497 1 a15-6994_1497.htm 497

 

 

Sentinel Funds Prospectus

Dated March 30, 2015

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class S

 

Class I

 

Class R3

 

Class R6

 

Sentinel Balanced Fund

 

SEBLX

 

SBACX

 

 

 

SIBLX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Common Stock Fund

 

SENCX

 

SCSCX

 

 

 

SICWX

 

 

 

SCRLX

 

Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYGIX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Government Securities Fund

 

SEGSX

 

SCGGX

 

 

 

SIBWX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel International Equity Fund

 

SWRLX

 

SWFCX

 

 

 

SIIEX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund

 

SSIGX

 

 

 

SSSGX

 

SSBDX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Mid Cap Fund

 

SNTNX

 

SMGCX

 

 

 

SIMGX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

SECMX

 

SMKCX

 

 

 

SCSIX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Small Company Fund

 

SAGWX

 

SSCOX

 

 

 

SIGWX

 

 

 

SSRRX

 

Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

MYPVX

 

 

 

 

 

CVALX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

WAEGX

 

 

 

 

 

CEGIX

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund

 

SATRX

 

SCTRX

 

 

 

SITRX

 

SBRRX

 

STRRX

 

Sentinel Unconstrained Bond Fund

 

SUBAX

 

SUBCX

 

 

 

SUBIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

This prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks.
Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Sentinel Group Funds, Inc. · One National Life Drive · Montpelier, VT 05604 · 800.233.4332
www.sentinelinvestments.com

 


 

Table of Contents

 

Fund Summaries

1

 

 

Sentinel Balanced Fund

1

Sentinel Common Stock Fund

7

Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

12

Sentinel Government Securities Fund

16

Sentinel International Equity Fund

21

Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund

26

Sentinel Mid Cap Fund

32

Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund

36

Sentinel Small Company Fund

42

Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

47

Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

52

Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund

57

Sentinel Unconstrained Bond Fund

63

 

 

Additional Information About Each Fund

68

 

 

Investment Objectives and Strategies

68

Other Investment Strategies

82

Investment Risks

83

Disclosure of Portfolio Securities

96

 

 

Share Classes

97

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

108

Pricing Fund Shares

117

Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes

119

Index Descriptions

120

Management of the Funds

121

Householding and Electronic Delivery of Documents

124

Financial Highlights

125

To Get More Information

137

 


 

Fund Summaries

 

Sentinel Balanced Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a combination of growth of capital and current income, with relatively low risk and relatively low fluctuations in value.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek capital appreciation and current income.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.53

%

0.53

%

0.53

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.29

%

0.29

%

0.27

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.08

%

1.83

%

0.81

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

 

1


 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

605

 

$

826

 

$

1,066

 

$

1,751

 

Class C

 

286

 

576

 

990

 

2,148

 

Class I

 

83

 

259

 

450

 

1,002

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

186

 

$

576

 

$

990

 

$

2,148

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 94% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and investment-grade bonds with at least 25% of its assets in bonds and at least 25% of its assets in common stock. When determining this percentage, convertible bonds and/or preferred stocks are considered common stocks, unless these securities are held primarily for income. Sentinel will divide the Fund’s assets among stocks and bonds based on whether it believes stocks or bonds offer a better value at the time. More bonds normally enhance price stability, and more stocks usually enhance growth potential. Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry.

 

With respect to equities, Sentinel’s investment philosophy centers on building a diverse portfolio consisting largely of securities of high quality companies with a positive multi year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels, based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. Sentinel has a preference for companies that earn above-average rates of return on capital and that generate free cash flow. Additionally, earnings revision trends are important. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities. Under normal circumstances, the equity securities in which the Fund invests are predominantly those of U.S companies.

 

The bond portion of the Fund may be invested without limitation in bonds in the first through the fourth highest rating categories of Moody’s (Aaa to Baa) and Standard and Poor’s (AAA to BBB). No more than 20% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in lower-quality bonds (e.g., bonds rated below Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Standard & Poor’s). These lower-quality bonds have speculative characteristics and are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”.

 

The Fund may make unlimited investments in U.S. government mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) issued and/or guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”) and by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”). While the original maximum life of a mortgage-backed security considered for this Fund can vary, its average life is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the underlying mortgages, because the mortgages in these pools may be prepaid, refinanced, curtailed, or foreclosed. Prepayments are passed through to the mortgage-backed security holder along with regularly scheduled minimum repayments of principal and payments of interest.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell agency MBS on a “to be announced” or “TBA” basis, where the Fund buys or sells agency MBS on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA securities transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify

 

2


 

which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, credit and currency risk, using derivative instruments (e.g., exchange-traded futures and options, and other derivatives such as swaps, options on swaps, and caps and floors), and may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

In managing the fixed-income portion of the portfolio, the Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the security is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio manager believes is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s allocations to the various asset classes and market sectors could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. In the case of corporate bonds and commercial paper, values may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. In addition, corporate bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain of these securities, including those issued or guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

 

3


 

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund uses a “blend” strategy to invest in both growth and value stocks, and/or in stocks with characteristics of both. This strategy may be out of favor at any particular time. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.

·                  Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. Bonds with lower credit ratings are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bonds also tend to fluctuate more widely in value.

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of broad measures of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class A shares prior to June 30, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher. Performance of the Class I shares prior to August 27, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

4


 

Inception: 1938

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 11.94% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -13.84% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

1.55

 

9.54

 

6.35

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

0.15

 

8.36

 

5.37

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

1.97

 

7.50

 

5.04

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

5.06

 

9.78

 

5.95

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

7.17

 

10.81

 

6.93

 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.69

 

15.45

 

7.67

 

Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)(1)

 

5.97

 

4.45

 

4.71

 

 


*

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

(1)

The Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. The Fund compares its performance to this index because the Fund’s investment strategy may include investments in the asset classes that comprise the index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Daniel J. Manion, portfolio manager and Director of Equity Research with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2004. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

 

5


 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:

Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:

Sentinel Investments

PO Box 55929

Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:

1-800-282-FUND (3863).

Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

6


 

Sentinel Common Stock Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a combination of growth of capital, current income, growth of income and relatively low risk as compared with the stock market as a whole.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek a combination of capital appreciation and income.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R6

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R6

 

Management Fee

 

0.56

%

0.56

%

0.56

%

0.56

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.18

%

0.22

%

0.15

%

0.28

%***

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

0.99

%

1.78

%

0.71

%

0.84

%

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

(0.19

)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

0.99

%#

1.78

%#

0.71

%#

0.65

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

** The Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class R6 shares, on an annualized basis, to 0.65% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

*** Other Expenses for Class R6 shares are based on the actual expenses of Class I shares.

# Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees. Because of this restatement, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for each share class do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

 

7


 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

596

 

$

800

 

$

1,020

 

$

1,652

 

Class C

 

281

 

560

 

964

 

2,095

 

Class I

 

73

 

227

 

395

 

883

 

Class R6

 

86

 

268

 

466

 

1,037

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

181

 

$

560

 

$

964

 

$

2,095

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks. The Fund invests mainly in a diverse group of common stocks of well-established companies, typically above $5 billion in market capitalization, many of which historically have paid regular dividends. When appropriate, the Fund also may invest in preferred stocks or debentures convertible into common stocks. Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests predominantly in common stocks of U.S. companies.

 

Sentinel’s investment philosophy centers on building a diverse portfolio consisting largely of securities of high quality companies with a positive multi-year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels, based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. Sentinel has a preference for companies that earn above-average rates of return on capital and that generate free cash flow. Additionally, earnings revision trends are important.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the security is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio managers believe is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity. A security may also be sold to meet redemptions.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

 

8


 

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund uses a “blend” strategy to invest in both growth and value stocks, and/or in stocks with characteristics of both. This strategy may be out of favor at any particular time. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class A shares prior to June 30, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher.  Performance of the Class I shares prior to May 4, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.  Performance of the Class R6 shares prior to December 23, 2014 (the inception date for the Class R6 shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class R6 shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

Inception: 1934

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 17.55% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -21.75% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

9


 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

4.81

 

12.75

 

7.51

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

2.23

 

11.73

 

6.73

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

4.81

 

10.22

 

6.10

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

8.48

 

12.96

 

7.09

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

10.62

 

14.27

 

8.35

 

Return Before Taxes: Class R6

 

10.33

 

13.91

 

8.06

 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.69

 

15.45

 

7.67

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Daniel J. Manion, portfolio manager and Director of Equity Research with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 1994. Hilary Roper, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2010.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:

Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:

Sentinel Investments

PO Box 55929

Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:

1-800-282-FUND (3863).

Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

10


 

Class R6 shares are available to certain employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans; registered investment companies; institutions, trusts and foundations with a $1 million initial investment; and certain fee-based advisory programs.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

11


 

Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks current income exempt from both federal and Georgia state income taxes, consistent with preservation of capital.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.45

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.33

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

0.78

%

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 (actual Fund minimums may be higher) in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class I

 

$

80

 

$

249

 

$

433

 

$

966

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that generate income that, in the opinion of counsel to the issuer of the security, is exempt from federal and Georgia state income taxes.

 

The Fund may invest in municipal obligations whose interest is a tax-preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). If you are subject to the AMT, a portion of the Fund’s distributions to you may not be exempt from federal income tax.

 

12


 

The Fund’s investment sub-adviser will purchase investment-grade municipal securities in an attempt to maintain an average weighted portfolio maturity of five to fifteen years, as determined by market conditions. As a core, general obligation, revenue, school, housing, hospital development and insured municipal bonds are represented. GLOBALT considers the relative yield, maturity and availability of various types of municipal bonds and the general economic outlook in determining how much to invest in a specific type of municipal bond in the Fund’s portfolio. Duration adjustments are made relative to the Barclays 10-Year Municipal Bond Index.

 

The Fund is “non-diversified,” which means that the Fund may concentrate its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund, thus increasing the importance of each holding.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. The values of bonds may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. In addition, bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  Municipal Lease Risk. Municipal leases contain non-appropriation clauses under which the municipality may elect annually not to appropriate funds for future lease payments. As a result, the Fund may not receive payments from a lease obligation as originally anticipated.

·                  Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders.

·                  Non-Diversified Risk. Because the Fund holds fewer securities than a diversified portfolio and may take larger positions in individual securities, the Fund may be more affected by the performance of any particular security.

·                  Related Projects Risk. The Fund invests in issuers that finance similar types of municipal projects and obligors whose principal business activities are in the same types of municipal projects. As a result, the value of the Fund’s shares may be adversely affected by the effects of economic, political, tax law or business developments related to the municipal projects.

·                  State-Specific Risk. The Fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting Georgia governmental entities than a municipal bond fund that is diversified nationally. Changes in the economic condition and governmental policies of the State of Georgia may cause the value of the Fund’s shares to fall.

·                  Taxability Risk. While the Fund seeks to invest in municipal bonds whose interest payments will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, a municipal bond may be reclassified as taxable by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, future legislative, administrative or court actions may cause interest on municipal bonds to be subject to federal income taxation, subjecting an investor to increased tax liability and/or adversely impacting the value of the security.

·                  U.S. Territory-Specific Risk. The Fund is susceptible to factors adversely affecting certain U.S. territories that issue securities that may be exempt from federal, and in certain circumstances, state and local taxes.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class I shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

13


 

The Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund began operations on May 4, 2007. The Fund is a successor to the Synovus Georgia Municipal Bond Fund, which was a successor to a similarly managed collective investment fund, which commenced operations in 1992. Performance for the Class I shares from October 12, 2001 to May 4, 2007 is based on the Synovus Georgia Municipal Bond Fund’s Institutional Class shares.

 

Inception: 1992 (the inception of the Fund’s predecessor)

Annual Total Return for Class I Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 4.24% (quarter ended December 31, 2008) and the lowest return for a quarter was -3.24% (quarter ended December 31, 2010).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

4.80

 

3.50

 

3.57

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class I

 

4.34

 

3.20

 

3.36

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class I*

 

4.22

 

3.37

 

3.46

 

Barclays 10-Year Municipal Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

8.72

 

5.61

 

5.10

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Sub-Adviser. GLOBALT, Inc. (“GLOBALT”) is the sub-adviser.

 

Portfolio Managers. Megan L. Busby, Senior Portfolio Manager with GLOBALT, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund or its predecessor since 1998, with the exception of the month of August 2010, when she temporarily left GLOBALT. Ms. Busby returned to GLOBALT in September 2010 and resumed her role as a portfolio manager of the Fund. Gregory E. Paulette, Chief Investment Strategist and Member of the Investment Policy and Executive Committees for GLOBALT, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund

 

14


 

since March 2007. Gary E. Fullam, Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Investment Policy and Executive Committees for GLOBALT, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2007.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly. The Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund only offers Class I shares. Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Investors who wish to purchase or redeem Fund shares by wire transfer should contact the Funds at 1-800-282-FUND (3863).

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that are exempt from regular federal and Georgia state income tax. All or a portion of these distributions, however, may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund anticipates that substantially all of its income dividends will be “exempt-interest dividends,” which are generally exempt from regular federal income taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

15

 


 

Sentinel Government Securities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks high current income while seeking to control risk.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek a high level of current income consistent with the preservation of principal.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

2.25

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.45

%

0.45

%

0.45

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.20

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.26

%

0.27

%

0.22

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

0.92

%#

1.73

%#

0.68

%#

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 0.50% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $500,000 or more.

# Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

317

 

$

512

 

$

723

 

$

1,331

 

Class C

 

276

 

545

 

939

 

2,041

 

Class I

 

69

 

218

 

379

 

847

 

 

16


 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

176

 

$

545

 

$

939

 

$

2,041

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 161% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. government securities and related derivatives. Related derivatives include exchange-traded futures on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, and options on these futures, and other derivatives intended to hedge interest rate risk, such as swaps, options on swaps, and interest rate caps and floors. The Fund invests mainly in U.S. government bonds. These bonds include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government, and obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. The Fund is not required, however, to invest set amounts in any of the various types of U.S. government securities. Sentinel will choose the types of U.S. government securities that it believes will provide capital preservation and the best return with the least risk in light of its analysis of current market conditions and its outlook for interest rates and the economy.

 

The Fund invests substantially in U.S. government mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) issued and/or guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”) and the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”). The Fund may also purchase or sell agency MBS on a “to be announced” or “TBA” basis, where the Fund buys or sells agency MBS on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA securities transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate risk, using derivative instruments (e.g., futures and options on futures, swaps, options on swaps, and caps and floors), and may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic

 

17


 

factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund.

·                  Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain of these securities, including those issued or guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Class A returns shown are based on the 2.25% maximum sales charge and are not adjusted to reflect a maximum 4% sales charge in effect from inception through April 10, 2005 and from June 1, 2006 through July 31, 2010, nor have they been adjusted to reflect the maximum sales charge of 2% in effect from April 11, 2005 to May 31, 2006. If they were, the returns would be lower. The Class C share returns prior to June 1, 2006 (the inception date for the Class C shares) are based on the returns of the Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Class C shares do not charge a front-end sales charge and adjusted for Class C’s estimated higher expenses. Class I share performance prior to May 4, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

18


 

Inception: 1986

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 4.13% (quarter ended June 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a quarter was -2.88% (quarter ended June 30, 2013).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

1.77

 

2.36

 

3.80

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

0.65

 

0.98

 

2.24

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

0.99

 

1.30

 

2.36

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

2.33

 

2.01

 

3.08

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

4.34

 

3.06

 

4.25

 

Barclays US Government/Mortgage Backed Securities Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

5.41

 

3.69

 

4.50

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012. Peter Hassler, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since February 13, 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

19


 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

20

 


 

Sentinel International Equity Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

2.00

%

2.00

%

2.00

%

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.70

%

0.70

%

0.70

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.46

%

1.16

%

0.22

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.41

%

2.86

%

0.92

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

636

 

$

924

 

$

1,233

 

$

2,106

 

Class C

 

389

 

886

 

1,508

 

3,185

 

Class I

 

94

 

293

 

509

 

1,131

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

289

 

$

886

 

$

1,508

 

$

3,185

 

 

21


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Fund invests mainly in common stocks of established companies located in or that conduct their business mainly in one or more foreign countries, which may include emerging markets. The Fund will normally be invested in ten or more foreign countries and may invest up to 40% of its assets in any one country if Sentinel feels that economic and business conditions make it appropriate to do so. The Fund focuses its investments on developed foreign countries, but may invest up to 25% of its total assets in emerging markets. It normally will have substantial investments in European countries. Normally, at least 75% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in securities of non-U.S. issuers selected by Sentinel mainly for their long-term capital growth prospects. The remaining 25% may be invested in companies organized in the United States that have at least 50% of their assets and/or revenues outside the United States. The Fund also expects to purchase American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts in bearer form, which are designed for use in non-U.S. securities markets.

 

The Fund also may invest in convertible or debt securities rated Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s.

 

Sentinel applies a multi-dimensional strategy for portfolio construction — trend identification, stock selection and risk management. Trends are identified that affect global and regional economic and financial environments, setting a framework for stock selection; stocks are then analyzed and ranked based on the following five factors: valuation, growth, management, business quality and balance sheet strength. Risk is managed through portfolio diversification. Typically, the Fund has no more than double the weight of the MSCI EAFE index or less than half the weight of the index in the largest countries in the index.

 

The Fund generally may sell a security when there is a deterioration of one or more of the five factors described above or when the portfolio manager identifies a more favorable investment opportunity. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Emerging Markets Risk. The risks of foreign investments are usually much greater for the emerging markets. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are riskier because they develop unevenly and may never fully develop. In addition, many emerging securities markets have lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund’s growth style of investing may be out of favor at any particular time. The stocks of growth companies may be more sensitive to investor perceptions about company earnings than other stocks and may be more volatile than the market in general.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

 

22


 

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class A shares prior to June 30, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher.  Performance of the Class I shares prior to August 27, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

Inception: 1993

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 24.26% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -21.09% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

 

23


 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

-10.30

 

4.39

 

3.91

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-14.02

 

3.34

 

2.94

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

-2.86

 

3.44

 

3.28

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

-7.75

 

3.90

 

3.05

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

-5.22

 

5.94

 

4.75

 

Morgan Stanley Capital International “EAFE” (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

-4.90

 

5.33

 

4.43

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager. Andrew Boczek, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

24


 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

25

 


 

Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks high current income and limited fluctuations in principal value.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $1,000,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class S

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

None

 

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class S

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.43

%

0.43

%

0.43

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

0.50

%^

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.24

%

0.08

%

0.22

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

0.93

%#

1.02

%#

0.66

%#

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 0.50% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

^ 12b-1 fees have been restated to reflect a reduction in the maximum fee from 0.75% to 0.50% for Class S shares effective January 31, 2014. Because of this restatement, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

# Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees. Because of this restatement, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for these share classes do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

194

 

$

393

 

$

610

 

$

1,232

 

Class S

 

104

 

325

 

563

 

1,248

 

Class I

 

67

 

211

 

368

 

822

 

 

26


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 51% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income instruments and related derivatives. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing principally in a diversified portfolio of fixed income instruments of varying maturities, and related derivatives. Related derivatives include exchange-traded futures on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds and equity indexes, and options on these futures, and other derivatives intended to hedge interest rate risk and credit risk, such as interest rate caps and floors, swaps and options on swaps. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest at least 50% of its total assets in investment grade debt securities, such as:

 

· Corporate debt securities issued by U.S. companies;

· Corporate debt securities issued by non-U.S. (including emerging markets) companies that are denominated in U.S. dollars;

· Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities;

· Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and

· Inflation-linked investments.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest no more than 50% of its total assets in any one or combination of the following types of fixed income securities and other instruments:

 

· Below investment-grade debt securities (sometimes called “junk bonds”);

· Debt securities of non-U.S. (including emerging markets) issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies;

· Senior bank loans, including participations; and

· Convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks.

 

The Fund attempts to manage interest rate risk through its management of the average duration of the securities it holds in its portfolio.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to maintain its average duration range between zero and three years. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The longer a portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. The shorter a portfolio’s duration, the less sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. For example, the price of a portfolio with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately five percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point and a portfolio with a duration of two years would be expected to fall approximately two percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may use derivative instruments in order to hedge various risks and manage the average duration of the Fund’s portfolio. Currently, it expects to invest principally in futures, options, swaps and options on swaps. The Fund may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

Sentinel may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria, or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, maintain its duration, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others.

 

27


 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Bank Loan Risk. The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and, in some cases, the Fund may have to dispose of such securities at a substantial discount from face value. These investments expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying corporate borrower.

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

·                  ETF Risk. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it is designed to track. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting or number of instruments held by the ETF. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs.

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. In the case of corporate bonds and commercial paper, values may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. In addition, corporate bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region. The Fund is not required to hedge against changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

·                  Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain of these securities, including those issued or guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

·                  Inflation-Linked Investments Risk. Unlike traditional fixed income securities, the principal and interest payments of inflation-linked securities issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury are adjusted periodically based on the inflation rate. The value of the Fund’s inflation-linked investments may be vulnerable to changes in expectations of inflation or interest rates.

·                  Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. Bonds with lower credit ratings, sometimes called “junk bonds”, are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bonds also tend to fluctuate more widely in value.

 

28


 

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Class A returns prior to June 1, 2006, have not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.35% to 0.25%. If they had, those returns would be higher. The Class A returns shown are based on the 1% maximum sales charge and are not adjusted to reflect a maximum sales charge of 3% in effect from June 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. If they were, the returns would be lower. The Class S share returns prior to March 4, 2005 (the inception date for the Class S shares) are based on the returns of the Class A shares adjusted to reflect that Class S shares do not charge a front-end sales charge and adjusted for Class S’s higher expenses. Performance of the Class S shares prior to January 31, 2014 has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.75% to 0.50%. If it had, those returns would be higher, except for the period from April 1, 2013 to January 30, 2014 during which a voluntary waiver of 0.25% of those fees was in effect. Performance of the Class I shares prior to January 31, 2014 (the inception date for Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge. Effective January 31, 2014, the Fund changed its investment strategies from investing primarily in U.S. government securities to investing in a variety of fixed income instruments. The performance information provided below for periods prior to January 31, 2014 relates to the Fund’s investment strategies that were in effect during such periods.

 

29


 

Inception: 1995

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 2.11% (quarter ended September 30, 2006) and the lowest return for a quarter was -0.98% (quarter ended December 31, 2014).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

-0.77

 

0.57

 

2.32

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-1.56

 

-0.20

 

1.16

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

-0.43

 

0.15

 

1.36

 

Return Before Taxes: Class S

 

-0.01

 

0.44

 

2.03

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

0.38

 

0.79

 

2.43

 

Barclays 1-3 Year US Government/Credit Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

0.77

 

1.41

 

2.85

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

30


 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).

Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Class A and S

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

31


 

Sentinel Mid Cap Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.70

%

0.70

%

0.70

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.38

%

0.54

%

0.30

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.33

%

2.24

%

1.00

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

629

 

$

900

 

$

1,192

 

$

2,021

 

Class C

 

327

 

700

 

1,200

 

2,575

 

Class I

 

102

 

318

 

552

 

1,225

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

227

 

$

700

 

$

1,200

 

$

2,575

 

 

32


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 56% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in mid-capitalization companies. For this purpose, mid-capitalization companies are companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations between $500 million and $25 billion. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of mid-capitalization companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors.

 

The Fund would typically sell a security if the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold and/or if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines. The Fund may also sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. A security may also be sold to meet redemptions.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund’s growth style of investing may be out of favor at any particular time. The stocks of growth companies may be more sensitive to investor perceptions about company earnings than other stocks and may be more volatile than the market in general.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  Stocks of Smaller Companies Risk. The stocks of small- and/or mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests typically involve more risk than the stocks of larger companies. These smaller companies may have more limited financial resources and product lines, and may have less seasoned managers. In addition, these stocks may trade less frequently and in lower share volumes, making them subject to wider price fluctuations.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past

 

33


 

(before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class A shares prior to June 30, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher.  Performance of the Class I shares prior to August 27, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

Inception: 1969

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 14.10% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -27.88% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

-0.97

 

12.94

 

5.31

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-6.39

 

11.19

 

4.49

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

3.01

 

10.21

 

4.17

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

2.57

 

12.74

 

4.52

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

4.56

 

14.49

 

6.12

 

Russell Midcap Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.22

 

17.19

 

9.56

 

 


* Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Jason Ronovech, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 30, 2013. Carole Hersam, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

 

34


 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:

Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:

Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:

1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

35


 

Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.53

%

0.53

%

0.53

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.26

%

0.23

%

0.22

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.02

%

0.02

%

0.02

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.06

%

1.78

%

0.77

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

603

 

$

820

 

$

1,056

 

$

1,729

 

Class C

 

281

 

560

 

964

 

2,095

 

Class I

 

79

 

246

 

428

 

954

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

181

 

$

560

 

$

964

 

$

2,095

 

 

36


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 166% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests in a broad range of debt instruments and equity securities. Sentinel has broad discretion to allocate assets among asset classes in order to pursue the Fund’s investment objective, and may shift the Fund’s investments from one asset class to another based on Sentinel’s analysis of the best opportunities for the Fund in a given market.

 

The debt instruments in which the Fund may invest include all varieties of fixed and floating rate instruments, including, without limitation, secured and unsecured bonds and mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities. The debt instruments may be of any maturity and any credit quality, including high-yield (below investment-grade) bonds (sometimes called “junk bonds”). The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt instruments, and has the flexibility to invest exclusively in any one type of debt instrument, including junk bonds, or in any combination of debt instruments.

 

The Fund may invest in any stock or other equity security that Sentinel believes may assist the Fund in pursuing its investment objective, including common stocks of companies of any size or any market capitalization, preferred stock, utility stocks, publicly-traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) securities and other equity trusts and partnership interests, including master limited partnerships. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in equity securities, but no more than 70% of its assets in equity securities of non-U.S. companies. Currently, the Fund expects to invest no more than 40% of its assets in equity securities.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

Assets in which the Fund invests may be denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies.

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, equity, credit and currency risk, using derivative instruments (e.g., exchange-traded futures and options, and other derivatives such as swaps, options on swaps, and interest rate caps and floors), and may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria, or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

37


 

·                  Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s allocations to the various asset classes and market sectors could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

·                  ETF Risk. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it is designed to track. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting or number of instruments held by the ETF. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. In the case of corporate bonds and commercial paper, values may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. In addition, corporate bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

·                  Income Risk. Because the Fund can only distribute what it earns, the Fund’s distributions to shareholders may decline when prevailing interest rates fall or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.

·                  Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. Bonds with lower credit ratings are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bonds also tend to fluctuate more widely in value.

·                  Master Limited Partnership Risk. The common units of an MLP are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges and their value fluctuates predominantly based on prevailing market conditions and the success of the MLP. Unlike owners of common stock of a corporation, owners of common units have limited voting rights and have no ability to annually elect directors. In the event of a liquidation, common units have preference over subordinated units, but not over debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP.

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Preferred Stocks Risk. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in a company. Preferred stock normally pays dividends at a specified rate and has precedence over common stock in the event the issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy. However, in the event a company is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of such stocks to decline. Preferred stock is subject to many of the risks to which common stock and debt securities are subject.

·                  Real Estate-Related Investments Risk. The Fund’s investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are subject to risks affecting real estate investments generally (including market conditions and changes in the value of the underlying property, competition, zoning laws and other regulations, property obsolescence, changes in interest rates and casualty to real estate),

 

38


 

as well as risks specifically affecting REITs (the quality and skill of REIT management and the internal expenses of the REIT).

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

·                  Utilities Industry Risk. Utility company equity securities, to the extent they are purchased for their dividend yield, historically have been sensitive to interest rate movements. In addition, utility companies are subject to state and federal regulation, both respect to rates and operations, and face the potential for increased costs due to additional regulation and litigation.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of broad measures of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year since inception. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class A shares prior to June 30, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher.  Performance of the Class I shares prior to December 17, 2010 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge.  Effective July 1, 2014, the Fund changed its investment strategies. The performance information provided below for periods prior to July 1, 2014 relates to the Fund’s investment strategies that were in effect during such periods.

 

39


 

Inception: 2003

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 7.66% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -10.97% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

-1.60

 

6.09

 

4.63

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-3.88

 

5.17

 

3.52

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

0.56

 

4.63

 

3.37

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

1.83

 

6.39

 

4.33

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

3.75

 

7.29

 

5.23

 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.69

 

15.45

 

7.67

 

Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)(1)

 

5.97

 

4.45

 

4.71

 

 


*                 Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

(1)         The Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. The Fund compares its performance to this index because the Fund’s investment strategy may include investments in the asset classes that comprise the index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2009.

 

40


 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

41


 

Sentinel Small Company Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R6

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

2.00

%

2.00

%

2.00

%

2.00

%

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R6

 

Management Fee

 

0.64

%

0.64

%

0.64

%

0.64

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.30

%

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.26

%

0.27

%

0.21

%

0.28

%***

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.21

%

1.92

%

0.86

%

0.93

%

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

(0.19

)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

1.21

%

1.92

%

0.86

%

0.74

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

** The Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class R6 shares, on an annualized basis, to 0.73% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

*** Other Expenses for Class R6 shares are based on the actual expenses of Class I shares.

 

42


 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

617

 

$

865

 

$

1,132

 

$

1,893

 

Class C

 

295

 

603

 

1,037

 

2,243

 

Class I

 

88

 

274

 

477

 

1,061

 

Class R6

 

95

 

296

 

515

 

1,143

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

195

 

$

603

 

$

1,037

 

$

2,243

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 59% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in small-capitalization companies. For this purpose, small capitalization companies are companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations of less than $4 billion. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of small companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors.

 

The Fund would typically sell a security if the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold, if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity. The Fund may also sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. A security may also be sold to meet redemptions.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Illiquid Securities Risk. Securities held by the Fund that are not deemed to be illiquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid. The Fund will not be able to readily resell illiquid securities. The inability to sell these securities at the most opportune time may negatively affect the Fund’s net asset value.

 

43


 

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund’s growth style of investing may be out of favor at any particular time. The stocks of growth companies may be more sensitive to investor perceptions about company earnings than other stocks and may be more volatile than the market in general.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  Stocks of Smaller Companies Risk. The stocks of small- and/or mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests typically involve more risk than the stocks of larger companies. These smaller companies may have more limited financial resources and product lines, and may have less seasoned managers. In addition, these stocks may trade less frequently and in lower share volumes, making them subject to wider price fluctuations.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Class I share performance prior to May 4, 2007 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class I shares are offered without a sales charge. Performance of the Class R6 shares prior to December 23, 2014 (the inception date for the Class R6 shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class R6 shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

Inception: 1993

 

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 15.93% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -24.08% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

44


 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

1.14

 

13.86

 

8.33

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-5.26

 

10.26

 

6.06

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

5.38

 

11.13

 

6.73

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

5.14

 

14.23

 

8.05

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

6.86

 

15.50

 

9.22

 

Return Before Taxes: Class R6

 

6.40

 

15.03

 

8.88

 

Russell 2000® Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

4.89

 

15.55

 

7.77

 

 


*   Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Jason Ronovech, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 30, 2013. Carole Hersam, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:

Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:

Sentinel Investments

PO Box 55929

Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:

1-800-282-FUND (3863).

Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

45


 

Class R6 shares are available to certain employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans; registered investment companies; institutions, trusts and foundations with a $1 million initial investment; and certain fee-based advisory programs.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

46


 

Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.70

%

0.70

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.29

%

0.27

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.24

%

0.97

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

620

 

$

874

 

$

1,147

 

$

1,925

 

Class I

 

99

 

309

 

536

 

1,190

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

47


 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 65% of its net assets in stocks of well-established U.S. companies, typically those above $5 billion in market capitalization.

 

Sentinel’s investment philosophy centers on building a diverse portfolio consisting largely of securities of high quality companies with a positive multi-year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels, based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time. The Fund may also invest in stocks with the potential to provide current income, growth of income and relatively low risk as compared to the stock market as a whole when consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. Sentinel has a preference for companies that earn above-average rates of return on capital and that generate free cash flow. Additionally, earnings revision trends are important. The Fund may invest in foreign securities.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the stock is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio manager believes is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity, and to meet redemptions. A security will also be sold if it is determined that it no longer meets the environmental, social and/or corporate governance performance criteria.

 

Sustainable and Responsible Investing. The Fund employs a process of environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) screening that is overseen by Sentinel’s in-house sustainable research department. While no investment is ever made solely based on the qualitative criteria alone, the Fund believes sustainable screening provides a unique and more comprehensive view of the companies it considers for investment. Generally, companies are eliminated from investment consideration if they produce tobacco or tobacco products or alcoholic beverages; generate nuclear power or supply nuclear facilities with industry specific components, as a primary line of business; have material interests in the manufacture of weapons or weapons-specific components; are involved in gambling as a main line of business; and/or lack diversity at the level of the board of directors/senior management. The Fund favors companies that publish and enforce codes of conduct and vendor standards; promote equal opportunity, diversity and good employee relations; are sensitive to community concerns; seek alternatives to animal testing when not required by law; and/or have minimal impact on the environment and engage in proactive environmental initiatives.

 

Sentinel may, in its discretion, choose to apply additional screens, modify the application of the screens listed above or vary the application of the screens listed above to the Funds’ investments at any time without shareholder approval.

 

For additional information on the environmental, social and governance screening process used by the Fund, please see “Additional Information About Each Fund — Investment Objectives and Strategies — Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund — Principal Investment Strategies” at page 76 of the Prospectus.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund uses a “blend” strategy to invest in both growth and value stocks, and/or in stocks with characteristics of both. This strategy may be out of favor at any particular time. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.

 

48


 

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  Sustainable/Responsible Investing Risk. The Fund’s environmental, social and corporate governance criteria may cause the Fund to forgo opportunities to buy certain securities, and/or forgo opportunities to gain exposure to certain industries, sectors, regions and countries. In addition, the Fund may be required to sell a security when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for it to do so.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund, which began operations on April 4, 2008, is a successor to the Citizens Value Fund, which was a successor to the Meyers Pride Value Fund, which began operations on June 13, 1996. Performance for the Class A shares of the Fund from September 24, 2001 to April 4, 2008 is based on the performance of the Standard shares of the predecessor Citizens Value Fund, which was offered without a sales charge and reflects the current maximum sales charge. Performance of the Class A shares from their inception on April 4, 2008 to June 29, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the lower maximum 12b-1 fee in effect prior to April 4, 2008 or the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee, effective June 30, 2012, from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher.  Performance of the Class I shares from March 31, 2006 to April 4, 2008 (the inception date for the Class I shares) is based on the performance of the Institutional shares of the Citizens Value Fund, which had different expenses but substantially similar investment risks and from September 24, 2001 to March 31, 2006 is based on the performance of the Standard shares of the Citizens Value Fund.

 

Inception: 1996 (the inception of the Fund’s predecessor)

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 19.35% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -23.51% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

49


 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

5.19

 

12.62

 

6.16

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

4.98

 

12.50

 

6.08

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A

 

3.10

 

10.11

 

4.97

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

11.05

 

14.13

 

7.04

 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.69

 

15.45

 

7.67

 

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager. Helena Ocampo, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2008.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:

Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:

Sentinel Investments

PO Box 55929

Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:

1-800-282-FUND (3863).

Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Class A

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

50


 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

51


 

Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.00

%

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.70

%

0.70

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.25

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.37

%

0.55

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.33

%

1.26

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 1% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

629

 

$

900

 

$

1,192

 

$

2,021

 

Class I

 

128

 

400

 

692

 

1,523

 

 

52


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in mid-capitalization companies. For this purpose, mid-capitalization companies are companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations between $500 million and $25 billion. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of mid-capitalization companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors.

 

The Fund would typically sell a security if the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold and/or if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines. The Fund may also sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. A security may also be sold to meet redemptions. A security will be sold when it is determined that it no longer meets the environmental, social and/or corporate governance performance criteria.

 

Sustainable and Responsible Investing. The Fund employs a process of environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) screening that is overseen by Sentinel’s in-house sustainable research department. While no investment is ever made solely based on the qualitative criteria alone, the Fund believes sustainable screening provides a unique and more comprehensive view of the companies it considers for investment. Generally, companies are eliminated from investment consideration if they produce tobacco or tobacco products or alcoholic beverages; generate nuclear power or supply nuclear facilities with industry specific components, as a primary line of business; have material interests in the manufacture of weapons or weapons-specific components; are involved in gambling as a main line of business; and/or lack diversity at the level of the board of directors/senior management. The Fund favors companies that publish and enforce codes of conduct and vendor standards; promote equal opportunity, diversity and good employee relations; are sensitive to community concerns; seek alternatives to animal testing when not required by law; and/or have minimal impact on the environment and engage in proactive environmental initiatives.

 

Sentinel may, in its discretion, choose to apply additional screens, modify the application of the screens listed above or vary the application of the screens listed above to the Funds’ investments at any time without shareholder approval.

 

For additional information on the environmental, social and governance screening process used by the Fund, please see “Additional Information About Each Fund — Investment Objectives and Strategies — Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund — Principal Investment Strategies” at page 77 of the Prospectus.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political and/or social instability in a particular foreign country or region.

·                  Investment Style Risk. The Fund’s growth style of investing may be out of favor at any particular time. The stocks of growth companies may be more sensitive to investor perceptions about company earnings than other stocks and may be more volatile than the market in general.

·                  Sector Risk. Investments in a particular sector may trail returns from other economic sectors.

 

53


 

·                  Stock Market and Selection Risk. The stock market may go down in value, and may go down sharply and unpredictably. The stocks selected by the portfolio manager may underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

·                  Stocks of Smaller Companies Risk. The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests typically involve more risk than the stocks of larger companies. These smaller companies may have more limited financial resources, narrower product lines, and may have less seasoned managers. In addition, these stocks may trade less frequently and in lower share volumes, making them subject to wider price fluctuations.

·                  Sustainable/Responsible Investing Risk. The Fund’s environmental, social and corporate governance criteria may cause the Fund to forgo opportunities to buy certain securities, and/or forgo opportunities to gain exposure to certain industries, sectors, regions and countries. In addition, the Fund may be required to sell a security when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for it to do so.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year over a ten-year period. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund, which began operations on April 4, 2008, is a successor to the Citizens Emerging Growth Fund, which began operations on February 8, 1994. Performance for the Class A shares of the Fund prior to April 4, 2008 is based on the performance of the Standard shares of the Citizens Emerging Growth Fund, which was offered without a sales charge, and has been restated to reflect the current maximum sales charge. Performance of the Class A shares from their inception on April 4, 2008 to June 29, 2012, has not been adjusted to reflect the lower maximum 12b-1 fee in effect prior to April 4, 2008 or the decrease in the maximum 12b-1 fee, effective June 30, 2012, from 0.30% to 0.25%. If it had, those returns would be higher. Performance for the Class I shares from November 1, 1999 to April 4, 2008 is based on the performance of the Institutional shares of Citizens Emerging Growth Fund, which had different expenses but substantially similar investment risks.Effective March 29, 2012, the Fund changed its investment strategies. The performance information provided below for periods prior to March 29, 2012 relates to the Fund’s investment strategies that were in effect during such periods.

 

Inception: 1994 (the inception of the Fund’s predecessor)

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the ten-year period shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 15.11% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a quarter was -27.76% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

 

54


 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

1.44

 

12.89

 

5.41

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-2.41

 

11.47

 

4.64

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

3.03

 

10.19

 

4.23

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

6.84

 

13.97

 

5.91

 

Russell Midcap Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

13.22

 

17.19

 

9.56

 

 


*   Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers. Carole Hersam, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012. Jason Ronovech, portfolio manager with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 30, 2013.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Class A

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

55


 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

56


 

Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks maximum investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled “Share Classes” on page 97 of the Fund’s prospectus and “How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges” on page 52 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R3

 

Class R6

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

2.25

%

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

None

 

None

 

Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amounts redeemed or exchanged within 30 days)

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Class R3

 

Class R6

 

Management Fee

 

0.52

%

0.52

%

0.52

%

0.52

%

0.52

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.20

%+

1.00

%+

None

 

0.50

%

None

 

Other Expenses

 

0.22

%

0.21

%

0.26

%

0.30

%***

0.30

%***

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses@

 

0.02

%

0.02

%

0.02

%

0.02

%

0.02

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

0.96

%

1.75

%

0.80

%

1.34

%

0.84

%

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

(0.05

)%

None

 

None

 

(0.13

)%

(0.13

)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

0.91

%

1.75

%

0.80

%

1.21

%

0.71

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 0.50% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $500,000 or more.

+ 12b-1 fees have been restated from fiscal year amounts to reflect the maximum fee payable under the applicable distribution plan for such share class. 12b-1 fees are not assessed with respect to shares owned by NLV Financial Corporation or an affiliate (“NLVFin”), which may result in an overall distribution fee charged to all shareholders of less than the maximum for so long as the NLVFin investment is maintained.

@ “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through its investments in one or more underlying funds, including money market funds. Because these costs are indirect, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s most recent annual report.

** The Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective March 30, 2015, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class A shares, on an annualized basis, to 0.89% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares through March 31, 2016. In addition, the Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class R6 shares, on an annualized basis, to 0.69% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016, and to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class R3 shares, on an annualized basis, to 1.19% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R3 shares through March 31, 2016. Each of these agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

*** Other Expenses for Class R3 and Class R6 shares are based on the actual expenses of Class I shares.

 

57


 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class A

 

$

321

 

$

524

 

$

744

 

$

1,377

 

Class C

 

278

 

551

 

949

 

2,062

 

Class I

 

82

 

255

 

444

 

990

 

Class R3

 

136

 

425

 

734

 

1,613

 

Class R6

 

86

 

268

 

466

 

1,037

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class C

 

$

178

 

$

551

 

$

949

 

$

2,062

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 432% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in fixed-income securities and in related derivatives, such as interest rate, credit, equity and foreign currency derivatives (futures, options, swaps, options on swaps, and caps and floors). The Fund invests primarily in investment-grade bonds. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will normally be invested in the following types of bonds and related derivatives:

 

1. Corporate bonds of varying maturities issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. private-sector entities denominated in U.S. dollars and foreign currencies;

 

2. Debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including mortgage-backed securities, and by non-U.S. sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities; and

 

3. Taxable or tax-exempt municipal securities.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of any duration. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a fixed income security’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The value of a fixed-income security with a positive duration will decline if interest rates increase. The longer the portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. For example, the value of a portfolio with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately five percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point and a portfolio with a duration of two years would be expected to fall approximately two percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

 

The Fund may invest up to 50% of its assets in below investment-grade bonds. Below investment-grade bonds are sometimes called “junk bonds”.

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in securities within a single industry.

 

58


 

The Fund may use derivative instruments (e.g., exchange-traded derivatives such as futures and options, and other derivatives such as swap agreements, options on swaps and interest rate caps and floors) in order to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, credit and currency risk. The Fund may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market, if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating, or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

·                  ETF Risk. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it is designed to track. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting or number of instruments held by the ETF. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs.

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. In the case of corporate bonds and commercial paper, values may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. Fixed-income securities may be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. In addition, corporate bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political or social instability in the particular foreign country or region. The Fund is not required to hedge against changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

·                  Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain of these securities, including those issued or guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

 

59


 

·                  Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. Bonds with lower credit ratings are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bonds also tend to fluctuate more widely in value.

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Performance

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1 year and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows the Fund’s performance for Class A shares for each calendar year since inception. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. However, the table includes, for share classes with a sales charge, the effect of the maximum sales charge, including any contingent deferred sales charge that would apply to a redemption at the end of the period. How the Fund performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information on the Fund’s results can be obtained by visiting www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Performance of the Class R3 shares prior to December 23, 2014 (the inception date for the Class R3 shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class R3 shares are offered without a sales charge and adjusted for Class R3’s estimated higher expenses. Performance of the Class R6 shares prior to December 23, 2014 (the inception date for the Class R6 shares) is based on the Fund’s Class A share performance, restated to reflect that Class R6 shares are offered without a sales charge.

 

60


 

Inception: 2010

Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (%) as of December 31

 

 

During the period(s) shown in the above bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 3.61% (quarter ended September 30, 2012) and the lowest return for a quarter was -1.84% (quarter ended December 31, 2014).

 

Average Annual Total Return (%)

 

For the periods ended
December 31, 2014

 

1 Year

 

Since Inception
(December 17,
2010)

 

Return Before Taxes: Class A

 

0.14

 

4.78

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions: Class A

 

-0.84

 

3.30

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares: Class A*

 

0.08

 

3.12

 

Return Before Taxes: Class C

 

0.86

 

4.95

 

Return Before Taxes: Class I

 

2.63

 

5.53

 

Return Before Taxes: Class R3

 

2.05

 

4.95

 

Return Before Taxes: Class R6

 

2.51

 

5.40

 

Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

 

5.97

 

3.99

 

 


*   Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than return before taxes and/or return after taxes on distributions when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of fund shares.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest applicable individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the relevant period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and after-tax returns for other classes of shares will vary.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

61


 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Class R3 shares are only available to employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans. To be eligible, shares must be held through plan administrator level or omnibus accounts held on the books of the Fund.

 

Class R6 shares are available to certain employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans; registered investment companies; institutions, trusts and foundations with a $1 million initial investment; and certain fee-based advisory programs.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

62


 

Sentinel Unconstrained Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks maximum investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in shares of the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section entitled "Share Classes" on page 97 of the Fund's prospectus and "How to Purchase Shares and Reduce Sales Charges" on page 52 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

2.25

%

None

 

None

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less)

 

None

*

1.00

%

None

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I

 

Management Fee

 

0.75

%

0.75

%

0.75

%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

 

0.20

%

1.00

%

None

 

Other Expenses^

 

0.61

%

1.81

%

0.39

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.56

%

3.56

%

1.14

%

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

None

 

(1.50

)%

None

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement**

 

1.56

%

2.06

%

1.14

%

 


* You pay a deferred sales charge of 0.50% on certain redemptions of Class A shares made within twelve months of purchase if you bought them without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $500,000 or more.

** The Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective March 30, 2015, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class C shares, on an annualized basis, to 2.06% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

^ Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Class*

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

Class A

 

$

380

 

$

707

 

Class C

 

459

 

1,091

 

Class I

 

116

 

362

 

 

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

 

Class*

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

Class C

 

$

359

 

$

1,091

 

 


*Based on estimates for the current fiscal year.

 

63


 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. fixed-income instruments and related derivatives. The Fund’s investments may be represented by forwards or derivative instruments. The Fund focuses on investments in U.S. fixed-income instruments. “Fixed-income instruments” include bonds, debt securities and similar instruments. The Fund has a flexible investment strategy, and will utilize a variety of investment techniques, and may invest in a broad array of fixed income instruments. The Fund’s investments in fixed-income instruments may include, among other things, corporate bonds and other debt securities, U.S. government and agency securities, foreign government and supranational debt securities, emerging market debt securities, commercial paper, zero-coupon securities, mortgage-related securities (including senior and junior loans, mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-related securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations) and other asset-backed securities, collateralized debt and loan obligations, when-issued securities, investments in the securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), Rule 144A securities, preferred securities, structured products, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, convertible securities and mezzanine securities. The Fund may invest in fixed, variable and floating rate instruments, including bank loans or loan participation interests in secured, second lien or unsecured variable, fixed or floating rate loans. The Fund may invest in fixed income instruments of any maturity. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis, and may invest in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies for hedging or investment purposes. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets, at the time of purchase, in equity securities. The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments. Fund management may adjust the Fund’s portfolio among various types of instruments based on then-current or anticipated market conditions.

 

The Fund may invest in fixed income instruments of any credit quality, including instruments that are in default. The Fund may invest up to 70% of its net assets, at the time of purchase, in fixed-income instruments that are below investment-grade (e.g., rated below BBB by Standard and Poor’s or below Baa by Moody’s) or which are unrated. These bonds are sometimes called “junk bonds”.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of any duration. The average portfolio duration of the Fund will normally vary from negative five (-5) years to positive ten (10) years, depending on Sentinel’s forecast of interest rates and its assessment of market risks generally. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The value of a fixed-income security with a positive duration will decline if interest rates increase. The value of a fixed-income security with a negative duration will increase if interest rates increase. The longer the portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. The shorter a portfolio’s duration, the less sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. For example, the price of a portfolio with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately five percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point and a portfolio with a duration of two years would be expected to fall approximately two percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point. The price of a portfolio with a duration of negative five years would be expected to rise approximately five percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point and a portfolio with a duration of negative two years would be expected to rise approximately two percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may enter into derivative transactions without limitation, including for investment and/or for hedging purposes. The Fund may use derivative instruments to gain both long and short exposure to fixed-income or other instruments by investing in, among other instruments, derivatives such as futures and options, and other derivatives such as swap agreements, including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps and index swaps and forward contracts, subject to applicable law and any other restrictions

 

64


 

described elsewhere in the Fund’s Prospectus or the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so. Currently, the Fund expects to utilize primarily the following derivative instruments: futures, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps.

 

The Fund may also use commodity and commodity index futures options and swaps and structured notes.

 

The derivatives used by the Fund may involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund.

 

The Fund may enter into transactions such as repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. These transactions may involve leverage risk.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market, if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating, or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

The Fund has fewer restrictions than many other fixed income funds, and utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

 

·                  Bank Loan Risk. The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and, in some cases, the Fund may have to dispose of such securities at a substantial discount from face value. These investments expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying corporate borrower. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off bank loans more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.

·                  Derivatives Risk. Derivative investments can increase Fund losses and/or increase volatility. Derivative instruments may be difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. Derivatives involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or a clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio manager may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund. Certain derivative transactions may involve substantial leverage risk and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.

·                  Duration Risk. Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income instrument to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed income instrument may be shorter than or equal to the full maturity of the fixed income instrument. Fixed income instruments with longer durations have more risk.

·                  ETF Risk. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it is designed to track. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting or number of instruments held by the ETF. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs.

·                  Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Fund generally holds its foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt.

·                  General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, generally go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. In the event the Fund has a negative average portfolio duration, the value of the Fund may decline in as interest rates fall, and rise as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the

 

65


 

Fund will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer durations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Fund. In the case of corporate bonds and commercial paper, values may fluctuate as perceptions of credit quality change. In addition, corporate bonds may be downgraded or default. During periods of declining interest rates or for other reasons, bonds may be “called”, or redeemed, by the bond issuer prior to the bond’s maturity date, resulting in the Fund receiving payment earlier than expected. This may reduce the Fund’s income if the proceeds are reinvested at a lower interest rate.

·                  General Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or political or social instability in the particular foreign country or region. The Fund is not required to hedge against changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

·                  Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain of these securities, including those issued or guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

·                  High Portfolio Turnover Risk. An active trading approach increases the Fund’s costs and may reduce the Fund’s performance. It may also increase the amount of capital gains tax that you have to pay on the Fund’s returns.

·                  Income Risk. Because the Fund can only distribute what it earns, the Fund’s distributions to shareholders may decline when prevailing interest rates fall (or, if the Fund has a negative duration, when prevailing interest rates rise) or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt instruments it holds.

·                  Leverage Risk. The Fund may engage in certain transactions, such as derivative transactions, reverse repurchase agreements and forward commitment transactions, that may result in a form of economic leverage. These transactions may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. Certain transactions in derivatives involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund.

·                  Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. Bonds with lower credit ratings are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bonds also tend to fluctuate more widely in value.

·                  Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages and are subject to certain additional risks. When interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment 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 may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying mortgage, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

·                  Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders.

·                  Short Sales Risk. Short sale transactions involving TBA securities involve leverage risk because they can result in investment exposure greater than the amount of the initial investment. Entering into a short position involves speculative exposure risk. If the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security, the Fund may incur a loss (without a limit).

·                  Sovereign Debt Risk. Issuers of non-U.S. sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay the principal or interest when due.

·                  To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, the Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Performance

 

Because the Fund does not have a full calendar year of operations, it does not have performance information an investor would find useful in evaluating the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund’s primary benchmark is the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Dollar 3-Month LIBOR Constant Maturity Index. Information on the Fund’s performance, including its current net asset value, can be obtained by visiting http://www.sentinelinvestments.com or can be obtained by phone at (800) 233-4332.

 

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Management

 

Investment Adviser. Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. (“Sentinel”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager. Jason Doiron, portfolio manager and Head of Investments with Sentinel, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business using the options and applicable contact information listed below. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

By wire transfer:
Contact the Fund at 800-282-
3863

 

By mail:
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

By telephone:
1-800-282-FUND (3863).
Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.

 

Online:
If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund by accessing the Fund’s website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases.

 

 

 

Retirement Accounts

 

All Other Accounts

 

Automatic
Investment

 

 

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Initial

 

Subsequent

 

Plan

 

Classes A and C

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

1,000

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

Class I shares are only available to institutional investors, with certain limited exceptions. There is a $1 million initial investment minimum for institutional investors, with certain exceptions.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. If you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements. In addition, dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Additional Information About Each Fund

 

Investment Objectives and Strategies

 

Sentinel Balanced Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a combination of growth of capital and current income, with relatively low risk and relatively low fluctuations in value.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek capital appreciation and current income.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and investment-grade bonds with at least 25% of its assets in bonds and at least 25% of its assets in common stock. When determining this percentage, convertible bonds and/or preferred stocks are considered common stocks, unless these securities are held primarily for income. Sentinel will divide the Fund’s assets among stocks and bonds based on whether it believes stocks or bonds offer a better value at the time. More bonds normally enhance price stability, and more stocks usually enhance growth potential. Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry.

 

Sentinel’s philosophy for the equity portion of the portfolio is based on a long-term view and emphasizes diversification, high quality and valuation discipline. Sentinel looks for securities of high quality companies with a positive multi-year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time, with attractive risk profiles and long-term adjusted returns. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities. Under normal circumstances, the equity securities in which the Fund invests are predominantly those of U.S companies.

 

The bond portion of the Fund may be invested without limitation in bonds in the first through the fourth highest categories of Moody’s (Aaa to Baa) and Standard and Poor’s (AAA to BBB). The Fund may also purchase bonds in the lowest rating categories (C for Moody’s and D for Standard and Poor’s) and comparable unrated securities. No more than 20% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in lower-quality bonds (e.g., bonds rated below Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Standard & Poor’s).

 

The Fund may make unlimited investments in U.S. government mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), including pass-through certificates guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”). Each GNMA certificate is backed by a pool of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration and/or the Veterans Administration, and provides for the payment of minimum fixed monthly installments of principal and interest. The guarantee by GNMA of timely repayment of principal and payment of interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued and guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”) and by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”). In all of these mortgage-backed securities, the actual maturity of and realized yield will vary based on the prepayment experience of the underlying pool of mortgages. Mortgage- related securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA. They are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but are supported by the right of FNMA to borrow from the U.S. Treasury Department (e.g., the Federal Home Loan Banks). Mortgage-related securities issued by FHLMC are not guaranteed by the United States or by any Federal Home Loan Bank and do not constitute a debt or obligation of the United States or of any Federal Home Loan Bank. FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on its mortgage-related securities; provided, however, that FHLMC may remit on account of its guarantee of ultimate payment of principal the amount due with respect to any underlying mortgage loan at any time after default on such underlying mortgage, but in no event later than one year after it becomes payable. On September 6, 2008, Director James Lockhart of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) appointed FHFA as conservator of both FNMA and FHLMC. In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department agreed to provide FNMA and FHLMC up to $100 billion of capital each on an as needed basis to insure that they continue to provide liquidity to the housing and mortgage markets. While the original maximum life of a mortgage-backed security considered for this Fund can vary, its average life is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the underlying mortgages, because the mortgages in these pools may be prepaid, refinanced, curtailed, or foreclosed.

 

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Prepayments are passed through to the mortgage-backed securityholder along with regularly scheduled minimum repayments of principal and payments of interest.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell agency MBS on a “to be announced” or “TBA” basis, where the Fund buys or sells agency MBS on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, credit and currency risk, using derivative instruments, such as exchange-traded futures and options, and other derivatives such as swaps, interest rate caps and floors, credit default swaps and credit indices. The Fund may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

In managing the fixed-income portion of the portfolio, the Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the security is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio manager believes is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel Common Stock Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a combination of growth of capital, current income, growth of income and relatively low risk as compared with the stock market as a whole.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek a combination of capital appreciation and income.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund invests mainly in a diverse group of common stocks of well-established companies, typically above $5 billion in market capitalization, many of which historically have paid regular dividends. When appropriate, the Fund also may invest in preferred stocks or debentures convertible into common stocks. Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests predominantly in common stocks of U.S. companies.

 

Sentinel’s philosophy with respect to the Fund is based on a long-term view and emphasizes diversification, high quality and valuation discipline. Sentinel looks for securities of high quality companies with a positive multi-year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. Sentinel has a preference for companies that earn above-average rates of return on capital and that generate free cash flow. Additionally, earnings revision trends are important.

 

The Fund may sell a security to meet redemptions, if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the stock is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio managers believe is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity.

 

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Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks current income exempt from both federal and Georgia state income taxes, consistent with preservation of capital.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that generate income that, in the opinion of counsel to the issuer of the security, is exempt from federal and Georgia state income taxes. This principal investment strategy is a fundamental policy that may only be changed by a majority vote of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest in municipal obligations whose interest is a tax-preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). If you are subject to the AMT, a portion of the Fund’s distributions to you may not be exempt from federal income tax.

 

GLOBALT, Inc. (“GLOBALT”), the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, will purchase investment-grade municipal securities in an attempt to maintain an average weighted portfolio maturity of five to fifteen years, as determined by market conditions. As a core, general obligation, revenue, school, housing, hospital development and insured municipal bonds are represented. GLOBALT considers the relative yield, maturity and availability of various types of municipal bonds and the general economic outlook in determining how much to invest in a specific type of municipal bond in the Fund’s portfolio. Duration adjustments are made relative to the Barclays 10 -Year Municipal Bond Index.

 

Sentinel Government Securities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks high current income while seeking to control risk.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the investment objective is to seek a high level of current income consistent with the preservation of principal.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. government securities and related derivatives. Related derivatives include exchange-traded futures on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, and options on these futures, and other derivatives intended to hedge interest rate risk, such as swaps, options on swaps, and interest rate caps and floors. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund invests mainly in U.S. government bonds. These bonds include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government, and obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. The Fund is not required, however, to invest set amounts in any of the various types of U.S. government securities. Sentinel will choose the types of U.S. government securities that it believes will provide capital preservation and the best return with the least risk in light of its analysis of current market conditions and its outlook for interest rates and the economy.

 

The Fund invests substantially in U.S. government mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), including pass-through certificates guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”). Each GNMA certificate is backed by a pool of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration and/or the Veterans Administration, and provides for the payment of minimum fixed monthly installments of principal and interest. The guarantee by GNMA of timely repayment of principal and payment of interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued and guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”) and by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”). In all of these mortgage-backed securities, the actual maturity of and realized yield will vary based on the prepayment experience of the underlying pool of mortgages. Mortgage- related securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA. They are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but are supported by the right of FNMA to borrow from the U.S. Treasury Department (e.g., the Federal Home Loan Banks). Mortgage-related securities issued by FHLMC are not guaranteed by the United States or by any Federal Home Loan Bank

 

70


 

and do not constitute a debt or obligation of the United States or of any Federal Home Loan Bank. FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on its mortgage-related securities; provided, however, that FHLMC may remit on account of its guarantee of ultimate payment of principal the amount due with respect to any underlying mortgage loan at any time after default on such underlying mortgage, but in no event later than one year after it becomes payable. On September 6, 2008, Director James Lockhart of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) appointed FHFA as conservator of both FNMA and FHLMC. In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department agreed to provide FNMA and FHLMC up to $100 billion of capital each on an as needed basis to insure that they continue to provide liquidity to the housing and mortgage markets. While the original maximum life of a mortgage-backed security considered for this Fund can vary, its average life is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the underlying mortgages, because the mortgages in these pools may be prepaid, refinanced, curtailed, or foreclosed. Prepayments are passed through to the mortgage-backed securityholder along with regularly scheduled minimum repayments of principal and payments of interest.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell agency MBS on a “to be announced” or “TBA” basis, wherethe Fund buys or sells agency MBS on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate risk, using derivative instruments (e.g., futures and options on futures, swaps, options on swaps, and caps and floors), and may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel International Equity Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund invests mainly in common stocks of established companies located in or that conduct their business mainly in one or more foreign countries, which may include emerging markets. The Fund will normally be invested in ten or more foreign countries and may invest up to 40% of its assets in any one country if Sentinel feels that economic and business conditions make it appropriate to do so.

 

Sentinel applies a multi-dimensional strategy comprised of three parts that continually interact: trend identification, stock selection, and risk management. Trends are identified that affect global and regional economic and financial environments, setting a framework for stock selection. Stocks are then analyzed based on five key factors: valuation, growth, management, business quality and balance sheet strength. Stocks chosen for inclusion in the Fund share similar characteristics, such as an industry leadership position, innovative products and services, balance sheet strength, and management teams with demonstrated effectiveness in a competitive global environment. Risk management through portfolio diversification provides the means to monitor and moderate volatility for the overall Fund. Typically, the Fund has no more than double the weight of the MSCI EAFE index or less than half the weight of the index in the largest countries in the index.

 

The Fund focuses its investments on developed foreign countries, but may invest up to 25% of its total assets in emerging markets. It normally will have substantial investments in European countries. Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors.

 

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Normally, at least 75% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in securities of non-U.S. issuers selected by Sentinel mainly for their long-term capital growth prospects. The remaining 25% may be invested in companies organized in the United States that have at least 50% of their assets and/or revenues outside the United States.

 

The majority of the Fund’s trading of stocks occurs on established stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets in the countries in which investments are being made. The Fund also expects to purchase American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts in bearer form, which are designed for use in non-U.S. securities markets. ADRs trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter markets, and represent foreign stocks. To expedite settlement of portfolio transactions and minimize currency value fluctuations, the Fund may purchase foreign currencies and/or engage in forward foreign currency transactions. Normally, however, the Fund does not hedge its foreign currency exposure.

 

The Fund generally may sell a security when there is a deterioration of one or more of the five factors described above or when the portfolio managers identify a more favorable investment opportunity. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks high current income and limited fluctuations in principal value.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income instruments and related derivatives. The Fund’s policy of investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income instruments and related derivatives is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing principally in a diversified portfolio of fixed income instruments of varying maturities, and related derivatives. Related derivatives include exchange-traded futures on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds and equity indexes, and options on these futures, and other derivatives intended to hedge interest rate risk and credit risk, such as interest rate caps and floors, swaps and options on swaps. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest at least 50% of its total assets in investment grade debt securities. Investment grade debt securities are securities that are rated within the four highest grades assigned by rating agencies such as Moody’s (Aaa to Baa) and Standard and Poor’s (AAA to BBB), or are unrated but considered by Sentinel to be of comparable credit quality.

 

The investment-grade debt securities in which the Fund may invest include, among others:

 

· Corporate debt securities issued by U.S. companies;

· Corporate debt securities issued by non-U.S. (including emerging markets) companies that are denominated in U.S. dollars;

· Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities;

· Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and

· Inflation-linked investments.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest no more than 50% of its total assets in any one or combination of the following types of fixed income securities and other instruments:

 

· Below investment-grade debt securities (sometimes called “junk bonds”);

· Debt securities of non-U.S. (including emerging markets) issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies;

· Senior bank loans, primarily participations, but may also include bridge loans, novations and assignments; and

· Convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks.

 

The Fund attempts to manage interest rate risk through its management of the average duration of the securities it holds in its portfolio. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to maintain its average duration range between zero and three years. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer a portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive the portfolio is to shifts in interest rates. In comparison to maturity (which is the date on which a debt instrument ceases and the issuer is obligated to repay the principal amount), duration is a measure of the expected price volatility of a debt instrument as a result of changes in market rates of interest, based on the weighted average timing of the instrument’s expected principal and interest payments and other factors. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s yield, coupon payments, principal payments, call features and coupon adjustments in addition to the amount of time until the security finally

 

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matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with lower durations tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with higher durations. Similarly, a portfolio with a shorter average duration is expected to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a higher duration.

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments.

 

Subject to the limitations above, the Fund may invest in below investment-grade debt securities, sometimes called “junk bonds”. Below investment-grade debt securities are debt securities that are rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by Standard and Poor’s, or are unrated but considered by Sentinel to be of comparable credit quality.

 

The investment grade and below investment-grade debt securities described above may include mortgage-backed (“MBS”), mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans, real property, or other assets. Mortgage-related securities include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”s), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBS”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

Inflation-linked, or inflation-indexed fixed income securities are securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike traditional fixed income securities that make fixed or variable principal and interest payments. The Fund may invest in Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which are U.S. government bonds whose principal automatically is adjusted for inflation as measured by the CPI, and other inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In addition to investing in TIPS, the Fund also may invest in sovereign inflation-indexed fixed income securities (sometimes referred to as “linkers”) issued by non-U.S. sovereign entities. To the extent that the Fund invests in such non-U.S. inflation-indexed fixed income securities that are denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund will limit such investments in accordance with the limitations described above.

 

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, such as preferred stocks or bonds, which are exchangeable at the option of the holder for a fixed number of other securities, usually common stock, at a set price or formula.

 

The Fund may invest in floating and/ or adjustable rate senior bank loans. Senior bank loans are business loans made to borrowers that may be U.S. or foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities. The interest rates on these loans periodically are adjusted to a generally recognized base rate such as the London Interbank Offered Rate or the prime rate as set by the Federal Reserve. Senior loans typically are secured by specific collateral of the borrower and hold the most senior position in the borrower’s capital structure or share the senior position with the borrower’s other senior debt securities. This capital structure position generally gives holders of senior loans a priority claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets in the event of default.

 

The Fund may invest in Rule 144A securities.

 

The Fund may use derivative instruments in order to hedge various risks and manage the average duration of the Fund’s portfolio. Currently, it expects to invest principally in futures, options, swaps and options on swaps The Fund may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so. The Fund may engage in such transactions on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

Sentinel may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria, or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, maintain its duration, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others.

 

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Sentinel Mid Cap Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in mid-capitalization companies. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. For this purpose, mid-capitalization companies are considered to be companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations between $500 million and $25 billion. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of mid-capitalization companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued.

 

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in stocks of companies within a single industry. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, and it attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

The Fund may sell a security when the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold and/or if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines. The Fund may sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. The Fund may also sell a security generally to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests in a broad range of debt instruments and equity securities. The Fund may shift its investments from one asset class to another based on Sentinel’s analysis of the best opportunities for the Fund in a given market.

 

The debt instruments in which the Fund may invest include all varieties of fixed, floating and variable rate instruments, including, without limitation, secured and unsecured bonds and mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities. The debt instruments may be of any maturity and any credit quality, including high-yield (below investment-grade) bonds (sometimes called “junk bonds”). The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt instruments, and has the flexibility to invest exclusively in any one type of debt instrument, including junk bonds, or in any combination of debt instruments.

 

The Fund may also invest in other debt securities, including government obligations, debt securities convertible into common stocks, debentures, bank loans, zero-coupon securities, notes, short-term debt instruments, when-issued securities, Rule 144A securities, structured notes and repurchase agreements. The below investment-grade debt securities in which the Fund may invest may include distressed securities.

 

The Fund may invest in any stock or other equity security that Sentinel believes may assist the Fund in pursuing its investment objective, including common stocks of companies of any size or any market capitalization, preferred stock, securities convertible into common stocks, utility stocks, publicly-traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) securities and other equity trusts and partnership interests, including master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) that are generally in energy-related industries. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities, but currently expects to invest no more than 40% of its assets in equity securities. The Fund will not invest more than 70% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities of foreign issuers.

 

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MLPs are limited partnerships or limited liability companies taxable as partnerships. MLPs may derive income and gains from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. When investing in an MLP, the Fund intends to purchase publicly traded common units issued to limited partners of the MLP. The general partner is typically owned by a major energy company, an investment fund, the direct management of the MLP or is an entity owned by one or more of such parties. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity.

 

REITs are companies that own interests in real estate or in real estate related loans or other interests, and have revenue primarily consisting of rent derived from owned, income producing real estate properties and capital gains from the sale of such properties. REITs can generally be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity REITs and mortgage REITs. REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). The Fund intends to invest in equity REITs.

 

The Fund may invest in both U.S. and non-U.S. dollar denominated debt instruments and equity securities, and securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including emerging markets issuers.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may attempt to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, equity, credit and currency risk, using derivative instruments (e.g., exchange-traded futures and options, and other derivatives such as swaps, options on swaps, and interest rate caps and floors), and may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment basis.

 

Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors.

 

The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria, or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others.

 

Sentinel Small Company Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in small-capitalization companies. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. For this purpose, small companies are considered to be companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations of less than $4 billion. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of small companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued. The weighted median market capitalization of the Fund’s holdings as of February 27, 2015 was approximately $2.6 billion. Market capitalization is the total value of all the outstanding shares of common stock of a company.

 

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Up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities within a single industry. The Fund attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

The Fund would typically sell a security if the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold and/or if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines. The Fund may also sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 65% of its net assets in stocks of well-established U.S. companies, typically those with market capitalizations above $5 billion.

 

Sentinel’s philosophy is based on a long-term view and emphasizes diversification, high quality, and valuation discipline. The Fund favors companies that have a high degree of corporate responsibility. Sentinel looks for securities of high quality companies with a positive multi-year outlook offered at attractive valuation levels based on a number of metrics, including value relative to its history, peers and/or the market over time. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in stocks of companies within a single industry. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. The Fund may also invest in stocks with the potential to provide current income, growth of income and relatively low risk as compared to the stock market as a whole when consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

 

The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating or the original investment premise is no longer valid, the stock is trading meaningfully higher than what the portfolio managers believe is a fair valuation, to manage the size of the holding or the sector weighting and/or to take advantage of a more attractive investment opportunity. The Fund may sell a security to meet redemptions. Additionally, a security will be sold if it is determined that it no longer meets the environmental, social and/or corporate governance performance criteria.

 

Sustainable and Responsible Investing. The Fund employs a process of environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) screening that is overseen by Sentinel’s in-house sustainable research department. Through a disciplined process, Sentinel’s sustainable research analysts produce a detailed evaluation of corporate policies and practices. First, Sentinel’s financial analysts and portfolio managers apply a series of exclusionary screens developed by our sustainable research analysts to a company. If a company passes the exclusionary screens, the company’s securities are eligible to be purchased by the Fund. Next, Sentinel’s sustainable research analysts conduct a second, more in-depth qualitative screening process. If a company fails the qualitative screening process, the company’s securities are no longer eligible for investment and must be sold within 90 days of the final rejection of the company by the sustainable research team if it is held by the Fund. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell securities based on social, environmental or corporate governance reasons when it may be financially disadvantageous to do so. While no investment is ever made solely based on the qualitative criteria alone, the Fund believes sustainable screening provides a unique and more comprehensive view of the companies it considers for investment.

 

Generally, companies are eliminated from investment consideration if they:

 

·                  have material interests in the production of tobacco or tobacco products, or if the sale of such products represents a significant source of revenue;

·                  have material interests in the production of alcoholic beverages or if sale of such products represents a significant source of revenue;

 

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·                  generate nuclear power or supply nuclear facilities with industry specific components, as a primary line of business;

·                  have material interests in the manufacture of weapons or weapons-specific components;

·                  are involved in gambling as a main line of business; and/or

·                  lack diversity at the level of the board of directors or senior management.

 

The Fund favors companies that:

 

·                  publish and enforce codes of conduct and vendor standards;

·                  promote equal opportunity, diversity and good employee relations;

·                  are sensitive to community concerns;

·                  seek alternatives to animal testing when not required by law; and/or

·                  have minimal impact on the environment and engage in proactive environmental initiatives.

 

Sentinel may, in its discretion, choose to apply additional screens, modify the application of the screens listed above or vary the application of the screens listed above to the Fund’s investments at any time without shareholder approval.

 

Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks growth of capital.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in mid-capitalization companies. This principal investment strategy is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders. For this purpose, mid-capitalization companies are considered to be companies that have, at the time of purchase, market capitalizations between $500 million and $25 billion. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of mid-capitalization companies that Sentinel believes are high quality, have superior business models, solid management teams, sustainable growth potential and are attractively valued.

 

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in stocks of companies within a single industry. Although the Fund may invest in any economic sector, and it attempts to be well-balanced across major economic sectors, at times it may emphasize one or more particular sectors. The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, although only where the securities are trading in the U.S. or Canada and only where trading is denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars.

 

The Fund may sell a security when the portfolio managers believe it is overvalued, if the original investment premise is no longer true, if the market cap exceeds a specified threshold and/or if the holding size exceeds the portfolio managers’ company or sector weighting guidelines. The Fund may also sell a partial position in a security in order to manage the size of the position. The Fund may also sell a security generally to meet redemptions. A security will be sold if it is determined that it no longer meets the environmental, social and/or corporate governance performance criteria.

 

Sustainable and Responsible Investing. The Fund employs a process of environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) screening that is overseen by Sentinel’s in-house sustainable research department. Through a disciplined process, Sentinel’s sustainable research analysts produce a detailed evaluation of corporate policies and practices. First, Sentinel’s financial analysts and portfolio managers apply a series of exclusionary screens developed by our sustainable research analysts to a company. If a company passes the exclusionary screens, the company’s securities are eligible to be purchased by the Fund. Next, Sentinel’s sustainable research analysts conduct a second, more in-depth qualitative screening process. If a company fails the qualitative screening process, the company’s securities are no longer eligible for investment and must be sold within 90 days of the final rejection of the company by the sustainable research team if it is held by the Fund. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell securities based upon social, environmental or corporate governance reasons when it may be financially disadvantageous to do so. While no investment is ever made solely based on qualitative criteria alone, the Fund believes sustainable screening provides a unique and more comprehensive view of the companies it considers for investment.

 

Generally, companies are eliminated from investment consideration if they:

 

·                  have material interests in the production of tobacco or tobacco products, or if the sale of such products represents a significant source of revenue;

 

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·                  have material interests in the production of alcoholic beverages or if sale of such products represents a significant source of revenue;

·                  generate nuclear power or supply nuclear facilities with industry specific components, as a primary line of business;

·                  have material interests in the manufacture of weapons or weapons-specific components;

·                  are involved in gambling as a main line of business; and/or

·                  lack diversity at the level of the board of directors or senior management.

 

The Fund favors companies that:

 

·                  publish and enforce codes of conduct and vendor standards;

·                  promote equal opportunity, diversity and good employee relations;

·                  are sensitive to community concerns;

·                  seek alternatives to animal testing when not required by law; and/or

·                  have minimal impact on the environment and engage in proactive environmental initiatives.

 

Sentinel may, in its discretion, choose to apply additional screens, modify the application of the screens listed above or vary the application of the screens listed above to the Fund’s investments at any time without shareholder approval.

 

Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks maximum investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in fixed-income securities and in related derivatives, such as interest rate, credit, equity and foreign currency derivatives (futures, options, swaps, options on swaps, and caps and floors).

 

The Fund invests primarily in investment grade bonds.

 

At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will normally be invested in the following types of bonds and related derivatives:

 

1. Corporate bonds of varying maturities issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. private-sector entities denominated in U.S. dollars and foreign currencies;

 

2. Debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including mortgage-backed securities, and by non-U.S. sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities; and

 

3. Taxable or tax-exempt municipal securities.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of any duration. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a fixed income security’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The value of a fixed-income security with a positive duration will decline if interest rates increase. The longer the portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in interest rates. For example, the value of a portfolio with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately five percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point and a portfolio with a duration of two years would be expected to fall approximately two percent if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

 

The Fund’s policy of investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in bonds and related derivatives is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest include, among other things, corporate bonds and other debt securities, U.S. government securities, commercial paper, zero-coupon securities, mortgage-related securities (including senior and junior loans, mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-related securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations) and other asset-backed securities,

 

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when-issued securities, REIT securities, Rule 144A securities, structured notes, repurchase agreements, preferred stocks and convertible debt and equity securities.

 

The Fund will invest no more than 50% of its total assets in lower quality bonds, sometimes called “junk bonds.” These bonds, because of the greater possibility that the issuers will default, are not investment grade - that is, they are rated below BBB by Standard & Poor’s or below Baa by Moody’s, or are unrated but considered by Sentinel to be of comparable credit quality.

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

Up to 25% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in securities within a single industry.

 

The Fund utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may use derivative instruments (e.g., exchange-traded derivatives such as futures and options, and other derivatives such as swap agreements, options on swaps, interest rate caps and floors, credit default swaps and credit indices) in order to hedge various risks, such as interest rate, credit and currency risk. The Fund may use derivative instruments for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market, if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating, or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

Sentinel Unconstrained Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks maximum investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

 

If the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that the Fund’s investment objective should be changed, shareholders of the Fund will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any such change is made. However, the investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. fixed-income instruments and related derivatives. The Fund’s investments may be represented by forwards or derivative instruments. The Fund focuses on investments in U.S. fixed-income instruments. “Fixed-income instruments” include bonds, debt securities and similar instruments. The Fund has a flexible investment strategy, and will utilize a variety of investment techniques, and may invest in a broad array of fixed income instruments. The Fund’s investments in fixed-income instruments may include, among other things, corporate bonds and other debt securities, U.S. government and agency securities, foreign government and supranational debt securities, emerging market debt securities, commercial paper, zero-coupon securities, mortgage-related securities (including senior and junior loans, mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-related securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations) and other asset-backed securities, collateralized debt and loan obligations, when-issued securities, investments in REIT securities, Rule 144A securities, preferred securities, structured products, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, convertible securities and mezzanine securities. The Fund may invest in fixed, variable and floating rate instruments, including bank loans or loan participation interests in secured, second lien or unsecured variable, fixed or floating rate loans. . The Fund may invest in fixed income instruments of any maturity. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis, and may invest in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies for hedging or investment purposes. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets, at the time of purchase, in equity securities. The Fund may also

 

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invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in carrying out its investment strategies. The Fund considers investments in bond ETFs (ETFs whose underlying portfolio consists of debt instruments) as investments in fixed income instruments. Fund management may adjust the Fund’s portfolio among various types of instruments based on then-current or anticipated market conditions.

 

The Fund’s policy of investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. fixed-income instruments, which may be represented by forwards or derivative instruments, is a non-fundamental policy that may not be changed without 60 days’ prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Fund may invest in fixed income instruments of any credit quality, including instruments that are in default. The Fund will invest no more than 70% of its total assets in lower quality bonds, sometimes called “junk bonds.” These bonds, because of the greater possibility that the issuers will default, are not investment grade - that is, they are rated below BBB by Standard & Poor’s or below Baa by Moody’s, or are unrated but considered by Sentinel to be of comparable credit quality.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of any duration. The average portfolio duration of the Fund will normally vary from negative five (-5) years to positive ten (10) years, depending on Sentinel’s forecast of interest rates and its assessment of market risks generally. Duration is a mathematical concept that measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The longer the portfolio’s duration, the more sensitive the portfolio is to shifts in interest rates. In comparison to maturity (which is the date on which a debt instrument ceases and the issuer is obligated to repay the principal amount), duration is a measure of the expected price volatility of a debt instrument as a result of changes in market rates of interest, based on the weighted average timing of the instrument’s expected principal and interest payments and other factors. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s yield, coupon payments, principal payments, call features and coupon adjustments in addition to the amount of time until the security finally matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. The value of a fixed-income security with a positive duration will decline if interest rates increase. The value of a fixed-income security with a negative duration will increase if interest rates increase. Prices of securities with lower durations tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with higher durations. Similarly, a portfolio with a shorter average duration is expected to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a higher average duration.

 

The Fund may also purchase or sell “to be announced” or “TBA” securities, which usually are transactions in which the Fund buys or sells agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) on a forward commitment basis. In a TBA transaction, the seller of the agency MBS agrees on a sale price, but does not specify which particular securities will be delivered to the buyer on settlement day. Instead, only a few basic characteristics of the securities are agreed upon, such as the coupon rate and the face value. The Fund may engage in short sales of agency MBS that the Fund does not own, primarily as part of a TBA swap transaction. A TBA swap transaction involves an agreement to purchase one agency MBS and a simultaneous agreement to sell a different agency MBS.

 

The Fund may use derivative instruments without limitation for hedging or for other investment purposes, such as replicating permitted investments. The Fund may use derivative instruments to gain both long and short exposure to fixed-income or other instruments by investing in, among other instruments, derivatives such as futures and options, and other derivatives such as swap agreements, including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps and index swaps and forward contracts, subject to applicable law and any other restrictions described in the Fund’s prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so. Currently, the Fund expects to utilize primarily the following derivative instruments: futures, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps.

 

The derivatives used by the Fund may involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund.

 

The Fund may use borrowings or other leverage for investment purposes. The Fund may enter into transactions such as reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls.

 

The Fund has fewer restrictions than many other fixed income funds, and utilizes an active trading approach, which is expected to result in portfolio turnover greater than 100%.

 

The Fund may engage in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll, the Fund sells mortgage-backed or U.S. Treasury securities for delivery in the current month, and simultaneously contracts to buy back securities of the same type, coupon and maturity on a predetermined future date. During the roll period, the Fund forgoes principal and interest paid on the mortgage-backed or U.S. Treasury securities. In return, the Fund receives the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”), and interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. A “covered roll” is a

 

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specific type of dollar roll in which the proceeds of a dollar roll are held in a separate account and invested only in high-grade, money-market instruments. The Fund may only invest in covered rolls.

 

The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements, provided the counterparty maintains the value of the underlying securities at not less than 102% of the repurchase price stated in the agreement. Under a repurchase agreement, the Fund purchases bonds and simultaneously agrees to resell these bonds to a counterparty at a prearranged time and specific price.

 

The Fund may sell a security if the security is overvalued on a relative basis compared to other securities available in the market, if the fundamentals of the company are deteriorating, or for duration management purposes. The Fund may also sell a security to meet redemptions.

 

From time to time, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, commercial paper, high-grade bonds, or cash equivalents for temporary defensive reasons if Sentinel believes that adverse market or other conditions warrant. This strategy is an attempt to protect the Fund’s assets from a temporary unacceptable risk of loss. If the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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Other Investment Strategies

 

Convertible Securities. The International Equity Fund also may invest in convertible or debt securities rated Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s.

 

Derivative Instruments. The Common Stock, Georgia Municipal Bond, International Equity, Mid Cap, Small Company, Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds also may use derivative instruments (e.g., futures and options agreements) for hedging purposes, and for other investment purposes such as replicating permitted investments, as long as such investments do not have the effect of leveraging portfolio risks. Each of these Funds may establish derivative positions only when immediately thereafter not more than 5% of its total assets are held in derivative positions. The Funds are not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

Dollar Rolls. The Balanced, Government Securities, Low Duration Bond, Multi-Asset Income, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds may engage in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll, a Fund sells mortgage-backed or U.S. Treasury securities for delivery in the current month, and simultaneously contracts to buy back securities of the same type, coupon and maturity on a predetermined future date. During the roll period, a Fund forgoes principal and interest paid on the mortgage-backed or U.S. Treasury securities. In return, a Fund receives the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”), and interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. A “covered roll” is a specific type of dollar roll in which the proceeds of a dollar roll are held in a separate account and invested only in high-grade, money-market instruments. The Funds may only invest in covered rolls.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds. As a means of carrying out their respective investment strategies, each of the Balanced, Low Duration Bond, Multi-Asset Income, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds may also invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). As with traditional mutual funds, ETFs charge asset-based fees, although these fees tend to be relatively low. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges or on the over-the-counter market. ETFs do not charge initial sales charges or redemption fees and each Fund pays customary brokerage fees to buy and sell ETF shares.

 

Investments in Money Market Funds. Each Fund may invest in high quality registered and unregistered money market funds and high quality money market instruments pending investments or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. A Fund will not be deemed to deviate from its normal strategies if it holds these money market securities.

 

Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Government Securities Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-quality, money-market instruments that are not issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. These include bank money market instruments, commercial paper or other short-term corporate obligations listed in the highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. These money market instruments may be used as a means of making short-term investments.

 

Investments in other Investment Companies. The Common Stock, Georgia Municipal Bond, Government Securities, International Equity, Mid Cap, Small Company, Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund, other than the Georgia Municipal Bond Fund, may invest in repurchase agreements, provided the counterparty maintains the value of the underlying securities at not less than 102% of the repurchase price stated in the agreement. Under a repurchase agreement, a Fund purchases bonds and simultaneously agrees to resell these bonds to a counterparty at a prearranged time and specific price. A Fund might incur time delays or losses if the other party to the agreement defaults on the repurchase of the securities.

 

Securities Lending. Each Fund may participate in a securities lending program. Due to the nature of the holdings of the Small Company Fund, this Fund’s participation in a securities lending program may involve a substantial amount of its holdings.

 

Short Term-Trading. The Small Company Fund’s policy is to avoid short-term trading. However, the Fund may sell a security without regard to its holding period if Sentinel believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so. The Fund’s turnover rate is not expected to exceed 100% annually.

 

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Temporary Defensive Position. Each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, commercial paper, high-grade bonds, or cash equivalents for temporary defensive reasons if Sentinel, or GLOBALT in the case of the Georgia Municipal Bond Fund, believes that adverse market or other conditions warrant. This is to attempt to protect the Fund’s assets from a temporary unacceptable risk of loss. If a Fund takes a temporary defensive position, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

Investment Risks

 

We cannot guarantee that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. You can find additional information about the investment risks of the Funds in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, which is incorporated by reference into (is legally made a part of) this Prospectus. You can get a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information by calling 1-800-282-FUND (3863), by visiting sentinelinvestments.com, or by writing to Sentinel Investments at PO Box 55929, Boston, MA 02205-5929. The Funds are not guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government. The value of a Fund’s shares is expected to fluctuate.

 

Principal Equity Securities Risks

 

Illiquid Securities Risk. Securities held by the Small Company Fund that are not deemed to be illiquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid. Other securities, such as lower-quality bonds and restricted securities (securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale) may also become illiquid, even if they are not deemed to be illiquid at the time of purchase. Some restricted securities (such as securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 or certain commercial paper) may be treated as liquid, although they may be less liquid than registered securities traded on established secondary markets. Sentinel may determine that certain Rule 144A securities in which certain of the Funds invest are liquid securities under guidelines approved by the Funds’ Board of Directors, and these Rule 144A securities will not be subject to any limitation or prohibition on the purchase of illiquid securities. Rule 144A securities may become illiquid if qualified institutional buyers are unavailable. The Fund will not be able to readily resell illiquid securities. The inability to sell these securities at the most opportune time may negatively affect the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Investment Style Risk. The International Equity, Mid Cap, Small Company, and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds tend to focus on “growth” stocks, and target stocks with what the managers consider sustainable, rather than aggressive, growth rates and that are trading at reasonable valuations. The Common Stock Fund, the equity portion of the Balanced Fund and the Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund focus on both “growth” and “value” stocks, or stocks with characteristics of both, commonly called a blend style. Different types of stocks tend to shift into and out of favor with stock market investors depending on market and economic conditions. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential. Also, because growth companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Value stocks may not increase in price or pay dividends, as anticipated by the Funds’ managers, or may decline even further if: other investors fail to recognize the company’s value; other investors favor investing in faster-growing companies; or the factors that the managers believe will increase the price do not occur. The Funds’ performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that focus on other types of stocks or that have a broader investment style.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in a company. Preferred stock normally pays dividends at a specified rate and has precedence over common stock in the event the issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy. However, in the event a company is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, often has a stated dividend rate payable from the corporation’s earnings. Preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of such stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed, which can limit the benefit of a decline in interest rates. Preferred stock is subject to many of the risks to which common stock and debt securities are subject.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent a Fund invests in a particular sector, it is subject to the risks of that sector. Returns in an economic sector may trail returns from other economic sectors. As a group, sectors tend to go through cycles of doing better or worse than the securities market in general. These periods may last several years. In addition, the sectors that dominate the market change over time. For more information on risks of a particular sector consult the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Stock Market and Selection Risk. Stock market risk is the risk that the stock market will go down in value, including the possibility that the market will go down sharply and unpredictably. Selection risk is the risk that the investments that Sentinel selects will underperform the stock market or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

 

Stocks of Smaller Companies Risk. The stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Mid Cap, Small Company and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds invest typically involve more risk than the stocks of larger companies. These smaller companies may have more limited financial resources, narrower product lines, and may have less seasoned managers. In addition, these stocks may trade less frequently and in lower share volumes, making them subject to wider price fluctuations.

 

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Principal Fixed-Income Securities Risks

 

Bank Loan Risk. The market for bank loans in which the Funds may invest may not be highly liquid and, in some cases, the Funds may have to dispose of such securities at a substantial discount from face value. These investments may expose the Funds to the credit risk of the underlying corporate borrower. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off bank loans more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.

 

Derivatives Risk. The Funds may use derivatives, which are financial contracts whose value depends upon or is derived from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. Derivative investments can increase Fund losses and/or increase volatility. Derivative instruments may be difficult to price, and may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Funds. Derivatives involve counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty of the derivative transaction or a clearing member used by the Fund to hold a cleared derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligation to the Fund), basis risk (the risk that the derivative instrument will not fully offset the underlying positions), and liquidity risk (the risk that the Fund cannot sell the derivative instrument because of an illiquid secondary market). In addition, the portfolio managers may incorrectly forecast the values of securities, currencies or interest rates or other economic factors in using derivatives for the Fund.

 

Specific Risks relating to the derivatives used by the Funds:

 

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts: A futures contract is a standardized, exchange-traded agreement that obligates the buyer to buy and the seller to sell a specified quantity of an underlying asset (or settle for cash the value of a contract based on an underlying asset, rate or index) at a specific price on the contract maturity date. Options on futures contracts are options that call for the delivery of futures contracts upon exercise. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are subject to risks, including (i) imperfect correlation to the underlying asset, (ii) lack of liquidity, (iii) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited, and (iv) the risk that the counterparty will not perform its obligations.

 

Swaps: Swaps are two party contracts that generally obligate the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investments in securities because swaps may be leveraged. Swaps also involve the risk that the counterparty may not be able to satisfy its obligations to pay the Fund, and the risk that the Fund may not be able to satisfy its obligation to pay the counterparty. Certain swaps, including but not limited to certain interest rate swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated exchange or trading facility and cleared through a regulated clearinghouse, involving the risk of a default by or insolvency of the clearinghouse. Swaps may also be difficult to value.

 

Credit Default Swaps: A credit default swap involves a protection buyer and a protection seller. The Fund may be either a protection buyer or seller. The protection buyer makes periodic premium payments to the protection seller during the swap term in exchange for the protection seller agreeing to make certain defined payments to the protection buyer in the event certain defined credit events occur with respect to a particular security, issuer or basket of securities.

 

Options: The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities and indices. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities. All options written on indices or securities must be “covered” as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it will have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities. To the extent that the Fund writes

 

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or sells an option, if the decline or increase in the underlying asset is significantly below or above the exercise price of the written option, the Fund could experience a substantial loss.

 

Options on indices may, depending on circumstances, involve greater risk than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, when the Fund writes a call on an index it may not be able to provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities.

 

Forward Contracts: The Fund may invest in forward contracts. Forward contracts are transactions involving the Fund’s obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency or other asset at a future date at a specified price. Forward contracts may be used by the Fund for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates, such as when the Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a foreign security. This technique would allow a Fund to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the investment. Forward contracts also may be used to attempt to protect the value of a Fund’s existing holdings of foreign securities. There may be, however, imperfect correlation between a Fund’s foreign securities holdings and the forward contracts entered into with respect to such holdings. The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing.

 

The Fund’s use of certain derivatives, such as forward currency contracts, structured notes, futures transactions and swap transactions involve other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, swaps and other over-the counter traded derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation. Credit default swaps involve special risks because they are difficult to value and are subject to credit and liquidity risk. Certain derivative transactions may involve substantial leverage risk and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested. Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation is not yet known and may not be known for some time. New regulation may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including swap agreements and commodity-linked derivative instruments, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the character, timing and amount of the Fund’s taxable income or gains and distributions.

 

Duration Risk. Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income instrument to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed income instrument may be shorter than or equal to the full maturity of the fixed income instrument. Fixed income instruments with longer durations have more risk.

 

General Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The market prices of bonds, including those issued by the U.S. government, generally go up as interest rates fall, and go down as interest rates rise. In the event a Fund has a negative average portfolio duration, the value of the Fund may decline as interest rates fall, and rise as interest rates rise. As a result, the net asset value of the shares of Funds holding bonds will fluctuate with conditions in the bond markets. Bonds with longer maturities and longer durations (a measure of a bond’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates) generally are subject to greater price fluctuation due to interest-rate changes than bonds with shorter maturities or shorter durations. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows. If interest rates rise quickly, it may have a pronounced negative effect on the prices on the bonds held by the Funds. Fixed-income securities may also be difficult to purchase and sell in adverse market conditions. While considered investment-grade, bonds in the fourth highest rating category of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s may have more speculative characteristics and may be more likely to be downgraded than bonds rated in the three highest rating categories. When interest rates fall, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields.

 

Government Securities Risk. Economic, business, or political developments may affect the ability of government-sponsored guarantors, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA, or Fannie Mae), the Federal Farm Credit Bank (FFCB), the Federal Home Loan Bank system (FHLB) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac), to repay principal and to make interest payments on the securities in which the Balanced, Government Securities, Low Duration Bond, Multi-Asset Income, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Funds invest. In addition, certain of these securities, including those guaranteed by FNMA, FFCB, FHLB and FHLMC, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. In addition, if prevailing interest rates are below the rates on the mortgages, the mortgage borrowers are more likely to refinance their mortgages than if interest rates are at or above the interest rates on the mortgages. Faster prepayments will reduce the potential of the mortgage-backed securities to rise in value during periods of falling interest rates, while the risk of falling value during periods of rising interest rates may be comparable to or higher than other bonds of similar maturities.

 

Inflation-Linked Investments Risk. Inflation-linked securities are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. These types of securities include Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which are U.S. government bonds whose principal automatically is adjusted for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”) and other inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury and non-U.S.

 

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sovereign entities. Unlike traditional fixed-income securities, the principal and interest payments of inflation-linked investments are adjusted periodically based on the inflation rate. The value of a Fund’s inflation-linked investments may be vulnerable to changes in expectations of inflation or interest rates, and there is no guarantee that a Fund’s use of these instruments will be successful.

 

Leverage Risk. Some transactions may give rise to a form of economic leverage. These transactions may include, among others, derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and forward commitment transactions, and may expose a Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. Certain transactions in derivatives involve substantial leverage risk and may expose a Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by a Fund. The use of leverage may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet any required asset segregation requirements. Increases and decreases in the value of a Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when a Fund uses leverage.

 

Lower-Quality Bonds Risk. The lower-quality bonds in which the Low Duration Bond, Multi-Asset Income, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds and, to a lesser extent the Balanced Fund, may invest generally have higher nominal or effective interest rates than higher-quality bonds. Lower quality bonds are sometimes called “junk bonds”. Lower-quality bonds may pay interest at fixed, floating or adjustable rates. The value of floating or adjustable rate bonds is less likely to be adversely affected by interest-rate changes than fixed rate bonds. However, if interest rates fall, the Funds may earn less income if they hold floating or adjustable rate bonds. Lower-rated bonds are more speculative and likely to default than higher-quality bonds. Lower-rated bond values also tend to fluctuate more widely in value, for several reasons. An economic downturn may have a greater impact on the ability of issuers with less financial strength to make their bond payments. These bonds may not be traded as actively. Their prices may respond more adversely to negative publicity and investor perceptions. If trading in lower-rated bonds becomes less active, the Funds may have more difficulty in valuing these bonds. Success in investing in junk bonds depends heavily on Sentinel’s credit analysis. Lower-rated bonds are also more sensitive than other debt securities to adverse business developments affecting specific issuers. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer of a lower-quality bond may be significantly greater than the risk for higher rated bonds because lower-quality bonds are more likely to be unsecured and may be subordinated to other creditors. If a bond defaults, the Funds may incur additional expenses in seeking a recovery or participating in a restructuring. Lower-quality bonds also may have call features that permit the issuer to repurchase the securities from the Funds before their maturity. If a call is exercised during a period of declining interest rates, the affected Fund would probably have to replace the called bonds with lower-yielding bonds, and the Fund’s investment income would go down.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities (residential and commercial) represent interests in “pools” of mortgages held in trust and differ from traditional fixed-income securities and are subject to certain additional risks. Like traditional fixed-income securities, when interest rates fall the value of mortgage-backed securities typically increases, and when interest rates rise, the value of mortgage-backed securities typically decreases. However, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. This is known as extension risk. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, mortgage-backed securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value. In addition, the principal on mortgage- backed securities may normally be prepaid at any time, which will reduce the yield and market value. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields. This is known as prepayment risk. Prepayment reduces the yield to maturity and the average life of the asset-backed securities. Movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.

 

The mortgage market in the United States at times has experienced difficulties that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on mortgage loans (including subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of real-estate values (as has been experienced in many housing markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Also, a number of mortgage loan originators have experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy. Reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. An investor in non-U.S. sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay the principal or interest when due.

 

To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Securities Risk. In a TBA securities transaction, a Fund commits to purchase certain securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA securities include when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments. TBA securities involve the risk that the security a Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will

 

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not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.

 

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Principal Foreign Securities Risks

 

General Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves certain special risks in addition to those associated with U.S. securities. For example, the Funds may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations. Foreign markets may have less active trading volume than those in the United States, and values may fluctuate more as a result. If the Funds, specifically the International Equity Fund, had to sell securities to meet unanticipated cash requirements, they might be forced to accept lower prices. There may be less supervision and regulation of foreign exchanges. Foreign companies generally release less financial information than comparable U.S. companies. Furthermore, foreign companies generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements. Other possible risks include seizing of assets by foreign governments, high and changing taxes and withholding taxes imposed by foreign governments on dividend and/or interest payments, difficulty enforcing judgments against foreign issuers, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments that could affect U.S. investments in those countries. The Funds are not required to hedge against foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The risks of foreign investments are usually much greater for the emerging markets in which the Funds may invest. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets include those in countries defined as emerging or developing by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations. Emerging markets are riskier because they develop unevenly and may never fully develop. They are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, the securities markets in many of these countries have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Because these markets are so small, investments in them may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. In addition, traditional measures of investment values used in the United States, such as price-to-earnings ratios, may not apply to certain small markets.

 

Many emerging markets have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. As a result, their governments are more likely to take actions that are hostile or detrimental to private enterprise or foreign investment than those of more developed countries. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. In addition, governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets, which may impair investment and economic growth.

 

Foreign Banks and Securities Depositories Risk. Some foreign banks and securities depositories in which the Funds generally hold their foreign securities may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Funds’ ability to recover their assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes bankrupt. Also, brokerage commissions, and other costs of buying, selling or holding securities in foreign markets are often higher than in the United States. This can reduce amounts the Funds can earn on their investments. Foreign settlement and clearance procedures and trade regulations also may involve certain risks (such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities) not typically involved with the settlement of U.S. investments. Communications between the United States and emerging market countries may be unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates. Settlements in certain foreign countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities transactions. These problems may make it difficult for the Funds to carry out transactions.

 

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Other Principal Investment Risks

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Balanced and Multi-Asset Income Funds attempt to identify investment allocations that will provide consistent, quality performance for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that the allocations will produce the desired results. It is possible that the managers will focus on an asset class that performs poorly or underperforms other investments under various market conditions.

 

ETF Risk. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. A Fund’s investments in ETFs may subject the Fund to additional risks than if the Fund would have invested directly in the ETFs’ underlying securities. These risks include the possibility that an ETF may experience a lack of liquidity that can result in greater volatility than its underlying securities or an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track. In addition, investing in an ETF may also be more costly than if the Fund owned the underlying securities directly. The total return from an investment in an ETF will be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of the ETF. The Fund, and indirectly, shareholders of the Fund, bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses, which include management and advisory fees and other expenses. In addition, the Fund pays brokerage fees in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs.

 

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Funds shown below had the following rates of portfolio turnover in their 2014 fiscal year:

 

Government Securities

 

161

%

Multi-Asset Income

 

166

%

Total Return Bond

 

432

%

 

In addition, the Unconstrained Bond Fund, which began operations on December 23, 2014, has an active trading approach and is subject to high portfolio turnover risk.

 

Income Risk. Because a Fund can only distribute what it earns, the Fund’s distributions to shareholders may decline when prevailing interest rates fall (or, if the Fund has a negative duration, when prevailing interest rates rise) or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt instruments it holds. A Fund’s income generally declines during periods of falling interest rates because a Fund must reinvest the proceeds it receives from existing investments (upon their maturity, prepayment, amortization, call or buy-back) at a lower rate of interest or return.

 

Master Limited Partnership Risk. The common units of an MLP are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges and their value fluctuates predominantly based on prevailing market conditions and the success of the MLP. Unlike owners of common stock of a corporation, owners of common units have limited voting rights and have no ability to annually elect directors. In the event of a liquidation, common units have preference over subordinated units, but not over debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP.

 

Short Sales Risk. A short sale involves the sale by a Fund of a security that it does not own with the hope of purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. A Fund may also enter into a short position through a forward commitment or a short derivative position through a futures contract or swap agreement. If the price of the security or derivative has increased during this time, then the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Therefore, short sales involve the risk that a Fund’s losses may be exaggerated (without a limit). By contrast, a loss on a long position arises from decreases in the value of the security and is limited by the fact that a security’s value cannot decrease below zero.

 

By investing the proceeds received from selling securities short, a Fund could be deemed to be employing a form of leverage, which creates special risks. The use of leverage may increase a Fund’s exposure to long securities positions and make any change in the Fund’s NAV greater than it would be without the use of leverage. This could result in increased volatility of returns. There is no guarantee that any leveraging strategy a Fund employs will be successful during any period in which it is employed.

 

In times of unusual or adverse market, economic, regulatory or political conditions, the Fund may not be able, fully or partially, to implement its short selling strategy. Periods of unusual or adverse market, economic, regulatory or political conditions generally may exist for as long as six months and, in some cases, much longer. Also, there is the risk that the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund.

 

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Sustainable/Responsible Investing Risk. The Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds employ a process of environmental, social and corporate governance screening to potential investments. The application of Sentinel’s screening process may affect the Funds’ exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, regions and countries, and may negatively impact the relative performance of the Funds. In addition, a Fund may be required to sell a security when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for it to do so.

 

Utilities Industry Risk. Utility company equity securities, to the extent they are purchased for their dividend yield, historically have been sensitive to interest rate movements. In addition, utility companies are subject to state and federal regulation, with respect to both rates and operations, and face the potential for increased costs due to additional regulation and litigation.

 

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Other Investment Risks

 

Borrowing Risk. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of Fund shares and in the return on a Fund’s portfolio. Borrowing will cost a Fund interest expense and other fees. The costs of borrowing may reduce a Fund’s return. Borrowing may cause a Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, the convertible securities market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price is greater than the convertible’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines (other than in distressed situations), the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would be paid after the company’s creditors but before the company’s common shareholders. Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally may be viewed as having more risk than its debt securities, but less risk than its common stock.

 

Currency Risk. Foreign (non-U.S.) currencies may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, which would affect the Fund’s investments in foreign currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, or in derivatives that provide exposure to, foreign currencies.

 

Dollar Rolls Risk. The use of dollar rolls by the Balanced, Government Securities, Low Duration Bond, Multi-Asset Income, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds tends to increase the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities a Fund is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the contracted repurchase price. In the event the buyer of securities under a dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a Fund’s use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to release the counterparty from its contractual obligation.

 

Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. A Fund investing in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), will indirectly bear the management and other fees of the other investment company in addition to its own expenses.

 

Municipal Lease Risk. Municipal leases contain non-appropriation clauses under which the municipality may elect annually not to appropriate for future lease payments. This right of non-appropriation creates a non-payment risk for the Georgia Municipal Bond Fund.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal insurer can affect the overall municipal market, and market conditions may directly impact the liquidity and valuation of municipal securities.

 

Non-diversified Risk. The Georgia Municipal Bond Fund is a non-diversified fund, meaning that it may hold fewer securities than a diversified portfolio and may take larger positions in individual securities. As a result, the Fund may be more affected by the performance of a particular security than a fund investing in a broader range of securities.

 

Not Guaranteed Risk. None of the Funds are guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government. The value of each Fund’s shares is expected to fluctuate.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in a company. Preferred stock normally pays dividends at a specified rate and has precedence over common stock in the event the issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy. However, in the event a company is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, often has a stated dividend rate payable from the corporation’s earnings. Preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of such stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed, which can limit the

 

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benefit of a decline in interest rates. Preferred stock is subject to many of the risks to which common stock and debt securities are subject.

 

Real Estate-Related Investments Risk. Some of the Funds may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which are subject to risks affecting real estate investments generally (including market conditions and changes in the value of the underlying property, competition, zoning laws and other regulations, property obsolescence, changes in interest rates and casualty to real estate), as well as risks specifically affecting REITs (the quality and skill of REIT management and the internal expenses of the REIT).

 

Related Projects Risk. The Georgia Municipal Bond Fund invests in issuers that finance similar types of municipal projects and obligors whose principal business activities are in the same types of municipal projects (such as projects involving community development, education, healthcare, hospitals, industrial development, pollution control, retirement and assisted living centers, single- and multi-family low income housing, and energy productions). Therefore, it bears the risks from the effects of economic, political, tax law, or business developments related to these types of municipal projects. These risks include, but are not limited to, proposed federal or state legislation affecting these types of municipal projects, pending or final court decisions relating to municipal projects or their financing, shortages of or price increases in materials needed for the municipal projects, and declining markets or need for these municipal projects.

 

Repurchase Agreements Risk. If the repurchase agreement counterparty defaults on its repurchase obligation, a Fund would have the collateral securities and be able to sell them to another party, but it could suffer a loss if the proceeds from a sale of the securities turn out to be less than the repurchase price stated in the agreement. If the counterparty becomes insolvent or goes bankrupt, a Fund may be delayed in being able to sell securities that were subject to the repurchase agreement. In general, for federal income tax purposes, repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized loans secured by the securities “sold”. Therefore, amounts earned under such agreements are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or for treatment as qualified dividend income taxable at reduced rates in the hands of non-corporate shareholders.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities Risk. Restricted securities are securities for which trading is limited to qualified institutional buyers (Rule 144A securities, for example), or are subject to other legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Sentinel may determine that certain Rule 144A securities in which the Fund invests are liquid securities under guidelines approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors, and these Rule 144A securities will not be subject to any limitation on the purchase of illiquid securities. These liquid Rule 144A securities may become illiquid if qualified institutional buyers are unavailable. Other securities, such as lower-quality bonds or small-cap securities, may also become illiquid. The Fund will not be able to readily resell illiquid securities and resale of some of these securities may be restricted by law or contractual provisions. The inability to sell these securities at the most opportune time may negatively affect the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A reverse repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a Fund sells a portfolio security and agrees to repurchase it at an agreed-upon date, price and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund may decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund.

 

Securities Lending Risk. Securities lending programs are subject to borrower default risk (e.g., borrower fails to return a loaned security and there is a shortfall on the collateral posted by the borrower), cash collateral investment risk (e.g., principal loss resulting from the investment of the cash collateral) and security recall/return risk (e.g., the Fund is unable to recall a security in time to exercise valuable rights or sell the security). In addition, substitute payments (i.e., amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest or other distributions received by the Fund while the securities are on loan) are not treated as dividends and are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or for treatment as qualified dividend income taxable at reduced rates in the hands of non-corporate shareholders.

 

State-specific Risk. The Georgia Municipal Bond Fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting Georgia governmental entities, and the municipal bond market of that area than a municipal bond fund that is diversified nationally. The Fund is particularly sensitive to changes in the economic condition and governmental policies of the State of Georgia. For example, if the economic condition of a single significant industry within Georgia deteriorates, specific governmental issuers within the state or the anticipated revenues to the state or issuers within the state may be weakened, and the value of the Fund’s shares may fall as a result. Adverse changes in employment rates, federal revenue sharing or laws on tax-exempt financing may also cause the value of the Fund’s shares to fall.

 

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Structured Notes Risk. Investment in structured notes involves certain risks, including the risk that the issuer may be unable or unwilling to satisfy its obligations to pay principal or interest, which are separate from the risk that the note’s reference instruments may move in a manner that is disadvantageous to the holder of the note. Structured notes, which are often illiquid, are also subject to additional risks such as market risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk. The terms of certain structured notes may provide that a decline in the reference instrument may result in the interest rate or principal amount being reduced to zero. Structured notes may be more volatile than the underlying reference instruments or traditional debt instruments.

 

Taxability Risk. When the Georgia Municipal Bond Fund invests in municipal bonds, it expects to do so in reliance on an opinion of bond counsel to the issuer of each bond that the interest paid will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. Such securities, however, may be determined to pay, or have paid, taxable income subsequent to the Fund’s acquisition of the securities. In that event, the Internal Revenue Service may demand that the Fund pay taxes on such interest and, if the Fund agrees to do so, its yield could be adversely affected. In addition, the treatment of dividends previously paid or to be paid by the Fund as “exempt-interest dividends” could be adversely affected, subjecting the Fund’s shareholders to increased federal income tax liabilities, and possible penalties and interest. If any municipal bond held by the Fund is deemed to pay interest subject to federal income tax, the Fund will attempt to dispose of the security as soon as practicable. Interest income on certain “private activity” bonds is a preference item for shareholders subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

In addition to the risk that a particular municipal bond may be found to be taxable, future legislative proposals, if enacted into law, regulations, rulings or court decisions may cause interest on municipal bonds to be subject, directly or indirectly, to federal income taxation, or may otherwise prevent the Fund from realizing the full current benefit of the tax-exempt status of such securities. Any such change could also affect the market price of such municipal bonds, and thus the value of an investment in the Fund.

 

Temporary Defensive Position Risk. If a Fund, other than the Government Securities Fund, takes a temporary defensive position, it may invest all or a large portion of its assets in U.S. government securities, high-quality money-market instruments, bank deposits, or cash. If a Fund takes a temporary defensive position it may not achieve its investment objective(s).

 

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Operational Risks

 

Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds have become potentially more susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. This in turn could cause a Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures, and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to a Fund’s digital information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, cyber security breaches of a Fund’s third party service providers (including transfer agents, custodians, sub-advisers and Fund accountants), or by the exchanges and clearing houses on which the securities and derivatives that are purchased or sold by the Funds are traded or cleared, can also subject a Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, and a cyber security breach could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value. The Funds and the Adviser have established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security; however, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed. Furthermore, the Adviser and the Funds cannot control the cyber security plans and systems of third party service providers, exchanges and clearing houses, or issuers in which the Funds invest. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cyber security breach.

 

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Disclosure of Portfolio Securities

 

A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of its portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information. Information about a Fund’s top ten holdings are provided in the Fund’s Quarterly Fact Sheet posted at www.sentinelinvestments.com under “Forms & Literature”, “Performance” with at least a 15-day lag.

 

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Share Classes

 

Sentinel Funds offer different pricing options to investors in the form of different share classes. Through this Prospectus, you can learn about a Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class S and Class I, Class R3, and Class R6 shares, as applicable.

 

Fund

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class S

 

Class I

 

Class R3

 

Class R6

Balanced

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

Georgia Municipal Bond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Government Securities

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

International Equity

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Low Duration Bond

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

Mid Cap

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Multi-Asset Income

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Small Company

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

Sustainable Core Opportunities

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Total Return Bond

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

Unconstrained Bond

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

You can compare the differences among the classes of shares using the table below.

 

Class

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Contingent
Deferred Sales
Charge (“CDSC”)

 

Distribution and/or
Service (12b-1) Fees

 

Conversion
Feature

 

Availability

A

 

Maximum initial sales charge:

·1% Low Duration Bond;

·2.25% Government Securities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond; and

·5% all other Funds

 

None (Certain redemptions of shares that were purchased without a sales charge may be charged a CDSC)(1)

 

0.20% fixed-income funds (other than Low Duration Bond Fund);
0.25% Low Duration Bond and equity funds (other than the Small Company Fund); and
0.30% Small Company Fund.

 

None

 

Generally available

C

 

None

 

1% if redeemed in the first year

 

1.00%

 

None

 

Generally available

S

 

None

 

None

 

0.50%

 

None

 

Offered only by the Low Duration Bond Fund

I

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Strict eligibility requirements apply

R3

 

None

 

None

 

0.50%

 

None

 

Eligibility requirements apply (offered only by the Total Return Bond Fund)

R6

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Eligibility requirements apply

 


(1)   There is no sales charge for new purchases of $1,000,000 and over ($500,000 or more for the Government Securities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds). A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to redemptions of Class A shares if shares are redeemed in the first twelve months after purchase where the initial sales charge was zero based on a purchase of $1,000,000 or more ($500,000 or more for the Government Securities,Total Return Bond, and Unconstrained Bond Funds). The CDSC schedule with respect to these Funds is set forth below under “Class A Shares”.

 

This Prospectus frequently uses the term “CDSC”, which stands for Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. This type of charge is assessed when you redeem shares subject to a CDSC if none of the waivers described in this Prospectus apply. If you do not redeem shares

 

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during the time periods in which an investment is subject to a CDSC, you will not pay this charge. CDSC schedules may change from time to time. Your shares are subject to the CDSC schedule in effect when you purchased them.

 

When choosing a share class, your considerations should include:

 

·                  the amount of the investment;

·                  the intended length of the investment;

·                  the type of Fund you want;

·                  whether you are eligible for a waiver or reduction of an initial sales charge or CDSC; and

·                  whether you intend to utilize the exchange privilege (exchange privileges among Sentinel Funds differ by share class).

 

Class A shares have the advantage of lower ongoing distribution expenses. The disadvantage of the Class A shares is that you pay an initial sales charge. If in your circumstances the lower ongoing expenses outweigh the impact of the initial sales charge, Class A shares may be appropriate for you.

 

Class C shares have the advantages of no initial sales charge and a relatively small CDSC that applies only in the first year. However, you pay higher ongoing distribution fees for the entire period of your investment. This class may be appropriate for you if the benefits of avoiding an initial sales charge outweigh the continuing higher distribution fees. Over long periods, however, the other share classes may outperform Class C shares.

 

Class S shares, available for the Low Duration Bond Fund only, have the advantage that you pay no sales charges. However, you pay higher ongoing distribution fees for the entire period of your investment.

 

Class I shares have the advantages of no sales charges and no distribution fees. They typically have an expense ratio that is lower than the Fund’s other classes of shares. In general, investors who can satisfy the Class I share class eligibility requirements should purchase Class I shares, if offered by the Fund. Class I shares do not offer certain account services available to other classes, such as automatic investment and withdrawal plans and online account access.

 

Class R3 shares, available for the Total Return Bond Fund only, have the advantages of no sales charges. Class R3 shares are only available to employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund and in which the plan administrator or record keeper has entered into a plan services agreement with the distributor. Class R3 shares do not offer certain account services available to other classes, such as automatic investment and withdrawal plans and online account access.

 

Class R6 shares, available for the Common Stock, Small Company and Total Return Bond Funds only, have the advantages of no sales charges and no distribution fees. They are available to certain employer sponsored group retirement and group 529 college savings plans; registered investment companies; institutions, trusts and foundations with a $1 million initial investment; and certain fee-based advisory programs. They typically have an expense ratio that is lower than the Fund’s other classes of shares. Class R6 shares do not offer certain account services available to other classes, such as automatic investment and withdrawal plans and online account access.

 

Sentinel has agreed to reimburse certain expenses paid by the Class I shares of the Funds to the extent necessary to prevent the total annual fund operating expense ratio of the Class I shares of the Funds, on an annualized basis, from exceeding the total annual fund operating expense ratio of the Class A shares of the same Fund. This agreement will continue through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Funds.

 

Purchase of Fund Shares

 

There is no size limit on purchases of Class A or Class S shares. The maximum purchase of Class C shares accepted is $999,999. Investment minimums apply to the purchase of Class I and Class R6 shares, with certain exceptions. Broker/dealers, financial institutions, plan agents and other intermediaries (collectively, “intermediaries”) may charge additional fees in connection with transactions in Fund shares. Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds’ distributor, and/or an affiliate make payments from their own resources to intermediaries related to marketing the Funds and/or servicing Fund shareholders, which may represent a premium over payments to those intermediaries made by other fund families, and investment professionals may have an added incentive to sell or recommend a Fund or Class over others offered by competing fund families. Additional information about these arrangements is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information

 

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Class A Shares

 

Class A shares are generally subject to a front-end sales charge. You may qualify for a reduced front-end sales charge based on the size of your purchase. For all purchases of Class A shares, you pay the offering price, which includes the front-end sales charge, next computed after we receive your order. The tables below show the front-end sales charges that you may pay if you purchase Class A shares:

 

Balanced, Common Stock, International Equity, Multi-Asset Income, Mid Cap, Small Company, Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds:

 

 

 

Sales charge as a percentage of:

 

 

 

Invested Assets

 

Offering Price

 

Net Amount Invested

 

Dealer Reallowance

 

$0 to $24,999

 

5.00

%

5.26

%

4.50

%

$25,000 to $49,999

 

4.50

%

4.71

%

4.25

%

$50,000 to $99,999

 

4.00

%

4.17

%

3.75

%

$100,000 to $249,999

 

3.00

%

3.10

%

2.75

%

$250,000 to $999,999

 

2.00

%

2.04

%

1.75

%

$1,000,000 and over

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%(1)

 


(1) Distributor may pay the following compensation to securities dealers who initiate purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more.  However, if shares are redeemed prior to 12 months after the date of purchase, they will be subject to a CDSC of 1% unless a CDSC waiver applies.

 

Invested Assets (based on ROA)

 

Compensation

 

for the portion up to and including $2 million

 

1.00

%

for the portion of the order exceeding $2 million up to and including $4 million

 

0.70

%

for the portion exceeding $4 million

 

0.50

%

 

Government Securities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds:

 

 

 

Sales charge as a percentage of:

 

 

 

Invested Assets

 

Offering Price

 

Net Amount Invested

 

Dealer Reallowance

 

$0 to $99,999

 

2.25

%

2.30

%

2.00

%

$100,000 to $249,999

 

1.75

%

1.78

%

1.50

%

$250,000 to $499,999

 

1.25

%

1.27

%

1.00

%

$500,000 and over

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%(2)

 

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(2) Distributor may pay the following commission to securities dealers who initiate purchases of Class A shares of $500,000 or more.  However, if shares are redeemed prior to 12 months after the date of purchase, they will be subject to a CDSC of .50% unless a CDSC waiver applies.

 

Invested Assets (based on ROA)

 

Compensation

 

for the portion up to and including $2.5 million

 

0.50

%

for the portion of the order exceeding $2.5 million up to and including $15 million

 

0.25

%

for the portion of the order exceeding $15 million

 

0.15

%

 

Low Duration Bond Fund:

 

 

 

Sales charge as a percentage of:

 

 

 

Invested Assets

 

Offering Price

 

Net Amount Invested

 

Dealer Reallowance

 

$0 to $999,999

 

1.00

%

1.01

%

.75

%

$1,000,000 and over

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%(3)

 


(3) Distributor may pay the following commission to securities dealers who initiate purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more.  However, if shares are redeemed prior to 12 months after the date of purchase, they will be subject to a CDSC of .50% unless a CDSC waiver applies.

 

Invested Assets (based on ROA)

 

Compensation

 

for the portion up to and including $2 million

 

0.50

%

for the portion of the order exceeding $2 million up to and including $4 million

 

0.35

%

for the portion of the order exceeding $4 million

 

0.25

%

 

Due to rounding, the initial sales charge expressed as a percentage of the offering price may be higher or lower than the charges described above. No initial sales charge applies to Class A shares that you purchase through reinvestment of Fund dividends or capital gains.

 

For complete redemptions of your account, any CDSC is imposed on the lower of the original cost or the current net asset value of the shares redeemed. For partial redemptions, any CDSC is imposed on the original cost of the shares redeemed, regardless of current market value. If you redeem part of your shares, your redemption request will be increased by the amount of any CDSC due. If you redeem your entire account, we will deduct any CDSC due from the redemption proceeds. Sentinel Financial Services Company receives the entire amount of any CDSC paid. Also see “Waiver or Reduction of a CDSC” below. In determining whether a CDSC is payable, we will first redeem shares not subject to any charge.

 

Reduced Sales Charges

 

Sales charges on Class A shares may be reduced or eliminated in certain situations, as described below. Please note that, to take advantage of any reduced or eliminated sales charge, you must inform the Funds’ transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services (“BFDS”, also referred to as the “Transfer Agent”), Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds or your financial intermediary of your eligibility at the time of purchase, and provide any necessary information about the accounts involved. Failure to inform BFDS, Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds or your financial intermediary that you may qualify for a reduced or eliminated sales charge may result in your not receiving the sales charge reduction for which you might otherwise be eligible.

 

Financial intermediaries may not be able to offer one or more of these reduced or eliminated sales charge privileges, in which case an investor would need to purchase shares direct from the Funds in order to receive the sales charge reduction or waiver. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Right of Accumulation. Quantity discounts for the Class A shares of the Funds begin with investments of $25,000. You may qualify for quantity discounts based on the current value of all classes of shares of the Sentinel Funds, taken together, that are owned by you,

 

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your spouse, your civil union partner, your children, parents or a fiduciary for these persons. These may include shares held in personal accounts, certain retirement accounts, employee benefit plan accounts, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts, joint tenancy accounts, trust accounts and transfer on death accounts, as well as shares purchased by a trust of which you are a beneficiary. Assets previously invested in a Sentinel Fund that were subject to an initial sales charge or a CDSC and are, at the time of determination, invested in the Institutional Service Class shares of the Daily Income Fund’s U.S. Government Portfolio (the “DIF U.S. Government Portfolio”), an unaffiliated money market fund distributed by Reich & Tang Distributors, Inc., through an account maintained by Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. will also be considered when determining whether you may qualify for a quantity discount. Shares held under the tax identification number of anyone other than you, your spouse, your civil union partner, your children or parent, however, do not qualify for quantity discounts. Contact the Transfer Agent for help in combining accounts for purposes of obtaining quantity discounts on purchases. To receive a reduced sales charge, you should inform the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company or your financial intermediary of any other shares owned by you, your spouse, your civil union partner, your children or parent each time you purchase shares. Your financial adviser or other financial intermediary may request documentation from you, including account statements and records of the original acquisition of the shares owned by you, your spouse, your civil union partner, your children or parent, to show that you qualify for a reduced sales charge. You should retain these records because, depending on where an account is held or the type of account (brokerage, retirement plan, etc.), the Fund, the Transfer Agent and/or your financial adviser or other financial intermediary may not be able to maintain this information. We will require your financial intermediary’s approval and cooperation to consider accounts controlled by the financial intermediary.

 

Letter of Intent. You may use a letter of intent (LOI) to obtain a reduced sales charge for Class A shares of a Fund if you plan to make an investment in the Sentinel Funds that include Class A shares and the total amount of such investments is anticipated to be $25,000 or more over a period of 13 months (30 months in the case of corporate qualified plans). Any shares purchased within 90 days prior to the date you establish the LOI are credited toward fulfillment of your purchase commitment under the LOI. However, sales charges will not be reduced for purchases made prior to the date the LOI is established; the reduced sales charge will only apply to new purchases made on or after the establishment date of the LOI. The 13 month period (30 months for corporate qualified plans) begins on the date the LOI is established. Assets previously invested in a Sentinel Fund that were subject to an initial sales charge or a CDSC and are, at the time of determination, invested in the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio through an account maintained by Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. will also be considered when determining whether you may qualify for a quantity discount. You may count purchases to be made by you, your spouse, your civil union partner and your children or parent. The LOI is not a binding commitment by you to complete the intended purchases. All your purchases made under the LOI during the period covered will be made at the reduced sales charge for your intended total purchase. Dividends and distributions will be reinvested without a sales charge and will not count as purchases under the LOI. We will hold in escrow 2% of the shares you purchase under the LOI, and release these shares when you have completed the intended purchases. If, by the end of the period covered by the LOI you have not made the intended purchases, an additional sales charge may be due, in which case we will notify you. The additional amount will be equal to what the initial sales charge would have been on the amount actually invested, minus the sales charges already paid. You may pay this additional sales charge within 20 days after our notification is sent, or we may redeem shares held in escrow to the extent necessary to pay this charge, after which time we will release any remaining escrow shares. The redemption of shares for this purpose will be a taxable event to you. We will require your financial intermediary’s approval and cooperation to consider accounts controlled by the financial intermediary.

 

Advantage Program. Employers establishing either SIMPLE-IRAs or SEP-IRAs investing in the Funds for which the Transfer Agent is the agent for the custodian may group participating employee accounts together in such a way as to result in reduced sales charges for quantity purchases. Quantity discounts under this program are based upon the current value of investments in the Funds.

 

Account Level Net Asset Value Purchases. You may purchase Class A shares of the Funds at net asset value if you are included in the following list of eligible purchasers and you provide notice of such eligibility prior to or at the time of purchase.

 

Failure to inform the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds or your financial intermediary that you may be eligible to purchase Class A shares of the Funds at net asset value may result in your not receiving the net asset value purchase privilege. The net asset value purchase privileges described below may not be available through accounts held with financial intermediaries and may be available only when you purchase direct from the Funds. Once an account is established under this net asset value purchase privilege, additional investments can be made at net asset value for the life of the account.

 

·                  current and former Directors of the Funds and predecessors to the Funds;

·                  current and retired employees and Directors of Sentinel and its affiliates;

·                  National Life Insurance Company employee benefit plans;

·                  employees of NTT Data and DST Systems, Inc. and affiliates, who currently provide services to Sentinel, Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. and/or Sentinel Financial Services Company;

 

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·                  registered representatives and other employees of securities dealers that have entered into a sales agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company;

·                  members of the immediate families (spouse, civil union partner, children, parent or a fiduciary for these persons) of, or survivors of, all of the above mentioned individuals;

·                  tax exempt entities that meet the requirements for qualification under section 501 of the Code who have determined that a Fund is a legally permissible investment where the dealer of record on the account is Sentinel Financial Services Company;

·                  former shareholders of the Bramwell Growth Fund or the Bramwell Focus Fund, each a series of the Bramwell Funds, Inc., who in those funds’ 2006 reorganization received Class A shares of the Sentinel Capital Growth or Sentinel Growth Leaders Funds, as applicable; or

·                  former shareholders of the Citizens Funds, who in those funds’ 2008 reorganization received shares of a Sentinel Fund.

·                  Failure to inform the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds or your financial intermediary that you may be eligible to purchase Class A shares of the Funds at net asset value may result in your not receiving the net asset value purchase privilege. The net asset value purchase privileges described below may not be available through accounts held with financial intermediaries and may be available only when you purchase direct from the Funds. Once an account is established under this net asset value purchase privilege, additional investments can be made at net asset value for the life of the account.

 

Other Waivers of Front-end Loads. We also waive the front-end load where purchasers demonstrate that they are included in one of the following groups:

 

·                  registered investment advisers who place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients, and who charge an investment management fee or transaction fee for their services, and clients of these investment advisers who place trades for their own accounts;

·                  Clients of financial intermediaries who have entered into an agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers;

·                  clients of trust companies who have entered into an agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company under which all their clients are eligible to buy Class A shares at net asset value;

·                  qualified retirement, profit-sharing or deferred compensation plans that are maintained on platforms sponsored by financial intermediaries, provided these financial intermediaries have entered into a Class A net asset value purchase agreement with Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. or Sentinel Financial Services Company with respect to such plans (Sentinel Financial Services Company may pay financial intermediaries compensation up to 1% for sales of the Funds’ shares under this waiver, and a CDSC up to 1% subject to eligibility for waiver or reduction of a CDSC as outlined in this Prospectus, may apply to shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase; see “Share Classes- Class A Shares” above for the compensation/ CDSC schedule applicable to each Fund);

·                  transfers of assets, rollovers from retirement plans, or required minimum distributions (“Transferred Assets”) to an IRA sponsored by Sentinel Group Funds, Inc. and held directly with the Fund (“Sentinel Fund IRA”), but only to the extent the Transferred Assets were invested in a Sentinel Fund at the time of distribution (you must notify the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Sentinel Funds or your financial intermediary of your eligibility to purchase at net asset value at the time of purchase). Any portion of Transferred Assets that were not attributable to Sentinel Fund investments, as well as future contributions to the Sentinel Fund IRA, will be subject to the terms and conditions generally applicable to purchases of Class A shares (including the applicability of sales charges) as described in this Prospectus and the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information; and

·                  investors directly reinvesting qualified proceeds of redemptions of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio shares held in accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent pursuant to the reinvestment privileges described in this Prospectus. Please see “Additional Information About Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Reinvestment Privileges with Respect to Certain Shareholders of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio- Institutional Service Class Shares” below for additional information.

 

If more than one person owns an account, all owners must qualify for the lower sales charge. Please also note you may be charged transaction and/or other fees if you effect transactions in Fund shares through an intermediary.

 

Information about sales charge reductions and waivers is available, free of charge in a clear and prominent format, via hyperlink at the Funds’ website at www.sentinelinvestments.com.

 

Failure to inform the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds or your financial intermediary that you may qualify for a reduced or eliminated sales charge may result in your not receiving the sales charge reduction or net asset value purchase privilege for which you might otherwise be eligible.

 

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Right of Reinvestment. If you notify the Transfer Agent, Sentinel Financial Services Company or your financial intermediary, you may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution in the same Fund or in another Sentinel Fund without a sales charge, provided that the reinvestment occurs within 90 days after the date of the redemption, dividend payment or distribution and is made into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the dividend payment or distribution. If the account has been closed, you may reinvest without a sales charge if the new receiving account has the same registration as the closed account and the reinvestment is made within 90 days after the date of redemption, dividend payment or distribution. Low Duration Bond Fund shareholders who have held their shares for 90 days or less, however, may only use the Right of Reinvestment privilege to reinvest in the Low Duration Bond Fund.

 

Proceeds from a Class C share redemption may be reinvested in Class C shares or Class A shares without an initial sales charge or subsequent CDSC. Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received by the transfer agent, provided that your request contains all information and legal documentation necessary to process the transaction.

 

For purposes of this “right of reinvestment” privilege, automatic transactions (including, e.g., automatic purchases, withdrawals and payroll deductions) and ongoing retirement plan contributions are not eligible for investment without a sales charge.

 

You may not reinvest proceeds in the Sentinel Funds as described above if such proceeds are subject to a purchase block as described under “Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares — Additional Information about Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Excessive Trading Policy” below.

 

Class A Distribution Plan

 

The Class A shares of each Fund have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. The Class A shares of the Fund will pay to Sentinel Financial Services Company a monthly fee of up to a maximum annual rate of: (a) 0.30% of average daily net assets in the case of the Small Company Fund; (b) 0.25% of average daily net assets in the case of the Balanced, Common Stock, International Equity, Low Duration Bond, Mid Cap, Multi-Asset Income, Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds, or (c) 0.20% of average daily net assets in the case of the Government Securities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds. Such fee reimburses Sentinel Financial Services Company for expenses actually incurred in marketing the Funds. Sentinel Financial Services Company may pay all or a portion of these Rule 12b-1 fees to intermediaries (up to the maximum annual rate for distribution and up to 0.25% for servicing) that have an agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company to sell shares of the Funds. No fee is paid by Sentinel Financial Services Company to intermediaries with respect to any Fund shares purchased prior to March 1, 1993.

 

The Funds are not assessed a 12b-1 fee with respect to shares (if any) owned by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates, which may result in an overall 12b-1 fee of less than the maximum for so long as the investment is maintained by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates.

 

Class C Shares

 

For purchases of Class C shares, you pay the current net asset value. There is no initial sales charge. Class C shares are subject to higher distribution fees than Class A shares. Class C shares never convert to Class A shares, thus investments in Class C shares remain subject to these higher distribution fees for the entire holding period of the investment.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

You will pay a CDSC in the amount of 1.00% of the lower of the purchase price or the net asset value of the shares redeemed, if you redeem Class C shares in the first year after purchase, unless a waiver applies. See “Waiver or Reductions of a CDSC” below. In determining whether a CDSC is payable, we will take redemptions first from shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions, or any other shares as to which a CDSC is waived. If you redeem part of your shares, you may choose whether any CDSC due should be deducted from the redemption proceeds or your redemption request is increased by the amount of any CDSC due. If no choice is made, we will increase the redemption amount by the amount of any CDSC due. However, if a full account liquidation is chosen, the CDSC amount will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. Sentinel Financial Services Company receives the entire amount of any CDSC paid.

 

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Class C Distribution Plan

 

The Class C shares of the Funds have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Funds offering Class C shares to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of their shares, and services provided to shareholders. These Funds pay a fee to Sentinel Financial Services Company at a maximum annual rate of up to a total of 1.00% of average daily net assets. Such fee reimburses Sentinel Financial Services Company for expenses actually incurred in marketing the Funds. In the first year after the purchase Sentinel Financial Services Company keeps this fee to recover the initial sales commission of 1.00% that it pays to the selling intermediary. In subsequent years, the entire fee may be paid to the selling intermediary for distribution or up to 0.25% for servicing.

 

The Funds are not assessed a 12b-1 fee with respect to shares (if any) owned by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates, which may result in an overall 12b-1 fee of less than the maximum for so long as the investment is maintained by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates.

 

Payments to Intermediaries

 

For all sales of Class C shares, Sentinel Financial Services Company intends to make payments to selling intermediaries at the time you purchase Class C shares of amounts equal to 1.00% of the aggregate purchase amount.

 

Class S Shares ( Low Duration Bond Fund only)

 

There is no initial sales charge or CDSC on Class S shares.

 

For all purchases of Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund, you pay the current net asset value. There is no initial sales charge. There is also no CDSC. Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund are subject to higher distribution fees than the Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund. Class S shares never convert to Class A shares. As a result, investments in Class S shares remain subject to higher distribution fees for the entire holding period of the investment.

 

Class S Distribution Plan

 

The Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay fees for the sale and distribution of its shares, and for services provided to shareholders. The Class S distribution plan provides for the Class S shares of the Fund to pay a fee to Sentinel Financial Services Company, the Funds’ distributor, at a maximum annual rate of up to 0.50% of average daily net assets. Such fee reimburses Sentinel Financial Services Company for expenses actually incurred in marketing the Fund. Sentinel Financial Services Company may pay all or a portion of these Rule 12b-1 fees to intermediaries (up to the maximum annual rate for distribution and up to 0.25% for servicing) that have an agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company to sell shares of the Funds. For shares purchased prior to July 10, 2005, the entire 0.50% fee is paid to other intermediaries.

 

The Fund is not assessed a 12b-1 fee with respect to shares (if any) owned by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates, which may result in an overall 12b-1 fee of less than the maximum for so long as the investment is maintained by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates.

 

Class I Shares

 

There is no initial sales charge or CDSC on Class I shares. Class I shares are available for purchase only by the following:

 

·                  institutional investors who purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund and who make an initial investment of at least $1 million in Class I shares of the Sentinel Funds;

 

·                  institutional investors who invest through an intermediary that has a special agreement with the Sentinel Funds’ distributor to offer Class I shares and who make an initial investment of at least $1 million in Class I shares of the Sentinel Funds;

 

·                  investment advisory and retirement plan platforms, if such plan’s overall fee structure is designed with the intent of investing in Class I or similar classes of shares, as evidenced by the platform’s investing in the Class I or a similar class of shares of at least one other mutual fund complex which offers classes similar to the Sentinel Funds’ Class I and load-waived Class A shares, or by the platform’s investing solely in classes of shares of other mutual fund complexes that do not pay 12b-1 service fees;

 

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·                  qualified tuition programs established under Section 529 of the Code;

 

·                  registered investment companies;

 

·                  Synovus Trust Company for trust accounts established on behalf of its clients;

 

·                  retirement and deferred compensation plans established for the benefit of the employees, agents or Directors of National Life Insurance Company and its affiliates;

 

·                  accounts that received Class I shares of a Sentinel Fund in exchange for Class A shares of a Synovus Fund in a reorganization and which continue to own such shares, but only with respect to reinvested dividends and distributions; and

 

·                  accounts that received Class I shares of a Sentinel Fund in exchange for shares of a Citizens Fund in a reorganization and which continue to own such shares.

 

Investment minimums apply to accounts held on the Funds’ records. Intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts on the Funds’ records may establish different minimums for their clients holding through such omnibus accounts. In addition, a Fund may waive investment minimums to the extent such waivers are approved by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and reported to the Fund’s Board of Directors.

 

Class I shares have not adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1.

 

Class R3 Shares (Total Return Bond Fund Only)

 

There is no initial sales charge or CDSC on Class R3 shares. Class R3 shares are available for purchase only by the following:

 

·                  Employer Sponsored Group Retirement and Group 529 College Savings Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund and in which the plan administrator or record keeper has entered into a plan services agreement with the distributor.

 

The Class R3 shares are not available to retail nonretirement accounts, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, individual (“solo”) and certain small employer 401(k) plans, individual profit sharing plans, individual 403(b) accounts, Simplified Employee Pensions (“SEPs”), SARSEPs, individual 529 tuition plan accounts and Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts. “Small employer,” for purposes of the preceding sentence, means an employer that has not engaged the services of a professional plan administrator with automated trading and recordkeeping capability.

 

“Employer-Sponsored Group Retirement Plan” includes group profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and plans described in Sections 401(k), 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Class R3 Shares Distribution Plan

 

The Class R3 shares of the Total Return Bond Fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. The Class R3 shares of the Fund will pay to Sentinel Financial Services Company a monthly fee of up to a maximum annual rate of 0.50%. Such fee reimburses Sentinel Financial Services Company for expenses actually incurred in marketing the Fund. Sentinel Financial Services Company may pay all or a portion of these Rule 12b-1 fees to intermediaries (up to the maximum annual rate for distribution and up to 0.25% for servicing) that have an agreement with Sentinel Financial Services Company to sell shares of the Fund.

 

The Funds are not assessed a 12b-1 fee with respect to shares (if any) owned by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates, which may result in an overall 12b-1 fee of less than the maximum for so long as the investment is maintained by NLV Financial Corporation or its affiliates.

 

105


 

Class R6 Shares (Common Stock, Small Company and Total Return Bond Funds Only)

 

There is no initial sales charge or CDSC on Class R6 shares. Class R6 shares are available for purchase only by the following:

 

·                  Employer Sponsored Group Retirement or Group 529 College Savings Plans where shares are held through plan level or omnibus accounts on the books of the Fund and the Plan sponsor or other administrator has entered into an agreement with the distributor.

 

·                  Registered investment companies.

 

·                  Institutions, trusts and foundations whose initial investment is at least $1,000,000.

 

·                  Fee-based advisory programs where shares are held through omnibus accounts on the books of the Fund.

 

The Class R6 share class is not available to retail nonretirement accounts, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, individual (“solo”) and certain small employer 401(k) plans, individual profit sharing plans, individual 403(b) accounts, Simplified Employee Pensions (“SEPs”), SARSEPs, individual 529 tuition plan accounts and Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts. “Small employer,” for purposes of the preceding sentence, means an employer that has not engaged the services of a professional plan administrator with automated trading and recordkeeping capability.

 

“Employer-Sponsored Group Retirement Plan” includes group profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and plans described in Sections 401(k), 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Investment minimums apply to accounts held on the Funds’ records. Intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts on the Funds’ records may establish different minimums for their clients holding through such omnibus accounts. In addition, a Fund may waive investment minimums to the extent such waivers are approved by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and reported to the Fund’s Board of Directors.

 

Class R6 shares have not adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1.

 

Waiver or Reduction of a CDSC

 

A CDSC will be waived in the following situations if you notify us at the time of redemption that a waiver applies:

 

·                  redemptions of shares you acquire from the reinvestment of income distributions and/or capital gains distributions;

·                  redemptions from your account (including when you own the shares as joint tenant with your spouse) following your death, or from the account of a trust whose primary income beneficiary has died;

·                  required minimum distributions from a retirement account; and

·                  redemptions of shares that qualify for a waiver of the CDSC pursuant to the reinvestment privilege described in this Prospectus. Please see “Additional Information About Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Reinvestment Privileges with Respect to Certain Shareholders of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio Institutional Service Class Shares” below for additional information.

 

Sentinel Financial Services Company may require documentation to show a waiver applies, such as certifications by plan administrators, applicable tax forms, or death certificates.

 

Other Matters Relating to Distribution of Fund Shares

 

Sentinel Financial Services Company, Sentinel and/or an affiliate pay amounts or otherwise provide items of material value out of their own resources to certain intermediaries that support the sale of the Funds or provide services to Fund shareholders. This practice may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of a Fund. Payments may be based on, among other things, the number or value of shares that the intermediary sells or may sell; the value of the intermediary’s client assets invested in the Funds; or the type and nature of services or support furnished by the intermediary. In connection with these payments, the intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Funds within the intermediary’s

 

106


 

organization by, for example, placement on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Sentinel Financial Services Company preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the Funds. Additional information about these arrangements is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

107

 

 


 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

Purchasing Shares

 

You may purchase shares at net asset value (or Public Offering Price, if applicable), less any applicable initial sales charge, as of the close of business on the day your instructions are received prior to the close of the NYSE, usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day it is open for business. Financial Intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts on the Fund’s records may establish alternate closing times but in no case later that the close of the NYSE.

 

By Check

 

To purchase shares by check, make your check payable to the “Sentinel [Name of Fund] Fund” or “Sentinel Funds” and mail it to the Transfer Agent at the following addresses:

 

By US Mail
Sentinel Investments
PO Box 55929
Boston MA 02205-5929

By Delivery
Sentinel Investments
c/o Boston Financial Data Services
30 Dan Road
Canton, MA 02021-2809

 

To make your initial purchase by check, please also fill out an application and return the application with your check. All checks must be drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. bank. The Funds do not accept third-party checks, except those issued by NLV Financial Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or U.S. government agencies or institutions that meet verification requirements of the Funds’ transfer agent. The Funds reserve the right to withhold the proceeds of a redemption of shares purchased by check until the check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days after the purchase date. Your purchase will be effected on the date that your check is received by the Transfer Agent at one of the addresses listed above, if the check is received prior to the close of business on the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) and your purchase order is otherwise in good order (i.e., you have included a properly completed application and/or other required documentation). We may charge a fee of $25 for each check returned unpaid due to insufficient funds.

 

By Wire

 

You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds directly to the Sentinel Funds on any day when both the NYSE and Federal Reserve banks are open for business. To make your initial purchase by wire, call us toll-free (1-800-282-3863) and obtain an account number. You must first complete an application and return it to the Transfer Agent. Your bank may charge you a fee to wire funds. Payments made by wire and received by the Transfer Agent on any business day are available to the Fund on the next business day.

 

Online

 

If you already have an account and have elected to do so, you may purchase shares of the Funds over the Internet by accessing the Funds’ website at www.sentinelinvestments.com. Purchases completed via Automated Clearing House (ACH) will receive the trade date the funds are received from your bank.

 

By Automatic Investment Plan

 

This feature affords you the opportunity to dollar-cost-average using periodic electronic funds transfer from your bank account to the Fund(s) of your choice. Investments will be made on or about the 5th day of the month unless otherwise specified. Automatic investment plan may be used to establish a new account if investing at least $50 per month.

 

By Telephone

 

This feature enables you to purchase Fund shares via electronic funds transfer from your bank account by phoning Sentinel Investments, or accessing our automated telephone system known as “OnCall 24.” Purchases completed via ACH will receive the trade date the funds are received from your bank.

 

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By Government Direct Deposit

 

You may purchase Fund shares (minimum of $50.00 per transaction) by having local, state or Federal salary, Social Security, or certain veterans’, military or other payments from the Federal government automatically deposited into your account. You may deposit as much of the payments as you elect. To enroll in Government Direct Deposit, please contact the Transfer Agent.

 

By Payroll Savings Plan

 

You may purchase Fund shares automatically on a regular basis by having money withheld from your paycheck, if your employer permits this. You may have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Sentinel account each pay period. To establish a Sentinel Payroll Savings Plan account, please contact the Transfer Agent.

 

Investment Minimum — Initial/Subsequent Investments

 

These investment minimums apply to accounts held on the Funds’ records. Intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts on the Funds’ records may establish different minimums for their clients holding through such omnibus accounts. In addition, a Fund may waive investment minimums to the extent such waivers are approved by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer and reported to the Funds’ Board of Directors.

 

All Funds

 

Account/Investment
Type(1)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class I(4)

 

Class R3

 

Class R6(4)

 

Class S

 

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs & SIMPLE IRAs)(2)

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

 

 

$

50

 

All Other Accounts(2)

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

$

50

 

$

50

 

 

 

 

$

50

 

Automatic Investment Plan

 

 

 

$

50

(3)

$

50

(3) 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

Not Available

 

$

50

(3)

Institutional Investors

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

Not Available

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

None

 

None

 

Retirement Plans with omnibus accounts held on the books of the fund

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Fee Based Investment Advisory Platforms

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

None

 

Not Available

 

None

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

None

 

None

 

Qualified Tuition Programs Established Under Section 529 of the Code

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

Initial

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

None

 

Not Available

 

None

 

$

1,000

 

 

Subsequent

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

None

 

None

 

 


(1) For a more complete description of the account/investment type as it relates to each share Class, please see “Share Classes”, above.

(2) These also apply to investments through the Payroll Savings Plan.

(3) The Automatic Investment Plan may be used to make an initial investment if investing at least $50 per month.

(4) Class I and Class R6 share investment minimums are per Class; all other investment minimums are per Fund.

 

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For information about Class I, Class R3 and Class R6 share eligibility, please see “Share Classes — Class I Shares, Class R3 Shares and Class R6 Shares” above.

 

Except for the Class I and Class R6 shares, investment minimums are determined by Fund rather than Class. These investment minimums apply to accounts held on the Funds’ records. Intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts on the Funds’ records may establish different minimums for their clients holding through such omnibus accounts. In addition, a Fund may waive investment minimums to the extent such waivers are approved by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer and reported to the Funds’ Board of Directors.

 

Selling Shares

 

You may redeem shares at net asset value, less any applicable CDSC and/or other applicable charge, as of the close of business on the day your instructions are received prior to the close of the NYSE on a day it is open for business, which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

 

By Mail

 

If your shares are held directly with a Fund, you may sell your shares by providing the Transfer Agent with the appropriate instructions by mail. Your instructions must be signed by the registered owner(s) exactly as the shares are registered. If the proceeds of the redemption exceed $100,000, if the check is not made payable to the registered owner(s) and mailed to the record address, or if the record address has been changed within the past 30 days, we may require the signature(s) of the registered owner(s) to be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that meets the Transfer Agent’s requirements.

 

By Telephone

 

You may redeem up to $250,000 from your account each business day, by providing instructions to do so over the telephone to the Transfer Agent (1-800-282-FUND (3863)). You may request that a check made payable to the registered owners be sent to their address of record, or you may request that the proceeds be sent directly to a predesignated commercial bank account. If proceeds are wired to your bank, we will deduct a fee of $20 from the proceeds. In addition, it is possible that your bank may charge a fee for receiving wire transfers. You may request a redemption on the Funds’ automated voice response system. This is also limited to a maximum of $250,000 each business day.

 

None of the Funds, Sentinel Financial Services Company nor the Transfer Agent is responsible for the authenticity of exchange or redemption instructions received by telephone, and they are not liable in the event of an unauthorized telephone exchange or redemption, provided that, in the case of the Funds, the Funds have followed procedures reasonably designed to prevent losses. In processing telephone exchange or redemption requests, the Funds will use reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. These procedures include receiving all calls for telephone redemptions and exchanges on a recorded telephone line, and screening callers through a series of questions regarding specific account information. You may indicate on your purchase application that you do not wish to have telephone transaction privileges.

 

By Facsimile

 

The Transfer Agent will generally accept transaction instructions in good form via facsimile from intermediaries that have entered into agreements with and have made prior arrangements with Sentinel Investments. Sentinel Investments may require an intermediary to provide indemnification and/or a signature guarantee for transactions by facsimile. Call 1-800-282-FUND (3863) for additional information and instructions regarding transacting by facsimile.

 

Online

 

You may redeem up to $250,000 from your account each business day by providing instructions to do so over the Funds’ website at www.sentinelinvestments.com. You may request that a check made payable to the registered owners be sent to their address of record, or you may request that the proceeds be sent directly to a predesignated commercial bank account. If proceeds are wired to your bank, we will deduct a fee of $20 from the proceeds. In addition, it is possible that your bank may charge a fee for receiving wire transfers.

 

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None of the Funds, Sentinel Financial Services Company nor the Transfer Agent is responsible for the authenticity of exchange or redemption instructions received online, and they are not liable in the event of an unauthorized online exchange or redemption, provided that, in the case of the Funds, the Funds have followed procedures reasonably designed to prevent losses. In processing online exchange or redemption requests, the Funds will use reasonable procedures to confirm that online instructions are genuine. These procedures include restricting access to the section of the website on which transaction instructions may be entered to those who enter a password selected by the shareholder.

 

By Check Writing

 

If you own Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund you may sell shares by writing a check against your non-retirement account. This check writing privilege is free. There is a per check minimum of $500. The Fund reserves the right to withhold the proceeds of a redemption of shares purchased by check until the check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days after the purchase date. Low Duration Bond Fund redemptions by checkwriting are taxable transactions. The Transfer Agent provides overdraft protection by automatically transferring available funds from your other identically registered accounts if you have available balances. A fee of $30.00 will be charged to the account when funds are transferred from protecting account(s) to cover an overdraft. Transferred funds are treated like a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund from which they are transferred, including for redemption fee purposes. New checkbooks cannot be ordered within 30 days of an address change without a signature guarantee.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal

 

You may arrange to receive automatic regular withdrawals from your account. Withdrawal payments generally should not be considered dividends. Withdrawals generally are treated as sales of shares and may result in a taxable gain or loss. You must reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions to use systematic withdrawals. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks sent under a systematic withdrawal plan. Systematic withdrawals established after March 31, 2009 and payable by check are limited to the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th (default date if none specified) or 25th day of each month. If such date is not a business day, the withdrawal will occur on the immediately preceding business day. Payments made by direct deposit are available any day.

 

Exchanging Shares

 

You may exchange shares of one Sentinel Fund for shares of the same class of another Sentinel Fund, if available, without charge by contacting the Transfer Agent. You may also set up your account to exchange automatically a specified number or dollar-value of shares in one of the Sentinel Funds into shares of the same class in another Sentinel Fund at regular intervals. Purchases of less than $500,000 of Class A shares of the Government Securities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds and purchases of less than $1 million of Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund must remain in the account for 90 days before they are eligible for an exchange. New purchases of any class of shares must remain in an account for 15 days before they can be exchanged to another Sentinel Fund. We may modify or terminate the exchange privilege in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the current rules require 60 days advance notice to shareholders prior to the modification or termination of the exchange privilege).

 

Although there are no exchange privileges between the Sentinel Funds and the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio, an unaffiliated money market fund distributed by Reich & Tang Distributors, Inc., there are certain reinvestment privileges that permit the direct reinvestment of certain qualified proceeds of redemptions of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio shares into shares of the Sentinel Funds to qualify for waivers of sales charges. Please see “Additional Information About Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Reinvestment Privileges with Respect to Certain Shareholders of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio- Institutional Service Class Shares” below for additional information.

 

Class A Shares

 

Class A shares of one Sentinel Fund may be exchanged for Class A shares of another Sentinel Fund, if offered, at net asset value. However, Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund received as a result of an exchange from Class C shares of another Sentinel Fund may not be exchanged, except as described directly below. Holding periods for shares which have been exchanged for the currently held shares will be included in the holding period of the current shares. The normal minimum account sizes apply to new accounts opened by exchange. In addition, Class A shares of any Sentinel Fund may be exchanged at net asset value for Class I shares of the same or another Sentinel Fund, if offered, if, at the time of the exchange, such shareholder otherwise satisfies the criteria for purchasing Class I shares. No gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes by Class A shareholders exchanging into Class I shares of the same Fund on the terms set forth in this Prospectus.

 

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Class C Shares

 

Class C shares of one Fund may be exchanged at net asset value for Class C shares of another Fund, if offered through exchange, at net asset value. Class C shares may also be exchanged for Class A shares of the Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund. The time during which the assets are in Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund will count toward the time that results in a reduced CDSC. Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund held as a result of an exchange from Class C funds may only be exchanged back to available Class C shares of a Sentinel Fund.

 

Class C shares not subject to a CDSC may be exchanged at net asset value for Class A or Class I shares of the same or another Sentinel Fund, if offered at the time of the exchange and such shareholder otherwise satisfies the criteria for purchasing Class I shares. No gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes by Class C shareholders exchanging into Class A or Class I shares of the same Fund on the terms set forth in this Prospectus.

 

Class S Shares

 

Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund may be exchanged at net asset value for the Class A shares of each of the other Sentinel Funds, if offered through exchange, except that Class S shares may not be exchanged into Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund. Purchases of the Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund must remain in the account for 90 days before they are eligible for an exchange. Class A shares of a Fund obtained through an exchange of Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund may be exchanged for Class A shares of other Sentinel Funds, if offered, including the Low Duration Bond Fund. Exchanges from other Funds into the Class S shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund are not permitted. In addition, Class S shares of the Fund may be exchanged at net asset value for Class I shares of the same or another Sentinel Fund, if offered, if, at the time of the exchange, such shareholder otherwise satisfies the criteria for purchasing Class I shares. No gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes by Class S shareholders exchanging into Class I shares of the same Fund on the terms set forth in this Prospectus.

 

Class I Shares

 

Class I shares of one Sentinel Fund may be exchanged for Class I shares of another Sentinel Fund, if offered through exchange, at net asset value.

 

Class R3 Shares

 

Class R3 shares are offered only by the Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund and may not be exchanged for shares of any other Sentinel Fund.

 

Class R6 Shares

 

Class R6 shares of one Sentinel Fund may be exchanged for Class R6 shares of another Sentinel Fund, if offered through exchange, at net asset value.

 

Transfers of Ownership of Shares

 

When you need to change ownership of your shares or change the name on an account, a Transfer Agent representative will assist you.

 

Additional Information About Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares

 

Reinvestment Privileges with Respect to Certain Shareholders of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio — Institutional Service Class Shares

 

Persons who wish to invest in the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio, a money market fund distributed by Reich & Tang Distributors, Inc. which is offered to investors through a separate prospectus, may choose to have their accounts in that fund maintained by the Transfer Agent. Sentinel offers certain sales charge waivers to investors who directly reinvest certain proceeds of redemptions of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio held in accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent in shares of Sentinel Funds (a “reinvestment”), as described below:

 

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·                  Investors in the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio who obtained shares through the reorganization of the Sentinel Government Money Market Fund, which occurred at the close of business November 13, 2009 (the “Reorganization”) and who held Class A shares of the Sentinel Government Money Market Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization which had been subject to an initial sales charge or who held Class B shares of the Sentinel Government Money Market Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization may direct that the proceeds of a redemption of such shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio be used to directly purchase Class A shares of a Sentinel Fund, and such Class A shares of the Sentinel Fund will not be subject to a front-end sales charge or a CDSC.

·                  Investors in the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio who maintain their accounts through Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. and who obtained such shares by using proceeds of a redemption of Class A shares of a Sentinel Fund that were subject to a front-end sales charge may direct that the proceeds of a redemption of such shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio be used to directly purchase Class A shares of a Sentinel Fund, and such Class A shares of the Sentinel Fund will not be subject to a front-end sales charge or a CDSC.

·                  Investors in Sentinel Funds may redeem Class A shares of such funds that are subject to a CDSC and direct that such proceeds be used to directly purchase shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio upon payment of any applicable CDSC. Upon the redemption of the shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio received in connection with such a purchase, an investor may direct that the proceeds of the redemption be used to directly purchase Class A shares of a Sentinel Fund, and such Class A shares of the Sentinel Fund will not be subject to a front-end sales charge or a CDSC.

·                  Investors in Sentinel Funds may redeem Class C shares of such funds and direct that such proceeds be used to directly purchase shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio upon payment of any applicable CDSC. Upon the redemption of the shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio received in connection with such a purchase, an investor may direct that the proceeds of the redemption be used to directly purchase Class C shares of a Sentinel Fund, and such Class C shares of the Sentinel Fund will not be subject to a front-end sales charge or a CDSC.

 

There is no administrative charge for the reinvestment privilege. The purchase of any shares of a Sentinel Fund pursuant to a reinvestment will be subject to all applicable fees and expenses of the applicable Sentinel Fund. Policies prohibiting short term or excessive trading apply. The minimum amount for a reinvestment is $1,000. However, shareholders who are establishing a new account through the reinvestment privilege must ensure that a sufficient number of shares are invested to meet the minimum initial investment required for the fund into which the investment is being made.

 

The reinvestment privilege is available to shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the Fund being acquired may legally be sold.

 

Initial investors in the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio who maintain their accounts through Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. and who redeem shares of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio and use the proceeds to purchase shares of a Sentinel Fund will be treated as initial purchasers of the Sentinel Fund’s shares. The purchase of the Sentinel Fund’s shares will be subject to all applicable sales charges.

 

Please Note: As of the date of this Prospectus, the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio announced that the Board of Trustees of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio has determined that it is advisable to liquidate, dissolve and terminate the legal existence of the DIF U.S. Government Portfolio. The DIF U.S. Government Portfolio is expected to be closed and liquidated on or about July 27, 2015, at which time the reinvestment privileges described above will no longer be available. It is not known at this time whether similar reinvestment privileges in the Sentinel Funds will be offered for investors in another unaffiliated money market fund.

 

Additional Information

 

Primary Service Providers to the Funds

 

Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. is the Funds’ investment adviser. Information about the investment adviser is located below, under “Management of the Funds”. Shares of the Funds are distributed by Sentinel Financial Services Company. Information about Sentinel Financial Services Company can be found in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information under “Principal Underwriter”. Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. is the Funds’ transfer agent. Information about the Funds’ transfer agent can be found in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information under “Fund Services Arrangements”. Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. provides transfer agency administrative and oversight services to the Funds.

 

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Customer Identification Requirement

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. This means when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Each Fund reserves the right to reject purchase orders from persons who have not submitted information that is sufficient to allow the Fund to verify the identity of the purchaser. Each Fund also reserves the right to redeem amounts in the Fund from any person whose identity the Fund is unable to verify on a timely basis.

 

Foreign Addresses

 

Because the Funds are not registered for sales outside of the U.S., they generally will not accept new accounts or investments into an account with a mailing address that is not within the U.S. or a U.S. military address.

 

Redemptions in Kind

 

Each Fund may, at its discretion, redeem its shares in kind (i.e., in securities rather than in cash). If this occurs, securities received in kind remain at the risk of the market, and the redeeming shareholder may incur brokerage or other transaction costs to convert the securities to cash. As with redemptions for cash, upon a redemption in kind, any gain on the transaction may be subject to tax. If illiquid securities are used to satisfy redemptions in kind, redeeming shareholders may face difficulties in selling the illiquid securities at a fair price.

 

Redemption Proceeds

 

If a redemption is paid by check, the Transfer Agent will normally mail you a check in payment for your shares within seven days after it receives all documents required to process the redemption. We may delay payment during any period in which the right of redemption is suspended or date of payment is postponed because the NYSE is closed, trading on the NYSE is restricted, or the Securities and Exchange Commission deems an emergency to exist. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed redemption checks. We may require additional documentation to redeem shares that are registered in the name of a corporation, trust, company retirement plan, agent or fiduciary, or if a shareholder is deceased. The Funds reserve the right to withhold the proceeds of a redemption of shares purchased by check until the check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days after the purchase date. Distributions from retirement plans may be subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service under the Code. In their discretion, the Funds may reinvest redemption checks that remain uncashed for more than one year.

 

Share Certificates

 

The Funds are not required to and do not expect to issue share certificates. If you are the shareholder of record and have a certificate representing ownership in a Fund, you can redeem your shares by mailing the certificate to the Transfer Agent with appropriate instructions to redeem. Your instructions should be signed by the registered owner(s) exactly as the shares are registered. The Transfer Agent may require the signature(s) of the registered owner(s) to be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution which meets BFDS’s requirements if the proceeds of the redemption exceed $100,000, if the check is not made payable to the registered owner(s) and mailed to the record address, or if the record address has been changed within the past 30 days. We suggest sending certificates by certified mail. You may also redeem share certificates by presenting them in person to Sentinel Investments c/o Boston Financial Data Services, 30 Dan Road, Canton MA 02021-2809.

 

Telephone or Online Delays

 

At times, telephone or online transactions may be difficult to implement. Information processing and communications systems, both those of the Transfer Agent and third-party vendors on whom we depend, are subject to occasional congestion, technological problems, or in extreme cases, outages. The failure of these systems for a significant period of time may limit our ability to process a telephone or online transaction. Shareholders who wish to make use of the telephone and/or our website to transact business in the Funds should not assume that these systems will always be available. If you experience difficulty in contacting us by telephone or online, please write to Sentinel Investments at P.O. Box 55929, Boston, MA 02205-5929.

 

Transacting Through an Intermediary

 

When all or a portion of a purchase is received for investment without a clear Fund designation or for investment in one of our closed classes or Funds, we may return the money to you or we may deposit the undesignated portion or the entire amount, as applicable, into the Daily Income Fund — U.S Government Money Market Fund without sales charge. We will treat your inaction as approval of this purchase. You may at any time after the purchase direct us to redeem or exchange these shares of the Daily Income at the next net asset value calculated after we accept such direction. Exchange transactions will be subject to any applicable sales charge.

 

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Undesignated Investments

 

When all or a portion of a purchase is received for investment without a clear Fund designation or for investment in one of our closed classes or Funds, we may return the money to you or we may deposit the undesignated portion or the entire amount, as applicable, into the Class A shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund without sales charge. We will treat your inaction as approval of this purchase. You may at any time after the purchase direct us to redeem or exchange these shares of the Low Duration Bond Fund at the next net asset value calculated after we accept such direction. Exchange transactions will be subject to any applicable sales charge.

 

Certain Account Fees and Minimum Account Size

 

Due to the expense of maintaining accounts with small balances, we reserve the right to liquidate any account that has a value of less than $1,000 and that has been open for at least 12 months. Individual shareholders that received Class I shares of a Sentinel Fund in an exchange for Synovus or Citizens Funds’ shares in a reorganization are subject to the account minimums for Class A shares. We also reserve the right to charge an annual maintenance fee of $25 to any such account. The annual maintenance fee is deducted automatically from each such shareholder account on a quarterly pro-rated basis.

 

Shares held through an omnibus account or wrap-fee program for which a Fund has waived investment minimums are subject to the minimum account size requirements established by the financial intermediary.

 

Miscellaneous Fees

 

Service Fees

 

 

 

Express Mail Deliveries

 

$

15.00

 

Federal Funds Wire

 

$

20.00

 

Bounced check-writing checks

 

$

30.00

 

Bounced check received for deposit

 

$

30.00

 

Over-draft protection

 

$

30.00

 

Each copy of a paid check

 

$

10.00

 

Transcripts - per year prior to 2004

 

$

50.00

 

Transcripts - per year after 2004

 

$

25.00

 

 

Custodial Account Fees. Custodial accounts for which the Transfer Agent is the agent for the custodian also pay the following fees:

 

Annual custodial fee per social security number

 

$

15.00

 

Closeout fee per account

 

$

15.00

 

Transfer of assets per transaction

 

$

25.00

 

 

A portion of these fees is paid to the custodian and a portion is paid to the Transfer Agent, which provides certain services to these accounts as agent for the custodian.

 

Excessive Trading Policy

 

Excessive trading (which may be as a result of market timing) by shareholders of a Fund may harm performance by disrupting portfolio management strategies and by increasing expenses, including brokerage and administrative costs, and may dilute the value of the holdings of other shareholders. Excessive trading may cause a Fund to retain more cash than the Fund’s portfolio manager would normally retain in order to meet unanticipated redemptions or may force the Fund to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous times to raise the cash needed to meet those redemption or exchange requests. The Funds will not accommodate excessive trading in any Fund, and have adopted a policy to deter such trading. The policy has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the Funds. Under this policy, a Fund will reject any purchase order or exchange request if the Fund has determined that an investor’s trading, in the judgment of the Fund, has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In making this judgment, a Fund may consider trading done in multiple accounts under common ownership or control. Certain types of regular transactions that will not be deemed by the Funds to be excessive trading for this purpose include systematic exchanges, dollar cost averaging, regular rebalancing of holdings in the Funds (e.g., periodic rebalancing to maintain an investment adviser’s asset allocations model) and pre-authorized withdrawals.

 

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The policy applies to all shareholders. However, a Fund may not be able to determine that a specific purchase order or request for exchange or redemption, particularly an order or request made through omnibus accounts or 401(k) plans, is excessive or disruptive to the Fund. In addition, the Funds may not analyze every transaction that could potentially be excessive or disruptive to a Fund. The Funds therefore make no representation that all such purchase orders or exchange requests can or will be rejected. In addition, with respect to shares held on the books of third party intermediaries, such as retirement plan administrators, the Funds may work with such intermediaries to implement alternate procedures that the Funds determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of the Funds’ excessive trading policy. Where an intermediary adopts such procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such intermediary will be subject to that intermediary’s procedures, which may differ from the procedures applied by the Funds to accounts held directly on the Funds’ books, but which are reasonably designed to achieve the same objective.

 

The Funds will reject any purchase order or exchange request if the Fund has determined (i) that an investor has a history of excessive trading (generally six or more in-and-out transactions within a rolling 12 month period) or (ii) that an investor’s trading, in the judgment of the Fund, has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In making this judgment, a Fund may consider trading done in multiple accounts under common ownership or control. When a redemption request is received in such circumstances, a Fund will impose an excessive trading fee of 2% of the amount redeemed, unless it is one of the two Funds described below that impose a redemption fee.

 

The International Equity and Small Company Funds have adopted a redemption fee. For these Funds, a fee of 2% will be assessed on the redemption of shares held for 30 calendar days or less. The Balanced, Common Stock, Georgia Municipal Bond, Government Securities, Low Duration Bond, Mid Cap, Multi-Asset Income, Sustainable Core Opportunities, Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds do not impose a redemption fee.

 

Excessive Trading fees may not apply to certain redemption transactions if you or your financial intermediary make the Fund’s transfer agent aware of the circumstances and provide any requested documentation regarding such circumstances prior to your redemption, including redemptions related to death, disability or qualified domestic relations order; certain types of account transactions, such as redemptions pursuant to systematic withdrawal programs, check writing, withdrawals due to disability; and certain types of retirement plan transactions, such as loans or hardship withdrawals, minimum required distributions, forfeiture of assets, return of excess contribution amounts or redemptions related to payment of plan fees and custodian fees. Certain intermediaries may not apply all of these waivers, may apply other reasonable waivers or may pay redemption fees on behalf of their clients. The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer may approve waivers of the redemption fees in other circumstances similar to those described and may approve waivers of redemption fees under certain circumstances as is necessary in order for Sentinel to participate in Defined Contribution Investment Only business and where he or she finds that the firms, or other intermediaries, have effective policies and monitoring in place to prevent excessive trading and market timing. Excessive trading fees do not apply to redemptions by check in any Fund offering the checkwriting option. Certain intermediaries may also apply different redemption fees or frequent trading policies than those stated above to accounts they administer if the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer finds that such redemption fees or frequent trading policies would provide similar protection to the Funds against excessive trading.

 

Additionally, excessive trading fees and redemption fees do not apply to:

 

·                  any single redemption of $5,000 or less, fees of $100 or less, or other amount considered by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer to be de minimis in light of the size of the account;

·                  accounts of asset allocation programs, lifestyle investment options or investment adviser wrap programs whose trading practices are determined by the Fund not to be detrimental to a Fund or its shareholders, that do not allow frequent trading or market timing and that have policies in place to monitor and address such trading;

·                  periodic portfolio re-balancing of retirement plans on a pre-arranged schedule with recordkeepers that do not allow frequent trading or market timing and who have policies in place to monitor and address such trading;

·                  retirement plan sponsor-initiated transfers, such as plan mergers, terminations, changes to fund offerings and service provider changes;

·                  rollovers of current investments in the Fund through qualified employee benefit plans; and

·                  transactions during the initial 90 days of any participant’s default investment in any Fund selected by a retirement plan to be used as a qualified default investment alternative or with a qualified default investment alternative.

 

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Pricing Fund Shares

 

Net asset value for each class of shares of a Fund is calculated once, at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, each day that the NYSE is open. The net asset value per share is computed by dividing the total value of the assets of each class of the Fund, less its liabilities, by the total number of outstanding shares of each class of such Fund.

 

Equity securities that are traded on a national or foreign securities exchange and over-the-counter (“OTC”) securities listed in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the principal exchange on which they are traded on the date of determination as of the close of business of the NYSE, usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, each day that the NYSE is open. ETFs will be valued at their most recent closing price.

 

Foreign equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange are subject to fair value pricing when appropriate, using valuations provided by an independent pricing service.

 

Securities for which no sale was reported on the valuation date are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices.

 

OTC securities not listed on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices.

 

Fixed-income securities with original maturities of greater than 60 days, including short-term securities with more than 60 days left to maturity, are valued on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service. The mean between the bid and asked prices is generally used for valuation purposes. Short-term securities with original maturities of less than 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The value of short-term securities originally purchased with maturities greater than 60 days is determined based on an amortized value to par when they reach 60 days or less remaining to maturity. The amortized cost method values a security at cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assumes a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium. Investments in mutual funds are valued at the net asset value per share on the day of valuation. Investments in exchange traded derivatives are valued at the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange. Investments in non-exchange traded derivatives and cleared derivatives are valued on the basis of prices supplied by an independent pricing service, if available, or quotes obtained from brokers and dealers.

 

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been materially affected by events occurring before a Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, will be fair valued under procedures adopted by the Funds’ Board of Directors. The Board has delegated this responsibility to the Sentinel Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”), established by Sentinel and subject to the Board’s review and supervision. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. The fair value of one or more securities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining a Fund’s net asset value.

 

The Funds may use one or more independent pricing services, as approved by the Board. Such independent pricing services shall provide their daily evaluations directly to the Funds’ custodian bank and fund accounting service provider, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”). Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc., the Funds’ administrator and a subsidiary of Sentinel, shall have an oversight role over the daily accounting process. Portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued at current market value; other securities and assets shall be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by Sentinel, which may act through its Valuation Committee, subject to the overall oversight of the Board or its Audit Committee.

 

The Valuation Committee, SSB and Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. perform a series of activities to provide reasonable comfort over the accuracy of prices including: 1) periodic vendor due diligence meetings to review underlying methodologies, policies and procedures with respect to valuations, 2) daily monitoring of significant events that may impact markets and valuations, 3) daily comparisons of security valuations versus prior day valuations for all securities with additional follow-up procedures implemented for those that exceed established thresholds, and 4) daily reviews of stale valuations and manually priced securities which may be subjected to additional procedures at the discretion of the Valuation Committee.

 

In addition, there are several processes outside of the pricing process that are used to monitor valuation issues including: 1) performance and performance attribution reports are monitored by Sentinel for anomalous impacts based upon benchmark performance, and 2) portfolio managers review all portfolios for performance and analytics.

 

Securities transactions are accounted for on the next business day following trade date (trade date plus one). Under certain circumstances, exceptions are made so that purchases and sales are booked on trade date. These exceptions include: (1) when trades

 

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occur on a day that happens to coincide with the end of a month; or (2) on occasion, if Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. believes significant price movements are deemed large enough to impact the calculation of the net asset value per share.

 

The per share net asset value of Class A shares generally will be higher than the per share net asset value of Class C or Class S shares, reflecting the higher daily expense accruals of Class C and Class S shares. It is expected, however, that the per share net asset value of the classes will tend to converge (although not necessarily meet) immediately after the payment of dividends or distributions. Dividends and distributions will differ by the approximate amount of the expense accrual differences between the classes.

 

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Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes

 

The Funds distribute their net investment income, if any, as follows:

 

Fund

 

Dividends Paid

 

Sentinel Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

Monthly

 

Sentinel Government Securities Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Low Duration Bond Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Unconstrained Bond Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Balanced Fund

 

Quarterly

 

Sentinel Common Stock Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel International Equity Fund

 

Annually

 

Sentinel Mid Cap Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Small Company Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

 

 

Sentinel Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

 

 

 

For each Fund, distributions of any net realized capital gains for a fiscal year are generally paid in December, following the November 30th fiscal year-end.

 

You may elect to receive all or any part of your dividends and/or capital gains distributions in cash, shares of your Fund, or shares of the same class of another Sentinel Fund. Unless you elect otherwise, your dividends and capital gains distributions will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund. If you elect to receive dividends and capital gains distributions in cash, you will only receive a check if the distribution amount exceeds $10.00. If the distribution is $10.00 or less, the amount will automatically be reinvested. If you would like to receive cash distributions, regardless of the amount, you can establish an electronic funds transfer to your bank. If you elect to receive distributions by check, in its discretion the Fund may reinvest previously issued distribution checks and also reinvest future distributions. This may occur if a distribution check remains uncashed and outstanding for six months or the post office is unable to deliver the check to you. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed dividend or other distribution checks. To change the current option for payment of dividends and capital gains distributions or to establish electronic funds transfer please call 1-800-282-FUND (3863). If your mailing address is not within the U.S. or a U.S. military address, you must receive your distributions by check.

 

You will pay tax on dividends and capital gains distributions from the Funds whether you receive them in cash, additional shares or shares of another Sentinel Fund. Capital gains may be taxable to you at different rates depending on how long the Fund held the assets sold. If you redeem Fund shares or exchange them for shares of another Fund, any gain on the transaction may be subject to tax. In addition, a Fund is generally required by law to provide you and the Internal Revenue Service with cost basis information on the redemption or exchange of any of your shares in the Fund acquired on or after January 1, 2012 (including shares that you acquire through the reinvestment of distributions). Certain dividend income received by a Fund, including dividends received from qualifying foreign corporations and long-term capital gains, are eligible for taxation at a reduced rate that applies to individual shareholders. However, to the extent a Fund’s distributions are derived from income on debt securities and non-qualifying dividends of foreign corporations and/or short-term capital gains, its distributions will not be eligible for this reduced tax rate.

 

If you are neither a tax resident nor a citizen of the U.S. or if you are a foreign entity, the Funds’ ordinary dividends will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies.

 

Dividends and interest received by the International Equity Fund and, to a lesser extent, the Balanced, Common Stock, Low Duration Bond Fund, Mid Cap, Multi-Asset Income, Small Company, Sustainable Core Opportunities, Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities, Total Return Bond and Unconstrained Bond Funds, may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Shareholders in the International Equity, Multi-Asset Income and Total Return Bond Funds may be able to claim a credit or deduction with respect to such taxes if certain requirements are met. However, it is unlikely that a credit or deduction will be available to shareholders of the Balanced, Common Stock, Mid Cap, Small Company, Sustainable Core Opportunities and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds with respect to such taxes.

 

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By law, your redemption proceeds and dividends of ordinary income and capital gains will be subject to a withholding tax if you are not a corporation and have not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number or if the number you have provided is incorrect.

 

A 30% withholding tax is currently imposed on dividends and will be imposed on redemption proceeds paid after December 31, 2016 to (i) foreign financial institutions (as defined in Section 1471(d)(4) of the Code) unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect United States account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect United States owners. Under some circumstances, a foreign shareholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

 

A 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on the net investment income (which includes taxable dividends and gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of shares) of certain individuals, trusts and estates.

 

This section summarizes some of the consequences under current federal tax law of investment in the Funds. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in any of the Funds under all applicable tax laws.

 

Index Descriptions

 

All indices are unmanaged and index performance does not reflect any fees, expenses or taxes. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.

 

The Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Government/Credit Index is an index which consists of U.S. government, government agency and investment grade corporate securities with maturities of one to three years. (Low Duration Bond Fund)

 

The Barclays 10 Year Municipal Bond Index is a market-weighted index based on municipal bonds which have an approximate maturity of ten years. (Georgia Municipal Bond Fund)

 

The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. (Balanced (secondary), Multi-Asset Income (secondary) and Total Return Bond Funds)

 

The Barclays U.S. Government/Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Index is an unmanaged index comprising U.S. Treasuries and agency debentures with maturities of one year or longer and agency mortgage-backed pass-through securities issued by Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). (Government Securities Fund)

 

The BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Dollar 3-Month LIBOR Constant Maturity Index represents the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) with a constant 3-month average maturity. LIBOR, published by the British Bankers’ Association, is a composite of the rates of interest at which banks borrow from one another in the London market, and is a widely used benchmark for short-term interest rates. (Unconstrained Bond Fund)

 

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (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. and Canada. The Fund uses the net version of the Index, which reflects reinvested dividends which have been subject to the maximum non-U.S. tax rate applicable. (International Equity Fund)

 

The Russell 2000™ Index measures the performance of 2000 small-cap companies within the U.S. equity universe. (Small Company Fund)

 

The Russell Midcap Index measures the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. (Mid Cap and Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Funds)

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index consists of 500 widely held U.S. equity securities chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. (Balanced, Common Stock, Multi-Asset Income and Sustainable Core Opportunities Funds)

 

120


 

Management of the Funds

 

Sentinel manages the Funds’ investments and their business operations under the overall supervision of the Funds’ Board of Directors. Sentinel has the responsibility for making all investment decisions for the Funds, except where it has retained a subadviser to make the investment decisions for a Fund.

 

Sentinel has retained GLOBALT to manage the investments of the Georgia Municipal Bond Fund.

 

Sentinel is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of the National Life Holding Company. Its principal business address is One National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont 05604. GLOBALT’s principal business address is Terminus 100 Building, 3280 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30305.

 

Each Fund pays Sentinel, as investment adviser, fees in return for providing investment advisory services. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, the Funds paid monthly advisory fees to Sentinel at the following annual rates (stated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund taken separately):

 

Balanced Fund

 

0.53

%

Common Stock Fund

 

0.56

%

Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

0.45

%

Government Securities Fund

 

0.45

%

International Equity Fund

 

0.70

%

Low Duration Bond Fund

 

0.43

%

Mid Cap Fund

 

0.70

%

Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

0.53

%

Small Company Fund

 

0.64

%

Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

0.70

%

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

0.70

%

Total Return Bond Fund

 

0.52

%

 

The Unconstrained Bond Fund, which commenced operations after the end of the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, will pay Sentinel fees in return for providing investment advisory services as a percentage of the Fund’s average net assets at an annual rate of 0.75%.

 

Sentinel has contractually agreed, effective March 30, 2015, to reimburse certain expenses paid by the Class I shares of the Funds to the extent necessary to prevent the total annual fund operating expense ratio of the Class I shares of the Funds, on an annualized basis, from exceeding the total annual fund operating expense ratio of the Class A shares of the same Fund. This agreement will continue through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Funds.

 

Sentinel has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class R6 shares of the Common Stock Fund, on an annualized basis, to 0.65% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

 

Sentinel has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class R6 shares of the Small Company Fund, on an annualized basis, to 0.73% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

 

Sentinel has contractually agreed, effective March 30, 2015, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class A shares of the Total Return Bond Fund, on an annualized basis, to 0.89% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares through March 31, 2016. In addition, the Fund’s investment advisor has contractually agreed, effective December 23, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class R6 shares, on an annualized basis, to 0.69% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R6 shares through March 31, 2016, and to waive fees

 

121


 

and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class R3 shares, on an annualized basis, to 1.19% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R3 shares through March 31, 2016. Each of these agreements may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

 

Sentinel has contractually agreed, effective March 30, 2015, to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for Class C shares of the Unconstrained Bond Fund, on an annualized basis, to 2.06% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares through March 31, 2016. This agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the non-interested directors of the Fund.

 

For Funds other than the Unconstrained Bond Fund, a discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ most recent approval of the Funds’ investment advisory contracts is available in the Funds’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ most recent approval of the Unconstrained Bond Fund’s advisory agreement will be included in the Funds’ semi-annual report for the six-month period ended May 31, 2015.

 

The following individuals manage the Funds:

 

Balanced Fund

 

Daniel J. Manion, lead manager, manages the equity portion of the Balanced Fund and Jason Doiron manages the fixed-income portion of the Balanced Fund. Mr. Manion has been employed by Sentinel since 1993 and is Sentinel’s Director of Equity Research. He has managed the equity portion of the Fund since 2004. Mr. Manion holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mr. Doiron has been employed by Sentinel since 2008 and is Head of Investments at Sentinel. He has co-managed the Fund since 2012. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Doiron was Director—Quantitative Trading and Strategies Group for the Royal Bank of Canada’s Capital Markets Group. Mr. Doiron holds the Financial Risk Manager and Professional Risk Manager designations.

 

Common Stock Fund

 

Mr. Manion is lead manager and Hilary Roper is co-manager of the Common Stock Fund. Mr. Manion has managed or co-managed the Fund since 1994. Ms. Roper has been employed by Sentinel since 1998 as an equity analyst and has co-managed the Fund since 2010. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

 

Gregory E. Paulette, Gary E. Fullam and Megan L. Busby co-manage the Fund. Mr. Paulette has been associated with GLOBALT since 1993 and is the Chief Investment Strategist and Member of the Investment Policy and Executive Committees for GLOBALT. He has co-managed the Fund since March 2007. Mr. Paulette holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mr. Fullam has been associated with GLOBALT since 1990 and is the Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Investment Policy and Executive Committees for GLOBALT. He has co-managed the Fund since March 2007. Mr. Fullam holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Megan L. Busby also managed or co-managed the Fund or its predecessors from 1998 until August 1, 2010, when she temporarily left GLOBALT. Ms. Busby returned to GLOBALT in September 2010 as a consultant, at which point she resumed being a co-manager of the Fund. Ms. Busby has been associated with GLOBALT or an affiliate since 1987; she is a Senior Portfolio Manager. Ms. Busby is a Member of the Investment Policy Committee and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Government Securities Fund

 

Mr. Doiron and Peter Hassler co-manage the Government Securities Fund. Mr. Doiron has co-managed the Fund since March 29, 2012. Mr. Hassler has co-managed the Fund since February 13, 2014. Mr. Hassler has been employed by Sentinel since August 2012. Prior to joining Sentinel, Mr. Hassler was employed at Dwight Asset Management Company LLC in a variety of capacities, most recently as an associate portfolio manager from 2009 to 2012. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

International Equity Fund

 

Andrew Boczek manages the International Equity Fund. Mr. Boczek has been associated with Sentinel since 2012, and has managed or co-managed the Fund since September 1, 2012. Prior to joining Sentinel, from 2006-2012, Mr. Boczek served as an analyst with Legend Capital Management, LLC. Prior to Legend Capital, Mr. Boczek served as an analyst on the International Value team at Artisan Partners LP from 2002 - 2006.

 

Low Duration Bond Fund

 

Mr. Doiron manages the Low Duration Bond Fund. He is assisted by a team of additional portfolio managers and analysts. He has managed or co-managed the Fund since March 29, 2012.

 

122


 

Mid Cap Fund

 

Jason Ronovech is lead manager and Carole Hersam is co-manager of the Mid Cap Fund. Mr. Ronovech joined Sentinel in March 2013, and has co-managed the Fund since March 30, 2013. Prior to joining Sentinel, from 2005 to March 2013, Mr. Ronovech was a portfolio manager with Paradigm Capital Management, co-managing their small cap and smid cap portfolios. Mr. Ronovech holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Ms. Hersam joined Sentinel in 2000, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Ms. Hersam has co-managed the Fund since August 1, 2012.

 

Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

Mr. Doiron is responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund. He is assisted by a team of additional portfolio managers and analysts. He has managed or co-managed the Fund since 2009.

 

Small Company Fund

 

Mr. Ronovech is lead manager and Ms. Hersam is co-manager of the Small Company Fund. Mr. Ronovech has co-managed the Fund since March 30, 2013, and Ms. Hersam has co-managed the Fund since August 1, 2012.

 

Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund

 

Helena Ocampo manages the Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund. Ms. Ocampo has been employed by Sentinel since 2005, and has managed or co-managed the Fund since 2008.

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund

 

Ms. Hersam is lead manager and Mr. Ronovech is co-manager of the Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Fund. Ms. Hersam has co-managed the Fund since March 29, 2012. Mr. Ronovech has co-managed the Fund since March 30, 2013.

 

Total Return Bond Fund

 

Mr. Doiron manages the Total Return Bond Fund. He is assisted by a team of additional portfolio managers and analysts. He has managed or co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

Unconstrained Bond Fund

 

Mr. Doiron manages the Unconstrained Bond Fund. He is assisted by a team of additional portfolio managers and analysts. He has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

The teams of investment management personnel may include additional portfolio managers and a number of analysts. The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts they manage, and their ownership of shares in the Funds they manage.

 

123


 

Householding and Electronic Delivery of Documents

 

Each year you are automatically sent an updated prospectus, or summary prospectus for the Fund or Funds that you own, and annual and semi-annual reports for the Funds. You may also occasionally receive proxy statements and supplements to the prospectus. In order to eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, only one copy of these documents is sent to shareholders who are part of the same family and share the same household address. This process is known as “householding.” If you do not want the mailings of your documents to be subject to householding, please contact the Funds at 1-800-282-FUND (3863). You may elect to receive these documents, as well as your quarterly account statements, electronically in lieu of paper form by enrolling in e-delivery. To enroll, visit http://www.sentinelinvestments.com, select “Investor Login” and follow the prompts. Once enrolled, you will receive e-mail notifications of quarterly statements, annual and semi-annual reports and prospectuses. You will then be able to access the electronic copies on the Funds’ website.

 

124


 

Financial Highlights

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the past five years, or for the other applicable period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in each Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Per share data is calculated utilizing average daily shares outstanding.

 

The financial highlights through November 30, 2014 were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the related financial statements of the Funds, is included in the Funds’ Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request. Financial highlights are not provided for Classes A, C and I of the Unconstrained Bond Fund, Class R3 of the Total Return Bond Fund and Class R6 of each of the Common Stock, Small Company and Total Return Bond Funds because the shares commenced operations with the effective date of this prospectus.

 

125

 

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of period

 

Net
investment
income
(loss)

 

Net gains or
losses on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)

 

Total from
investment
operations

 

Dividends
(from net
investment
income)

 

Distributions
(from
realized
gains)

 

Total
distributions

 

Net asset
value, end
of period

 

Balanced Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

$

15.48

 

$

0.23

 

$

1.11

 

$

1.34

 

$

0.25

 

$

 

$

0.25

 

$

16.57

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.57

 

0.26

 

0.80

 

1.06

 

0.28

 

0.25

 

0.53

 

17.10

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

17.10

 

0.23

 

1.77

 

2.00

 

0.30

 

0.77

 

1.07

 

18.03

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

18.03

 

0.23

 

2.91

 

3.14

 

0.26

 

0.68

 

0.94

 

20.23

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.23

 

0.26

 

1.50

 

1.76

 

0.26

 

0.75

 

1.01

 

20.98

 

Balanced Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

15.50

 

0.09

 

1.12

 

1.21

 

0.10

 

 

0.10

 

16.61

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.61

 

0.12

 

0.81

 

0.93

 

0.14

 

0.25

 

0.39

 

17.15

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

17.15

 

0.08

 

1.78

 

1.86

 

0.17

 

0.77

 

0.94

 

18.07

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

18.07

 

0.08

 

2.91

 

2.99

 

0.11

 

0.68

 

0.79

 

20.27

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.27

 

0.11

 

1.51

 

1.62

 

0.10

 

0.75

 

0.85

 

21.04

 

Balanced Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

15.38

 

0.24

 

1.11

 

1.35

 

0.21

 

 

0.21

 

16.52

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.52

 

0.26

 

0.80

 

1.06

 

0.29

 

0.25

 

0.54

 

17.04

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

17.04

 

0.23

 

1.76

 

1.99

 

0.31

 

0.77

 

1.08

 

17.95

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

17.95

 

0.28

 

2.89

 

3.17

 

0.29

 

0.68

 

0.97

 

20.15

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.15

 

0.31

 

1.50

 

1.81

 

0.31

 

0.75

 

1.06

 

20.90

 

Common Stock Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

27.21

 

0.24

 

2.38

 

2.62

 

0.22

 

 

0.22

 

29.61

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

29.61

 

0.31

 

1.70

 

2.01

 

0.27

 

0.02

 

0.29

 

31.33

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

31.33

 

0.38

 

3.93

 

4.31

 

0.37

 

0.43

 

0.80

 

34.84

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

34.84

 

0.44

 

9.50

 

9.94

 

0.43

 

1.04

 

1.47

 

43.31

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

43.31

 

0.56

 

4.97

 

5.53

 

0.58

 

5.47

 

6.05

 

42.79

 

Common Stock Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

26.41

 

(0.01

)

2.32

 

2.31

 

0.02

 

 

0.02

 

28.70

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

28.70

 

0.05

 

1.64

 

1.69

 

0.02

 

0.02

 

0.04

 

30.35

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

30.35

 

0.09

 

3.81

 

3.90

 

0.12

 

0.43

 

0.55

 

33.70

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

33.70

 

0.12

 

9.18

 

9.30

 

0.14

 

1.04

 

1.18

 

41.82

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

41.82

 

0.21

 

4.78

 

4.99

 

0.19

 

5.47

 

5.66

 

41.15

 

Common Stock Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

27.23

 

0.33

 

2.39

 

2.72

 

0.34

 

 

0.34

 

29.61

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

29.61

 

0.43

 

1.68

 

2.11

 

0.37

 

0.02

 

0.39

 

31.33

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

31.33

 

0.49

 

3.94

 

4.43

 

0.48

 

0.43

 

0.91

 

34.85

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

34.85

 

0.56

 

9.50

 

10.06

 

0.56

 

1.04

 

1.60

 

43.31

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

43.31

 

0.68

 

4.97

 

5.65

 

0.73

 

5.47

 

6.20

 

42.76

 

Georgia Municipal Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.26

 

0.28

 

0.01

 

0.29

 

0.28

 

0.20

 

0.48

 

10.07

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

10.07

 

0.28

 

0.21

 

0.49

 

0.27

 

0.13

 

0.40

 

10.16

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.16

 

0.27

 

0.47

 

0.74

 

0.28

 

0.14

 

0.42

 

10.48

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.48

 

0.25

 

(0.55

)

(0.30

)

0.25

 

0.20

 

0.45

 

9.73

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

9.73

 

0.25

 

0.20

 

0.45

 

0.25

 

0.07

 

0.32

 

9.86

 

 

See notes to Financial Highlights at the end of the schedule.

 

126

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Total
return
(%)*

 

Net assets at
end of
period (000
omitted)

 

Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of expenses to
average net assets
before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Ratio of net
investment income
(loss) to average
net assets (%)

 

Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net
assets before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Balanced Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

8.74

 

$

208,566

 

1.14

 

1.14

 

1.43

 

1.43

 

160

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

6.46

 

207,922

 

1.13

 

1.13

 

1.49

 

1.49

 

162

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.30

 

221,036

 

1.11

 

1.11

 

1.30

 

1.30

 

146

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

18.15

 

267,627

 

1.06

 

1.06

 

1.22

 

1.22

 

154

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

9.10

 

278,385

 

1.07

 

1.07

 

1.29

 

1.29

 

94

 

Balanced Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

7.86

 

11,628

 

1.97

 

1.97

 

0.60

 

0.60

 

160

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

5.63

 

12,109

 

1.94

 

1.94

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

162

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

11.30

 

16,635

 

1.94

 

1.94

 

0.48

 

0.48

 

146

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

17.19

 

30,647

 

1.86

 

1.86

 

0.42

 

0.42

 

154

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

8.34

 

32,002

 

1.82

 

1.82

 

0.53

 

0.53

 

94

 

Balanced Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

8.87

 

3,501

 

1.06

 

1.06

 

1.51

 

1.51

 

160

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

6.49

 

3,383

 

1.09

 

1.09

 

1.52

 

1.52

 

162

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.25

 

5,748

 

1.11

 

1.11

 

1.31

 

1.31

 

146

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

18.46

 

20,468

 

0.77

 

0.77

 

1.50

 

1.50

 

154

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

9.43

 

17,062

 

0.80

 

0.80

 

1.55

 

1.55

 

94

 

Common Stock Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

9.69

 

848,513

 

1.16

 

1.16

 

0.85

 

0.85

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

6.80

#

932,204

 

1.12

 

1.12

 

0.99

 

0.99

 

9

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

13.99

 

1,193,721

 

1.09

 

1.09

 

1.12

 

1.12

 

8

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

29.53

 

1,454,446

 

1.03

 

1.03

 

1.15

 

1.15

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.30

 

1,577,546

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

1.28

 

1.28

 

19

 

Common Stock Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

8.74

 

27,952

 

2.05

 

2.05

 

(0.03

)

(0.03

)

12

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

5.90

#

36,587

 

1.97

 

1.97

 

0.16

 

0.16

 

9

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

13.03

 

51,460

 

1.93

 

1.93

 

0.28

 

0.28

 

8

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

28.47

 

78,259

 

1.84

 

1.84

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

12.40

 

90,784

 

1.79

 

1.79

 

0.50

 

0.50

 

19

 

Common Stock Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.06

 

244,612

 

0.83

 

0.83

 

1.17

 

1.17

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

7.16

#

382,372

 

0.78

 

0.78

 

1.36

 

1.36

 

9

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

14.38

 

684,658

 

0.75

 

0.75

 

1.47

 

1.47

 

8

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

29.93

 

941,223

 

0.72

 

0.72

 

1.45

 

1.45

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.61

 

932,941

 

0.72

 

0.72

 

1.55

 

1.55

 

19

 

Georgia Municipal Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

2.98

 

25,251

 

0.71

 

0.71

 

2.77

 

2.77

 

16

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

5.07

 

21,428

 

0.67

 

0.67

 

2.76

 

2.76

 

12

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

7.41

 

18,970

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

2.61

 

2.61

 

5

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(2.95

)

15,102

 

0.72

 

0.72

 

2.51

 

2.51

 

4

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

4.74

 

11,935

 

0.78

 

0.78

 

2.54

 

2.54

 

0

^

 

127

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of period

 

Net
investment
income
(loss)

 

Net gains or
losses on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)

 

Total from
investment
operations

 

Dividends
(from net
investment
income)

 

Distributions
(from
realized
gains)

 

Return of
Capital

 

Total
distributions

 

Net asset
value, end of
period

 

Government Securities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

$

11.15

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.62

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.23

 

$

 

$

0.60

 

$

11.17

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.17

 

0.26

 

0.05

 

0.31

 

0.35

 

0.41

 

 

0.76

 

10.72

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.72

 

0.14

 

0.28

 

0.42

 

0.31

 

 

 

0.31

 

10.83

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.83

 

0.16

 

(0.66

)

(0.50

)

0.26

 

0.03

 

 

0.29

 

10.04

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.04

 

0.18

 

0.17

 

0.35

 

0.26

 

 

 

0.26

 

10.13

 

Government Securities Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

11.15

 

0.22

 

0.32

 

0.54

 

0.28

 

0.23

 

 

0.51

 

11.18

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.18

 

0.18

 

0.04

 

0.22

 

0.27

 

0.41

 

 

0.68

 

10.72

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.72

 

0.05

 

0.30

 

0.35

 

0.23

 

 

 

0.23

 

10.84

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.84

 

0.08

 

(0.68

)

(0.60

)

0.17

 

0.03

 

 

0.20

 

10.04

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.04

 

0.10

 

0.17

 

0.27

 

0.17

 

 

 

0.17

 

10.14

 

Government Securities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

11.15

 

0.34

 

0.30

 

0.64

 

0.39

 

0.23

 

 

0.62

 

11.17

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.17

 

0.29

 

0.04

 

0.33

 

0.37

 

0.41

 

 

0.78

 

10.72

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.72

 

0.16

 

0.28

 

0.44

 

0.33

 

 

 

0.33

 

10.83

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.83

 

0.19

 

(0.67

)

(0.48

)

0.28

 

0.03

 

 

0.31

 

10.04

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.04

 

0.21

 

0.16

 

0.37

 

0.28

 

 

 

0.28

 

10.13

 

International Equity Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

15.36

 

0.12

 

1.00

 

1.12

 

0.17

 

 

 

0.17

 

16.31

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.31

 

0.19

 

(1.15

)

(0.96

)

0.32

 

 

 

0.32

 

15.03

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

15.03

 

0.18

 

0.98

 

1.16

 

0.16

 

 

 

0.16

 

16.03

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

16.03

 

0.16

 

4.13

 

4.29

 

0.14

 

 

 

0.14

 

20.18

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.18

 

0.25

 

(0.61

)

(0.36

)

0.21

 

 

 

0.21

 

19.61

 

International Equity Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

14.98

 

(0.10

)

0.97

 

0.87

 

 

 

 

 

15.85

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

15.85

 

(0.05

)

(1.11

)

(1.16

)

0.10

 

 

 

0.10

 

14.59

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

14.59

 

(0.06

)

0.96

 

0.90

 

 

 

 

 

15.49

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

15.49

 

(0.11

)

3.97

 

3.86

 

0.01

 

 

 

0.01

 

19.34

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

19.34

 

(0.04

)

(0.59

)

(0.63

)

 

 

 

 

18.71

 

International Equity Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

15.30

 

0.17

 

1.00

 

1.17

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.21

 

16.26

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.26

 

0.23

 

(1.13

)

(0.90

)

0.37

 

 

 

0.37

 

14.99

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

14.99

 

0.26

 

0.98

 

1.24

 

0.24

 

 

 

0.24

 

15.99

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

15.99

 

0.26

 

4.11

 

4.37

 

0.23

 

 

 

0.23

 

20.13

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.13

 

0.38

 

(0.65

)

(0.27

)

0.33

 

 

 

0.33

 

19.53

 

Low Duration Bond Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

9.34

 

0.16

 

0.04

 

0.20

 

0.25

 

 

 

0.25

 

9.29

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

9.29

 

0.11

 

0.01

 

0.12

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.21

 

9.20

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

9.20

 

0.06

 

(0.02

)

0.04

 

0.18

 

 

 

0.18

 

9.06

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

9.06

 

0.03

 

(0.10

)

(0.07

)

0.15

 

 

 

0.15

 

8.84

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

8.84

 

0.12

 

(0.07

)

0.05

 

0.16

 

 

 

0.16

 

8.73

 

Low Duration Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/14(A)

 

8.82

 

0.13

 

(0.06

)

0.07

 

0.16

 

 

 

0.16

 

8.73

 

Low Duration Bond Class S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

9.34

 

0.12

 

0.04

 

0.16

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.21

 

9.29

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

9.29

 

0.07

 

0.01

 

0.08

 

0.17

 

 

 

0.17

 

9.20

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

9.20

 

0.02

 

(0.01

)

0.01

 

0.14

 

 

 

0.14

 

9.07

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

9.07

 

0.01

 

(0.12

)

(0.11

)

0.12

 

 

 

0.12

 

8.84

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

8.84

 

0.11

 

(0.06

)

0.05

 

0.15

 

 

 

0.15

 

8.74

 

 

See notes to Financial Highlights at the end of the schedule.

 

128

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Total
return
(%)*

 

Net assets at
end of
period (000
omitted)

 

Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of expenses to
average net assets before
contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Ratio of net
investment income
(loss) to average
net assets (%)

 

Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net
assets before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Government Securities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

5.85

 

$

630,098

 

0.83

 

0.83

 

2.82

 

2.82

 

649

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

2.99

 

677,462

 

0.80

 

0.80

 

2.42

 

2.42

 

688

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

3.94

 

791,599

 

0.81

 

0.81

 

1.29

 

1.29

 

581

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(4.75

)

429,416

 

0.83

 

0.83

 

1.54

 

1.54

 

795

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

3.50

 

268,380

 

0.92

 

0.92

 

1.80

 

1.80

 

161

 

Government Securities Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

5.08

 

91,383

 

1.59

 

1.59

 

2.03

 

2.03

 

649

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

2.11

 

84,985

 

1.59

 

1.59

 

1.65

 

1.65

 

688

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

3.26

 

120,709

 

1.59

 

1.59

 

0.50

 

0.50

 

581

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(5.61

)

58,371

 

1.63

 

1.63

 

0.73

 

0.73

 

795

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

2.73

 

35,387

 

1.73

 

1.73

 

0.99

 

0.99

 

161

 

Government Securities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

6.12

 

82,552

 

0.60

 

0.60

 

3.07

 

3.07

 

649

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

3.22

 

69,001

 

0.57

 

0.57

 

2.71

 

2.71

 

688

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

4.21

 

145,869

 

0.57

 

0.57

 

1.52

 

1.52

 

581

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(4.51

)

70,078

 

0.60

 

0.60

 

1.76

 

1.76

 

795

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

3.73

 

50,493

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

2.05

 

2.05

 

161

 

International Equity Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

7.35

 

151,462

 

1.45

 

1.45

 

0.77

 

0.77

 

20

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

(6.11

)

111,332

 

1.43

 

1.43

 

1.16

 

1.16

 

28

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

7.84

 

106,173

 

1.49

 

1.49

 

1.17

 

1.17

 

37

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

26.93

 

122,646

 

1.44

 

1.44

 

0.91

 

0.91

 

52

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

(1.81

)

115,216

 

1.41

 

1.41

 

1.22

 

1.22

 

50

 

International Equity Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

5.81

 

3,736

 

2.89

 

2.89

 

(0.68

)

(0.68

)

20

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

(7.42

)

3,207

 

2.89

 

2.89

 

(0.30

)

(0.30

)

28

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

6.17

 

2,953

 

3.05

 

3.05

 

(0.40

)

(0.40

)

37

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

24.92

 

3,634

 

3.04

 

3.04

 

(0.66

)

(0.66

)

52

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

(3.26

)

3,581

 

2.86

 

2.86

 

(0.23

)

(0.23

)

50

 

International Equity Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

7.74

 

8,218

 

1.08

 

1.08

 

1.13

 

1.13

 

20

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

(5.77

)

26,691

 

1.05

 

1.05

 

1.42

 

1.42

 

28

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.45

 

27,887

 

0.94

 

0.94

 

1.72

 

1.72

 

37

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

27.64

 

34,561

 

0.89

 

0.89

 

1.48

 

1.48

 

52

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

(1.39

)

10,997

 

0.92

 

0.92

 

1.91

 

1.91

 

50

 

Low Duration Bond Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

2.12

 

1,068,841

 

0.84

 

0.84

 

1.76

 

1.76

 

47

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

1.27

 

887,005

 

0.84

 

0.84

 

1.19

 

1.19

 

42

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

0.40

 

554,187

 

0.86

 

0.86

 

0.65

 

0.65

 

27

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(0.82

)

307,959

 

0.89

 

0.89

 

0.37

 

0.37

 

16

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

0.54

 

187,430

 

0.95

 

0.95

 

1.33

 

1.33

 

51

 

Low Duration Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/14(A)

 

0.75

++

44,267

 

0.68

+

0.68

+

1.83

+

1.83

+

51

++

Low Duration Bond Class S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

1.70

 

2,495,441

 

1.26

 

1.26

 

1.30

 

1.30

 

47

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

0.85

 

2,068,558

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

0.79

 

0.79

 

42

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

0.11

 

1,535,093

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

0.27

 

0.27

 

27

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

(1.19

)

691,645

 

1.13

 

1.27

 

0.12

 

(0.03

)

16

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

0.53

 

516,503

 

1.08

 

1.13

 

1.23

 

1.19

 

51

 

 

129

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of period

 

Net
investment
income
(loss)

 

Net gains or
losses on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)

 

Total from
investment
operations

 

Dividends
(from net
investment
income)

 

Distributions
(from
realized
gains)

 

Total
distributions

 

Net asset
value, end
of period

 

Mid Cap Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

$

13.46

 

$

(0.09

)

$

2.79

 

$

2.70

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

16.16

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.16

 

(0.11

)

1.83

 

1.72

 

 

 

 

17.88

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

17.88

 

(0.09

)

1.60

 

1.51

 

 

 

 

19.39

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

19.39

 

(0.06

)

5.91

 

5.85

 

 

 

 

25.24

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

25.24

 

(0.04

)

1.83

 

1.79

 

 

2.33

 

2.33

 

24.70

 

Mid Cap Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

11.86

 

(0.28

)

2.43

 

2.15

 

 

 

 

14.01

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

14.01

 

(0.30

)

1.58

 

1.28

 

 

 

 

15.29

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

15.29

 

(0.28

)

1.37

 

1.09

 

 

 

 

16.38

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

16.38

 

(0.23

)

4.96

 

4.73

 

 

 

 

21.11

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

21.11

 

(0.21

)

1.50

 

1.29

 

 

2.33

 

2.33

 

20.07

 

Mid Cap Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

13.57

 

(0.04

)

2.83

 

2.79

 

 

 

 

16.36

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

16.36

 

(0.05

)

1.85

 

1.80

 

 

 

 

18.16

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

18.16

 

(0.04

)

1.62

 

1.58

 

 

 

 

19.74

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

19.74

 

0.02

 

6.04

 

6.06

 

 

 

 

25.80

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

25.80

 

0.07

 

1.83

 

1.90

 

 

2.33

 

2.33

 

25.37

 

Multi-Asset Income Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.99

 

0.23

 

0.60

 

0.83

 

0.26

 

 

0.26

 

11.56

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.56

 

0.22

 

0.22

 

0.44

 

0.26

 

 

0.26

 

11.74

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

11.74

 

0.16

 

0.86

 

1.02

 

0.21

 

 

0.21

 

12.55

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

12.55

 

0.21

 

1.12

 

1.33

 

0.23

 

 

0.23

 

13.65

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.65

 

0.26

 

0.50

 

0.76

 

0.28

 

 

0.28

 

14.13

 

Multi-Asset Income Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.96

 

0.14

 

0.60

 

0.74

 

0.17

 

 

0.17

 

11.53

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.53

 

0.14

 

0.21

 

0.35

 

0.18

 

 

0.18

 

11.70

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

11.70

 

0.08

 

0.86

 

0.94

 

0.14

 

 

0.14

 

12.50

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

12.50

 

0.11

 

1.13

 

1.24

 

0.13

 

 

0.13

 

13.61

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.61

 

0.17

 

0.48

 

0.65

 

0.18

 

 

0.18

 

14.08

 

Multi-Asset Income Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

11.73

 

0.21

 

0.05

 

0.26

 

0.28

 

 

0.28

 

11.71

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

11.71

 

0.18

 

0.85

 

1.03

 

0.22

 

 

0.22

 

12.52

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

12.52

 

0.24

 

1.13

 

1.37

 

0.25

 

 

0.25

 

13.64

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.64

 

0.31

 

0.48

 

0.79

 

0.32

 

 

0.32

 

14.11

 

 

See notes to Financial Highlights at the end of the schedule.

 

130

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Total
return
(%)*

 

Net assets at
end of period
(000 omitted)

 

Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of expenses to
average net assets before
contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Ratio of net
investment
income (loss) to
average net assets
(%)

 

Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net
assets before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Mid Cap Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

20.06

 

$

85,756

 

1.50

 

1.50

 

(0.64

)

(0.64

)

33

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

10.64

#

86,126

 

1.43

 

1.43

 

(0.61

)

(0.61

)

42

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.45

 

83,753

 

1.41

 

1.41

 

(0.49

)

(0.49

)

25

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

30.17

#

118,734

 

1.35

 

1.35

 

(0.25

)

(0.25

)

47

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

7.58

 

112,345

 

1.33

 

1.33

 

(0.18

)

(0.18

)

56

 

Mid Cap Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

18.13

 

2,689

 

3.07

 

3.07

 

(2.21

)

(2.21

)

33

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

9.14

#

3,724

 

2.80

 

2.80

 

(1.98

)

(1.98

)

42

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

7.13

 

3,534

 

2.64

 

2.64

 

(1.73

)

(1.73

)

25

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

28.88

#

11,528

 

2.27

 

2.27

 

(1.20

)

(1.20

)

47

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

6.59

 

10,152

 

2.24

 

2.24

 

(1.08

)

(1.08

)

56

 

Mid Cap Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

20.56

 

6,543

 

1.10

 

1.10

 

(0.25

)

(0.25

)

33

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.00

#

7,086

 

1.09

 

1.09

 

(0.28

)

(0.28

)

42

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.70

 

6,981

 

1.12

 

1.12

 

(0.20

)

(0.20

)

25

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

30.70

#

27,075

 

0.96

 

0.96

 

0.10

 

0.10

 

47

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

7.86

 

8,906

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

0.27

 

0.27

 

56

 

Multi-Asset Income Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

7.68

 

91,218

 

1.15

 

1.15

 

2.05

 

2.05

 

326

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

3.78

 

122,315

 

1.13

 

1.13

 

1.87

 

1.87

 

330

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.78

 

134,682

 

1.12

 

1.12

 

1.33

 

1.33

 

315

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.67

 

166,168

 

1.03

 

1.03

 

1.58

 

1.58

 

279

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

5.61

 

140,670

 

1.04

 

1.04

 

1.89

 

1.89

 

166

 

Multi-Asset Income Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

6.82

 

32,056

 

1.89

 

1.89

 

1.29

 

1.29

 

326

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

3.01

 

53,891

 

1.83

 

1.83

 

1.17

 

1.17

 

330

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.04

 

70,037

 

1.81

 

1.81

 

0.65

 

0.65

 

315

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

9.99

 

97,839

 

1.77

 

1.77

 

0.83

 

0.83

 

279

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

4.83

 

117,373

 

1.76

 

1.76

 

1.19

 

1.19

 

166

 

Multi-Asset Income Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

2.24

++

4,611

 

1.08

+

1.26

+

1.84

+

1.66

+

330

++

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.87

 

17,882

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

1.47

 

1.47

 

315

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

11.01

 

29,833

 

0.80

 

0.80

 

1.79

 

1.79

 

279

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

5.86

 

55,996

 

0.75

 

0.75

 

2.24

 

2.24

 

166

 

 

131

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of period

 

Net
investment
income
(loss)

 

Net gains or
losses on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)

 

Total from
investment
operations

 

Dividends
(from net
investment
income)

 

Distributions
(from
realized
gains)

 

Total
distributions

 

Net asset
value, end
of period

 

Small Company Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

$

5.95

 

$

(0.02

)

$

1.35

 

$

1.33

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

7.28

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

7.28

 

(0.04

)

0.71

 

0.67

 

 

 

 

7.95

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

7.95

 

 

0.70

 

0.70

 

 

0.69

 

0.69

 

7.96

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

7.96

 

(0.02

)

2.25

 

2.23

 

 

1.67

 

1.67

 

8.52

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

8.52

 

 

0.38

 

0.38

 

 

1.71

 

1.71

 

7.19

 

Small Company Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

5.41

 

(0.07

)

1.23

 

1.16

 

 

 

 

6.57

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

6.57

 

(0.09

)

0.64

 

0.55

 

 

 

 

7.12

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

7.12

 

(0.05

)

0.61

 

0.56

 

 

0.69

 

0.69

 

6.99

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

6.99

 

(0.06

)

1.91

 

1.85

 

 

1.67

 

1.67

 

7.17

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

7.17

 

(0.04

)

0.30

 

0.26

 

 

1.71

 

1.71

 

5.72

 

Small Company Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

6.02

 

0.01

 

1.37

 

1.38

 

 

 

 

7.40

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

7.40

 

 

0.71

 

0.71

 

 

 

 

8.11

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.11

 

0.02

 

0.72

 

0.74

 

 

0.69

 

0.69

 

8.16

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

8.16

 

0.01

 

2.32

 

2.33

 

0.04

 

1.67

 

1.71

 

8.78

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

8.78

 

0.03

 

0.38

 

0.41

 

 

1.71

 

1.71

 

7.48

 

Sustainable Core Opportunities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.89

 

0.04

 

1.03

 

1.07

 

0.04

 

 

0.04

 

11.92

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.92

 

0.06

 

0.63

 

0.69

 

0.04

 

 

0.04

 

12.57

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.57

 

0.09

 

1.66

 

1.75

 

0.06

 

 

0.06

 

14.26

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

14.26

 

0.11

 

4.25

 

4.36

 

0.11

 

 

0.11

 

18.51

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

18.51

 

0.16

 

2.27

 

2.43

 

0.11

 

 

0.11

 

20.83

 

Sustainable Core Opportunities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.95

 

0.08

 

1.03

 

1.11

 

0.09

 

 

0.09

 

11.97

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

11.97

 

0.10

 

0.64

 

0.74

 

0.09

 

 

0.09

 

12.62

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.62

 

0.13

 

1.67

 

1.80

 

0.11

 

 

0.11

 

14.31

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

14.31

 

0.15

 

4.25

 

4.40

 

0.14

 

 

0.14

 

18.57

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

18.57

 

0.22

 

2.27

 

2.49

 

0.13

 

 

0.13

 

20.93

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

11.38

 

(0.08

)

2.70

 

2.62

 

 

 

 

14.00

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

14.00

 

(0.09

)

1.52

 

1.43

 

 

 

 

15.43

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

15.43

 

(0.07

)

0.87

 

0.80

 

 

 

 

16.23

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

16.23

 

(0.05

)

4.57

 

4.52

 

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

20.07

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.07

 

(0.08

)

1.99

 

1.91

 

 

1.57

 

1.57

 

20.41

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

11.82

 

(0.18

)

2.79

 

2.61

 

 

 

 

14.43

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

14.43

 

(0.10

)

1.59

 

1.49

 

 

 

 

15.92

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

15.92

 

(0.06

)

0.88

 

0.82

 

 

 

 

16.74

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

16.74

 

(0.01

)

4.71

 

4.70

 

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

20.76

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

20.76

 

(0.07

)

2.07

 

2.00

 

 

1.57

 

1.57

 

21.19

 

 

See notes to Financial Highlights at the end of the schedule.

 

132

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Total
return
(%)*

 

Net assets at
end of period
(000 omitted)

 

Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of expenses to
average net assets before
contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Ratio of net
investment income
(loss) to average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net
assets before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Small Company Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

22.35

 

$

1,122,623

 

1.17

 

1.17

 

(0.37

)

(0.37

)

32

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

9.20

 

1,093,043

 

1.10

 

1.10

 

(0.44

)

(0.44

)

37

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

9.63

 

815,661

 

1.14

 

1.14

 

(0.05

)

(0.05

)

33

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

34.79

 

808,145

 

1.21

 

1.21

 

(0.24

)

(0.24

)

23

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

5.40

 

682,481

 

1.20

 

1.20

 

0.06

 

0.06

 

59

 

Small Company Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

21.44

 

166,931

 

1.93

 

1.93

 

(1.14

)

(1.14

)

32

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

8.37

 

153,765

 

1.85

 

1.85

 

(1.20

)

(1.20

)

37

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

8.70

 

119,594

 

1.89

 

1.89

 

(0.79

)

(0.79

)

33

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

33.94

 

128,521

 

1.93

 

1.93

 

(0.97

)

(0.97

)

23

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

4.55

 

115,642

 

1.91

 

1.91

 

(0.66

)

(0.66

)

59

 

Small Company Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

22.92

 

924,047

 

0.72

 

0.72

 

0.08

 

0.08

 

32

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

9.59

 

1,153,094

 

0.68

 

0.68

 

(0.03

)

(0.03

)

37

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

9.96

 

523,540

 

0.79

 

0.79

 

0.31

 

0.31

 

33

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

35.40

 

385,692

 

0.81

 

0.81

 

0.17

 

0.17

 

23

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

5.62

 

247,639

 

0.85

 

0.85

 

0.46

 

0.46

 

59

 

Sustainable Core Opportunities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

9.80

 

179,907

 

1.35

 

1.35

 

0.34

 

0.34

 

11

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

5.79

 

172,858

 

1.34

 

1.34

 

0.45

 

0.45

 

7

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

14.00

 

182,345

 

1.32

 

1.32

 

0.66

 

0.66

 

4

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

30.74

 

224,489

 

1.26

 

1.26

 

0.67

 

0.67

 

14

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.18

 

239,707

 

1.24

 

1.24

 

0.85

 

0.85

 

20

 

Sustainable Core Opportunities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

10.18

 

10,479

 

0.95

 

0.95

 

0.73

 

0.73

 

11

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

6.15

 

8,483

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

0.79

 

0.79

 

7

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

14.38

 

8,194

 

1.04

 

1.04

 

0.94

 

0.94

 

4

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

31.05

 

12,418

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

0.93

 

0.93

 

14

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

13.50

 

15,275

 

0.97

 

0.97

 

1.13

 

1.13

 

20

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

23.02

 

110,749

 

1.42

 

1.42

 

(0.64

)

(0.64

)

11

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

10.21

 

109,185

 

1.39

 

1.39

 

(0.62

)

(0.62

)

8

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

5.18

 

104,293

 

1.41

 

1.41

 

(0.45

)

(0.45

)

117

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

28.96

 

128,441

 

1.35

 

1.35

 

(0.26

)

(0.26

)

45

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.12

 

128,716

 

1.32

 

1.32

 

(0.42

)

(0.42

)

62

 

Sustainable Mid Cap Opportunities Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/10

 

22.08

 

1,767

 

2.14

 

2.26

 

(1.37

)

(1.49

)

11

 

 

 

11/30/11

 

10.33

 

1,805

 

1.38

 

1.76

 

(0.62

)

(0.99

)

8

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

5.15

 

8,351

 

1.33

 

1.33

 

(0.36

)

(0.36

)

117

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

29.15

 

3,093

 

1.15

 

1.15

 

(0.04

)

(0.04

)

45

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.23

 

6,792

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

(0.35

)

(0.35

)

62

 

 

133

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of period

 

Net
investment
income
(loss)

 

Net gains
or losses
on
securities
(both
realized
and
unrealized)

 

Total from
investment
operations

 

Dividends
(from net
investment
income)

 

Distributions
(from
realized
gains)

 

Return of
Capital

 

Total
distributions

 

Net asset
value, end of
period

 

Total Return Bond Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

$

10.00

 

$

0.24

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.42

 

$

0.28

 

$

 

$

 

$

0.28

 

$

10.14

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.14

 

0.21

 

1.01

 

1.22

 

0.25

 

0.18

 

 

0.43

 

10.93

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.93

 

0.25

 

 

0.25

 

0.28

 

0.25

 

 

0.53

 

10.65

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.65

 

0.24

 

0.15

 

0.39

 

0.27

 

0.13

 

 

0.40

 

10.64

 

Total Return Bond Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

10.00

 

0.23

 

0.18

 

0.41

 

0.28

 

 

 

0.28

 

10.13

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.13

 

0.17

 

1.02

 

1.19

 

0.23

 

0.18

 

 

0.41

 

10.91

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.91

 

0.20

 

(0.01

)

0.19

 

0.22

 

0.25

 

 

0.47

 

10.63

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.63

 

0.18

 

0.14

 

0.32

 

0.21

 

0.13

 

 

0.34

 

10.61

 

Total Return Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

10.00

 

0.25

 

0.19

 

0.44

 

0.30

 

 

 

0.30

 

10.14

 

 

 

11/30/12

 

10.14

 

0.23

 

1.02

 

1.25

 

0.27

 

0.18

 

 

0.45

 

10.94

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

10.94

 

0.29

 

(0.03

)

0.26

 

0.29

 

0.25

 

 

0.54

 

10.66

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

10.66

 

0.25

 

0.15

 

0.40

 

0.28

 

0.13

 

 

0.41

 

10.65

 

 

134

 


 

Fund/
Share
Class

 

Fiscal year
(period
ended)

 

Total
return
(%)*

 

Net assets at
end of period
(000 omitted)

 

Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets (%)

 

Ratio of expenses to
average net assets before
contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Ratio of net
investment income
(loss) to average
net assets (%)

 

Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net
assets before contractual and
voluntary expense
reimbursements (%)**

 

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Total Return Bond Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

4.28

++

$

23,856

 

0.95

+

0.95

+

2.46

+

2.46

+

784

++

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.34

 

111,263

 

0.94

 

0.96

 

2.00

 

1.98

 

915

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

2.33

 

102,138

 

0.89

 

0.95

 

2.38

 

2.32

 

499

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

3.66

 

203,871

 

0.89

 

0.93

 

2.25

 

2.21

 

432

 

Total Return Bond Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

4.16

++

14,205

 

1.04

+

1.04

+

2.40

+

2.40

+

784

++

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.02

 

29,323

 

1.35

 

1.37

 

1.62

 

1.60

 

915

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

1.79

 

26,222

 

1.42

 

1.48

 

1.88

 

1.81

 

499

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

3.01

 

47,015

 

1.49

@

1.53

@

1.68

 

1.64

 

432

 

Total Return Bond Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/11(B)

 

4.40

++

11,070

 

0.82

+

0.82

+

2.60

+

2.60

+

784

++

 

 

11/30/12

 

12.59

 

22,792

 

0.77

 

0.79

 

2.20

 

2.19

 

915

 

 

 

11/30/13

 

2.46

 

61,268

 

0.73

 

0.79

 

2.69

 

2.63

 

499

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

3.79

 

485,459

 

0.74

 

0.78

 

2.31

 

2.27

 

432

 

 

135

 


 


* Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and a redemption on the last day of the period. Neither an initial sales charge nor a CDSC is reflected in the calculation of total return. Total returns would have been lower in applicable years where the Advisor had not waived a portion of its fee.

** Expense reductions are comprised of the contractual and voluntary expense reimbursements as described in Note (3), if applicable.

+  Annualized.

++ Not Annualized.

(A) Commenced operations January 31, 2014.

(B) Commenced operations December 17, 2010.

# Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Funds resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the performance for the Sentinel Common Stock Fund Class A by 0.04%, Sentinel Common Stock Fund Class C by 0.07%, Sentinel Common Stock Fund Class I by 0.04%, Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class A by 0.08%, Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class C by 0.08% and Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class I by 0.06% for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011; and Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class A by 0.05%, Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class C by 0.06% and Sentinel Mid Cap Fund Class I by 0.05% for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013.

Per share net investment (income) loss and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) for each Fund are calculated utilizing the average shares method unless otherwise noted.

Amounts designated as “—” are either zero or represent less than $0.005 or $(0.005).

^ Represents less than 0.5%.

@ Includes the impact of the shares owned by NLV Financial Corporation and its affiliates who do not get charged a distribution fee, which decreases the ratio for the Sentinel Total Return Bond Fund Class C by 0.20%.

 

136


 

To Get More Information

 

Shareholder Reports

 

Additional information about the Funds’ investments is or will be available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds’ annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. You may obtain copies of these reports at no cost by calling 1-800-282-FUND (3863).

 

The Funds will send you one copy of each shareholder report and certain other mailings, regardless of the number of Fund accounts you have. To receive separate shareholder reports for each account at no cost, call 1 800-282-FUND (3863).

 

Statement of Additional Information

 

The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Funds, including a description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities, and is incorporated by reference (legally considered to be part of this Prospectus). You may request a free copy by writing the Funds at the address shown below or by calling 1-800-282-FUND (3863).

 

Please contact your registered representative or the Funds at 1-800-282-FUND (3863) if you have any questions or would like additional information about the Funds.

 

The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information and its annual and semi-annual reports are also available, free of charge, at the Funds’ website at www.sentinelinvestments.com or by calling the Funds at 1-800-282-FUND (3863). Information about the Funds (including the Statement of Additional Information) can also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the public reference room. This information is also accessible via the Edgar database on the SEC’s internet site at www.sec.gov and copies may be obtained upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. No one is authorized to provide you with information that is different.

 

 

 

Mail and correspondence should be addressed to:

 

 

 

Sentinel Group Funds, Inc.
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604

 

Sentinel Group Funds, Inc.
c/o Sentinel Investments
P.O. Box 55929
Boston, MA 02205-5929

 

 

 

Investment Adviser
Sentinel Asset Management, Inc.
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604

 

Counsel
Sidley Austin LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

 

 

 

Principal Underwriter
Sentinel Financial Services Company
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
300 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017

 

 

 

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing
Agent
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
30 Dan Road
Canton, MA 02021-2809

 

Custodian
State Street Bank & Trust Company
801 Pennsylvania Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

 

 

Administrator
Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc.
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604
800-282-FUND (3863)

 

 

 

137


 

Sentinel Investments in the unifying brand name for Sentinel Financial Services Company, Sentinel Asset Management, Inc. and Sentinel Administrative Services, Inc. Sentinel Funds are distributed by Sentinel Financial Services Company.

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811- 00214

 

138