MKT Mortgage Trust, Class A, Series 2020-525M, 2.69%, 2/12/40(b)      171,749  
  123,359      MortgageIT Trust, Class 2A3, Series 2005-2, 5.77%(US0001M+165bps), 5/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      115,646  
  168,152      Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp., Class 3A1, Series 2005-AR3, 5.69%, 7/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      161,052  
  415,000      One Bryant Park Trust, Class A, Series 2019-OBP, 2.52%, 9/13/49(b)      338,579  
  750,000      Palmer Square CLO, Ltd., Class A, Series 2022-1A, 5.28%(TSFR3M+132bps), 4/20/35, Callable 4/20/24 @ 100(b)      730,189  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, continued       
$ 750,000      Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO, Ltd., Class A1A, Series 2021-1A, 5.63%(US0003M+139bps), 1/20/34, Callable 1/20/23 @ 100(b)    $ 732,826  
  560,000      RBS Commercial Funding, Inc. Trust, Class A, Series 2013-GSP, 3.83%, 1/13/32(b)(c)      539,851  
  800,000      Recette CLO, Ltd., Class ARR, Series 2015-1A, 5.32%(US0003M+108bps), 1/20/33, Callable 4/20/23 @ 100(b)      774,838  
  653,790      Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Class A2, Series 2006-QA10, 4.75%(US0001M+18bps), 12/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      519,675  
  800,000      Rockford Tower CLO, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2021-1A, 5.41%(US0003M+117bps), 7/20/34, Callable 7/20/23 @ 100(b)      779,195  
  685,417      Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust, Class 3A1, Series 2006-AR1, 4.85%(US0001M+23bps), 2/25/36, Callable 2/25/23 @ 100      561,997  
  571,895      Toorak Mortgage Corp. 2018 1, Ltd., Class A1, Series 2022-INV2, 4.35%, 6/25/57, Callable 5/25/25 @ 100(b)(c)      555,064  
  294,205      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Class 2A1A, Series 2005-AR6, 4.85%(US0001M+23bps), 4/25/45, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      290,516  
  122,579      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Class A1A, Series 2004-AR10, 5.27%(US0001M+44bps), 7/25/44, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      117,176  
  259,894      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Class A2, Series 2005-AR3, 2.87%, 3/25/35, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      242,954  
  898,706      WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Class 2A1A, Series 2005-AR8, 4.97%(US0001M+29bps), 7/25/45, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100      818,240  
  190,700      Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Class 1A1, Series 2006-AR12, 4.09%, 9/25/36, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(c)      167,578  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $27,685,411)

     25,755,511  
     

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (23.1%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.3%):       
  605,000      Boeing Co. (The), 1.17%, 2/4/23      602,157  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  360,596      U.S. Airways Pass Through Trust, Series 2010-1A, 6.25%, 10/22/24      353,385  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.5%):       
  5,000      Magallanes, Inc., 4.28%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      4,129  
  585,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.05%, 3/15/42, Callable 9/15/41 @ 100(b)      450,966  
  733,000      Magallanes, Inc., 5.14%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100(b)      539,454  
  290,000      Michaels Cos., Inc. (The), 7.88%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 103.94(b)      192,850  
     

 

 

 
        1,187,399  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks (5.2%):       
$ 665,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.66% (SOFR+91 bps), 3/11/27, Callable 3/11/26 @ 100    $ 588,054  
  415,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.42% (US0003M+104 bps), 12/20/28, Callable 12/20/27 @ 100      375,713  
  470,000      Bank of America Corp., 3.97% (US0003M+107 bps), 3/5/29, Callable 3/5/28 @ 100, MTN      435,047  
  760,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.09% (SOFR+106 bps), 6/14/29, Callable 6/14/28 @ 100      641,554  
  100,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.59% (SOFR+215 bps), 4/29/31, Callable 4/29/30 @ 100      81,777  
  295,000      Bank of America Corp., 1.92% (SOFR+137 bps), 10/24/31, Callable 10/24/30 @ 100, MTN      225,833  
  85,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.69% (SOFR+132 bps), 4/22/32, Callable 4/22/31 @ 100      68,049  
  170,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.30% (SOFR+122 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      131,248  
  250,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.57% (SOFR+121 bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/31 @ 100      196,271  
  150,000      Bank of America Corp., 2.97% (SOFR+133 bps), 2/4/33, Callable 2/4/32 @ 100      121,098  
  135,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.07% (SOFR+128 bps), 2/24/28, Callable 2/24/27 @ 100      121,705  
  165,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.98% (SOFR+142 bps), 11/5/30, Callable 11/5/29 @ 100      139,213  
  140,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.67% (SOFR+115 bps), 1/29/31, Callable 1/29/30 @ 100      115,022  
  630,000      Citigroup, Inc., 4.41% (SOFR+391 bps), 3/31/31, Callable 3/31/30 @ 100      580,042  
  350,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.57% (SOFR+211 bps), 6/3/31, Callable 6/3/30 @ 100      282,200  
  330,000      Citigroup, Inc., 2.56% (SOFR+117 bps), 5/1/32, Callable 5/1/31 @ 100      261,777  
  645,000      Citigroup, Inc., 3.06% (SOFR+135 bps), 1/25/33, Callable 1/25/32 @ 100      521,518  
  145,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.70% (SOFR+58 bps), 3/16/24, Callable 3/16/23 @ 100      143,428  
  1,210,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.97% (SOFR+58 bps), 6/23/25, Callable 6/23/24 @ 100      1,128,521  
  455,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.56% (SOFR+61 bps), 12/10/25, Callable 12/10/24 @ 100      422,140  
  220,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.96% (US0003M+125 bps), 1/29/27, Callable 1/29/26 @ 100      209,565  
  445,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1.58% (SOFR+89 bps), 4/22/27, Callable 4/22/26 @ 100      390,828  
  180,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.95% (SOFR+117 bps), 2/24/28, Callable 2/24/27 @ 100      163,240  
  170,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.74% (SOFR+151 bps), 10/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      142,811  
  445,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.58% (SOFR+125 bps), 4/22/32, Callable 4/22/31 @ 100      358,215  
  275,000      JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.55% (SOFR+118 bps), 11/8/32, Callable 11/8/31 @ 100      217,727  
  210,000      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 6.04% (SOFRINDX+ bps), 10/28/33, Callable 10/28/32 @ 100      220,396  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Banks, continued       
$ 210,000      US Bancorp, 5.85% (SOFR+209 bps), 10/21/33, Callable 10/21/32 @ 100    $ 219,691  
  790,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.53% (SOFR+151 bps), 3/24/28, Callable 3/24/27 @ 100      735,032  
  410,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.58% (US0003M+131 bps), 5/22/28, Callable 5/22/27 @ 100, MTN      380,644  
  185,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.39% (SOFR+210 bps), 6/2/28, Callable 6/2/27 @ 100, MTN      163,663  
  200,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 2.88% (US0003M+117 bps), 10/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100, MTN      170,592  
  1,260,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 3.35% (SOFR+150 bps), 3/2/33, Callable 3/2/32 @ 100, MTN      1,066,110  
  300,000      Wells Fargo & Co., 4.90% (SOFR+210 bps), 7/25/33, Callable 7/25/32 @ 100      285,634  
     

 

 

 
        11,304,358  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.2%):       
  350,000      Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.70%, 2/1/36, Callable 8/1/35 @ 100      331,030  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.0%):       
  35,000      AbbVie, Inc., 4.45%, 5/14/46, Callable 11/14/45 @ 100      30,392  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (2.7%):       
  735,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.22%, 12/6/23, Callable 1/12/23 @ 100      709,679  
  180,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.09% (SOFR+79 bps), 12/9/26, Callable 12/9/25 @ 100      159,050  
  885,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.43% (SOFR+80 bps), 3/9/27, Callable 3/9/26 @ 100      776,297  
  450,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.54% (SOFR+82 bps), 9/10/27, Callable 9/10/26 @ 100      388,476  
  570,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.95% (SOFR+91 bps), 10/21/27, Callable 10/21/26 @ 100      497,668  
  115,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.99% (SOFFRATE+1 bps), 1/27/32, Callable 1/27/31 @ 100      87,818  
  345,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 2.38% (SOFR+125 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100      268,637  
  170,000      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The, 2.65% (SOFR+126 bps), 10/21/32, Callable 10/21/31 @ 100      134,732  
  835,000      Morgan Stanley, 0.79% (SOFR+53 bps), 5/30/25, Callable 5/30/24 @ 100      778,023  
  195,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.16% (SOFR+56 bps), 10/21/25, Callable 10/21/24 @ 100, MTN      179,593  
  445,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.59% (SOFR+88 bps), 5/4/27, Callable 5/4/26 @ 100      390,100  
  330,000      Morgan Stanley, 1.93% (SOFR+102 bps), 4/28/32, Callable 4/28/31 @ 100, MTN      250,328  
  115,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.24% (SOFR+118 bps), 7/21/32, Callable 7/21/31 @ 100, MTN      88,329  
  195,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.51% (SOFR+120 bps), 10/20/32, Callable 10/20/31 @ 100, MTN      152,775  
  165,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.94% (SOFR+129 bps), 1/21/33, Callable 1/21/32 @ 100      134,112  
  320,000      Morgan Stanley, 2.48% (SOFR+136 bps), 9/16/36, Callable 9/16/31 @ 100      233,817  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 255,000      Raymond James Financial, 4.95%, 7/15/46    $ 232,748  
  295,000      S&P Global, Inc., 4.75%, 8/1/28, Callable 5/1/28 @ 100(b)      292,098  
     

 

 

 
        5,754,280  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.1%):       
  312,000      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., 2.30%, 11/1/30, Callable 8/1/30 @ 100(b)      246,839  
  60,000      Valvoline, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/31, Callable 6/15/26 @ 101.81(b)      48,000  
     

 

 

 
        294,839  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  150,000      Waste Pro USA, Inc., 5.50%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      132,188  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.1%):       
  275,000      CommScope, Inc., 4.75%, 9/1/29, Callable 9/1/24 @ 102.38(b)      221,719  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Discretionary Services (0.0%):       
  30,000      Fertitta Entertainment LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., 6.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 103.38(b)      24,150  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.2%):       
  385,000      Capital One Financial Corp., 3.27% (SOFR+179 bps), 3/1/30, Callable 3/1/29 @ 100      330,506  
  145,000      FirstCash, Inc., 5.63%, 1/1/30, Callable 1/1/25 @ 102.81(b)      129,050  
     

 

 

 
        459,556  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staple Products (0.2%):       
  100,000      Chobani LLC / Chobani Finance Corp., Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/28, Callable 11/15/23 @ 102.31(b)      86,375  
  255,000      Jbs USA Lux SA Jbs USA Food Co., 6.50%, 12/1/52, Callable 6/1/52 @ 100(b)      243,525  
     

 

 

 
        329,900  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.5%):       
  135,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 5.25%, 8/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.63(b)      101,925  
  135,000      Ardagh Packaging Finance plc/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., 5.25%, 8/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.63(b)      101,925  
  200,000      Ball Corp., 4.00%, 11/15/23      196,500  
  500,000      Berry Global, Inc., 1.57%, 1/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      445,000  
  90,000      Berry Global, Inc., 4.88%, 7/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.44(b)      86,580  
  110,000      Graphic Packaging International LLC, 4.75%, 7/15/27, Callable 4/15/27 @ 100(b)      103,537  
  25,000      Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co., 5.50%, 4/15/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      24,188  
     

 

 

 
        1,059,655  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.7%):       
  600,000      Amcor Finance USA, Inc., 3.63%, 4/28/26, Callable 1/28/26 @ 100      569,734  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Diversified Financial Services, continued       
$ 32,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.40%, 3/1/27, Callable 1/1/27 @ 100(b)    $ 27,000  
  300,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 1/15/24 @ 101.81(b)      218,250  
  425,000      Level 3 Financing, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/29, Callable 8/15/29 @ 100(b)      334,156  
  300,000      Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, 3.88%, 8/15/29, Callable 2/15/29 @ 100(b)      261,000  
     

 

 

 
        1,410,140  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.7%):       
  290,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.50%, 5/15/35, Callable 11/15/34 @ 100      264,790  
  125,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.30%, 12/15/42, Callable 6/15/42 @ 100      103,098  
  125,000      AT&T, Inc., 4.75%, 5/15/46, Callable 11/15/45 @ 100      106,806  
  510,000      AT&T, Inc., 3.80%, 12/1/57, Callable 6/1/57 @ 100      355,250  
  50,000      Lumen Technologies, Inc., 4.00%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 102(b)      42,313  
  175,000      Qwest Corp., 7.25%, 9/15/25      178,639  
  305,000      Verizon Communications, Inc., 2.55%, 3/21/31, Callable 12/21/30 @ 100      251,309  
  147,000      Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 4.00%, 3/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(b)      108,229  
     

 

 

 
        1,410,434  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.2%):       
  25,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC / Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.38(b)      22,469  
  280,000      American Transmission Systems, Inc., 5.00%, 9/1/44, Callable 3/1/44 @ 100(b)      251,146  
  500,000      Appalachian Power Co., Series H, 5.95%, 5/15/33      512,740  
  1,000,000      Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.15%, 12/1/44, Callable 6/1/44 @ 100      842,338  
  355,000      Florida Power & Light Co., 3.99%, 3/1/49, Callable 9/1/48 @ 100      296,251  
  750,000      Jersey Central Power & Light Co., 6.40%, 5/15/36      745,194  
     

 

 

 
        2,670,138  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.0%):       
  82,000      Artera Services LLC, 9.03%, 12/4/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.52(b)      68,060  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  260,000      Take Two Interactive Software, Inc., 4.00%, 4/14/32, Callable 1/14/32 @ 100      231,358  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.0%):       
  47,000      Extra Space Storage LP, 3.90%, 4/1/29, Callable 2/1/29 @ 100      42,396  
  285,000      Extra Space Storage LP, 2.55%, 6/1/31, Callable 3/1/31 @ 100      223,856  
  55,000      Extra Space Storage LP, 2.35%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100      41,676  
  180,000      GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.25%, 6/1/25, Callable 3/1/25 @ 100      176,952  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued       
$ 460,000      GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.38%, 4/15/26, Callable 1/15/26 @ 100    $ 452,502  
  105,000      GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.75%, 6/1/28, Callable 3/3/28 @ 100      102,714  
  290,000      GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.30%, 1/15/29, Callable 10/15/28 @ 100      274,824  
  5,000      GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc., 4.00%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      4,385  
  145,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100      121,908  
  200,000      Hudson Pacific Properties, LP, 5.95%, 2/15/28, Callable 1/15/28 @ 100      187,802  
  70,000      Hudson Pacific Properties, LP, 3.25%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100      53,704  
  5,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 2.70%, 1/15/34, Callable 10/15/33 @ 100      3,659  
  170,000      Physicians Realty LP, 2.63%, 11/1/31, Callable 8/1/31 @ 100      132,671  
  265,000      VICI Properties LP, 5.13%, 5/15/32, Callable 2/15/32 @ 100      245,125  
     

 

 

 
        2,064,174  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.6%):       
  265,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 3.00%, 2/2/29, Callable 12/2/28 @ 100(b)      219,950  
  30,000      JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.50%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.75(b)      28,537  
  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(b)      105,138  
  545,000      Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.88%, 10/1/49, Callable 4/1/49 @ 100      478,422  
  25,000      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 5.88%, 9/30/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.94(b)      24,312  
  367,000      Post Holdings, Inc., 5.75%, 3/1/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.88(b)      354,614  
  135,000      Simmons Foods Inc/Simmons Prepared Foods Inc/Simmons Pet Food Inc/Simmons Feed, 4.63%, 3/1/29, Callable 3/1/24 @ 102.31(b)      110,869  
     

 

 

 
        1,321,842  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.3%):       
  455,000      Becton Dickinson And Co., 1.96%, 2/11/31, Callable 11/11/30 @ 100      361,403  
  280,000      Embecta Corp., 5.00%, 2/15/30, Callable 2/15/27 @ 101.25(b)      238,000  
     

 

 

 
        599,403  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (1.9%):       
  200,000      Aetna, Inc., 3.50%, 11/15/24, Callable 8/15/24 @ 100      194,134  
  190,000      Centene Corp., 4.25%, 12/15/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.13      178,600  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
$ 83,000      Centene Corp., 2.45%, 7/15/28, Callable 5/15/28 @ 100    $ 69,720  
  569,000      Centene Corp., 3.00%, 10/15/30, Callable 7/15/30 @ 100      466,580  
  290,000      CommonSpirit Health, 2.78%, 10/1/30, Callable 4/1/30 @ 100      239,671  
  400,000      CVS Health Corp., 4.88%, 7/20/35, Callable 1/20/35 @ 100      382,287  
  525,000      CVS Health Corp., 5.05%, 3/25/48, Callable 9/25/47 @ 100      472,918  
  93,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/25      92,767  
  110,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100      108,350  
  640,000      HCA, Inc., 4.13%, 6/15/29, Callable 3/15/29 @ 100      588,800  
  90,000      HCA, Inc., 2.38%, 7/15/31, Callable 4/15/31 @ 100      70,127  
  225,000      HCA, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/32, Callable 12/15/31 @ 100(b)      191,017  
  345,000      HCA, Inc., 5.50%, 6/15/47, Callable 12/15/46 @ 100      307,050  
  145,000      HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/49, Callable 12/15/48 @ 100      127,600  
  215,000      HCA, Inc., 4.63%, 3/15/52, Callable 9/15/51 @ 100(b)      169,113  
  75,000      Humana, Inc., 4.95%, 10/1/44, Callable 4/1/44 @ 100      68,436  
  409,000      Molina Healthcare, Inc., 3.88%, 11/15/30, Callable 8/17/30 @ 100(b)      349,695  
  150,000      Option Care Health, Inc., 4.38%, 10/31/29, Callable 10/31/24 @ 102.19(b)      131,625  
     

 

 

 
        4,208,490  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.0%):       
  125,000      Papa John S International, 3.88%, 9/15/29, Callable 9/15/24 @ 101.94(b)      104,375  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.1%):       
  135,000      Spectrum Brands, Inc., 5.50%, 7/15/30, Callable 7/15/25 @ 102.75(b)      119,306  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  30,000      WASH Multifamily Acquisition, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/23 @ 102.88(b)      28,125  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.0%):       
  125,000      Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 102.13(b)      103,125  
  135,000      Aon Corp. / Aon Global Holdings plc, 3.90%, 2/28/52, Callable 8/28/51 @ 100      105,099  
  25,000      AssuredPartners, Inc., 5.63%, 1/15/29, Callable 12/15/23 @ 102.81(b)      20,375  
  225,000      Athene Global Funding, 3.64% (SOFR+70 bps), 5/24/24(b)      220,555  
  125,000      Athene Global Funding, 3.21%, 3/8/27(b)      111,721  
  375,000      Athene Global Funding, 1.99%, 8/19/28(b)      302,403  
  130,000      Athene Global Funding, 2.72%, 1/7/29(b)      107,952  
  700,000      Farmers Exchange Capital III, 5.45% (US0003M+345 bps), 10/15/54, Callable 10/15/34 @ 100(b)      617,599  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Insurance, continued       
$ 670,000      Farmers Insurance Exchange, 4.75% (US0003M+323 bps), 11/1/57, Callable 11/1/37 @ 100(b)    $ 532,188  
     

 

 

 
        2,121,017  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.1%):       
  80,000      Colt Merger Sub, Inc., 8.13%, 7/1/27, Callable 7/1/23 @ 104.06(b)      78,500  
  115,000      Global Payments, Inc., 5.40%, 8/15/32, Callable 5/15/32 @ 100      110,110  
  146,000      Global Payments, Inc., 5.95%, 8/15/52, Callable 2/15/52 @ 100      133,497  
     

 

 

 
        322,107  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.7%):       
  345,000      Cable One, Inc., 4.00%, 11/15/30, Callable 11/15/25 @ 102(b)      271,687  
  499,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.75%, 4/1/48, Callable 10/1/47 @ 100      412,067  
  35,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 4.80%, 3/1/50, Callable 9/1/49 @ 100      25,685  
  380,000      Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 5.25%, 4/1/53, Callable 10/1/52 @ 100      295,995  
  100,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 5.38%, 2/1/28, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.69(b)      80,625  
  25,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 7.50%, 4/1/28, Callable 4/1/23 @ 103.75(b)      16,875  
  276,000      CSC Holdings LLC, 6.50%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 103.25(b)      226,320  
  465,000      Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co., 5.38%, 8/15/26, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.69(b)      51,150  
  30,000      OT Merger Corp., 7.88%, 10/15/29, Callable 10/15/24 @ 103.94(b)      15,900  
  120,000      Time Warner Cable LLC, 5.88%, 11/15/40, Callable 5/15/40 @ 100      105,687  
  125,000      Time Warner Cable LLC, 5.50%, 9/1/41, Callable 3/1/41 @ 100      104,244  
     

 

 

 
        1,606,235  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.8%):       
  210,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.50%, 6/1/27, Callable 3/1/27 @ 100      208,537  
  209,000      Energy Transfer LP, 4.95%, 6/15/28, Callable 3/15/28 @ 100      201,495  
  670,000      Energy Transfer LP, 5.40%, 10/1/47, Callable 4/1/47 @ 100      569,012  
  70,000      Energy Transfer, LP, 6.25%, 4/15/49, Callable 10/15/48 @ 100      65,675  
  55,000      Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 5.10%, 2/15/45, Callable 8/15/44 @ 100      49,709  
  37,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.23%, 10/10/36(d)      18,407  
  200,000      Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.50%, 7/15/44, Callable 1/15/44 @ 100      161,000  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
$ 250,000      Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, 4.95%, 7/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100(b)    $ 226,250  
  250,000      Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, 4.80%, 5/15/30, Callable 2/15/30 @ 100(b)      218,750  
  89,000      Sunoco, LP / Sunoco Finance Corp., 4.50%, 4/30/30, Callable 4/30/25 @ 102.25      77,207  
     

 

 

 
        1,796,042  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.8%):       
  1,006,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.38%, 12/15/28, Callable 9/15/28 @ 100(b)      947,974  
  490,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.63%, 6/25/38, Callable 12/25/37 @ 100(b)      429,328  
  160,000      Bayer US Finance II LLC, 4.88%, 6/25/48, Callable 12/25/47 @ 100(b)      138,503  
  275,000      Prestige Brands, Inc., 3.75%, 4/1/31, Callable 4/1/26 @ 101.88(b)      226,531  
     

 

 

 
        1,742,336  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.4%):       
  22,000      Healthcare Realty Holdings LP, 2.05%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      15,974  
  135,000      Healthcare Realty Holdings, LP, 2.40%, 3/15/30, Callable 12/15/29 @ 100      105,454  
  160,000      Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP, 2.00%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      121,522  
  115,000      Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 2.00%, 8/15/31, Callable 5/15/31 @ 100      85,037  
  20,000      VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co., Inc., 4.63%, 6/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      19,125  
  75,000      VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co., Inc., 4.50%, 9/1/26, Callable 6/1/26 @ 100(b)      70,312  
  15,000      Vici Properties Vici Note, 3.75%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.88(b)      13,575  
  132,000      Vici Properties, LP, 5.63%, 5/15/52, Callable 11/15/51 @ 100      116,160  
  90,000      Vici Properties, LP Vici Note Co., Inc., 5.75%, 2/1/27, Callable 11/1/26 @ 100(b)      87,750  
  45,000      Vici Properties, LP Vici Note Co., Inc., 4.50%, 1/15/28, Callable 10/15/27 @ 100(b)      41,119  
  130,000      Vici Properties, LP Vici Note Co., Inc., 3.88%, 2/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100(b)      113,912  
     

 

 

 
        789,940  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%):       
  284,000      Broadcom, Inc., 2.60%, 2/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      213,927  
  140,000      Broadcom, Inc., 3.42%, 4/15/33, Callable 1/15/33 @ 100(b)      112,883  
     

 

 

 
        326,810  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.4%):       
  75,000      NCR Corp., 5.00%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 102.5(b)      63,937  
  50,000      NCR Corp., 5.13%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.56(b)      41,500  
  70,000      Oracle Corp., 2.88%, 3/25/31, Callable 12/25/30 @ 100      58,353  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Software, continued       
$ 70,000      Oracle Corp., 3.80%, 11/15/37, Callable 5/15/37 @ 100    $ 55,671  
  565,000      Oracle Corp., 3.95%, 3/25/51, Callable 9/25/50 @ 100      407,876  
  210,000      Oracle Corp., 6.90%, 11/9/52, Callable 5/9/52 @ 100      228,242  
     

 

 

 
        855,579  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.0%):       
  30,000      Rent-A-Center, Inc., 6.38%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 103.19(b)      24,038  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.0%):       
  25,000      NCR Corp., 5.25%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 102.63(b)      20,625  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.1%):       
  125,000      USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp., 6.88%, 4/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44      119,844  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.5%):       
  625,000      BAT Capital Corp., 4.54%, 8/15/47, Callable 2/15/47 @ 100      447,114  
  130,000      BAT Capital Corp., 5.65%, 3/16/52, Callable 9/16/51 @ 100      109,840  
  610,000      Reynolds American, Inc., 5.85%, 8/15/45, Callable 2/15/45 @ 100      523,966  
     

 

 

 
        1,080,920  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.1%):       
  265,000      Air Lease Corp., 5.85%, 12/15/27, Callable 11/15/27 @ 100      266,498  
     

 

 

 
Utilities (0.1%):       
  265,000      NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/27, Callable 6/15/27 @ 100      261,374  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.0%):       
  27,000      Sprint Corp., 7.88%, 9/15/23      27,405  
  691,875      Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co. II LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co. III LLC, 4.74%, 3/20/25, Callable 3/20/24 @ 100(b)      683,741  
  235,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.25%, 2/15/26, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.13      214,317  
  444,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.63%, 4/15/26, Callable 4/15/23 @ 101.31      406,694  
  418,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/30, Callable 1/15/30 @ 100      378,968  
  459,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2.55%, 2/15/31, Callable 11/15/30 @ 100      376,150  
  135,000      T-Mobile USA, Inc., 4.38%, 4/15/40, Callable 10/15/39 @ 100      116,112  
     

 

 

 
        2,203,387  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $56,881,198)

     49,857,605  
  

 

 

 
Foreign Bonds (0.2%):       
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  115,000      Netflix, Inc., 4.63%, 5/15/29+      119,850  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Foreign Bonds, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.1%):       
$ 140,000      CapitaLand Ascendas REIT, 0.75%, 6/23/28, Callable 3/23/28 @ 100, MTN+    $ 115,448  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  145,000      Heathrow Funding, Ltd., 1.88%, 3/14/36, MTN+      111,314  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Bonds (Cost $364,361)

     346,612  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (8.1%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.3%):       
  345,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 2.88%, 2/15/25, Callable 1/15/25 @ 100(b)      317,831  
  355,000      Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd., 2.53%, 11/18/27, Callable 10/18/27 @ 100(b)      286,219  
     

 

 

 
        604,050  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.4%):       
  450,000      DNB Bank ASA, 1.60% (H15T1Y+68 bps), 3/30/28, Callable 3/30/27 @ 100(b)      381,220  
  450,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.10% (SOFR+193 bps), 6/4/26, Callable 6/4/25 @ 100      410,825  
  440,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.01% (SOFR+173 bps), 9/22/28, Callable 9/22/27 @ 100      368,266  
  410,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.21% (SOFR+129 bps), 8/17/29, Callable 8/17/28 @ 100      332,843  
  545,000      HSBC Holdings plc, 2.80% (SOFR+119 bps), 5/24/32, Callable 5/24/31 @ 100      421,345  
  295,000      HSBC Holdings PLC, 4.76% (SOFR+211 bps), 6/9/28, Callable 6/9/27 @ 100      279,506  
  145,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 3.87% (H15T1Y+4 bps), 7/9/25, Callable 7/9/24 @ 100      140,835  
  450,000      Lloyds Banking Group plc, 1.63% (H15T1Y+85 bps), 5/11/27, Callable 5/11/26 @ 100      389,836  
  200,000      Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 3.57% (US0003M+121 bps), 11/7/28, Callable 11/7/27 @ 100      180,208  
  325,000      Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 4.98% (H15T1Y+230 bps), 8/11/33, Callable 8/11/32 @ 100      299,364  
  545,000      NatWest Group plc, 4.27% (US0003M+176 bps), 3/22/25, Callable 3/22/24 @ 100      531,457  
  390,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 4.80% (US0003M+157 bps), 11/15/24, Callable 11/15/23 @ 100      383,419  
  590,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.09% (SOFR+79 bps), 3/15/25, Callable 3/15/24 @ 100      551,655  
  45,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.53% (H15T1Y+125 bps), 8/21/26, Callable 8/21/25 @ 100      39,719  
  30,000      Santander UK Group Holdings plc, 1.67% (SOFR+99 bps), 6/14/27, Callable 6/14/26 @ 100      25,481  
  410,000      Santander UK plc, 5.00%, 11/7/23(b)      404,801  
     

 

 

 
        5,140,780  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.1%):       
  275,000      Bacardi, Ltd., 4.45%, 5/15/25, Callable 3/15/25 @ 100(b)      267,523  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.1%):       
  275,000      Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 4.75%, 10/15/28, Callable 10/15/24 @ 102.38(b)      238,219  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Capital Markets (1.5%):       
$ 185,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 1.31% (SOFR+98 bps), 2/2/27, Callable 2/2/26 @ 100(b)    $ 147,730  
  660,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.09% (SOFR+173 bps), 5/14/32, Callable 5/14/31 @ 100(b)      457,141  
  1,615,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 6.54% (SOFR+392 bps), 8/12/33, Callable 8/12/32 @ 100(b)      1,425,694  
  260,000      Credit Suisse Group AG, 9.02% (SOFR+502 bps), 11/15/33, Callable 11/15/32 @ 100(b)      267,894  
  165,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 2.69% (SOFR+144 bps), 6/23/32, Callable 6/23/31 @ 100(b)      126,636  
  570,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 2.87% (SOFR+153 bps), 1/14/33, Callable 1/14/32 @ 100(b)      438,258  
  170,000      Macquarie Group, Ltd., 4.44% (SOFR+241 bps), 6/21/33, Callable 6/21/32 @ 100(b)      148,162  
  200,000      UBS Group AG, 4.49% (H15T1Y+155 bps), 5/12/26, Callable 5/12/25 @ 100(b)      195,219  
     

 

 

 
        3,206,734  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staple Products (0.0%):       
  80,000      Imperial Brands Finance plc, 6.13%, 7/27/27, Callable 6/27/27 @ 100(b)      79,100  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Staples Products (0.0%):       
  15,000      Imperial Brands Finance PLC, 3.88%, 7/26/29, Callable 4/26/29 @ 100(b)      12,836  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  200,000      Trivium Packaging Finance BV, 5.50%, 8/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(b)      186,250  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.4%):       
  465,000      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, 6.50%, 3/15/30, Callable 3/15/25 @ 102(b)      417,128  
  285,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 4.50%, 3/15/23, Callable 2/15/23 @ 100(b)      283,932  
  72,000      Park Aerospace Holdings, 5.50%, 2/15/24(b)      71,100  
     

 

 

 
        772,160  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  98,800      Transocean Phoenix 2, Ltd., 7.75%, 10/15/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.29(b)      97,812  
  105,875      Transocean Poseidon, Ltd., 6.88%, 2/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44(b)      103,228  
  27,600      Transocean Proteus, Ltd., 6.25%, 12/1/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.04(b)      27,324  
     

 

 

 
        228,364  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.2%):       
  415,000      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., 3.55%, 7/26/27, Callable 4/26/27 @ 100(b)      382,838  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Services (0.0%):       
  25,000      SK Invictus Intermediate II Sarl, 5.00%, 10/30/29, Callable 10/30/24 @ 102.5(b)      20,031  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.1%):       
  295,000      Tencent Holdings, Ltd., 3.68%, 4/22/41, Callable 10/22/40 @ 100(b)      219,742  
     

 

 

 
National (0.1%):       
  200,000      Republic of South Africa Government International, 5.88%, 4/20/32      180,246  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.4%):       
$ 200,000      KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, 5.38%, 4/24/30    $ 181,250  
  630,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.75%, 9/21/47      404,245  
  120,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 7.69%, 1/23/50, Callable 7/23/49 @ 100      83,489  
  85,000      Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.95%, 1/28/60, Callable 7/28/59 @ 100      53,634  
  200,000      Petronas Capital, Ltd., 3.50%, 4/21/30, Callable 1/21/30 @ 100(b)      182,753  
     

 

 

 
        905,371  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  60,000      Open Text Corp., 6.90%, 12/1/27, Callable 11/1/27 @ 100(b)      60,075  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (1.2%):       
  400,000      Abu Dhabi Government International, 2.50%, 9/30/29      358,348  
  200,000      Arab Republic of Egypt, 7.60%, 3/1/29(b)      162,497  
  200,000      Brazilian Government International Bond, 3.88%, 6/12/30^      173,685  
  224,000      Chile Government International Bond, 2.55%, 1/27/32, Callable 10/27/31 @ 100^      184,287  
  200,000      Colombia Government International Bond, 8.00%, 4/20/33, Callable 1/20/33 @ 100      198,752  
  200,000      Dominican Republic International Bond, 4.50%, 1/30/30(b)      170,500  
  225,000      Mexico Government International Bond, 3.75%, 1/11/28      212,984  
  200,000      Panama Government International Bond, 3.16%, 1/23/30, Callable 10/23/29 @ 100      172,250  
  200,000      Paraguay Government International Bond, 4.70%, 3/27/27      196,750  
  200,000      Peruvian Government International Bond, 2.84%, 6/20/30      169,703  
  200,000      Qatar Government International Bond, 4.50%, 4/23/28      201,667  
  200,000      Republic of Colombia, 3.00%, 1/30/30, Callable 10/30/29 @ 100      153,689  
  20,000      Republic of Peru, 4.13%, 8/25/27      19,233  
  13,000      Republic of Poland Government International Bond, 5.75%, 11/16/32, Callable 8/16/32 @ 100      13,823  
  200,000      Saudi Government International Bond, 3.63%, 3/4/28      190,924  
     

 

 

 
        2,579,092  
     

 

 

 
Telecommunications (0.1%):       
  6,202      Intelsat, 0.00%      139,545  
  540,000      Intelsat, 9.75%, 7/15/25(a)       
  111,000      Intelsat, 8.50%, 10/15/24(a)       
     

 

 

 
        139,545  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.3%):       
  330,000      Nationwide Building Society, 3.77% (US0003M+106 bps), 3/8/24, Callable 3/8/23 @ 100(b)      328,035  
  140,000      Nationwide Building Society, 4.36% (US0003M+139 bps), 8/1/24, Callable 8/1/23 @ 100(b)      138,317  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Yankee Debt Obligations, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, continued       
$ 245,000      Nationwide Building Society, 2.97% (SOFR+129 bps), 2/16/28, Callable 2/16/27 @ 100(b)    $ 216,187  
     

 

 

 
        682,539  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.1%):       
  280,000      Imperial Brands Finance plc, 3.13%, 7/26/24, Callable 6/26/24 @ 100(b)      267,737  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  140,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 2.45%, 10/29/26, Callable 9/29/26 @ 100      122,276  
  580,000      AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, 3.30%, 1/30/32, Callable 10/30/31 @ 100      452,173  
     

 

 

 
        574,449  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.3%):       
  345,000      Vodafone Group plc, 5.25%, 5/30/48      308,492  
  468,000      Vodafone Group plc, 4.88%, 6/19/49      396,280  
     

 

 

 
        704,772  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $19,641,632)

     17,452,453  
  

 

 

 
Municipal Bonds (0.6%):       
California (0.5%):  
  700,000      Los Angeles Unified School District, Build America Bonds, GO, 5.76%, 7/1/29      724,402  
  570,000      Regents of the University of California Medical Center Pooled Revenue, Series N, 3.26%, 5/15/60, Continuously Callable @100      371,612  
     

 

 

 
        1,096,014  
     

 

 

 
New York (0.1%):  
  420,000      City of New York NY, GO, Series A, 3.00%, 8/1/34, Continuously Callable @100      328,188  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $1,814,637)

     1,424,202  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (36.8%):       
Federal National Mortgage Association (26.1%):  
  365,071      3.50%, 1/1/32, Pool #AB4262      337,162  
  45,475      3.00%, 7/1/32, Pool #MA3060      43,345  
  263,995      3.00%, 10/1/33, Pool #MA1676      247,534  
  485,000      2.46%, 4/1/40, Pool #BL6060      342,915  
  923,053      2.00%, 9/1/40, Pool #MA4152      788,495  
  1,138,706      2.00%, 10/1/40, Pool #MA4176      969,149  
  212,951      2.00%, 5/1/41, Pool #MA4333      181,426  
  22,866      4.00%, 8/1/42, Pool #MA1146      21,842  
  479,742      3.50%, 4/1/43, Pool #MA1404      450,546  
  215,372      4.50%, 2/1/46, Pool #AL9106      209,704  
  40,324      Class QA , Series 2018-57, 3.50%, 5/25/46      38,933  
  177,535      Class PA , Series 2018-55, 3.50%, 1/25/47      170,189  
  111,026      4.00%, 6/1/47, Pool #AS9830      105,891  
  108,033      4.00%, 7/1/47, Pool #AS9972      103,019  
  8,027      4.00%, 8/1/47, Pool #MA3088      7,687  
  31,400      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #MA3238      29,146  
  676,773      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #CA0996      627,149  
  368,402      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1710      359,583  
  33,413      4.50%, 5/1/48, Pool #CA1711      32,612  
  276,123      Class CT , Series 2018-43, 3.00%, 6/25/48      244,862  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Federal National Mortgage Association, continued  
$ 221,361      4.50%, 8/1/48, Pool #CA2208    $ 213,888  
  729,702      3.50%, 6/1/49, Pool #CA3633      678,378  
  592,258      3.00%, 9/1/49, Pool #BN7755      530,651  
  176,785      3.00%, 10/1/49, Pool #MA3811      154,162  
  7,100,000      4.50%, 1/25/51, TBA      6,851,500  
  1,753,712      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #BQ6913      1,435,233  
  1,339,595      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #MA4492      1,096,333  
  1,374,341      2.00%, 12/1/51, Pool #BU7089      1,124,747  
  1,349,627      2.00%, 1/1/52, Pool #CB2767      1,101,187  
  1,311,039      2.50%, 1/1/52, Pool #MA4512      1,113,537  
  9,050,000      2.00%, 1/25/52, TBA      7,384,234  
  1,228,071      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #MA4548      1,043,001  
  1,284,111      2.50%, 3/1/52, Pool #MA4563      1,090,588  
  1,473,066      2.00%, 4/1/52, Pool #FS1598      1,201,990  
  2,925,000      4.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      2,749,043  
  8,525,000      2.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      7,239,590  
  9,850,000      5.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      9,713,023  
  5,225,000      3.00%, 1/25/53, TBA      4,594,734  
  1,675,000      3.50%, 1/25/53, TBA      1,524,512  
     

 

 

 
        56,151,520  
     

 

 

 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (7.2%):  
  168,239      3.00%, 3/1/31, Pool #G18592      159,454  
  390,894      3.50%, 1/1/34, Pool #G16756      379,509  
  891,857      3.50%, 4/1/44, Pool #G07848      828,734  
  1,144,771      3.50%, 4/1/45, Pool #G60023      1,061,279  
  848,283      4.00%, 12/1/45, Pool #G60344      822,761  
  508,023      3.50%, 6/1/46, Pool #G08711      473,127  
  326,559      3.00%, 8/1/46, Pool #G08715      293,385  
  345,510      3.50%, 8/1/46, Pool #G08716      321,801  
  87,254      3.00%, 9/1/46, Pool #G08721      78,390  
  140,461      3.50%, 9/1/46, Pool #G08722      130,816  
  431,727      3.00%, 10/1/46, Pool #G08726      387,880  
  486,979      3.00%, 11/1/46, Pool #G08732      437,489  
  615,286      3.00%, 1/1/47, Pool #G08741      552,782  
  584,701      3.50%, 4/1/47, Pool #G67703      546,728  
  48,388      Class PA , Series 4846, 4.00%, 6/15/47      46,865  
  233,983      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G08792      217,180  
  767,365      3.50%, 12/1/47, Pool #G67706      715,413  
  1,481,396      3.50%, 1/1/48, Pool #G67707      1,393,159  
  266,436      3.50%, 2/1/48, Pool #G08800      246,949  
  723,328      4.00%, 3/1/48, Pool #G67711      699,554  
  357,422      3.50%, 3/1/48, Pool #G67710      331,487  
  63,806      Class CA , Series 4818, 3.00%, 4/15/48      56,438  
  249,422      3.50%, 6/1/48, Pool #G08816      231,188  
  2,693      4.00%, 6/1/48, Pool #G67713      2,595  
  74,360      5.00%, 7/1/48, Pool #G08833      73,543  
  178,510      4.50%, 10/1/48, Pool #G08843      175,023  
  1,225,619      2.50%, 2/1/52, Pool #SD8194      1,040,918  
  1,321,517      2.50%, 4/1/52, Pool #SD8205      1,123,343  
  673,958      2.00%, 4/1/52, Pool #QE0312      549,995  
  1,258,029      2.50%, 5/1/52, Pool #SD8212      1,069,380  
  1,388,972      Class HZ , Series 4639, 3.25%, 4/15/53      1,136,789  
     

 

 

 
        15,583,954  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Government Agency Mortgages, continued       
Government National Mortgage Association (3.5%):  
$ 230,871      3.50%, 3/20/46, Pool #MA3521    $ 215,900  
  240,362      3.50%, 4/20/46, Pool #MA3597      224,773  
  45,550      3.50%, 5/20/46, Pool #MA3663      42,595  
  97,693      3.50%, 9/20/46, Pool #MA3937      91,358  
  535,032      3.00%, 12/20/46, Pool #MA4126      487,189  
  394,810      3.50%, 1/20/47, Pool #MA4196      369,200  
  69,712      5.00%, 3/20/47, Pool #MA4324      71,185  
  170,558      5.00%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4513      168,884  
  76,142      3.50%, 6/20/47, Pool #MA4510      71,099  
  205,478      4.00%, 9/20/47, Pool #MA4720      198,296  
  108,642      5.00%, 9/20/47, Pool #MA4722      110,627  
  247,540      3.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4836      225,021  
  142,315      4.00%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4838      137,341  
  89,076      3.50%, 11/20/47, Pool #MA4837      82,574  
  734,929      3.50%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4900      686,270  
  67,440      4.00%, 12/20/47, Pool #MA4901      65,082  
  216,290      4.00%, 3/20/48, Pool #MA5078      208,731  
  424,006      4.50%, 8/20/48, Pool #MA5399      417,938  
  120,949      4.00%, 9/20/48, Pool #MA5466      116,888  
  217,684      Class NW , Series 2018-1243.50%, 9/20/48      197,213  
  159,267      3.00%, 10/20/49, Pool #MA6209      136,839  
  3,775,000      2.50%, 7/20/53, TBA      3,274,812  
     

 

 

 
        7,599,815  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgages (Cost $83,397,873)

     79,335,289  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligations (27.4%):       
U.S. Treasury Bills (1.8%):  
  3,960,000      0.00%, 5/25/23(d)      3,889,241  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Bonds (8.7%):  
  14,692,000      2.00%, 11/15/41      10,571,353  
  5,610,000      2.38%, 2/15/42      4,312,687  
  3,920,000      4.00%, 11/15/52      3,962,263  
     

 

 

 
        18,846,303  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Bonds (0.1%):  
  297,410      0.63%, 7/15/32      273,282  
     

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Notes (16.8%):  
  11,665,000      4.50%, 11/30/24      11,672,291  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
U.S. Treasury Obligations, continued       
U.S. Treasury Notes, continued  
$ 935,000      4.25%, 12/31/24    $ 932,224  
  8,080,000      4.00%, 12/15/25      8,037,075  
  250,000      4.13%, 10/31/27      251,250  
  5,345,000      3.88%, 11/30/27      5,323,286  
  7,895,000      3.88%, 12/31/27      7,864,296  
  1,980,000      4.13%, 11/15/32      2,027,335  
     

 

 

 
        36,107,757  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $62,199,463)

     59,116,583  
  

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Rights (0.0%):       
Diversified Financial Services (0.0%):       
  649      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series A CVR, Expires on 1/2/23*(a)       
  649      Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series B CVR, Expires on 1/2/23*(a)       
     

 

 

 
         
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $–)

      
     

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.2%):  
  348,696      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(d)(e)      348,696  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $348,696)

     348,696  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (9.6%):       
Money Markets (9.6%):       
  20,675,476      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(d)      20,675,476  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $20,675,476)

     20,675,476  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $286,821,810) — 124.0%(f)

     267,432,313  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (24.0)%

     (51,708,324
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 215,723,989  
  

 

 

 
 

CVR—Contingent Value Rights

GO—General Obligation

H15T1Y—1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

MTN—Medium Term Note

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

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

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

*

Non-income producing security.

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $338,761.

+

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

Represents less than 0.05%.

(a)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

(b)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

(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, 2022.

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

(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, 2022.

(f)

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

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

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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-Bobl March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        2      $ (247,774    $ 7,318  

Euro-Bund March Futures (Euro)

     3/8/23        1        (142,275      8,464  

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/23        21        (2,483,906      6,606  
           

 

 

 
            $ 22,388  
           

 

 

 

Long 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)

     3/31/23        213      $ 43,681,641      $ 38,586  

U.S. Treasury 5-Year Note March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/31/23        62        6,691,641        (4,439

Ultra Long Term U.S. Treasury Bond March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/22/23        2        268,625        (10,855
           

 

 

 
            $ 23,292  
           

 

 

 

Total Net Futures Contracts

            $ 45,680  
           

 

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s open forward currency contracts were as follows:

 

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

U.S. Dollar

     321,887      European Euro      325,000      Citigroup      1/13/23      $ (26,282

U.S. Dollar

     19,006      European Euro      18,000      Citigroup      1/13/23        (277
                 

 

 

 

Total Net Forward Currency Contracts

 

         $ (26,559
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Swap Agreements

At December 31, 2022, 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      $      $ (306,262    $ (306,262

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

   Quarterly    1.0255%    Semi-annually      7/24/25        6,840,000        USD               (414,600      (414,600

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

   Quarterly    1.0725%    Semi-annually      7/24/25        3,420,000        USD               (204,334      (204,334

3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR

   Quarterly    1.39%    Semi-annually      9/28/25        7,585,000        USD               (383,093      (383,093

1.785%

   Semi-annually    3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR    Quarterly      7/24/53        425,000        USD               128,156        128,156  

1.7725%

   Semi-annually    3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR    Quarterly      7/24/53        570,000        USD               173,185        173,185  

1.8075%

   Semi-annually    3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR    Quarterly      7/24/53        285,000        USD               84,765        84,765  

1.87%

   Semi-annually    3-Month U.S. Dollar LIBOR    Quarterly      9/28/53        645,000        USD               180,824        180,824  
                       

 

 

    

 

 

 
                        $ (741,359    $ (741,359
                       

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

 

      Swap
Premiums
Paid
     Swap
Premiums
Received
     Receivable
for Variation
Margin
     Payable for
Variation
Margin
 

Centrally cleared swap agreements

   $      $      $      $ (110,378
                      Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Forward currency contracts

   $      $      $      $ (26,559

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

    

Investment securities, at cost

     $ 286,821,810
    

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

     $ 267,432,313

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

       1,029,000

Deposit at broker for swaps agreements collateral

       328,721

Interest and dividends receivable

       1,274,133

Receivable for capital shares issued

       743

Receivable for investments sold

       243,296

Receivable for TBA investments sold

       2,793,109

Prepaid expenses

       252
    

 

 

 

Total Assets

       273,101,567
    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

    

Cash overdraft

       16,461

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency

       26,559

Payable for investments purchased

       9,662,983

Payable for TBA investments purchased

       46,473,483

Payable to Broker

       550,000

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

       348,696

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

       36,092

Payable for variation margin on swap agreements

       110,378

Management fees payable

       93,350

Administration fees payable

       9,000

Distribution fees payable

       46,675

Custodian fees payable

       904

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

       209

Transfer agent fees payable

       286

Trustee fees payable

       521

Other accrued liabilities

       1,981
    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

       57,377,578
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 215,723,989
    

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

    

Paid in capital

     $ 252,972,872

Total distributable earnings

       (37,248,883 )
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 215,723,989
    

 

 

 

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

       25,418,949

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 8.49
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $338,761.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

    

Interest

     $ 7,370,686

Dividends

       114,525

Income from securities lending

       1,154
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       7,486,365
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       1,453,479

Administration fees

       70,327

Distribution fees

       605,613

Custodian fees

       15,867

Administrative and compliance services fees

       3,432

Transfer agent fees

       6,104

Trustee fees

       13,738

Professional fees

       10,578

Shareholder reports

       3,970

Other expenses

       6,907
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       2,190,015

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (242,243 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       1,947,772
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       5,538,593
    

 

 

 

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

    

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

       (21,015,003 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts

       46,485

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (974,698 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on swap agreements

       (7,610 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

       (562,907 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

       (23,504,590 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts

       (51,184 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       40,130

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

       (13,425 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap agreements

       (528,374 )
    

 

 

 

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

       (46,571,176 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (41,032,583 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 5,538,593      $ 2,612,736

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       (22,513,733 )        49,078

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (24,057,443 )        (6,538,739 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (41,032,583 )        (3,876,925 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Distributions

       (2,782,408 )        (19,638,536 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (2,782,408 )        (19,638,536 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       1,996,198        17,585,557

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       2,782,407        19,638,536

Value of shares redeemed

       (33,735,053 )        (20,998,964 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       (28,956,448 )        16,225,129
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (72,771,439 )        (7,290,332 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       288,495,428        295,785,760
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 215,723,989      $ 288,495,428
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Shares issued

       222,107        1,632,332

Dividends reinvested

       332,029        1,942,486

Shares redeemed

       (3,721,079 )        (1,973,539 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       (3,166,943 )        1,601,279
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.09     $ 10.96     $ 10.55     $ 9.97     $ 10.20
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.21 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.26

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.70 )       (0.23 )       0.74       0.60       (0.29 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.49 )       (0.14 )       0.90       0.85       (0.03 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.10 )       (0.16 )       (0.30 )       (0.27 )       (0.20 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.01 )       (0.57 )       (0.19 )            
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.11 )       (0.73 )       (0.49 )       (0.27 )       (0.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.49     $ 10.09     $ 10.96     $ 10.55     $ 9.97
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return (b)

      (14.76 )%       (1.33 )%       8.58 %       8.49 %       (0.21 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 215,724     $ 288,495     $ 295,786     $ 318,407     $ 321,344

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.29 %       0.88 %       1.47 %       2.37 %       2.25 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.90 %       0.91 %       0.92 %       0.91 %       0.91 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.80 %       0.81 %       0.82 %       0.81 %       0.85 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      277 %       258 %       211 %       203 %       184 %

 

(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.

 

18


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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.

 

19


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $145 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $348,696 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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

 

20


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, the monthly average notional for long contracts was $0.01 million, and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $0.4 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $26.9 million, and the monthly average notional amount for short contracts was $4.6 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, 2022, the Fund purchased and wrote call and put options to increase or decrease its exposure to risk associated with 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. At December 31, 2022, there were no open written options contracts. The monthly average gross notional amount for written options was $0.02 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. 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 pursuant to valuation procedures 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.

 

21


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, 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 $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 60,974     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 15,294  
Interest Rate Swap Agreements   Receivable for variation margin on swap contracts*     566,930     Payable for variation margin on swap contracts*     1,308,289  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts         Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts     26,559

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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

     
Purchased Options Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on securities/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities    $ (100,476    $ 30,994  
Written Options Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts      (562,907      (13,425

Interest Rate Risk

     
Futures Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts      (974,698      40,130  
Interest Rate Swap Agreements   Net realized gains/(losses) on swap agreements/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap agreements      (7,610      (528,374
Purchased Swaptions Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on securities/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities      (35,990      5,397  

Foreign Exchange Risk

       
Forward Currency Contracts   Net realized gains/(losses) on forward currency contracts/ Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts      46,485      (51,184

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, 2022. 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, 2022.

 

22


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

      Assets    Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

         

Forward currency contracts

     $      $ 26,559

Futures contracts

              36,092

Written option contracts

             

Swap agreements

              110,378
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

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

              173,029

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

              (146,470 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

     $      $ 26,559
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

     $ 26,559      $      $      $      $ 26,559
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 26,559      $      $      $      $ 26,559
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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.

 

23


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 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

     $      $ 13,119,886      $      $ 13,119,886

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

              25,755,511               25,755,511

Corporate Bonds+

              49,857,605               49,857,605

Foreign Bonds+

              346,612               346,612

Yankee Debt Obligations+

              17,452,453        #        17,452,453

Municipal Bonds

              1,424,202               1,424,202

U.S. Government Agency Mortgages

              79,335,289               79,335,289

U.S. Treasury Obligations

              59,116,583               59,116,583

Rights+

                     #       

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

       348,696                      348,696

Unaffiliated Investment Company

       20,675,476                      20,675,476
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

       21,024,172        246,408,141               267,432,313
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                   

Futures Contracts

       45,680                      45,680

Forward Currency Contracts

              (26,559 )               (26,559 )

Interest Rate Swaps

              (741,359 )               (741,359 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

     $ 21,069,852      $ 245,640,223      $      $ 266,710,075
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

24


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

+

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, 2022.

 

*

Other Financial Instruments would include any derivative instruments, such as futures contracts, forward currency contracts and interest rate swaps. Futures contracts and interest rate swaps are generally presented in the financial statements at variation margin. Forward currency contracts are generally presented in the financial statements at the unrealized gain or loss on the investments.

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

     $ 634,199,989      $ 659,484,057

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

      Purchases    Sales

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

     $ 581,308,990      $ 621,349,349

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

 

25


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $287,301,905. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 65,676  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (19,935,268
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (19,869,592
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

       

Short-Term

Amount

    

Long-Term

Amount

    

Total

Amount

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 18,490,686        $ 3,674,542        $ 22,165,228

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

       $ 2,625,962        $ 156,446        $ 2,782,408

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 5,528,955        $        $ (22,165,228 )        $ (19,869,398 )        $ (36,505,671 )

 

(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.

 

26


AZL MetWest Total Return Bond Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 75% 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the AZL Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Total Bond Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

27


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

28


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $156,446.

 

29


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.

 

30


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

31


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

32


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

33


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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.

 

34


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.

 

35


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (13.55)%. That compared to a (13.06)% 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 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added fuel to existing concerns over rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising commodity prices. U.S. economic data, including employment numbers and corporate earnings, remained strong, however. This dynamic complicated matters for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) as it announced a 25-basis-point increase in short-term rates in March to attempt to combat inflation. The Fed also signaled additional rate increases throughout the rest of the year.

During the second quarter, inflation continued to rise, and investors grew increasingly concerned the Fed would not be able to avoid a recession as it sought to check rising consumer prices. Consumer sentiment fell as both prices and the cost of borrowing rose, putting downward pressure on domestic equity market valuations. The Fed added to that pressure with an increasingly hawkish tone, indicating it was willing to accept higher unemployment rates if that was required to rein in inflation.

Equity markets staged a rally in the third quarter as the Fed initially softened its tone in recognition of the many obstacles that threatened economic growth. In support of this shift, data indicated that GDP growth had declined over the first two quarters of 2022. Other data, including employment and wage growth figures, indicated the economy remained resilient, but investors appeared to take the slowdown in GDP growth as a sign the Fed would ease its current policy-tightening trend. By the end of the quarter, however, the Fed’s tone shifted once again, this time toward a more hawkish stance. Inflation data remained stubbornly high during the summer, and Fed Chair Jerome

Powell reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to fighting inflation. The announcement pushed equity markets lower, erasing the gains from earlier in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, stocks once again staged a rally despite tighter monetary policies. Markets posted gains in both October and November before giving up those gains during December. The Fed raised interest rates at its December meeting, bringing the total rate increase to 450 basis points for the year, and reiterated its plan to continue tightening into 2023. Equity markets fell in response, closing out the year posting their worst annual returns in over a decade.

The sectors within the Index posted mixed returns over the year, with the energy, utilities, and consumer staples sectors among the best performers, while the health care, consumer discretionary, and real estate sectors lagged.

The Fund uses exchange-traded futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we hold 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, 2022.

 

1 

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

 

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
  1
Year
  3
Year
  5
Year
  10
Years
  Since
Inception

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/14/2016       (13.34 )%       7.26 %       6.62 %             9.36 %

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       (13.55 )%       6.98 %       6.34 %       10.26 %       12.43 %

S&P MidCap 400 Index

      5/1/2009       (13.06 )%       7.23 %       6.71 %       10.78 %       13.08 %

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)

         0.32 %

AZL® Mid Cap Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.57 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,078.70     $ 1.62       0.31 %

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,077.70     $ 2.93       0.56 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.64     $ 1.58       0.31 %

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.38     $ 2.85       0.56 %

 

*

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

      19.5 %

Financials

      15.0

Consumer Discretionary

      13.9

Information Technology

      12.0

Health Care

      10.1

Real Estate

      8.0

Materials

      6.5

Utilities

      4.0

Consumer Staples

      4.0

Energy

      3.9

Communication Services

      2.0
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      98.9

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      1.0

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.2
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.1

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.1 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (98.9%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.2%):       
  27,315      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 4,532,378  
  15,563      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      2,598,865  
  34,275      Hexcel Corp.      2,017,084  
  23,187      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      1,037,386  
     

 

 

 
        10,185,713  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.4%):       
  48,300      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      2,061,927  
  46,179      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      1,537,299  
     

 

 

 
        3,599,226  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  131,062      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      849,282  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.4%):       
  38,129      Adient plc*      1,322,695  
  52,184      Dana, Inc.      789,544  
  17,131      Fox Factory Holding Corp.*      1,562,861  
  95,117      Gentex Corp.      2,593,840  
  113,679      Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*      1,153,842  
  23,984      Lear Corp.      2,974,496  
  11,393      Visteon Corp.*      1,490,546  
     

 

 

 
        11,887,824  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.5%):       
  53,805      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      2,238,288  
  21,753      Thor Industries, Inc.      1,642,134  
     

 

 

 
        3,880,422  
     

 

 

 
Banks (7.0%):       
  61,028      Associated Banc-Corp.      1,409,137  
  16,110      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      1,249,492  
  44,752      Bank OZK      1,792,765  
  74,360      Cadence Bank      1,833,718  
  30,376      Cathay General Bancorp      1,239,037  
  46,202      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      3,144,970  
  25,942      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      3,468,445  
  57,005      East West Bancorp, Inc.      3,756,629  
  141,832      F.N.B. Corp.      1,850,908  
  52,137      First Financial Bankshares, Inc.      1,793,513  
  217,074      First Horizon Corp.      5,318,313  
  67,743      Fulton Financial Corp.      1,140,115  
  44,808      Glacier Bancorp, Inc.      2,214,411  
  34,844      Hancock Whitney Corp.      1,686,101  
  77,148      Home Bancshares, Inc.      1,758,203  
  21,593      International Bancshares Corp.      988,096  
  118,339      Old National Bancorp      2,127,735  
  47,341      PacWest Bancorp      1,086,476  
  30,967      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      2,272,978  
  36,987      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      2,688,215  
  58,806      Synovus Financial Corp.      2,208,165  
  20,314      Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.*      1,225,137  
  17,597      UMB Financial Corp.      1,469,701  
  88,426      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      1,578,404  
  54,404      United Bankshares, Inc.      2,202,818  
  169,481      Valley National Bancorp      1,916,830  
  71,130      Webster Financial Corp.      3,367,294  
  24,726      Wintrust Financial Corp.      2,089,842  
     

 

 

 
        58,877,448  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages (0.5%):       
  3,836      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*    $ 1,264,039  
  16,203      Celsius Holdings, Inc.*      1,685,760  
  1,884      Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.      965,286  
     

 

 

 
        3,915,085  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.0%):       
  42,861      Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,738,442  
  129,568      Exelixis, Inc.*      2,078,271  
  54,791      Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.*      3,117,608  
  38,689      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      4,621,014  
  18,412      United Therapeutics Corp.*      5,120,193  
     

 

 

 
        16,675,528  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (2.6%):       
  59,638      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      3,869,313  
  20,924      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      4,930,741  
  51,801      Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.      2,958,355  
  13,021      Lennox International, Inc.      3,115,014  
  37,870      Owens Corning      3,230,311  
  17,428      Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.      1,545,166  
  44,936      Trex Co., Inc.*      1,902,141  
     

 

 

 
        21,551,041  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.7%):       
  15,413      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      2,441,882  
  14,506      Evercore, Inc., Class A      1,582,314  
  34,381      Federated Hermes, Inc., Class B      1,248,374  
  41,495      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      3,002,163  
  53,791      Janus Henderson Group plc      1,265,164  
  41,655      SEI Investments Co.      2,428,487  
  42,843      Stifel Financial Corp.      2,500,746  
     

 

 

 
        14,469,130  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (2.6%):       
  20,062      Ashland, Inc.      2,157,267  
  34,538      Avient Corp.      1,166,003  
  22,901      Cabot Corp.      1,530,703  
  61,155      Chemours Co. (The)      1,872,566  
  14,431      Ingevity Corp.*      1,016,520  
  2,807      NewMarket Corp.      873,286  
  51,614      Olin Corp.      2,732,445  
  52,188      RPM International, Inc.      5,085,721  
  16,240      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      789,102  
  17,118      Sensient Technologies Corp.      1,248,244  
  71,834      Valvoline, Inc.      2,345,380  
  13,925      Westlake Corp.      1,427,869  
     

 

 

 
        22,245,106  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.5%):       
  19,258      Brink’s Co. (The)      1,034,347  
  20,279      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      2,314,240  
  54,447      IAA, Inc.*      2,177,880  
  14,989      MSA Safety, Inc.      2,161,264  
  37,065      Stericycle, Inc.*      1,849,173  
  21,502      Tetra Tech, Inc.      3,121,875  
     

 

 

 
        12,658,779  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.8%):       
  23,060      Calix, Inc.*      1,577,996  
  60,706      Ciena Corp.*      3,094,792  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Communications Equipment, continued       
  27,791      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*    $ 1,449,856  
  30,414      ViaSat, Inc.*      962,603  
     

 

 

 
        7,085,247  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (2.2%):       
  56,492      AECOM      4,797,865  
  11,969      Dycom Industries, Inc.*      1,120,298  
  19,311      EMCOR Group, Inc.      2,860,152  
  57,662      Fluor Corp.*      1,998,565  
  23,726      MasTec, Inc.*      2,024,540  
  82,261      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      2,495,799  
  8,637      Valmont Industries, Inc.      2,855,997  
     

 

 

 
        18,153,216  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  14,930      Eagle Materials, Inc.      1,983,451  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  15,282      FirstCash Holdings, Inc.      1,328,159  
  42,863      Navient Corp.      705,096  
  101,645      SLM Corp.      1,687,307  
     

 

 

 
        3,720,562  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.9%):       
  26,431      AptarGroup, Inc.      2,906,881  
  10,728      Greif, Inc., Class A      719,420  
  34,078      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      1,766,603  
  39,418      Sonoco Products Co.      2,393,067  
     

 

 

 
        7,785,971  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (1.1%):       
  1,591      Graham Holdings Co., Class B      961,298  
  12,428      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      1,313,142  
  62,998      H&R Block, Inc.      2,300,057  
  62,325      Service Corp. International      4,309,151  
     

 

 

 
        8,883,648  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.6%):       
  75,227      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      2,578,782  
  39,906      Voya Financial, Inc.      2,453,820  
     

 

 

 
        5,032,602  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.6%):       
  89,808      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*      2,288,308  
  51,365      Iridium Communications, Inc.*      2,640,161  
     

 

 

 
        4,928,469  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.5%):       
  23,146      ALLETE, Inc.      1,493,148  
  44,278      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      1,853,034  
  20,394      IDACORP, Inc.      2,199,493  
  81,363      OGE Energy Corp.      3,217,907  
  34,915      PNM Resources, Inc.      1,703,503  
  36,242      Portland General Electric Co.      1,775,858  
     

 

 

 
        12,242,943  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (2.0%):       
  13,233      Acuity Brands, Inc.      2,191,517  
  16,462      EnerSys      1,215,554  
  21,714      Hubbell, Inc.      5,095,842  
  67,187      nVent Electric plc      2,584,684  
  26,855      Regal Rexnord Corp.      3,222,063  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electrical Equipment, continued       
  85,746      Sunrun, Inc.*    $ 2,059,619  
  9,299      Vicor Corp.*      499,821  
     

 

 

 
        16,869,100  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (3.1%):       
  24,924      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      2,606,303  
  37,084      Avnet, Inc.      1,541,953  
  17,654      Belden, Inc.      1,269,323  
  70,050      Cognex Corp.      3,300,055  
  56,200      Coherent Corp.*      1,972,620  
  13,028      IPG Photonics Corp.      1,233,361  
  54,558      Jabil, Inc.      3,720,855  
  9,978      Littelfuse, Inc.      2,197,156  
  53,359      National Instruments Corp.      1,968,947  
  14,504      Novanta, Inc.*      1,970,658  
  17,031      TD SYNNEX Corp.      1,613,006  
  53,493      Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      1,153,844  
  63,990      Vontier Corp.      1,236,927  
     

 

 

 
        25,785,008  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.7%):       
  81,847      ChampionX Corp.      2,372,745  
  158,899      NOV, Inc.      3,319,400  
     

 

 

 
        5,692,145  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  17,480      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      1,197,730  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (7.7%):       
  60,753      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      2,084,435  
  121,224      Brixmor Property Group, Inc.      2,748,148  
  45,132      Corporate Office Properties Trust      1,170,724  
  61,259      Cousins Properties, Inc.      1,549,240  
  91,002      CubeSmart      3,662,830  
  71,157      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      1,115,742  
  17,583      EastGroup Properties, Inc.      2,603,339  
  30,502      EPR Properties      1,150,535  
  53,426      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.      2,578,339  
  154,653      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      2,980,163  
  42,854      Highwoods Properties, Inc.      1,199,055  
  89,998      Independence Realty Trust, Inc.      1,517,366  
  40,879      JBG SMITH Properties      775,883  
  42,240      Kilroy Realty Corp.      1,633,421  
  88,898      Kite Realty Group Trust      1,871,303  
  35,169      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      3,319,954  
  34,124      Life Storage, Inc.      3,361,214  
  242,312      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      2,699,356  
  72,426      National Retail Properties, Inc.      3,314,214  
  34,546      National Storage Affiliates Trust      1,247,802  
  95,103      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.      2,658,129  
  91,125      Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      1,074,364  
  52,827      Pebblebrook Hotel Trust      707,354  
  91,725      Physicians Realty Trust      1,327,261  
  32,666      PotlatchDeltic Corp.      1,436,977  
  59,028      Rayonier, Inc.      1,945,563  
  74,354      Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.      4,062,703  
  93,456      Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.      1,161,658  
  25,809      SL Green Realty Corp.      870,279  
  56,593      Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.      2,259,758  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
  107,352      STORE Capital Corp.    $ 3,441,705  
  86,134      The Macerich Co.      969,869  
     

 

 

 
        64,498,683  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.6%):       
  54,685      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      3,617,960  
  15,059      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      3,378,487  
  35,581      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      1,038,609  
  62,653      Performance Food Group Co.*      3,658,309  
  43,736      Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*      1,415,734  
     

 

 

 
        13,109,099  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.5%):       
  64,875      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      4,060,526  
  77,959      Flowers Foods, Inc.      2,240,542  
  26,505      Ingredion, Inc.      2,595,634  
  8,066      Lancaster Colony Corp.      1,591,422  
  18,208      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      432,076  
  22,149      Post Holdings, Inc.*      1,999,169  
     

 

 

 
        12,919,369  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (1.4%):       
  36,876      National Fuel Gas Co.      2,334,251  
  38,653      New Jersey Resources Corp.      1,917,962  
  21,739      ONE Gas, Inc.      1,646,077  
  25,022      Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.      1,548,361  
  21,309      Spire, Inc.      1,467,338  
  85,101      UGI Corp.      3,154,694  
     

 

 

 
        12,068,683  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.4%):       
  19,538      Enovis Corp.*      1,045,674  
  65,859      Envista Holdings Corp.*      2,217,473  
  31,063      Globus Medical, Inc.*      2,307,049  
  20,827      Haemonetics Corp.*      1,638,044  
  8,199      ICU Medical, Inc.*      1,291,179  
  19,288      Inari Medical, Inc.*      1,225,945  
  29,278      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      1,641,617  
  27,941      Lantheus Holdings, Inc.*      1,423,873  
  21,634      LivaNova plc*      1,201,552  
  19,550      Masimo Corp.*      2,892,423  
  87,476      Neogen Corp.*      1,332,259  
  15,327      Penumbra, Inc.*      3,409,644  
  22,052      QuidelOrtho Corp.*      1,889,195  
  14,533      Shockwave Medical, Inc.*      2,988,130  
  19,327      STAAR Surgical Co.*      938,133  
  26,356      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      1,184,702  
     

 

 

 
        28,626,892  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.4%):       
  36,891      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      3,036,867  
  13,119      Amedisys, Inc.*      1,095,961  
  6,053      Chemed Corp.      3,089,633  
  40,202      Encompass Health Corp.      2,404,482  
  34,111      HealthEquity, Inc.*      2,102,602  
  12,578      LHC Group, Inc.*      2,033,737  
  62,179      Option Care Health, Inc.*      1,870,966  
  35,442      Patterson Cos., Inc.      993,439  
  30,565      Progyny, Inc.*      952,100  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  57,184      R1 RCM, Inc.*    $ 626,165  
  43,381      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*      2,116,559  
     

 

 

 
        20,322,511  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  17,951      Omnicell, Inc.*      905,089  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.8%):       
  32,144      Boyd Gaming Corp.      1,752,812  
  11,231      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      1,265,060  
  13,420      Churchill Downs, Inc.      2,837,391  
  9,180      Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.      869,713  
  38,038      Light & Wonder, Inc., Class A*      2,229,027  
  15,528      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      2,089,914  
  12,987      Papa John’s International, Inc.      1,068,960  
  63,853      Penn Entertainment, Inc.*      1,896,434  
  27,091      Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Class A      2,463,926  
  32,936      Travel + Leisure Co.      1,198,870  
  68,443      Wendy’s Co. (The)      1,548,865  
  12,072      Wingstop, Inc.      1,661,349  
  35,790      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      2,552,185  
     

 

 

 
        23,434,506  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (1.4%):       
  9,734      Helen of Troy, Ltd.*      1,079,598  
  34,063      KB Home      1,084,907  
  53,269      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      1,716,860  
  43,904      Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A*      1,332,486  
  69,367      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      2,381,369  
  42,709      Toll Brothers, Inc.      2,132,033  
  13,032      TopBuild Corp.*      2,039,378  
     

 

 

 
        11,766,631  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.1%):       
  26,976      Energizer Holdings, Inc.      905,045  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.2%):  
  19,828      Ormat Technologies, Inc.      1,714,725  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (4.0%):       
  28,250      American Financial Group, Inc.      3,878,160  
  28,013      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      1,436,227  
  46,835      CNO Financial Group, Inc.      1,070,180  
  41,963      First American Financial Corp.      2,196,343  
  14,364      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      1,941,007  
  25,581      Kemper Corp.      1,258,585  
  8,687      Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.      2,271,824  
  114,677      Old Republic International Corp.      2,769,450  
  15,084      Primerica, Inc.      2,139,213  
  27,106      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      3,851,492  
  17,628      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      3,247,606  
  16,456      RLI Corp.      2,160,179  
  24,380      Selective Insurance Group, Inc.      2,160,312  
  75,843      Unum Group      3,111,838  
     

 

 

 
        33,492,416  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (0.3%):       
  42,028      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      755,663  
  19,018      Ziff Davis, Inc.*      1,504,324  
     

 

 

 
        2,259,987  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services (2.2%):       
  17,195      Concentrix Corp.    $ 2,289,686  
  19,043      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      1,797,278  
  13,375      ExlService Holdings, Inc.*      2,266,126  
  68,212      Genpact, Ltd.      3,159,580  
  83,773      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      931,556  
  24,418      Maximus, Inc.      1,790,572  
  41,931      Teradata Corp.*      1,411,398  
  155,636      Western Union Co. (The.)      2,143,108  
  17,665      WEX, Inc.*      2,890,877  
     

 

 

 
        18,680,181  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (1.1%):       
  29,381      Brunswick Corp.      2,117,782  
  142,901      Mattel, Inc.*      2,549,354  
  22,077      Polaris, Inc.      2,229,777  
  56,038      Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.*      1,106,750  
  34,860      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      1,440,067  
     

 

 

 
        9,443,730  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.4%):       
  30,348      Azenta, Inc.*      1,766,861  
  40,651      Bruker Corp.      2,778,496  
  10,215      Medpace Holdings, Inc.*      2,169,768  
  20,875      Repligen Corp.*      3,534,346  
  39,918      Sotera Health Co.*      332,517  
  41,655      Syneos Health, Inc.*      1,527,905  
     

 

 

 
        12,109,893  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.9%):       
  25,047      AGCO Corp.      3,473,769  
  16,908      Chart Industries, Inc.*      1,948,309  
  19,182      Crane Holdings Co.      1,926,832  
  50,185      Donaldson Co., Inc.      2,954,391  
  21,041      Esab Corp.      987,244  
  53,071      Flowserve Corp.      1,628,218  
  68,412      Graco, Inc.      4,601,391  
  33,454      ITT, Inc.      2,713,119  
  32,812      Kennametal, Inc.      789,457  
  23,396      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      3,380,488  
  21,710      Middleby Corp. (The)*      2,906,969  
  26,438      Oshkosh Corp.      2,331,567  
  27,233      Terex Corp.      1,163,394  
  27,212      Timken Co.      1,923,072  
  42,302      Toro Co. (The)      4,788,586  
  11,109      Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A      1,624,469  
  24,318      Woodward, Inc.      2,349,362  
     

 

 

 
        41,490,637  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.2%):       
  24,261      Kirby Corp.*      1,561,195  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.1%):       
  1,961      Cable One, Inc.      1,395,958  
  17,337      John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A      694,520  
  66,894      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      2,171,379  
  15,280      Nexstar Media Group, Inc.      2,674,458  
  90,813      TEGNA, Inc.      1,924,328  
     

 

 

 
        8,860,643  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (2.5%):       
  71,698      Alcoa Corp.      3,260,108  
  210,198      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      3,386,290  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  47,549      Commercial Metals Co.    $ 2,296,617  
  37,404      MP Materials Corp.*      908,169  
  23,783      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      4,814,631  
  26,553      Royal Gold, Inc.      2,993,054  
  95,663      United States Steel Corp.      2,396,358  
  12,319      Worthington Industries, Inc.      612,377  
     

 

 

 
        20,667,604  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.5%):       
  189,587      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      3,996,494  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.6%):       
  47,264      Kohl’s Corp.      1,193,416  
  108,814      Macy’s, Inc.      2,247,009  
  45,465      Nordstrom, Inc.      733,805  
  23,561      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      1,103,597  
     

 

 

 
        5,277,827  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.4%):       
  26,501      Black Hills Corp.      1,864,080  
  23,413      NorthWestern Corp.      1,389,328  
     

 

 

 
        3,253,408  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (3.2%):       
  135,137      Antero Midstream Corp.      1,458,128  
  111,891      Antero Resources Corp.*      3,467,502  
  73,132      CNX Resources Corp.*      1,231,543  
  39,109      DT Midstream, Inc.      2,161,163  
  174,172      Equitrans Midstream Corp.      1,166,952  
  54,498      HF Sinclair Corp.      2,827,901  
  45,244      Matador Resources Co.      2,589,767  
  59,343      Murphy Oil Corp.      2,552,343  
  46,300      PBF Energy, Inc., Class A      1,888,114  
  37,339      PDC Energy, Inc.      2,370,280  
  97,915      Range Resources Corp.      2,449,833  
  449,328      Southwestern Energy Co.*      2,628,569  
     

 

 

 
        26,792,095  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.2%):       
  29,052      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      1,719,878  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.3%):       
  55,263      BellRing Brands, Inc.*      1,416,943  
  145,244      Coty, Inc., Class A*      1,243,289  
     

 

 

 
        2,660,232  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.7%):       
  25,356      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      4,039,464  
  54,864      Perrigo Co. plc      1,870,314  
     

 

 

 
        5,909,778  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.8%):       
  20,443      ASGN, Inc.*      1,665,696  
  9,500      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      2,855,605  
  13,922      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      2,210,814  
  14,515      Insperity, Inc.      1,648,904  
  56,247      KBR, Inc.      2,969,842  
  20,487      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      1,704,723  
  22,537      Science Applications International Corp.      2,500,029  
     

 

 

 
        15,555,613  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.4%):       
  19,470      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      3,102,934  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail (1.6%):       
  10,082      Avis Budget Group, Inc.*    $ 1,652,742  
  64,903      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      3,401,566  
  14,736      Landstar System, Inc.      2,400,495  
  46,106      RXO, Inc.*      793,023  
  20,759      Ryder System, Inc.      1,734,830  
  10,684      Saia, Inc.*      2,240,221  
  24,062      Werner Enterprises, Inc.      968,736  
     

 

 

 
        13,191,613  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.6%):       
  26,357      Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.*      791,237  
  41,049      Amkor Technology, Inc.      984,355  
  22,602      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      1,683,397  
  55,439      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      3,596,882  
  20,821      MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      1,311,307  
  23,121      MKS Instruments, Inc.      1,959,043  
  23,131      Power Integrations, Inc.      1,658,955  
  13,487      Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*      1,829,781  
  6,544      SiTime Corp.*      665,001  
  34,442      SunPower Corp.*      620,989  
  16,119      Synaptics, Inc.*      1,533,884  
  17,464      Universal Display Corp.      1,886,811  
  50,014      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      3,452,967  
     

 

 

 
        21,974,609  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.8%):       
  46,854      ACI Worldwide, Inc.*      1,077,642  
  11,673      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      2,397,634  
  17,960      Blackbaud, Inc.*      1,057,126  
  18,010      CommVault Systems, Inc.*      1,131,748  
  81,366      Dynatrace, Inc.*      3,116,318  
  18,183      Envestnet, Inc.*      1,121,891  
  10,121      Fair Isaac Corp.*      6,058,228  
  25,372      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      3,080,161  
  16,528      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      3,210,729  
  14,244      Qualys, Inc.*      1,598,604  
     

 

 

 
        23,850,081  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.8%):       
  13,860      AutoNation, Inc.*      1,487,178  
  22,531      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      2,710,254  
  22,423      Five Below, Inc.*      3,965,956  
  32,497      Foot Locker, Inc.      1,228,062  
  102,425      GameStop Corp., Class A*^      1,890,765  
  86,878      Gap, Inc. (The)      979,984  
  11,135      Lithia Motors, Inc.      2,279,780  
  8,423      Murphy U.S.A., Inc.      2,354,565  
  7,787      RH*      2,080,609  
  33,860      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      1,211,511  
  27,032      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      3,106,517  
     

 

 

 
        23,295,181  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.4%):       
  55,237      NCR Corp.*    $ 1,293,098  
  18,781      Super Micro Computer, Inc.*      1,541,920  
  45,813      Xerox Holdings Corp.      668,870  
     

 

 

 
        3,503,888  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.3%):       
  52,189      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*      2,991,473  
  15,464      Carter’s, Inc.      1,153,769  
  14,213      Columbia Sportswear Co.      1,244,775  
  24,857      Crocs, Inc.*      2,695,245  
  10,733      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      4,284,184  
  140,197      Hanesbrands, Inc.      891,653  
  26,977      PVH Corp.      1,904,306  
  54,380      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      2,281,241  
  76,353      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      775,747  
  81,470      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      726,712  
     

 

 

 
        18,949,105  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.8%):       
  43,787      Essent Group, Ltd.      1,702,438  
  122,877      MGIC Investment Corp.      1,597,401  
  278,185      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      2,392,391  
  26,572      Washington Federal, Inc.      891,491  
     

 

 

 
        6,583,721  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (1.0%):       
  14,345      GATX Corp.      1,525,447  
  19,113      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      1,561,532  
  66,118      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      2,102,553  
  13,432      Watsco, Inc.      3,349,941  
     

 

 

 
        8,539,473  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.5%):       
  96,473      Essential Utilities, Inc.      4,604,656  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $647,296,246)

     831,752,781  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.2%):  
  1,882,051      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(a)(b)      1,882,051  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $1,882,051)

     1,882,051  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (1.0%):       
Money Markets (1.0%):       
  8,780,122      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(b)      8,780,122  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $8,780,122)

     8,780,122  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $657,958,419) — 100.1%(c)

     842,414,954  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.1)%

     (1,232,019
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 841,182,935  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $1,852,941.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        42      $ 10,258,920      $ (21,765
           

 

 

 
            $ (21,765
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 657,958,419
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 842,414,954

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      573,000

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,092,162

Prepaid expenses

      3,170
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      844,083,286
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      476,258

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      1,882,051

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      56,280

Management fees payable

      182,236

Administration fees payable

      39,912

Distribution fees payable

      172,554

Custodian fees payable

      4,519

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      2,816

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,077

Trustee fees payable

      7,035

Other accrued liabilities

      74,613
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,900,351
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 841,182,935
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 623,998,405

Total distributable earnings

      217,184,530
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 841,182,935
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 44,715,862

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

      19,193,421

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 2.33
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 796,467,073

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

      41,540,361

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 19.17
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,852,941.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 13,289,880

Interest

      3,495

Income from securities lending

      290,899

Foreign withholding tax

      (2,083 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      13,582,191
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      2,358,742

Administration fees

      127,610

Distribution fees — Class 2

      2,238,108

Custodian fees

      26,784

Administrative and compliance services fees

      13,427

Transfer agent fees

      12,868

Trustee fees

      53,525

Professional fees

      41,620

Licensing fees

      196,390

Shareholder reports

      28,193

Other expenses

      26,881
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      5,124,148
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      8,458,043
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      38,051,390

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      1,252,226

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

      (201,120,616 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (223,832 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (162,040,832 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (153,582,789 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 8,458,043     $ 9,030,612

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      39,303,616       196,868,595

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (201,344,448 )       40,749,630
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (153,582,789 )       246,648,837
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (30,765,163 )       (8,374,201 )

Class 2

      (173,154,510 )       (56,973,657 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (203,919,673 )       (65,347,858 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      99,647       101,292

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      30,765,163       8,374,200

Value of shares redeemed

      (5,812,935 )       (5,965,875 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      25,051,875       2,509,617
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,689,684       122,905,502

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      173,154,510       56,973,658

Value of shares redeemed

      (166,491,923 )       (302,432,797 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      8,352,271       (122,553,637 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      33,404,146       (120,044,020 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (324,098,316 )       61,256,959

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,165,281,251       1,104,024,292
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 841,182,935     $ 1,165,281,251
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      12,192       11,257

Dividends reinvested

      13,734,448       1,011,377

Shares redeemed

      (1,115,941 )       (636,312 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      12,630,699       386,322
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      77,998       4,407,636

Dividends reinvested

      9,390,158       2,153,199

Shares redeemed

      (7,115,501 )       (11,112,033 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      2,352,655       (4,551,198 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      14,983,354       (4,164,876 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 8.85     $ 8.40     $ 8.28     $ 8.16     $ 11.25
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.06 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.45 )       1.83       0.97       1.79       (1.13 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.39 )       1.92       1.06       1.91       (0.98 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.26 )       (0.26 )       (0.31 )       (0.30 )       (0.28 )

Net Realized Gains

      (4.87 )       (1.21 )       (0.63 )       (1.49 )       (1.83 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (5.13 )       (1.47 )       (0.94 )       (1.79 )       (2.11 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 2.33     $ 8.85     $ 8.40     $ 8.28     $ 8.16
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.34 )%       24.03 %       14.82 %       25.47 %       (11.01 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 44,716     $ 58,070     $ 51,879     $ 50,096     $ 44,788

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.14 %       1.01 %       1.21 %       1.31 %       1.32 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.31 %       0.32 %       0.33 %       0.32 %       0.31 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.31 %       0.32 %       0.33 %       0.32 %       0.31 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      11 %       30 %       22 %       14 %       18 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 28.25     $ 24.06     $ 21.91     $ 19.00     $ 23.45
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.21 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.23 (a)       0.25

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (4.24 )       5.39       2.84       4.41       (2.65 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (4.03 )       5.60       3.03       4.64       (2.40 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.18 )       (0.20 )       (0.25 )       (0.24 )       (0.22 )

Net Realized Gains

      (4.87 )       (1.21 )       (0.63 )       (1.49 )       (1.83 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (5.05 )       (1.41 )       (0.88 )       (1.73 )       (2.05 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 19.17     $ 28.25     $ 24.06     $ 21.91     $ 19.00
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (13.55 )%       23.66 %       14.53 %       25.28 %       (11.35 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 796,467     $ 1,107,212     $ 1,052,145     $ 1,150,058     $ 1,020,140

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.88 %       0.76 %       0.96 %       1.06 %       1.08 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.56 %       0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.56 %       0.57 %       0.58 %       0.57 %       0.56 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      11 %       30 %       22 %       14 %       18 %

 

(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.

 

12


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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

 

13


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 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, 2022 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 $28,848 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,882,051 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

 

14


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 21,765  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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

   $ 1,252,226      $ (223,832

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.                

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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.

 

15


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 831,752,781        $ —          $ —          $ 831,752,781

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,882,051          —            —          $ 1,882,051

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         8,780,122          —            —            8,780,122
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         842,414,954          —            —            842,414,954
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (21,765 )          —            —            (21,765 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 842,393,189        $ —          $ —          $ 842,393,189
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 107,307,555        $ 262,944,420

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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

 

16


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $672,331,702. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 228,556,803  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (58,473,551
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 170,083,252  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

       $ 30,037,653        $ 173,882,020        $ 203,919,673

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 9,881,740        $ 37,219,538        $ —          $ 170,083,252        $ 217,184,530

 

(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.

 

17


AZL Mid Cap Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, the Fund had an individual shareholder account which is affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 50% 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.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 39.99% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $22,274,568.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $173,882,020.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory

 

22


Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond 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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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.

 

23


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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    50    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    50    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    50    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    50   

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

   50    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    50    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

   50    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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 12

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 13

Other Information

Page 14

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

Page 15

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 17

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) returned (15.37)%. That compared to a (18.11)%, (13.01)% and (15.91)% 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 (S&P 500), 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.

Domestic equities began the year at near all-time highs, but began to decline early in 2022 due to a combination of rising inflation and geopolitical uncertainties. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) shifted to a more hawkish policy approach in an attempt to bring inflation under control, as did many global central banks. The Fed increased the federal funds rate multiple times throughout the year for a combined total of 425 basis points. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also weighed on global markets, although European countries were particularly hard hit due to their geographic proximity to the conflict and reliance on Russian commodities such as energy and wheat.

Despite strong labor rates throughout developed markets, high inflation and an anticipated economic slowdown had a negative effect on investor sentiment for the year under review. The S&P 500 declined as company valuations struggled under the higher interest rate environment. Investors grew risk averse as fears of an economic recession loomed, selling off equity positions to avoid the volatility in equity markets. By the end of the period under review, U.S. equities had experienced their worst year since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, and international equities performed only slightly better.

The Fed’s actions made short-term financing more expensive, and the U.S. Treasury yield curve ultimately inverted with 2-year Treasuries yielding more than 10-year Treasuries by 0.55% at the end of 2022. The monetary tightening generated headwinds for domestic fixed income markets as investors demanded higher yields to account for rising rates. Widening credit spreads further weighed on prices on lower-quality bonds as investors demanded to be compensated for rising credit risks. Nearly all fixed income sectors finished the year with negative performance.

The Fund, which invests in both U.S. and international markets, outperformed its blended benchmark during the 12-month period. Its off-benchmark allocation to developed market non-U.S. equities contributed, as these outpaced U.S. equities. In addition, the Fund’s performance relative to its blended benchmark was positively affected by its allocation to mid- and small-cap U.S. equities, which outpaced their large-cap counterparts.

The Fund’s fixed income allocation detracted slightly from the Fund’s performance relative to its fixed income benchmark largely due to the underlying fund’s fees. The Fund’s fixed income allocation benefited from security selection, particularly in mortgage-backed securities and investment-grade credit. Allocation to Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) also contributed positively to 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 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, 2022.

 

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 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.

 

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 underlying funds is expected to be lower than that of the Indexes because of fees and expenses. Securities in which the underlying funds 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 an underlying 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, an underlying 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, 2022
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
   10
Year

AZL® Moderate Index Strategy Fund

         (15.37 )%          2.28 %          3.90 %        7.02 %

S&P 500® Index

         (18.11 )%          7.66 %          9.42 %        12.56 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (13.01 )%          (2.71 )%          0.02 %        1.06 %

Moderate Composite Index

         (15.91 )%          4.00 %          6.07 %        8.14 %

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

       0.82 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.50% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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 0.22%.

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,011.30     $ 0.41       0.08 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.80     $ 0.41       0.08 %

 

*

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

      45.1 %

Fixed Income Fund

      39.8

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, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Affiliated Investment Companies (100.0%):  
Domestic Equity Funds (45.1%):  
  6,825,616      AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2    $ 130,847,055  
  26,556,010      AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2      449,858,814  
  5,756,890      AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2      65,801,250  
     

 

 

 
        646,507,119  
     

 

 

 
Fixed Income Fund (39.8%):  
  60,198,702      AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund      570,683,693  
     

 

 

 
International Equity Fund (15.1%):  
  14,173,667      AZL International Index Fund, Class 2      216,290,154  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $1,722,909,317)

     1,433,480,966  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,722,909,317) — 100.0%(a)

     1,433,480,966  
  

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.0% 

     (257,260
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,433,223,706  
     

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

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, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investments in affiliates, at cost

    $ 1,722,909,317
   

 

 

 

Investments in affiliates, at value

    $ 1,433,480,966

Interest and dividends receivable

      106

Foreign currency, at value (cost $105,636)

      105,955

Receivable for investments sold

      714,807

Prepaid expenses

      13,015
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,434,314,849
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      714,807

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      254,484

Management fees payable

      62,074

Administration fees payable

      8,808

Custodian fees payable

      1,316

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,602

Transfer agent fees payable

      901

Trustee fees payable

      8,998

Other accrued liabilities

      36,153
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,091,143
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,433,223,706
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 1,600,736,435

Total distributable earnings

      (167,512,729 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,433,223,706
   

 

 

 

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

      119,651,266

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 11.98
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from affiliates

    $ 22,612,596

Dividends from non-affiliates

      17
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      22,612,613
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      3,187,647

Administration fees

      73,058

Custodian fees

      6,660

Administrative and compliance services fees

      22,730

Transfer agent fees

      7,391

Trustee fees

      90,870

Professional fees

      70,450

Shareholder reports

      31,860

Other expenses

      44,874
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      3,535,540

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (2,390,721 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      1,144,819
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      21,467,794
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      47,905

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated underlying funds

      (4,916,534 )

Net realized gains distributions from affiliated underlying funds

      105,940,985

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

      (3,637 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated underlying funds

      (409,825,537 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (308,756,818 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (287,289,024 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 21,467,794     $ 17,259,651

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      101,072,356       116,951,336

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (409,829,174 )       4,889,597
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (287,289,024 )       139,100,584
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (134,314,453 )       (33,935,061 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (134,314,453 )       (33,935,061 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      1,308,760       1,359,198,190

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      134,314,453       33,935,061

Value of shares redeemed

      (208,394,291 )       (181,979,760 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (72,771,078 )       1,211,153,491
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (494,374,555 )       1,316,319,014

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,927,598,261       611,279,247
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,433,223,706     $ 1,927,598,261
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      108,134       89,961,204

Dividends reinvested

      11,598,830       2,263,847

Shares redeemed

      (15,415,962 )       (11,902,446 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (3,708,998 )       80,322,605
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 15.63     $ 14.20     $ 13.32     $ 11.98     $ 13.30
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.18 (a)       0.20 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.23 (a)       0.26

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.63 )       1.50       1.39       2.03       (0.92 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.45 )       1.70       1.65       2.26       (0.66 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.31 )       (0.09 )       (0.27 )       (0.32 )       (0.13 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.89 )       (0.18 )       (0.50 )       (0.60 )       (0.53 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.20 )       (0.27 )       (0.77 )       (0.92 )       (0.66 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 11.98     $ 15.63     $ 14.20     $ 13.32     $ 11.98
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (15.37 )%       12.06 %       12.84 %       19.33 %       (5.17 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,433,224     $ 1,927,598     $ 611,279     $ 611,984     $ 590,092

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.35 %       1.30 %       1.95 %       1.78 %       1.75 %

Expenses Before Reductions*(c)

      0.22 %       0.26 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.42 %

Expenses Net of Reductions*

      0.07 %       0.07 %       0.08 %       0.08 %       0.07 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      8 %       14 %       15 %       5 %       4 %

 

*

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, 2022

 

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 stocks, 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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

 

 

8


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022, 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, 2024. Expenses incurred for investment advisory and management services are reflected on the Statement of Operations as “Management fees.”    

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts waived or reimbursed by the Manager 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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 period can be found on the Statement of Operations, as applicable.

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, 2022, 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, 2022 is as follows:

 

     Value
12/31/2021
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds from
Sales
 

Net

Realized
Gains (Losses)

  Change in
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2022
  Shares as of
12/31/2022
  Dividend
Income
  Net Realized
Gains
Distributions
from
Affiliated
Underlying
Funds

AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund

    $ 758,516,926     $ 9,722,111     $ (88,352,862 )     $ (10,616,244 )     $ (98,586,238 )     $ 570,683,693       60,198,702     $ 9,183,067     $ 331,222

AZL International Index Fund, Class 2

      291,329,601       12,437,771       (34,325,612 )       (1,827,757 )       (51,323,849 )       216,290,154       14,173,667       6,673,431       5,688,516

AZL Mid Cap Index Fund, Class 2

      178,097,959       28,044,542       (23,912,592 )       326,446       (51,709,300 )       130,847,055       6,825,616       1,002,769       27,041,775

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

      610,886,701       66,602,679       (53,115,475 )       7,381,322       (181,896,413 )       449,858,814       26,556,010       5,188,006       61,398,488

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

      89,228,105       12,046,307       (8,983,124 )       (180,301 )       (26,309,737 )       65,801,250       5,756,890       565,323       11,480,984
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 1,928,059,292     $ 128,853,410     $ (208,689,665 )     $ (4,916,534 )     $ (409,825,537 )     $ 1,433,480,966       113,510,885     $ 22,612,596     $ 105,940,985
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

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.”

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.

 

9


AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 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+

     $ 1,433,480,966      $      $      $ 1,433,480,966
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

     $ 1,433,480,966      $      $      $ 1,433,480,966
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

+

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

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 128,853,410        $ 208,689,665

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. 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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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, 2022

 

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $1,731,614,065. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (298,133,099
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (298,133,099
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

    

Net

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Total

Distributions(a)

AZL Moderate Index Strategy Fund      $34,672,494      $99,641,959      $134,314,453

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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      $27,153,503      $103,466,549      $—        $(298,132,781)      $(167,512,729)

 

(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.

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, 2022, 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 this 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.

 

11


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

12


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 23.23% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $334.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $99,641,959.

 

13


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.

 

14


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of the Management Agreement was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as at various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Management Agreement was approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024.

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 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.

 

15


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, for example, that 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 2022 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 2022. 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-, three-, and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021, for which periods the Fund ranked in the top 40% of its Lipper peer group.

At the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Fund, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

At the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2019 through 2021. 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, 2022, were approximately $1.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

16


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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   50   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.

 

17


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.

 

18


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (20.78)%. That compared to a (19.74)% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (gross of withholding taxes).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 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 Index.

The year under review began with concern over rising inflation, a spike in commodity prices, and the financial and economic implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Western sanctions against Russia pushed commodity prices higher and weighed on the value of the ruble, as well as on Russian equity markets in general. In March, Russian securities were removed from major emerging market indices. Chinese equities also declined as the nation experienced a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Lockdowns in major cities, including Shanghai, further depressed equity valuations. One bright spot for the quarter was among net oil-exporting countries, which benefited from the spike in energy prices.

Geopolitical tension, rising inflation, and a strengthening U.S. dollar weighed on emerging markets’ performance over the second quarter. Chinese equities were the only market to finish the quarter with a positive return as the government lifted COVID-related lockdowns and officials vowed to support economic growth. However, a souring outlook on global trade weighed on other Asian countries, including Taiwan and South Korean markets, while European emerging markets fell due to the economic effects of a shortage of Russian gas supplies. Elsewhere, political uncertainties and growing recession fears weighed on Latin American markets, most notably Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.

These themes continued into the third quarter, with fears of a global recession, high inflation, and a strong dollar driving most emerging markets lower. One notable shift was the poor performance of Chinese equities, which were among

the worst performers for the quarter within emerging markets. The nation’s zero-COVID policy continued to generate economic headwinds despite new accommodative policies from the People’s Bank of China. By comparison, Turkey was one of the best-performing markets among its peers, as its central bank announced a surprise rate cut in August despite elevated inflation.

Emerging markets equities rallied over the fourth quarter, supported by a weaker dollar and by China’s relaxation of its zero-COVID policy. Hopes that the Federal Reserve would slow its monetary tightening helped buoy optimism among emerging markets investors in October and November 2022. Meanwhile, the meeting between U.S. and Chinese presidents during the G20 summit signaled easing geopolitical tensions and helped boost market sentiment. Net oil exporters lagged their peers for the final quarter of 2022 as energy prices eased.

All sectors of the Index posted negative returns for the year under review. The utilities, financials, and industrials sectors were among the best performers, while the energy, consumer services, and information technology sectors were among the worst performers.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to the impacts of fair value adjustments and expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses exchange traded equity index futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures contracts are purchased to provide immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
     

1

Year

  

3

Year

  

5

Year

   10
Year

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

       (20.50 )%        (3.53 )%        (2.22 )%        0.94 %

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

       (20.78 )%        (3.78 )%        (2.47 )%        0.69 %

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (gross of withholding taxes)

       (19.74 )%        (2.34 )%        (1.03 )%        1.81 %

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net of withholding taxes)

       (20.09 )%        (2.69 )%        (1.40 )%        1.44 %

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)

         1.09 %

AZL® MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         1.34 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.45% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 962.20     $ 3.02       0.61 %

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 960.10     $ 4.25       0.86 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.13     $ 3.11       0.61 %

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.87     $ 4.38       0.86 %

 

*

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

      22.0 %

Information Technology

      18.6

Consumer Discretionary

      13.6

Communication Services

      10.4

Materials

      8.8

Consumer Staples

      6.5

Industrials

      6.0

Energy

      4.9

Health Care

      4.0

Utilities

      3.0

Real Estate

      1.9
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.7

Rights

        
   

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.4

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.2 %
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.3

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.3 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

3


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (98.4%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  5,099      Aecc Aviation Power Co., Ltd.    $ 31,004  
  18,981      Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS      62,793  
  83,000      AviChina Industry & Technology Co., Ltd., Class H      37,313  
  106,710      Bharat Electronics, Ltd.      128,883  
  2,026      Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd.      82,043  
  7,300      Kuang-Chi Technologies Co., Ltd., Class A      17,880  
     

 

 

 
        359,916  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.3%):       
  44,036      Agility Public Warehousing Co. KSC      104,091  
  572      Hyundai Glovis Co., Ltd.      74,383  
  9,300      SF Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      77,307  
  7,800      YTO Express Group Co., Ltd., Class A      22,549  
  3,900      Yunda Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      8,052  
  11,913      ZTO Express Cayman, Inc., ADR      320,102  
     

 

 

 
        606,484  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  66,000      Air China, Ltd.*      58,780  
  69,000      China Airlines, Ltd.      42,627  
  39,299      China Eastern Airlines Corp., Ltd.*      31,204  
  38,000      China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd.*      41,450  
  28,000      China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd., Class H*      18,227  
  64,000      Eva Airways Corp.      58,580  
  2,989      InterGlobe Aviation, Ltd.*      72,383  
  4,761      Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.*      87,111  
  13,203      Turk Hava Yollari AO*      99,452  
     

 

 

 
        509,814  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.5%):       
  2,213      Balkrishna Industries, Ltd.      56,859  
  6,982      Bharat Forge, Ltd.      74,084  
  900      Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co., Ltd., Class A      16,508  
  47,000      Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., Ltd.      51,821  
  6,500      Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd.      32,801  
  12,800      Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., Class H      53,721  
  2,479      Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.      61,453  
  5,302      Hanon Systems      34,150  
  4,200      Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.      10,474  
  1,000      Huizhou Desay Sv Automotive Co., Ltd., Class A      15,157  
  1,665      Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.      265,455  
  24,000      Minth Group, Ltd.      64,683  
  53,980      Motherson Sumi Systems, Ltd.      48,174  
  62      MRF, Ltd.      66,246  
  1,500      Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp.*      3,026  
  2,300      Ningbo Tuopu Group Co., Ltd., Class A      19,391  
  3,600      Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd., Class A      10,609  
  2,876      Tube Investments of India, Ltd.      96,518  
     

 

 

 
        981,130  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (2.6%):       
  564,400      Astra International Tbk PT      205,655  
  1,747      Bajaj Auto, Ltd.      76,219  
  3,133      BYD Co., Ltd.      115,894  
  23,500      BYD Co., Ltd., Class H      577,929  
  14,924      Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd., Class A      26,446  
  84,000      Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd., Class H      48,223  
  4,135      Eicher Motors, Ltd.      160,734  
  2,009      Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AS      56,478  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Automobiles, continued       
  177,000      Geely Automobile Holdings, Ltd.    $ 256,033  
  4,500      Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd., Class A      19,186  
  92,500      Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd., Class H      120,459  
  99,200      Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.      66,396  
  3,348      Hero MotoCorp, Ltd.      110,863  
  732      Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.      42,996  
  3,891      Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.      467,694  
  7,403      Kia Corp.      349,191  
  30,994      Li Auto, Inc., Class A*      316,074  
  24,997      Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd.      376,229  
  3,371      Maruti Suzuki India, Ltd.      340,958  
  38,293      NIO, Inc., ADR*      373,357  
  19,100      SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd.      39,628  
  47,846      Tata Motors, Ltd.*      223,221  
  5,185      TVS Motor Co., Ltd.      68,049  
  23,258      XPeng, Inc.*      115,612  
  36,000      Yadea Group Holdings, Ltd.      59,964  
     

 

 

 
        4,613,488  
     

 

 

 
Banks (15.4%):       
  21,458      Absa Group, Ltd.      245,086  
  87,807      Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank      215,024  
  42,766      Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Pjsc      105,971  
  143,000      Agricultural Bank of China, Ltd.      59,847  
  724,000      Agricultural Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      248,623  
  87,522      Akbank T.A.S.      91,528  
  54,967      Al Rajhi Bank*      1,102,910  
  28,624      Alinma Bank      248,490  
  49,791      Alpha Services and Holdings SA      53,119  
  53,900      AMMB Holdings Berhad      50,742  
  16,034      Arab National Bank      136,933  
  2,564      AU Small Finance Bank, Ltd.      20,193  
  62,674      Axis Bank, Ltd.      704,489  
  43,571      Banco Bradesco SA      111,172  
  1,298,706      Banco de Chile      134,803  
  2,143      Banco de Credito e Inversiones      61,651  
  21,062      Banco del Bajio SA      66,541  
  24,879      Banco do Brasil SA      163,670  
  11,234      Banco Santander Brasil SA      59,988  
  2,238,136      Banco Santander Chile      89,626  
  7,060      Bancolombia SA      61,904  
  10,347      Bancolombia SA      71,620  
  20,207      Bandhan Bank, Ltd.*      56,989  
  15,757      Bank AlBilad*      186,902  
  11,736      Bank Al-Jazira      59,742  
  102,800      Bank Jago TBK PT*      24,475  
  37,500      Bank of Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      23,254  
  2,247,000      Bank of China, Ltd.      817,676  
  72,500      Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      32,947  
  75,999      Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Class A      51,827  
  249,000      Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Class H      142,665  
  10,200      Bank of Hangzhou Co., Ltd.      19,197  
  36,920      Bank of Jiangsu Co., Ltd.      38,729  
  18,200      Bank of Nanjing Co., Ltd.      27,285  
  13,970      Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd.      65,234  
  34,470      Bank of Shanghai Co., Ltd., Class A      29,309  
  62,666      Bank of the Philippine Islands      114,842  
  5,661      Bank Pekao SA      112,410  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  17,575      Banque Saudi Fransi    $ 190,260  
  68,801      BDO Unibank, Inc.      129,970  
  36,846      Boubyan Bank KSCP      96,290  
  2,330      Capitec Bank Holdings, Ltd.      255,025  
  136,746      Chang Hwa Commercial Bank      76,286  
  257,000      China Citic Bank Co., Ltd.      113,937  
  2,647,000      China Construction Bank      1,658,600  
  32,600      China Construction Bank Corp.      26,386  
  430,795      China Development Financial Holding Corp.      176,523  
  72,500      China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd.      31,995  
  52,000      China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd., Class H      15,857  
  109,500      China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.      607,038  
  36,144      China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.      193,817  
  69,700      China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Class A      34,597  
  113,300      China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Class H      39,196  
  197,400      CIMB Group Holdings Berhad      260,316  
  75,212      Commercial Bank of Qatar Qsc (The)      103,249  
  71,388      Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE      119,692  
  1,875      Credicorp, Ltd.      254,362  
  505,000      CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      362,997  
  66,215      Dubai Islamic Bank      102,789  
  385,097      E.Sun Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      301,271  
  56,719      Emirates NBD Bank PJSC      200,471  
  70,569      Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA*      79,651  
  130,178      First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC      605,498  
  318,999      First Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      274,970  
  73,601      Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de C.V.      528,563  
  58,223      Grupo Financiero Inbursa SAB de C.V., Class O*      98,144  
  24,941      Gulf Bank KSCP      25,556  
  8,661      Hana Financial Holdings Group, Inc.      289,827  
  19,300      Hong Leong Bank Berhad      90,047  
  6,400      Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad      27,050  
  251,375      Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      183,558  
  26,900      Huaxia Bank Co., Ltd., Class A      20,087  
  146,247      ICICI Bank, Ltd.      1,567,643  
  108,800      Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd., Class A      67,935  
  1,600,000      Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd., Class H      824,181  
  39,400      Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.      99,734  
  8,902      Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK)      68,818  
  146,045      Itausa — Investimentos Itau S.A.      235,423  
  3,929      KakaoBank Corp.*      76,568  
  11,100      Kasikornbank PCL      47,151  
  10,140      KB Financial Group, Inc.      386,253  
  2,004      Komercni Banka AS^      58,075  
  16,130      Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ltd.      354,916  
  43,000      Krung Thai Bank      21,934  
  209,453      Kuwait Finance House KSCP      565,721  
  102,501      Malayan Banking Bhd      202,353  
  128,199      Masraf Al Rayan      111,818  
  371      mBank SA*      25,141  
  317,125      Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      313,075  
  46,592      Metropolitan Bank & Trust      45,179  
  10,951      Moneta Money Bank AS      36,917  
  10,393      National Bank of Greece SA*      41,559  
  203,432      National Bank of Kuwait SAKP      718,300  
  64,205      National Commercial Bank      864,546  
  13,995      Nedcor, Ltd.      175,213  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  5,651      OTP Bank Nyrt    $ 153,147  
  33,100      Ping An Bank Co., Ltd., Class A      62,692  
  38,900      Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd., Class A      25,861  
  231,000      Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd., Class H      142,711  
  22,657      Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA      157,504  
  1,554,500      PT Bank Central Asia Tbk      852,392  
  533,300      PT Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk      338,968  
  191,700      PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk      113,187  
  1,819,942      PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk      577,034  
  421,800      Public Bank Berhad      413,642  
  27,221      Qatar International Islamic Bank QSC      77,851  
  43,180      Qatar Islamic Bank      220,255  
  129,909      Qatar National Bank      642,202  
  59,900      RHB Bank Bhd      78,758  
  41,240      Riyad Bank      349,796  
  1,058      Santander Bank Polska SA      62,550  
  11,462      Saudi Investment Bank/The      53,000  
  317,881      Sberbank of Russia*(a)      4  
  28,200      SCB X pcl      86,778  
  113,474      Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank, Ltd. (The)      162,300  
  70,100      Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.      73,427  
  12,719      Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.      354,446  
  298,758      SinoPac Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      161,717  
  35,548      Standard Bank Group, Ltd.      351,287  
  47,953      State Bank of India      354,350  
  331,001      Taishin Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      162,555  
  118,000      Taiwan Business Bank      49,705  
  288,654      Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      244,112  
  3,719      TCS Group Holding plc, GDR*(a)       
  23,255      The Saudi British Bank      241,607  
  102,709      Turkiye Is Bankasi AS, Class C      70,244  
  97,280,589      VTB Bank PJSC*(a)      1,342  
  15,903      Woori Financial Group, Inc.      146,101  
  83,021      Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS      52,088  
  316,254      Yes Bank, Ltd.*      78,555  
     

 

 

 
        27,301,909  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.8%):       
  138,132      Ambev SA Com Npv      379,921  
  1,100      Anhui Gujing Distillery Co., Ltd., Class A      42,215  
  3,000      Anhui Gujing Distillery Co., Ltd., Class B      47,991  
  1,300      Anhui Kouzi Distillery Co., Ltd.      10,791  
  10,480      Arca Continental SAB de C.V.      85,122  
  8,700      Carabao Group pcl      24,221  
  42,000      China Resources Beer Holdings Co., Ltd.      293,598  
  1,400      Chongqing Brewery Co., Ltd., Class A      25,668  
  15,966      Coca-Cola Femsa S.A.B de C.V.      108,046  
  3,027      Compania Cervecerias Unidas SA      20,226  
  54,785      Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V.      426,394  
  2,800      Jiangsu King’s Luck Brewery JSC, Ltd., Class A      20,495  
  3,200      Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., Class A      73,671  
  1,100      JiuGui Liquor Co., Ltd., Class A      21,840  
  2,172      Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.      537,512  
  2,400      Luzhou Laojiao Co., Ltd.      77,130  
  51,000      Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd., Class H      288,216  
  23,700      Osotspa pcl      19,338  
  2,744      Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., Class A      14,754  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  2,160      Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 88,584  
  1,400      Sichuan Swellfun Co., Ltd., Class A      16,973  
  2,600      Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., Class A      40,225  
  14,000      Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., Class H      138,325  
  7,920      United Spirits, Ltd.*      84,034  
  5,817      Varun Beverages, Ltd.      92,621  
  6,800      Wuliangye Yibin Co., Ltd., Class A      176,082  
     

 

 

 
        3,153,993  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.7%):       
  51,000      3SBio, Inc.      54,085  
  18,460      BeiGene, Ltd.*      315,352  
  1,015      Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd., Class A      18,462  
  600      BGI Genomics Co., Ltd.      4,463  
  10,203      Biocon, Ltd.      32,286  
  2,862      Celltrion, Inc.      366,188  
  3,200      Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., Ltd., Class A      40,445  
  3,270      Hualan Biological Engineering, Inc., Class A      10,648  
  300      Imeik Technology Development Co., Ltd., Class A      24,453  
  28,000      Innovent Biologics, Inc.*      120,220  
  1,366      Legend Biotech Corp., ADR*      68,191  
  6,000      PharmaEssentia Corp.*      93,079  
  1,000      Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd., Class A*      9,008  
  21,600      Shanghai Raas Blood Products Co., Ltd.      19,704  
  2,560      Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd., Class A      11,616  
  644      SK Bioscience Co., Ltd.*      37,811  
  4,000      Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Class A      23,137  
  2,417      Zai Lab, Ltd., ADR*      74,202  
     

 

 

 
        1,323,350  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  3,000      Beijing New Building Materials plc      11,152  
  35,000      China Lesso Group Holdings, Ltd.      36,477  
  6,500      Zhuzhou Kibing Group Co., Ltd., Class A      10,655  
     

 

 

 
        58,284  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.2%):       
  173,524      B3 SA- Brasil Bolsa Balcao      434,204  
  34,376      Banco BTG Pactual SA      155,888  
  23,140      Caitong Securities Co., Ltd.      23,709  
  193,000      China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd., Class H      26,711  
  120,000      China Galaxy Securities Co.      58,588  
  44,400      China International Capital Corp., Ltd.      84,781  
  14,140      China Merchants Securities Co., Ltd.      27,061  
  21,465      Citic Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      61,504  
  67,850      Citic Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      137,205  
  5,300      CSC Financial Co., Ltd., Class A      18,116  
  27,993      East Money Information Co., Ltd., Class A      78,168  
  6,600      Everbright Securities Co., Ltd.      14,125  
  30,400      GF Securities Co., Ltd.      43,429  
  15,400      GF Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      34,331  
  12,599      Guosen Securities Co., Ltd., Class A      16,099  
  14,600      Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd.      28,551  
  28,600      Haitong Securities Co., Ltd.      35,762  
  78,800      Haitong Securities Co., Ltd.      48,168  
  1,000      Hithink RoyalFlush Information Network Co., Ltd., Class A      14,194  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
  12,900      Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 23,649  
  44,600      Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Class H      50,708  
  31,590      Industrial Securities Co., Ltd.      26,094  
  1,242      Korea Investment Holdings Co., Ltd.      52,778  
  10,139      Meritz Securities Co., Ltd.      50,561  
  9,168      Mirae Asset Securities Co., Ltd.      44,345  
  2,777      NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.      19,348  
  26,240      Orient Securities Co., Ltd./China      33,761  
  3,779      Reinet Investments SCA      73,144  
  1,516      Samsung Securities Co., Ltd.      37,956  
  1,027      Saudi Tadawul Group Holding Co.      49,326  
  69,900      Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co., Ltd.      40,031  
  45,462      The Moscow Exchange*(a)      45  
  283,820      Yuanta Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      200,336  
  5,300      Zheshang Securities Co., Ltd.      7,574  
     

 

 

 
        2,050,250  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (3.2%):       
  5,052      Advanced Petrochemical Co.      57,250  
  11,215      Asian Paints, Ltd.      418,713  
  9,301      Berger Paints India, Ltd.      65,182  
  42,000      Dongyue Group, Ltd.      46,235  
  88,000      Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp.      201,309  
  112,000      Formosa Plastics Corp.      316,229  
  4,600      Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      28,971  
  3,276      Hanwha Chemical Corp.*      111,739  
  31,971      Hektas Ticaret TAS*      64,359  
  13,400      Hengli Petrochemical Co., Ltd.      29,916  
  10,092      Hengyi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Class A      10,209  
  1,300      Hoshine Silicon Industry Co., Ltd.      15,519  
  60,600      Indorama Ventures pcl      71,095  
  9,200      Jiangsu Eastern Shenghong Co., Ltd., Class A      17,208  
  533      Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.      53,453  
  1,357      LG Chem, Ltd.      649,200  
  226      LG Chem, Ltd.      49,926  
  3,900      Lomon Billions Group Co., Ltd., Class A      10,619  
  540      Lotte Chemical Corp.      75,697  
  135,824      Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co.      79,107  
  133,000      Nan Ya Plastics Corp.      307,130  
  9,868      National Industrialization Co.*      32,551  
  14,000      Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co., Ltd., Class A      24,281  
  29,450      Orbia Advance Corp SAB de CV      52,152  
  73,300      Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad      143,323  
  1,447      PhosAgro PJSC(a)       
  27      Phosagro Public Joint Stock Co., GDR*(a)       
  2,276      PI Industries, Ltd.      93,902  
  4,453      Pidilite Industries, Ltd.      136,903  
  836,106      PT Barito Pacific Tbk      40,559  
  53,800      PTT Global Chemical Public Co., Ltd.      73,428  
  6,900      Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co., Ltd., Class A*      22,492  
  19,350      Rongsheng Petro Chemical Co., Ltd., Class A      34,249  
  6,039      SABIK Agri-Nutrients Co.      234,971  
  8,631      Sahara International Petrochemical Co.      78,209  
  12,572      Sasa Polyester Sanayi AS*      73,910  
  16,339      Sasol, Ltd.      258,599  
  26,296      Saudi Basic Industries Corp.      625,807  
  8,430      Saudi Industrial Investment Group      49,317  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  21,544      Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.*    $ 78,497  
  4,940      Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Chemical Co., Ltd., Class A      23,543  
  3,600      Shanghai Putailai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      26,831  
  264      Shenzhen Dynanonic Co., Ltd., Class A      8,724  
  591      SK IE Technology Co., Ltd.*      25,053  
  649      SKC Co., Ltd.      45,831  
  1,120      Skshu Paint Co., Ltd., Class A*      18,346  
  4,172      Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA      337,579  
  3,359      SRF, Ltd.      92,643  
  1,900      Tianqi Lithium Corp., Class A*      21,548  
  14,118      UPL, Ltd.      122,239  
  5,900      Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.      78,598  
  7,713      Yanbu National Petrochemical Co.      85,530  
     

 

 

 
        5,618,681  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.1%):       
  108,222      China Everbright International, Ltd.      48,096  
  6,265      Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp., Ltd.      48,305  
  588      S1 Corp.      27,652  
  2,200      Shanghai M&G Stationery, Inc., Class A      17,406  
     

 

 

 
        141,459  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.2%):       
  15,000      Accton Technology Corp.      114,333  
  20,500      BYD Electronic International Co., Ltd.      65,946  
  1,300      China Zhenhua Group Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      21,368  
  1,800      Yealink Network Technology Corp., Ltd., Class A      15,693  
  900      Zhongji Innolight Co., Ltd., Class A      3,497  
  8,300      ZTE Corp.      30,886  
  23,800      ZTE Corp., Class H      52,456  
     

 

 

 
        304,179  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.5%):       
  98,000      China Communications Services Corp., Ltd.      35,582  
  118,000      China Railway Group, Ltd.      62,296  
  53,400      China Railway Group, Ltd., Class A      42,628  
  80,500      China State Construction Engineering Corp., Ltd.      62,746  
  44,000      China State Construction International Holdings, Ltd.      49,230  
  2,127      Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.      59,190  
  19,005      Larsen & Toubro, Ltd.      477,983  
  35,600      Metallurgical Corp. of China, Ltd.      16,261  
  38,400      Power Construction Corp. of China, Ltd.      39,062  
  4,331      Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.*      76,706  
     

 

 

 
        921,684  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (1.0%):       
  1,353      ACC, Ltd.      39,828  
  16,769      Ambuja Cements, Ltd.      106,268  
  7,700      Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class A      30,339  
  33,000      Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class H      114,436  
  72,000      Asia Cement Corp.      96,021  
  25,400      BBMG Corp.      9,269  
  437,937      Cemex SAB de C.V.*      177,134  
  8,458      China Jushi Co., Ltd., Class A      16,686  
  122,000      China National Buildings Material Co., Ltd.      100,222  
  78,000      China Resources Cement Holdings, Ltd.      40,957  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials, continued       
  7,494      Grasim Industries, Ltd.    $ 155,619  
  900      Huaxin Cement Co., Ltd.      1,919  
  827      POSCO Chemical Co., Ltd.      118,735  
  78,729      PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk      33,260  
  298      Shree Cement, Ltd.      83,728  
  178,599      Taiwan Cement Corp.      195,484  
  19,200      The Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd.      189,431  
  3,087      Ultra Tech Cement, Ltd.      259,105  
     

 

 

 
        1,768,441  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.6%):       
  2,667      360 DigiTech, Inc., ADR      54,300  
  7,516      Bajaj Finance, Ltd.      594,904  
  12,258      Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co., Ltd.      106,738  
  15,500      JMT Network Services pcl      30,894  
  29,000      Krungthai Card pcl      49,458  
  17,481      Lufax Holding, Ltd., ADR      33,913  
  28,300      Muangthai Capital pcl, Class R      31,068  
  4,134      Muthoot Finance, Ltd.      53,002  
  4,769      SBI Cards & Payment Services, Ltd.      45,761  
  4,836      Shriram Transport Finance      80,347  
  27,700      Srisawad Corp pcl      39,011  
     

 

 

 
        1,119,396  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.1%):       
  21,248      Klabin SA      80,376  
  38,400      SCG Packaging pcl      63,070  
  1,500      Yunnan Energy New Material Co., Ltd.      28,342  
     

 

 

 
        171,788  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.2%):       
  11,500      Koolearn Technology Holding, Ltd.*      76,997  
  47,790      New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc.*      168,863  
  12,817      TAL Education Group, ADR*      90,360  
     

 

 

 
        336,220  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.9%):       
  10,739      Bajaj Finserv, Ltd.      200,121  
  654      Bajaj Holdings & Investment, Ltd.      45,285  
  41,082      Chailease Holding Co., Ltd.      289,822  
  58,000      Far East Horizon, Ltd.      45,334  
  145,699      FirstRand, Ltd.      532,491  
  213,189      Fubon Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      390,357  
  22,368      Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS      53,982  
  16,878      Remgro, Ltd.      132,137  
     

 

 

 
        1,689,529  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.4%):       
  1,192,000      China Tower Corp., Ltd., Class H      128,305  
  104,000      Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.      382,310  
  100,092      Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC      622,399  
  6,670      Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE)      104,156  
  18,250      Indus Towers, Ltd.      41,917  
  6,438      LG Uplus Corp.      56,461  
  34,613      Ooredoo Qsc      87,435  
  34,010      Operadora de Sites Mexicanos SA de CV      33,465  
  1,422,900      PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk      342,845  
  497,700      Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk PT      35,135  
  43,150      Saudi Telecom Co.      421,101  
  12,522      Telefonica Brasil SA      90,964  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  37,500      Telekom Malaysia Berhad    $ 46,048  
  285,600      True Corp. pcl      39,869  
     

 

 

 
        2,432,410  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.2%):       
  7,799      Adani Transmission, Ltd.*      242,897  
  7,912      Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A      64,789  
  32,586      Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A      259,987  
  4,545      CEZ AS      155,112  
  46,508      Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais      98,140  
  657,720      ENEL Americas SA      88,053  
  1,011,183      ENEL Chile SA      46,504  
  6,011      Energisa SA      50,338  
  27,877      Equatorial Energia SA      142,680  
  952,130      Inter Rao Ues PJSC(a)      13  
  15,365      Interconexion Electrica SA ESP      66,570  
  7,164      Korea Electric Power Corp., Ltd.*      124,029  
  25,730      PGE SA*      40,415  
  93,408      Power Grid Corp. of India, Ltd.      240,466  
  4,801      Public Power Corp. SA*      33,620  
  25,045      Saudi Electricity Co.      153,905  
  42,224      Tata Power Co., Ltd. (The)      105,606  
  61,000      Tenega Nasional Berhad      133,491  
     

 

 

 
        2,046,615  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.9%):       
  1,351      ABB India, Ltd.      43,824  
  4,200      Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      237,827  
  7,300      Dongfang Electric Corp., Ltd., Class A      22,081  
  11,375      Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.*      139,834  
  1,384      Ecopro BM Co., Ltd.      101,818  
  3,801      Eve Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      48,091  
  1,050      Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Class A*      27,212  
  7,790      Havells India, Ltd.      103,602  
  12,500      Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      29,009  
  983      LG Energy Solution*      340,626  
  4,200      Ming Yang Smart Energy Group, Ltd., Class A      15,271  
  13,176      Nari Technology Co., Ltd.      46,084  
  1,600      Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd., Class A      15,619  
  1,200      Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      11,874  
  2,900      Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., Class A      46,673  
  3,200      Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., Class A      9,741  
  400      Suzhou Maxwell Technologies Co., Ltd., Class A      23,705  
  7,200      TBEA Co., Ltd., Class A      20,807  
  2,000      Voltronic Power Technology Corp.      100,369  
  70,616      Walsin Lihwa Corp.      108,352  
  12,400      Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd.      11,043  
  16,541      Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd.      26,168  
  3,500      Zhejiang Chint Electrics Co., Ltd., Class A      13,943  
  15,800      Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co., Ltd., Class H      78,458  
     

 

 

 
        1,622,031  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (2.7%):       
  18,500      AAC Technologies Holdings, Inc.*      42,301  
  177,600      AU Optronics Corp.      86,628  
  4,200      Chaozhou Three-Circle Group Co., Ltd., Class A      18,560  
  8,500      Delta Electronics Thailand pcl      203,811  
  57,000      Delta Electronics, Inc.      531,061  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued       
  24,000      E Ink Holdings, Inc.    $ 125,608  
  9,699      Foxconn Industrial Internet Co., Ltd., Class A      12,790  
  8,100      GoerTek, Inc., Class A      19,560  
  2,100      Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      17,810  
  354,000      Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.      1,150,234  
  606      Iljin Materials Co., Ltd.      25,081  
  48,600      Inari Amertron Berhad      28,873  
  240,730      Innolux Corp.      86,501  
  19,500      Kingboard Holdings, Ltd.      62,095  
  37,500      Kingboard Laminates Holdings, Ltd.      41,229  
  659      L&F Co., Ltd.*      91,427  
  3,000      Largan Precision Co., Ltd.      198,983  
  11,400      Lens Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      17,276  
  6,031      LG Display Co., Ltd.      59,892  
  404      LG Innotek Co., Ltd.      81,655  
  4,700      Lingyi iTech Guangdong Co., Class A*      3,071  
  14,559      Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.      66,548  
  864      Maxscend Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      14,222  
  7,000      Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corp.      51,626  
  1,200      NAURA Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      38,911  
  4,200      OFILM Group Co., Ltd., Class A*      2,841  
  1,281      Raytron Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      6,856  
  1,474      Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., Series L      153,614  
  1,571      Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.      740,319  
  3,800      Shengyi Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      7,880  
  1,820      Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Class A      18,902  
  20,800      Sunny Optical Technology Group Co., Ltd.      247,542  
  7,000      Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      24,926  
  41,000      Synnex Technology International Corp.      78,947  
  14,000      Tianma Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      17,445  
  35,000      Unimicron Technology Corp.      136,465  
  6,300      Unisplendour Corp., Ltd., Class A      17,706  
  1,700      Wingtech Technology Co., Ltd.      12,866  
  47,960      WPG Holdings, Ltd.      75,041  
  6,350      Wuhan Guide Infrared Co., Ltd.      10,027  
  1,650      WUS Printed Circuit Kunshan Co., Ltd., Class A      2,826  
  9,851      Yageo Corp.      144,420  
  9,200      Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      14,972  
  19,000      Zhen Ding Technology Holding, Ltd.      64,869  
     

 

 

 
        4,854,217  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  48,000      China Oilfield Services, Ltd.      58,209  
  126,200      Dialog Group Berhad      70,334  
     

 

 

 
        128,543  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.0%):       
  4,913      Bilibili, Inc., ADR*      116,389  
  2,170      CD Projekt SA      64,306  
  400      G-Bits Network Technology Xiamen Co., Ltd.      17,963  
  455      HYBE Co., Ltd.*      63,143  
  9,347      IQIYI, Inc., ADR*      49,539  
  870      Kakao Games Corp.*      31,186  
  28,000      Kingsoft Corp., Ltd.      93,659  
  758      Krafton, Inc.*      101,841  
  4,000      Mango Excellent Media Co., Ltd., Class A      17,282  
  483      Ncsoft Corp.      172,723  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment, continued       
  54,975      NetEase, Inc.    $ 801,392  
  657      Netmarble Corp.      31,661  
  810      Pearl Abyss Corp.*      27,159  
  7,050      Perfect World Co., Ltd., Class A      12,906  
  20,844      Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR*      172,588  
  4,800      Wuhu Sanqi Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      12,471  
  15,360      Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co., Ltd., Class A*      8,421  
     

 

 

 
        1,794,629  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.1%):       
  79,843      Fibra UNO Amdinistracion SA      94,096  
  89,688      Growthpoint Properties, Ltd.      76,284  
     

 

 

 
        170,380  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.4%):       
  13,933      Atacadao Distribuicao Comercio e Industria, Ltd.      39,008  
  4,988      Avenue Supermarts, Ltd.*      244,476  
  27,700      Berli Jucker pcl      28,204  
  157      BGF Retail Co., Ltd.      26,186  
  10,042      Bid Corp., Ltd.      194,969  
  12,876      BIM Birlesik Magazalar AS      94,346  
  41,302      Cencosud SA      67,960  
  7,085      Clicks Group, Ltd.      112,691  
  166,700      CP All pcl      328,675  
  1,473      Dino Polska SA*      126,601  
  631      E-Mart Co., Ltd.      49,166  
  2,004      Magnit PJSC*(a)       
  704      Nahdi Medical Co.*      31,401  
  16,000      President Chain Store Corp.      141,388  
  32,016      Raia Drogasil SA      143,851  
  20,211      Sendas Distribuidora SA      74,539  
  14,686      Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.      195,500  
  414,900      Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk PT      70,641  
  5,844      The Spar Group, Ltd.      39,066  
  141,551      Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de C.V.      498,354  
  3,565      X5 Retail Group NV, GDR*(a)      4  
  1,456      Yifeng Pharmacy Chain Co., Ltd., Class A      13,376  
     

 

 

 
        2,520,402  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (2.0%):       
  4,930      Almarai Co. JSC      70,302  
  7,000      Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., Ltd.*      8,944  
  15,625      BRF SA*      24,507  
  2,902      Britannia Industries, Ltd.      150,891  
  107,900      Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co., Ltd.      77,208  
  110,000      China Feihe, Ltd.      92,658  
  274,400      China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co., Ltd.*^       
  86,000      China Mengniu Dairy Co., Ltd.      386,851  
  245      CJ CheilJedang Corp.      73,946  
  75,500      Dali Foods Group Co., Ltd.      34,340  
  7,950      Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Co., Ltd.      91,016  
  700      Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co., Ltd., Class A      16,308  
  5,255      Gruma, SAB de C.V., Class B      70,331  
  38,987      Grupo Bimbo SAB de C.V., Series A, Class A      164,816  
  3,800      Guangdong Haid Group Co., Ltd., Class A      33,752  
  5,400      Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd.      20,147  
  10,200      Inner Mongolia Yili Indsutrial Group Co., Ltd.      45,359  
  90,500      IOI Corp. Berhad      83,301  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  22,213      JBS SA    $ 92,526  
  1,500      Jonjee Hi-Tech Industrial And Commercial Holding Co., Ltd.      7,924  
  700      Juewei Food Co., Ltd., Class A      6,155  
  12,600      Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad      64,001  
  16,791      Marico, Ltd.      103,497  
  179,400      Monde Nissin Corp.      35,802  
  9,772      Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd.      68,339  
  955      Nestle India, Ltd.      225,862  
  2,000      Nestle Malaysia Bhd      63,631  
  10,600      New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., Class A*      19,632  
  721      Orion Corp./ Republic of Korea      73,238  
  20,980      PPB Group Berhad      83,122  
  213,700      PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk      77,559  
  76,600      PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk      49,161  
  127,500      PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk      55,090  
  32,650      QL Resources Berhad      40,881  
  59,200      Sime Darby Plantation Bhd      62,581  
  18,076      Tata Consumer Products, Ltd.      167,203  
  56,100      Thai Union Frozen Products pcl      27,384  
  9,830      The Savola Group      71,908  
  58,000      Tingyi (Caymen Is) Holding Corp.      102,155  
  6,800      Tongwei Co., Ltd., Class A      37,758  
  43,000      Uni-President China Holdings, Ltd.      42,847  
  137,000      Uni-President Enterprises Corp.      296,799  
  32,810      Universal Robina Corp.      80,307  
  139,000      Want Want China Holdings, Ltd.      92,824  
  13,060      Wens Foodstuffs Group Co., Ltd.      36,696  
  16,000      Yihai International Holding, Ltd.      55,893  
  2,600      Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      16,258  
     

 

 

 
        3,601,710  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.7%):       
  7,970      Adani Total Gas, Ltd.      354,818  
  18,500      Beijing Enterprises Holdings, Ltd.      59,263  
  77,800      China Gas Holdings, Ltd.      112,287  
  26,000      China Resources Gas Group, Ltd.      96,836  
  23,200      ENN Energy Holdings, Ltd.      323,678  
  60,454      GAIL India, Ltd.      70,056  
  8,251      Indraprastha Gas, Ltd.      41,218  
  124,000      Kunlun Energy Co., Ltd.      87,951  
  25,200      Petronas Gas Berhad      97,963  
     

 

 

 
        1,244,070  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.2%):       
  54,400      Hartalega Holdings Berhad      21,034  
  2,280      Jafron Biomedical Co., Ltd., Class A      10,159  
  900      Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co., Ltd.      4,126  
  7,700      Lepu Medical Technology Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      25,409  
  20,000      Microport Scientific Corp.*      52,676  
  1,680      Ovctek China, Inc., Class A      8,631  
  548      SD Biosensor, Inc.      13,158  
  72,000      Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co., Ltd., Class H      117,931  
  2,100      Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Class A      95,325  
  155,200      Top Glove Corp. Berhad*      31,951  
     

 

 

 
        380,400  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services (0.8%):       
  11,515      Aier Eye Hospital Group Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 51,489  
  3,000      Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Ltd.      161,959  
  301,500      Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Co., Ltd.      252,549  
  13,700      Bumrungrad Hospital pcl      83,670  
  2,746      Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd.      127,011  
  1,074      Dallah Healthcare Co.      42,339  
  2,203      Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Co.      129,346  
  1,400      Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd., Class A      15,710  
  125,780      Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA*      121,034  
  3,300      Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd., Class A      22,223  
  9,200      Hygeia Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.*^      66,025  
  60,100      IHH Healthcare Berhad      84,773  
  600      Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      1,125  
  15,300      Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A*      13,498  
  1,233      Mouwasat Medical Services Co.      68,662  
  9,527      Rede D’Or Sao Luiz SA      53,381  
  25,500      Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.      42,414  
  1,900      Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.      4,875  
  34,400      Sinopharm Group Co., Series H      87,244  
  700      Topchoice Medical Corp., Class A*      15,414  
     

 

 

 
        1,444,741  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.0%):       
  231,900      Asset World Corp. pcl      42,016  
  3,600      China International Travel Service Corp., Ltd., Class A      111,949  
  67,600      Genting Berhard      68,852  
  86,800      Genting Malaysia Berhad      53,076  
  92,000      Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, Ltd.*      18,808  
  33,000      Haidilao International Holding, Ltd.*      94,743  
  5,524      Huazhu Group, Ltd., ADR      234,328  
  19,964      Indian Hotels Co., Ltd.      76,621  
  20,000      Jiumaojiu International Holdings, Ltd.      52,767  
  15,230      Jollibee Foods Corp.      63,034  
  11,750      Jubilant Foodworks, Ltd.      72,321  
  2,483      Kangwon Land, Inc.*      45,787  
  101,900      Minor International pcl*      94,928  
  7,104      OPAP SA      100,699  
  25,400      Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co., Ltd., Class A      19,412  
  6,660      Songcheng Performance Development Co., Ltd., Class A      13,994  
  300      Super Hi International Holding, Ltd.*      382  
  11,781      Yum China Holdings, Inc.      643,832  
     

 

 

 
        1,807,549  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.4%):       
  700      Ecovacs Robotics Co., Ltd., Class A      7,352  
  66,800      Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Class H      227,734  
  2,982      LG Electronics, Inc.      205,847  
  5,000      Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.      47,889  
  1,400      Oppein Home Group, Inc., Class A      24,502  
  11,900      Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.      41,900  
  28,400      TCL Corp., Class A      15,203  
  1,515      Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.      67,277  
  1,600      Zhejiang Supor Co., Ltd., Class A      11,386  
     

 

 

 
        649,090  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Products (0.5%):       
  23,740      Hindustan Unilever, Ltd.    $ 733,114  
  38,309      Kimberl- Clark de Mexico SAB de C.V.      65,028  
  189,400      PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk      57,131  
  15,000      Vinda International Holdings, Ltd.      44,048  
     

 

 

 
        899,321  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (1.0%):       
  211,560      AC Energy Corp.      29,041  
  2,070      ACWA Power Co.      83,907  
  9,102      Adani Green Energy, Ltd.*      211,450  
  21,119      Adani Power, Ltd.*      76,225  
  26,100      B Grimm Power pcl      29,969  
  213,000      Cgn Power Co., Ltd., Class H      50,587  
  96,000      China Longyuan Power Group Corp.      117,449  
  41,500      China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.      35,829  
  136,000      China Power International Develpoment, Ltd.      57,184  
  58,000      China Resources Power Holdings Co.      118,620  
  38,500      China Three Gorges Renewables Group Co., Ltd.      31,299  
  40,400      China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd.      121,868  
  2,400      Electricity Genera pcl      11,957  
  43,600      Energy Absolute Public Co., Ltd.      121,822  
  7,616      Engie Brasil Energia SA      54,647  
  47,300      GD Power Development Co., Ltd., Class A*      29,024  
  25,400      Global Power Synergy pcl      53,560  
  87,800      Gulf Energy Development pcl, Class R      139,648  
  13,900      Huadian Power International Corp, Ltd., Class A      11,760  
  126,000      Huaneng Power International, Inc., Class H*      59,578  
  114,179      NTPC, Ltd.      229,185  
  16,900      Ratch Group pcl      20,867  
  10,900      Sichuan Chuantou Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      19,181  
  1,886      Terna Energy SA      41,078  
     

 

 

 
        1,755,735  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.2%):       
  58,230      Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.      60,496  
  88,657      Alfa SAB de CV, Class A      56,474  
  4,280      Ayala Corp.      53,725  
  7,824      Bidvest Group, Ltd.      98,668  
  158,000      Citic, Ltd.      166,828  
  403      CJ Corp.      26,923  
  68,000      Far Eastern New Century Corp.      70,557  
  86,500      Fosun International, Ltd.      70,492  
  15,971      Grupo Carso SAB de C.V.      67,033  
  1,948      GS Holdings      67,776  
  15,300      Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad      22,232  
  44,815      Industries Qatar Q.S.C.      157,847  
  101,484      JG Summit Holdings, Inc.      91,999  
  20,331      KOC Holdings AS      91,063  
  2,559      LG Corp.      158,939  
  92,339      Multiply Group PJSC*      116,245  
  1,863      Mytilineos SA      40,426  
  54,807      Q Holding PJSC*      59,706  
  2,613      Samsung C&T Corp.      236,016  
  2,019      Siemens, Ltd.      69,008  
  62,100      Sime Darby Berhad      32,392  
  967      SK, Inc.      145,573  
  7,815      SM Investments Corp.      126,860  
  31,448      Turkiye Sise ve Cam Fabrikalari AS      72,285  
     

 

 

 
        2,159,563  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance (2.4%):       
  17,305      BB Seguridade Participacoes SA    $ 110,500  
  2,107      Bupa Arabia For Cooperative Insurance Co.      80,551  
  242,426      Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd.      315,359  
  6,100      China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      32,583  
  204,000      China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      350,309  
  13,000      China Pacific Insurance Group Co., Ltd., Class A      45,871  
  75,600      China Pacific Insurance Group Co., Ltd., Class H      166,953  
  49,200      China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co., Ltd.      61,282  
  1,303      DB Insurance Co., Ltd.      67,584  
  14,555      Discovery, Ltd.*      105,750  
  22,395      HDFC Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      152,860  
  6,280      ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co., Ltd.      93,699  
  9,176      ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      49,921  
  887      Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.      35,108  
  27,000      New China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      65,583  
  4,500      New China Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Class A      19,478  
  145,915      Old Mutual, Ltd.      89,752  
  28,100      People’s Insurance Co. Group of China, Ltd. (The)      21,105  
  178,000      People’s Insurance Co. Group of China, Ltd. (The)      59,074  
  202,000      Picc Property & Casuality Co., Ltd., Class H      191,210  
  20,800      Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.      140,687  
  174,500      Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.      1,151,800  
  17,119      Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA      138,991  
  846      Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.      134,128  
  1,838      Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      103,567  
  52,992      Sanlam, Ltd.      151,922  
  12,904      SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.      192,106  
  320,614      Shin Kong Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.      91,457  
  16,500      Zhongan Online P&c Insurance Co., Ltd.*      44,826  
     

 

 

 
        4,264,016  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (5.4%):       
  1,931      Autohome, Inc., ADR      59,089  
  62,516      Baidu, Inc., Class A*      898,614  
  2,379      Info Edge India, Ltd.      113,113  
  1,413      JOYY, Inc., ADR      44,637  
  9,048      Kakao Corp.      385,057  
  4,751      Kanzhun, Ltd., ADR*      96,778  
  3,651      NAVER Corp.      518,588  
  175,200      Tencent Holdings, Ltd.      7,446,816  
  3,760      VK Co., Ltd., GDR*(a)       
  1,711      Weibo Corp., ADR*      32,714  
  9,068      Yandex NV, Class A*(a)       
     

 

 

 
        9,595,406  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (6.5%):       
  415,372      Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd.*      4,586,455  
  130,000      Alibaba Health Information Technology, Ltd.*      109,215  
  10,438      Allegro.eu SA*      60,265  
  13,210      Americanas SA      24,147  
  88,000      HengTen Networks Group, Ltd.*^      21,743  
  60,200      JD Com, Inc.      1,692,340  
  31,600      JD Health International, Inc.*      289,006  
  124,200      Meituan*      2,746,392  
  2,200      momo.com, Inc.      45,914  
  321      Ozon Holdings plc, ADR*(a)       
  965      Ozon Holdings plc, ADR*(a)       
  14,174      Pinduoduo, Inc., ADR*      1,155,890  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, continued       
  14,300      Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co., Ltd.*    $ 38,692  
  31,200      Tongcheng Travel Holdings, Ltd.*      75,092  
  14,928      Trip.com Group, Ltd., ADR*      513,523  
  12,115      Vipshop Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      165,249  
  75,297      Zomato, Ltd.*      53,711  
     

 

 

 
        11,577,634  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.3%):       
  580      Arabian Internet & Co.mmunications Services Co.      37,523  
  68,000      Chinasoft International, Ltd.      59,170  
  9,100      DHC Software Co., Ltd., Class A      7,389  
  533      Elm Co.      47,149  
  22,296      GDS Holdings, Ltd., Class A*      57,759  
  30,764      HCL Technologies, Ltd.      384,879  
  93,637      Infosys, Ltd.      1,696,442  
  2,338      Larsen & Toubro Infotech, Ltd.      122,784  
  2,194      Mphasis Ltd.      52,338  
  1,016      Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.      99,372  
  25,961      Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd.      1,022,288  
  16,690      Tech Mahindra, Ltd.      203,949  
  25,000      Travelsky Technology, Ltd., Series H      52,355  
  39,340      Wipro, Ltd.      186,830  
     

 

 

 
        4,030,227  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  8,290      Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      54,054  
  3,090      HLB, Inc.*      70,060  
     

 

 

 
        124,114  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.0%):       
  4,021      Divi’s Laboratories, Ltd.      165,521  
  36,000      Genscript Biotech Corp.*      114,656  
  1,800      Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co., Ltd., Class A      27,152  
  3,100      Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co., Ltd., Class H      35,573  
  1,680      Joinn Laboratories China Co., Ltd., Class A      14,124  
  3,150      Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., Class A      30,831  
  4,800      Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., Class H      32,858  
  520      Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd.*      335,433  
  5,208      WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd., Class A      60,287  
  9,036      WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd., Class H      95,486  
  102,000      Wuxi Biologics Cayman, Inc.*      783,106  
     

 

 

 
        1,695,027  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.7%):       
  4,185      AirTac International Group      126,683  
  51,000      China Conch Venture Holdings, Ltd.      110,043  
  7,100      China CSSC Holdings, Ltd., Class A      22,740  
  45,100      CRRC Corp., Ltd., Class A      33,160  
  1,481      Doosan Bobcat, Inc.      40,840  
  23,000      Haitian International Holdings, Ltd.      61,518  
  378      Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.*      34,956  
  682      Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.*      45,904  
  3,108      Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co., Ltd., Class A      28,242  
  1,191      Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore*      67,023  
  500      Ningbo Deye Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      23,831  
  4,400      Riyue Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., Class A      12,854  
  19,664      Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Class R*      79,948  
  36,000      Sany Heavy Equipment International Holdings Co., Ltd.      36,812  
  15,600      Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.      35,469  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  4,050      Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co., Ltd.    $ 40,508  
  47,208      WEG SA      344,367  
  15,600      Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Class A      22,840  
  58,000      Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Class H      77,289  
  1,000      Wuxi Shangji Automation Co., Ltd., Class A      15,151  
  30,200      XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      22,031  
  1,400      Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co., Ltd., Class A      9,632  
  14,800      Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      11,585  
     

 

 

 
        1,303,426  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.4%):       
  351,274      Cia Sud Americana de Vapores SA      27,760  
  92,950      COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd.      94,814  
  26,260      COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      38,840  
  28,734      Evergreen Marine Corp., Ltd.      149,907  
  8,078      HMM Co., Ltd.      125,985  
  36,500      MISC Berhad      62,237  
  3,500      Orient Overseas International, Ltd.      63,119  
  6,819      Pan Ocean Co., Ltd.      31,148  
  21,505      Wan Hai Lines, Ltd.      55,999  
  49,000      Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.      104,338  
     

 

 

 
        754,147  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.0%):       
  2,304      Cheil Worldwide, Inc.      42,160  
  12,600      China Literature, Ltd.*      48,382  
  6,903      Cyfrowy Polsat SA      27,809  
  37,199      Focus Media Information Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      35,759  
  63,219      Grupo Televisa SAB      57,501  
  49,000      Kuaishou Technology*      439,415  
  11,118      MultiChoice Group, Ltd.      76,664  
  6,070      Naspers, Ltd.      1,001,265  
  806      Saudi Research Media Group*      39,158  
     

 

 

 
        1,768,113  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (4.2%):       
  3,562      African Rainbow Minerals, Ltd.      60,408  
  77,337      Alrosa PAO*(a)      1  
  116,000      Aluminum Corp. of China, Ltd.      48,984  
  27,600      Aluminum Corp. of China, Ltd., Class A      17,757  
  271,200      Aneka Tambang Tbk      34,594  
  1,515      Anglo American Platinum, Ltd.      127,177  
  11,940      AngloGold Ashanti, Ltd.      232,210  
  30,300      Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Class A      24,371  
  72,000      China Hongqiao Group, Ltd.      67,417  
  58,500      China Molybdenum Co., Ltd., Class A      38,238  
  87,000      China Molybdenum Co., Ltd., Class H      40,138  
  7,200      China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co., Ltd., Class A      25,956  
  323,000      China Steel Corp.      313,079  
  6,579      Cia de Minas Buenaventura SA, ADR      49,014  
  22,695      Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (CSN)      62,550  
  41,694      Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S.      92,108  
  2,800      Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd.      28,018  
  10,920      Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd., Class H      81,590  
  13,600      GEM Co., Ltd., Class A      14,542  
  24,663      Gold Fields      255,414  
  84,870      Grupo Mexico SAB de C.V., Series B, Class B      298,015  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  17,328      Harmony Gold Mining Co., Ltd.    $ 59,791  
  38,889      Hindalco Industries, Ltd.      221,319  
  2,404      Hyundai Steel Co.      58,687  
  24,831      Impala Platinum Holdings, Ltd.      310,649  
  4,401      Industrias Penoles SAB de C.V.*      54,139  
  88,300      Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd.      24,396  
  34,000      Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd.      50,063  
  6,400      Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd., Class A      16,017  
  7,560      Jindal Steel & Power, Ltd.      52,849  
  20,924      JSW Steel, Ltd.      193,708  
  3,845      KGHM Polska Miedz SA      112,039  
  245      Korea Zinc Co.      109,925  
  1,769      Kumba Iron Ore, Ltd.      50,885  
  326,684      Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT*      86,490  
  1,857      MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC(a)       
  10,071      Northam Platinum Holdings, Ltd.*      110,961  
  42,350      Novolipetsk Steel PJSC*(a)      1  
  10,301      Polymetal International plc*(a)       
  1,026      Polyus PJSC*(a)       
  2,151      POSCO      473,494  
  92,000      Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd      102,118  
  25,101      Saudi Arabian Mining Co.*      433,472  
  6,613      Severstal*(a)      7  
  8,120      Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.      22,294  
  14,000      Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Class H      25,866  
  39,100      Shandong Nanshan Aluminum Co., Ltd., Class A      18,371  
  14,400      Shanxi Meijin Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      18,692  
  6,600      Shenghe Resources Holding Co., Ltd., Class A      13,277  
  77,036      Sibanye Stillwater, Ltd.      204,661  
  1,400      Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd., Class A      13,363  
  2,541      Southern Copper Corp.      153,451  
  196,450      Tata Steel, Ltd.      266,513  
  32,700      Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd., Class A      14,647  
  84,297      United Co. RUSAL International PJSC(a)      1  
  52,400      Vale Indonesia Tbk PT*      23,838  
  107,119      Vale SA      1,803,443  
  21,274      Vedanta, Ltd.      78,965  
  5,040      Yintai Gold Co., Ltd.      7,974  
  1,200      YongXing Special Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      15,919  
  24,000      Zhaojin Mining Industry Co., Ltd., Class H*      26,499  
  3,380      Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd., Class A      27,062  
  172,000      Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd.      231,500  
  38,700      Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd.      55,373  
     

 

 

 
        7,454,300  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.3%):       
  72,375      Central Retail Corp. pcl      96,193  
  28,913      Lojas Renner SA      112,164  
  218      Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.      15,574  
  84,931      Magazine Luiza SA*      44,081  
  2,007      Pepco Group NV*      18,019  
  22,077      S.A.C.I. Falabella      42,967  
  6,235      Trent, Ltd.      101,585  
  30,415      Woolworths Holdings, Ltd.      118,819  
     

 

 

 
        549,402  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.0%):       
  16,879      Qatar Electricity & Water Co.      81,911  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.8%):       
  24,317      Bharat Pertoleum Corp., Ltd.    $ 96,981  
  45,000      China Coal Energy Co., Ltd., Class H      36,425  
  19,100      China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd., Class A      15,337  
  34,000      China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class A      21,339  
  708,000      China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H      342,192  
  10,100      China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd.      40,001  
  97,500      China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd.      280,692  
  38,180      Coal India, Ltd.      103,559  
  30,707      Cosan sa industria e Comercio      99,580  
  8,500      COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation Co., Ltd., Class A*      14,729  
  9,515      Empresas Copec SA      71,031  
  7,210      Exxaro Resources, Ltd.      91,969  
  31,000      Formosa Petrochemical Corp.      80,970  
  354,974      Gazprom PJSC(a)      5  
  14,700      Guanghui Energy Co., Ltd., Class A      19,089  
  16,415      Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Ltd.      46,541  
  1,660      Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co., Ltd.      75,301  
  74,352      Indian Oil Corp., Ltd.      68,605  
  22,700      Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co., Ltd., Class B      30,009  
  12,219      LUKOIL PJSC(a)       
  13,557      MOL Hungarian Oil And Gas plc      94,911  
  27,220      Novatek PJSC(a)       
  75,771      Oil & Natural Gas Corp., Ltd.      134,006  
  20,015      Petro Rio SA*      141,074  
  45,900      PetroChina Co., Ltd., Class A      32,826  
  614,000      PetroChina Co., Ltd., Class H      281,089  
  107,298      Petroleo Brasileiro SA      569,904  
  133,421      Petroleo Brasileiro SA      619,188  
  11,400      Petronas Dagangan Berhad      59,584  
  21,431      Petronet LNG, Ltd.      55,694  
  16,784      Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen SA      246,042  
  427,800      PT Adaro Energy Tbk      105,546  
  47,400      PT United Tractors Tbk      79,382  
  40,500      PTT Exploration & Production pcl      206,621  
  290,200      PTT pcl      278,921  
  14,235      Qatar Fuel QSC      70,303  
  46,623      Qatar Gas Transport Co., Ltd.      46,905  
  13,408      Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.*      38,204  
  85,510      Reliance Industries, Ltd.      2,623,275  
  34,912      Rosneft Oil Co. PJSC(a)      1  
  66,559      Saudi Arabian Oil Co.      569,090  
  19,600      Shaanxi Coal Industry Co., Ltd.      52,408  
  10,600      Shanxi Coking Coal Energy Group Co., Ltd., Class A      17,773  
  7,400      Shanxi Lu’an Environmental Energy Development Co., Ltd., Class A      17,943  
  1,502      SK Innovation Co., Ltd.*      184,719  
  1,367      S-Oil Corp.      91,066  
  171,452      Surgutneftegas PJSC(a)      2  
  199,091      Surgutneftegas Prefernce(a)      3  
  43,241      Tatneft PJSC(a)      1  
  34,500      Thai Oil Public Co., Ltd.      56,140  
  4,521      Tupras-Turkiye Petrol Rafine*      128,250  
  21,910      Ultrapar Participacoes SA      52,335  
  50,000      Yankuang Energy Group Co., Ltd.      151,580  
     

 

 

 
        8,539,141  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Paper & Forest Products (0.2%):       
  2,300      Chengxin Lithium Group Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 12,384  
  33,569      Empresas CMPC SA      56,063  
  49,000      Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, Ltd.      44,706  
  85,700      PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Corp Tbk      48,044  
  21,464      Suzano SA      196,133  
     

 

 

 
        357,330  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.4%):       
  819      Amorepacific Corp.      89,816  
  2,798      Colgate-Palmolive India, Ltd.      51,844  
  16,996      Dabur India, Ltd.      115,098  
  11,217      Godrej Consumer Products, Ltd.*      118,368  
  18,000      Hengan International Group Co., Ltd.      95,393  
  273      LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.      157,097  
  24,589      Natura & Co. Holding SA      54,076  
     

 

 

 
        681,692  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.3%):       
  10,803      Aspen Pharmacare Holdings, Ltd.      86,831  
  700      Asymchem Laboratories Tianjin Co., Ltd., Class A      14,912  
  5,586      Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd.      29,540  
  4,000      Beijing Tongrentang Co., Ltd., Class A      25,683  
  900      Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.      6,371  
  560      Celltrion Pharm, Inc.*      29,853  
  800      Changchun High & New Technology Industry Group, Inc., Class A      19,163  
  43,000      China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.      67,666  
  252,000      China Pharmaceutical Enterprise & Investment Corp.      264,807  
  44,000      China Resources Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.      35,633  
  2,600      China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Class A      17,464  
  54,000      China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co., Ltd.      24,563  
  14,918      Cipla, Ltd.      194,053  
  3,142      Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd.      160,644  
  2,900      Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      12,418  
  189      Hanmi Pharm Co., Ltd.      44,300  
  36,000      Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      67,993  
  10,611      Hypera SA      90,850  
  10,927      Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd.      60,585  
  2,556      Kangmei Pharmaceutical Co. A*(a)       
  5,585      Lupin, Ltd.      49,445  
  3,515      Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      9,098  
  658,200      PT Kalbe Farma Tbk      88,386  
  3,821      Richter Gedeon Nyrt      85,085  
  17,000      Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      54,467  
  3,300      Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.      16,741  
  3,620      Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Class A      15,574  
  282,750      Sino Biopharmaceutical, Ltd.      165,588  
  798      SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.*      45,789  
  23,631      Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.      286,102  
  2,428      Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.      45,399  
  1,750      Yuhan Corp.      79,468  
  3,080      Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd.      24,090  
  1,300      Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      53,960  
  6,380      Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      20,067  
  5,184      Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd., Class A      13,972  
  500      Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      3,964  
     

 

 

 
        2,310,524  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Real Estate Management & Development (1.8%):       
  112,361      Aldar Properties PJSC    $ 135,201  
  182,900      Ayala Land, Inc.      101,837  
  78,422      Barwa Real Estate Co.      61,963  
  18,000      C&D International Investment Group, Ltd.      52,477  
  58,200      Central Pattana pcl      119,193  
  60,000      China Everbright Environment Group, Ltd.*      7,662  
  166,000      China Jinmao Holdings Group, Ltd.      35,374  
  13,300      China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      24,108  
  108,500      China Overseas Land & Investment, Ltd.      286,416  
  55,000      China Overseas Property Holdings, Ltd.      57,165  
  88,000      China Resources Land, Ltd.      399,718  
  14,200      China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services, Ltd.      72,147  
  18,800      China Vanke Co., Ltd., Class A      49,041  
  50,600      China Vanke Co., Ltd., Class H      101,425  
  231,000      Country Garden Holdings Co., Ltd.^      78,031  
  55,000      Country Garden Services Holdings Co., Ltd.      136,211  
  14,300      Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co.*      44,279  
  17,411      DLF, Ltd.      78,944  
  9,596      Emaar Economic City*      21,330  
  115,979      Emaar Properties PJSC      184,620  
  6,000      Future Land Holdings Co., Ltd.*      17,601  
  10,300      Gemdale Corp., Class A      15,099  
  3,334      Godrej Properties, Ltd.*      49,164  
  22,000      Greentown China Holdings, Ltd.      31,801  
  44,000      Greentown Service Group Co., Ltd.      28,859  
  18,264      KE Holdings, Inc., ADR*      254,965  
  227,100      Land & Houses Public Co., Ltd.      64,786  
  51,000      Longfor Group Holdings, Ltd.      156,308  
  15,107      Mabanee Co KPSC      41,784  
  13,626      NEPI Rockcastle NV      82,982  
  21,800      Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd., Class A      47,456  
  46,476      Ruentex Development Co., Ltd.      65,361  
  44,500      Shanghai Lujiazue      35,914  
  42,000      Shimao Property Holdings, Ltd.*^      9,631  
  294,200      SM Prime Holdings, Inc.      186,494  
  81,000      Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.*      16,510  
  37,600      Yuexiu Property Co., Ltd.      45,149  
     

 

 

 
        3,197,006  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.2%):       
  303,300      BTS Group Holdings pcl      73,552  
  7,427      Container Corp. of India, Ltd.      66,122  
  17,636      Localiza Rent a Car SA      177,723  
  36,591      Rumo SA      128,989  
     

 

 

 
        446,386  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (8.2%):       
  885      Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment, Inc., Class A*      12,475  
  91,465      ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.      279,215  
  339      Daqo New Energy Corp., ADR*      13,081  
  2,000      eMemory Technology, Inc.      86,740  
  17,000      Flat Glass Group Co., Ltd., Class H      40,870  
  36,500      GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd.*      15,236  
  571,000      GCL Technology Holdings, Ltd.      144,892  
  756      Gigadevice Semiconductor Beijing, Inc., Class A      11,150  
  6,000      Globalwafers Co., Ltd.      83,360  
  3,192      Hangzhou First Applied Material Co., Ltd., Class A      30,519  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  2,000      Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A    $ 9,438  
  14,000      Hua Hong Semiconductor, Ltd.*      48,896  
  1,000      Ingenic Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Class A      10,142  
  4,200      JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      36,320  
  5,300      JCET Group Co., Ltd., Class A      17,580  
  15,288      Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.      92,987  
  43,000      MediaTek, Inc.      873,519  
  2,000      Montage Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      18,016  
  38,000      Nanya Technology Corp.      63,257  
  16,000      Novatek Microelectronics Corp.      164,113  
  2,000      Parade Technologies, Ltd.      50,250  
  68,000      Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.      70,399  
  12,000      Realtek Semiconductor Corp.      109,630  
  900      SG Micro Corp., Class A      22,350  
  1,579      Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group Co., Ltd., Class A      15,821  
  7,000      Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group Co., Ltd., Class H      26,518  
  800      Shenzhen SC New Energy Technology Corp., Class A      13,128  
  9,000      Silergy Corp.      127,637  
  15,295      SK Hynix, Inc.      920,708  
  2,914      SK Square Co., Ltd.*      77,898  
  400      StarPower Semiconductor, Ltd., Class A      18,957  
  690,000      Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      10,057,653  
  7,000      Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd.      37,753  
  10,600      Tianshui Huatian Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      12,646  
  4,078      Trina Solar Co., Ltd.      37,421  
  1,679      Unigroup Guoxin Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Class A      31,851  
  323,000      United Microelectronics Corp.      424,407  
  28,000      Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.      70,533  
  2,565      Will Semiconductor, Ltd., Class A      28,460  
  10,000      Win Semiconductors Corp.      44,366  
  84,000      Winbond Electronics Corp.      53,522  
  136,000      Xinyi Solar Holdings, Ltd.      150,175  
  2,500      Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd., Class A      22,869  
     

 

 

 
        14,476,758  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.3%):       
  8,800      360 Security Technology, Inc., Class A      8,282  
  476      Beijing Kingsoft Office Software, Inc., Class A      18,068  
  1,960      Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      4,230  
  3,549      Hundsun Technologies, Inc.      20,664  
  4,600      Iflytek Co., Ltd.      21,730  
  75,000      Kingdee International Software Group Co., Ltd.*      159,670  
  13,100      NavInfo Co., Ltd.      20,751  
  700      Sangfor Technologies, Inc., Class A      11,338  
  5,746      Shanghai Baosight Software Co., Ltd.      37,040  
  16,250      Shanghai Baosight Software Co., Ltd., Class B      50,318  
  920      Tata Elxsi, Ltd.      69,665  
  15,698      TOTVS SA      82,130  
  7,150      Yonyou Network Technology Co., Ltd.      24,870  
     

 

 

 
        528,756  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (0.6%):       
  69,603      Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC      83,494  
  18,000      China Meidong Auto Holdings, Ltd.^      36,856  
  1,000      China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp., Ltd., Class H*      29,474  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail, continued       
  51,000      Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.    $ 104,046  
  2,316      FF Group*       
  172,900      Home Product Center Public Co., Ltd.      77,412  
  9,000      Hotai Motor Co., Ltd.      172,099  
  919      Hotel Shilla Co., Ltd.      60,787  
  1,757      Jarir Marketing Co.      70,231  
  3,482      Jumbo SA      59,432  
  7,531      Mr Price Group, Ltd.      70,536  
  47,563      Pepkor Holdings, Ltd.      55,977  
  12,600      Pop Mart International Group, Ltd.^      31,530  
  80,700      PTT Oil & Retail Business pcl, Class R      55,404  
  7,121      The Foschini Group, Ltd.      42,497  
  45,000      Topsports International Holdings, Ltd.      35,312  
  27,899      Vibra Energia SA      82,177  
  15,500      Zhongsheng Group Holdings, Ltd.      79,011  
     

 

 

 
        1,146,275  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (4.5%):       
  77,000      Acer, Inc.      58,979  
  11,616      Advantech Co., Ltd.      124,961  
  16,000      Asustek Computer, Inc.      139,700  
  80,300      BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      38,925  
  19,000      Catcher Technology Co., Ltd.      104,447  
  2,600      China Greatwall Technology Group Co., Ltd., Class A      3,817  
  113,000      Compal Electronics, Inc.      84,759  
  11,400      GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd., Class A      16,305  
  3,156      Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co., Ltd., Class A      9,779  
  70,000      Inventec Corp.      59,797  
  206,000      Lenovo Group, Ltd.      169,223  
  60,000      Lite-On Technology Corp.      124,510  
  18,000      Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.      69,943  
  5,000      Ninestar Corp.      37,155  
  57,000      Pegatron Corp.      117,718  
  80,000      Quanta Computer, Inc.      188,124  
  133,896      Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.      5,905,024  
  943      Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co., Ltd., Class A      10,793  
  2,000      Wiwynn Corp.      51,829  
  428,000      Xiaomi Corp., Class B*      595,703  
     

 

 

 
        7,911,491  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.2%):       
  33,200      Anta Sports Products, Ltd.      435,298  
  116,000      Bosideng International Holdings, Ltd.      55,155  
  6,220      Eclat Textile Co., Ltd.      100,206  
  380      F&F Co., Ltd.      43,784  
  15,000      Feng Tay Enterprise Co., Ltd.      100,702  
  68,000      Li Ning Co., Ltd.      583,559  
  32      LPP SA      78,164  
  167      Page Industries, Ltd.      86,281  
  63,000      Pou Chen Corp.      70,072  
  23,000      Shenzhou International Group      258,830  
  10,688      Titan Co., Ltd.      334,530  
  34,500      Xtep International Holdings, Ltd.      38,423  
     

 

 

 
        2,185,004  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.9%):       
  48,558      Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd.      1,546,222  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Tobacco (0.4%):       
  43,949      Eastern Co. SAE    $ 25,421  
  84,526      ITC, Ltd.      338,829  
  2,988      KT&G Corp.      216,074  
  52,000      Smoore International Holdings, Ltd.^      79,650  
     

 

 

 
        659,974  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.3%):       
  8,010      Adani Enterprises, Ltd.      372,440  
  1,900      Beijing United Information Technology Co., Ltd., Class A      24,146  
  7,500      BOC Aviation, Ltd.      62,347  
     

 

 

 
        458,933  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.8%):       
  13,889      Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Ltd.      136,842  
  127,300      Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd.*      275,723  
  169,500      Bangkok Expressway & Metro      47,977  
  74,000      Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd.*      54,143  
  31,993      CCR SA      65,571  
  47,228      China Merchants Port Holdings Co., Ltd.      68,843  
  38,000      COSCO SHIPPING Ports, Ltd.      30,189  
  5,725      Grupo Aeroportuario de Sur      133,606  
  10,726      Grupo Aeroporturaio del Pacifico SAB de C.V.      153,688  
  29,770      International Container Terminal Services, Inc.      107,218  
  36,000      Jiangsu Expressway Co., Ltd., Series H, Class H      32,779  
  28,300      Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad*      42,143  
  6,504      Promotora Y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV      53,268  
  3,000      Shanghai International Air*      24,915  
  35,399      Shanghai International Port Group Co., Ltd.      27,200  
  35,000      Shenzhen International Holdings, Ltd.      34,159  
  54,000      Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.      50,503  
  42,000      Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd.      32,279  
     

 

 

 
        1,371,046  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  94,000      Beijing Enterprises Water Group, Ltd.      24,089  
  10,225      Cia Saneamento Basico Do Estado de Sao Paulo      110,710  
  92,000      Guangdong Investment, Ltd.      94,192  
     

 

 

 
        228,991  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.7%):       
  35,300      Advanced Info Service Public Co., Ltd.      198,562  
  755,432      America Movil SAB de C.V., Series L      685,554  
  91,800      Axiata Group Berhad      64,513  
  63,135      Bharti Airtel, Ltd.      613,758  
  57,500      China United Network Communications, Ltd., Class A      37,038  
  100,300      DIGI.com Berhad      91,221  
  12,139      Etihad Etisalat Co.      112,437  
  45,000      Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.      96,472  
  1,080      Globe Telecom, Inc.      42,386  
  29,450      Intouch Holdings Public Co., Ltd.      65,636  
  66,900      Maxis Berhad      58,404  
  32,110      Mobile Telecommunications Co KSCP      59,183  
  29,884      Mobile TeleSystems PJSC(a)       
  48,659      MTN Group, Ltd.      364,716  
  2,760      PLDT, Inc.      65,464  
  49,000      Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd.      150,966  
  27,636      TIM SA      64,913  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Wireless Telecommunication Services, continued       
  40,565      Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS    $ 82,302  
  16,855      Vodacom Group, Ltd.      120,987  
     

 

 

 
        2,974,512  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $141,593,926)

     174,759,165  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (1.3%):       
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  986      Hyundai Motor Co., 6/29/20      57,883  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.6%):       
  155,550      Banco Bradesco SA, 1.30%, 1/3/20      446,390  
  142,087      Itau Unibanco Holding SA, 0.06%, 1/5/21      672,863  
     

 

 

 
        1,119,253  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  5,513      Braskem SA, Class A, 7.14%, 10/7/20      24,812  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.1%):       
  32,282      Gerdau SA, 13.82%, 3/6/20      179,596  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.5%):       
  22,654      Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 3/30/20      911,621  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $2,560,238)

     2,293,165  
  

 

 

 
Rights (0.0%):       
Chemicals (0.0%):       
  108      Lotte Chemical Corp., Expires on 1/23/23*      3,032  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Rights, continued       
Road & Rail (0.0%):       
  77      Localiza Rent a Car SA, Expires on 2/1/23*    $ 157  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Rights (Cost $—)

     3,189  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.2%):  
  422,943      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(b)(c)      422,943  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $422,943)

     422,943  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.4%):       
Money Markets (0.4%):       
  626,386      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(c)      626,386  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $626,386)

     626,386  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $145,203,493) — 100.3%(d)

     178,104,848  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.3)%

     (548,719
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 177,556,129  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $341,259.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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.

 

16


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

Country   Percentage  

Bermuda

    0.1

Brazil

    5.2

Cayman Islands

    0.2

Chile

    0.6

China

    28.7

Colombia

    0.1

Cyprus

     % 

Czech Republic

    0.1

Egypt

    0.1

Greece

    0.3

Hong Kong

    2.9

Hungary

    0.2

India

    14.3

Indonesia

    1.9

Kuwait

    0.9

Luxembourg

     % 

Malaysia

    1.6

Mexico

    2.3
Country   Percentage  

Peru

     % 

Philippines

    0.7

Poland

    0.7

Qatar

    1.0

Republic of Korea (South)

    11.4

Romania

     % 

Russian Federation

     % 

Saudi Arabia

    4.1

Singapore

     % 

South Africa

    3.6

Switzerland

    0.1

Taiwan, Province Of China

    13.5

Thailand

    2.2

Turkey

    0.7

United Arab Emirates

    1.4

United Kingdom

     % 

United States

    1.1
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

       3/17/23        36      $ 1,726,920      $ (41,130 )
                   

 

 

 
                    $ (41,130 )
                   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

    

Investment securities, at cost

     $ 145,203,493
    

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

     $ 178,104,848

Cash

       134

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

       80,000

Interest and dividends receivable

       439,167

Foreign currency, at value (cost $620,448)

       625,878

Receivable for investments sold

       4,036

Reclaims receivable

       42,883

Prepaid expenses

       673
    

 

 

 

Total Assets

       179,297,619
    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

    

Payable for capital shares redeemed

       33,758

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

       422,943

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

       27,672

Accrued foreign taxes

       998,781

Management fees payable

       68,558

Administration fees payable

       17,595

Distribution fees payable

       35,679

Custodian fees payable

       58,093

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

       905

Transfer agent fees payable

       2,975

Trustee fees payable

       2,260

Other accrued liabilities

       72,271
    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

       1,741,490
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 177,556,129
    

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

    

Paid in capital

     $ 150,102,703

Total distributable earnings

       27,453,426
    

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $ 177,556,129
    

 

 

 

Class 1

    

Net Assets

     $ 11,226,941

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

       1,862,094

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 6.03
    

 

 

 

Class 2

    

Net Assets

     $ 166,329,188

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

       27,527,725

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

     $ 6.04
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $341,259.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends

     $ 6,530,944

Income from securities lending

       14,524

Foreign withholding tax

       (744,706 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       5,800,762
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       1,652,456

Administration fees

       48,365

Distribution fees — Class 2

       454,746

Custodian fees

       111,987

Administrative and compliance services fees

       1,833

Transfer agent fees

       7,735

Trustee fees

       7,151

Professional fees

       10,723

Licensing fees

       37,754

Shareholder reports

       9,435

Other expenses

       33,163
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       2,375,348

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (777,625 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       1,597,723
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       4,203,039
    

 

 

 

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

    

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

       (2,476,736 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (606,399 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on foreign taxes

       (35,639 )

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

       (49,117,176 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       (41,045 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign taxes

       82,603
    

 

 

 

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

       (52,194,392 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (47,991,353 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
   For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

         

Operations:

         

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 4,203,039      $ 3,310,055

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

       (3,118,774 )        6,098,120

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

       (49,075,618 )        (17,502,996 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (47,991,353 )        (8,094,821 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Class 1

       (486,568 )        (553,353 )

Class 2

       (6,491,526 )        (7,183,163 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

       (6,978,094 )        (7,736,516 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       51,683        20,268

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       486,569        553,353

Value of shares redeemed

       (1,129,468 )        (1,782,790 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (591,216 )        (1,209,169 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Proceeds from shares issued

       2,279,129        2,832,734

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

       6,491,525        7,183,163

Value of shares redeemed

       (12,333,442 )        (33,445,770 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (3,562,788 )        (23,429,873 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

       (4,154,004 )        (24,639,042 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in net assets

       (59,123,451 )        (40,470,379 )

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of period

       236,679,580        277,149,959
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 177,556,129      $ 236,679,580
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

         

Class 1

         

Shares issued

       7,722        2,395

Dividends reinvested

       84,768        69,604

Shares redeemed

       (167,823 )        (207,387 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

       (75,333 )        (135,388 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class 2

         

Shares issued

       369,755        330,575

Dividends reinvested

       1,128,961        902,407

Shares redeemed

       (1,803,081 )        (3,764,888 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

       (304,365 )        (2,531,906 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Change in shares

       (379,698 )        (2,667,294 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 7.94     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.78
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.16 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.15 (a)       0.16

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.80 )       (0.44 )       1.17       1.04       (1.50 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.64 )       (0.31 )       1.27       1.19       (1.34 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.12 )       (0.14 )       (0.29 )       (0.15 )       (0.16 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.15 )       (0.15 )       (0.29 )       (0.18 )       (0.29 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.27 )       (0.29 )       (0.58 )       (0.33 )       (0.45 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 6.03     $ 7.94     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (20.50 )%       (3.68 )%       17.26 %       17.55 %       (15.31 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 11,227     $ 15,392     $ 17,703     $ 17,995     $ 17,072

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.39 %       1.51 %       1.32 %       1.97 %       1.89 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.99 %       1.09 %       1.17 %       1.10 %       1.03 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.59 %       0.69 %       0.77 %       0.70 %       0.63 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      5 %       7 %       12 %       25 %       20 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 7.95     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99     $ 8.77
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.14 (a)       0.11 (a)       0.08 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.14

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.81 )       (0.44 )       1.16       1.05       (1.49 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.67 )       (0.33 )       1.24       1.17       (1.35 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.09 )       (0.11 )       (0.26 )       (0.13 )       (0.14 )

Net Realized Gains

      (0.15 )       (0.15 )       (0.29 )       (0.18 )       (0.29 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (0.24 )       (0.26 )       (0.55 )       (0.31 )       (0.43 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 6.04     $ 7.95     $ 8.54     $ 7.85     $ 6.99
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (20.78 )%       (3.83 )%       16.92 %       17.18 %       (15.46 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 166,329     $ 221,288     $ 259,447     $ 308,248     $ 297,839

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2.15 %       1.26 %       1.06 %       1.65 %       1.61 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.24 %       1.34 %       1.42 %       1.35 %       1.28 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.84 %       0.94 %       1.02 %       0.95 %       0.88 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      5 %       7 %       12 %       25 %       20 %

 

(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.

 

20


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

On December 13, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a reorganization whereby the AZL International Index Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund and costs related to the reorganization will be paid by the Manager.

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, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 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, 2022 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 $1,435 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $422,943 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $2.0 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.

 

22


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 41,130  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (606,399    $ (41,045

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.    

Any amounts waived or reimbursed by the Manager 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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 period can be found on the Statement of Operations, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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.

 

23


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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. Management identifies possible fluctuation in international securities by monitoring the increase or decrease in the value of a designated benchmark index. In the event of an increase or decrease greater than predetermined levels, the Fund may use 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 18,383,347        $ 156,374,388        $ 1,430        $ 174,759,165

Preferred Stocks+

         1,323,661          969,504                   2,293,165

Rights+

         157          3,032                   3,189

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         422,943                            422,943

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         626,386                            626,386
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         20,756,494          157,346,924          1,430          178,104,848
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (41,130 )                            (41,130 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 20,715,364        $ 157,346,924        $ 1,430        $ 178,063,718
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 8,858,794        $ 16,497,443

 

24


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022- 06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $151,810,625. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 52,298,485  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (26,004,262
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 26,294,223  
 

 

 

 

As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2022, 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.

 

25


AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

CLCFs not subject to expiration:

 

        Short-Term
Amount
     Long-Term
Amount
     Total
Amount

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 420,106        $ 3,032,247        $ 3,452,353

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

       $ 2,688,007        $ 4,290,087        $ 6,978,094

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 5,604,981        $        $ (3,452,353 )        $ 25,300,798        $ 27,453,426

 

(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, 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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 70% 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, except as noted below.

The reorganization, as discussed in Note 1, whereby the AZL International Index Fund will acquire all of the assets and liabilities of the Fund, is expected to be completed on or about March 10, 2023.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 0.43% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $4,290,087.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

30


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks direct peers.

 

31


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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

  50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 20

Statement of Operations

Page 20

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Page 21

Financial Highlights

Page 22

Notes to the Financial Statements

Page 23

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® 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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (the “Fund”) returned (18.23)%. That compared to a (18.14)% total return for its benchmark, the MSCI World Index (net of withholding taxes).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 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 Index.

The year under review began with concern over rising inflation, a spike in commodity prices, and the financial and economic implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Investor sentiment declined in the face of these challenges while global central banks shifted their focus toward bringing inflation under control. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised interest rates by 25 basis points in March and signaled its intent to raise rates throughout 2022. European markets declined for the quarter due to inflation concerns and the region’s dependence on Russian gas, while UK equity markets outperformed on their relatively higher exposure to the strongly performing energy and materials sectors.

Inflation and global growth concerns dominated the second quarter. Global geopolitical tensions intensified as the war in Ukraine continued with no sign of a resolution. Reduced gas supplies and higher gas prices pressured European countries, while fears of a recession increased due in part to the hawkish tone of central banks across developed markets. The Fed announced it would raise rates beyond neutral to manage inflation even at the expense of triggering higher unemployment and then proceeded raise rates by 75 basis points in June. The Bank of England (BoE) raised rates as well, while the European Central Bank (ECB) announced its first rate hike for 2022 in July. It also reaffirmed a plan to end its asset repurchasing in the third quarter. For its part, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintained its accommodative monetary policies in the face of ongoing weakness in the yen.

In the third quarter, fears of a recession continued to hinder performance in global equity markets, as did the hawkish tone from most central banks. In the eurozone, the intensifying energy crisis added fuel to geopolitical tensions

and further weakened the euro. Inflation continued to rise, however, pushing the BoE and the ECB to raise rates again, although the latter chose not to end its bond repurchasing policy as originally planned. The BoJ left its interest rates unchanged once again. In the U.S., equity markets fared poorly as markets braced for continued monetary tightening, which was underscored by the Fed chair’s August comments at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.

Equity markets rallied at the start of the fourth quarter on hopes inflation had finally peaked, and that central banks would ease their tightening. But in December, central banks reiterated their plans for further tightening, pushing markets lower. Both the ECB and BoE raised interest rates over the quarter, as did the Fed. The BoJ surprised markets with an interest rate increase of 25 basis points. Japanese companies had reported strong earnings thanks to a weaker yen, and the country was dealing with its highest inflation in 40 years.

Sectors in the index posted mixed results for the year under review, with energy, utilities, and health care sectors outperforming and information technology, consumer discretionary, and consumer services lagging.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark primarily due to the impacts of fair value adjustments and expenses incurred by the Fund.

The Fund uses exchange traded equity index futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures contracts are purchased to provide immediate market exposure proportionate to cash accruals and investable cash within the 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, 2022. 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, 2022
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

 

10

Year

  Since
Inception

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      6/21/2021       (18.08 )%                         (6.55 )%

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2009       (18.23 )%       4.56 %       5.78 %       4.02 %       6.59 %

MSCI World Index (gross of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       (17.73 )%       5.45 %       6.69 %       9.44 %       10.81 %

MSCI World Index (net of withholding taxes)

      5/1/2009       (18.14 )%       4.94 %       6.14 %       8.85 %       10.21 %

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)

         0.84 %

AZL® MSCI Global Equity Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         1.09 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.31% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,029.40     $ 1.94       0.38 %

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,027.90     $ 3.22       0.63 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.29     $ 1.94       0.38 %

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.03     $ 3.21       0.63 %

 

*

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

      20.1 %

Health Care

      14.5

Financials

      14.2

Industrials

      10.6

Consumer Discretionary

      9.9

Consumer Staples

      7.8

Communication Services

      6.3

Energy

      5.6

Materials

      4.5

Utilities

      3.2

Real Estate

      2.7
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Preferred Stocks

      99.4

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.6

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.3
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.3

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.3 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.3%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.7%):       
  4,439      Airbus SE    $ 527,732  
  23,205      BAE Systems plc      239,777  
  4,143      Boeing Co. (The)*      789,200  
  2,614      CAE, Inc.*      50,569  
  196      Dassault Aviation SA      33,250  
  169      Elbit Systems, Ltd.      27,541  
  1,704      General Dynamics Corp.      422,780  
  277      HEICO Corp.      42,558  
  499      HEICO Corp., Class A      59,805  
  2,863      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      112,831  
  271      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      62,514  
  700      Kongsberg Gruppen ASA      29,746  
  1,429      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      297,532  
  1,788      Lockheed Martin Corp.      869,844  
  368      MTU Aero Engines AG      79,639  
  1,072      Northrop Grumman Corp.      584,894  
  10,952      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      1,105,276  
  61,901      Rolls-Royce Holdings plc*      69,289  
  2,562      Safran SA      320,110  
  10,000      Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.      25,033  
  1,476      Textron, Inc.      104,501  
  795      Thales SA      101,616  
  382      TransDigm Group, Inc.      240,526  
     

 

 

 
          6,196,563  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.5%):       
  964      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      88,264  
  7,478      Deutsche Post AG      281,446  
  1,183      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      122,937  
  1,859      FedEx Corp.      321,979  
  1,800      SG Holdings Co., Ltd.      25,096  
  5,379      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      935,085  
  2,800      Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.      44,519  
     

 

 

 
        1,819,326  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  990      Air Canada*      14,179  
  1,000      ANA Holdings, Inc.*      21,307  
  1,475      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      48,469  
  2,412      Deutsche Lufthansa AG*      20,041  
  1,000      Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.*      20,517  
  5,489      Qantas Airways, Ltd.*      22,095  
  8,850      Singapore Airlines, Ltd.^      36,479  
  1,365      Southwest Airlines Co.*      45,960  
     

 

 

 
        229,047  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.3%):       
  800      Aisin Sieki Co., Ltd.      21,312  
  1,981      Aptiv plc*      184,491  
  1,648      BorgWarner, Inc.      66,332  
  4,100      Bridgestone Corp.      145,989  
  4,891      Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA      135,984  
  819      Continental AG      48,925  
  3,200      Denso Corp.      156,893  
  2,000      Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      29,796  
  419      Lear Corp.      51,964  
  1,989      Magna Internationl, Inc.      111,747  
  5,200      Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.      58,996  
  1,100      Toyota Industries Corp.      59,982  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Auto Components, continued       
  2,122      Valeo SA    $ 37,819  
     

 

 

 
        1,110,230  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.6%):       
  2,407      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)      214,807  
  5,911      Daimler AG, Registered Shares      387,845  
  861      Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG*      87,341  
  943      Ferrari NV      201,732  
  28,847      Ford Motor Co.      335,491  
  10,328      General Motors Co.      347,434  
  12,400      Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      283,559  
  5,100      Isuzu Motors, Ltd.      59,577  
  3,397      Lucid Group, Inc.*^      23,201  
  3,600      Mazda Motor Corp.      27,217  
  16,900      Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.      53,180  
  1,243      Renault SA*      41,408  
  2,401      Rivian Automotive, Inc.*      44,250  
  16,003      Stellantis NV      226,837  
  4,300      Subaru Corp.      65,991  
  2,700      Suzuki Motor Corp.      86,881  
  19,687      Tesla, Inc.*      2,425,045  
  78,200      Toyota Motor Corp.      1,068,933  
  201      Volkswagen AG      31,771  
  4,663      Volvo Car AB, Class B*      21,315  
  2,600      Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.      59,094  
     

 

 

 
          6,092,909  
     

 

 

 
Banks (6.1%):       
  2,602      ABN AMRO Group NV      35,933  
  22,179      ANZ Group Holdings, Ltd.*      357,200  
  45,320      Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA      273,638  
  125,328      Banco Santander SA      375,283  
  8,532      Bank Hapoalim BM      77,080  
  10,762      Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM      89,838  
  53,406      Bank of America Corp.      1,768,807  
  7,994      Bank of Ireland Group plc      75,786  
  4,966      Bank of Montreal      449,941  
  8,971      Bank of Nova Scotia^      439,604  
  121,567      Barclays plc      233,673  
  8,290      BNP Paribas SA      471,695  
  27,500      BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.      93,486  
  33,536      CaixaBank SA      131,620  
  6,576      Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce      266,042  
  2,800      Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)      20,524  
  14,516      Citigroup, Inc.      656,559  
  3,404      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      134,016  
  9,260      Commerzbank AG*      87,550  
  12,623      Commonwealth Bank of Australia      880,902  
  8,400      Concordia Financial Group, Ltd.      35,153  
  8,923      Credit Agricole SA      94,044  
  5,146      Danske Bank A/S      101,397  
  14,200      DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.      359,574  
  6,459      DNB Bank ASA      128,036  
  2,582      Erste Group Bank AG      82,322  
  4,869      Fifth Third Bancorp      159,752  
  4,171      Finecobank Banca Fineco SpA      69,502  
  97      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      73,561  
  4,008      First Horizon Corp.      98,196  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  1,332      First Republic Bank    $ 162,358  
  5,700      Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.      94,384  
  146,495      HSBC Holdings plc      913,417  
  10,443      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      147,246  
  27,538      ING Groep NV      335,927  
  122,214      Intesa Sanpaolo SpA      272,619  
  7,605      Isreal Discount Bank      40,026  
  1,600      Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.      13,750  
  21,784      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      2,921,234  
  1,998      KBC Group NV      128,268  
  6,790      KeyCorp      118,282  
  501,430      Lloyds Banking Group plc      275,293  
  1,325      M&T Bank Corp.      192,205  
  3,850      Mediobanca SpA      36,987  
  88,200      Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      595,090  
  1,433      Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd.      46,489  
  18,650      Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.      263,634  
  23,726      National Australia Bank, Ltd.      480,679  
  2,466      National Bank of Canada      166,179  
  41,793      NatWest Group PLC      133,381  
  25,524      Nordea Bank AB      273,118  
  25,500      Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.      231,434  
  3,027      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      478,084  
  6,770      Regions Financial Corp.      145,961  
  14,500      Resona Holdings, Inc.      79,668  
  10,317      Royal Bank of Canada      970,124  
  4,800      Shizuoka Financial Group, Inc.      38,586  
  509      Signature Bank      58,647  
  13,057      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Class A      150,346  
  5,883      Societe Generale      147,584  
  17,670      Standard Chartered plc      132,598  
  10,000      Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      403,004  
  2,300      Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.      80,265  
  432      SVB Financial Group*      99,421  
  11,088      Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A      111,632  
  7,027      Swedbank AB, Class A      119,446  
  13,451      Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)      871,066  
  9,882      Truist Financial Corp.      425,222  
  10,544      U.S. Bancorp      459,824  
  14,061      Unicredit SpA      199,922  
  9,604      United Overseas Bank, Ltd.      220,304  
  1,465      Webster Financial Corp.      69,353  
  28,035      Wells Fargo & Co.      1,157,565  
  25,861      Westpac Banking Corp.      406,651  
     

 

 

 
          22,787,987  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.9%):       
  6,327      Anheuser-Busch InBev NV      380,314  
  3,500      Asahi Breweries, Ltd.      108,998  
  2,234      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      146,729  
  11,900      Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.      37,437  
  797      Carlsberg A/S, Class B      105,522  
  30,502      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      1,940,232  
  1,428      Coca-Cola European Partners plc      78,444  
  1,283      Coca-Cola HBC AG      30,617  
  1,177      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A      272,770  
  4,937      David Campari-Milano NV      50,030  
  16,943      Diageo plc      748,032  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages, continued       
  771      Heineken Holding NV    $ 59,358  
  1,959      Heineken NV      184,025  
  400      ITO EN, Ltd.      14,597  
  5,741      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      204,724  
  6,100      Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.      93,468  
  1,309      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      67,440  
  2,913      Monster Beverage Corp.*      295,757  
  10,264      PepsiCo, Inc.      1,854,294  
  1,500      Pernod Ricard SA      294,797  
  125      Remy Cointreau SA      21,073  
  800      Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.      27,301  
  4,549      Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.      42,025  
     

 

 

 
        7,057,984  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.1%):       
  13,047      AbbVie, Inc.      2,108,526  
  863      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      205,092  
  3,958      Amgen, Inc.      1,039,529  
  423      Argenx SE*      159,373  
  1,054      Biogen, Inc.*      291,874  
  1,349      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      139,608  
  3,536      CSL, Ltd.      689,334  
  1,266      Exact Sciences Corp.*      62,680  
  491      Genmab A/S*      208,012  
  9,249      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      794,027  
  2,757      Grifols SA*      31,966  
  1,359      Incyte Corp.*      109,155  
  2,501      Moderna, Inc.*      449,230  
  660      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      78,830  
  804      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      580,078  
  1,099      Seagen, Inc.*      141,232  
  1,322      Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB*      27,329  
  1,889      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      545,505  
     

 

 

 
          7,661,380  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.6%):       
  953      A O Smith Corp.      54,550  
  1,800      AGC, Inc.      59,638  
  644      Allegion plc      67,787  
  7,028      ASSA Abloy AB, Class B      151,297  
  397      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      93,553  
  6,186      Carrier Global Corp.      255,173  
  3,568      Cie de Saint-Gobain      175,142  
  1,900      Daikin Industries, Ltd.      292,321  
  1,013      Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.      57,852  
  269      Geberit AG, Registered Shares      127,417  
  5,204      Johnson Controls International plc      333,056  
  1,045      Kingspan Group plc      56,258  
  223      Lennox International, Inc.      53,348  
  2,500      Lixil Corp.      38,105  
  1,532      Masco Corp.      71,498  
  11,325      Nibe Industrier AB, Class B      105,959  
  729      Owens Corning      62,184  
  52      ROCKWOOL A/S, Class B      12,269  
  1,300      TOTO, Ltd.      43,999  
  1,679      Trane Technologies plc      282,223  
  13,000      Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.      24,170  
     

 

 

 
        2,417,799  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Capital Markets (3.1%):       
  7,666      3i Group plc    $ 124,444  
  820      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      255,323  
  375      Amundi SA      21,305  
  1,156      Ares Management Corp., Class A      79,117  
  1,391      ASX, Ltd.      63,775  
  5,446      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      247,902  
  1,103      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      781,618  
  5,282      Blackstone, Inc., Class A      391,872  
  2,652      Brookfield Asset Managmt, Ltd.*      75,948  
  10,609      Brookfield Corp.      333,676  
  1,473      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)      43,954  
  867      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      108,783  
  10,849      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      903,288  
  2,665      CME Group, Inc.      448,146  
  938      Coinbase Global, Inc.*^      33,196  
  24,183      Credit Suisse Group AG      72,677  
  8,900      Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      39,461  
  14,723      Deutsche Bank AG      166,854  
  1,365      Deutsche Boerse AG      235,485  
  2,202      EQT AB      46,956  
  719      Euronext NV      53,288  
  295      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      118,357  
  1,979      Franklin Resources, Inc.      52,206  
  458      Futu Holdings, Ltd., ADR*      18,618  
  2,511      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      862,228  
  3,288      Hargreaves Lansdown plc      34,070  
  9,200      Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.      397,602  
  217      IGM Financial, Inc.      6,059  
  4,213      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      432,212  
  2,555      Invesco, Ltd.      45,964  
  3,400      Japan Exchange Group, Inc.      49,146  
  1,702      Julius Baer Group, Ltd.      98,957  
  3,976      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      184,566  
  2,521      London Stock Exchange Group plc      217,476  
  626      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      135,322  
  2,685      Macquarie Group, Ltd.      304,747  
  287      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      80,041  
  1,213      Moody’s Corp.      337,966  
  9,561      Morgan Stanley      812,876  
  589      MSCI, Inc.      273,985  
  2,486      Nasdaq, Inc.      152,516  
  23,000      Nomura Holdings, Inc.      85,621  
  1,388      Northern Trust Corp.      122,824  
  177      Partners Group Holding AG      157,376  
  1,455      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      155,467  
  2,544      S&P Global, Inc.      852,087  
  2,400      SBI Holdings, Inc.      46,021  
  6,758      Schroders PLC      35,517  
  757      SEI Investments Co.      44,133  
  3,200      Singapore Exchange, Ltd.      21,404  
  3,801      St. James Place plc      50,323  
  2,692      State Street Corp.      208,818  
  1,699      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      185,293  
  521      TMX Group, Ltd.      52,154  
  641      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      41,620  
  25,011      UBS Group AG      466,321  
     

 

 

 
        11,666,961  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (2.2%):       
  3,931      Air Liquide SA    $ 559,063  
  1,631      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.      502,772  
  1,220      Akzo Nobel NV      81,394  
  874      Albemarle Corp.      189,536  
  413      Arkema SA      37,247  
  9,200      Asahi Kasei Corp.      65,385  
  6,672      BASF SE      331,179  
  715      Celanese Corp.      73,102  
  1,430      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      121,836  
  801      Christian Hansen Holding A/S      57,756  
  2,080      Clariant AG      33,109  
  5,466      Corteva, Inc.      321,291  
  1,415      Covestro AG      55,351  
  1,096      Croda International plc      87,572  
  5,426      Dow, Inc.      273,416  
  3,678      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      252,421  
  797      Eastman Chemical Co.      64,908  
  1,885      Ecolab, Inc.      274,381  
  62      EMS-Chemie Holding AG      41,916  
  1,938      Evonik Industries AG      37,204  
  949      FMC Corp.      118,435  
  66      Givaudan SA, Registered Shares      201,271  
  6,835      ICL Group, Ltd.      49,360  
  1,948      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      204,228  
  975      Johnson Matthey plc      25,094  
  1,200      JSR Corp.      23,654  
  1,339      Koninklijke DSM NV      164,132  
  3,698      Linde plc      1,206,214  
  2,005      LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A      166,475  
  8,000      Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.      41,339  
  1,700      Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.      38,128  
  2,710      Mosaic Co. (The)      118,888  
  6,600      Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.      52,232  
  1,100      Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.      15,847  
  800      Nissan Chemical Corp.      35,220  
  1,000      Nitto Denko Corp.      57,533  
  1,580      Novozymes A/S, Class B      80,250  
  4,105      Nutrien, Ltd.      299,733  
  824      OCI NV      29,400  
  2,876      Orica, Ltd.      29,382  
  1,700      PPG Industries, Inc.      213,758  
  942      RPM International, Inc.      91,798  
  1,845      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)      437,874  
  2,700      Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.      329,006  
  1,096      Sika AG      264,525  
  451      Solvay SA      45,707  
  13,800      Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      49,420  
  979      Symrise AG      106,493  
  9,200      Toray Industries, Inc.      51,079  
  2,700      Tosoh Corp.      32,041  
  1,822      Umicore SA      67,210  
  301      Westlake Corp.      30,864  
  1,092      Yara International ASA      48,073  
     

 

 

 
        8,185,502  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.5%):       
  10,643      Brambles, Ltd.      87,391  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  657      Cintas Corp.    $ 296,714  
  3,198      Copart, Inc.*      194,726  
  1,800      Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.      36,091  
  1,558      GFL Environmental, Inc.      45,504  
  18,835      Rentokil Initial plc      115,741  
  1,681      Republic Services, Inc.      216,832  
  1,016      Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.      58,695  
  1,460      Rollins, Inc.      53,348  
  1,500      Secom Co., Ltd.      85,581  
  2,601      Securitas AB, Class B      21,664  
  1,600      TOPPAN, INC.      23,625  
  1,893      Waste Connections, Inc.      250,936  
  3,026      Waste Management, Inc.      474,719  
     

 

 

 
        1,961,567  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.7%):       
  1,856      Arista Networks, Inc.*      225,226  
  30,799      Cisco Systems, Inc.      1,467,264  
  438      F5, Inc.*      62,857  
  2,336      Juniper Networks, Inc.      74,659  
  1,261      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      324,972  
  38,601      Nokia OYJ      179,330  
  22,141      Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B      129,738  
     

 

 

 
        2,464,046  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.3%):       
  1,642      ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA      47,041  
  1,522      Bouygues SA      45,653  
  542      Eiffage SA      53,437  
  3,697      Ferrovial SA      96,697  
  2,700      Kajima Corp.      31,413  
  4,900      Obayashi Corp.      37,051  
  1,125      Quanta Services, Inc.      160,312  
  5,900      Shimizu Corp.      31,437  
  3,144      Skanska AB, Class B      49,933  
  1,100      Taisei Corp.      35,442  
  4,010      Vinci SA      400,442  
  868      WSP Global, Inc.      100,719  
     

 

 

 
        1,089,577  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  5,591      CRH plc      221,331  
  993      HeidelbergCement AG      56,626  
  4,174      Holcim, Ltd.      215,300  
  3,417      James Hardie Industries SE      61,187  
  447      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      151,073  
  966      Vulcan Materials Co.      169,156  
     

 

 

 
        874,673  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.4%):       
  2,642      Ally Financial, Inc.      64,597  
  4,668      American Express Co.      689,697  
  2,786      Capital One Financial Corp.      258,986  
  2,037      Discover Financial Services      199,280  
  1      Isracard, Ltd.      2  
  3,567      Synchrony Financial      117,212  
     

 

 

 
        1,329,774  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Containers & Packaging (0.2%):       
  10,720      Amcor plc    $ 127,675  
  648      Avery Dennison Corp.      117,288  
  2,201      Ball Corp.      112,559  
  1,000      CCL Industries, Inc.      42,724  
  998      Crown Holdings, Inc.      82,046  
  2,770      International Paper Co.      95,925  
  682      Packaging Corp. of America      87,235  
  1,076      Sealed Air Corp.      53,671  
  2,350      SIG Group AB      51,518  
  1,807      Smurfit Kappa Group plc      66,940  
  1,935      Westrock Co.      68,035  
     

 

 

 
        905,616  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  195      D’ieteren Group      37,536  
  1,027      Genuine Parts Co.      178,195  
  1,796      LKQ Corp.      95,924  
  321      Pool Corp.      97,048  
     

 

 

 
        408,703  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  1,753      IDP Education, Ltd.      32,388  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.1%):       
  2,836      Apollo Global Management, Inc.      180,908  
  9,603      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      2,966,367  
  2,947      Element Fleet Management Corp.      40,163  
  2,830      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      81,221  
  414      Eurazeo SE      25,838  
  740      EXOR NV*      54,010  
  823      Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA      65,915  
  885      Industrivarden AB, Class A      21,584  
  1,476      Industrivarden AB, Class C      35,933  
  3,012      Investor AB      56,192  
  13,524      Investor AB, Class B      245,424  
  2,236      Kinnevik AB, Class B*      30,884  
  418      L E Lundbergforetagen AB      17,828  
  15,158      M&G plc      34,447  
  4,100      Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.      20,201  
  353      Onex Corp.      17,024  
  8,600      ORIX Corp.      138,694  
  142      Sofina SA      31,417  
  20,261      Standard Life Aberdeen plc      46,140  
  122      Wendel      11,432  
     

 

 

 
        4,121,622  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.2%):       
  52,860      AT&T, Inc.      973,153  
  692      BCE, Inc.^      30,408  
  15,935      Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.      27,530  
  54,369      BT Group plc      73,809  
  4,277      Cellnex Telecom SAU      142,214  
  23,758      Deutsche Telekom AG      473,821  
  937      Elisa OYJ      49,659  
  36,000      HKT Trust & HKT, Ltd.      44,005  
  2,027      Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA      20,473  
  24,798      Koninklijke KPN NV      76,713  
  2,488      Liberty Global plc, Class C*      48,342  
  6,467      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      33,758  
  9,200      Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.      262,645  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services, continued       
  14,205      Orange SA    $ 141,226  
  62,100      Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.      119,250  
  17,116      Spark New Zealand, Ltd.      58,650  
  191      Swisscom AG      104,566  
  92,093      Telecom Italia SpA*      21,395  
  3,372      Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG      8,307  
  41,617      Telefonica SA      150,702  
  5,021      Telenor ASA      46,999  
  18,848      Telia Co AB      48,264  
  29,855      Telstra Corp., Ltd.      81,054  
  3,100      TELUS Corp.      59,834  
  476      United Internet AG, Registered Shares      9,622  
  31,002      Verizon Communications, Inc.      1,221,479  
     

 

 

 
        4,327,878  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.9%):       
  193      Acciona SA      35,492  
  1,687      Alliant Energy Corp.      93,139  
  3,795      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      360,335  
  6,000      Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.      62,099  
  7,000      CK Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.      36,642  
  12,500      CLP Holdings, Ltd.      91,215  
  2,392      Constellation Energy Corp.      206,214  
  5,695      Duke Energy Corp.      586,528  
  2,781      Edison International      176,927  
  20,856      EDP – Energias de Portugal SA      103,886  
  4,958      Electricite de France      63,681  
  240      Elia Group SA/NV      34,098  
  1,880      Emera, Inc.      71,864  
  3,072      Endesa SA      57,959  
  59,130      Enel SpA      317,973  
  1,457      Entergy Corp.      163,912  
  1,705      Evergy, Inc.      107,296  
  2,630      Eversource Energy      220,499  
  7,537      Exelon Corp.      325,825  
  3,881      FirstEnergy Corp.      162,769  
  3,796      Fortis, Inc.      151,919  
  3,188      Fortum OYJ      53,098  
  7,500      HK Electric Investments, Ltd.      4,950  
  2,288      Hydro One, Ltd.      61,298  
  44,010      Iberdrola SA      514,734  
  6,500      Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)      63,106  
  4,873      Mercury NZ, Ltd.      17,193  
  14,660      NextEra Energy, Inc.      1,225,576  
  1,642      NRG Energy, Inc.      52,248  
  12,220      Origin Energy, Ltd.      64,143  
  1,522      Orsted A/S      138,110  
  11,217      PG&E Corp.*      182,388  
  10,000      Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.      54,778  
  5,489      PPL Corp.      160,389  
  1,850      Red Electrica Corp SA      32,131  
  7,497      Scottish & Southern Energy plc      154,600  
  8,004      Southern Co. (The)      571,566  
  10,285      Terna SpA      76,116  
  14,900      Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.*      53,804  
  453      Verbund AG, Class A      38,201  
  3,984      Xcel Energy, Inc.      279,318  
     

 

 

 
        7,228,019  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electrical Equipment (0.9%):       
  11,741      ABB, Ltd.    $ 357,702  
  1,759      AMETEK, Inc.      245,768  
  2,958      Eaton Corp. plc      464,258  
  4,354      Emerson Electric Co.      418,245  
  1,200      Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.      45,704  
  515      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      51,840  
  401      Hubbell, Inc.      94,107  
  1,991      Legrand SA      160,287  
  14,900      Mitsubishi Electric Corp.      147,519  
  3,100      Nidec Corp.      161,463  
  3,798      Plug Power, Inc.*^      46,981  
  1,694      Prysmian SpA      62,701  
  833      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      214,556  
  4,089      Schneider Electric SA      574,993  
  977      Sensata Technologies Holding plc      39,451  
  3,694      Siemens Energy AG      69,493  
  7,084      Vestas Wind Systems A/S      207,003  
     

 

 

 
        3,362,071  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.8%):       
  4,344      Amphenol Corp., Class A      330,752  
  499      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      52,180  
  800      Azbil Corp.      20,261  
  986      CDW Corp.      176,080  
  1,304      Cognex Corp.      61,431  
  5,855      Corning, Inc.      187,009  
  2,865      Halma plc      68,444  
  1,300      Hamamatsu Photonics KK      62,545  
  14,804      Hexagon AB, Class B      155,702  
  205      Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.      25,647  
  600      Ibiden Co., Ltd.      21,861  
  1,400      Keyence Corp.      548,190  
  1,314      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      224,786  
  2,500      Kyocera Corp.      124,780  
  4,200      Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      210,743  
  1,300      Omron Corp.      63,415  
  2,200      Shimadzu Corp.      62,759  
  2,900      TDK Corp.      94,180  
  2,387      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      274,028  
  370      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      147,967  
  2,027      Trimble, Inc.*      102,485  
  1,300      Venture Corp., Ltd.      16,577  
  1,000      Yokogawa Electric Corp.      15,846  
  416      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      106,667  
     

 

 

 
        3,154,335  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.3%):       
  7,460      Baker Hughes Co.      220,294  
  6,654      Halliburton Co.      261,835  
  10,320      Schlumberger, Ltd.      551,707  
  3,045      Tenaris SA      53,431  
     

 

 

 
        1,087,267  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.2%):       
  5,728      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      438,478  
  8,533      Bollore, Inc.      47,812  
  1,200      Capcom Co., Ltd.      38,491  
  2,124      Electronic Arts, Inc.      259,510  
  2,754      Embracer Group AB*      12,456  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Entertainment, continued       
  780      Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.    $ 14,060  
  900      Konami Holdings Corp.      40,931  
  1,414      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      84,529  
  1,290      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      89,965  
  3,325      Netflix, Inc.*      980,476  
  3,600      Nexon Co., Ltd.      80,316  
  8,000      Nintendo Co., Ltd.      335,056  
  2,750      ROBLOX Corp., Class A*      78,265  
  924      Roku, Inc.*      37,607  
  2,586      Sea, Ltd., ADR*      134,550  
  400      Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.      18,574  
  1,181      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      122,978  
  600      Toho Co., Ltd.      23,221  
  856      UbiSoft Entertainment SA*      24,294  
  5,833      Universal Music Group NV      140,784  
  5,833      Vivendi Universal SA      55,809  
  13,485      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      1,171,577  
  17,412      Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*      165,066  
     

 

 

 
        4,394,805  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (2.2%):       
  1,112      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.      161,985  
  2,448      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      73,783  
  3,432      American Tower Corp.      727,104  
  1,081      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      174,603  
  1,147      Boston Properties, Inc.      77,514  
  8,137      British Land Co. plc      38,899  
  739      Camden Property Trust      82,679  
  815      Canadian Apartment Properties REIT      25,694  
  29,744      CapitaLand Ascendas REIT      60,911  
  31,506      CapitaLand Mall Trust      48,050  
  316      Covivio      18,813  
  3,175      Crown Castle, Inc.      430,657  
  18      Daiwahouse Residential Investment Corp.      40,181  
  6,460      Dexus      33,951  
  2,122      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      212,773  
  677      Equinix, Inc.      443,455  
  1,394      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      90,053  
  2,712      Equity Residential      160,008  
  522      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      110,622  
  984      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      144,825  
  1,963      Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.      102,253  
  424      Gecina SA      43,193  
  28      GLP J-REIT      32,219  
  12,389      Goodman Group      145,521  
  11,976      GPT Group      34,198  
  2,942      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      56,692  
  4,227      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      105,971  
  5,303      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      85,113  
  4,453      Invitation Homes, Inc.      131,987  
  2,113      Iron Mountain, Inc.      105,333  
  43      Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest      34,180  
  12      Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.      52,565  
  4,981      Kimco Realty Corp.      105,498  
  1,908      Klepierre      44,127  
  4,161      Land Securities Group plc      31,288  
  14,300      Link REIT (The)      105,004  
  21,123      Mapletree Logistics Trust      25,107  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, continued       
  15,100      Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust    $ 18,848  
  4,192      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      46,699  
  802      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      125,906  
  36,393      Mirvac Group      52,708  
  10      Nippon Building Fund, Inc.      44,664  
  20      Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.      46,847  
  39      Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.      48,441  
  6,918      Prologis, Inc.      779,866  
  1,168      Public Storage      327,262  
  4,569      Realty Income Corp.      289,812  
  1,170      Regency Centers Corp.      73,125  
  480      RioCan REIT      7,492  
  819      SBA Communications Corp.      229,574  
  36,788      Scentre Group      71,517  
  9,532      Segro plc      88,100  
  2,406      Simon Property Group, Inc.      282,657  
  22,062      Stockland      54,464  
  871      Sun Communities, Inc.      124,553  
  2,260      UDR, Inc.      87,530  
  812      Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield*^      42,364  
  3,011      Ventas, Inc.      135,645  
  7,034      VICI Properties, Inc.      227,902  
  24,703      Vicinity Centres      33,604  
  1,164      Warehouses De Pauw CVA      33,279  
  3,318      Welltower, Inc.      217,495  
  5,617      Weyerhaeuser Co.      174,127  
  1,287      WP Carey, Inc.      100,579  
     

 

 

 
        8,161,869  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.5%):       
  4,900      AEON Co., Ltd.      103,159  
  6,060      Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.      266,339  
  4,522      Carrefour SA      75,652  
  10,570      Coles Group, Ltd.      119,676  
  3,277      Costco Wholesale Corp.      1,495,951  
  848      Empire Co., Ltd., Class A      22,337  
  11,695      Endeavour Group, Ltd.      50,778  
  528      George Weston, Ltd.      65,518  
  1,243      HelloFresh SE*      27,247  
  15,420      J Sainsbury plc      40,469  
  2,416      Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA      52,234  
  2,524      Kesko Oyj, Class B      55,845  
  1,000      Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.      28,870  
  7,534      Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV      216,450  
  5,167      Kroger Co. (The)      230,345  
  1,246      Loblaw Cos., Ltd.      110,187  
  1,796      Metro, Inc.      99,458  
  3,324      Ocado Group plc*      25,008  
  5,400      Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.      231,038  
  3,825      Sysco Corp.      292,421  
  57,561      Tesco plc      156,030  
  5,277      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      197,149  
  11,142      Walmart, Inc.      1,579,824  
  500      Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,649  
  9,047      Woolworths Group, Ltd.      206,552  
     

 

 

 
        5,760,186  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products (1.8%):       
  3,400      Ajinomoto Co., Inc.    $ 103,686  
  4,175      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      387,649  
  3,293      Associated British Foods plc      62,723  
  33      Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares      65,399  
  1,032      Bunge, Ltd.      102,963  
  1,351      Campbell Soup Co.      76,669  
  3,715      Conagra Brands, Inc.      143,771  
  4,903      Danone SA      258,272  
  1,198      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      74,983  
  4,341      General Mills, Inc.      363,993  
  1,108      Hershey Co. (The)      256,580  
  2,218      Hormel Foods Corp.      101,030  
  476      JDE Peet’s NV      13,756  
  815      JM Smucker Co. (The)      129,145  
  1,968      Kellogg Co.      140,200  
  1,279      Kerry Group plc, Class A      115,397  
  1,300      Kikkoman Corp.      68,727  
  5,513      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      224,434  
  1,074      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      95,973  
  7      Lindt & Spruengli AG      71,353  
  1,974      McCormick & Co.      163,625  
  800      Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.      41,087  
  10,099      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      673,098  
  3,271      Mowi ASA      55,917  
  20,541      Nestle SA      2,372,829  
  700      Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.      8,777  
  300      Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.      23,756  
  5,748      Orkla ASA, Class A      41,581  
  461      Salmar ASA      18,150  
  2,279      Saputo, Inc.      56,428  
  2,173      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      135,269  
  68,033      WH Group, Ltd.      39,582  
  18,000      Wilmar International, Ltd.      56,091  
  900      Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.      58,700  
     

 

 

 
        6,601,593  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,545      AltaGas, Ltd.      26,682  
  8,525      APA Group      62,403  
  960      Atmos Energy Corp.      107,587  
  595      Enagas SA      9,891  
  83,117      Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.      79,027  
  985      Naturgy Energy Group SA      25,618  
  3,600      Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.      58,236  
  14,344      Snam SpA      69,633  
  3,500      Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.      68,816  
  1,451      UGI Corp.      53,789  
     

 

 

 
        561,682  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.9%):       
  12,962      Abbott Laboratories      1,423,098  
  3,712      Alcon, Inc.      255,026  
  536      Align Technology, Inc.*      113,042  
  1,400      Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.      23,075  
  3,685      Baxter International, Inc.      187,824  
  2,120      Becton Dickinson and Co.      539,116  
  245      BioMerieux      25,761  
  10,614      Boston Scientific Corp.*      491,110  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
  372      Carl Zeiss Meditec AG    $ 46,945  
  451      Cochlear, Ltd.      62,605  
  934      Coloplast A/S, Class B      109,454  
  393      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      129,953  
  5,103      Danaher Corp.      1,354,438  
  1,001      Demant A/S*      27,840  
  1,576      DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.      50,180  
  2,837      Dexcom, Inc.*      321,262  
  233      DiaSorin SpA      32,645  
  4,717      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      351,935  
  2,119      EssilorLuxottica SA      385,807  
  4,138      Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.      58,881  
  1,920      Getinge AB, Class B      40,002  
  1,763      Hologic, Inc.*      131,890  
  2,600      Hoya Corp.      251,602  
  612      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      249,672  
  494      Insulet Corp.*      145,429  
  2,671      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      708,750  
  7,129      Koninklijke Philips NV      106,986  
  395      Masimo Corp.*      58,440  
  9,868      Medtronic plc      766,941  
  595      Novocure, Ltd.*      43,643  
  9,700      Olympus Corp.      171,480  
  1,066      ResMed, Inc.      221,867  
  198      Sartorius AG      78,289  
  2,110      Siemens Healthineers AG      105,540  
  6,641      Smith & Nephew plc      88,703  
  367      Sonova Holding AG      87,347  
  703      STERIS plc      129,837  
  860      Straumann Holding AG, Class R      97,415  
  2,552      Stryker Corp.      623,938  
  1,100      Sysmex Corp.      67,012  
  354      Teleflex, Inc.      88,369  
  4,800      Terumo Corp.      135,759  
  551      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      129,678  
  1,491      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      190,103  
     

 

 

 
        10,708,689  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.4%):       
  1,101      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      182,447  
  845      Amplifon SpA      25,239  
  1,945      Cardinal Health, Inc.      149,512  
  4,180      Centene Corp.*      342,802  
  2,280      Cigna Corp.      755,455  
  9,681      CVS Health Corp.      902,172  
  457      DaVita, Inc.*      34,124  
  1,767      Elevance Health, Inc.      906,418  
  1,484      Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., KGaA      48,532  
  3,378      Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA      95,026  
  1,683      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      403,853  
  997      Henry Schein, Inc.*      79,630  
  943      Humana, Inc.      482,995  
  647      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings      152,355  
  1,060      McKesson Corp.      397,627  
  453      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      149,590  
  904      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      141,422  
  1,328      Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.      58,686  
  3,322      Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.      67,718  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  6,915      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.    $ 3,666,195  
  521      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      73,404  
     

 

 

 
        9,115,202  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.1%):       
  3,600      M3, Inc.      98,083  
  1,069      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      172,515  
     

 

 

 
        270,598  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.8%):       
  1,592      Accor SA*      39,548  
  2,885      Airbnb, Inc., Class A*      246,667  
  1,529      Aramark      63,209  
  4,751      Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.      98,092  
  290      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      584,431  
  1,690      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      70,304  
  6,658      Carnival Corp., Class A*      53,663  
  200      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      277,498  
  13,191      Compass Group plc      304,739  
  888      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      122,837  
  260      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      90,064  
  4,276      Entain plc      68,545  
  1,406      Evolution AB      137,391  
  1,136      Expedia Group, Inc.*      99,514  
  1,257      Flutter Entertainment plc*      172,215  
  16,000      Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.      105,950  
  25,500      Genting Singapore, Ltd.      18,202  
  2,003      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      253,099  
  1,297      InterContinental Hotels Group plc      74,638  
  883      La Francaise des Jeux SAEM      35,470  
  2,602      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      125,078  
  14,501      Lottery Corp., Ltd. (The)*      44,187  
  2,035      Marriott International, Inc., Class A      302,991  
  5,445      McDonald’s Corp.      1,434,921  
  300      McDonald’s Holdings Co., Ltd.      11,416  
  2,452      MGM Resorts International      82,216  
  1,400      Oriental Land Co., Ltd.      203,993  
  2,135      Restaurant Brands International, Inc.      138,070  
  1,827      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      90,309  
  16,000      Sands China, Ltd.*      53,011  
  597      Sodexo SA      57,103  
  8,516      Starbucks Corp.      844,787  
  297      Vail Resorts, Inc.      70,790  
  1,244      Whitbread plc      38,692  
  739      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      60,945  
  2,057      Yum! Brands, Inc.      263,461  
     

 

 

 
        6,738,046  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.5%):       
  6,179      Barratt Developments plc      29,665  
  618      Berkeley Group Holdings plc      28,132  
  2,337      DR Horton, Inc.      208,320  
  2,085      Electrolux AB, Class B      28,235  
  1,046      Garmin, Ltd.      96,535  
  600      Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      9,071  
  1,999      Lennar Corp., Class A      180,909  
  380      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      38,844  
  2,638      Newell Brands, Inc.      34,505  
  22      NVR, Inc.*      101,477  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Durables, continued       
  700      Open House Co., Ltd.    $ 25,394  
  15,600      Panasonic Holdings Corp.      130,658  
  2,260      Persimmon plc      33,353  
  1,687      PulteGroup, Inc.      76,809  
  256      SEB SA      21,515  
  3,500      Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.      48,710  
  4,500      Sekisui House, Ltd.      79,599  
  1,000      Sharp Corp.^      7,199  
  9,400      Sony Group Corp.      716,915  
  33,694      Taylor Wimpey plc      41,527  
  460      Whirlpool Corp.      65,072  
     

 

 

 
        2,002,444  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.2%):       
  1,709      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      137,763  
  872      Clorox Co. (The)      122,368  
  5,768      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      454,461  
  4,830      Essity AB, Class B      126,847  
  644      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      41,529  
  2,452      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      332,859  
  17,666      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      2,677,459  
  5,357      Reckitt Benckiser Group plc      372,602  
  3,000      Unicharm Corp.      115,059  
     

 

 

 
        4,380,947  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity
Producers (0.1%):
      
  4,828      AES Corp. (The)      138,853  
  787      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      21,666  
  2,012      EDP Renovaveis SA      44,471  
  6,904      Meridian Energy, Ltd.      22,811  
  2,059      Northland Power, Inc.      56,471  
  3,098      Vistra Corp.      71,874  
     

 

 

 
        356,146  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.1%):       
  4,064      3M Co.      487,355  
  21,000      CK Hutchison Holdings, Ltd.      126,077  
  654      DCC plc      32,279  
  8,166      General Electric Co.      684,229  
  7,400      Hitachi, Ltd.      372,461  
  5,008      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,073,214  
  1,007      Investment AB Latour, Class B      19,128  
  1,100      Jardine Matheson Holdings, Ltd.      55,932  
  7,500      Keppel Corp., Ltd.      40,694  
  1,957      Lifco AB, Class B      32,593  
  29,985      Melrose Industries plc      48,737  
  340      Rheinmetall AG      67,713  
  5,633      Siemens AG      781,708  
  2,548      Smiths Group plc      49,113  
  3,100      Toshiba Corp.      108,680  
     

 

 

 
        3,979,913  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.5%):       
  957      Admiral Group plc      24,729  
  12,269      Aegon NV      62,230  
  4,499      Aflac, Inc.      323,658  
  1,180      Ageas NV      52,493  
  87,800      AIA Group, Ltd.      967,349  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  3,061      Allianz SE+    $ 658,102  
  2,054      Allstate Corp. (The)      278,522  
  506      American Financial Group, Inc.      69,464  
  5,619      American International Group, Inc.      355,346  
  1,535      Aon plc, Class A      460,715  
  2,711      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      170,197  
  1,535      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      289,409  
  8,867      Assicurazioni Generali SpA      157,450  
  407      Assurant, Inc.      50,899  
  20,405      Aviva plc      108,738  
  13,679      AXA SA      381,189  
  296      Baloise Holding AG      45,735  
  1,810      Brown & Brown, Inc.      103,116  
  3,087      Chubb, Ltd.      680,992  
  1,198      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      122,663  
  6,900      Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.      156,713  
  116      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      28,851  
  281      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      93,087  
  188      Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd.      111,382  
  1,917      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      72,118  
  1,848      Gjensidige Forsikring ASA      36,310  
  676      Globe Life, Inc.      81,492  
  1,806      Great-West Lifeco, Inc.      41,755  
  437      Hannover Rueck SE      86,858  
  2,337      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      177,215  
  648      IA Financial Corp., Inc.      37,943  
  16,579      Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.      53,571  
  1,266      Intact Financial Corp.      182,269  
  18,100      Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.      152,616  
  1,700      Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.      29,923  
  41,740      Legal & General Group plc      126,034  
  1,326      Lincoln National Corp.      40,735  
  1,606      Loews Corp.      93,678  
  14,122      Manulife Financial Corp.      251,918  
  106      Markel Corp.*      139,654  
  3,674      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      607,973  
  25,594      Medibank Private, Ltd.      51,021  
  4,938      MetLife, Inc.      357,363  
  3,200      MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.      102,435  
  1,058      Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG      343,974  
  2,086      NN Group NV      85,183  
  6,201      Phoenix Group Holdings plc      45,657  
  4,829      Poste Italiane SpA      47,086  
  4,218      Power Corp. of Canada      99,234  
  1,871      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      157,014  
  4,322      Progressive Corp. (The)      560,607  
  2,777      Prudential Financial, Inc.      276,200  
  19,927      Prudential PLC      269,607  
  10,467      QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.      95,592  
  3,651      Sampo Oyj, Class A      190,877  
  2,300      Sompo Holdings, Inc.      102,142  
  4,504      Sun Life Financial, Inc.      209,098  
  9,098      Suncorp Group, Ltd.      74,588  
  244      Swiss Life Holding AG      125,990  
  2,253      Swiss Re AG      211,411  
  3,300      T&D Holdings, Inc.      47,503  
  13,500      Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.      289,033  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Insurance, continued       
  1,770      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)    $ 331,857  
  2,488      Tryg A/S      59,022  
  797      Willis Towers Watson plc      194,930  
  1,540      WR Berkley Corp.      111,758  
  1,116      Zurich Insurance Group AG      533,453  
     

 

 

 
        12,937,726  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (2.7%):       
  1,569      Adevinta ASA*      10,376  
  44,394      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      3,916,883  
  41,030      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      3,640,592  
  6,294      Auto Trader Group plc      39,268  
  500      Kakaku.com, Inc.      8,043  
  2,194      Match Group, Inc.*      91,029  
  16,947      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      2,039,402  
  3,939      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      95,639  
  488      REA Group, Ltd.      36,740  
  483      Scout24 AG      24,264  
  3,100      Seek, Ltd.      44,123  
  8,297      Snap, Inc., Class A*      74,258  
  19,800      Z Holdings Corp.      50,064  
  1,887      ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*      56,817  
     

 

 

 
        10,127,498  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.9%):       
  67,901      Amazon.com, Inc.*      5,703,684  
  819      Chewy, Inc., Class A*      30,369  
  933      Delivery Hero SE*      44,691  
  1,488      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*      72,644  
  3,877      eBay, Inc.      160,779  
  883      Etsy, Inc.*      105,766  
  1,296      Just Eat Takeaway*      27,593  
  341      MercadoLibre, Inc.*      288,568  
  6,165      Prosus NV      423,201  
  8,000      Rakuten, Inc.      36,316  
  1,812      Zalando SE*      64,228  
  1,200      ZOZO, Inc.      29,798  
     

 

 

 
          6,987,637  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (3.6%):       
  4,702      Accenture plc, Class A      1,254,682  
  160      Adyen NV*      221,379  
  1,478      Affirm Holdings, Inc.*^      14,292  
  1,286      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      108,410  
  3,441      Amadeus IT Group SA*      177,427  
  3,109      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      742,616  
  589      Bechtle AG      20,839  
  1,147      Black Knight, Inc.*      70,827  
  3,943      Block, Inc.*      247,778  
  921      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      123,534  
  1,256      Capgemini SA      210,619  
  1,553      CGI, Inc.*      133,883  
  3,973      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      227,216  
  3,893      Computershare, Ltd.      69,435  
  1,792      Edenred      97,496  
  412      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      135,029  
  4,410      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      299,218  
  4,467      Fiserv, Inc.*      451,480  
  548      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      100,657  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
IT Services, continued       
  1,500      Fujitsu, Ltd.    $ 198,672  
  584      Gartner, Inc.*      196,306  
  1,987      Global Payments, Inc.      197,349  
  200      GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.      16,632  
  1,211      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      90,607  
  6,667      International Business Machines Corp.      939,314  
  800      Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.      18,740  
  546      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      95,856  
  6,412      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      2,229,645  
  523      MongoDB, Inc.*      102,947  
  4,062      Nexi SpA*      31,925  
  2,520      Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.      59,916  
  4,600      NTT Data Corp.      67,697  
  340      Nuvei Corp.*      8,642  
  400      Obic Co., Ltd.      59,145  
  1,193      Okta, Inc.*      81,518  
  1,100      Otsuka Corp.      34,817  
  2,420      Paychex, Inc.      279,655  
  8,255      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      587,921  
  900      SCSK Corp.      13,586  
  8,478      Shopify, Inc., Class A*      294,394  
  1,688      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      242,295  
  1,600      TIS, Inc.      42,417  
  1,365      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      66,830  
  709      VeriSign, Inc.*      145,657  
  12,108      Visa, Inc., Class A      2,515,558  
  2,632      Western Union Co. (The.)      36,243  
  514      Wix.com, Ltd.*      39,491  
  1,612      Worldline SA*      62,892  
     

 

 

 
        13,463,484  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  1,400      Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.      87,809  
  298      BRP, Inc.      22,723  
  961      Hasbro, Inc.      58,631  
  600      Shimano, Inc.      95,611  
  1,200      Yamaha Corp.      44,279  
     

 

 

 
        309,053  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.1%):       
  2,227      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      333,270  
  4,207      Avantor, Inc.*      88,726  
  260      Bachem Holding AG, Registered B      22,683  
  171      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      71,904  
  1,220      Bio-Techne Corp.      101,113  
  403      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      87,814  
  1,012      Eurofins Scientific SE      72,866  
  1,164      Illumina, Inc.*      235,361  
  1,388      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      284,387  
  567      Lonza Group AG      279,140  
  170      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      245,726  
  894      PerkinElmer, Inc.      125,357  
  1,659      Qiagen NV*      83,483  
  394      Repligen Corp.*      66,708  
  206      Sartorius Stedim Biotech      67,104  
  2,888      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      1,590,393  
  450      Waters Corp.*      154,161  
     

 

 

 
        3,910,196  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery (2.0%):       
  2,154      Alfa Laval AB    $ 62,364  
  2,573      Alstom SA      63,164  
  19,923      Atlas Copco AB, Class A*      236,006  
  11,256      Atlas Copco AB, Class B      120,329  
  3,868      Caterpillar, Inc.      926,618  
  7,981      CNH Industrial NV      128,158  
  1,049      Cummins, Inc.      254,162  
  700      Daifuku Co., Ltd.      32,948  
  3,580      Daimler Truck Holding AG*      110,904  
  2,143      Deere & Co.      918,833  
  1,024      Dover Corp.      138,660  
  5,056      Epiroc AB, Class A      92,446  
  2,200      Epiroc AB, Class B      35,481  
  1,400      FANUC Corp.      208,971  
  2,617      Fortive Corp.      168,142  
  952      GEA Group AG      38,882  
  800      Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.      18,031  
  600      Hoshizaki Corp.      21,129  
  2,525      Husqvarna AB, Class B      17,801  
  593      IDEX Corp.      135,400  
  2,279      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      502,064  
  3,004      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      156,959  
  670      Knorr-Bremse AG      36,607  
  7,100      Komatsu, Ltd.      154,059  
  2,390      Kone Oyj, Class B      123,776  
  7,000      Kubota Corp.      96,442  
  1,000      Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.      41,519  
  1,500      Makita Corp.      35,126  
  3,400      MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.      51,036  
  2,600      Misumi Group, Inc.      57,002  
  2,300      Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.      91,032  
  1,400      NGK Insulators, Ltd.      17,858  
  411      Nordson Corp.      97,703  
  3,212      Otis Worldwide Corp.      251,532  
  2,625      PACCAR, Inc.      259,796  
  982      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      285,762  
  1,194      Pentair PLC      53,706  
  32      Rational AG      18,963  
  8,277      Sandvik AB      149,526  
  275      Schindler Holding AG      51,650  
  187      Schindler Holding AG, Registered Shares      33,597  
  2,306      SKF AB, Class B      35,309  
  400      SMC Corp.      169,318  
  388      Snap-On, Inc.      88,654  
  556      Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc      71,426  
  1,129      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      84,811  
  10,500      Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      116,924  
  227      VAT Group AG      62,536  
  1,851      Volvo AB, Class A      35,256  
  11,010      Volvo AB, Class B      199,464  
  4,375      Wartsila Oyj Abp, Class B      36,965  
  1,189      Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.      118,674  
  1,271      Xylem, Inc.      140,534  
  1,500      Yaskawa Electric Corp.      48,266  
     

 

 

 
        7,502,281  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Marine (0.1%):       
  20      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class A    $ 44,380  
  39      A.P. Moeller — Maersk A/S, Class B      87,611  
  408      Kuehne & Nagel International AG      94,838  
  2,700      Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.      67,673  
  3,600      Nippon Yusen KK      85,298  
  12,000      SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.      26,490  
  656      ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Ltd.^      11,277  
     

 

 

 
        417,567  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.7%):       
  840      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      284,844  
  32,350      Comcast Corp., Class A      1,131,279  
  3,700      Cyberagent, Inc.      32,915  
  2,000      Dentsu Group, Inc.      63,149  
  2,260      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      31,730  
  2,345      Fox Corp., Class A      71,218  
  968      Fox Corp., Class B      27,540  
  1,700      Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.      17,221  
  10,971      Informa plc      82,236  
  2,935      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      97,765  
  991      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      75,583  
  914      Liberty Global plc, Class A*      17,302  
  1,069      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      41,830  
  361      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      14,191  
  2,449      News Corp., Class A      44,572  
  1,573      Omnicom Group, Inc.      128,310  
  4,613      Paramount Global, Class B      77,867  
  4,820      Pearson plc      54,623  
  1,673      Publicis Groupe SA      106,222  
  675      Quebecor, Inc., Class B      15,058  
  3,346      Shaw Communications, Inc., Class B      96,416  
  6,283      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      36,693  
  7,439      WPP plc      73,837  
     

 

 

 
        2,622,401  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.7%):       
  3,422      Agnico Eagle Mines, Ltd.      177,849  
  1,443      Alcoa Corp.      65,613  
  9,258      Anglo American plc      362,028  
  3,645      Antofagasta plc      67,656  
  3,702      ArcelorMittal SA      96,778  
  12,771      Barrick Gold Corp.      218,950  
  37,510      BHP Group, Ltd.      1,161,096  
  2,969      BlueScope Steel, Ltd.      33,834  
  2,098      Boliden AB      78,938  
  4,103      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      66,099  
  4,279      First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.      89,417  
  1,429      Franco-Nevada Corp.      194,822  
  12,339      Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd.      171,983  
  10,614      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      403,332  
  71,702      Glencore plc      479,353  
  5,091      IGO, Ltd.      46,259  
  4,254      Ivanhoe Mines, Ltd., Class A*      33,622  
  3,100      JFE Holdings, Inc.      36,000  
  11,630      Kinross Gold Corp.      47,420  
  4,089      Lundin Mining Corp.      25,100  
  1,374      Mineral Resources, Ltd.      72,262  
  6,151      Newcrest Mining, Ltd.      85,738  
  5,797      Newmont Corp.      273,619  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining, continued       
  6,300      Nippon Steel Corp.    $ 109,706  
  10,117      Norsk Hydro ASA      75,866  
  10,215      Northern Star Resources, Ltd.      74,784  
  2,004      Nucor Corp.      264,147  
  1,988      Pan American Silver Corp.      32,453  
  18,950      Pilbara Minerals, Ltd.*      48,278  
  8,309      Rio Tinto plc      582,887  
  2,683      Rio Tinto, Ltd.      211,401  
  33,569      South32, Ltd.      90,848  
  1,344      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      131,309  
  1,800      Sumitomo Metal & Mining Co., Ltd.      64,045  
  3,432      Teck Cominco, Ltd., Class B      129,720  
  522      Voestalpine AG      13,777  
  3,566      Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.      139,342  
     

 

 

 
        6,256,331  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.0%):       
  3,231      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      68,109  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.5%):       
  380      Canadian Tire Corp., Class A      39,718  
  1,656      Dollar General Corp.      407,790  
  1,621      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      229,274  
  2,154      Dollarama, Inc.      125,997  
  1,084      Next plc      76,309  
  2,700      Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.      50,129  
  3,445      Target Corp.      513,443  
  8,710      Wesfarmers, Ltd.      271,916  
     

 

 

 
        1,714,576  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.9%):       
  5,519      Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.      35,956  
  1,818      Ameren Corp.      161,657  
  993      Canadian Utilities, Ltd., Class A      26,883  
  4,513      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      135,345  
  2,272      CMS Energy Corp.      143,886  
  2,627      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      250,379  
  5,949      Dominion Energy, Inc.      364,793  
  1,419      DTE Energy Co.      166,775  
  16,775      E.ON SE      167,398  
  13,314      Engie Group      190,683  
  27,699      National Grid plc      332,632  
  2,801      NiSource, Inc.      76,803  
  3,719      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      227,863  
  4,789      RWE AG      212,921  
  2,386      Sempra Energy      368,733  
  5,246      Veolia Environnement SA      134,753  
  2,413      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      226,243  
     

 

 

 
        3,223,703  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (5.4%):       
  2,453      Aker BP ASA      76,558  
  2,317      Ampol, Ltd.      44,465  
  2,300      APA Corp.      107,364  
  5,374      ARC Resources, Ltd.      72,445  
  139,588      BP plc      811,564  
  2,896      Cameco Corp.      65,651  
  8,377      Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.      465,258  
  10,066      Cenovus Energy, Inc.      195,327  
  1,707      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      255,982  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  767      Chesapeake Energy Corp.    $ 72,382  
  13,771      Chevron Corp.      2,471,757  
  9,474      ConocoPhillips      1,117,932  
  5,813      Coterra Energy, Inc.      142,825  
  4,680      Devon Energy Corp.      287,867  
  1,284      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      175,626  
  14,781      Enbridge, Inc.      577,789  
  22,150      ENEOS Holdings, Inc.      75,430  
  18,950      ENI SpA      270,648  
  4,358      EOG Resources, Inc.      564,448  
  2,651      EQT Corp.      89,683  
  7,020      Equinor ASA      252,110  
  30,766      Exxon Mobil Corp.      3,393,490  
  2,889      Galp Energia SGPS SA      39,087  
  2,111      Hess Corp.      299,382  
  1,215      HF Sinclair Corp.      63,046  
  1,482      Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.      34,686  
  1,615      Imperial Oil, Ltd.      78,674  
  7,500      INPEX Corp.      80,042  
  2,058      Keyera Corp.      44,982  
  14,817      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      267,891  
  5,059      Marathon Oil Corp.      136,947  
  3,724      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      433,436  
  2,993      Neste Oyj      138,221  
  6,920      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      435,891  
  981      OMV AG      50,648  
  3,289      ONEOK, Inc.      216,087  
  1,899      Ovintiv, Inc.      96,298  
  1,471      Parkland Corp.      32,282  
  4,263      Pembina Pipeline Corp.      144,724  
  3,584      Phillips 66      373,023  
  1,647      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      376,158  
  10,226      Repsol SA      162,993  
  24,668      Santos, Ltd.      120,932  
  53,587      Shell plc      1,522,496  
  10,007      Suncor Energy, Inc.      317,477  
  1,697      Targa Resources Corp.      124,730  
  7,383      TC Energy Corp.^      294,382  
  48      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      112,523  
  18,465      TotalEnergies SE^      1,152,332  
  2,246      Tourmaline Oil Corp.      113,345  
  3,011      Valero Energy Corp.      381,975  
  1,889      Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.      35,535  
  8,886      Williams Cos., Inc.      292,349  
  14,440      Woodside Energy Group, Ltd.      348,410  
     

 

 

 
          19,907,585  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.1%):       
  734      Holmen AB, B Shares      29,217  
  3,443      Mondi plc      58,462  
  8,500      Oji Holdings Corp.      34,389  
  4,244      Stora Enso Oyj, Class R      59,949  
  4,358      Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B      55,134  
  3,774      UPM-Kymmene Oyj      141,452  
  391      West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd.      28,238  
     

 

 

 
        406,841  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Personal Products (0.7%):       
  702      Beiersdorf AG    $ 80,544  
  1,725      Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A      427,990  
  39,256      Haleon PLC*      156,986  
  3,500      Kao Corp.      140,128  
  200      Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      13,760  
  300      Kose Corp.      32,596  
  1,774      L’Oreal SA      636,319  
  3,200      Shiseido Co., Ltd.      157,722  
  18,810      Unilever plc      948,744  
     

 

 

 
        2,594,789  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (6.0%):       
  14,300      Astellas Pharma, Inc.      216,980  
  11,474      AstraZeneca plc      1,556,867  
  7,191      Bayer AG, Registered Shares      371,236  
  15,874      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      1,142,134  
  1,386      Catalent, Inc.*      62,384  
  5,400      Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      137,235  
  12,900      Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.      413,476  
  1,700      Eisai Co., Ltd.      111,365  
  3,147      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      38,456  
  5,963      Eli Lilly & Co.      2,181,504  
  30,172      GSK PLC      524,574  
  1,106      Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc      20,764  
  1,722      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      195,964  
  283      Ipsen SA      30,494  
  423      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      67,388  
  19,439      Johnson & Johnson      3,433,899  
  2,500      Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.      57,519  
  18,777      Merck & Co., Inc.      2,083,308  
  999      Merck KGaA      193,439  
  200      Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.      11,397  
  16,021      Novartis AG, Registered Shares      1,451,596  
  12,225      Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B      1,655,550  
  2,500      Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.      58,491  
  612      Orion Oyj, Class B      33,541  
  2,900      Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.      94,427  
  41,563      Pfizer, Inc.      2,129,688  
  990      Recordati SpA      41,146  
  5,247      Roche Holding AG      1,649,378  
  187      Roche Holding AG      72,495  
  2,394      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      94,611  
  8,423      Sanofi      814,899  
  2,000      Shionogi & Co., Ltd.      99,512  
  11,050      Takeda Pharmacuetical Co., Ltd.      345,189  
  5,622      Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., ADR*      51,273  
  950      UCB SA      74,816  
  9,546      Viatris, Inc.      106,247  
  3,531      Zoetis, Inc.      517,468  
     

 

 

 
          22,140,710  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.8%):       
  1,432      Adecco Group AG      47,103  
  973      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      101,698  
  1,956      Bureau Veritas SA      51,471  
  3,091      Clarivate plc*      25,779  
  2,990      CoStar Group, Inc.*      231,067  
  922      Equifax, Inc.      179,200  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

15


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Professional Services, continued       
  6,700      Experian plc    $ 228,043  
  1,287      Intertek Group plc      62,802  
  867      Jacobs Solutions, Inc.      104,101  
  995      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      104,664  
  2,800      Nihon M&A Center, Inc.      34,736  
  1,300      Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.      27,612  
  710      Randstad NV      43,351  
  10,600      Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.      337,172  
  14,545      RELX plc      402,895  
  825      Robert Half International, Inc.      60,910  
  47      SGS SA, Registered Shares      108,850  
  412      Teleperformance      98,300  
  1,201      Thomson Reuters Corp.      137,027  
  1,541      TransUnion      87,452  
  1,122      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      197,943  
  2,011      Wolters Kluwer NV      210,037  
     

 

 

 
        2,882,213  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.5%):       
  9,234      Aroundtown SA      21,553  
  116      Azrieli Group      7,718  
  24,400      Capitaland Investment, Ltd.      67,493  
  2,310      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      177,778  
  3,700      City Developments, Ltd.      22,662  
  14,000      CK Asset Holdings, Ltd.      86,200  
  200      Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.      20,558  
  4,200      Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.      96,387  
  18,800      ESR Cayman, Ltd.      39,463  
  3,858      Fastighets AB Balder, B Shares*      18,064  
  257      FirstService Corp.      31,477  
  11,000      Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.      21,358  
  13,324      Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.      46,525  
  6,600      Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.      30,268  
  2,400      Hulic Co., Ltd.      18,891  
  666      LEG Immobilien SE      43,395  
  4,109      Lend Lease Group      21,900  
  9,300      Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.      120,367  
  7,400      Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.      135,211  
  8,827      New World Development Co., Ltd.      24,886  
  1,000      Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.      21,382  
  1,352      Sagax AB, Class B      30,810  
  24,117      Sino Land Co., Ltd.      30,039  
  2,100      Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.      49,454  
  10,000      Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.      136,854  
  5,000      Swire Pacific, Ltd., Class A      43,855  
  9,200      Swire Properties, Ltd.      23,276  
  702      Swiss Prime Site AG      60,972  
  1,769      UOL Group, Ltd.      8,886  
  5,641      Vonovia SE      132,925  
  15,000      Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.      87,457  
  1,442      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      46,447  
     

 

 

 
        1,724,511  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.2%):       
  11,052      Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.      27,870  
  4,338      Canadian National Railway Co.      515,382  
  6,840      Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.      510,196  
  1,100      Central Japan Railway Co.      135,345  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail, continued       
  15,840      CSX Corp.    $ 490,723  
  1,371      DSV A/S      217,487  
  2,300      East Japan Railway Co.      131,251  
  8,772      Grab Holdings, Ltd.*      28,246  
  2,100      Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.      62,442  
  653      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      113,857  
  1,000      Keio Corp.      36,773  
  900      Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      25,748  
  1,000      Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.      33,151  
  1,035      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      54,244  
  10,500      MTR Corp., Ltd.      55,635  
  700      Nippon Express Holdings Co., Ltd.      39,925  
  1,774      Norfolk Southern Corp.      437,149  
  2,700      Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.      35,197  
  673      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      190,984  
  703      TFI International, Inc.      70,419  
  900      Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.      21,076  
  4,600      Tokyu Corp.      57,945  
  11,124      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      275,097  
  612      U-Haul Holding Co.      33,648  
  4,628      Union Pacific Corp.      958,320  
  1,500      West Japan Railway Co.      65,480  
     

 

 

 
        4,623,590  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (4.2%):       
  12,078      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      782,292  
  1,400      Advantest Corp.      90,398  
  3,849      Analog Devices, Inc.      631,352  
  6,450      Applied Materials, Inc.      628,101  
  312      ASM International NV      78,975  
  3,024      ASML Holding NV      1,636,667  
  2,977      Broadcom, Inc.      1,664,530  
  200      Disco Corp.      57,502  
  975      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      258,336  
  1,138      Entegris, Inc.      74,641  
  717      First Solar, Inc.*      107,399  
  9,771      Infineon Technologies AG      297,560  
  30,676      Intel Corp.      810,767  
  1,049      KLA Corp.      395,505  
  1,030      Lam Research Corp.      432,909  
  500      Lasertec Corp.      83,064  
  6,392      Marvell Technology, Inc.      236,760  
  4,040      Microchip Technology, Inc.      283,810  
  8,041      Micron Technology, Inc.      401,889  
  349      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      123,410  
  18,481      NVIDIA Corp.      2,700,813  
  1,996      NXP Semiconductors NV      315,428  
  3,139      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      195,779  
  710      Qorvo, Inc.*      64,354  
  8,315      Qualcomm, Inc.      914,151  
  8,700      Renesas Electronics Corp.*      78,638  
  800      ROHM Co., Ltd.      57,098  
  1,188      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      108,262  
  385      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      109,059  
  5,179      STMicroelectronics NV      184,087  
  2,600      SUMCO Corp.      34,795  
  1,093      Teradyne, Inc.      95,474  
  6,748      Texas Instruments, Inc.      1,114,905  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

16


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  1,100      Tokyo Electron, Ltd.    $ 326,820  
  853      Tower Semiconductor, Ltd.*      37,275  
  928      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      64,069  
     

 

 

 
          15,476,874  
     

 

 

 
Software (6.3%):       
  3,491      Adobe, Inc.*      1,174,826  
  650      ANSYS, Inc.*      157,033  
  217      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      44,572  
  1,651      Autodesk, Inc.*      308,522  
  1,063      AVEVA Group plc      41,279  
  1,586      Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B      58,619  
  627      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      68,318  
  2,006      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      322,244  
  1,003      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      64,342  
  748      Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.*      94,368  
  1,927      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      87,120  
  146      Constellation Software, Inc.      227,979  
  1,478      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      155,619  
  382      CyberArk Software, Ltd.*      49,526  
  5,166      Dassault Systemes SE      186,296  
  1,767      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      129,874  
  633      Descartes Systems GRP The*      44,134  
  1,635      DocuSign, Inc.*      90,612  
  1,999      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      44,738  
  1,323      Dynatrace, Inc.*      50,671  
  188      Fair Isaac Corp.*      112,533  
  4,868      Fortinet, Inc.*      237,996  
  4,346      Gen Digital, Inc.      93,135  
  370      HubSpot, Inc.*      106,978  
  1,968      Intuit, Inc.      765,985  
  52,469      Microsoft Corp.      12,583,116  
  423      Nemetschek SE      21,602  
  487      Nice, Ltd.*      94,541  
  2,016      Open Text Corp.      59,744  
  11,751      Oracle Corp.      960,527  
  300      Oracle Corp.      19,522  
  12,569      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      80,693  
  2,229      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      311,035  
  355      Paycom Software, Inc.*      110,160  
  310      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      60,221  
  818      PTC, Inc.*      98,193  
  767      Roper Technologies, Inc.      331,413  
  7,580      Sage Group plc (The)      68,060  
  7,465      Salesforce, Inc.*      989,784  
  7,757      SAP SE      800,404  
  1,476      ServiceNow, Inc.*      573,086  
  1,311      Splunk, Inc.*      112,864  
  1,810      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      94,229  
  1,109      Synopsys, Inc.*      354,093  
  617      Temenos AG      34,092  
  3,431      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      153,812  
  800      Trend Micro, Inc.      37,415  
  326      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      105,106  
  1,496      Unity Software, Inc.*^      42,771  
  1,648      VMware, Inc., Class A*      202,308  
  656      WiseTech Global, Ltd.      22,616  
  1,476      Workday, Inc., Class A*      246,979  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  951      Xero, Ltd.*    $ 45,386  
  1,593      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      107,910  
  663      Zscaler, Inc.*      74,190  
     

 

 

 
        23,513,191  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (1.8%):       
  492      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      72,339  
  145      AutoZone, Inc.*      357,596  
  1,673      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      70,500  
  1,401      Best Buy Co., Inc.      112,374  
  521      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      105,638  
  1,320      CarMax, Inc.*      80,375  
  400      Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.      242,439  
  5,397      Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B      58,291  
  100      Hikari Tsushin, Inc.      14,070  
  7,577      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      2,393,271  
  8,388      Industria de Diseno Textil SA      223,325  
  17,355      JD Sports Fashion plc      26,486  
  12,728      Kingfisher plc      36,419  
  4,636      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      923,677  
  700      Nitori Co., Ltd.      90,798  
  466      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      393,318  
  2,619      Ross Stores, Inc.      303,987  
  8,557      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      681,137  
  839      Tractor Supply Co.      188,750  
  379      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      177,777  
  1,700      USS Co., Ltd.      26,945  
     

 

 

 
        6,579,512  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (4.5%):       
  119,014      Apple, Inc.      15,463,489  
  2,300      Brother Industries, Ltd.      34,809  
  7,200      Canon, Inc.      155,709  
  2,057      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      82,732  
  2,500      FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.      126,152  
  9,133      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      145,763  
  7,570      HP, Inc.      203,406  
  1,306      Logitech International SA, Class R      81,082  
  1,800      NEC Corp.      62,987  
  1,731      NetApp, Inc.      103,964  
  3,600      Ricoh Co., Ltd.      27,617  
  1,662      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      87,438  
  2,200      Seiko Epson Corp.      31,938  
  2,418      Western Digital Corp.*      76,288  
     

 

 

 
        16,683,374  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.2%):       
  1,353      Adidas AG      184,672  
  2,664      Burberry Group plc      65,081  
  3,851      Cie Financiere Richemont SA      498,476  
  1,244      Gildan Activewear, Inc.      34,073  
  229      Hermes International SA      353,329  
  558      Kering      285,534  
  888      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      284,497  
  2,053      LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA      1,491,179  
  1,545      Moncler SpA      82,230  
  9,301      NIKE, Inc., Class B      1,088,310  
  733      Pandora A/S      51,724  
  767      Puma SE      46,536  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

17


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods, continued       
  116      Swatch Group AG (The)    $ 6,052  
  267      Swatch Group AG (The), Class B      75,821  
  2,243      VF Corp.      61,929  
     

 

 

 
        4,609,443  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.7%):       
  13,296      Altria Group, Inc.      607,760  
  15,951      British American Tobacco plc      632,717  
  6,629      Imperial Brands plc, Class A      165,588  
  8,600      Japan Tobacco, Inc.      173,919  
  11,583      Philip Morris International, Inc.      1,172,315  
     

 

 

 
        2,752,299  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.7%):       
  1,088      AerCap Holdings NV*      63,452  
  3,135      Ashtead Group plc      179,054  
  1,133      Brenntag AG      72,429  
  2,452      Bunzl plc      81,824  
  4,413      Fastenal Co.      208,823  
  1,574      Ferguson plc      198,822  
  478      IMCD NV      68,266  
  2,137      Indutrade AB      43,450  
  8,600      Itochu Corp.      268,936  
  11,600      Marubeni Corp.      132,582  
  9,600      Mitsubishi Corp.      310,624  
  10,200      Mitsui & Co., Ltd.      296,633  
  1,400      MonotaRo Co., Ltd.      19,800  
  1,239      Reece, Ltd.      11,913  
  9,000      Sumitomo Corp.      149,262  
  731      Toromont Industries, Ltd.      52,760  
  1,400      Toyota Tsushu Corp.      51,328  
  526      United Rentals, Inc.*      186,951  
  355      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      197,469  
     

 

 

 
        2,594,378  
     

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure (0.1%):       
  546      Aena SME SA*      68,754  
  215      Aeroports de Paris*      28,910  
  8,354      Auckland International Airport, Ltd.*      41,490  
  2,993      Getlink SE      47,955  
  23,513      Transurban Group      207,578  
     

 

 

 
        394,687  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  1,396      American Water Works Co., Inc.      212,778  
  1,666      Essential Utilities, Inc.      79,518  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Water Utilities, continued       
  2,208      Severn Trent plc    $ 70,795  
  4,770      United Utilities Group plc      57,187  
     

 

 

 
        420,278  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.5%):       
  11,800      KDDI Corp.      356,699  
  2,761      Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B      129,240  
  21,500      Softbank Corp.      243,132  
  9,000      SoftBank Group Corp.      381,191  
  4,629      Tele2 AB      37,738  
  4,667      T-Mobile US, Inc.*      653,380  
  187,324      Vodafone Group plc      189,844  
     

 

 

 
        1,991,224  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $351,911,058)

     369,441,405  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.1%):       
Automobiles (0.1%):       
  526      Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), 7.32%, 5/15/20      44,791  
  1,151      Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 5.00%, 5/20/20      63,137  
  1,330      Volkswagen AG, 6.49%, 5/8/20      165,746  
     

 

 

 
        273,674  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.0%):       
  1,314      Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2.84%, 4/21/20      91,460  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $551,377)

     365,134  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.6%):  
  2,246,682      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(a)(b)      2,246,682  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $2,246,682)

     2,246,682  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.3%):       
Money Markets (0.3%):       
  1,059,186      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(b)      1,059,186  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $1,059,186)

     1,059,186  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $355,768,303) — 100.3%(c)

     373,112,407  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.3)%

     (1,078,286
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 372,034,121  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $2,128,028.

 

+

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, 2022.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(c)

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

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

18


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

Country    Percentage  

Argentina

     0.1

Australia

     2.2

Austria

      % 

Belgium

     0.3

Bermuda

     0.1

Canada

     3.6

China

      % 

Denmark

     0.8

Finland

     0.4

France

     3.1

Germany

     2.3

Hong Kong

     0.8

Ireland

     0.9

Isle of Man

      % 

Israel

     0.2

Italy

     0.6
Country    Percentage  

Japan

     6.2

Jersey

      % 

Liberia

      % 

Luxembourg

     0.1

Netherlands

     2.2

New Zealand

     0.1

Norway

     0.2

Panama

      % 

Portugal

     0.1

Singapore

     0.4

Spain

     0.7

Sweden

     0.9

Switzerland

     3.3

United Kingdom

     4.4

United States

     66.0
  

 

 

 
     100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        6      $ 243,064      $ (2,505

FTSE 100 Index March Futures (British Pounds)

     3/17/23        3        270,723        2,771  

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/17/23        9        1,737,450        (22,054

SGX NIKKEI 225 Index March Futures (Japanese Yen)

     3/9/23        2        198,102        (11,904
           

 

 

 
            $ (33,692
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

19


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 354,376,395

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      1,391,908
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

    $ 371,672,687

Investments in affiliates, at value

      1,439,720

Cash

      17,385

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      152,027

Interest and dividends receivable

      351,616

Foreign currency, at value (cost $877,736)

      902,781

Receivable for investments sold

      12,844

Reclaims receivable

      259,054

Prepaid expenses

      1,240
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      374,809,354
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      292,187

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      2,246,682

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      15,262

Management fees payable

      100,083

Administration fees payable

      32,263

Distribution fees payable

      72,075

Custodian fees payable

      3,291

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      448

Transfer agent fees payable

      806

Trustee fees payable

      1,120

Other accrued liabilities

      11,016
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,775,233
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 372,034,121
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 351,271,568

Total distributable earnings

      20,762,553
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 372,034,121
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 39,839,288

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

      5,456,339

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 7.30
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 332,194,833

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

      26,553,386

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.51
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $2,128,028.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends from non-affiliates

     $ 8,929,477

Dividends from affiliates

       60,275

Income from securities lending

       33,158

Foreign withholding tax

       (508,960 )
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       8,513,950
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       2,922,910

Administration fees

       93,769

Distribution fees — Class 2

       933,419

Custodian fees

       49,723

Administrative and compliance services fees

       6,264

Transfer agent fees

       13,620

Trustee fees

       25,441

Professional fees

       18,744

Licensing fees

       127,049

Shareholder reports

       6,158

Other expenses

       12,133
    

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

       4,209,230

Less Management fees contractually waived

       (1,628,472 )
    

 

 

 

Net expenses

       2,580,758
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       5,933,192
    

 

 

 

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

    

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

       703,914

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

       (14,690 )

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (153,739 )

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

       (97,479,260 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

       (325,705 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       (72,467 )
    

 

 

 

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

       (97,341,947 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (91,408,755 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

20


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 5,933,192     $ 4,432,074

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      535,485       30,434,123

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (97,877,432 )       46,241,084
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (91,408,755 )       81,107,281
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (5,669,928 )       (2,699,791 )

Class 2

      (29,626,829 )       (14,913,892 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (35,296,757 )       (17,613,683 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      71,634       292,588

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

            53,013,674

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      5,669,928       2,699,791

Value of shares redeemed

      (5,131,647 )       (3,968,036 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      609,915       52,038,017
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      5,426,058       1,424,827

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

            162,355,745

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      29,626,829       14, 913,892

Value of shares redeemed

      (54,949,045 )       (97,837,065 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (19,896,158 )       80,857,399
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (19,286,243 )       132,895,416
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (145,991,755 )       196,389,014

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      518,025,876       321,636,862
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 372,034,121     $ 518,025,876
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      7,887       28,178

Shares from in-kind transactions(a)

            5,301,367

Dividends reinvested

      809,990       277,471

Shares redeemed

      (585,641 )       (382,913 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      232,236       5,224,103
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      398,125       80,110

Shares from in-kind transactions(a)

            10,251,349

Dividends reinvested

      2,468,902       949,325

Shares redeemed

      (3,868,175 )       (6,140,552 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (1,001,148 )       5,140,232
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (768,912 )       10,364,335
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

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.

 

21


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021^   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.43     $ 10.00            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.14 (a)       0.06 (a)            

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.07 )       0.91            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.93 )       0.97            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.17 )       (0.13 )            

Net Realized Gains

      (1.03 )       (0.41 )            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total Dividends

      (1.20 )       (0.54 )            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.30     $ 10.43            
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

Total Return(b)

      (18.08 )%       10.00 %(c)            

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 39,839     $ 54,468            

Net Investment Income/(Loss)(d)

      1.65 %       1.06 %            

Expenses Before Reductions(d)(e)

      0.79 %       0.83 %            

Expenses Net of Reductions(d)

      0.39 %       0.44 %            

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      2 %       49 %(g)            

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 16.82     $ 14.35     $ 12.55     $ 10.03     $ 11.22
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.20 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.21

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (3.31 )       2.85       1.75       2.52       (1.19 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (3.11 )       3.01       1.91       2.71       (0.98 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.17 )       (0.13 )       (0.11 )       (0.19 )       (0.21 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.03 )       (0.41 )                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.20 )       (0.54 )       (0.11 )       (0.19 )       (0.21 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.51     $ 16.82     $ 14.35     $ 12.55     $ 10.03
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (18.23 )%       21.18 %       15.36 %       27.25 %       (8.94 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 332,195     $ 463,557     $ 321,637     $ 331,138     $ 127,860

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.40 %       1.03 %       1.32 %       1.68 %       1.67 %

Expenses Before Reductions(e)

      1.04 %       1.09 %       1.08 %       1.12 %       1.14 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.65 %       0.70 %       0.07 %       0.73 %       0.75 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

      2 %       49 %(g)       13 %       9 %       4 %

 

^

Class 1 activity is 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.

 

(g)

Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

22


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 period, 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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

 

23


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 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, 2022 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 $2,844 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $2,246,682 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

In-kind Subscriptions

During the period ended December 31, 2021, the 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. The Fund did not issue subscriptions in-kind for the year ended December 31, 2022.

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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $2.9 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.

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 2,771     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 36,463  

 

*

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.

 

24


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (153,739    $ (72,467

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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. For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

At December 31, 2022, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

     Value
12/31/2021
  Purchases
at Cost
  Proceeds from
Sales
 

Net

Realized
Gains(Losses)

  Change in Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
  Value
12/31/2022
  Shares as of
12/31/2022
  Dividend
Income
  Capital Gains
Distributions

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    $ 795,478     $     $ (61,825 )     $ (11,182 )     $ (64,369 )     $ 658,102       3,061     $ 37,276     $

BlackRock Inc., Class A

      1,158,183             (111,721 )       (3,508 )       (261,336 )       781,618       1,103       22,999      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $ 1,953,661     $     $ (173,546 )     $ (14,690 )     $ (325,705 )     $ 1,439,720       4,164     $ 60,275     $
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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.

 

25


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 264,752,210        $ 104,689,195        $        $ 369,441,405

Preferred Stocks+

                  365,134                   365,134

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         2,246,682                            2,246,682

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         1,059,186                            1,059,186
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         268,058,078          105,054,329                   373,112,407
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (33,692 )                            (33,692 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 268,024,386        $ 105,054,329        $        $ 373,078,715
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 6,929,499        $ 55,140,252

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

 

26


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $358,602,087. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 53,152,897  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (38,642,577
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 14,510,320  
 

 

 

 

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

       $ 29,139,384        $ 6,157,373        $ 35,296,757

 

(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, 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.

 

27


AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 6,245,628        $        $        $ 14,517,547        $ 20,763,175

 

(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, 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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 95% 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.

 

28


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for 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, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 12.03% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $24,214,802.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $6,157,373.

 

30


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

32


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

33


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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

  50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (29.59)%. That compared to a (29.14)% 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 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added fuel to existing concerns over rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising commodity prices. U.S. economic data, including employment numbers and corporate earnings, remained strong, however. This dynamic complicated matters for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) as it announced a 25-basis-point increase in short-term rates in March to attempt to combat inflation. The Fed also signaled additional rate increases throughout the rest of the year.

During the second quarter, inflation continued to rise, and investors grew increasingly concerned the Fed would not be able to avoid a recession as it sought to check rising consumer prices. Consumer sentiment fell as both prices and the cost of borrowing rose, putting downward pressure on domestic equity market valuations. The Fed added to that pressure with an increasingly hawkish tone, indicating it was willing to accept higher unemployment rates if that was required to rein in inflation.

Equity markets staged a rally in the third quarter as the Fed initially softened its tone in recognition of the many obstacles that threatened economic growth. In support of this shift, data indicated that GDP growth had declined over the first two quarters of 2022. Other data, including employment and wage growth figures, indicated the economy remained resilient, but investors appeared to take the slowdown in GDP growth as a sign the Fed would ease its current policy-tightening trend. By the end of

the quarter, however, the Fed’s tone shifted once again, this time toward a more hawkish stance. Inflation data remained stubbornly high during the summer, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to fighting inflation. The announcement pushed equity markets lower, erasing the gains from earlier in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, stocks once again staged a rally despite tighter monetary policies. Markets posted gains in both October and November before giving up those gains during December. The Fed raised interest rates at its December meeting, bringing the total rate increase to 450 basis points for the year, and reiterated its plan to continue tightening into 2023. Equity markets fell in response, closing out the year posting their worst annual returns in over a decade.

The sectors within the Index posted mixed returns over the year, with the energy, utilities, and consumer staples sectors among the best performers, while the information technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors lagged.

The Fund uses exchange-traded futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we hold 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, 2022.

 

1 

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

 

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
  1
Year
  3
Year
  5
Year
  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       (29.45 )%       7.64 %       10.65 %             13.55 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      4/30/2010       (29.59 )%       7.37 %       10.38 %       13.36 %       12.55 %

Russell 1000® Growth Index

      4/30/2010       (29.14 )%       7.79 %       10.96 %       14.10 %       13.33 %

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)

         0.51 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.76 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.35% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 982.80     $ 2.05       0.41 %

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 982.10     $ 3.30       0.66 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.14     $ 2.09       0.41 %

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.88     $ 3.36       0.66 %

 

*

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

      43.3 %

Consumer Discretionary

      14.2

Health Care

      13.4

Industrials

      8.1

Communication Services

      6.6

Consumer Staples

      6.1

Financials

      3.2

Energy

      1.7

Real Estate

      1.6

Materials

      1.5

Utilities

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.8

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.2

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.1

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.1 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.8%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.2%):       
  2,083      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 345,632  
  6,926      Boeing Co. (The)*      1,319,334  
  1,504      BWX Technologies, Inc.      87,352  
  1,779      HEICO Corp.      273,326  
  2,943      HEICO Corp., Class A      352,719  
  1,541      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      60,731  
  366      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      84,429  
  9,554      Lockheed Martin Corp.      4,647,925  
  681      Northrop Grumman Corp.      371,560  
  4,182      Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A      123,787  
  819      TransDigm Group, Inc.      515,683  
     

 

 

 
        8,182,478  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.7%):       
  1,426      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      130,565  
  1,982      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      205,969  
  486      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      20,747  
  26,752      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      4,650,568  
  329      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      10,952  
     

 

 

 
        5,018,801  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.1%):       
  26,272      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      863,298  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.0%):       
  2,867      Aptiv plc*      267,004  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.9%):       
  21,083      Lucid Group, Inc.*^      143,997  
  105,640      Tesla, Inc.*      13,012,735  
     

 

 

 
        13,156,732  
     

 

 

 
Banks (0.1%):       
  127      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      96,312  
  133      Signature Bank      15,324  
  1,522      SVB Financial Group*      350,273  
  2,796      Western Alliance Bancorp      166,530  
     

 

 

 
        628,439  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (2.6%):       
  332      Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A*      109,401  
  1,156      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      76,018  
  4,558      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      299,369  
  119,476      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      7,599,868  
  14,011      Monster Beverage Corp.*      1,422,537  
  47,660      PepsiCo, Inc.      8,610,256  
     

 

 

 
        18,117,449  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (3.4%):       
  72,242      AbbVie, Inc.      11,675,030  
  4,969      Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,180,883  
  18,300      Amgen, Inc.      4,806,312  
  1,336      Exact Sciences Corp.*      66,145  
  11,269      Exelixis, Inc.*      180,755  
  6,359      Incyte Corp.*      510,755  
  5,346      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      201,918  
  871      Moderna, Inc.*      156,449  
  3,097      Natera, Inc.*      124,407  
  3,807      Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.*      454,708  
  3,179      Novavax, Inc.*^      32,680  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  610      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*    $ 440,109  
  3,477      Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.*      450,550  
  5,581      Seagen, Inc.*      717,214  
  2,197      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      101,787  
  9,848      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      2,843,905  
     

 

 

 
        23,943,607  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.3%):       
  1,305      A O Smith Corp.      74,698  
  2,455      Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.      201,236  
  2,859      Allegion plc      300,938  
  1,167      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      80,045  
  1,752      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      412,859  
  1,908      Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.      108,966  
  518      Masco Corp.      24,175  
  1,908      Masterbrand, Inc.*      14,405  
  5,450      Trane Technologies plc      916,091  
  4,638      Trex Co., Inc.*      196,327  
     

 

 

 
        2,329,740  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.6%):       
  2,797      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      870,902  
  6,082      Ares Management Corp., Class A      416,252  
  28,552      Blackstone, Inc., Class A      2,118,273  
  17,018      Blue Owl Capital, Inc.^      180,391  
  34,368      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      2,861,480  
  1,547      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      620,672  
  3,262      LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      705,147  
  1,478      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      412,199  
  6,126      Moody’s Corp.      1,706,826  
  933      Morningstar, Inc.      202,078  
  2,413      MSCI, Inc.      1,122,455  
  660      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      70,521  
  2,874      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      186,609  
     

 

 

 
        11,473,805  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (1.1%):       
  2,464      Albemarle Corp.      534,343  
  1,922      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      48,953  
  8,065      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      687,138  
  3,496      Chemours Co. (The)      107,047  
  8,960      Ecolab, Inc.      1,304,218  
  1,819      FMC Corp.      227,011  
  9,136      Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.*      15,440  
  4,301      Linde plc      1,402,900  
  1,878      Mosaic Co. (The)      82,388  
  5,099      PPG Industries, Inc.      641,148  
  275      RPM International, Inc.      26,799  
  583      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      28,328  
  9,709      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)      2,304,237  
  7,566      Valvoline, Inc.      247,030  
     

 

 

 
        7,656,980  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.8%):       
  3,286      Cintas Corp.      1,484,023  
  17,264      Copart, Inc.*      1,051,205  
  4,686      IAA, Inc.*      187,440  
  510      MSA Safety, Inc.      73,537  
  558      Republic Services, Inc.      71,976  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Commercial Services & Supplies, continued       
  8,640      Rollins, Inc.    $ 315,706  
  925      Tetra Tech, Inc.      134,301  
  15,829      Waste Management, Inc.      2,483,253  
     

 

 

 
        5,801,441  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.2%):       
  9,973      Arista Networks, Inc.*      1,210,223  
  73      Ubiquiti, Inc.      19,968  
     

 

 

 
        1,230,191  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  349      AECOM      29,641  
  3,117      Quanta Services, Inc.      444,172  
  123      Valmont Industries, Inc.      40,672  
  4,318      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      195,044  
     

 

 

 
        709,529  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.1%):       
  1,206      Eagle Materials, Inc.      160,217  
  231      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      78,071  
  2,589      Vulcan Materials Co.      453,360  
     

 

 

 
        691,648  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.0%):       
  1,604      American Express Co.      236,991  
  1      Credit Acceptance Corp.*      475  
  592      Upstart Holdings, Inc.*^      7,826  
     

 

 

 
        245,292  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.2%):       
  1,996      Avery Dennison Corp.      361,276  
  4,839      Ball Corp.      247,466  
  2,660      Berry Global Group, Inc.      160,744  
  4,151      Crown Holdings, Inc.      341,254  
  9,958      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      221,566  
  6,156      Sealed Air Corp.      307,061  
     

 

 

 
        1,639,367  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.1%):       
  475      Genuine Parts Co.      82,417  
  1,577      Pool Corp.      476,775  
     

 

 

 
        559,192  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  704      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      44,422  
  5,459      H&R Block, Inc.      199,308  
  1,541      Mister Car Wash, Inc.*      14,224  
     

 

 

 
        257,954  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
  15,048      Apollo Global Management, Inc.      959,912  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.3%):       
  8,388      ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.*^      79,938  
  7,675      Emerson Electric Co.      737,260  
  2,589      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      260,609  
  10,902      Plug Power, Inc.*^      134,858  
  3,216      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      828,345  
  2,026      Vertiv Holdings Co.      27,675  
     

 

 

 
        2,068,685  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.7%):       
  18,130      Amphenol Corp., Class A    $ 1,380,418  
  204      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      21,332  
  5,452      CDW Corp.      973,618  
  6,832      Cognex Corp.      321,856  
  811      Coherent Corp.*      28,466  
  1,882      Corning, Inc.      60,111  
  4,343      Jabil, Inc.      296,193  
  6,811      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      1,165,158  
  718      National Instruments Corp.      26,494  
  3,803      Vontier Corp.      73,512  
  826      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      211,795  
     

 

 

 
        4,558,953  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.1%):       
  16,499      Halliburton Co.      649,236  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.8%):       
  734      Electronic Arts, Inc.      89,680  
  949      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      56,731  
  3,253      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      226,864  
  402      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A      73,699  
  8,055      Netflix, Inc.*      2,375,258  
  3,454      Playtika Holding Corp.*      29,393  
  17,989      ROBLOX Corp., Class A*      511,967  
  1,431      Roku, Inc.*      58,242  
  5,888      Spotify Technology SA*      464,858  
  5,343      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      556,367  
  4,942      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      429,361  
  71,285      Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*      675,782  
  1,818      World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A      124,569  
     

 

 

 
        5,672,771  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.6%):       
  14,511      American Tower Corp.      3,074,301  
  552      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      18,939  
  368      Camden Property Trust      41,172  
  17,660      Crown Castle, Inc.      2,395,403  
  2,846      Equinix, Inc.      1,864,215  
  4,598      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      297,031  
  666      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      98,022  
  8,839      Iron Mountain, Inc.      440,624  
  3,163      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      298,587  
  5,023      Public Storage      1,407,394  
  1,027      SBA Communications Corp.      287,878  
  6,437      Simon Property Group, Inc.      756,219  
     

 

 

 
        10,979,785  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.5%):       
  3,571      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      236,257  
  18,064      Costco Wholesale Corp.      8,246,216  
  1,984      Performance Food Group Co.*      115,846  
  20,614      Sysco Corp.      1,575,940  
     

 

 

 
        10,174,259  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (0.3%):       
  451      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      28,228  
  1,073      Freshpet, Inc.*      56,622  
  5,144      Hershey Co. (The)      1,191,196  
  5,539      Kellogg Co.      394,598  
  5,810      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      519,182  
  1,200      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*      28,476  
     

 

 

 
        2,218,302  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  333      National Fuel Gas Co.    $ 21,079  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.3%):       
  9,344      Abbott Laboratories      1,025,878  
  2,388      Align Technology, Inc.*      503,629  
  3,318      Baxter International, Inc.      169,119  
  1,779      Danaher Corp.      472,182  
  15,874      Dexcom, Inc.*      1,797,572  
  25,056      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      1,869,428  
  93      Globus Medical, Inc.*      6,907  
  158      ICU Medical, Inc.*      24,882  
  3,391      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      1,383,392  
  2,823      Insulet Corp.*      831,063  
  13,261      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      3,518,806  
  1,507      Masimo Corp.*      222,961  
  4,203      Novocure, Ltd.*      308,290  
  1,414      Penumbra, Inc.*      314,558  
  5,898      ResMed, Inc.      1,227,551  
  7,719      Stryker Corp.      1,887,218  
  2,461      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      110,622  
  3,048      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      717,347  
     

 

 

 
        16,391,405  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.6%):       
  7,381      agilon health, Inc.*      119,129  
  6,314      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      1,046,293  
  220      Chemed Corp.      112,295  
  1,981      Cigna Corp.      656,384  
  2,211      DaVita, Inc.*      165,095  
  2,999      Elevance Health, Inc.      1,538,397  
  3,850      Guardant Health, Inc.*      104,720  
  582      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      139,657  
  3,635      Humana, Inc.      1,861,811  
  1,141      McKesson Corp.      428,012  
  1,828      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      603,642  
  34,728      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      18,412,091  
     

 

 

 
        25,187,526  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.2%):       
  3,583      Certara, Inc.*      57,579  
  1,052      Definitive Healthcare Corp.*      11,561  
  1,887      Doximity, Inc., Class A*      63,328  
  708      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      16,744  
  5,650      Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A*      911,797  
     

 

 

 
        1,061,009  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.3%):       
  15,332      Airbnb, Inc., Class A*      1,310,886  
  1,585      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      3,194,219  
  5,594      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      232,710  
  1,129      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      1,566,476  
  1,379      Choice Hotels International, Inc.      155,331  
  1,532      Churchill Downs, Inc.      323,911  
  3,638      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      503,245  
  1,047      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      362,681  
  13,465      DraftKings, Inc.*^      153,366  
  6,064      Expedia Group, Inc.*      531,206  
  8,009      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      1,012,017  
  5,211      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      250,493  
  10,844      Marriott International, Inc., Class A      1,614,563  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  7,315      McDonald’s Corp.    $ 1,927,722  
  330      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      4,039  
  2,576      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      202,989  
  1,955      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      45,454  
  16,917      Starbucks Corp.      1,678,166  
  2,426      Travel + Leisure Co.      88,306  
  1,510      Vail Resorts, Inc.      359,909  
  7,225      Wendy’s Co. (The)      163,502  
  2,617      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      186,618  
  565      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      46,596  
  1,391      Yum! Brands, Inc.      178,159  
     

 

 

 
        16,092,564  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.2%):       
  6,812      DR Horton, Inc.      607,222  
  91      NVR, Inc.*      419,745  
  3,417      PulteGroup, Inc.      155,576  
  2,437      Toll Brothers, Inc.      121,655  
  1,174      TopBuild Corp.*      183,719  
     

 

 

 
        1,487,917  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.4%):       
  4,367      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      352,024  
  4,240      Clorox Co. (The)      594,999  
  20,643      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      1,626,462  
  8,076      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      1,096,317  
  41,103      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      6,229,571  
     

 

 

 
        9,899,373  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  5,072      AES Corp. (The)      145,871  
  9,458      Vistra Corp.      219,425  
     

 

 

 
        365,296  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.3%):       
  2,593      General Electric Co.      217,268  
  8,087      Honeywell International, Inc.      1,733,044  
     

 

 

 
        1,950,312  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.4%):       
  7,888      Aon plc, Class A      2,367,504  
  4,948      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      310,636  
  1,002      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      188,917  
  566      Brown & Brown, Inc.      32,245  
  718      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      178,581  
  508      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      168,285  
  1,604      Lincoln National Corp.      49,275  
  129      Markel Corp.*      169,956  
  18,215      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      3,014,218  
  20,685      Progressive Corp. (The)      2,683,051  
  902      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      166,176  
  3,473      Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.*      144,164  
     

 

 

 
        9,473,008  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (5.6%):       
  213,908      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*      18,873,103  
  189,698      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      16,831,903  
  10,812      Match Group, Inc.*      448,590  
  19,573      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      2,355,415  
  5,117      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      124,241  
  11,132      ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*      335,184  
     

 

 

 
        38,968,436  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (4.5%):       
  363,302      Amazon.com, Inc.*    $ 30,517,368  
  8,914      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*      435,182  
  3,076      eBay, Inc.      127,562  
  5,112      Etsy, Inc.*      612,315  
  1,972      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*      64,859  
     

 

 

 
        31,757,286  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (7.1%):       
  25,852      Accenture plc, Class A      6,898,348  
  15,638      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      3,735,293  
  607      Black Knight, Inc.*      37,482  
  4,284      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      574,613  
  2,245      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      735,776  
  1,424      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      134,397  
  2,289      Fiserv, Inc.*      231,349  
  2,919      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      536,162  
  3,142      Gartner, Inc.*      1,056,152  
  4,026      Genpact, Ltd.      186,484  
  943      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      70,555  
  24,525      International Business Machines Corp.      3,455,327  
  2,947      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      517,375  
  34,781      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      12,094,397  
  2,655      MongoDB, Inc.*      522,610  
  713      Okta, Inc.*      48,719  
  13,237      Paychex, Inc.      1,529,668  
  14,581      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      1,038,459  
  2,055      Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A*      114,936  
  11,781      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      1,691,045  
  2,386      Teradata Corp.*      80,313  
  3,595      Thoughtworks Holding, Inc.*      36,633  
  9,547      Toast, Inc., Class A*      172,133  
  2,739      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      134,102  
  433      VeriSign, Inc.*      88,956  
  67,292      Visa, Inc., Class A      13,980,586  
  4,426      Western Union Co. (The.)      60,946  
  1,271      WEX, Inc.*      207,999  
  1,764      Wix.com, Ltd.*      135,528  
     

 

 

 
        50,106,343  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  529      Brunswick Corp.      38,130  
  7,155      Mattel, Inc.*      127,645  
  1,627      Polaris, Inc.      164,327  
  3,789      YETI Holdings, Inc.*      156,524  
     

 

 

 
        486,626  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.2%):       
  3,558      10X Genomics, Inc., Class A*      129,654  
  11,025      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      1,649,891  
  22,879      Avantor, Inc.*      482,518  
  6,272      Bio-Techne Corp.      519,823  
  4,311      Bruker Corp.      294,657  
  1,884      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      410,524  
  7,596      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      1,556,344  
  4,214      Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A*      60,302  
  909      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      1,313,914  
  1,663      Repligen Corp.*      281,563  
  4,272      Sotera Health Co.*      35,586  
  517      Syneos Health, Inc.*      18,964  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Life Sciences Tools & Services, continued       
  1,934      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.    $ 1,065,034  
  2,468      Waters Corp.*      845,487  
     

 

 

 
        8,664,261  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (2.0%):       
  325      AGCO Corp.      45,074  
  3,283      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      136,573  
  18,526      Caterpillar, Inc.      4,438,089  
  11,272      Deere & Co.      4,832,983  
  840      Donaldson Co., Inc.      49,451  
  4,706      Graco, Inc.      316,525  
  571      IDEX Corp.      130,376  
  11,326      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      2,495,118  
  2,366      Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.      341,863  
  158      Middleby Corp. (The)*      21,156  
  572      Nordson Corp.      135,976  
  2,181      Otis Worldwide Corp.      170,794  
  1,150      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      334,650  
  4,302      Toro Co. (The)      486,986  
  1,059      Xylem, Inc.      117,094  
     

 

 

 
        14,052,708  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.3%):       
  154      Cable One, Inc.      109,626  
  4,382      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      1,485,936  
  409      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      31,023  
  2,287      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      174,430  
  1,817      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      71,099  
  881      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      34,632  
  149      Nexstar Media Group, Inc.      26,080  
     

 

 

 
        1,932,826  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.0%):       
  3,832      MP Materials Corp.*      93,041  
  2,374      Southern Copper Corp.      143,366  
     

 

 

 
        236,407  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.6%):       
  9,210      Dollar General Corp.      2,267,963  
  2,631      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      372,129  
  3,923      Nordstrom, Inc.      63,317  
  10,360      Target Corp.      1,544,054  
     

 

 

 
        4,247,463  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.6%):       
  7,427      Antero Resources Corp.*      230,163  
  5,873      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      880,715  
  5,404      Coterra Energy, Inc.      132,776  
  13,245      Devon Energy Corp.      814,700  
  4,098      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      560,524  
  1,293      Enviva, Inc.      68,490  
  17,484      EOG Resources, Inc.      2,264,528  
  8,954      Hess Corp.      1,269,856  
  2,035      New Fortress Energy, Inc.      86,325  
  26,790      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      1,687,502  
  2,122      ONEOK, Inc.      139,415  
  7,317      Ovintiv, Inc.      371,045  
  2,142      PDC Energy, Inc.      135,974  
  5,300      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      1,210,467  
  6,538      Range Resources Corp.      163,581  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  3,337      Southwestern Energy Co.*    $ 19,522  
  9,206      Targa Resources Corp.      676,641  
  231      Texas Pacific Land Corp.      541,517  
     

 

 

 
        11,253,741  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  167      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      9,886  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.3%):       
  9,319      Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A      2,312,137  
  5,249      Olaplex Holdings, Inc.*      27,347  
     

 

 

 
        2,339,484  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (2.7%):       
  2,300      Catalent, Inc.*      103,523  
  27,983      Eli Lilly & Co.      10,237,301  
  8,473      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      964,227  
  43,245      Merck & Co., Inc.      4,798,033  
  19,171      Zoetis, Inc.      2,809,510  
     

 

 

 
        18,912,594  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.5%):       
  5,294      Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.      553,329  
  2,374      CoStar Group, Inc.*      183,463  
  2,442      Equifax, Inc.      474,627  
  598      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      94,962  
  3,794      KBR, Inc.      200,323  
  3,919      Robert Half International, Inc.      289,340  
  5,796      TransUnion      328,923  
  6,314      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      1,113,916  
     

 

 

 
        3,238,883  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.1%):       
  6,501      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      500,317  
  3,598      Opendoor Technologies, Inc.*      4,174  
  422      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      13,592  
     

 

 

 
        518,083  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (1.4%):       
  21,706      CSX Corp.      672,452  
  2,986      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      520,639  
  1,305      Landstar System, Inc.      212,585  
  10,356      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      114,123  
  4,128      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      1,171,444  
  329      RXO, Inc.*      5,659  
  66,762      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      1,651,024  
  25,120      Union Pacific Corp.      5,201,598  
     

 

 

 
        9,549,524  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (7.2%):       
  51,927      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      3,363,312  
  1,997      Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.*      59,950  
  4,283      Analog Devices, Inc.      702,540  
  35,410      Applied Materials, Inc.      3,448,226  
  16,114      Broadcom, Inc.      9,009,821  
  5,357      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      1,419,391  
  6,169      Entegris, Inc.      404,625  
  639      GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.*^      34,436  
  5,763      KLA Corp.      2,172,824  
  5,582      Lam Research Corp.      2,346,114  
  5,417      Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*      351,455  
  18,718      Microchip Technology, Inc.      1,314,939  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  8,478      Micron Technology, Inc.    $ 423,730  
  1,858      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      657,007  
  98,436      NVIDIA Corp.      14,385,437  
  11,094      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      691,933  
  45,716      Qualcomm, Inc.      5,026,017  
  5,851      Teradyne, Inc.      511,085  
  25,408      Texas Instruments, Inc.      4,197,910  
  1,740      Universal Display Corp.      187,990  
     

 

 

 
        50,708,742  
     

 

 

 
Software (16.5%):       
  18,978      Adobe, Inc.*      6,386,666  
  2,283      Alteryx, Inc., Class A*      115,680  
  1,839      ANSYS, Inc.*      444,284  
  9,501      AppLovin Corp., Class A*      100,046  
  1,121      Aspen Technology, Inc.*      230,253  
  5,679      Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A*      730,774  
  8,852      Autodesk, Inc.*      1,654,173  
  7,120      Bentley Systems, Inc., Class B      263,155  
  11,121      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      1,786,477  
  2,771      CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      24,108  
  1,098      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      70,437  
  11,402      Cloudflare, Inc., Class A*      515,484  
  5,245      Confluent, Inc., Class A*      116,649  
  1,767      Coupa Software, Inc.*      139,893  
  8,501      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A*      895,070  
  10,670      Datadog, Inc., Class A*      784,245  
  8,164      DocuSign, Inc.*      452,449  
  2,438      DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc.*      53,538  
  10,063      Dropbox, Inc., Class A*      225,210  
  8,070      Dynatrace, Inc.*      309,081  
  3,037      Elastic NV*      156,406  
  1,013      Fair Isaac Corp.*      606,362  
  2,879      Five9, Inc.*      195,369  
  26,380      Fortinet, Inc.*      1,289,718  
  8,536      Gen Digital, Inc.      182,927  
  1,680      Globant SA*      282,509  
  1,844      HubSpot, Inc.*      533,156  
  11,243      Intuit, Inc.      4,376,000  
  2,228      Jamf Holding Corp.*      47,456  
  1,616      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      196,182  
  305,844      Microsoft Corp.      73,347,508  
  471      nCino, Inc.*      12,453  
  1,937      New Relic, Inc.*      109,344  
  4,633      Nutanix, Inc., Class A*      120,690  
  42,923      Oracle Corp.      3,508,526  
  73,811      Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A*      473,867  
  11,989      Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*      1,672,945  
  2,085      Paycom Software, Inc.*      646,996  
  1,616      Paylocity Holding Corp.*      313,924  
  1,841      Pegasystems, Inc.      63,036  
  2,022      Procore Technologies, Inc.*      95,398  
  4,256      PTC, Inc.*      510,890  
  3,562      RingCentral, Inc., Class A*      126,095  
  8,428      Salesforce, Inc.*      1,117,469  
  5,090      SentinelOne, Inc., Class A*      74,263  
  8,168      ServiceNow, Inc.*      3,171,389  
  5,315      Smartsheet, Inc., Class A*      209,198  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Software, continued       
  6,527      Splunk, Inc.*    $ 561,909  
  6,230      Synopsys, Inc.*      1,989,177  
  17,719      The Trade Desk, Inc., Class A*      794,343  
  1,451      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      467,817  
  1,450      UiPath, Inc., Class A*      18,430  
  6,818      Unity Software, Inc.*      194,927  
  4,105      VMware, Inc., Class A*      503,930  
  8,086      Workday, Inc., Class A*      1,353,030  
  5,074      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      343,713  
  3,379      Zscaler, Inc.*      378,110  
     

 

 

 
        115,343,134  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (3.3%):       
  204      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      29,994  
  703      AutoZone, Inc.*      1,733,725  
  2,454      Best Buy Co., Inc.      196,835  
  2,489      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      504,670  
  792      CarMax, Inc.*      48,225  
  4,510      Carvana Co.*^      21,377  
  2,224      Five Below, Inc.*      393,359  
  4,083      Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A*      284,299  
  24,451      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      7,723,093  
  5,011      Leslie’s, Inc.*      61,184  
  21,905      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      4,364,352  
  1,037      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      875,259  
  275      RH*      73,477  
  5,923      Ross Stores, Inc.      687,483  
  47,898      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      3,812,681  
  4,604      Tractor Supply Co.      1,035,762  
  2,117      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      993,021  
  2,239      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      80,111  
  2,292      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      263,397  
     

 

 

 
        23,182,304  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (11.6%):       
  614,321      Apple, Inc.      79,818,728  
  1,728      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      69,500  
  19,573      HP, Inc.      525,926  
  279      NCR Corp.*      6,531  
  9,062      NetApp, Inc.      544,264  
  11,777      Pure Storage, Inc., Class A*      315,153  
     

 

 

 
        81,280,102  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.1%):       
  938      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*    $ 374,412  
  4,576      Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*      1,466,059  
  49,991      NIKE, Inc., Class B      5,849,447  
  734      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      30,791  
  1,506      Tapestry, Inc.      57,349  
     

 

 

 
        7,778,058  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.0%):       
  1,773      Rocket Cos., Inc., Class A^      12,411  
  318      UWM Holdings Corp.^      1,053  
     

 

 

 
        13,464  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.4%):       
  211      Core & Main, Inc., Class A*      4,075  
  23,410      Fastenal Co.      1,107,761  
  1,070      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      125,532  
  1,306      United Rentals, Inc.*      464,179  
  1,845      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      1,026,281  
  736      Watsco, Inc.      183,558  
  995      WESCO International, Inc.*      124,574  
     

 

 

 
        3,035,960  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $368,882,925)

     699,600,654  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.1%):  
  704,165      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class , 1.49%(a)(b)      704,165  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities
on Loan (Cost $704,165)

     704,165  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.2%):       
Money Markets (0.2%):       
  1,548,659      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(b)      1,548,659  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $1,548,659)

     1,548,659  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $371,135,749) — 100.1%(c)

     701,853,478  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.1)%

     (1,028,681
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 700,824,797  
  

 

 

 

 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $697,431.

 

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, 2022.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        4      $ 881,780      $ (26,072

S&P 500 Index E-Mini March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/17/23        4        772,200        (418
           

 

 

 
            $ (26,490
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 371,135,749
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

      701,853,478

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      150,200

Interest and dividends receivable

      257,108

Reclaims receivable

      982

Receivable from Manager

      55,682

Prepaid expenses

      4,620
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      702,322,070
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Cash overdraft

      1

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      245,408

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      704,165

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      9,442

Management fees payable

      272,218

Administration fees payable

      39,491

Distribution fees payable

      143,516

Custodian fees payable

      6,789

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,042

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,654

Trustee fees payable

      7,599

Other accrued liabilities

      62,948
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,497,273
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 700,824,797
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 330,933,032

Total distributable earnings

      369,891,765
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 700,824,797
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 50,561,093

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

      6,932,779

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 7.29
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 650,263,704

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

      49,682,862

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 13.09
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $697,431.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 7,885,302

Interest

      2,395

Income from securities lending

      35,208

Foreign withholding tax

      (1,117 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      7,921,788
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      3,689,856

Administration fees

      122,742

Distribution fees — Class 2

      1,945,183

Custodian fees

      24,821

Administrative and compliance services fees

      11,671

Transfer agent fees

      12,704

Trustee fees

      47,035

Professional fees

      35,483

Licensing fees

      173,024

Shareholder reports

      26,154

Other expenses

      23,377
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      6,112,050

Less expense contractually waived/reimbursed by the Manager

      (754,757 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      5,357,293
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      2,564,495
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      40,388,195

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      (1,324,429 )

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

      (361,725,768 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (34,291 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (322,696,293 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (320,131,798 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 2,564,495     $ 826,724

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      39,063,766       161,785,915

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (361,760,059 )       103,078,858
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (320,131,798 )       265,691,497
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (17,707,517 )       (13,301,296 )

Class 2

      (144,665,246 )       (119,314,081 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (162,372,763 )       (132,615,377 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      347,832       184,490

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      17,707,517       13,301,296

Value of shares redeemed

      (7,701,896 )       (8,469,958 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      10,353,453       5,015,828
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      7,831,397       52,822,423

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      144,665,246       119,314,081

Value of shares redeemed

      (97,282,257 )       (258,720,459 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      55,214,386       (86,583,955 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      65,567,839       (81,568,127 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (416,936,722 )       51,507,993

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,117,761,519       1,066,253,526
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 700,824,797     $ 1,117,761,519
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      28,219       12,137

Dividends reinvested

      2,348,477       956,928

Shares redeemed

      (704,447 )       (539,566 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      1,672,249       429,499
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      456,011       2,417,820

Dividends reinvested

      10,684,287       5,601,600

Shares redeemed

      (5,461,931 )       (11,158,495 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      5,678,367       (3,139,075 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      7,350,616       (2,709,576 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 15.38     $ 14.68     $ 11.46     $ 10.12     $ 11.74
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.06 (a)       0.05 (a)       0.07 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.13

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (4.46 )       3.62       4.28       3.28       (0.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (4.40 )       3.67       4.35       3.38       (0.07 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.08 )       (0.12 )       (0.15 )       (0.18 )       (0.20 )

Net Realized Gains

      (3.61 )       (2.85 )       (0.98 )       (1.86 )       (1.35 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (3.69 )       (2.97 )       (1.13 )       (2.04 )       (1.55 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.29     $ 15.38     $ 14.68     $ 11.46     $ 10.12
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (29.45 )%       27.14 %       39.03 %       35.53 %       (1.86 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 50,561     $ 80,919     $ 70,903     $ 57,430     $ 48,665

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.54 %       0.31 %       0.56 %       0.86 %       0.96 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.50 %       0.51 %       0.52 %       0.51 %       0.50 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.41 %       0.42 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       18 %       22 %       15 %       17 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 23.56     $ 21.11     $ 16.10     $ 13.53     $ 15.21
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.05 (a)       0.01 (a)       0.06 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (6.90 )       5.35       6.04       4.46       (0.33 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (6.85 )       5.36       6.10       4.56       (0.18 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.01 )       (0.06 )       (0.11 )       (0.13 )       (0.15 )

Net Realized Gains

      (3.61 )       (2.85 )       (0.98 )       (1.86 )       (1.35 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (3.62 )       (2.91 )       (1.09 )       (1.99 )       (1.50 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 13.09     $ 23.56     $ 21.11     $ 16.10     $ 13.53
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (29.59 )%       26.87 %       38.58 %       35.28 %       (2.14 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 650,264     $ 1,036,843     $ 995,350     $ 871,046     $ 775,621

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.29 %       0.06 %       0.31 %       0.61 %       0.71 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.75 %       0.76 %       0.77 %       0.76 %       0.75 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.66 %       0.67 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       18 %       22 %       15 %       17 %

 

(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.

 

13


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022 

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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 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, 2022 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 $3,486 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $704,165 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $4.8 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.

 

15


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 26,490  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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

     $ (1,324,429    $ (34,291

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.    

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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, 2022 

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 699,600,654        $        $        $ 699,600,654

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         704,165                            704,165

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         1,548,659                            1,548,659
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         701,853,478                            701,853,478
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (26,490 )                            (26,490 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 701,826,988        $        $        $ 701,826,988
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 101,583,609        $ 191,091,286

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

 

17


AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022 

 

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $373,266,289. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 352,903,743  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (24,316,554
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 328,587,189  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

       $ 4,773,902        $ 157,598,861        $ 162,372,763

 

(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, 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, 2022 

 

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 2,570,698        $ 38,733,878        $        $ 328,587,189        $ 369,891,765

 

(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, 2022, 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 this 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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $3,958,466.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $157,598,861.

 

 

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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.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the

 

23


Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond 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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 2 shares) (the “Fund”) returned (8.18)%. That compared to a (7.54)% 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 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added fuel to existing concerns over rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising commodity prices. U.S. economic data, including employment numbers and corporate earnings, remained strong, however. This dynamic complicated matters for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) as it announced a 25-basis-point increase in short-term rates in March to attempt to combat inflation. The Fed also signaled additional rate increases throughout the rest of the year.

During the second quarter, inflation continued to rise, and investors grew increasingly concerned the Fed would not be able to avoid a recession as it sought to check rising consumer prices. Consumer sentiment fell as both prices and the cost of borrowing rose, putting downward pressure on domestic equity market valuations. The Fed added to that pressure with an increasingly hawkish tone, indicating it was willing to accept higher unemployment rates if that was required to rein in inflation.

Equity markets staged a rally in the third quarter as the Fed initially softened its tone in recognition of the many obstacles that threatened economic growth. In support of this shift, data indicated that GDP growth had declined over the first two quarters of 2022. Other data, including employment and wage growth figures, indicated the economy remained resilient, but investors appeared to take the slowdown in GDP growth as a sign the Fed would ease its current policy-tightening trend. By the end of the quarter, however, the Fed’s tone shifted once again, this time toward a more hawkish stance. Inflation data remained stubbornly high during the summer, and Fed Chair Jerome

Powell reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to fighting

inflation. The announcement pushed equity markets lower, erasing the gains from earlier in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, stocks once again staged a rally despite tighter monetary policies. Markets posted gains in both October and November before giving up those gains during December. The Fed raised interest rates at its December meeting, bringing the total rate increase to 450 basis points for the year, and reiterated its plan to continue tightening into 2023. Equity markets fell in response, closing out the year posting their worst annual returns in over a decade.

The sectors within the Index posted mixed returns over the year, with the energy, consumer staples, and utilities sectors among the best performers, while the information technology, communication services, and real estate sectors lagged.

The Fund uses exchange-traded futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we hold 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, 2022.

 

1 

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

 

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
  1
Year
  3
Year
  5
Year
  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       (7.88 )%       5.47 %       6.25 %             8.46 %

AZL® Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      4/30/2010       (8.18 )%       5.19 %       5.98 %       9.53 %       9.14 %

Russell 1000® Value Index

      4/30/2010       (7.54 )%       5.96 %       6.67 %       10.29 %       9.91 %

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 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.35% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,059.10     $ 2.13       0.41 %

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,057.30     $ 3.42       0.66 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.14     $ 2.09       0.41 %

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.88     $ 3.36       0.66 %

 

*

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

      20.0 %

Health Care

      17.3

Industrials

      10.5

Energy

      8.4

Information Technology

      8.3

Consumer Staples

      7.3

Communication Services

      7.3

Consumer Discretionary

      6.0

Utilities

      5.8

Real Estate

      4.5

Materials

      4.3
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.7

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.2

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.2
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.1

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.1 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.7%):       
Aerospace & Defense (2.5%):       
  814      Axon Enterprise, Inc.*    $ 135,067  
  19,024      Boeing Co. (The)*      3,623,882  
  2,970      BWX Technologies, Inc.      172,497  
  1,931      Curtiss-Wright Corp.      322,458  
  12,181      General Dynamics Corp.      3,022,228  
  151      HEICO Corp.      23,199  
  266      HEICO Corp., Class A      31,880  
  4,128      Hexcel Corp.      242,933  
  16,609      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      654,561  
  1,532      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      353,402  
  9,682      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      2,015,889  
  2,886      Mercury Systems, Inc.*      129,120  
  6,473      Northrop Grumman Corp.      3,531,733  
  74,110      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      7,479,181  
  10,740      Textron, Inc.      760,392  
  1,578      TransDigm Group, Inc.      993,588  
     

 

 

 
        23,492,010  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.4%):       
  4,629      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      423,831  
  5,602      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      582,160  
  12,046      FedEx Corp.      2,086,367  
  5,026      GXO Logistics, Inc.*      214,560  
  3,931      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      683,365  
  5,051      XPO Logistics, Inc.*      168,148  
     

 

 

 
        4,158,431  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  6,403      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      274,945  
  31,815      American Airlines Group, Inc.*      404,687  
  1,589      Copa Holdings SA, Class A*      132,157  
  16,728      JetBlue Airways Corp.*      108,397  
  29,916      Southwest Airlines Co.*      1,007,272  
  16,275      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      613,567  
     

 

 

 
        2,541,025  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.2%):       
  10,184      Aptiv plc*      948,436  
  11,590      BorgWarner, Inc.      466,498  
  11,782      Gentex Corp.      321,295  
  3,080      Lear Corp.      381,982  
  13,005      QuantumScape Corp.*^      73,738  
     

 

 

 
        2,191,949  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.6%):       
  197,122      Ford Motor Co.      2,292,529  
  71,423      General Motors Co.      2,402,670  
  6,563      Harley-Davidson, Inc.      273,021  
  1,727      Lucid Group, Inc.*^      11,795  
  26,256      Rivian Automotive, Inc.*      483,898  
  2,810      Thor Industries, Inc.      212,127  
     

 

 

 
        5,676,040  
     

 

 

 
Banks (7.2%):       
  354,117      Bank of America Corp.      11,728,355  
  1,905      Bank of Hawaii Corp.      147,752  
  5,830      Bank OZK      233,550  
  1,587      BOK Financial Corp.      164,715  
  97,146      Citigroup, Inc.      4,393,914  
  24,625      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      969,486  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Banks, continued       
  6,675      Comerica, Inc.    $ 446,224  
  5,932      Commerce Bancshares, Inc.      403,791  
  2,927      Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.      391,340  
  6,993      East West Bancorp, Inc.      460,839  
  18,027      F.N.B. Corp.      235,252  
  33,876      Fifth Third Bancorp      1,111,472  
  458      First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A      347,329  
  6,558      First Hawaiian, Inc.      170,770  
  26,034      First Horizon Corp.      637,833  
  9,125      First Republic Bank      1,112,246  
  71,792      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      1,012,267  
  147,064      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      19,721,282  
  47,261      KeyCorp      823,287  
  8,797      M&T Bank Corp.      1,276,093  
  5,445      PacWest Bancorp      124,963  
  3,811      Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.      279,727  
  20,295      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      3,205,392  
  3,613      Popular, Inc.      239,614  
  4,490      Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      326,333  
  46,902      Regions Financial Corp.      1,011,207  
  2,964      Signature Bank      341,512  
  1,059      SVB Financial Group*      243,718  
  6,986      Synovus Financial Corp.      262,324  
  66,539      Truist Financial Corp.      2,863,173  
  67,065      U.S. Bancorp      2,924,705  
  10,460      Umpqua Holdings Corp.      186,711  
  8,682      Webster Financial Corp.      411,006  
  191,216      Wells Fargo & Co.      7,895,309  
  2,187      Western Alliance Bancorp      130,258  
  3,120      Wintrust Financial Corp.      263,702  
  7,581      Zions Bancorp      372,682  
     

 

 

 
        66,870,133  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (1.0%):       
  977      Brown-Forman Corp., Class A      64,248  
  3,622      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B      237,893  
  48,905      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      3,110,847  
  7,662      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A      1,775,668  
  42,846      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      1,527,888  
  8,722      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      449,357  
  1,273      Monster Beverage Corp.*      129,248  
  10,821      PepsiCo, Inc.      1,954,922  
     

 

 

 
        9,250,071  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (1.8%):       
  4,331      Amgen, Inc.      1,137,494  
  7,286      Biogen, Inc.*      2,017,639  
  9,188      BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      950,866  
  6,971      Exact Sciences Corp.*      345,134  
  1,631      Exelixis, Inc.*      26,161  
  62,999      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      5,408,464  
  1,234      Incyte Corp.*      99,115  
  498      Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      18,810  
  2,285      Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.*      103,533  
  15,938      Moderna, Inc.*      2,862,784  
  243      Natera, Inc.*      9,761  
  4,428      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      3,194,758  
  1,019      Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      47,210  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Biotechnology, continued       
  2,232      United Therapeutics Corp.*    $ 620,697  
  766      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      221,206  
     

 

 

 
        17,063,632  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.8%):       
  4,684      A O Smith Corp.      268,112  
  1,010      Allegion plc      106,313  
  1,116      Armstrong World Industries, Inc.      76,546  
  6,030      AZEK Co., Inc. (The)*      122,530  
  7,602      Builders FirstSource, Inc.*      493,218  
  431      Carlisle Cos., Inc.      101,565  
  42,406      Carrier Global Corp.      1,749,247  
  4,107      Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.      234,551  
  2,751      Hayward Holdings, Inc.*      25,859  
  35,129      Johnson Controls International plc      2,248,256  
  1,593      Lennox International, Inc.      381,093  
  10,512      Masco Corp.      490,595  
  4,107      Masterbrand, Inc.*      31,008  
  4,853      Owens Corning      413,961  
  4,873      Trane Technologies plc      819,103  
     

 

 

 
        7,561,957  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (4.8%):       
  1,848      Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      292,779  
  1,936      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      602,812  
  36,567      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      1,664,530  
  7,531      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      5,336,693  
  9,996      Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)      298,281  
  5,426      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      680,800  
  33,828      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      2,816,519  
  18,074      CME Group, Inc.      3,039,324  
  7,915      Coinbase Global, Inc.*^      280,112  
  1,943      Evercore, Inc., Class A      211,942  
  14,800      Franklin Resources, Inc.      390,424  
  16,536      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      5,678,132  
  4,568      Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A      330,495  
  27,690      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      2,840,717  
  18,155      Invesco, Ltd.      326,608  
  7,344      Janus Henderson Group plc      172,731  
  28,843      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      1,338,892  
  4,096      Lazard, Ltd., Class A      142,008  
  469      Moody’s Corp.      130,673  
  62,158      Morgan Stanley      5,284,673  
  49      Morningstar, Inc.      10,613  
  974      MSCI, Inc.      453,076  
  17,448      Nasdaq, Inc.      1,070,435  
  10,222      Northern Trust Corp.      904,545  
  9,013      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      963,039  
  29,677      Robinhood Markets, Inc., Class A*      241,571  
  16,414      S&P Global, Inc.      5,497,705  
  4,933      SEI Investments Co.      287,594  
  18,397      State Street Corp.      1,427,055  
  5,047      Stifel Financial Corp.      294,593  
  11,220      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      1,223,653  
  2,116      Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A      137,392  
  4,556      Virtu Financial, Inc., Class A      92,988  
     

 

 

 
        44,463,404  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals (2.6%):       
  11,110      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.    $ 3,424,769  
  2,829      Albemarle Corp.      613,497  
  2,596      Ashland, Inc.      279,148  
  8,158      Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.*      207,784  
  5,524      Celanese Corp.      564,774  
  2,946      Chemours Co. (The)      90,207  
  36,274      Corteva, Inc.      2,132,186  
  36,273      Dow, Inc.      1,827,796  
  24,976      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      1,714,103  
  6,012      Eastman Chemical Co.      489,617  
  1,518      Ecolab, Inc.      220,960  
  10,691      Element Solutions, Inc.      194,469  
  4,186      FMC Corp.      522,413  
  34,772      Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.*      58,765  
  9,566      Huntsman Corp.      262,874  
  12,745      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      1,336,186  
  19,679      Linde plc      6,418,896  
  12,721      Lyondellbasell Industries NV      1,056,225  
  15,251      Mosaic Co. (The)      669,061  
  309      NewMarket Corp.      96,133  
  6,897      Olin Corp.      365,127  
  5,461      PPG Industries, Inc.      686,666  
  6,163      RPM International, Inc.      600,584  
  1,410      Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)      68,512  
  1,756      Westlake Corp.      180,060  
     

 

 

 
        24,080,812  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.3%):       
  262      Cintas Corp.      118,325  
  2,659      Clean Harbors, Inc.*      303,445  
  2,242      Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.*      61,229  
  1,218      IAA, Inc.*      48,720  
  1,095      MSA Safety, Inc.      157,888  
  9,709      Republic Services, Inc.      1,252,364  
  722      Rollins, Inc.      26,382  
  4,811      Stericycle, Inc.*      240,021  
  1,490      Tetra Tech, Inc.      216,333  
  1,398      Waste Management, Inc.      219,318  
     

 

 

 
        2,644,025  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.5%):       
  7,404      Ciena Corp.*      377,456  
  207,201      Cisco Systems, Inc.      9,871,056  
  3,001      F5, Inc.*      430,673  
  16,064      Juniper Networks, Inc.      513,405  
  3,624      Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*      189,064  
  8,304      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      2,140,024  
  226      Ubiquiti, Inc.      61,818  
  3,355      ViaSat, Inc.*      106,186  
     

 

 

 
        13,689,682  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.2%):       
  6,123      AECOM      520,026  
  3,085      MasTec, Inc.*      263,243  
  10,311      MDU Resources Group, Inc.      312,836  
  3,251      Quanta Services, Inc.      463,268  
  872      Valmont Industries, Inc.      288,344  
  4,743      WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.*      214,241  
     

 

 

 
        2,061,958  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Construction Materials (0.2%):       
  356      Eagle Materials, Inc.    $ 47,295  
  2,857      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      965,580  
  3,452      Vulcan Materials Co.      604,480  
     

 

 

 
        1,617,355  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (1.0%):       
  15,960      Ally Financial, Inc.      390,222  
  28,311      American Express Co.      4,182,950  
  18,965      Capital One Financial Corp.      1,762,986  
  271      Credit Acceptance Corp.*^      128,562  
  13,655      Discover Financial Services      1,335,869  
  5,753      OneMain Holdings, Inc.      191,633  
  12,247      SLM Corp.      203,300  
  42,461      SoFi Technologies, Inc.*^      195,745  
  22,614      Synchrony Financial      743,096  
  3,152      Upstart Holdings, Inc.*^      41,670  
     

 

 

 
        9,176,033  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.5%):       
  75,436      Amcor plc      898,443  
  3,323      AptarGroup, Inc.      365,464  
  3,918      Ardagh Metal Packaging SA      18,846  
  1,510      Avery Dennison Corp.      273,310  
  9,087      Ball Corp.      464,709  
  3,041      Berry Global Group, Inc.      183,768  
  750      Crown Holdings, Inc.      61,657  
  3,745      Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      83,326  
  18,318      International Paper Co.      634,352  
  4,620      Packaging Corp. of America      590,944  
  4,453      Silgan Holdings, Inc.      230,843  
  4,769      Sonoco Products Co.      289,526  
  12,986      Westrock Co.      456,588  
     

 

 

 
        4,551,776  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  6,462      Genuine Parts Co.      1,121,222  
  13,105      LKQ Corp.      699,938  
     

 

 

 
        1,821,160  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.1%):       
  11,118      ADT, Inc.^      100,840  
  2,253      Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*      142,165  
  1,626      Grand Canyon Education, Inc.*      171,803  
  1,320      H&R Block, Inc.      48,193  
  490      Mister Car Wash, Inc.*      4,523  
  7,893      Service Corp. International      545,722  
     

 

 

 
        1,013,246  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (3.2%):       
  5,323      Apollo Global Management, Inc.      339,554  
  90,963      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      28,098,471  
  18,493      Equitable Holdings, Inc.      530,749  
  9,977      Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.      342,011  
  4,777      Voya Financial, Inc.      293,738  
     

 

 

 
        29,604,523  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.7%):       
  360,988      AT&T, Inc.      6,645,789  
  11,877      Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.*      302,626  
  53,059      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      276,968  
  211,914      Verizon Communications, Inc.      8,349,412  
     

 

 

 
        15,574,795  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Electric Utilities (3.8%):       
  12,563      Alliant Energy Corp.    $ 693,603  
  25,666      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      2,436,987  
  3,771      Avangrid, Inc.      162,078  
  16,403      Constellation Energy Corp.      1,414,103  
  38,909      Duke Energy Corp.      4,007,238  
  18,753      Edison International      1,193,066  
  10,097      Entergy Corp.      1,135,912  
  11,122      Evergy, Inc.      699,907  
  17,334      Eversource Energy      1,453,283  
  49,484      Exelon Corp.      2,139,193  
  27,482      FirstEnergy Corp.      1,152,595  
  5,803      Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.      242,856  
  2,399      IDACORP, Inc.      258,732  
  100,130      NextEra Energy, Inc.      8,370,868  
  11,944      NRG Energy, Inc.      380,058  
  10,336      OGE Energy Corp.      408,789  
  82,938      PG&E Corp.*      1,348,572  
  5,734      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      436,013  
  36,675      PPL Corp.      1,071,643  
  54,822      Southern Co. (The)      3,914,839  
  27,397      Xcel Energy, Inc.      1,920,804  
     

 

 

 
        34,841,139  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (1.0%):       
  1,588      Acuity Brands, Inc.      262,989  
  11,611      AMETEK, Inc.      1,622,289  
  20,002      Eaton Corp. plc      3,139,314  
  20,177      Emerson Electric Co.      1,938,202  
  2,709      Hubbell, Inc.      635,748  
  8,078      nVent Electric plc      310,761  
  13,954      Plug Power, Inc.*^      172,611  
  3,388      Regal Rexnord Corp.      406,492  
  1,907      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      491,186  
  7,726      Sensata Technologies Holding plc      311,976  
  10,183      Sunrun, Inc.*      244,596  
  13,572      Vertiv Holdings Co.      185,393  
     

 

 

 
        9,721,557  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.6%):       
  7,327      Amphenol Corp., Class A      557,878  
  3,025      Arrow Electronics, Inc.*      316,324  
  4,718      Avnet, Inc.      196,174  
  655      Cognex Corp.      30,857  
  4,977      Coherent Corp.*      174,693  
  35,420      Corning, Inc.      1,131,315  
  3,162      Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A      223,047  
  1,770      IPG Photonics Corp.      167,566  
  1,291      Jabil, Inc.      88,046  
  716      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      122,486  
  1,209      Littelfuse, Inc.      266,222  
  5,745      National Instruments Corp.      211,991  
  2,018      TD SYNNEX Corp.      191,125  
  2,334      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      933,390  
  12,507      Trimble, Inc.*      632,354  
  3,234      Vontier Corp.      62,513  
  1,552      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      397,948  
     

 

 

 
        5,703,929  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Energy Equipment & Services (0.7%):       
  48,230      Baker Hughes Co.    $ 1,424,232  
  24,528      Halliburton Co.      965,177  
  19,680      NOV, Inc.      411,115  
  70,790      Schlumberger, Ltd.      3,784,433  
     

 

 

 
        6,584,957  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.9%):       
  38,973      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      2,983,383  
  27,602      AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., Class A*^      112,340  
  13,102      Electronic Arts, Inc.      1,600,802  
  941      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class A*      50,278  
  9,053      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One, Class C*      541,188  
  3,744      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      261,107  
  491      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A      90,015  
  12,117      Netflix, Inc.*      3,573,061  
  4,587      Roku, Inc.*      186,691  
  1,455      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      151,509  
  85,712      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      7,446,659  
  31,251      Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*      296,259  
     

 

 

 
        17,293,292  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.4%):       
  5,414      American Tower Corp.      1,147,010  
  6,890      Apartment Income REIT Corp.      236,396  
  14,858      Brixmor Property Group, Inc.      336,831  
  4,786      Camden Property Trust      535,458  
  7,559      Cousins Properties, Inc.      191,167  
  10,988      CubeSmart      442,267  
  8,303      Douglas Emmett, Inc.      130,191  
  2,016      EastGroup Properties, Inc.      298,489  
  4,018      EPR Properties      151,559  
  1,111      Equinix, Inc.      727,738  
  3,232      Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.      208,787  
  5,940      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      874,249  
  6,663      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.      321,556  
  19,344      Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.      372,759  
  4,971      Highwoods Properties, Inc.      139,089  
  3,781      Iron Mountain, Inc.      188,483  
  5,429      JBG SMITH Properties      103,043  
  5,910      Kilroy Realty Corp.      228,540  
  436      Lamar Advertising Co., Class A      41,158  
  4,278      Life Storage, Inc.      421,383  
  29,182      Medical Properties Trust, Inc.      325,088  
  9,103      National Retail Properties, Inc.      416,553  
  4,516      National Storage Affiliates Trust      163,118  
  11,695      Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.      326,875  
  11,750      Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      138,533  
  1,628      Public Storage      456,149  
  7,047      Rayonier, Inc.      232,269  
  9,249      Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.      505,365  
  4,120      SBA Communications Corp.      1,154,877  
  8,434      Simon Property Group, Inc.      990,826  
  3,538      SL Green Realty Corp.      119,301  
  6,493      Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.      259,266  
  12,618      STORE Capital Corp.      404,533  
     

 

 

 
        12,588,906  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (2.9%):       
  8,089      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.    $ 1,178,325  
  15,531      American Homes 4 Rent, Class A      468,104  
  13,743      Americold Realty Trust      389,064  
  7,007      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      1,131,771  
  7,997      Boston Properties, Inc.      540,437  
  14,171      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      1,420,926  
  18,530      Equity Residential      1,093,270  
  3,222      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      682,806  
  4,092      Federal Realty Investment Trust      413,456  
  12,183      Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.      634,612  
  26,642      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      667,915  
  35,572      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      570,931  
  8,064      Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.      78,463  
  30,970      Invitation Homes, Inc.      917,951  
  30,697      Kimco Realty Corp.      650,162  
  5,796      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      909,914  
  46,434      Prologis, Inc.      5,234,505  
  31,616      Realty Income Corp.      2,005,403  
  8,515      Regency Centers Corp.      532,187  
  6,016      Sun Communities, Inc.      860,288  
  16,300      UDR, Inc.      631,299  
  20,067      Ventas, Inc.      904,018  
  48,499      VICI Properties, Inc.      1,571,368  
  8,458      Vornado Realty Trust      176,011  
  23,831      Welltower, Inc.      1,562,122  
  37,051      Weyerhaeuser Co.      1,148,581  
  10,385      WP Carey, Inc.      811,588  
     

 

 

 
        27,185,477  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.6%):       
  8,525      Albertsons Cos., Inc., Class A      176,809  
  2,625      BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.*      173,670  
  1,864      Casey’s General Stores, Inc.      418,188  
  4,377      Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.*      127,765  
  32,577      Kroger Co. (The)      1,452,283  
  5,064      Performance Food Group Co.*      295,687  
  9,709      US Foods Holding Corp.*      330,300  
  36,064      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      1,347,351  
  71,666      Walmart, Inc.      10,161,522  
     

 

 

 
        14,483,575  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (2.0%):       
  27,554      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      2,558,389  
  7,138      Bunge, Ltd.      712,158  
  9,796      Campbell Soup Co.      555,923  
  23,785      Conagra Brands, Inc.      920,480  
  7,561      Darling Ingredients, Inc.*      473,243  
  9,106      Flowers Foods, Inc.      261,706  
  1,066      Freshpet, Inc.*      56,253  
  29,881      General Mills, Inc.      2,505,522  
  938      Hershey Co. (The)      217,213  
  14,644      Hormel Foods Corp.      667,034  
  3,153      Ingredion, Inc.      308,773  
  5,091      JM Smucker Co. (The)      806,720  
  5,746      Kellogg Co.      409,345  
  34,927      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      1,421,878  
  12,642      McCormick & Co.      1,047,895  
  69,340      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      4,621,511  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Food Products, continued       
  925      Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.*    $ 21,950  
  2,857      Post Holdings, Inc.*      257,873  
  7      Seaboard Corp.      26,427  
  14,387      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      895,591  
     

 

 

 
        18,745,884  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.2%):       
  6,852      Atmos Energy Corp.      767,904  
  4,002      National Fuel Gas Co.      253,326  
  10,625      UGI Corp.      393,869  
     

 

 

 
        1,415,099  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (4.1%):       
  75,044      Abbott Laboratories      8,239,081  
  1,048      Align Technology, Inc.*      221,023  
  21,182      Baxter International, Inc.      1,079,647  
  14,318      Becton Dickinson and Co.      3,641,067  
  71,605      Boston Scientific Corp.*      3,313,163  
  2,423      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      801,213  
  30,419      Danaher Corp.      8,073,811  
  10,613      DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.      337,918  
  2,558      Enovis Corp.*      136,904  
  8,576      Envista Holdings Corp.*      288,754  
  3,460      Globus Medical, Inc.*      256,974  
  12,296      Hologic, Inc.*      919,864  
  875      ICU Medical, Inc.*      137,795  
  3,766      Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*      211,160  
  1,397      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      370,694  
  503      Masimo Corp.*      74,419  
  67,079      Medtronic plc      5,213,380  
  2,628      QuidelOrtho Corp.*      225,141  
  5,035      STERIS plc      929,914  
  8,204      Stryker Corp.      2,005,796  
  139      Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*      6,248  
  2,379      Teleflex, Inc.      593,870  
  10,470      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      1,334,925  
     

 

 

 
        38,412,761  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.3%):       
  4,501      Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*      370,522  
  1,482      Amedisys, Inc.*      123,806  
  13,777      Cardinal Health, Inc.      1,059,038  
  28,611      Centene Corp.*      2,346,388  
  446      Chemed Corp.      227,652  
  12,634      Cigna Corp.      4,186,150  
  65,786      CVS Health Corp.      6,130,597  
  8,420      Elevance Health, Inc.      4,319,207  
  4,733      Encompass Health Corp.      283,081  
  2,615      Enhabit, Inc.*      34,413  
  10,321      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      2,476,627  
  6,859      Henry Schein, Inc.*      547,828  
  1,876      Humana, Inc.      960,869  
  4,577      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings      1,077,792  
  5,851      McKesson Corp.      2,194,827  
  608      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      200,774  
  6,185      Oak Street Health, Inc.*      133,039  
  5,791      Premier, Inc., Class A      202,569  
  5,881      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      920,024  
  3,266      Signify Health, Inc., Class A*      93,604  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Health Care Providers & Services, continued       
  5,056      Tenet Healthcare Corp.*    $ 246,682  
  4,236      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      2,245,843  
  3,111      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      438,309  
     

 

 

 
        30,819,641  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.0%):       
  2,568      Certara, Inc.*      41,268  
  2,719      Doximity, Inc., Class A*      91,250  
  7,602      Teladoc Health, Inc.*      179,787  
     

 

 

 
        312,305  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.9%):       
  11,808      Aramark      488,143  
  3,766      Boyd Gaming Corp.      205,360  
  3,267      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      135,907  
  45,596      Carnival Corp., Class A*      367,504  
  1,592      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      220,221  
  515      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      178,396  
  3,829      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      483,832  
  2,578      Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A*      233,180  
  10,421      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      500,938  
  1,918      Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.      258,144  
  28,076      McDonald’s Corp.      7,398,868  
  16,278      MGM Resorts International      545,801  
  20,042      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      245,314  
  7,591      Penn Entertainment, Inc.*      225,453  
  1,138      Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A*      89,674  
  11,143      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      550,799  
  1,620      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      37,665  
  37,002      Starbucks Corp.      3,670,598  
  1,043      Travel + Leisure Co.      37,965  
  126      Vail Resorts, Inc.      30,032  
  1,192      Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      85,002  
  4,570      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      376,888  
  12,704      Yum! Brands, Inc.      1,627,128  
     

 

 

 
        17,992,812  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.5%):       
  7,484      DR Horton, Inc.      667,124  
  7,905      Garmin, Ltd.      729,552  
  6,700      Leggett & Platt, Inc.      215,941  
  12,563      Lennar Corp., Class A      1,136,951  
  547      Lennar Corp., Class B      40,905  
  2,584      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      264,136  
  19,864      Newell Brands, Inc.      259,821  
  43      NVR, Inc.*      198,341  
  6,947      PulteGroup, Inc.      316,297  
  8,185      Tempur Sealy International, Inc.      280,991  
  2,824      Toll Brothers, Inc.      140,974  
  242      TopBuild Corp.*      37,871  
  2,580      Whirlpool Corp.      364,967  
     

 

 

 
        4,653,871  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.4%):       
  6,750      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      544,118  
  1,044      Clorox Co. (The)      146,505  
  15,947      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      1,256,464  
  6,866      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      932,059  
  68,315      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      10,353,821  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Household Products, continued       
  2,358      Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.    $ 70,693  
  1,772      Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.      107,950  
     

 

 

 
        13,411,610  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  27,178      AES Corp. (The)      781,639  
  6,810      Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A      187,548  
  8,491      Vistra Corp.      196,991  
     

 

 

 
        1,166,178  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.4%):       
  27,793      3M Co.      3,332,936  
  51,880      General Electric Co.      4,347,025  
  24,012      Honeywell International, Inc.      5,145,772  
     

 

 

 
        12,825,733  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.7%):       
  31,282      Aflac, Inc.      2,250,427  
  13,598      Allstate Corp. (The)      1,843,889  
  3,416      American Financial Group, Inc.      468,949  
  38,126      American International Group, Inc.      2,411,088  
  652      Aon plc, Class A      195,691  
  11,914      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      747,961  
  9,224      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      1,739,093  
  2,389      Assurant, Inc.      298,768  
  2,923      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      181,986  
  3,671      Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.      198,858  
  3,384      Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*      173,498  
  10,892      Brown & Brown, Inc.      620,517  
  20,856      Chubb, Ltd.      4,600,834  
  7,780      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      796,594  
  1,529      CNA Financial Corp.      64,646  
  330      Erie Indemnity Co., Class A      82,078  
  1,337      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      442,908  
  901      F&G Annuities & Life, Inc.*      18,029  
  13,257      Fidelity National Financial, Inc.      498,728  
  4,907      First American Financial Corp.      256,832  
  4,546      Globe Life, Inc.      548,020  
  1,842      Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)      248,910  
  15,997      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1,213,053  
  3,342      Kemper Corp.      164,426  
  7,096      Lincoln National Corp.      217,989  
  10,196      Loews Corp.      594,733  
  524      Markel Corp.*      690,365  
  2,694      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      445,803  
  33,795      MetLife, Inc.      2,445,744  
  13,980      Old Republic International Corp.      337,617  
  1,957      Primerica, Inc.      277,542  
  12,387      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      1,039,517  
  3,839      Progressive Corp. (The)      497,957  
  18,895      Prudential Financial, Inc.      1,879,297  
  3,245      Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      461,082  
  892      RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.      164,333  
  11,911      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      2,233,193  
  9,978      Unum Group      409,397  
  145      White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.      205,078  
  5,518      Willis Towers Watson plc      1,349,592  
  10,463      WR Berkley Corp.      759,300  
     

 

 

 
        34,074,322  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services (2.0%):       
  39,218      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*    $ 3,460,204  
  35,158      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      3,119,569  
  4,169      IAC/InterActiveCorp.*      185,104  
  957      Match Group, Inc.*      39,706  
  89,206      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      10,735,050  
  23,151      Pinterest, Inc., Class A*      562,106  
  4,993      TripAdvisor, Inc.*      89,774  
     

 

 

 
        18,191,513  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.1%):       
  1,530      DoorDash, Inc., Class A*      74,695  
  24,045      eBay, Inc.      997,146  
  1,406      Wayfair, Inc., Class A*      46,243  
     

 

 

 
        1,118,084  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (2.2%):       
  9,376      Affirm Holdings, Inc.*^      90,666  
  7,962      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      671,197  
  6,214      Amdocs, Ltd.      564,853  
  1,773      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      423,499  
  7,078      Black Knight, Inc.*      437,066  
  27,011      Block, Inc.*      1,697,371  
  492      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      65,992  
  26,149      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      1,495,461  
  2,170      Concentrix Corp.      288,957  
  11,264      DXC Technology Co.*      298,496  
  600      Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*      56,628  
  29,875      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      2,027,019  
  26,771      Fiserv, Inc.*      2,705,745  
  4,550      Genpact, Ltd.      210,756  
  13,780      Global Payments, Inc.      1,368,630  
  6,665      GoDaddy, Inc., Class A*      498,675  
  14,914      International Business Machines Corp.      2,101,233  
  10,465      Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.*      116,371  
  6,302      Okta, Inc.*      430,616  
  40,067      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      2,853,572  
  1,022      Snowflake, Inc., Class A*      146,698  
  2,549      Teradata Corp.*      85,799  
  5,330      Twilio, Inc., Class A*      260,957  
  4,136      VeriSign, Inc.*      849,700  
  13,034      Western Union Co. (The.)      179,478  
  510      WEX, Inc.*      83,461  
  634      Wix.com, Ltd.*      48,710  
     

 

 

 
        20,057,606  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  2,986      Brunswick Corp.      215,231  
  6,792      Hasbro, Inc.      414,380  
  9,725      Mattel, Inc.*      173,494  
  15,815      Peloton Interactive, Inc., Class A*      125,571  
  796      Polaris, Inc.      80,396  
     

 

 

 
        1,009,072  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.5%):       
  1,442      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      215,795  
  2,309      Avantor, Inc.*      48,697  
  3,478      Azenta, Inc.*      202,489  
  1,097      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      461,278  
  212      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      46,195  
  7,861      Illumina, Inc.*      1,589,494  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Life Sciences Tools & Services, continued       
  6,344      PerkinElmer, Inc.    $ 889,556  
  11,125      Qiagen NV*      554,804  
  846      Repligen Corp.*      143,236  
  4,056      Syneos Health, Inc.*      148,774  
  17,321      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      9,538,501  
     

 

 

 
        13,838,819  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (2.0%):       
  2,644      AGCO Corp.      366,696  
  799      Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      33,238  
  3,394      Caterpillar, Inc.      813,067  
  2,423      Crane Holdings Co.      243,390  
  7,094      Cummins, Inc.      1,718,805  
  4,970      Donaldson Co., Inc.      292,584  
  7,271      Dover Corp.      984,566  
  2,557      Esab Corp.      119,974  
  6,325      Flowserve Corp.      194,051  
  17,859      Fortive Corp.      1,147,441  
  5,779      Gates Industrial Corp. plc*      65,938  
  2,810      Graco, Inc.      189,001  
  3,080      IDEX Corp.      703,256  
  1,508      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      332,212  
  20,518      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      1,072,066  
  4,047      ITT, Inc.      328,212  
  2,493      Middleby Corp. (The)*      333,813  
  2,244      Nordson Corp.      533,444  
  3,431      Oshkosh Corp.      302,580  
  18,689      Otis Worldwide Corp.      1,463,536  
  17,219      PACCAR, Inc.      1,704,164  
  4,978      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      1,448,598  
  8,267      Pentair PLC      371,850  
  2,679      Snap-On, Inc.      612,125  
  7,339      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      551,306  
  3,308      Timken Co.      233,776  
  9,175      Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.      915,757  
  2,985      Woodward, Inc.      288,381  
  7,672      Xylem, Inc.      848,293  
     

 

 

 
        18,212,120  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.0%):       
  2,938      Kirby Corp.*      189,060  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.3%):       
  11,130      Altice USA, Inc., Class A*      51,198  
  111      Cable One, Inc.      79,016  
  216,293      Comcast Corp., Class A      7,563,766  
  13,101      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      183,938  
  15,210      Fox Corp., Class A      461,928  
  7,094      Fox Corp., Class B      201,824  
  20,026      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      667,066  
  596      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class A*      45,207  
  3,386      Liberty Broadband Corp., Class C*      258,250  
  5,286      Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C*      206,841  
  2,887      Liberty Media Corp-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A*      113,488  
  7,975      New York Times Co. (The), Class A      258,869  
  19,819      News Corp., Class A      360,706  
  6,485      News Corp., Class B      119,583  
  1,659      Nexstar Media Group, Inc.      290,375  
  10,167      Omnicom Group, Inc.      829,322  
  28,261      Paramount Global, Class B      477,046  
  33,477      Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.^      195,506  
     

 

 

 
        12,363,929  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Metals & Mining (1.0%):       
  9,216      Alcoa Corp.    $ 419,051  
  25,950      Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.*      418,054  
  71,517      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      2,717,646  
  39,971      Newmont Corp.      1,886,631  
  13,194      Nucor Corp.      1,739,101  
  3,061      Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.      619,669  
  3,164      Royal Gold, Inc.      356,646  
  1,558      Southern Copper Corp.      94,088  
  11,322      SSR Mining, Inc.      177,416  
  8,554      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      835,726  
  11,453      United States Steel Corp.      286,898  
     

 

 

 
        9,550,926  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.1%):  
  26,999      AGNC Investment Corp.      279,440  
  23,539      Annaly Capital Management, Inc.      496,202  
  20,843      New Residential Investment Corp.      170,287  
  14,723      Starwood Property Trust, Inc.      269,873  
     

 

 

 
        1,215,802  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.3%):  
  7,268      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      1,027,986  
  5,875      Kohl’s Corp.      148,344  
  13,526      Macy’s, Inc.      279,312  
  779      Nordstrom, Inc.      12,573  
  3,212      Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.*      150,450  
  10,400      Target Corp.      1,550,016  
     

 

 

 
        3,168,681  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.6%):  
  13,059      Ameren Corp.      1,161,206  
  31,604      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      947,804  
  14,508      CMS Energy Corp.      918,792  
  17,690      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      1,686,034  
  41,729      Dominion Energy, Inc.      2,558,822  
  9,619      DTE Energy Co.      1,130,521  
  19,859      NiSource, Inc.      544,534  
  24,998      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      1,531,627  
  15,725      Sempra Energy      2,430,142  
  15,940      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      1,494,534  
     

 

 

 
        14,404,016  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (7.7%):  
  17,501      Antero Midstream Corp.      188,836  
  4,717      Antero Resources Corp.*      146,180  
  16,330      APA Corp.      762,284  
  5,392      Cheniere Energy, Inc.      808,584  
  5,953      Chesapeake Energy Corp.      561,785  
  97,513      Chevron Corp.      17,502,608  
  62,844      ConocoPhillips      7,415,592  
  33,283      Coterra Energy, Inc.      817,763  
  16,646      Devon Energy Corp.      1,023,895  
  3,674      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      502,530  
  4,754      DT Midstream, Inc.      262,706  
  7,962      EOG Resources, Inc.      1,031,238  
  18,399      EQT Corp.      622,438  
  207,779      Exxon Mobil Corp.      22,918,024  
  3,061      Hess Corp.      434,111  
  7,258      HF Sinclair Corp.      376,618  
  99,740      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      1,803,299  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued  
  31,886      Marathon Oil Corp.    $ 863,154  
  23,586      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      2,745,174  
  7,217      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      454,599  
  19,693      ONEOK, Inc.      1,293,830  
  3,411      Ovintiv, Inc.      172,972  
  2,331      PDC Energy, Inc.      147,972  
  24,119      Phillips 66      2,510,305  
  5,320      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      1,215,035  
  4,747      Range Resources Corp.      118,770  
  50,903      Southwestern Energy Co.*      297,783  
  19,780      Valero Energy Corp.      2,509,291  
  61,343      Williams Cos., Inc.      2,018,185  
     

 

 

 
        71,525,561  
     

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products (0.0%):       
  3,139      Louisiana-Pacific Corp.      185,829  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.0%):       
  15,558      Coty, Inc., Class A*      133,176  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (6.5%):       
  107,379      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      7,725,919  
  5,850      Catalent, Inc.*      263,308  
  23,446      Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*      286,510  
  7,844      Eli Lilly & Co.      2,869,649  
  840      Horizon Therapeutics plc*      95,592  
  3,093      Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc*      492,746  
  132,694      Johnson & Johnson      23,440,395  
  74,105      Merck & Co., Inc.      8,221,950  
  12,617      Organon & Co.      352,393  
  6,472      Perrigo Co. plc      220,630  
  284,969      Pfizer, Inc.      14,601,812  
  18,275      Royalty Pharma plc, Class A      722,228  
  60,915      Viatris, Inc.      677,984  
     

 

 

 
        59,971,116  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.6%):       
  1,188      CACI International, Inc., Class A*      357,101  
  25,108      Clarivate plc*      209,401  
  17,412      CoStar Group, Inc.*      1,345,599  
  13,408      Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.      164,382  
  3,100      Equifax, Inc.      602,516  
  1,045      FTI Consulting, Inc.*      165,946  
  6,321      Jacobs Solutions, Inc.      758,962  
  2,591      KBR, Inc.      136,805  
  6,691      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      703,826  
  2,532      ManpowerGroup, Inc.      210,688  
  485      Robert Half International, Inc.      35,808  
  2,882      Science Applications International Corp.      319,700  
  2,720      TransUnion      154,360  
     

 

 

 
        5,165,094  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate (0.0%):  
  6,914      WeWork, Inc.*      9,887  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.2%):  
  8,281      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      637,306  
  1,663      Howard Hughes Corp. (The)*      127,086  
  2,375      Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*      378,504  
  14,363      Opendoor Technologies, Inc.*      16,661  
  2,902      Zillow Group, Inc., Class A*      90,571  
  7,419      Zillow Group, Inc., Class C*      238,966  
     

 

 

 
        1,489,094  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Road & Rail (0.8%):  
  1,469      Avis Budget Group, Inc.*    $ 240,813  
  80,539      CSX Corp.      2,495,098  
  10,601      Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.*      163,150  
  423      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      73,754  
  7,985      Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.      418,494  
  115      Landstar System, Inc.      18,734  
  3,261      Lyft, Inc., Class A*      35,936  
  11,736      Norfolk Southern Corp.      2,891,985  
  5,051      RXO, Inc.*      86,877  
  2,460      Ryder System, Inc.      205,582  
  3,052      Schneider National, Inc., Class B      71,417  
  12,558      Uber Technologies, Inc.*      310,559  
  4,212      U-Haul Holding Co.      231,576  
  468      U-Haul Holding Co.      28,169  
     

 

 

 
        7,272,144  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.2%):  
  17,154      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      1,111,065  
  20,931      Analog Devices, Inc.      3,433,312  
  2,801      Cirrus Logic, Inc.*      208,618  
  5,272      First Solar, Inc.*      789,693  
  2,529      GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.*^      136,288  
  205,375      Intel Corp.      5,428,061  
  42,799      Marvell Technology, Inc.      1,585,275  
  3,841      Microchip Technology, Inc.      269,830  
  45,020      Micron Technology, Inc.      2,250,100  
  2,964      MKS Instruments, Inc.      251,140  
  8,312      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      518,419  
  5,241      Qorvo, Inc.*      475,044  
  7,984      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      727,582  
  794      Teradyne, Inc.      69,356  
  14,516      Texas Instruments, Inc.      2,398,334  
  6,201      Wolfspeed, Inc.*      428,117  
     

 

 

 
        20,080,234  
     

 

 

 
Software (1.5%):       
  2,085      ANSYS, Inc.*      503,715  
  5,011      Bill.com Holdings, Inc.*      545,999  
  5,505      CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings, Inc.*      47,893  
  5,476      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      351,285  
  1,774      Coupa Software, Inc.*      140,448  
  18,099      Gen Digital, Inc.      387,862  
  3,960      Guidewire Software, Inc.*      247,738  
  1,601      Informatica, Inc.*^      26,080  
  1,282      Manhattan Associates, Inc.*      155,635  
  2,409      nCino, Inc.*      63,694  
  5,355      Nutanix, Inc., Class A*      139,498  
  23,762      Oracle Corp.      1,942,306  
  2,512      Paycor HCM, Inc.*      61,469  
  916      Procore Technologies, Inc.*      43,217  
  5,293      Roper Technologies, Inc.      2,287,052  
  38,175      Salesforce, Inc.*      5,061,623  
  2,715      SentinelOne, Inc., Class A*      39,612  
  11,422      SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      594,629  
  271      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      87,373  
  18,095      UiPath, Inc., Class A*      229,987  
  3,357      Unity Software, Inc.*      95,977  
  5,475      VMware, Inc., Class A*      672,111  
  6,407      Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A*      434,010  
     

 

 

 
        14,159,213  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Specialty Retail (1.5%):       
  2,834      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.    $ 416,683  
  1,848      AutoNation, Inc.*      198,290  
  85      AutoZone, Inc.*      209,625  
  11,234      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      473,401  
  6,979      Best Buy Co., Inc.      559,785  
  255      Burlington Stores, Inc.*      51,704  
  7,101      CarMax, Inc.*      432,380  
  2,669      Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.      321,054  
  13,276      GameStop Corp., Class A*^      245,075  
  9,083      Gap, Inc. (The)      102,456  
  21,880      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      6,911,017  
  558      Leslie’s, Inc.*      6,813  
  1,300      Lithia Motors, Inc.      266,162  
  4,412      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      879,047  
  1,865      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      1,574,116  
  1,362      Penske Automotive Group, Inc.      156,535  
  4,468      Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc.*      42,357  
  578      RH*      154,436  
  10,005      Ross Stores, Inc.      1,161,280  
  1,388      Victoria’s Secret & Co.*      49,663  
  695      Williams-Sonoma, Inc.      79,869  
     

 

 

 
        14,291,748  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.3%):       
  10,692      Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C      430,032  
  65,049      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      1,038,182  
  28,403      HP, Inc.      763,189  
  6,436      NCR Corp.*      150,667  
  15,470      Western Digital Corp.*      488,078  
     

 

 

 
        2,870,148  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.3%):
      
  6,644      Capri Holdings, Ltd.*      380,834  
  1,784      Carter’s, Inc.      133,104  
  1,918      Columbia Sportswear Co.      167,978  
  169      Deckers Outdoor Corp.*      67,458  
  18,505      Hanesbrands, Inc.      117,692  
  3,459      PVH Corp.      244,171  
  2,058      Ralph Lauren Corp.      217,469  
  5,574      Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A*      233,829  
  11,027      Tapestry, Inc.      419,908  
  10,245      Under Armour, Inc., Class A*      104,089  
  10,506      Under Armour, Inc., Class C*      93,714  
  17,023      VF Corp.      470,005  
     

 

 

 
        2,650,251  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.1%):       
  15,539      MGIC Investment Corp.    $ 202,007  
  32,627      New York Community Bancorp, Inc.      280,592  
  2,177      TFS Financial Corp.      31,371  
     

 

 

 
        513,970  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (1.3%):       
  90,896      Altria Group, Inc.      4,154,856  
  77,768      Philip Morris International, Inc.      7,870,899  
     

 

 

 
        12,025,755  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  5,441      Air Lease Corp.      209,043  
  1,012      Core & Main, Inc., Class A*      19,542  
  2,453      MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.      200,410  
  923      SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.*      108,287  
  1,881      United Rentals, Inc.*      668,545  
  7,884      Univar Solutions, Inc.*      250,711  
  828      Watsco, Inc.      206,503  
  1,114      WESCO International, Inc.*      139,473  
     

 

 

 
        1,802,514  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.2%):       
  9,105      American Water Works Co., Inc.      1,387,784  
  11,405      Essential Utilities, Inc.      544,361  
     

 

 

 
        1,932,145  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.5%):       
  29,898      T-Mobile US, Inc.*      4,185,720  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $761,579,248)

     924,920,292  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.2%):  
  1,751,399      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(a)(b)      1,751,399  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan
(Cost $1,751,399)

     1,751,399  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.2%):  
Money Markets (0.2%):  
  1,988,631      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(b)      1,988,631  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $1,988,631)

     1,988,631  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $765,319,278) —100.1%(c)

     928,660,322  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.1)%

     (1,101,556
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 927,558,766  
  

 

 

 
 

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $1,715,781.

 

+

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, 2022.

 

(b)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(c)

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

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        12      $ 2,316,600      $ (80,251

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini September Futures (U.S. Dollar)

     3/17/23        3        732,780        (13,884
           

 

 

 
            $ (94,135
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

13


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 761,730,988

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      3,588,290
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value(a)

    $ 923,323,629

Investments in affiliates, at value

      5,336,693

Cash

      70,897

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      205,200

Interest and dividends receivable

      1,325,121

Reclaims receivable

      17,125

Receivable from Manager

      71,995

Prepaid expenses

      6,071
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      930,356,731
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      367,647

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      1,751,399

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      9,721

Management fees payable

      351,968

Administration fees payable

      50,036

Distribution fees payable

      161,083

Custodian fees payable

      9,412

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      4,085

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,756

Trustee fees payable

      10,206

Other accrued liabilities

      79,652
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      2,797,965
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 927,558,766
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 719,311,147

Total distributable earnings

      208,247,619
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 927,558,766
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 180,771,957

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

      21,524,518

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 8.40
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 746,786,809

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

      60,396,658

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 12.36
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $1,715,781.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends from non-affiliates

    $ 21,908,318

Dividends from affiliates

      151,227

Interest

      3,225

Income from securities lending

      85,129

Foreign withholding tax

      (3,274 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      22,144,625
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      4,518,710

Administration fees

      145,842

Distribution fees — Class 2

      2,081,504

Custodian fees

      37,824

Administrative and compliance services fees

      15,491

Transfer agent fees

      13,627

Trustee fees

      61,822

Professional fees

      48,027

Licensing fees

      222,502

Shareholder reports

      31,788

Other expenses

      29,793
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      7,206,930

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (924,299 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      6,282,631
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      15,861,994
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      40,463,284

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

      62,247

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      (596,009 )

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

      (149,970,800 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

      (1,740,903 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (122,880 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (111,905,061 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (96,043,067 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 15,861,994     $ 14,241,225

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      39,929,522       104,726,700

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (151,834,583 )       107,385,792
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (96,043,067 )       226,353,717
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (29,777,305 )       (4,881,633 )

Class 2

      (86,902,859 )       (14,354,281 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (116,680,164 )       (19,235,914 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      14,542       526,725

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

            59,450,043

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      29,777,305       4,881,633

Value of shares redeemed

      (23,577,132 )       (24,412,101 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      6,214,715       40,446,300
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      8,911,501       12,882,008

Proceeds from in-kind shares issued(a)

            265,078,553

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      86,902,859       14,354,271

Value of shares redeemed

      (180,794,379 )       (246,954,539 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (84,980,019 )       45,360,293
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (78,765,304 )       85,806,593
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (291,488,535 )       292,924,396

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,219,047,301       926,122,905
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 927,558,766     $ 1,219,047,301
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      1,397       50,094

Shares from in-kind transactions(a)

            5,794,012

Dividends reinvested

      3,764,514       470,292

Shares redeemed

      (2,428,108 )       (2,360,216 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      1,337,803       3,954,182
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      664,830       863,525

Shares from in-kind transactions(a)

            18,696,734

Dividends reinvested

      7,459,473       993,375

Shares redeemed

      (12,986,670 )       (17,752,163 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      (4,862,367 )       2,801,471
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      (3,524,564 )       6,755,653
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 10.98     $ 9.02     $ 9.75     $ 8.55     $ 10.65
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.17 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.18 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.24

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.14 )       2.04       (0.06 )       1.94       (1.02 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (0.97 )       2.20       0.12       2.15       (0.78 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.22 )       (0.20 )       (0.27 )       (0.30 )       (0.30 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.39 )       (0.04 )       (0.58 )       (0.65 )       (1.02 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.61 )       (0.24 )       (0.85 )       (0.95 )       (1.32 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 8.40     $ 10.98     $ 9.02     $ 9.75     $ 8.55
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (7.88 )%       24.55 %       2.25 %       26.13 %       (8.50 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 180,772     $ 221,723     $ 146,474     $ 165,337     $ 148,796

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.75 %       1.52 %       2.08 %       2.21 %       2.10 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.50 %       0.52 %       0.52 %       0.51 %       0.50 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.41 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %       0.43 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       38 %(e)       27 %       15 %       22 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 15.28     $ 12.48     $ 13.13     $ 11.22     $ 13.56
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.21 (a)       0.18 (a)       0.21 (a)       0.25 (a)       0.28

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (1.56 )       2.83       (0.04 )       2.57       (1.34 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (1.35 )       3.01       0.17       2.82       (1.06 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.18 )       (0.17 )       (0.24 )       (0.26 )       (0.26 )

Net Realized Gains

      (1.39 )       (0.04 )       (0.58 )       (0.65 )       (1.02 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (1.57 )       (0.21 )       (0.82 )       (0.91 )       (1.28 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 12.36     $ 15.28     $ 12.48     $ 13.13     $ 11.22
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (8.18 )%       24.25 %       2.01 %       25.86 %       (8.72 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

 

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 746,787     $ 997,324     $ 779,649     $ 787,403     $ 720,365

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.50 %       1.27 %       1.83 %       1.96 %       1.85 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.75 %       0.77 %       0.77 %       0.76 %       0.75 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.66 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %       0.68 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       38 %(e)       27 %       15 %       22 %

 

(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.

 

(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, 2022

 

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, 2022

 

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.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $8,464 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $1,751,399 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.

In-kind Subscriptions

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the 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. The Fund did not issue subscriptions in-kind for the year ended December 31, 2022.

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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $5.7 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.

 

18


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 94,135  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (596,009    $ (122,880

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, 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, 2022, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

      Value
12/31/2021
   Purchases
at Cost
  

Proceeds

from Sales

  

Net

Realized
Gains (Losses)

  

Change in

Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation

   Value
12/31/2022
   Shares as of
12/31/2022
   Dividend
Income
   Capital Gains
Distributions

BlackRock Inc., Class A

     $ 7,519,494      $ 356,283      $ (860,428 )      $ 62,247      $ (1,740,903 )      $ 5,336,693        7,531      $ 151,227      $ —  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $ 7,519,494      $ 356,283      $ (860,428 )      $ 62,247      $ (1,740,903 )      $ 5,336,693        7,531      $ 151,227      $ —  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

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

 

19


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 924,920,292        $        $        $ 924,920,292

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         1,751,399                            1,751,399

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         1,988,631                            1,988,631
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         928,660,322                            928,660,322
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (94,135 )                            (94,135 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 928,566,187        $        $        $ 928,566,187
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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.

 

20


AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

5. Security Purchases and Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 119,239,060        $ 294,618,895

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $775,935,827. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 217,654,189  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (64,929,694
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 152,724,495  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

       $ 33,190,347        $ 83,489,817        $ 116,680,164

 

(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 Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 19,135,079        $ 36,388,045        $ —          $ 152,724,495        $ 208,247,619

 

(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, 2022, 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 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.

 

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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 56.60% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $19,152,433.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $83,489,817.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the

 

26


Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond 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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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.

 

27


Based upon the information provided, the management fee ranking in 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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     50     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     50     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     50     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     50    

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     50     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     50     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   50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.   

ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 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® 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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (18.51)%. That compared to a (18.11)% 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 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 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added fuel to existing concerns over rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising commodity prices. U.S. economic data, including employment numbers and corporate earnings, remained strong, however. This dynamic complicated matters for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) as it announced a 25-basis-point increase in short-term rates in March to attempt to combat inflation. The Fed also signaled additional rate increases throughout the rest of the year.

During the second quarter, inflation continued to rise, and investors grew increasingly concerned the Fed would not be able to avoid a recession as it sought to check rising consumer prices. Consumer sentiment fell as both prices and the cost of borrowing rose, putting downward pressure on domestic equity market valuations. The Fed added to that pressure with an increasingly hawkish tone, indicating it was willing to accept higher unemployment rates if that was required to rein in inflation.

Equity markets staged a rally in the third quarter as the Fed initially softened its tone in recognition of the many obstacles that threatened economic growth. In support of this shift, data indicated that GDP growth had declined over the first two quarters of 2022. Other data, including employment and wage growth figures, indicated the economy remained resilient, but investors appeared to take the slowdown in GDP growth as a sign the Fed would ease its current policy-tightening trend. By the end of the quarter, however, the Fed’s tone shifted once again, this time toward a more hawkish stance. Inflation data remained stubbornly high during the summer, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to fighting inflation. The announcement pushed equity markets lower, erasing the gains from earlier in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, stocks once again staged a rally despite tighter monetary policies. Markets posted gains in both October and November before giving up those gains during December. The Fed raised interest rates at its December meeting, bringing the total rate increase to 450 basis points for the year, and reiterated its plan to continue tightening into 2023. Equity markets fell in response, closing out the year posting their worst annual returns in over a decade.

The sectors within the Index posted mixed returns over the year, with the energy, utilities, and consumer staples sectors among the best performers, while the information technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors lagged.

The Fund uses exchange-traded futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we hold 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. Successful implementation of cash management and cash equitization techniques is 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         (18.31 )%          7.32 %          9.13 %          12.29 %

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         (18.51 )%          7.05 %          8.85 %          12.00 %

S&P 500® Index

         (18.11 )%          7.66 %          9.42 %          12.56 %

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 Ratios      Gross

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

         0.24 %

AZL® S&P 500 Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.49 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.80     $ 1.12       0.22 %

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.70     $ 2.39       0.47 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,024.10     $ 1.12       0.22 %

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.84     $ 2.40       0.47 %

 

*

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

      25.6 %

Health Care

      15.7

Financials

      11.6

Consumer Discretionary

      9.7

Industrials

      8.6

Communication Services

      7.2

Consumer Staples

      7.2

Energy

      5.2

Utilities

      3.2

Materials

      2.7

Real Estate

      2.7
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.4

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.5
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      99.9

Net other assets (liabilities)

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.4%):       
Aerospace & Defense (1.9%):       
  41,338      Boeing Co. (The)*    $ 7,874,476  
  16,800      General Dynamics Corp.      4,168,248  
  27,837      Howmet Aerospace, Inc.      1,097,056  
  2,885      Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.      665,512  
  14,077      L3harris Technologies, Inc.      2,930,972  
  17,339      Lockheed Martin Corp.      8,435,250  
  10,796      Northrop Grumman Corp.      5,890,406  
  109,094      Raytheon Technologies Corp.      11,009,766  
  15,863      Textron, Inc.      1,123,100  
  3,848      TransDigm Group, Inc.      2,422,893  
     

 

 

 
        45,617,679  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.6%):       
  8,750      C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.      801,150  
  11,888      Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      1,235,401  
  17,728      FedEx Corp.      3,070,490  
  54,473      United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B      9,469,586  
     

 

 

 
        14,576,627  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  9,806      Alaska Air Group, Inc.*      421,070  
  49,139      American Airlines Group, Inc.*      625,048  
  47,637      Delta Air Lines, Inc.*      1,565,352  
  44,615      Southwest Airlines Co.*      1,502,187  
  24,310      United Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      916,487  
     

 

 

 
        5,030,144  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.1%):       
  20,452      Aptiv plc*      1,904,695  
  17,735      BorgWarner, Inc.      713,834  
     

 

 

 
        2,618,529  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (1.3%):       
  294,953      Ford Motor Co.      3,430,303  
  105,609      General Motors Co.      3,552,687  
  199,524      Tesla, Inc.*      24,577,365  
     

 

 

 
        31,560,355  
     

 

 

 
Banks (3.8%):       
  518,038      Bank of America Corp.      17,157,418  
  144,526      Citigroup, Inc.      6,536,911  
  36,338      Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      1,430,627  
  9,769      Comerica, Inc.      653,058  
  51,728      Fifth Third Bancorp      1,697,196  
  13,850      First Republic Bank      1,688,176  
  105,542      Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      1,488,142  
  218,277      JPMorgan Chase & Co.      29,270,946  
  68,556      KeyCorp      1,194,245  
  12,687      M&T Bank Corp.      1,840,376  
  29,981      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      4,735,199  
  68,809      Regions Financial Corp.      1,483,522  
  4,642      Signature Bank      534,851  
  4,455      SVB Financial Group*      1,025,274  
  98,357      Truist Financial Corp.      4,232,302  
  100,680      U.S. Bancorp      4,390,655  
  282,324      Wells Fargo & Co.      11,657,158  
  10,729      Zions Bancorp      527,438  
     

 

 

 
        91,543,494  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Beverages (1.9%):       
  13,127      Brown-Forman Corp., Class B    $ 862,181  
  289,702      Coca-Cola Co. (The)      18,427,944  
  12,065      Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A      2,796,064  
  62,719      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      2,236,560  
  13,901      Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B      716,179  
  28,358      Monster Beverage Corp.*      2,879,188  
  102,315      PepsiCo, Inc.      18,484,228  
     

 

 

 
        46,402,344  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.5%):       
  131,603      AbbVie, Inc.      21,268,361  
  39,723      Amgen, Inc.      10,432,849  
  10,785      Biogen, Inc.*      2,986,582  
  93,030      Gilead Sciences, Inc.      7,986,626  
  13,664      Incyte Corp.*      1,097,492  
  24,560      Moderna, Inc.*      4,411,467  
  7,969      Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      5,749,554  
  19,141      Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      5,527,538  
     

 

 

 
        59,460,469  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.4%):       
  9,760      A O Smith Corp.      558,662  
  6,778      Allegion plc      713,452  
  62,712      Carrier Global Corp.      2,586,870  
  51,739      Johnson Controls International plc      3,311,296  
  15,974      Masco Corp.      745,507  
  16,891      Trane Technologies plc      2,839,208  
     

 

 

 
        10,754,995  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.1%):       
  7,879      Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      2,453,284  
  54,243      Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)      2,469,141  
  11,223      BlackRock, Inc., Class A+      7,952,955  
  7,779      Cboe Global Markets, Inc.      976,031  
  113,546      Charles Schwab Corp. (The)      9,453,839  
  26,950      CME Group, Inc.      4,531,912  
  2,756      FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      1,105,735  
  22,367      Franklin Resources, Inc.      590,041  
  25,173      Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      8,643,906  
  41,537      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      4,261,281  
  34,577      Invesco, Ltd.      622,040  
  2,754      MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.      768,063  
  11,703      Moody’s Corp.      3,260,690  
  97,996      Morgan Stanley      8,331,620  
  5,944      MSCI, Inc.      2,764,970  
  24,808      Nasdaq, Inc.      1,521,971  
  15,155      Northern Trust Corp.      1,341,066  
  14,474      Raymond James Financial, Inc.      1,546,547  
  24,754      S&P Global, Inc.      8,291,105  
  26,880      State Street Corp.      2,085,082  
  16,607      T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.      1,811,159  
     

 

 

 
        74,782,438  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (1.9%):       
  16,502      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.      5,086,907  
  8,781      Albemarle Corp.      1,904,248  
  7,401      Celanese Corp.      756,678  
  14,411      CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      1,227,817  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Chemicals, continued       
  52,887      Corteva, Inc.    $ 3,108,698  
  52,314      Dow, Inc.      2,636,102  
  36,795      DuPont de Nemours, Inc.      2,525,241  
  9,198      Eastman Chemical Co.      749,085  
  18,486      Ecolab, Inc.      2,690,822  
  9,400      FMC Corp.      1,173,120  
  18,857      International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      1,976,968  
  36,750      Linde plc      11,987,115  
  19,299      Lyondellbasell Industries NV      1,602,396  
  24,649      Mosaic Co. (The)      1,081,352  
  17,568      PPG Industries, Inc.      2,209,000  
  17,602      Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)      4,177,483  
     

 

 

 
        44,893,032  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.5%):       
  6,399      Cintas Corp.      2,889,916  
  31,936      Copart, Inc.*      1,944,583  
  15,303      Republic Services, Inc.      1,973,934  
  17,773      Rollins, Inc.      649,426  
  27,674      Waste Management, Inc.      4,341,497  
     

 

 

 
        11,799,356  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (0.9%):       
  18,184      Arista Networks, Inc.*      2,206,628  
  305,221      Cisco Systems, Inc.      14,540,729  
  4,606      F5, Inc.*      661,007  
  24,540      Juniper Networks, Inc.      784,299  
  12,382      Motorola Solutions, Inc.      3,190,965  
     

 

 

 
        21,383,628  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%):       
  10,719      Quanta Services, Inc.      1,527,457  
     

 

 

 
Construction Materials (0.1%):       
  4,588      Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.      1,550,606  
  9,791      Vulcan Materials Co.      1,714,502  
     

 

 

 
        3,265,108  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.5%):       
  44,604      American Express Co.      6,590,241  
  28,339      Capital One Financial Corp.      2,634,394  
  20,070      Discover Financial Services      1,963,448  
  33,120      Synchrony Financial      1,088,323  
     

 

 

 
        12,276,406  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.3%):       
  111,169      Amcor plc      1,324,023  
  5,932      Avery Dennison Corp.      1,073,692  
  23,819      Ball Corp.      1,218,104  
  26,957      International Paper Co.      933,521  
  6,763      Packaging Corp. of America      865,055  
  11,227      Sealed Air Corp.      560,003  
  19,064      Westrock Co.      670,290  
     

 

 

 
        6,644,688  
     

 

 

 
Distributors (0.2%):       
  10,268      Genuine Parts Co.      1,781,601  
  19,000      LKQ Corp.      1,014,790  
  2,902      Pool Corp.      877,361  
     

 

 

 
        3,673,752  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (1.7%):       
  133,932      Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*      41,371,595  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.9%):       
  529,742      AT&T, Inc.    $ 9,752,550  
  67,685      Lumen Technologies, Inc.      353,316  
  312,593      Verizon Communications, Inc.      12,316,164  
     

 

 

 
        22,422,030  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (2.1%):       
  18,652      Alliant Energy Corp.      1,029,777  
  38,505      American Electric Power Co., Inc.      3,656,050  
  24,361      Constellation Energy Corp.      2,100,162  
  57,148      Duke Energy Corp.      5,885,673  
  28,042      Edison International      1,784,032  
  15,183      Entergy Corp.      1,708,087  
  17,208      Evergy, Inc.      1,082,899  
  25,609      Eversource Energy      2,147,059  
  74,644      Exelon Corp.      3,226,860  
  39,485      FirstEnergy Corp.      1,656,001  
  147,717      NextEra Energy, Inc.      12,349,141  
  17,584      NRG Energy, Inc.      559,523  
  122,354      PG&E Corp.*      1,989,476  
  8,160      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      620,486  
  55,372      PPL Corp.      1,617,970  
  80,927      Southern Co. (The)      5,778,997  
  40,603      Xcel Energy, Inc.      2,846,676  
     

 

 

 
        50,038,869  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.6%):       
  17,286      AMETEK, Inc.      2,415,200  
  29,756      Eaton Corp. plc      4,670,204  
  43,819      Emerson Electric Co.      4,209,253  
  4,823      Generac Holdings, Inc.*      485,483  
  8,534      Rockwell Automation, Inc.      2,198,103  
     

 

 

 
        13,978,243  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.6%):  
  44,397      Amphenol Corp., Class A      3,380,388  
  10,002      CDW Corp.      1,786,157  
  57,057      Corning, Inc.      1,822,401  
  13,368      Keysight Technologies, Inc.*      2,286,864  
  23,907      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      2,744,524  
  3,450      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      1,379,689  
  18,577      Trimble, Inc.*      939,253  
  3,733      Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A*      957,178  
     

 

 

 
        15,296,454  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (0.4%):       
  74,351      Baker Hughes Co.      2,195,585  
  66,776      Halliburton Co.      2,627,636  
  105,276      Schlumberger, Ltd.      5,628,055  
     

 

 

 
        10,451,276  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (1.3%):       
  53,180      Activision Blizzard, Inc.      4,070,929  
  19,506      Electronic Arts, Inc.      2,383,243  
  10,709      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*      746,846  
  33,044      Netflix, Inc.*      9,744,015  
  11,751      Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*      1,223,631  
  135,694      Walt Disney Co. (The)*      11,789,095  
  163,263      Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.*      1,547,733  
     

 

 

 
        31,505,492  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.2%):       
  34,652      American Tower Corp.    $ 7,341,373  
  8,170      Camden Property Trust      914,059  
  32,104      Crown Castle, Inc.      4,354,586  
  6,771      Equinix, Inc.      4,435,208  
  10,061      Extra Space Storage, Inc.      1,480,778  
  21,242      Iron Mountain, Inc.      1,058,914  
  11,772      Public Storage      3,298,397  
  7,964      SBA Communications Corp.      2,232,389  
  24,513      Simon Property Group, Inc.      2,879,787  
     

 

 

 
        27,995,491  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.4%):       
  10,819      Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.      1,576,004  
  10,549      AvalonBay Communities, Inc.      1,703,874  
  10,624      Boston Properties, Inc.      717,970  
  21,637      Digital Realty Trust, Inc.      2,169,542  
  25,262      Equity Residential      1,490,458  
  4,856      Essex Property Trust, Inc.      1,029,084  
  5,376      Federal Realty Investment Trust      543,191  
  159      Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.      8,282  
  38,628      Healthpeak Properties, Inc.      968,404  
  54,807      Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      879,652  
  44,075      Invitation Homes, Inc.      1,306,383  
  46,879      Kimco Realty Corp.      992,897  
  8,675      Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.      1,361,888  
  68,356      Prologis, Inc.      7,705,772  
  45,643      Realty Income Corp.      2,895,135  
  11,891      Regency Centers Corp.      743,188  
  22,171      UDR, Inc.      858,683  
  30,195      Ventas, Inc.      1,360,285  
  72,553      VICI Properties, Inc.      2,350,717  
  12,354      Vornado Realty Trust      257,087  
  34,287      Welltower, Inc.      2,247,513  
  54,475      Weyerhaeuser Co.      1,688,725  
     

 

 

 
        34,854,734  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.5%):       
  32,971      Costco Wholesale Corp.      15,051,261  
  48,882      Kroger Co. (The)      2,179,160  
  38,024      Sysco Corp.      2,906,935  
  52,844      Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.      1,974,252  
  104,918      Walmart, Inc.      14,876,323  
     

 

 

 
        36,987,931  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (1.2%):       
  40,403      Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.      3,751,419  
  14,874      Campbell Soup Co.      844,099  
  34,386      Conagra Brands, Inc.      1,330,738  
  44,377      General Mills, Inc.      3,721,011  
  10,979      Hershey Co. (The)      2,542,407  
  22,068      Hormel Foods Corp.      1,005,197  
  8,067      JM Smucker Co. (The)      1,278,297  
  19,298      Kellogg Co.      1,374,790  
  58,593      Kraft Heinz Co. (The)      2,385,321  
  10,903      Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.      974,292  
  18,875      McCormick & Co.      1,564,549  
  101,799      Mondelez International, Inc., Class A      6,784,903  
  21,771      Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A      1,355,245  
     

 

 

 
        28,912,268  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Gas Utilities (0.0%):       
  10,367      Atmos Energy Corp.    $ 1,161,830  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.4%):       
  129,610      Abbott Laboratories      14,229,882  
  5,479      Align Technology, Inc.*      1,155,521  
  37,034      Baxter International, Inc.      1,887,623  
  21,206      Becton Dickinson and Co.      5,392,686  
  105,995      Boston Scientific Corp.*      4,904,389  
  3,600      Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)      1,190,412  
  48,731      Danaher Corp.      12,934,182  
  16,949      DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.      539,656  
  28,713      Dexcom, Inc.*      3,251,460  
  46,404      Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*      3,462,202  
  18,808      Hologic, Inc.*      1,407,026  
  6,232      IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*      2,542,407  
  26,269      Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*      6,970,479  
  98,373      Medtronic plc      7,645,550  
  10,936      ResMed, Inc.      2,276,110  
  7,436      STERIS plc      1,373,355  
  25,082      Stryker Corp.      6,132,298  
  3,465      Teleflex, Inc.      864,968  
  5,347      West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      1,258,416  
  15,430      Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      1,967,325  
     

 

 

 
        81,385,947  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.7%):       
  11,509      AmerisourceBergen Corp.      1,907,156  
  19,411      Cardinal Health, Inc.      1,492,124  
  42,520      Centene Corp.*      3,487,065  
  22,710      Cigna Corp.      7,524,731  
  98,101      CVS Health Corp.      9,142,032  
  3,967      DaVita, Inc.*      296,216  
  17,821      Elevance Health, Inc.      9,141,638  
  15,724      HCA Healthcare, Inc.      3,773,131  
  9,732      Henry Schein, Inc.*      777,295  
  9,350      Humana, Inc.      4,788,976  
  6,719      Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings      1,582,190  
  10,659      McKesson Corp.      3,998,404  
  4,298      Molina Healthcare, Inc.*      1,419,286  
  8,349      Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      1,306,118  
  69,456      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      36,824,182  
  4,567      Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B      643,445  
     

 

 

 
        88,103,989  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.0%):       
  2,883      Booking Holdings, Inc.*      5,810,052  
  15,488      Caesars Entertainment, Inc.*      644,301  
  64,958      Carnival Corp., Class A*      523,562  
  2,045      Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*      2,837,417  
  9,274      Darden Restaurants, Inc.      1,282,872  
  2,600      Domino’s Pizza, Inc.      900,640  
  11,631      Expedia Group, Inc.*      1,018,876  
  20,039      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.      2,532,128  
  24,406      Las Vegas Sands Corp.*      1,173,196  
  20,001      Marriott International, Inc., Class A      2,977,949  
  54,445      McDonald’s Corp.      14,347,891  
  24,100      MGM Resorts International      808,073  
  31,090      Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.*      380,542  
  16,010      Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.*      791,374  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  85,724      Starbucks Corp.    $ 8,503,821  
  7,751      Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*      639,225  
  21,054      Yum! Brands, Inc.      2,696,596  
     

 

 

 
        47,868,515  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (0.3%):       
  23,740      DR Horton, Inc.      2,116,184  
  11,032      Garmin, Ltd.      1,018,143  
  18,993      Lennar Corp., Class A      1,718,866  
  3,740      Mohawk Industries, Inc.*      382,303  
  27,332      Newell Brands, Inc.      357,502  
  222      NVR, Inc.*      1,023,993  
  17,083      PulteGroup, Inc.      777,789  
  4,058      Whirlpool Corp.      574,045  
     

 

 

 
        7,968,825  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (1.6%):       
  17,650      Church & Dwight Co., Inc.      1,422,767  
  9,274      Clorox Co. (The)      1,301,420  
  61,647      Colgate-Palmolive Co.      4,857,167  
  24,962      Kimberly-Clark Corp.      3,388,592  
  176,154      Procter & Gamble Co. (The)      26,697,900  
     

 

 

 
        37,667,846  
     

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (0.1%):  
  49,796      AES Corp. (The)      1,432,133  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.9%):       
  40,857      3M Co.      4,899,571  
  81,298      General Electric Co.      6,811,959  
  50,102      Honeywell International, Inc.      10,736,859  
     

 

 

 
        22,448,389  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.4%):       
  41,599      Aflac, Inc.      2,992,632  
  19,925      Allstate Corp. (The)      2,701,830  
  55,230      American International Group, Inc.      3,492,745  
  15,377      Aon plc, Class A      4,615,253  
  27,865      Arch Capital Group, Ltd.*      1,749,365  
  15,627      Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      2,946,315  
  4,143      Assurant, Inc.      518,123  
  17,606      Brown & Brown, Inc.      1,003,014  
  30,940      Chubb, Ltd.      6,825,364  
  11,599      Cincinnati Financial Corp.      1,187,622  
  2,813      Everest Re Group, Ltd.      931,862  
  6,907      Globe Life, Inc.      832,639  
  23,877      Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1,810,593  
  12,289      Lincoln National Corp.      377,518  
  14,145      Loews Corp.      825,078  
  36,948      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      6,114,155  
  48,895      MetLife, Inc.      3,538,531  
  17,186      Principal Financial Group, Inc.      1,442,249  
  43,688      Progressive Corp. (The)      5,666,770  
  27,034      Prudential Financial, Inc.      2,688,802  
  17,403      Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)      3,262,888  
  7,998      Willis Towers Watson plc      1,956,151  
  15,154      WR Berkley Corp.      1,099,726  
     

 

 

 
        58,579,225  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Interactive Media & Services (4.0%):       
  444,008      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*    $ 39,174,826  
  393,595      Alphabet, Inc., Class C*      34,923,684  
  20,436      Match Group, Inc.*      847,890  
  167,157      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      20,115,673  
     

 

 

 
        95,062,073  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (2.4%):       
  659,704      Amazon.com, Inc.*      55,415,136  
  40,043      eBay, Inc.      1,660,583  
  9,142      Etsy, Inc.*      1,095,029  
     

 

 

 
        58,170,748  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (4.4%):       
  46,828      Accenture plc, Class A      12,495,584  
  11,781      Akamai Technologies, Inc.*      993,138  
  30,760      Automatic Data Processing, Inc.      7,347,334  
  8,527      Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.      1,143,727  
  38,354      Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A      2,193,465  
  16,463      DXC Technology Co.*      436,269  
  4,379      EPAM Systems, Inc.*      1,435,173  
  44,109      Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      2,992,796  
  47,158      Fiserv, Inc.*      4,766,259  
  5,479      FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*      1,006,383  
  5,861      Gartner, Inc.*      1,970,117  
  20,100      Global Payments, Inc.      1,996,332  
  67,107      International Business Machines Corp.      9,454,705  
  5,364      Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.      941,704  
  63,103      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      21,942,806  
  23,797      Paychex, Inc.      2,749,981  
  84,745      PayPal Holdings, Inc.*      6,035,539  
  6,744      VeriSign, Inc.*      1,385,487  
  121,697      Visa, Inc., Class A      25,283,769  
     

 

 

 
        106,570,568  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.0%):       
  9,779      Hasbro, Inc.      596,617  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.3%):       
  21,903      Agilent Technologies, Inc.      3,277,784  
  1,594      Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A*      670,261  
  11,273      Bio-Techne Corp.      934,306  
  3,847      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*      838,261  
  11,756      Illumina, Inc.*      2,377,063  
  13,797      IQVIA Holdings, Inc.*      2,826,868  
  1,654      Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*      2,390,774  
  9,422      PerkinElmer, Inc.      1,321,153  
  29,162      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      16,059,222  
  4,427      Waters Corp.*      1,516,602  
     

 

 

 
        32,212,294  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (1.9%):       
  38,685      Caterpillar, Inc.      9,267,379  
  10,577      Cummins, Inc.      2,562,701  
  20,417      Deere & Co.      8,753,993  
  10,372      Dover Corp.      1,404,473  
  26,357      Fortive Corp.      1,693,437  
  5,439      IDEX Corp.      1,241,887  
  20,811      Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      4,584,663  
  30,388      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      1,587,773  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Machinery, continued       
  4,010      Nordson Corp.    $ 953,257  
  30,828      Otis Worldwide Corp.      2,414,141  
  26,115      PACCAR, Inc.      2,584,602  
  9,662      Parker-Hannifin Corp.      2,811,642  
  12,489      Pentair PLC      561,755  
  3,803      Snap-On, Inc.      868,947  
  10,876      Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      817,005  
  13,708      Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.      1,368,196  
  13,495      Xylem, Inc.      1,492,142  
     

 

 

 
        44,967,993  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.8%):       
  7,985      Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*      2,707,714  
  320,682      Comcast Corp., Class A      11,214,250  
  20,778      DISH Network Corp., Class A*      291,723  
  23,080      Fox Corp., Class A      700,940  
  11,105      Fox Corp., Class B      315,937  
  28,640      Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)      953,998  
  27,741      News Corp., Class A      504,886  
  6,686      News Corp., Class B      123,290  
  15,106      Omnicom Group, Inc.      1,232,196  
  38,384      Paramount Global, Class B      647,922  
     

 

 

 
        18,692,856  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (0.4%):       
  105,567      Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.      4,011,546  
  58,605      Newmont Corp.      2,766,156  
  19,013      Nucor Corp.      2,506,104  
  12,399      Steel Dynamics, Inc.      1,211,382  
     

 

 

 
        10,495,188  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.5%):       
  16,851      Dollar General Corp.      4,149,559  
  15,589      Dollar Tree, Inc.*      2,204,908  
  34,046      Target Corp.      5,074,216  
     

 

 

 
        11,428,683  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.9%):       
  19,035      Ameren Corp.      1,692,592  
  47,923      CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      1,437,211  
  21,173      CMS Energy Corp.      1,340,886  
  26,453      Consolidated Edison, Inc.      2,521,236  
  62,060      Dominion Energy, Inc.      3,805,519  
  14,210      DTE Energy Co.      1,670,101  
  29,877      NiSource, Inc.      819,227  
  37,017      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      2,268,032  
  23,478      Sempra Energy      3,628,290  
  23,465      WEC Energy Group, Inc.      2,200,078  
     

 

 

 
        21,383,172  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.8%):       
  24,180      APA Corp.      1,128,722  
  132,240      Chevron Corp.      23,735,758  
  92,628      ConocoPhillips      10,930,104  
  57,772      Coterra Energy, Inc.      1,419,458  
  48,803      Devon Energy Corp.      3,001,873  
  12,972      Diamondback Energy, Inc.      1,774,310  
  43,797      EOG Resources, Inc.      5,672,587  
  28,102      EQT Corp.      950,691  
  306,137      Exxon Mobil Corp.      33,766,911  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels, continued       
  20,807      Hess Corp.    $ 2,950,849  
  148,185      Kinder Morgan, Inc.      2,679,185  
  47,208      Marathon Oil Corp.      1,277,921  
  34,838      Marathon Petroleum Corp.      4,054,795  
  54,052      Occidental Petroleum Corp.      3,404,735  
  33,724      ONEOK, Inc.      2,215,667  
  35,044      Phillips 66      3,647,380  
  17,532      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      4,004,133  
  17,219      Targa Resources Corp.      1,265,596  
  28,658      Valero Energy Corp.      3,635,554  
  90,536      Williams Cos., Inc.      2,978,634  
     

 

 

 
        114,494,863  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (0.2%):       
  17,273      Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A      4,285,604  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (4.9%):       
  157,961      Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      11,365,294  
  13,617      Catalent, Inc.*      612,901  
  58,700      Eli Lilly & Co.      21,474,808  
  194,350      Johnson & Johnson      34,331,928  
  188,557      Merck & Co., Inc.      20,920,399  
  18,060      Organon & Co.      504,416  
  417,739      Pfizer, Inc.      21,404,946  
  90,778      Viatris, Inc.      1,010,359  
  34,594      Zoetis, Inc.      5,069,751  
     

 

 

 
        116,694,802  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.4%):       
  29,176      CoStar Group, Inc.*      2,254,721  
  9,047      Equifax, Inc.      1,758,375  
  9,408      Jacobs Solutions, Inc.      1,129,619  
  9,849      Leidos Holdings, Inc.      1,036,016  
  8,628      Robert Half International, Inc.      637,005  
  11,823      Verisk Analytics, Inc.      2,085,814  
     

 

 

 
        8,901,550  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.1%):       
  23,168      CBRE Group, Inc., Class A*      1,783,009  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.9%):       
  156,284      CSX Corp.      4,841,678  
  6,246      JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.      1,089,053  
  17,210      Norfolk Southern Corp.      4,240,888  
  6,683      Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.      1,896,502  
  45,702      Union Pacific Corp.      9,463,513  
     

 

 

 
        21,531,634  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (5.1%):       
  119,564      Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*      7,744,160  
  38,234      Analog Devices, Inc.      6,271,523  
  63,876      Applied Materials, Inc.      6,220,245  
  30,057      Broadcom, Inc.      16,805,770  
  9,989      Enphase Energy, Inc.*      2,646,685  
  7,370      First Solar, Inc.*      1,103,952  
  305,187      Intel Corp.      8,066,092  
  10,549      KLA Corp.      3,977,290  
  10,139      Lam Research Corp.      4,261,422  
  40,900      Microchip Technology, Inc.      2,873,225  
  80,816      Micron Technology, Inc.      4,039,184  
  3,381      Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      1,195,555  
  185,096      NVIDIA Corp.      27,049,930  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued       
  19,519      NXP Semiconductors NV    $ 3,084,588  
  32,692      ON Semiconductor Corp.*      2,039,000  
  7,261      Qorvo, Inc.*      658,137  
  83,438      Qualcomm, Inc.      9,173,174  
  12,216      Skyworks Solutions, Inc.      1,113,244  
  4,044      SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.*      1,145,544  
  11,598      Teradyne, Inc.      1,013,085  
  67,465      Texas Instruments, Inc.      11,146,567  
     

 

 

 
        121,628,372  
     

 

 

 
Software (8.3%):       
  34,559      Adobe, Inc.*      11,630,140  
  6,416      ANSYS, Inc.*      1,550,041  
  15,964      Autodesk, Inc.*      2,983,193  
  20,204      Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*      3,245,571  
  10,915      Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.*      700,197  
  48,166      Fortinet, Inc.*      2,354,836  
  42,980      Gen Digital, Inc.      921,061  
  20,916      Intuit, Inc.      8,140,926  
  554,134      Microsoft Corp.      132,892,416  
  113,063      Oracle Corp.      9,241,770  
  3,595      Paycom Software, Inc.*      1,115,564  
  8,131      PTC, Inc.*      976,045  
  7,875      Roper Technologies, Inc.      3,402,709  
  74,056      Salesforce, Inc.*      9,819,085  
  15,131      ServiceNow, Inc.*      5,874,913  
  11,278      Synopsys, Inc.*      3,600,953  
  3,188      Tyler Technologies, Inc.*      1,027,843  
     

 

 

 
        199,477,263  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (2.4%):       
  4,392      Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      645,756  
  1,408      AutoZone, Inc.*      3,472,381  
  16,176      Bath & Body Works, Inc.      681,657  
  14,657      Best Buy Co., Inc.      1,175,638  
  12,189      CarMax, Inc.*      742,188  
  76,100      Home Depot, Inc. (The)      24,036,946  
  46,140      Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      9,192,933  
  4,652      O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*      3,926,427  
  25,895      Ross Stores, Inc.      3,005,633  
  86,783      TJX Cos., Inc. (The)      6,907,927  
  8,175      Tractor Supply Co.      1,839,130  
  3,885      Ulta Beauty, Inc.*      1,822,337  
     

 

 

 
        57,448,953  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (6.3%):       
  1,111,590      Apple, Inc.    $ 144,428,889  
  96,647      Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.      1,542,486  
  66,650      HP, Inc.      1,790,885  
  16,376      NetApp, Inc.      983,543  
  14,002      Seagate Technology Holdings plc      736,645  
  23,790      Western Digital Corp.*      750,575  
     

 

 

 
        150,233,023  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.5%):       
  93,850      NIKE, Inc., Class B      10,981,388  
  2,861      Ralph Lauren Corp.      302,322  
  18,776      Tapestry, Inc.      714,990  
  24,457      VF Corp.      675,258  
     

 

 

 
        12,673,958  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.7%):       
  132,932      Altria Group, Inc.      6,076,322  
  115,382      Philip Morris International, Inc.      11,677,812  
     

 

 

 
        17,754,134  
     

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors (0.2%):       
  43,325      Fastenal Co.      2,050,139  
  5,113      United Rentals, Inc.*      1,817,263  
  3,285      W.W. Grainger, Inc.      1,827,281  
     

 

 

 
        5,694,683  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (0.1%):       
  13,464      American Water Works Co., Inc.      2,052,183  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.3%):       
  44,221      T-Mobile US, Inc.*      6,190,940  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,024,835,554)

     2,388,666,746  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.5%):       
Money Markets (0.5%):       
  12,635,733      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(a)      12,635,733  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $12,635,733)

     12,635,733  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,037,471,287) — 99.9%(b)

     2,401,302,479  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — 0.1%

     1,726,373  
     

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 2,403,028,852  
  

 

 

 
 

 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

+

Affiliated Securities

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(b)

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

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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)

     3/17/23        76      $ 14,671,800      $ (110,428
           

 

 

 
            $ (110,428
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investments in non-affiliates, at cost

    $ 1,033,964,421

Investments in affiliates, at cost

      3,506,866
   

 

 

 

Investments in non-affiliates, at value

    $ 2,393,349,524

Investments in affiliates, at value

      7,952,955

Cash

      307

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      868,000

Interest and dividends receivable

      2,098,886

Foreign currency, at value (cost $114,506)

      110,286

Reclaims receivable

      58,245

Prepaid expenses

      6,552
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      2,404,444,755
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      103,710

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      54,468

Management fees payable

      355,047

Administration fees payable

      160,171

Distribution fees payable

      506,573

Custodian fees payable

      8,176

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      7,899

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,304

Trustee fees payable

      19,735

Other accrued liabilities

      197,820
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      1,415,903
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,403,028,852
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 944,184,351

Total distributable earnings

      1,458,844,501
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 2,403,028,852
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 71,530,320

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

      4,178,180

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 17.12
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 2,331,498,532

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

      137,624,950

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.94
   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

    

Dividends from non-affiliates

     $ 43,043,436

Dividends from affiliates

       218,658

Interest

       12,714

Income from securities lending

       1,018

Foreign withholding tax

       20,180
    

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

       43,296,006
    

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Management fees

       4,612,365

Administration fees

       342,085

Distribution fees — Class 2

       6,582,102

Custodian fees

       52,492

Administrative and compliance services fees

       39,497

Transfer agent fees

       14,842

Trustee fees

       158,206

Professional fees

       122,134

Licensing fees

       566,727

Shareholder reports

       53,074

Other expenses

       76,309
    

 

 

 

Total expenses

       12,619,833
    

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

       30,676,173
    

 

 

 

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

    

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

       101,349,114

Net realized gains/(losses) on affiliated transactions

       56,612

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

       (2,946,410 )

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

       (717,866,987 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated transactions

       (2,441,792 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

       (226,316 )
    

 

 

 

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

       (622,075,779 )
    

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

     $ (591,399,606 )
    

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 30,676,173     $ 28,291,652

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      98,459,316       331,563,957

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (720,535,095 )       415,669,129
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (591,399,606 )       775,524,738
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (10,776,208 )       (6,066,971 )

Class 2

      (347,727,512 )       (202,617,986 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (358,503,720 )       (208,684,957 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      78,441       357,240

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      10,776,208       6,066,971

Value of shares redeemed

      (10,198,242 )       (10,698,137 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      656,407       (4,273,926 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      14,544,032       432,554,811

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      347,727,512       202,617,985

Value of shares redeemed

      (343,033,400 )       (702,400,057 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      19,238,144       (67,227,261 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      19,894,551       (71,501,187 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (930,008,775 )       495,338,594

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      3,333,037,627       2,837,699,033
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 2,403,028,852     $ 3,333,037,627
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      3,882       15,874

Dividends reinvested

      641,059       269,643

Shares redeemed

      (490,267 )       (465,681 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      154,674       (180,164 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      743,891       18,802,260

Dividends reinvested

      20,897,086       9,090,084

Shares redeemed

      (16,545,488 )       (30,537,117 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      5,095,489       (2,644,773 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      5,250,163       (2,824,937 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 24.64     $ 20.53     $ 18.39     $ 14.72     $ 16.25
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.28 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.28 (a)       0.31 (a)       0.29 (a)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (4.84 )       5.42       2.90       4.20       (0.96 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (4.56 )       5.68       3.18       4.51       (0.67 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.29 )       (0.29 )       (0.35 )       (0.31 )       (0.31 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.67 )       (1.28 )       (0.69 )       (0.53 )       (0.55 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.96 )       (1.57 )       (1.04 )       (0.84 )       (0.86 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 17.12     $ 24.64     $ 20.53     $ 18.39     $ 14.72
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (18.31 )%       28.42 %       17.82 %       31.27 %       (4.63 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 71,530     $ 99,137     $ 86,300     $ 70,738     $ 62,599

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.37 %       1.15 %       1.53 %       1.81 %       1.74 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.22 %       0.24 %       0.25 %       0.24 %       0.23 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.22 %       0.24 %       0.25 %       0.24 %       0.23 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      2 %       17 %       10 %       3 %       4 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 24.40     $ 20.35     $ 18.24     $ 14.61     $ 16.13
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.23 (a)       0.20 (a)       0.24 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.25 (a)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (4.79 )       5.37       2.86       4.17       (0.95 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (4.56 )       5.57       3.10       4.43       (0.70 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.23 )       (0.24 )       (0.30 )       (0.27 )       (0.27 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.67 )       (1.28 )       (0.69 )       (0.53 )       (0.55 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.90 )       (1.52 )       (0.99 )       (0.80 )       (0.82 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.94     $ 24.40     $ 20.35     $ 18.24     $ 14.61
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (18.51 )%       28.12 %       17.50 %       30.89 %       (4.84 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 2,331,499     $ 3,233,900     $ 2,751,399     $ 2,719,291     $ 2,370,547

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.12 %       0.89 %       1.31 %       1.56 %       1.49 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.47 %       0.49 %       0.50 %       0.49 %       0.48 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.47 %       0.49 %       0.50 %       0.49 %       0.48 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      2 %       17 %       10 %       3 %       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.

 

(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.

 

13


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 period, 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, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $1,076 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund did not have any securities lending transactions accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $11.9 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.

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, 2022:

 

   

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*   $ 110,428  

 

*

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, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

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

   $ (2,946,410    $ (226,316

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no such waivers.

At December 31, 2022, the following investments are noted as Affiliated Securities in the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

      Value
12/31/2021
   Purchases
at Cost
   Proceeds from
Sales
  

Net

Realized
Gains(Losses)

   Change in
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
   Value
12/31/2022
   Shares as of
12/31/2022
   Dividend
Income
   Capital
Gains
Distributions

BlackRock Inc., Class A

     $ 10,740,434      $ 371,663      $ (773,962 )      $ 56,612      $ (2,441,792 )      $ 7,952,955        11,223      $ 218,658      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $ 10,740,434      $ 371,663      $ (773,962 )      $ 56,612      $ (2,441,792 )      $ 7,952,955        11,223      $ 218,658      $
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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, 2022

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total

Common Stocks+

       $ 2,388,666,746        $        $        $ 2,388,666,746

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         12,635,733                            12,635,733
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         2,401,302,479                            2,401,302,479
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (110,428 )                            (110,428 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 2,401,192,051        $        $        $ 2,401,192,051
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 49,582,900        $ 355,707,523

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

 

17


AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $1,068,661,040. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 1,383,592,688  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (50,951,249
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 1,332,641,439  
 

 

 

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL S&P 500 Index Fund

       $ 31,749,280        $ 326,754,440        $ 358,503,720

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 30,893,950        $ 95,314,860        $        $ 1,332,635,691        $ 1,458,844,501

 

(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, 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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 55% 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.

 

18


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $3,603,972.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $326,754,440.

 

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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

22


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

23


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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 seven 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

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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

  50   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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.

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.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 21

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 22

Other Information

Page 23

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 24

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 27

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares) (the “Fund”) returned (16.65)%. That compared to a (16.10)% 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 small capitalization U.S. equities.

In the first quarter of 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added fuel to existing concerns over rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising commodity prices. U.S. economic data, including employment numbers and corporate earnings, remained strong, however. This dynamic complicated matters for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) as it announced a 25-basis-point increase in short-term rates in March to attempt to combat inflation. The Fed also signaled additional rate increases throughout the rest of the year.

During the second quarter, inflation continued to rise, and investors grew increasingly concerned the Fed would not be able to avoid a recession as it sought to check rising consumer prices. Consumer sentiment fell as both prices and the cost of borrowing rose, putting downward pressure on domestic equity market valuations. The Fed added to that pressure with an increasingly hawkish tone, indicating it was willing to accept higher unemployment rates if that was required to rein in inflation.

Equity markets staged a rally in the third quarter as the Fed initially softened its tone in recognition of the many obstacles that threatened economic growth. In support of this shift, data indicated that GDP growth had declined over the first two quarters of 2022. Other data, including employment and wage growth figures, indicated the economy remained resilient, but investors appeared to take the slowdown in GDP growth as a sign the Fed would ease its current policy-tightening trend. By the end of the quarter, however, the Fed’s tone shifted once again, this time toward a more hawkish stance. Inflation data remained stubbornly high during the summer, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell

reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to fighting inflation. The announcement pushed equity markets lower, erasing the gains from earlier in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, stocks once again staged a rally despite tighter monetary policies. Markets posted gains in both October and November before giving up those gains during December. The Fed raised interest rates at its December meeting, bringing the total rate increase to 450 basis points for the year, and reiterated its plan to continue tightening into 2023. Equity markets fell in response, closing out the year posting their worst annual returns in over a decade.

The sectors within the Index posted mixed returns over the year, with the energy, utilities, and materials sectors among the best performers, while the consumer discretionary, real estate, and communication services sectors lagged.

The Fund uses exchange-traded futures for the purpose of efficient portfolio management, and these derivatives did not have a significant impact on the Fund’s return in 2022. Futures are not used for speculative or leveraged positions in the portfolio and we hold 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. Successful implementation of cash management and cash equitization techniques is 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, 2022.

 

1 

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

 

 

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, 2022
     Inception
Date
 

1

Year

 

3

Year

 

5

Year

  10
Year
  Since
Inception

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 1 Shares)

      10/17/2016       (16.45 )%       5.43 %       5.57 %             8.76 %

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

      5/1/2007       (16.65 )%       5.17 %       5.30 %       10.22 %       7.56 %

S&P SmallCap 600 Index

      5/1/2007       (16.10 )%       5.80 %       5.88 %       10.82 %       8.07 %

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)

         0.33 %

AZL® Small Cap Stock Index Fund (Class 2 Shares)

         0.58 %

The above expense ratios are based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 1

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,033.40     $ 1.64       0.32 %

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,032.40     $ 2.92       0.57 %

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
7/1/22
   Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
   Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
   Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 1

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,023.59      $ 1.63        0.32 %

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund, Class 2

     $ 1,000.00      $ 1,022.33      $ 2.91        0.57 %

 

*

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

      18.0 %

Industrials

      16.7

Information Technology

      13.1

Consumer Discretionary

      12.7

Health Care

      11.1

Real Estate

      8.0

Materials

      5.6

Consumer Staples

      5.2

Energy

      4.6

Utilities

      2.6

Communication Services

      1.8
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks

      99.4

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      0.5

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.5
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.4

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.4 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (99.4%):  
Aerospace & Defense (1.3%):  
  23,623      AAR Corp.*    $ 1,060,673  
  53,781      Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.*      3,007,972  
  17,673      AeroVironment, Inc.*      1,513,869  
  20,725      Moog, Inc., Class A      1,818,826  
  3,515      National Presto Industries, Inc.      240,637  
  12,588      Park Aerospace Corp., Class C      168,805  
  46,466      Triumph Group, Inc.*      488,822  
     

 

 

 
        8,299,604  
     

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.9%):  
  18,240      Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*      1,838,592  
  19,091      Forward Air Corp.      2,002,455  
  23,462      Hub Group, Inc., Class A*      1,864,994  
     

 

 

 
        5,706,041  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.3%):       
  11,395      Allegiant Travel Co.*      774,746  
  36,639      Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.*      375,916  
  36,782      SkyWest, Inc.*      607,271  
  23,220      Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc.*      368,269  
     

 

 

 
        2,126,202  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (1.3%):       
  80,304      American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.*      627,977  
  20,029      Dorman Products, Inc.      1,619,745  
  23,496      Gentherm, Inc.*      1,534,054  
  18,096      LCI Industries      1,672,975  
  13,387      Motorcar Parts of America, Inc.*      158,770  
  15,364      Patrick Industries, Inc.      931,058  
  13,187      Standard Motor Products, Inc.      458,908  
  13,735      XPEL, Inc.*      824,924  
     

 

 

 
        7,828,411  
     

 

 

 
Automobiles (0.2%):       
  21,525      Winnebago Industries, Inc.      1,134,367  
     

 

 

 
Banks (10.2%):       
  46,539      Ameris Bancorp      2,193,848  
  39,473      Banc of California, Inc.      628,805  
  12,339      BancFirst Corp.      1,088,053  
  39,535      Bancorp, Inc. (The)*      1,122,003  
  55,547      BankUnited, Inc.      1,886,931  
  24,110      Banner Corp.      1,523,752  
  32,063      Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      958,684  
  53,943      Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      763,293  
  19,182      Central Pacific Financial Corp.      389,011  
  10,347      City Holding Co.      963,202  
  56,641      Columbia Banking System, Inc.      1,706,593  
  38,444      Community Bank System, Inc.      2,420,050  
  22,248      Customers Bancorp, Inc.*      630,508  
  92,753      CVB Financial Corp.      2,388,390  
  22,536      Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.      717,321  
  22,895      Eagle Bancorp, Inc.      1,008,983  
  25,141      FB Financial Corp.      908,596  
  131,199      First BanCorp      1,668,851  
  25,113      First Bancorp/Southern Pines NC      1,075,841  
  65,942      First Commonwealth Financial Corp.      921,210  
  67,843      First Financial Bancorp      1,643,836  
  91,432      First Hawaiian, Inc.      2,380,889  
  21,687      Hanmi Financial Corp.      536,753  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Banks, continued       
  24,268      Heritage Financial Corp.    $ 743,571  
  31,298      Hilltop Holdings, Inc.      939,253  
  85,207      Hope BanCorp, Inc.      1,091,502  
  32,553      Independent Bank Corp.      2,748,450  
  25,459      Independent Bank Group, Inc.      1,529,577  
  18,009      Lakeland Financial Corp.      1,314,117  
  24,256      National Bank Holdings Corp.      1,020,450  
  30,509      NBT Bancorp, Inc.      1,324,701  
  33,957      OFG Bancorp      935,855  
  68,102      Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.      2,149,299  
  10,336      Park National Corp.      1,454,792  
  7,851      Preferred Bank Los Angeles      585,842  
  39,660      Renasant Corp.      1,490,819  
  27,471      S&T Bancorp, Inc.      938,959  
  43,782      Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida      1,365,560  
  34,723      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.      2,392,762  
  91,310      Simmons First National Corp., Class A      1,970,470  
  21,339      Southside Bancshares, Inc.      767,991  
  31,326      Stellar Bancorp, Inc.      922,864  
  8,907      Tompkins Financial Corp.      691,005  
  16,520      Triumph Financial, Inc.*      807,332  
  44,021      Trustmark Corp.      1,536,773  
  75,555      United Community Banks, Inc.      2,553,759  
  38,723      Veritex Holdings, Inc.      1,087,342  
  18,962      Westamerica BanCorp      1,118,948  
     

 

 

 
        63,007,396  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.3%):       
  10,984      MGP Ingredients, Inc.      1,168,478  
  16,620      National Beverage Corp.*      773,329  
     

 

 

 
        1,941,807  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (2.7%):       
  37,069      Arcus Biosciences, Inc.*      766,587  
  43,963      Avid Bioservices, Inc.*      605,370  
  31,984      Cara Therapeutics, Inc.*      343,508  
  67,319      Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,252,133  
  46,018      Coherus Biosciences, Inc.*      364,463  
  66,834      Cytokinetics, Inc.*      3,062,334  
  83,529      Dynavax Technologies Corp.*      888,749  
  7,258      Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      212,151  
  31,858      Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.*      376,243  
  13,896      Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      646,442  
  94,777      Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,174,287  
  17,618      iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.*      344,080  
  11,389      Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      760,785  
  57,628      Myriad Genetics, Inc.*      836,182  
  50,846      Organogenesis Holdings, Inc.*      136,776  
  26,907      REGENXBIO, Inc.*      610,251  
  29,123      Uniqure NV*      660,218  
  40,389      Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      298,475  
  33,398      Vericel Corp.*      879,703  
  53,803      Vir Biotechnology, Inc.*      1,361,754  
  42,605      Xencor, Inc.*      1,109,434  
     

 

 

 
        16,689,925  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (2.1%):       
  29,729      AAON, Inc.      2,239,188  
  11,708      American Woodmark Corp.*      572,053  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Building Products, continued       
  15,314      Apogee Enterprises, Inc.    $ 680,861  
  22,086      Gibraltar Industries, Inc.*      1,013,306  
  33,327      Griffon Corp.      1,192,773  
  13,848      Insteel Industries, Inc.      381,097  
  87,162      Masterbrand, Inc.*      658,073  
  41,919      PGT Innovations, Inc.*      752,865  
  22,856      Quanex Building Products Corp.      541,230  
  103,805      Resideo Technologies, Inc.*      1,707,592  
  43,693      UFP Industries, Inc.      3,462,670  
     

 

 

 
        13,201,708  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (1.0%):       
  11,384      B Riley Financial, Inc.      389,333  
  32,969      Blucora, Inc.*      841,699  
  29,713      Brightsphere Investment Group, Inc.      611,493  
  17,826      Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.*      688,975  
  10,039      Piper Sandler Cos.      1,306,977  
  12,064      StoneX Group, Inc.*      1,149,699  
  4,863      Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.      930,973  
  78,271      WisdomTree, Inc.      426,577  
     

 

 

 
        6,345,726  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (2.9%):       
  19,646      AdvanSix, Inc.      746,941  
  19,136      American Vanguard Corp.      415,443  
  22,819      Balchem Corp.      2,786,428  
  20,399      Futurefuel Corp.      165,844  
  38,050      H.B. Fuller Co.      2,725,141  
  13,116      Hawkins, Inc.      506,278  
  17,614      Innospec, Inc.      1,811,776  
  14,703      Koppers Holdings, Inc.      414,625  
  126,742      Livent Corp.*      2,518,363  
  22,277      Minerals Technologies, Inc.      1,352,659  
  9,677      Quaker Chemical Corp.      1,615,091  
  44,999      Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.*      431,990  
  15,054      Stepan Co.      1,602,649  
  17,954      Tredegar Corp.      183,490  
  22,713      Trinseo PLC      515,812  
     

 

 

 
        17,792,530  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.9%):       
  47,124      ABM Industries, Inc.      2,093,248  
  32,766      Brady Corp., Class A      1,543,279  
  30,947      Deluxe Corp.      525,480  
  53,263      Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      639,156  
  30,130      HNI Corp.      856,596  
  40,442      Interface, Inc.      399,163  
  77,568      KAR Auction Services, Inc.*      1,012,262  
  21,871      Matthews International Corp., Class A      665,753  
  53,820      MillerKnoll, Inc.      1,130,758  
  101,264      Pitney Bowes, Inc.      384,803  
  10,811      UniFirst Corp.      2,086,415  
  14,938      Viad Corp.*      364,338  
     

 

 

 
        11,701,251  
     

 

 

 
Communications Equipment (1.6%):       
  49,902      ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.      937,658  
  8,050      Clearfield, Inc.*      757,827  
  20,238      Comtech Telecommunications Corp.      245,689  
  24,536      Digi International, Inc.*      896,791  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Communications Equipment, continued       
  92,680      Extreme Networks, Inc.*    $ 1,696,971  
  73,866      Harmonic, Inc.*      967,645  
  19,981      InterDigital, Inc.      988,660  
  20,934      NETGEAR, Inc.*      379,115  
  49,078      NetScout Systems, Inc.*      1,595,526  
  160,748      Viavi Solutions, Inc.*      1,689,461  
     

 

 

 
        10,155,343  
     

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering (1.3%):       
  34,131      Arcosa, Inc.      1,854,678  
  25,061      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.      2,884,020  
  30,877      Granite Construction, Inc.      1,082,856  
  11,665      MYR Group, Inc.*      1,073,997  
  8,741      NV5 Global, Inc.*      1,156,609  
     

 

 

 
        8,052,160  
     

 

 

 
Consumer Finance (0.7%):       
  16,584      Encore Capital Group, Inc.*      795,037  
  22,954      Enova International, Inc.*      880,745  
  38,440      EZCORP, Inc., Class A*      313,286  
  33,751      Green Dot Corp., Class A*      533,941  
  27,674      PRA Group, Inc.*      934,827  
  35,902      PROG Holdings, Inc.*      606,385  
  2,401      World Acceptance Corp.*      158,322  
     

 

 

 
        4,222,543  
     

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging (0.4%):       
  25,743      Myers Industries, Inc.      572,267  
  109,803      O-I Glass, Inc.*      1,819,436  
     

 

 

 
        2,391,703  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.9%):       
  31,732      Adtalem Global Education, Inc.*      1,126,486  
  57,912      Frontdoor, Inc.*      1,204,569  
  57,034      Mister Car Wash, Inc.*      526,424  
  47,216      Perdoceo Education Corp.*      656,302  
  16,019      Strategic Education, Inc.      1,254,608  
  28,671      Stride, Inc.*      896,829  
  39,588      WW International, Inc.*      152,810  
     

 

 

 
        5,818,028  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.4%):       
  7,458      ATN International, Inc.      337,922  
  30,741      Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.      1,754,696  
  51,086      Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.*      182,888  
     

 

 

 
        2,275,506  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.4%):       
  17,327      AZZ, Inc.      696,545  
  12,994      Encore Wire Corp.      1,787,455  
  6,399      Powell Industries, Inc.      225,117  
     

 

 

 
        2,709,117  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (4.2%):       
  26,594      Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.      2,281,233  
  61,922      Arlo Technologies, Inc.*      217,346  
  20,830      Badger Meter, Inc.      2,271,095  
  25,982      Benchmark Electronics, Inc.      693,460  
  22,539      CTS Corp.      888,487  
  19,424      ePlus, Inc.*      860,095  
  26,024      Fabrinet*      3,336,797  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components, continued  
  13,286      FARO Technologies, Inc.*    $ 390,741  
  21,737      Insight Enterprises, Inc.*      2,179,569  
  32,425      Itron, Inc.*      1,642,326  
  65,618      Knowles Corp.*      1,077,448  
  26,307      Methode Electronics, Inc., Class A      1,167,242  
  11,343      OSI Systems, Inc.*      901,995  
  7,036      PC Connection, Inc.      329,988  
  19,775      Plexus Corp.*      2,035,441  
  13,334      Rogers Corp.*      1,591,280  
  41,108      Sanmina Corp.*      2,355,077  
  18,409      ScanSource, Inc.*      537,911  
  74,043      TTM Technologies, Inc.*      1,116,569  
     

 

 

 
        25,874,100  
     

 

 

 
Energy Equipment & Services (2.3%):       
  95,310      Archrock, Inc.      855,884  
  16,702      Bristow Group, Inc.*      453,125  
  32,870      Core Laboratories NV      666,275  
  13,037      DMC Global, Inc.*      253,439  
  23,892      Dril-Quip, Inc.*      649,146  
  100,266      Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.*      739,963  
  74,612      Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      3,698,517  
  6,259      Nabors Industries, Ltd.*      969,331  
  70,991      Oceaneering International, Inc.*      1,241,632  
  44,720      Oil States International, Inc.*      333,611  
  153,051      Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      2,577,379  
  67,178      Propetro Holding Corp.*      696,636  
  58,220      RPC, Inc.      517,576  
  53,158      U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.*      664,475  
     

 

 

 
        14,316,989  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  76,416      Cinemark Holdings, Inc.*      661,763  
  18,041      Marcus Corp.      259,610  
     

 

 

 
        921,373  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (7.5%):       
  68,096      Acadia Realty Trust      977,178  
  62,555      Agree Realty Corp.      4,437,026  
  51,216      Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.      959,276  
  36,684      American Assets Trust, Inc.      972,126  
  46,785      Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc.      538,028  
  126,740      Brandywine Realty Trust      779,451  
  68,912      CareTrust REIT, Inc.      1,280,385  
  10,822      Centerspace      634,927  
  33,641      Chatham Lodging Trust      412,775  
  16,521      Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.      591,452  
  81,129      CoreCivic, Inc.*      937,851  
  147,616      DiamondRock Hospitality Co.      1,208,975  
  63,886      Easterly Government Properties, Inc.^      911,653  
  101,591      Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.      2,384,341  
  59,163      Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.      1,534,097  
  47,896      Franklin Street Properties Corp.      130,756  
  87,679      GEO Group, Inc. (The)*^      960,085  
  29,536      Getty Realty Corp.      999,794  
  72,672      Global Net Lease, Inc.      913,487  
  22,058      Hersha Hospitality Trust      187,934  
  93,348      Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.      908,276  
  48,991      Industrial Logistics Properties Trust      160,201  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), continued  
  19,848      Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.    $ 2,011,595  
  63,833      iStar, Inc.      487,046  
  28,369      LTC Properties, Inc.      1,007,951  
  197,558      LXP Industrial Trust      1,979,531  
  16,208      NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.      705,372  
  34,831      Office Properties Income Trust      464,994  
  40,097      Orion Office REIT, Inc.      342,428  
  81,459      Outfront Media, Inc.      1,350,590  
  90,078      Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.      1,353,872  
  60,408      Rpt Realty      606,496  
  17,420      Safehold, Inc.      498,560  
  9,161      Saul Centers, Inc.      372,669  
  116,738      Service Properties Trust      851,020  
  133,047      SITE Centers Corp.      1,817,422  
  74,081      Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.      534,865  
  149,594      Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.      1,445,078  
  73,749      Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.      1,323,057  
  170,161      Uniti Group, Inc.      940,990  
  9,374      Universal Health Realty Income Trust      447,421  
  85,116      Urban Edge Properties      1,199,284  
  20,201      Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc., Class A      382,809  
  55,850      Veris Residential, Inc.*      889,691  
  63,103      Washington Real Estate      1,123,233  
  31,678      Whitestone REIT      305,376  
  80,447      Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.      1,060,291  
     

 

 

 
        46,321,715  
     

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing (0.8%):       
  17,585      PriceSmart, Inc.      1,068,816  
  24,539      SpartanNash Co.      742,059  
  22,081      The Andersons, Inc.      772,614  
  23,998      The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.*      798,654  
  41,333      United Natural Foods, Inc.*      1,600,001  
     

 

 

 
        4,982,144  
     

 

 

 
Food Products (2.1%):       
  51,534      B&G Foods, Inc.^      574,604  
  12,704      Calavo Growers, Inc.      373,498  
  26,809      Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      1,459,750  
  21,908      Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.      573,771  
  64,375      Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*      1,041,588  
  94,226      Hostess Brands, Inc.*      2,114,431  
  10,268      J & J Snack Foods Corp.      1,537,222  
  6,407      John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.      521,017  
  3,655      Seneca Foods Corp., Class A*      222,772  
  59,606      Simply Good Foods Co. (The)*      2,266,816  
  12,735      Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.      542,129  
  35,834      TreeHouse Foods, Inc.*      1,769,483  
     

 

 

 
        12,997,081  
     

 

 

 
Gas Utilities (0.9%):       
  12,538      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.      1,481,741  
  25,269      Northwest Natural Holding Co.      1,202,552  
  86,676      South Jersey Industries, Inc.      3,079,598  
     

 

 

 
        5,763,891  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  4,420      Omniab, Inc. – Vesting 12.5*(a)(b)       
  4,420      Omniab, Inc. – Vesting 15*(a)(b)       
     

 

 

 
         
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.0%):       
  27,559      AngioDynamics, Inc.*    $ 379,487  
  10,435      Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*      308,876  
  28,610      Artivion, Inc.*      346,753  
  32,936      Avanos Medical, Inc.*      891,248  
  24,384      BioLife Solutions, Inc.*      443,789  
  29,499      Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*      401,776  
  21,825      CONMED Corp.      1,934,568  
  12,478      Cutera, Inc.*      551,777  
  41,020      Embecta Corp.      1,037,396  
  33,658      Glaukos Corp.*      1,470,182  
  7,240      Heska Corp.*      450,038  
  16,528      Inogen, Inc.*      325,767  
  23,537      Integer Holdings Corp.*      1,611,343  
  13,483      LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.      620,488  
  30,265      Meridian Bioscience, Inc.*      1,005,101  
  40,250      Merit Medical Systems, Inc.*      2,842,455  
  3,568      Mesa Laboratories, Inc.      593,037  
  36,643      NuVasive, Inc.*      1,511,157  
  51,875      OraSure Technologies, Inc.*      250,038  
  14,229      Orthofix Medical, Inc.*      292,121  
  10,010      Surmodics, Inc.*      341,541  
  27,735      Varex Imaging Corp.*      563,021  
  14,879      Zimvie, Inc.*      138,970  
  15,020      Zynex, Inc.      208,928  
     

 

 

 
        18,519,857  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.1%):       
  54,113      AdaptHealth Corp.*      1,040,052  
  11,349      Addus HomeCare Corp.*      1,129,112  
  23,124      Agiliti, Inc.*      377,153  
  30,605      AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.*      3,146,806  
  28,069      Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.*      830,562  
  91,485      Community Health Systems, Inc.      395,215  
  6,437      CorVel Corp.*      935,489  
  24,897      Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.*      661,513  
  35,209      Enhabit, Inc.*      463,350  
  39,149      Ensign Group, Inc. (The)      3,703,887  
  14,172      Fulgent Genetics, Inc.*      422,042  
  10,257      Joint Corp. (The)*      143,393  
  8,962      ModivCare, Inc.*      804,160  
  54,060      Owens & Minor, Inc.*      1,055,792  
  58,306      Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.*      866,427  
  34,488      RadNet, Inc.*      649,409  
  74,065      Select Medical Holdings Corp.      1,839,034  
  20,217      The Pennant Group, Inc.*      221,983  
  9,156      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.      741,911  
     

 

 

 
        19,427,290  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Technology (0.6%):       
  9,776      Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.*      266,103  
  17,360      HealthStream, Inc.*      431,222  
  39,422      NextGen Healthcare, Inc.*      740,345  
  12,582      OptimizeRx Corp.*      211,378  
  11,278      Simulations Plus, Inc.      412,436  
  77,607      Veradigm, Inc.*      1,368,988  
     

 

 

 
        3,430,472  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.8%):       
  16,500      BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*      435,270  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
  61,735      Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.    $ 1,242,108  
  31,284      Brinker International, Inc.*      998,272  
  33,717      Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)      1,069,166  
  12,477      Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.*      353,099  
  29,505      Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.*      1,045,657  
  10,986      Dine Brands Global, Inc.      709,696  
  12,947      El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.      128,952  
  15,635      Golden Entertainment, Inc.*      584,749  
  14,816      Jack in the Box, Inc.      1,010,896  
  9,395      Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.*      722,382  
  21,212      Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.      328,362  
  26,649      Shake Shack, Inc., Class A*      1,106,733  
  53,268      Six Flags Entertainment Corp.*      1,238,481  
     

 

 

 
        10,973,823  
     

 

 

 
Household Durables (2.4%):       
  5,821      Cavco Industries, Inc.*      1,317,001  
  19,917      Century Communities, Inc.      996,049  
  15,717      Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.      415,243  
  18,169      Green Brick Partners, Inc.*      440,235  
  16,663      Installed Building Products, Inc.      1,426,353  
  19,251      iRobot Corp.*      926,551  
  30,549      La-Z-Boy, Inc.      697,128  
  14,468      LGI Homes, Inc.*      1,339,737  
  19,007      M/I Homes, Inc.*      877,743  
  41,130      MDC Holdings, Inc.      1,299,708  
  25,884      Meritage Homes Corp.*      2,386,505  
  90,896      Sonos, Inc.*      1,536,143  
  71,346      Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.*      1,326,322  
  8,610      Universal Electronics, Inc.*      179,174  
     

 

 

 
        15,163,892  
     

 

 

 
Household Products (0.5%):       
  7,070      Central Garden & Pet Co.*      264,772  
  29,669      Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A*      1,062,150  
  9,305      WD-40 Co.      1,500,059  
     

 

 

 
        2,826,981  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (2.7%):       
  31,445      AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.*      548,401  
  48,886      American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.      2,230,179  
  13,376      Amerisafe, Inc.      695,151  
  42,186      Assured Guaranty, Ltd.      2,626,500  
  19,037      Employers Holdings, Inc.      821,066  
  350,206      Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A*      1,852,590  
  4,977      HCI Group, Inc.      197,039  
  28,804      Horace Mann Educators Corp.      1,076,405  
  26,609      James River Group Holdings      556,394  
  18,957      Mercury General Corp.      648,329  
  17,734      Palomar Holdings, Inc.*      800,867  
  38,016      ProAssurance Corp.      664,140  
  10,275      Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      865,772  
  59,093      SiriusPoint, Ltd.*      348,649  
  19,469      Stewart Information Services Corp.      831,910  
  24,937      Trupanion, Inc.*      1,185,256  
  15,099      United Fire Group, Inc.      413,109  
  19,123      Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.      202,513  
     

 

 

 
        16,564,270  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Interactive Media & Services (0.4%):       
  44,010      Cars.com, Inc.*    $ 606,018  
  35,933      QuinStreet, Inc.*      515,638  
  49,747      Yelp, Inc.*      1,360,083  
     

 

 

 
        2,481,739  
     

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (0.2%):       
  19,380      Liquidity Services, Inc.*      272,483  
  15,499      PetMed Express, Inc.^      274,332  
  17,590      Shutterstock, Inc.      927,345  
     

 

 

 
        1,474,160  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.5%):       
  17,177      Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.      646,886  
  21,980      CSG Systems International, Inc.      1,257,256  
  46,495      Evertec, Inc.      1,505,508  
  47,951      LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.*      1,123,971  
  142,261      Payoneer Global, Inc.*      778,168  
  24,825      Perficient, Inc.*      1,733,530  
  235,038      Sabre Corp.*      1,452,535  
  12,527      TTEC Holdings, Inc.      552,816  
  50,001      Unisys Corp.*      255,505  
     

 

 

 
        9,306,175  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.7%):       
  56,335      Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc.      2,959,841  
  12,489      Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.      632,193  
  40,057      Vista Outdoor, Inc.*      976,189  
     

 

 

 
        4,568,223  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):       
  89,801      Neogenomics, Inc.*      829,761  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (4.9%):       
  7,225      Alamo Group, Inc.      1,023,060  
  21,967      Albany International Corp., Class A      2,165,727  
  16,147      Astec Industries, Inc.      656,537  
  36,172      Barnes Group, Inc.      1,477,626  
  14,430      CIRCOR International, Inc.*      345,743  
  39,884      Enerpac Tool Group Corp.      1,015,048  
  14,639      EnPro Industries, Inc.      1,591,113  
  17,821      ESCO Technologies, Inc.      1,560,050  
  42,676      Federal Signal Corp.      1,983,154  
  27,542      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.      2,196,475  
  56,963      Harsco Corp.*      358,297  
  49,241      Hillenbrand, Inc.      2,101,113  
  22,695      John Bean Technologies Corp.      2,072,734  
  7,701      Lindsay Corp.      1,254,108  
  40,230      Mueller Industries, Inc.      2,373,570  
  19,326      Proto Labs, Inc.*      493,393  
  31,782      SPX Technologies, Inc.*      2,086,488  
  8,358      Standex International Corp.      855,943  
  13,193      Tennant Co.      812,293  
  23,111      The Greenbrier Cos., Inc.      774,912  
  35,365      Titan International, Inc.*      541,792  
  57,467      Trinity Industries, Inc.      1,699,299  
  33,532      Wabash National Corp.      757,823  
     

 

 

 
        30,196,298  
     

 

 

 
Marine (0.3%):       
  26,866      Matson, Inc.      1,679,394  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Media (0.5%):       
  21,160      AMC Networks, Inc., Class A*    $ 331,577  
  41,675      E.W. Scripps Co. (The), Class A*      549,693  
  105,156      Gannett Co, Inc.*      213,467  
  21,230      Scholastic Corp.      837,736  
  19,235      TechTarget, Inc.*      847,494  
  23,477      Thryv Holdings, Inc.*      446,063  
     

 

 

 
        3,226,030  
     

 

 

 
Metals & Mining (1.9%):       
  71,877      Arconic Corp.*      1,520,917  
  91,113      ATI, Inc.*      2,720,634  
  34,610      Carpenter Technology Corp.      1,278,493  
  36,930      Century Aluminum Co.*      302,088  
  24,157      Compass Minerals International, Inc.      990,437  
  8,497      Haynes International, Inc.      388,228  
  11,304      Kaiser Aluminum Corp.      858,652  
  14,561      Materion Corp.      1,274,233  
  6,567      Olympic Steel, Inc.      220,520  
  60,643      SunCoke Energy, Inc.      523,349  
  27,748      TimkenSteel Corp.*      504,181  
  36,742      Warrior Met Coal, Inc.      1,272,743  
     

 

 

 
        11,854,475  
     

 

 

 
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.2%):  
  91,046      Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.      979,655  
  95,394      Armour Residential REIT, Inc.^      537,068  
  39,757      Ellington Financial, Inc.      491,794  
  57,649      Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.^      743,672  
  37,073      Granite Point Mortgage Trust, Inc.      198,712  
  24,988      Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc.      318,097  
  39,869      KKR Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc.      556,571  
  264,929      New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.      678,218  
  62,241      Pennymac Mortgage Investment Trust      771,166  
  68,170      Ready Capital Corp.      759,414  
  81,980      Redwood Trust, Inc.      554,185  
  61,054      Two Harbors Investment Corp.      962,822  
     

 

 

 
        7,551,374  
     

 

 

 
Multiline Retail (0.1%):       
  21,067      Big Lots, Inc.      309,685  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.5%):       
  52,077      Avista Corp.      2,309,094  
  11,286      Unitil Corp.      579,649  
     

 

 

 
        2,888,743  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.3%):       
  36,578      Callon Petroleum Co.*      1,356,678  
  37,004      Civitas Resources, Inc.      2,143,642  
  23,221      CONSOL Energy, Inc.      1,509,365  
  21,771      Dorian LPG, Ltd.      412,560  
  35,914      Green Plains, Inc.*      1,095,377  
  11,977      Laredo Petroleum, Inc.*      615,857  
  37,326      PAR Pacific Holdings, Inc.*      867,830  
  13,684      Ranger Oil Corp.      553,244  
  11,840      REX American Resources Corp.*      377,222  
  87,331      SM Energy Co.      3,041,739  
  46,342      Talos Energy, Inc.*      874,937  
  44,855      World Fuel Services Corp.      1,225,887  
     

 

 

 
        14,074,338  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Paper & Forest Products (0.4%):       
  11,887      Clearwater Paper Corp.*    $ 449,448  
  38,877      Mativ Holdings, Inc.      812,529  
  29,147      Mercer International, Inc.      339,271  
  23,387      Sylvamo Corp.      1,136,374  
     

 

 

 
        2,737,622  
     

 

 

 
Personal Products (1.2%):       
  36,923      Edgewell Personal Care Co.      1,423,013  
  35,263      elf Beauty, Inc.*      1,950,044  
  12,736      Inter Parfums, Inc.      1,229,279  
  7,321      Medifast, Inc.      844,477  
  35,708      Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A      1,505,449  
  8,486      Usana Health Sciences, Inc.*      451,455  
     

 

 

 
        7,403,717  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (1.6%):       
  26,375      Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      739,027  
  8,622      ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      346,863  
  23,582      Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.*      547,102  
  67,747      Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.*      1,375,942  
  20,886      Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.*      1,150,819  
  44,518      Innoviva, Inc.*      589,864  
  135,137      Nektar Therapeutics*      305,410  
  32,581      Pacira BioSciences, Inc.*      1,257,952  
  14,664      Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A      196,644  
  35,268      Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.*      2,207,777  
  39,821      Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*      1,420,415  
     

 

 

 
        10,137,815  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (1.2%):       
  35,981      Exponent, Inc.      3,565,357  
  8,519      Forrester Research, Inc.*      304,639  
  14,272      Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      399,188  
  24,644      Kelly Services, Inc., Class A      416,484  
  38,179      Korn Ferry      1,932,621  
  22,681      Resources Connection, Inc.      416,877  
  23,189      TrueBlue, Inc.*      454,041  
     

 

 

 
        7,489,207  
     

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development (0.6%):       
  86,101      Cushman & Wakefield plc*      1,072,819  
  49,301      Douglas Elliman, Inc.      200,655  
  17,701      Marcus & Millichap, Inc.      609,799  
  13,500      RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Class A      251,640  
  78,936      Realogy Holdings Corp.*      504,401  
  24,041      The St Joe Co.      929,185  
     

 

 

 
        3,568,499  
     

 

 

 
Road & Rail (0.4%):       
  17,561      ArcBest Corp.      1,229,972  
  33,399      Heartland Express, Inc.      512,341  
  40,864      Marten Transport, Ltd.      808,290  
     

 

 

 
        2,550,603  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.4%):  
  16,577      Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.*      473,605  
  23,504      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.*      1,865,277  
  17,512      CEVA, Inc.*      447,957  
  34,388      Cohu, Inc.*      1,102,135  
  32,501      Diodes, Inc.*      2,474,626  
  55,413      FormFactor, Inc.*      1,231,831  
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment, continued  
  21,378      Ichor Holdings, Ltd.*    $ 573,358  
  41,703      Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.      1,845,775  
  51,911      MaxLinear, Inc., Class A*      1,762,378  
  35,395      Onto Innovation, Inc.*      2,410,046  
  21,580      PDF Solutions, Inc.*      615,462  
  44,278      Photronics, Inc.*      745,199  
  76,197      Rambus, Inc.*      2,729,377  
  20,317      Semtech Corp.*      582,895  
  35,062      SMART Global Holdings, Inc.*      521,723  
  33,016      Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.*      1,094,480  
  37,994      Veeco Instruments, Inc.*      705,928  
     

 

 

 
        21,182,052  
     

 

 

 
Software (2.1%):       
  80,578      8x8, Inc.*      348,097  
  45,629      A10 Networks, Inc.      758,810  
  74,151      Adeia, Inc.      702,951  
  14,031      Agilysys, Inc.*      1,110,413  
  35,771      Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.*      1,769,949  
  25,186      Cerence, Inc.*      466,697  
  12,641      Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.*      679,580  
  64,284      Digital Turbine, Inc.*      979,688  
  17,081      Ebix, Inc.^      340,937  
  50,441      LivePerson, Inc.*      511,472  
  25,986      OneSpan, Inc.*      290,783  
  31,008      Progress Software Corp.      1,564,354  
  25,709      SPS Commerce, Inc.*      3,301,807  
  30,280      Xperi, Inc.*      260,711  
     

 

 

 
        13,086,249  
     

 

 

 
Specialty Retail (4.2%):       
  22,098      Aaron’s Co., Inc. (The)      264,071  
  35,062      Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A*      803,270  
  123,784      American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.      1,728,025  
  4,152      America’s Car-Mart, Inc.*      300,023  
  15,622      Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.*      2,800,243  
  55,563      Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*^      139,463  
  21,153      Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.*      1,322,486  
  25,496      Caleres, Inc.      568,051  
  86,957      Chico’s FAS, Inc.*      427,828  
  35,381      Designer Brands, Inc., Class A      346,026  
  8,781      Genesco, Inc.*      404,102  
  10,308      Group 1 Automotive, Inc.      1,859,254  
  21,659      Guess?, Inc.      448,125  
  9,121      Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc.      272,718  
  8,983      Hibbett, Inc.      612,820  
  105,151      Leslie’s, Inc.*      1,283,894  
  15,278      MarineMax, Inc.*      476,979  
  22,130      Monro, Inc.      1,000,276  
  55,897      National Vision Holdings, Inc.*      2,166,568  
  28,410      ODP Corp. (The)*      1,293,791  
  35,529      Rent-A-Center, Inc.      801,179  
  75,810      Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*      949,141  
  12,029      Shoe Carnival, Inc.      287,613  
  32,732      Signet Jewelers, Ltd.      2,225,776  
  15,921      Sleep Number Corp.*      413,628  
  11,704      Sonic Automotive, Inc., Class A      576,656  
  20,816      The Buckle, Inc.      944,006  
  9,547      The Children’s Place, Inc.*      347,702  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Specialty Retail, continued       
  42,636      Urban Outfitters, Inc.*    $ 1,016,869  
  11,556      Zumiez, Inc.*      251,227  
     

 

 

 
        26,331,810  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (0.3%):       
  96,193      3D Systems Corp.*      711,828  
  23,855      Avid Technology, Inc.*      634,305  
  27,891      Corsair Gaming, Inc.*      378,481  
     

 

 

 
        1,724,614  
     

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.9%):       
  30,274      G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.*      415,056  
  35,123      Kontoor Brands, Inc.      1,404,569  
  11,053      Movado Group, Inc.      356,459  
  10,537      Oxford Industries, Inc.      981,838  
  52,282      Steven Madden, Ltd.      1,670,933  
  55,579      Wolverine World Wide, Inc.      607,478  
     

 

 

 
        5,436,333  
     

 

 

 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (2.3%):       
  38,481      Axos Financial, Inc.*      1,470,744  
  90,742      Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.      784,918  
  12,842      HomeStreet, Inc.      354,182  
  8,033      LendingTree, Inc.*      171,344  
  50,111      Mr Cooper Group, Inc.*      2,010,954  
  58,910      NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A*      1,231,219  
  29,292      Northfield Bancorp, Inc.      460,763  
  90,295      Northwest Bancshares, Inc.      1,262,324  
  20,556      Pathward Financial, Inc.      884,936  
  54,107      Provident Financial Services, Inc.      1,155,726  
  13,295      TrustCo Bank Corp. NY      499,759  
  21,971      Walker & Dunlop, Inc.      1,724,284  
  44,081      WSFS Financial Corp.      1,998,633  
     

 

 

 
        14,009,786  
     

 

 

 
Tobacco (0.3%):       
  17,307      Universal Corp.      913,983  
  93,906      Vector Group, Ltd.      1,113,725  
     

 

 

 
        2,027,708  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued  
Trading Companies & Distributors (1.6%):       
  27,383      Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.    $ 3,451,080  
  28,109      Boise Cascade Co.      1,930,245  
  10,977      DXP Enterprises, Inc.*      302,416  
  29,906      GMS, Inc.*      1,489,319  
  19,967      Kaman Corp., Class A      445,264  
  77,783      NOW, Inc.*      987,844  
  9,604      Veritiv Corp.      1,168,903  
     

 

 

 
        9,775,071  
     

 

 

 
Water Utilities (1.2%):       
  26,423      American States Water Co.      2,445,448  
  38,714      California Water Service Group      2,347,617  
  12,516      Middlesex Water Co.      984,634  
  18,699      SJW Group      1,518,172  
     

 

 

 
        7,295,871  
     

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.3%):       
  45,928      Gogo, Inc.*      677,897  
  36,056      Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.      572,569  
  70,909      Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.      743,836  
     

 

 

 
        1,994,302  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $491,491,648)

     616,674,900  
  

 

 

 
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan (0.5%):  
  3,082,307      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(c)(d)      3,082,307  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $3,082,307)

     3,082,307  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (0.5%):       
Money Markets (0.5%):       
  2,909,879      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(d)      2,909,879  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $2,909,879)

     2,909,879  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $497,483,834) — 100.4%(e)

     622,667,086  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.4)%

     (2,440,761
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 620,226,325  
  

 

 

 
 

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

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, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $2,974,199.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(b)

Security was valued using significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2022.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(d)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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.

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Futures Contracts

At December 31, 2022, 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 March Futures (U.S. Dollar)

   3/17/23    42      $3,718,890      $ (38,582
           

 

 

 
            $ (38,582
           

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 497,483,834
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 622,667,086

Deposit at broker for futures contracts collateral

      281,600

Interest and dividends receivable

      841,044

Prepaid expenses

      3,360
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      623,793,090
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      97,736

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      3,082,307

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

      18,238

Management fees payable

      140,526

Administration fees payable

      26,214

Distribution fees payable

      127,596

Custodian fees payable

      4,381

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      2,171

Transfer agent fees payable

      2,134

Trustee fees payable

      5,423

Other accrued liabilities

      60,039
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      3,566,765
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 620,226,325
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 470,531,026

Total distributable earnings

      149,695,299
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 620,226,325
   

 

 

 

Class 1

   

Net Assets

    $ 34,524,906

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

      4,782,664

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 7.22
   

 

 

 

Class 2

   

Net Assets

    $ 585,701,419

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

      51,255,613

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 11.43
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $2,974,199.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Dividends

    $ 9,795,767

Interest

      1,847

Income from securities lending

      44,257

Foreign withholding tax

      (10,616 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      9,831,255
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      1,837,199

Administration fees

      106,808

Distribution fees — Class 2

      1,670,313

Custodian fees

      22,097

Administrative and compliance services fees

      9,886

Transfer agent fees

      12,516

Trustee fees

      39,617

Professional fees

      30,531

Licensing fees

      145,646

Shareholder reports

      26,456

Other expenses

      19,830
   

 

 

 

Total expenses

      3,920,899
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      5,910,356
   

 

 

 

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

   

Net realized gains/(losses) on securities

      37,688,243

Net realized gains/(losses) on futures contracts

      (457,629 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on securities

      (182,955,042 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

      (155,603 )
   

 

 

 

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

      (145,880,031 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (139,969,675 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 5,910,356     $ 6,317,869

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      37,230,614       112,472,960

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (183,110,645 )       79,486,283
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (139,969,675 )       198,277,112
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Class 1

      (9,156,857 )       (2,166,192 )

Class 2

      (107,893,670 )       (26,155,914 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (117,050,527 )       (28,322,106 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      47,960       86,410

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      9,156,857       2,166,192

Value of shares redeemed

      (4,287,362 )       (7,568,265 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      4,917,455       (5,315,663 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      4,742,326       61,823,244

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      107,893,670       26,155,914

Value of shares redeemed

      (111,921,820 )       (195,522,153 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      714,176       (107,542,995 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      5,631,631       (112,858,658 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (251,388,571 )       57,096,348

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      871,614,896       814,518,548
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 620,226,325     $ 871,614,896
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Class 1

       

Shares issued

      5,161       7,506

Dividends reinvested

      1,306,256       192,550

Shares redeemed

      (458,726 )       (660,924 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 1 Shares

      852,691       (460,868 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Class 2

       

Shares issued

      358,773       3,695,251

Dividends reinvested

      9,720,151       1,627,624

Shares redeemed

      (8,046,992 )       (12,276,692 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Class 2 Shares

      2,031,932       (6,953,817 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      2,884,623       (7,414,685 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Class 1

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 11.75     $ 9.76     $ 9.65     $ 9.26     $ 11.68
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.10 (a)       0.11 (a)       0.09 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.16

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.11 )       2.44       0.80       1.78       (0.93 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.01 )       2.55       0.89       1.90       (0.77 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.16 )       (0.14 )       (0.17 )       (0.17 )       (0.18 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.36 )       (0.42 )       (0.61 )       (1.34 )       (1.47 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.52 )       (0.56 )       (0.78 )       (1.51 )       (1.65 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 7.22     $ 11.75     $ 9.76     $ 9.65     $ 9.26
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (16.45 )%       26.37 %       10.98 %       22.42 %       (8.59 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 34,525     $ 46,174     $ 42,848     $ 44,098     $ 41,285

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.08 %       0.95 %       1.11 %       1.21 %       1.17 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.32 %       0.33 %       0.34 %       0.33 %       0.33 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.32 %       0.33 %       0.34 %       0.33 %       0.33 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       20 %       21 %       14 %       19 %

Class 2

                   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 16.77     $ 13.74     $ 13.23     $ 12.17     $ 14.88
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.12 (a)       0.12 (a)       0.10 (a)       0.13 (a)       0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.98 )       3.44       1.15       2.40       (1.25 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.86 )       3.56       1.25       2.53       (1.10 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.12 )       (0.11 )       (0.13 )       (0.13 )       (0.14 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.36 )       (0.42 )       (0.61 )       (1.34 )       (1.47 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.48 )       (0.53 )       (0.74 )       (1.47 )       (1.61 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 11.43     $ 16.77     $ 13.74     $ 13.23     $ 12.17
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (16.65 )%       26.04 %       10.71 %       22.19 %       (8.93 )%

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 585,701     $ 825,440     $ 771,671     $ 803,521     $ 713,258

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.82 %       0.71 %       0.86 %       0.96 %       0.93 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.59 %       0.58 %       0.58 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.57 %       0.58 %       0.59 %       0.58 %       0.58 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate(d)

      12 %       20 %       21 %       14 %       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.

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

14


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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

 

15


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 and the Allianz Variable Insurance Products Fund of Funds Trust and AIM ETF Products Trust.

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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, 2022 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 $4,377 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $3,082,307 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for long contracts was $5.2 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.

 

16


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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*   $     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 38,582  

 

*

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, 2022:

 

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    $ (457,629    $ (155,603

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, 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager may waive 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, as applicable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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.

 

 

17


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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 to 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 616,674,900        $        $ #        $ 616,674,900

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         3,082,307                            3,082,307

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         2,909,879                            2,909,879
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         622,667,086                            622,667,086
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Futures Contracts

         (38,582 )                            (38,582 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 622,628,504        $        $        $ 622,628,504
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022.

 

*

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, 2022, 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

       $ 85,888,927        $ 187,524,954

 

18


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $514,256,269. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 180,095,649  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (71,684,832
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ 108,410,817  
 

 

 

 

 

19


AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL Small Cap Stock Index Fund

       $ 20,947,176        $ 96,103,351        $ 117,050,527

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 7,171,306        $ 34,113,176        $        $ 108,410,817        $ 149,695,299

 

(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 future 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, 2022, 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 this 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.

 

20


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 23, 2023

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

 

21


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 42.05% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $15,290,341.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $96,103,351.

 

22


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.

 

23


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

24


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks 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.

 

25


The Manager provided information concerning the profitability of the Manager’s investment advisory activities for the period from 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

26


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 seven 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

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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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

  50   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   50   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

  50   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, duing 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.

 

27


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.

 

28


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Annual Report

December 31, 2022

 

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 21

Other Federal Income Tax Information

Page 22

Other Information

Page 23

Approval of Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements

Page 24

Information about the Board of Trustees and Officers

Page 27

 

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, 2022?*

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (the “Fund”) returned (12.09)%. That compared to a (18.11)%, (13.01)% and a (15.91)% total return for its benchmarks, the S&P 500 Index, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and the Moderate Composite Index, respectively.1

Major U.S. stock indexes fell sharply in 2022, the worst year for equities since the 2008 global financial crisis. Investors shunned riskier assets in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, elevated inflation exacerbated by rising commodity prices and global supply chain disruptions, surging U.S. Treasury yields and the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rate increases starting in mid-March.

Although many indexes finished the year above their lowest levels of 2022, many investors remained concerned that ongoing Fed rate hikes would hurt corporate earnings and push the economy into a recession in 2023.

The equity portion of the Fund modestly outperformed the S&P 500 Index. Meanwhile, its fixed income holdings posted a negative return during the one-year period but strongly outperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Within equities, stock selection in consumer discretionary and information technology contributed the most to the Fund’s relative performance. Conversely, energy detracted from the Fund’s relative results due to sector allocation effects.

Within fixed income, the Fund’s above-benchmark exposure to bank loans improved relative results, as the asset class was one of the best performing areas of the fixed income markets during the year.

Overall, the Fund’s exposure to equities decreased during the period, as the Fund trimmed select stocks in the consumer discretionary and utilities sectors. In contrast, the Fund’s overall weight in fixed income increased during the year, as the subadvisor started a position in U.S. Treasuries. The cash position declined compared to the beginning of the period as a result of these shifts.

During the year, the Fund maintained exposure to covered call options, a type of derivative that 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 moderately 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, 2022.

 

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, 2022
        1
Year
     3
Year
     5
Year
     10
Year

AZL® T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

         (12.09 )%          6.85 %          8.78 %          11.17 %

S&P 500® Index

         (18.11 )%          7.66 %          9.42 %          12.56 %

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

         (13.01 )%          (2.71 )%          0.02 %          1.06 %

Moderate Composite Index

         (15.91 )%          4.00 %          6.07 %          8.14 %

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

         1.05 %

The above expense ratio is based on the current Fund prospectus dated April 29, 2022. The Manager and the Fund have entered into a written agreement reducing the management fee to 0.70% through at least April 30, 2024. 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, 2024. Additional information pertaining to the December 31, 2022 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 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 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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,029.20     $ 5.01       0.98 %

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
7/1/22
  Ending
Account Value
12/31/22
  Expenses Paid
During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22*
  Annualized Expense
Ratio During Period
7/1/22 - 12/31/22

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

    $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.27     $ 4.99       0.98 %

 

*

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

      61.9 %

Bank Loans

      14.5

U.S. Treasury Obligation

      8.9

Corporate Bonds

      8.5

Unaffiliated Investment Company

      5.4

Preferred Stocks

      0.5

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

      0.3

Asset Backed Securities

      0.3

Yankee Debt Obligations

      0.2

Convertible Bond

      0.1
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

      100.6

Net other assets (liabilities)

      (0.6 )
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

      100.0 %
   

 

 

 

 

3


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Common Stocks (61.9%):       
Auto Components (0.1%):       
  18,097      Mobileye Global, Inc., Class A*^    $ 634,481  
     

 

 

 
Banks (2.9%):       
  196,716      PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      31,069,325  
     

 

 

 
Beverages (0.3%):       
  101,584      Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.      3,622,485  
     

 

 

 
Biotechnology (0.7%):       
  49,626      AbbVie, Inc.      8,020,058  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (3.2%):       
  196,538      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      20,162,834  
  192,946      KKR & Co., Inc., Class A      8,956,553  
  3,102      MSCI, Inc.      1,442,957  
  10,683      S&P Global, Inc.      3,578,164  
     

 

 

 
        34,140,508  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (1.0%):       
  32,183      Linde plc      10,497,451  
     

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.4%):       
  825,132      Aurora Innovation, Inc.*      998,409  
  105,062      Waste Connections, Inc.      13,927,019  
     

 

 

 
        14,925,428  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.4%):       
  145,706      Exelon Corp.      6,298,870  
  123,700      Xcel Energy, Inc.      8,672,607  
     

 

 

 
        14,971,477  
     

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (2.6%):       
  138,086      TE Connectivity, Ltd.      15,852,273  
  31,338      Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*      12,532,379  
     

 

 

 
        28,384,652  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.1%):       
  4,927      Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., Class A      903,267  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (6.1%):       
  162,777      Alcon, Inc.      11,183,277  
  105,600      Baxter International, Inc.      5,382,432  
  54,161      Becton Dickinson and Co.      13,773,142  
  64,135      Danaher Corp.      17,022,712  
  24,335      GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc.*      1,420,677  
  18,875      Stryker Corp.      4,614,749  
  49,122      Teleflex, Inc.      12,262,325  
     

 

 

 
        65,659,314  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.0%):       
  40,244      UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      21,336,564  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (3.0%):       
  36,900      Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.#      4,662,684  
  60,600      Starbucks Corp.#      6,011,520  
  165,705      Yum! Brands, Inc.#      21,223,496  
     

 

 

 
        31,897,700  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (1.7%):       
  218,394      General Electric Co.#      18,299,233  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (0.7%):       
  48,476      Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.      8,021,808  
     

 

 

 
Interactive Media & Services (1.8%):       
  174,960      Alphabet, Inc., Class A*#      15,436,721  
  33,686      Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A*      4,053,773  
     

 

 

 
        19,490,494  
     

 

 

 
Shares            Value  
Common Stocks, continued       
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (2.1%):       
  267,466      Amazon.com, Inc.*#    $ 22,467,144  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (1.9%):       
  90,895      Black Knight, Inc.*      5,612,766  
  22,800      Mastercard, Inc., Class A      7,928,244  
  32,800      Visa, Inc., Class A      6,814,528  
     

 

 

 
        20,355,538  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (4.9%):       
  609,276      Avantor, Inc.*      12,849,631  
  138,695      PerkinElmer, Inc.      19,447,813  
  36,639      Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      20,176,731  
     

 

 

 
        52,474,175  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (3.5%):       
  322,067      Fortive Corp.      20,692,805  
  319,903      Ingersoll-Rand, Inc.      16,714,932  
     

 

 

 
        37,407,737  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (1.9%):       
  177,836      Ameren Corp.      15,813,177  
  68,800      Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      4,215,376  
     

 

 

 
        20,028,553  
     

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.6%):       
  23,388      ConocoPhillips      2,759,784  
  76,853      EOG Resources, Inc.      9,954,001  
  21,000      Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      4,796,190  
     

 

 

 
        17,509,975  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.9%):       
  67,372      Catalent, Inc.*      3,032,414  
  18,500      Eli Lilly & Co.      6,768,040  
     

 

 

 
        9,800,454  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (2.6%):       
  73,574      Equifax, Inc.      14,299,843  
  241,487      TransUnion      13,704,387  
     

 

 

 
        28,004,230  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.8%):       
  44,600      NVIDIA Corp.      6,517,844  
  121,980      NXP Semiconductors NV      19,276,500  
  93,146      Texas Instruments, Inc.      15,389,582  
     

 

 

 
        41,183,926  
     

 

 

 
Software (7.3%):       
  235,616      Microsoft Corp.      56,505,429  
  30,521      Roper Technologies, Inc.      13,187,819  
  71,632      Salesforce, Inc.*      9,497,687  
     

 

 

 
        79,190,935  
     

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (2.4%):       
  202,292      Apple, Inc.      26,283,800  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $657,173,703)

     666,580,712  
  

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks (0.5%):       
Capital Markets (0.0%):       
  3,600      Charles Schwab Corp. (The), Series D, 25.22%, 11/14/19^      84,924  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.1%):       
  65,939      SCE Trust IV, Series J, 4.07%, 12/31/49      1,193,496  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

4


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares            Value  
Preferred Stocks, continued       
Multi-Utilities (0.4%):       
  72,280      CMS Energy Corp., 2.07%, 10/15/78    $ 1,603,170  
  89,341      CMS Energy Corp., 2.05%, 3/1/79      2,001,238  
  16,144      NiSource, Inc., Series B, 3.21%, 11/21/19      392,138  
     

 

 

 
        3,996,546  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $6,182,600)

     5,274,966  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Asset Backed Securities (0.3%):       
$ 627,263      Domino’s Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A2, Series 2019-1A, 3.67%, 10/25/49, Callable 10/25/26 @ 100(a)      528,863  
  1,405,890      Domino’s Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A23, Series 2018-1A, 4.12%, 7/25/47, Callable 7/25/24 @ 100(a)      1,286,030  
  1,334,400      Domino’s Pizza Master Issuer LLC, Class A2I, Series 2018-1A, 4.12%, 7/25/48, Callable 1/25/23 @ 100(a)      1,257,464  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Asset Backed Securities (Cost $3,353,697)

     3,072,357  
  

 

 

 
Convertible Bond (0.1%):       
Media (0.1%):       
  1,144,000      Spotify USA, Inc., 7.00%, 3/15/26      921,080  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Convertible Bond (Cost $1,026,258)

     921,080  
  

 

 

 
Bank Loans (14.5%):       
Airlines (0.2%):       
  1,642,982      SkyMiles IP Ltd. Initial Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 10/20/27      1,672,556  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.5%):       
  1,571,767      Filtration Group Corporation 2021 Incremental Term Loan, 4.36% (Term SOFR+0bps ), 10/21/28      1,540,332  
  1,987,662      Filtration Group Corporation Initial Dollar Term Loan, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 3/31/25      1,963,651  
  1,514,598      Filtration Group Corporation Initial Euro Term Loan, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 3/31/25      1,460,330  
     

 

 

 
        4,964,313  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.8%):       
  8,597,157      Medline Borrower, LP Initial Dollar Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 10/23/28      8,158,530  
  530,550      Woof Holdings, Inc. Initial Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 12/21/27      497,831  
     

 

 

 
        8,656,361  
     

 

 

 
Chemicals (0.8%):       
  5,344,045      USI, Inc. 2021 New Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 12/2/26      5,297,285  
  3,895,426      USI, Inc. 2022 New Term Loan, 8.11% (Term SOFR+375bps ), 11/22/29      3,850,628  
     

 

 

 
        9,147,913  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.7%):       
  4,656,442      Ascend Learning, LLC 2021 Initial Term Loan, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/11/28      4,394,517  
  3,621,059      Loire UK Midco 3 Limited Facility B, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 4/21/27      3,372,111  
  158,964      Loire UK Midco 3 Limited Facility B2, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 4/21/27      148,101  
     

 

 

 
        7,914,729  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%):       
$ 722,700      Acrisure, LLC 2021-1 Additional Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 2/15/27    $ 684,982  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (1.1%):       
  2,096,314      Alliant Holdings I LLC 2019 New Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/9/25      2,066,735  
  5,419,965      Alliant Holdings I LLC TLB-4 New Term Loan, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 11/5/27      5,290,265  
  4,297,495      Alliant Holdings Intermediate, LLC 2018 Initial Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/9/25      4,236,256  
     

 

 

 
        11,593,256  
     

 

 

 
Health Care (0.0%):       
  125,760      EyeCare Partners, LLC Amendment No. 1 Term Loan, 8.48% (LIBOR+375bps ), 11/15/28      105,450  
  272,229      EyeCare Partners, LLC Initial Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 2/18/27      216,877  
     

 

 

 
        322,327  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.9%):       
  1,691,417      ADMI Corp. Amendment No. 4 Refinancing Term Loan, 7.69% (LIBOR+338bps ), 12/23/27      1,529,887  
  3,802,617      ADMI Corp. Amendment No. 5 Incremental Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+350bps ), 12/23/27      3,453,270  
  401,169      Aspen Dental Term B Loan, 4.32% (LIBOR+375bps ), 4/30/25      376,786  
  571,018      Heartland Dental, LLC 2021 Incremental Term Loan, 8.32% (LIBOR+400bps ), 4/30/25      529,619  
  4,068,408      Heartland Dental, LLC Initial Term Loan, 8.07% (LIBOR+375bps ), 4/30/25      3,751,073  
     

 

 

 
        9,640,635  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.5%):       
  39      Four Seasons Holdings Inc. 2013 First Lein Term Ln, 6.32% (LIBOR+200bps ), 11/30/23      39  
  494,102      Hilton Worldwide Refinanced Series B-2 Term Loan, 6.11% (Term SOFR+175bps ), 6/22/26      492,135  
  1,983,382      IRB Holding Corp. 2020 Replacement Term B Loan, 7.07% (LIBOR+275bps ), 2/5/25      1,963,231  
  1,977,933      IRB Holding Corp. 2022 Replacement Term B Loan, 7.36% (Term SOFR+300bps ), 12/15/27      1,917,111  
  604,972      Life Time, Inc. 2021 Refinancing Term Loan, 9.07% (LIBOR+475bps ), 12/16/24      601,003  
  165,925      Seaworld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. Term B Loan, 7.50% (PRIME+0bps ), 8/25/28      162,725  
     

 

 

 
        5,136,244  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (3.7%):       
  4,604,023      Howden (Hyperion) 2021 Dollar Refinancing Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 11/12/27      4,476,583  
  1,050,612      Hub International Limited 2022 Incremental Term Loan, 8.36% (Term SOFR+400bps ), 11/10/29      1,038,068  
  20,272,186      Hub International Limited Initial Term Loan, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 4/25/25      20,027,298  
  13,548,190      Hub International LTD B-3 Incremental Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 4/25/25      13,409,592  
  1,126,212      Ryan Specialty Group, LLC Initial Term Loan, 7.36% (Term SOFR+300bps ), 9/1/27      1,116,831  
     

 

 

 
        40,068,372  
     

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

5


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
IT Services (0.0%):       
$ 200,000      CoreLogic, Inc. Initial Term Loan, 10.82% (LIBOR+650bps ), 6/4/29    $ 140,100  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%):       
  943,307      Avantor Funding, Inc. 2021 Incremental B-5 Dollar Term Loan, 6.57% (LIBOR+225bps ), 11/8/27      937,544  
     

 

 

 
Machinery (0.2%):       
  1,727,729      TK Elevator Midco GmbH Facility B1, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 7/30/27      1,659,708  
     

 

 

 
Media (0.0%):       
  544,528      Charter Communications Operating, LLC Term B-1 Loan, 6.07% (LIBOR+175bps ), 4/30/25      540,868  
     

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals (0.3%):       
  3,631,212      Sunshine Luxembourg VII S.a r.l. Facility B3, 8.48% (LIBOR+375bps ), 10/1/26      3,471,838  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.1%):       
  703,502      Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. Amendment No. 2 Incremental Term Loan, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 10/30/26      692,070  
     

 

 

 
Software (3.2%):       
  1,046,961      Applied Systems, Inc. 2021 Term Loan, 11.11% (Term SOFR+675bps ), 9/19/25      1,035,183  
  6,319,340      Applied Systems, Inc. 2026 Term Loan, 8.86% (Term SOFR+450bps ), 9/18/26      6,290,536  
  1,107,148      Azalea TopCo, Inc. 2021 Term Loan, 4.36% (Term SOFR+0bps ), 7/24/26      1,014,890  
  662,513      Azalea TopCo, Inc. 2022 Incremental Term Loan, 8.11% (Term SOFR+375bps ), 7/24/26      606,200  
  4,310,667      Azalea TopCo, Inc. Initial Term Loan, 8.11% (Term SOFR+375bps ), 7/24/26      3,938,872  
  4,452,565      RealPage, Inc. Initial First Lien Term Loan, 7.32% (LIBOR+300bps ), 4/24/28      4,225,484  
  200,000      RealPage, Inc. Initial Second Lien Loan, 10.82% (LIBOR+650bps ), 4/23/29      191,500  
  412,003      Sophia, L.P. 2022 Incremental Term B-1 Loan, 8.30% (SOFR+400bps ), 10/7/27      399,642  
  987,465      Sophia, L.P. Term Loan B, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 10/7/27      951,057  
  885,000      UKG Inc. 2021 Incremental Term Loan, 9.57% (LIBOR+525bps ), 5/3/27      810,217  
  16,370,745      UKG Inc. 2021-2 Incremental Term Loan, 7.00% (LIBOR+325bps ), 5/4/26      15,552,208  
     

 

 

 
        35,015,789  
     

 

 

 
Software & Tech Services (0.4%):       
  4,534,750      Athenahealth Group Inc. Initial Term Loan, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 2/15/29      4,082,907  
  554,348     

Athenahealth Group Inc. Initial Term Loan DDTL,

7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 2/15/29+

     499,113  
  272,938      Storable, Inc. Initial Term Loan, 7.86% (Term SOFR+350bps ), 4/17/28      259,291  
     

 

 

 
        4,841,311  
     

 

 

 
Sovereign Bond (0.5%):       
  5,296,035      Mileage Plus Holdings LLC Initial Term Loan, 9.57% (LIBOR+525bps ), 6/21/27      5,440,352  
     

 

 

 
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Bank Loans, continued       
Specialty Retail (0.4%):       
$ 1,418,700      PetVet Care Centers, LLC 2018 First Lien Term Loan, 7.57% (LIBOR+325bps ), 2/14/25    $ 1,323,378  
  2,162,472      PetVet Care Centers, LLC 2021 First Lien Replacement Term Loan, 7.82% (LIBOR+350bps ), 2/14/25      2,026,344  
  357,825      PetVet Care Centers, LLC Initial First Lien Term Loan, 7.07% (LIBOR+275bps ), 2/14/25      333,003  
  115,000      PetVet Care Centers, LLC Initial Second Lien Term Loan, 10.57% (LIBOR+625bps ), 2/13/26      105,704  
     

 

 

 
        3,788,429  
     

 

 

 
Telecommunications (0.0%):       
  249,896      SBA Communications Term Loan B, 6.07% (LIBOR+175bps ), 4/11/25      248,786  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Bank Loans (Cost $161,392,511)

     156,578,483  
  

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds (8.5%):       
Aerospace & Defense (0.2%):       
  76,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 5.90%, 2/1/27      76,000  
  570,000      Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 3.00%, 1/15/29, Callable 11/15/28 @ 100      491,625  
  250,000      TransDigm UK Holdings plc, 6.88%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.44      245,625  
  809,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.25%, 3/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13(a)      793,831  
  160,000      TransDigm, Inc., 6.38%, 6/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.59      155,800  
  610,000      TransDigm, Inc., 5.50%, 11/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75      567,300  
     

 

 

 
        2,330,181  
     

 

 

 
Airlines (0.2%):       
  1,150,000      Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles IP, Ltd., 4.75%, 10/20/28(a)      1,081,179  
  1,187,500      Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets, Ltd., 6.50%, 6/20/27, Callable 6/30/23 @ 103.25(a)      1,174,141  
  138,057      U.S. Airways Pass Through Trust, Series 2010-1A, 6.25%, 10/22/24      135,296  
     

 

 

 
        2,390,616  
     

 

 

 
Auto Components (0.3%):       
  467,000      Clarios Global LP, 6.75%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.38(a)      468,751  
  643,000      Clarios Global LP / Clarios US Finance Co., 6.25%, 5/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13(a)      628,532  
  1,735,000      Clarios Global LP / Clarios US Finance Co., 8.50%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.25(a)      1,695,963  
     

 

 

 
        2,793,246  
     

 

 

 
Building Products (0.0%):       
  280,000      Lennox International, Inc., 3.00%, 11/15/23, Callable 9/15/23 @ 100      274,664  
     

 

 

 
Capital Markets (0.4%):       
  152,000      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 4.00%, 9/15/27, Callable 8/15/27 @ 100      146,765  
  512,000      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 4.35%, 6/15/29, Callable 4/15/29 @ 100      496,332  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

6


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Capital Markets, continued       
$ 1,020,000      Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 5.20%, 6/15/62, Callable 12/15/61 @ 100    $ 968,040  
  772,000      MSCI, Inc., 4.00%, 11/15/29, Callable 11/15/24 @ 102(a)      673,570  
  1,131,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.63%, 9/1/30, Callable 3/1/25 @ 101.81(a)      938,730  
  521,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.88%, 2/15/31, Callable 6/1/25 @ 101.94(a)      431,779  
  471,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.63%, 11/1/31, Callable 11/1/26 @ 101.81(a)      390,930  
  421,000      MSCI, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/33, Callable 8/15/27 @ 101.63(a)      325,223  
     

 

 

 
        4,371,369  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.0%):       
  605,000      Service Corp International/US, 3.38%, 8/15/30, Callable 8/15/25 @ 101.69      491,563  
     

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services (0.2%):       
  1,750,000      Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc., 7.00%, 11/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(a)      1,605,625  
     

 

 

 
Electric Utilities (0.2%):       
  1,819,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC / Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 6.75%, 10/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.38(a)      1,634,826  
  385,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 4.25%, 10/15/27, Callable 10/15/23 @ 102.13(a)      345,538  
  626,000      Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 102.94(a)      513,320  
     

 

 

 
        2,493,684  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.1%):       
  1,006,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 4.00%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102(a)      867,675  
  208,000      Sensata Technologies, Inc., 4.38%, 2/15/30, Callable 11/15/29 @ 100(a)      181,740  
  491,000      Sensata Technologies, Inc., 3.75%, 2/15/31, Callable 2/15/26 @ 101.88(a)      403,847  
     

 

 

 
        1,453,262  
     

 

 

 
Entertainment (0.0%):       
  100,000      Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 4.88%, 11/1/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(a)      96,875  
     

 

 

 
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.2%):       
  885,000      SBA Communications Corp., 3.88%, 2/15/27, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.94      803,138  
  1,165,000      SBA Communications Corp., 3.13%, 2/1/29, Callable 2/1/24 @ 101.56      968,406  
  63,000      SBA Tower Trust, 6.60%, 1/15/28, Callable 1/15/27 @ 100(a)      63,200  
     

 

 

 
        1,834,744  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.1%):       
  574,000      Hologic, Inc., 3.25%, 2/15/29, Callable 9/28/23 @ 101.63(a)      493,640  
  745,000      Teleflex, Inc., 4.63%, 11/15/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.31      705,887  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies, continued       
$ 130,000      Teleflex, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 6/1/23 @ 102.13(a)    $ 119,600  
     

 

 

 
        1,319,127  
     

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services (0.3%):       
  1,775,000      Hadrian Merger Sub, Inc., 8.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.13(a)      1,544,250  
  1,216,000      Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 10.00%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 105(a)      1,228,160  
     

 

 

 
        2,772,410  
     

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.7%):       
  2,088,000      Cedar Fair LP / Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp. / Millennium Op, 5.38%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.69      1,986,210  
  1,301,000      Cedar Fair LP /Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp. / Millennium Op, 5.50%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75(a)      1,281,485  
  188,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 5.75%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.88(a)      181,890  
  491,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 3.75%, 5/1/29, Callable 5/1/24 @ 101.88(a)      424,715  
  660,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 4.88%, 1/15/30, Callable 1/15/25 @ 102.44      596,475  
  737,000      Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., 7.00%, 7/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.5(a)      740,685  
  1,838,000      Cedar Fair LP, 5.25%, 7/15/29, Callable 7/15/24 @ 102.63      1,649,605  
  1,584,000      Cedar Fair LP / Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp. / Millennium Op, 6.50%, 10/1/28, Callable 10/1/23 @ 103.25      1,518,660  
  269,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 5.38%, 5/1/25, Callable 1/17/23 @ 102.69(a)      265,638  
  670,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 4.00%, 5/1/31, Callable 5/1/26 @ 102(a)      562,800  
  910,000      Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 3.63%, 2/15/32, Callable 8/15/26 @ 101.81(a)      729,137  
  349,000      Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC / Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., 4.88%, 4/1/27, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.44      331,986  
  3,236,000      KFC Holding Co. /Pizza Hut Holdings LLC /Taco Bell of America LLC, 4.75%, 6/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.38(a)      3,106,560  
  1,273,000      Life Time, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.88(a)      1,177,525  
  4,419,000      Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 4.88%, 7/31/24, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(a)      4,264,335  
  2,690,000      Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 5.50%, 4/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.75^(a)      2,454,625  
  253,000      Vail Resorts, Inc., 6.25%, 5/15/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 103.13(a)      253,000  
  664,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.75%, 1/15/30, Callable 10/15/29 @ 100(a)      607,560  
  858,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/31, Callable 12/15/30 @ 100      716,430  
  1,755,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 4.63%, 1/31/32, Callable 10/1/26 @ 102.31      1,553,175  
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

7


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure, continued       
$ 1,354,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 5.38%, 4/1/32, Callable 4/1/27 @ 102.69    $ 1,252,450  
  1,120,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 6.88%, 11/15/37      1,134,000  
  2,080,000      Yum! Brands, Inc., 5.35%, 11/1/43, Callable 5/1/43 @ 100      1,718,600  
     

 

 

 
        28,507,546  
     

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates (0.3%):       
  3,602,000      General Electric Co., Series D, 8.10% (US0003M+333 bps), Callable 3/15/23 @ 100      3,586,689  
     

 

 

 
Insurance (1.2%):       
  510,000      AmWINS Group, Inc., 4.88%, 6/30/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(a)      436,688  
  174,000      BroadStreet Partners, Inc., 5.88%, 4/15/29, Callable 4/15/24 @ 102.94(a)      148,770  
  8,120,000      HUB International, Ltd., 7.00%, 5/1/26, Callable 1/17/23 @ 101.75(a)      7,947,450  
  484,000      HUB International, Ltd., 5.63%, 12/1/29, Callable 12/1/24 @ 102.81(a)      423,500  
  80,000      Ryan Specialty Group LLC, 4.38%, 2/1/30, Callable 2/1/25 @ 102.19(a)      69,500  
  3,463,000      USI, Inc., 6.88%, 5/1/25, Callable 2/6/23 @ 100(a)      3,389,411  
     

 

 

 
        12,415,319  
     

 

 

 
IT Services (0.2%):       
  5,000      Arches Buyer, Inc., 4.25%, 6/1/28, Callable 12/1/23 @ 102.13(a)      3,900  
  228,000      Black Knight InfoServ LLC, 3.63%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.81(a)      197,790  
  291,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 3.88%, 9/1/28, Callable 9/1/23 @ 101.94(a)      257,899  
  38,000      Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 4.00%, 7/1/29, Callable 7/1/24 @ 102(a)      33,487  
  180,000      Gartner, Inc., 4.50%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/23 @ 102.25(a)      167,400  
  724,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.63%, 6/15/29, Callable 6/15/24 @ 101.81(a)      634,405  
  341,000      Gartner, Inc., 3.75%, 10/1/30, Callable 10/1/25 @ 101.88(a)      293,686  
  35,000      Twilio, Inc., 3.63%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.81      28,394  
     

 

 

 
        1,616,961  
     

 

 

 
Leisure Products (0.1%):       
  178,000      Mattel, Inc., 3.38%, 4/1/26, Callable 4/1/23 @ 101.69(a)      163,093  
  136,000      Mattel, Inc., 5.88%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 104.41(a)      132,940  
  379,000      Mattel, Inc., 3.75%, 4/1/29, Callable 4/1/24 @ 101.88(a)      331,625  
     

 

 

 
        627,658  
     

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.4%):       
  2,219,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/28, Callable 7/15/23 @ 102.31(a)      2,016,516  
  1,502,000      Avantor Funding, Inc., 3.88%, 11/1/29, Callable 11/1/24 @ 101.94(a)      1,259,803  
Principal
Amount
           Value  
Corporate Bonds, continued       
Life Sciences Tools & Services, continued       
$ 155,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.25%, 5/1/28, Callable 5/1/23 @ 102.13(a)    $ 141,825  
  546,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 3.75%, 3/15/29, Callable 3/15/24 @ 101.88(a)      480,480  
  340,000      Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 4.00%, 3/15/31, Callable 3/15/26 @ 102(a)      294,950  
  350,000      IQVIA, Inc., 5.00%, 5/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(a)      330,750  
     

 

 

 
        4,524,324  
     

 

 

 
Media (1.3%):       
  350,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.50%, 5/1/26, Callable 2/6/23 @ 101.83(a)      338,625  
  7,600,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.13%, 5/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.56(a)      7,001,500  
  6,136,000      CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.00%, 2/1/28, Callable 1/23/23 @ 102.5(a)      5,522,400  
  700,000      Lamar Media Corp., 3.75%, 2/15/28, Callable 2/15/23 @ 101.88      624,750  
  120,000      Lamar Media Corp., 3.63%, 1/15/31, Callable 1/15/26 @ 101.81      98,400  
  370,000      Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.00%, 8/1/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.5(a)      341,787  
     

 

 

 
        13,927,462  
     

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities (0.1%):       
  768,000      NiSource, Inc., 5.65% (H15T5Y+284 bps), Callable 6/15/23 @ 100      716,530  
     

 

 

 
Professional Services (0.0%):       
  405,000      Korn Ferry, 4.63%, 12/15/27, Callable 2/6/23 @ 102.31(a)      371,588  
     

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%):       
  415,000      Entegris Escrow Corp., 4.75%, 4/15/29, Callable 1/15/29 @ 100(a)      376,094  
     

 

 

 
Software (0.0%):       
  306,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 3.88%, 7/1/28, Callable 6/30/24 @ 101.94(a)      260,865  
  220,000      Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 4.88%, 7/1/29, Callable 6/30/24 @ 102.44(a)      186,450  
  60,000      Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., 3.00%, 2/15/29, Callable 2/15/24 @ 101.5      50,550  
     

 

 

 
        497,865  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $95,950,911)

     91,395,402  
  

 

 

 
Yankee Debt Obligations (0.2%):       
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.1%):       
  1,325,000      Altice France Holding SA, 10.50%, 5/15/27, Callable 1/17/23 @ 105.25(a)      1,007,000  
     

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment (0.1%):       
  260,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 5.63%, 11/1/24(a)      256,750  
  565,000      Sensata Technologies BV, 5.00%, 10/1/25(a)      548,050  
     

 

 

 
        804,800  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Yankee Debt Obligations (Cost $2,201,844)

     1,811,800  
  

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury Obligation (8.9%):       
U.S. Treasury Notes (8.9%):  
  105,732,000      2.75%, 8/15/32      96,546,532  
     

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligation (Cost $96,133,573)

     96,546,532  
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

8


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Shares    Value  
Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (0.3%):
      
  3,186,955      BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, Institutional Class, 1.49%(b)(c)    $ 3,186,955  
     

 

 

 
 

Total Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on
Loan (Cost $3,186,955)

     3,186,955  
  

 

 

 
Unaffiliated Investment Company (5.4%):       
Money Markets (5.4%):       
  58,240,238      Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 3.90%(c)      58,240,238  
 

Total Unaffiliated Investment Company (Cost $58,240,238)

     58,240,238  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investment Securities (Cost $1,084,842,290) — 100.6%(d)

     1,083,608,525  
 

Net other assets (liabilities) — (0.6)%

     (6,731,790
  

 

 

 
 

Net Assets — 100.0%

   $ 1,076,876,735  
  

 

 

 
 

 

H15T5Y—5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate

US0003M—3 Month US Dollar LIBOR

 

*

Non-income producing security.

#

All or a portion of this security has been pledged as collateral for outstanding call options written.

 

^

This security or a partial position of this security was on loan as of December 31, 2022. The total value of securities on loan as of December 31, 2022 was $3,082,535.

+

This security, in part or entirely, represents an unfunded loan commitment.

 

Represents less than 0.05%.

 

(a)

Rule 144A, Section 4(2) or other security which is restricted to resale to institutional investors.

 

(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, 2022.

 

(c)

The rate represents the effective yield at December 31, 2022.

 

(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.

Percentages indicated are based on net assets as of December 31, 2022.

Options Contracts

At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s over-the-counter options written were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Fair Value  

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        160.00  USD        1/20/23        60      $ 9,600      $ (1

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        165.00  USD        1/20/23        60        9,900        (1

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        170.00  USD        1/20/23        60        10,200         

Alphabet, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        175.00  USD        1/20/23        80        14,000         

Alphabet, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        120.00  USD        1/19/24        276        33,120        (113,792

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        175.00  USD        1/20/23        220        38,500        (3

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        180.00  USD        1/20/23        60        10,800         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        185.00  USD        1/20/23        40        7,400         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        190.00  USD        1/20/23        40        7,600         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        190.00  USD        1/20/23        80        15,200         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        195.00  USD        1/20/23        80        15,600         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        200.00  USD        1/20/23        40        8,000         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        200.00  USD        1/20/23        80        16,000         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        205.00  USD        1/20/23        40        8,200         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        205.00  USD        1/20/23        80        16,400         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        210.00  USD        1/20/23        40        8,400         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        210.00  USD        1/20/23        80        16,800         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        215.00  USD        1/20/23        40        8,600         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        220.00  USD        1/20/23        40        8,800         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        225.00  USD        1/20/23        40        9,000         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        225.00  USD        1/20/23        20        4,500         

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

9


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Schedule of Portfolio Investments

December 31, 2022

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Contracts      Notional
Amount(a)
     Fair Value  

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        230.00  USD        1/20/23        40      $ 9,200      $  

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        235.00  USD        1/20/23        40        9,400         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        240.00  USD        1/20/23        40        9,600         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        245.00  USD        1/20/23        40        9,800         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        250.00  USD        1/20/23        40        10,000         

Amazon.com, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        255.00  USD        1/20/23        40        10,200         

Apple, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        170.00  USD        1/20/23        128        21,760        (41

Apple, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        175.00  USD        1/20/23        128        22,400        (18

Apple, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        180.00  USD        1/20/23        128        23,040        (8

General Electric Co.

   Wells Fargo      Call        85.00  USD        1/20/23        181        15,385        (35,390

General Electric Co.

   Wells Fargo      Call        90.00  USD        1/20/23        181        16,290        (8,766

General Electric Co.

   Wells Fargo      Call        95.00  USD        1/20/23        181        17,195        (1,852

General Electric Co.

   Wells Fargo      Call        110.00  USD        1/20/23        251        27,610        (74

Hilton Worldwide Holdings

   Wells Fargo      Call        145.00  USD        1/19/24        71        10,295        (86,160

Hilton Worldwide Holdings

   Wells Fargo      Call        150.00  USD        1/19/24        72        10,800        (75,284

Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        40.00  USD        1/20/23        184        7,360        (259

Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        42.00  USD        1/20/23        184        7,728        (74

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        320.00  USD        1/20/23        65        20,800        (10

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        325.00  USD        1/20/23        106        34,450        (10

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        330.00  USD        1/20/23        65        21,450        (4

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        330.00  USD        1/20/23        61        20,130        (4

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        340.00  USD        1/20/23        65        22,100        (2

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        340.00  USD        1/20/23        126        42,840        (4

Microsoft Corp.

   Susquehanna      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        65        22,750        (1

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        64        22,400        (1

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        350.00  USD        1/20/23        126        44,100        (2

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        355.00  USD        1/20/23        64        22,720        (1

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        360.00  USD        1/20/23        64        23,040         

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        360.00  USD        1/20/23        65        23,400         

Microsoft Corp.

   Citigroup      Call        365.00  USD        1/20/23        44        16,060         

Microsoft Corp.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        300.00  USD        1/19/24        223        66,900        (280,823

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        190.00  USD        1/20/23        49        9,310        (105

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        195.00  USD        1/20/23        49        9,555        (57

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        200.00  USD        1/20/23        49        9,800        (33

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        220.00  USD        1/20/23        88        19,360        (8

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   Citigroup      Call        230.00  USD        1/20/23        88        20,240        (3

Starbucks Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        97.50  USD        1/20/23        144        14,040        (53,655

Starbucks Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        100.00  USD        1/20/23        144        14,400        (32,921

Starbucks Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        105.00  USD        1/20/23        144        15,120        (9,211

Starbucks Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        100.00  USD        1/19/24        87        8,700        (118,914

Starbucks Corp.

   Goldman Sachs      Call        105.00  USD        1/19/24        87        9,135        (97,974

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        120.00  USD        1/20/23        137        16,440        (13,946

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        640.00  USD        1/20/23        25        16,000        (706

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        540.00  USD        1/20/23        47        25,380        (39,314

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        560.00  USD        1/20/23        26        14,560        (6,694

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        580.00  USD        1/20/23        26        15,080        (1,475

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        580.00  USD        1/19/24        49        28,420        (209,795

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   JPMorgan Chase      Call        600.00  USD        1/19/24        52        31,200        (182,403

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        145.00  USD        1/20/23        55        7,975        (76

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        150.00  USD        1/20/23        55        8,250        (21

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   Wells Fargo      Call        140.00  USD        1/19/24        211        29,540        (200,866

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        145.00  USD        1/19/24        53        7,685        (40,726

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   Citigroup      Call        150.00  USD        1/19/24        53        7,950        (32,637
              

 

 

 

Total (Premiums $6,306,917)

 

               $ (1,644,125
              

 

 

 

 

(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

   $(1,644,125)

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

10


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:

   

Investment securities, at cost

    $ 1,084,842,290
   

 

 

 

Investment securities, at value(a)

    $ 1,083,608,525

Cash

      442,622

Interest and dividends receivable

      3,511,206

Foreign currency, at value (cost $97,345)

      98,369

Receivable for capital shares issued

      23,054

Receivable for investments sold

      4,487,496

Reclaims receivable

      18,153

Prepaid expenses

      4,626
   

 

 

 

Total Assets

      1,092,194,051
   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

   

Payable for investments purchased

      9,432,854

Payable for capital shares redeemed

      67,038

Payable for collateral received on loaned securities

      3,186,955

Written Options (Premiums received $6,306,917)

      1,644,125

Management fees payable

      650,488

Administration fees payable

      38,279

Distribution fees payable

      232,318

Custodian fees payable

      8,457

Administrative and compliance services fees payable

      3,676

Transfer agent fees payable

      1,170

Trustee fees payable

      9,184

Other accrued liabilities

      42,772
   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

      15,317,316
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,076,876,735
   

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

   

Paid in capital

    $ 940,435,061

Total distributable earnings

      136,441,674
   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $ 1,076,876,735
   

 

 

 

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

      66,244,699

Net Asset Value (offering and redemption price per share)

    $ 16.26
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan of $3,082,535.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Investment Income:

   

Interest

    $ 16,978,629

Dividends

      9,289,513

Income from securities lending

      46,108

Foreign withholding tax

      (66,580 )
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

      26,247,670
   

 

 

 

Expenses:

   

Management fees

      8,967,106

Administration fees

      169,208

Distribution fees

      2,989,035

Custodian fees

      42,348

Administrative and compliance services fees

      16,306

Transfer agent fees

      6,762

Trustee fees

      65,005

Professional fees

      50,654

Shareholder reports

      34,421

Other expenses

      32,044
   

 

 

 

Total expenses before reductions

      12,372,889

Less Management fees contractually waived

      (597,825 )
   

 

 

 

Net expenses

      11,775,064
   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      14,472,606
   

 

 

 

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

   

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

      122,095,431

Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts

      3,988,294

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

      (327,058,457 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on written options contracts

      19,267,213
   

 

 

 

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

      (181,707,519 )
   

 

 

 

Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

    $ (167,234,913 )
   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

11


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
  For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2021

Change In Net Assets:

       

Operations:

       

Net investment income/(loss)

    $ 14,472,606     $ 9,835,075

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

      126,083,725       168,205,277

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

      (307,791,244 )       54,954,011
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

      (167,234,913 )       232,994,363
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Distributions

      (171,888,281 )       (169,653,015 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (171,888,281 )       (169,653,015 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

       

Proceeds from shares issued

      9,903,777       15,884,100

Proceeds from dividends reinvested

      171,888,281       169,653,015

Value of shares redeemed

      (189,545,650 )       (161,378,519 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets resulting from capital transactions

      (7,753,592 )       24,158,596
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in net assets

      (346,876,786 )       87,499,944

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of period

      1,423,753,521       1,336,253,577
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,076,876,735     $ 1,423,753,521
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

       

Shares issued

      525,081       710,118

Dividends reinvested

      10,696,222       8,097,996

Shares redeemed

      (9,869,718 )       (7,118,225 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Change in shares

      1,351,585       1,689,889
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

12


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Financial Highlights

(Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the periods indicated. Does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.)

 

    Year Ended December 31,
     2022   2021   2020   2019   2018

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

    $ 21.94     $ 21.14     $ 19.66     $ 16.93     $ 18.03
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

                   

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      0.23 (a)       0.16 (a)       0.19 (a)       0.26 (a)       0.41

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/(Losses) on Investments

      (2.92 )       3.54       3.10       3.79       (0.31 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from Investment Activities

      (2.69 )       3.70       3.29       4.05       0.10
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                   

Net Investment Income

      (0.14 )       (0.23 )       (0.29 )       (0.42 )       (0.17 )

Net Realized Gains

      (2.85 )       (2.67 )       (1.52 )       (0.90 )       (1.03 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      (2.99 )       (2.90 )       (1.81 )       (1.32 )       (1.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

    $ 16.26     $ 21.94     $ 21.14     $ 19.66     $ 16.93
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(b)

      (12.09 )%       18.12 %       17.48 %       24.38 %       0.38 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

    $ 1,076,877     $ 1,423,754     $ 1,336,254     $ 1,271,510     $ 1,079,607

Net Investment Income/(Loss)

      1.21 %       0.70 %       0.97 %       1.36 %       2.25 %

Expenses Before Reductions(c)

      1.04 %       1.05 %       1.06 %       1.05 %       1.05 %

Expenses Net of Reductions

      0.99 %       1.00 %       1.01 %       1.00 %       1.00 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

      86 %       49 %       87 %       45 %       70 %

 

(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.

 

13


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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.

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 period, 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.

 

14


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

This report does not reflect fees or expenses associated with the separate accounts that invest in the Fund or in any variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policy for which the Fund serves as an investment vehicle.

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. The Fund reflects both the funded portion of a bank loan, as well as its unfunded commitment in the Schedule of Portfolio 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, 2022 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 $4,589 during the year ended December 31, 2022. These fees have been netted against “Income from securities lending” on the Statement of Operations. The Fund had securities lending transactions of $3,186,955 accounted for as secured borrowings with cash collateral of overnight and continuous maturities as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, the Fund participated in the following cross-trade transactions:

 

        Purchases      Sales      Realized
Gains/(Losses)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 802,050        $        $

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, 2022, 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, 2022, securities valued at $31,661,423 have been segregated as collateral as reported on the Fund’s Schedule of Portfolio Investments. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the monthly average notional amount for written options contracts was $1.1 million. Realized gains and losses are reported as “Net realized gains/(losses) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

 

15


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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, 2022:

 

   

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   $ 1,644,125  

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, 2022:

 

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

   $ 3,988,294      $ 19,267,213  

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, 2022. 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, 2022.

As of December 31, 2022, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by type were as follows:

 

        Assets      Liabilities

Derivative Financial Instruments:

             

Written option contracts

       $        $ 1,644,125
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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

                  1,644,125

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

                 
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets and liabilities subject to a MNA

       $        $ 1,644,125
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

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, 2022:

 

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

     $ 331,711      $      $      $      $ 331,711

Goldman Sachs

       312,677               (312,677 )              

JPMorgan Chase

       477,436                             477,436

Susquehanna

       17                             17

Wells Fargo

       522,284               (522,284 )              
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 1,644,125      $      $ (834,961 )      $      $ 809,164
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

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, 2024.

 

16


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2024.

Any amounts 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, 2022, there were no remaining contractual reimbursements subject to repayment by the Fund in subsequent years.

Management fees, which the Manager waived may waive 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, as applicable.

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 combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the first $4 billion, 0.04% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion, 0.02% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds on the next $2 billion and 0.01% of combined average daily net assets of the Funds 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 determined pursuant to valuation procedures 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. 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 in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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 have become unreliable or are not readily available as defined in Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act are valued in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. 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.

 

17


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

In accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board, 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 Board has designated the Manager to perform the Fund’s fair value determinations in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the Fund’s NAV will be subject to the judgment of the Manager. The Manager’s fair valuation process is subject to the oversight of the Board.

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments based upon the three levels defined above:

 

Investment Securities:      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total
                             

Common Stocks+

       $ 655,397,435        $ 11,183,277        $        $ 666,580,712

Preferred Stocks+

         5,274,966                            5,274,966

Asset Backed Securities

                  3,072,357                   3,072,357

Convertible Bonds+

                  921,080                   921,080

Bank Loans

                  156,578,483                   156,578,483

Corporate Bonds+

                  91,395,402                   91,395,402

Yankee Debt Obligations+

                  1,811,800                   1,811,800

U.S. Treasury Obligations

                  96,546,532                   96,546,532

Short-Term Security Held as Collateral for Securities on Loan

         3,186,955                            3,186,955

Unaffiliated Investment Company

         58,240,238                            58,240,238
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investment Securities

         722,099,594          361,508,931                   1,083,608,525
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:*

                           

Written Options

                  (1,644,125 )                   (1,644,125 )
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

       $ 722,099,594        $ 359,864,806        $        $ 1,081,964,400
      

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

+

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, 2022, 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

       $ 984,430,044        $ 1,089,158,935

For the year ended December 31, 2022, purchases and sales of long-term U.S. government securities were as follows:

 

        Purchases      Sales

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 228,967,976        $ 124,715,886

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. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to these identified risks. This section discusses certain common principal risks encountered by the Fund.

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.

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,

 

18


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

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. Certain foreign companies may be subject to sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions that may impair or otherwise limit the ability to invest in, receive, hold or sell the securities of such companies.

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 ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 the transition period, 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 global outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may adversely impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s).

8. Recent Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2022-06 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2022-06 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2024. Management does not expect ASU No. 2022-06 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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, 2022 is $1,093,656,097. The gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation

  $ 45,272,572  

Unrealized (depreciation)

    (56,964,269
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

  $ (11,691,697
 

 

 

 

 

19


AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2022 was as follows:

 

        Ordinary
Income
    

Net

Long-Term
Capital Gains

     Total
Distributions(a)

AZL T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund

       $ 157,037,927        $ 14,850,354        $ 171,888,281

 

(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, 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.

At December 31, 2022, 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

       $ 86,410,164        $ 67,544,746        $        $ (11,690,301 )        $ 142,264,609

 

(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.

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, 2022, the Fund had multiple shareholder accounts which are affiliated with the Manager representing ownership in excess of 95% 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.

 

20


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, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 (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, 2022, 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, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022 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 23, 2023

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

 

21


Other Federal Income Tax Information (Unaudited)

For the year ended December 31, 2022, 3.06% 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, 2022, the Fund declared net short-term capital gain distributions of $148,809,134.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund declared net long-term capital gain distributions of $14,850,354.

 

22


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.

 

23


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, 2024 (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 2022. Information relevant to the approval of such Advisory Contracts was considered at Board meetings held June 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, as well as in various other meetings preceding those meetings. Accordingly, the Advisory Contracts were approved by the Board at an in-person meeting on September 13, 2022. At such meeting the Board also approved the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Manager and the Trust for the period ending April 30, 2024. Additionally, at a subsequent meeting held December 13, 2022, the Board considered and approved a recommendation to reduce, through at least April 30, 2024, the management fee of the AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund.

 

24


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 2022 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 14 and 21, 2022, and September 13, 2022, the Manager reported that for the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, nine Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and six were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, six Funds were in the top 40%, six were in the middle 20% and seven were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2021, seven Funds were in the top 40%, four were in the middle 20%, and eight were in the bottom 40% of their respective Lipper peer groups. 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”).

Five Funds, the AZL Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund, AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund, AZL MetWest Total Return Bond 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 and the AZL MSCI Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund in December 2021, of the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund and the AZL Government Money Market Fund in February 2022, and of the AZL MetWest Total Return Fund in September 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 considered that the Funds that are index funds seek to track their respective indices and do not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in periods of market decline. 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.

The Board considered that the AZL DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Fund, which was 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 13, 2022, the Board also received updated performance information for the Funds, including updated Lipper peer group ranking information, for various periods ending June 30, 2022.

Thus, at the Board meeting held September 13, 2022, 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 2022, 18 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 2021 for the 19 Funds was as follows: (1) 18 of the Funds had management fee rankings at or below the 65th percentile (with 14 Funds at or below the 50th percentile); and (2) for the AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund, it was determined that there was poor peer group comparability due to there being only one other fund in the category. In addition, the Board also considered that the AZL Enhanced Bond Index Fund ranked at the 63rd percentile in the bond index category, but that the Fund’s enhanced bond strategy lacks direct peers.

 

25


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 2019 through 2021. 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. In considering profitability information, the Board considered the possible effect of any fall-out benefits to the Subadvisers and their affiliates. 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 (other than AZL FIAM Multi-Strategy Fund, AZL FIAM Total Bond Fund, and AZL MSCI Global Equity Index Fund) 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 June 30, 2022, were approximately $14.8 billion, and that no single Fund had assets in excess of $2.5 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 Fund assets change. 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.

 

26


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 seven 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
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   50   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   50   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   50   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   50  

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   50   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   50   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   50   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, duing 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.

 

27


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; Associate General Counsel, 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 FOF Trust, 2014 to present, and the ETF Trust, 2020 to present.
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.

 

28


LOGO

 

The Allianz VIP Funds are distributed by Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.   
These Funds are not FDIC Insured.    ANNRPT1222 02/23


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.

 

    

2022

  

2021

(a)     Audit Fees

   $337,653    $337,653

(b)     Audit-Related Fees

   $40,000    $0

Related to the consent on Form N-1A for the annual registration statement.

     
    

2022

  

2021

(c)     Tax Fees

   $122,692    $122,692

Preparation of the funds’ federal income tax returns.

     
    

2022

  

2021

(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 either specifically approved by the Committee or entered into pursuant to the pre-approval policy. The Committee may delegate preapproval authority to one or more of its members. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated shall report any pre-approval decisions to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee may not delegate to management the Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor. The Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chairman for any services not exceeding $10,000.

 

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:

 

    

2022

  

2021

   $122,692    $122,692

 

4(h)

Not applicable.

 

4(i)

Not applicable.

 

4(j)

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 24, 2023

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 24, 2023

 

By (Signature and Title)   /s/ Bashir C. Asad
  Bashir C. Asad, Principal Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer

Date February 24, 2023