485APOS 1 refileohtfbondfundcomboml.htm 485APOS 2nd REFILE OH Tax Free Bond - 485A (Merrill appendix) Combined Document


 
Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 10, 2017
Securities Act of 1933 File No. 002-80859
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-03651
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ý
 
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 151
and/or
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ý
 
Amendment No. 151
 
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
 
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) Zip Code
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code (800) 638-8194
 
Jill T. McGruder, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
With Copies to:
Deborah Bielicke Eades, Esq.
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 609-7661
 
Renee M. Hardt, Esq.
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 609-7616
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
(check appropriate box)
o immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
o on pursuant to paragraph (b)
o 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
ý on April 10, 2017 pursuant to paragraph (a)
o 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
o on pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. If appropriate, check the following box:
o This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
 





April 10, 2017
Prospectus
 
Touchstone Strategic Trust
 
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
TOHAX
 
TOHCX
 
TOHYX
 
TOHIX
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

1




Table of Contents
 
Page
 
 
 

TOUCHSTONE OHIO TAX-FREE BOND FUND SUMMARY
 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
 

THE FUND’S MANAGEMENT
 

CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
 
13

DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
 

INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
 

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
26

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 

APPENDIX A: INTERMEDIARY-SPECIFIC SALES CHARGE WAIVERS AND DISCOUNTS
 
A-1


2



TOUCHSTONE OHIO TAX-FREE BOND FUND SUMMARY
 
The Fund’s Investment Goal
 
The Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks the highest level of interest income exempt from federal income tax and Ohio personal income tax, consistent with the protection of capital.
 
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses
 
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 $50,000 or more in the Touchstone Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section entitled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus on page 13, in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus, and in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) on page 31.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A
Class C
Class Y
Institutional Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
4.75%
None
None
None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less)
None
1.00%
None
None
Wire Redemption Fee
Up to $15
Up to $15
Up to $15
Up to $15
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
 
 
 
Management Fees
0.50%
0.50%
0.50%
0.50%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
0.25%
1.00%
None
None
Other Expenses(1)
0.38%
0.59%
0.38%
0.38%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
1.13%
2.09%
0.88%
0.88%
Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement(2)
(0.28)%
(0.49)%
(0.28)%
(0.33)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement(2)
0.85%
1.60%
0.60%
0.55%
___________________________________________
(1) 
Other Expenses for Class Y and Institutional Class shares are estimated based on fees and expenses incurred by Class A shares of the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund, a series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (the "Predecessor Fund").  Class Y and Institutional Class shares of the Predecessor Fund commenced operations on August 31, 2016.
(2) 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor" or "Touchstone Advisors") and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transactions and investment related expenses; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual fund operating expenses to 0.85%, 1.60%, 0.60% and 0.55% of average daily net assets for Classes A, C, Y and Institutional Class shares, respectively. This contractual expense limitation is effective through April 10, 2018, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date in which Touchstone Advisors reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. No recoupment will occur unless the Fund’s expenses are below the lesser of the expense limitation amount in effect (a) at the time of the waiver, or (b) at the time of the reimbursement.

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, except as indicated, 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 and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

3



 
Assuming Redemption at End of Period
 
Assuming No 
Redemption
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
 
Class C
1 Year
$558
 
$263
 
$61
 
$56
 
$163
3 Years
$791
 
$608
 
$253
 
$248
 
$608
5 Years
$1,042
 
$1,079
 
$460
 
$455
 
$1,079
10 Years
$1,760
 
$2,382
 
$1,059
 
$1,054
 
$2,382
 
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage 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 fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies
 
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in high-quality, long-term Ohio municipal obligations, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and industrial development bonds. High-quality, long-term Ohio municipal obligations are, for purposes of this Fund, considered to be obligations rated within the three highest rating categories, with remaining maturities of three years or more. The Fund is a non-diversified fund and may, from time to time, have significant exposure to one or more issuers, industries, geographic regions or sectors.

The Fund invests primarily in Ohio municipal obligations rated within the three highest rating categories. The Fund may also purchase Ohio municipal obligations and other securities rated within the four highest rating categories. The Fund may purchase unrated obligations that Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., the Fund's investment sub-advisor (“Fort Washington” or “Sub-Advisor”), determines to be of comparable quality. If a security’s rating is reduced below the four highest rating categories, the security will be sold. A security may also be sold due to changes in market conditions or the Sub-Advisor's outlook.
 
The Fund has a fundamental investment policy that under normal circumstances at least 80% of the income it distributes will be exempt from federal income tax, including the federal alternative minimum tax, and Ohio personal income tax. This fundamental policy may not be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.
 
The Fund’s Principal Risks
 
The Fund’s share price will fluctuate. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could also return less than other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks listed below.
 
Fixed-Income Risk: The market value of the Fund’s fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments. Generally, the Fund’s fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer the maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities the Fund owns, the more sensitive the value of the Fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.
 
Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest, when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value.
 
Interest Rate Risk: In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk. The negative impact on fixed-income securities if interest rates increase as a result could negatively impact the Fund’s net asset value.
 
Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk

4



of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings.

Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor may engage one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio.  There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.
 
Municipal Securities Risk: The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of bankruptcy. In addition, the ongoing issues facing the national economy may negatively impact the economic performance of issuers of municipal securities.
 
Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets than a diversified mutual fund in the securities of a limited number of issuers. The use of a non-diversified investment strategy may increase the volatility of the Fund’s investment performance, as the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event.
 
Prepayment Risk: Prepayment risk is the risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment risk is more prevalent during periods of falling interest rates.
 
Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility of the Fund’s net asset value with a magnified effect on the total return.
 
State Risk: Political and economic conditions in the State of Ohio may impact the value of Ohio municipal obligations. The Fund may lose value due to decreased economic growth, increased unemployment and decreased tax revenue in the State of Ohio.
 
An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal. You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Investment Strategies and Risks” section in the Fund’s prospectus.
 
The Fund’s Performance
 
The Fund is a new series of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust"). On December 16, 2016, the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund, a series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (the "Predecessor Fund"), was reorganized into the Fund. As a result of the reorganization, the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund were assumed by the Fund.  Financial and performance information prior to December 16, 2016 is that of the Predecessor Fund.

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years, and ten years compare with the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index. The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return. Past performance of the Fund (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance for the Fund is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.



5




Class A Total Returns as of December 31
ttft-prospe_chartx50964a07.jpg
Best Quarter: Third Quarter 2009 5.43% Worst Quarter: Fourth Quarter 2010 (3.88)%

Average Annual Total Returns*
For the periods ended December 31, 2016
 
1 Year
 
5 Years
 
10 Years
Class A
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(4.60
)%
 
2.15
%
 
3.22
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
(4.64
)%
 
2.10
%
 
3.16
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
(1.34
)%
 
2.41
%
 
3.28
%
Class C
 
 
 
 
 
Return Before Taxes
(1.63
)%
 
2.38
%
 
2.95
%
Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.25
 %
 
3.28
%
 
4.25
%
*Returns are not presented for Class Y and Institutional Class shares. Those share classes commenced operations on August 31, 2016. Performance information for Class Y and Institutional Class shares will be shown when those share classes have a full calendar year of operations. 

After–tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your after–tax returns may differ from those shown and depend on your tax situation. The after–tax returns do not apply to shares held in an IRA, 401(k), or other tax–advantaged account. After–tax returns are only shown for Class A shares and after–tax returns for other classes will vary.
 
The Fund’s Management
 
Investment Advisor
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Sub-Advisor
 
Portfolio Manager
 
Investment Experience with the
Fund and Predecessor Fund
 
Primary Title with Sub-Advisor
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
 
John J. Goetz, CFA
 
Managed the Predecessor Fund from 1986 to 2016; Managing the Fund since its inception in 2016
 
Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager
 
 
Richard A. Ellensohn
 
Managed the Predecessor Fund from 2012 to 2016; Managing the Fund since its inception in 2016
 
Portfolio Manager
 

6



 
 
Classes A, C, and Y
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Minimum Investment Requirements
 
Initial
Investment
 
Additional
Investment
Regular Account
 
$
2,500

 
$
50

Investments Through the Automatic Investment Plan
 
$
100

 
$
50


 
 
Institutional Class
 
 
Initial
Investment
 
Additional
Investment
Regular Account
 
$
500,000

 
$
50


You may buy and sell shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Class A and C shares may be purchased and sold directly through Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities”) or through your financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities. Institutional Class shares are available through Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary. Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRA") and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold by telephone or via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures.
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its ordinary income and any capital gains to its shareholders. The Fund intends to pass on to shareholders the federal tax-exempt income, which will not be subject to federal tax. Income exempt from federal tax may be subject to state and local tax. A portion of the Fund’s distributions may be subject to federal income tax, except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.  Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.
 
Financial Intermediary Compensation
 
If you purchase shares in 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 financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 

7



INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
 
How Does The Fund Implement its Investment Goal and its Principal Investment Strategies?

The Fund's investment goal and strategies are described above in "Principal Investment Strategies" section. The Fund concentrates its investments in securities of issuers located in the State of Ohio and is non-diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund invests primarily in Ohio municipal obligations rated within the three highest rating categories. The Fund may also purchase Ohio municipal obligations and other securities rated within the four highest rating categories. The Fund may purchase unrated obligations that Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., the Fund's investment sub-advisor (“Fort Washington” or “Sub-Advisor”), determines to be of comparable quality. If a security’s rating is reduced below the four highest rating categories, the security will be sold. A security may also be sold due to changes in market conditions or the Sub-Advisor's outlook. The Fund will seek to maintain an average weighted maturity of more than 10 years, but may reduce its average weighted maturity to 10 years or below if warranted by market conditions.
 
The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal obligations within a particular segment of the bond market (such as housing agency bonds or airport bonds). The Fund may also invest more than 25% of its assets in private activity bonds and industrial development bonds which may be backed only by non-governmental entities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will limit its investment in securities whose income is subject to the alternative minimum tax to less than 20% of its assets. The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its assets in securities backed by nongovernmental entities that are in the same industry.

Can the Fund Depart From its Principal Investment Strategies?
 
In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund also may invest in other securities, use other strategies, and engage in other investment practices. These permitted investments and strategies are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

The Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund’s investment goal is non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified at least 60 days before any change takes effect.
 
The investments and strategies described throughout this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. For temporary defensive purposes (e.g., attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions), the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, repurchase agreements, and short-term obligations (i.e., fixed and variable rate securities and high quality debt securities of corporate and government issuers) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s goals. This defensive investing may increase the Fund’s taxable income, and when the Fund is invested defensively, it may not achieve its investment goal. The Fund will do so only if the Fund’s sub-advisor believes that the risk of loss in using the Fund’s normal strategies and investments outweighs the opportunity for gains. Of course, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.
 
80% Investment Policy. The Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its “assets” in certain types of investments suggested by its name (the “80% Policy”). For purposes of this 80% Policy, the term “assets” means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings but would have to make any new investments in such a way as to comply with the 80% Policy. The 80% Policy is a non-fundamental investment policy and the Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any change in this policy.

What are the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund?
 
Fixed Income Risk: The market value of fixed-income securities changes in response to fluctuations in interest rates and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of fixed-income securities generally rise and during periods of rising interest rates, the values of those securities generally fall. While securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Duration is a measure of the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Generally, the longer the maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities the Fund owns, the more sensitive the Fund will be to changes in interest rates.
 
Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value.

8



 
Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities the Fund owns will likely decrease. The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk. Duration is a measure of the expected life, taking into account any prepayment or call features of the security, of a fixed income security that is used to determine the price sensitivity of the security for a given change in interest rates. Specifically, duration is the change in the value of a fixed income security that will result from a 1% change in interest rates, and generally is stated in years. Maturity, on the other hand, is the date on which a fixed income security becomes due for payment of principal. There may be less governmental intervention in the securities markets in the near future. The negative impact on fixed-income securities if interest rates increase as a result could negatively impact the Fund’s net asset value.
 
Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings. While such securities are considered investment-grade quality and are deemed to have adequate capacity for payment of principal and interest, such securities lack outstanding investment characteristics and may share certain speculative characteristics with non-investment-grade securities.
 
Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors. The value of your investment may decrease if the sub-advisor incorrectly judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.
 
Municipal Securities Risk: The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of a bankruptcy. In addition, the ongoing issues facing the national economy may negatively impact the economic performance of issuers of municipal securities, and may increase the likelihood that issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest may be unable to meet their obligations. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities are introduced before Congress from time to time. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund’s distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund’s holdings would be affected, and the Trustees would reevaluate the Fund’s investment goals and policies. Municipal bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state. The ability of a municipal issuer to seek bankruptcy protection may be subject to the authorization of the executive or legislative branch of the state’s government, and a municipal bankruptcy may be subject to challenge in the state’s courts.  These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal securities market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal securities may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal securities or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s municipal securities in the same manner. Also, some municipal obligations may be backed by a letter of credit issued by a bank or other financial institution. Adverse developments affecting banks or other financial institutions could have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

In making investments, the Fund and the investment advisor will rely on the opinion of issuers’ bond counsel. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor will independently review the basis for those tax opinions. If any of those tax opinions are ultimately determined to be incorrect, the Fund and its shareholders could be subject to substantial tax liabilities. Certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), relating to the issuance of municipal obligations may reduce the volume of municipal securities that qualify for federal tax exemptions. Proposals that may further restrict or eliminate the income tax exemptions for interest on municipal obligations may be introduced in the future. If any such proposal became law, it may reduce the number of municipal obligations available for purchase by the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund’s shareholders by subjecting the income from the Fund to tax. If this occurs, the Fund would reevaluate its investment goals and strategies and may submit possible changes in its structure to shareholders.
 

9



Non-Diversification Risk: A non-diversified Fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in the securities of a limited number of issuers, subject to federal income tax restrictions relating to the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company. Because a higher percentage of a non-diversified Fund’s holdings may be invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers, the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, business, political or regulatory event than a diversified fund.
 
Prepayment Risk: Prepayment risk is the risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment risk is more prevalent during periods of falling interest rates. Prepayment impacts both the interest rate sensitivity of the underlying asset, such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security and its cash flow projections. Therefore, prepayment risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of the Fund’s asset- or mortgage-backed securities which in turn would make it difficult to assess the interest rate risk of the Fund.
 
Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may focus its investments in certain sectors. A fund that focuses its investments in the securities of a particular market sector is subject to the risk that adverse circumstances will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that does not focus its investments in a particular sector. It is possible that economic, business or political developments or other changes affecting one security in the sector of focus will affect other securities in that sector of focus in the same manner, thereby increasing the risk of such investments.
 
State Risk: Economic and political conditions in the State of Ohio may impact the value of Ohio municipal obligations. Ohio has a broad and diverse economic base that is anchored by manufacturing and includes several regional centers and corporate headquarters in addition to expanding health care and technology sectors. The state operates primarily from its general revenue fund, which is largely funded from sales and personal income taxes.

Does the Fund Have Other Investment Strategies in Addition to its Principal Investment Strategies?
 
The Fund may also invest in the following types of municipal obligations. Additional information about the various types of municipal obligations is available under the "Additional Information About Municipal Obligations" section below.
 
Tax-exempt notes
Tax-exempt commercial paper
When-issued obligations
Obligations with puts attached
Floating and variable rate obligations
Lease obligations

Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial institutions under guidelines adopted by the Board, including a requirement that the Fund receives collateral equal to no less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In determining whether to lend securities, Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”) will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower. More information on securities lending is available in the SAI.

Additional Information About Municipal Obligations
 
Municipal Obligations are debt securities issued by states and their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities to finance public works facilities, to pay general operating expenses or to refinance outstanding debt. Municipal obligations may also be issued to finance various private activities for the construction of housing, educational or medical facilities or the financing of privately owned or operated facilities. The two principal types of municipal obligations are general obligation bonds and revenue bonds, including industrial revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the issuer’s full faith and credit and taxing power. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a specific project, facility or tax. Industrial revenue bonds are backed by the credit of a private user of the facility. Municipal obligations pay interest that is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from federal income tax, including the federal alternative minimum tax.
 
Ohio Municipal Obligations are issued by the State of Ohio, its agencies and individual municipalities within the state. They pay interest that is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from both federal income tax, including the federal alternative minimum tax, and Ohio personal income tax.
 
Floating- and Variable-Rate Municipal Obligations are municipal obligations with interest rates that are adjusted when a specific interest rate index changes (floating-rate obligations) or on a schedule (variable-rate obligations). Although there may not be an

10



active secondary market for a particular floating- or variable-rate obligation, these obligations usually have demand features that permit the Fund to demand payment in full of the principal and interest. Obligations with demand features are often secured by letters of credit issued by a bank or other financial institution. A letter of credit may reduce the risk that an entity will not be able to meet the Fund’s demand for repayment of principal and interest.
 
When-Issued Obligations are municipal obligations that are paid for and delivered within 15 to 45 days after the date of purchase. When the Fund invests in when-issued obligations, it will maintain a segregated account of cash or liquid securities to pay for the when-issued obligations and this account will be valued daily in order to account for market fluctuations in the value of its when-issued obligations.
 
Obligations with Puts Attached are municipal obligations that may be resold back to the seller at a specific price or yield within a specific period of time. The Fund will purchase obligations with puts attached for liquidity purposes and may pay a higher price for obligations with puts attached than the price of similar obligations without puts attached. The purchase of obligations with puts attached involves the risk that the seller may not be able to repurchase the underlying obligation.
 
Lease Obligations are municipal obligations that constitute participations in lease obligations of municipalities to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. While a lease obligation is not a general obligation of the municipality that has pledged its taxing power, a lease obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s promise to budget for, appropriate for and make payments due under the obligation. Some lease obligations may contain specific clauses providing that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on an annual basis.
 
Insured Municipal Obligations are municipal obligations that are further secured by financial guarantee insurance that requires the insurer to make payments of principal and interest, when due, if the issuer defaults on its payments.
 
Where Can I Find Information About the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies?
 
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures for disclosing portfolio securities to any person is available in the SAI and can also be found on the Fund’s website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
THE FUND’S MANAGEMENT
 
Investment Advisor
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
 
Touchstone Advisors has been a registered investment advisor since 1994. As of February 28, 2017, Touchstone Advisors had approximately $14.9 billion in assets under management. As the Fund’s investment advisor, Touchstone Advisors reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment programs and also ensures compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines.
 
Touchstone Advisors is responsible for selecting the Fund’s sub-advisor, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. Touchstone Advisors selects a sub-advisor that has shown good investment performance in its areas of expertise. Touchstone Advisors considers various factors in evaluating a sub-advisor, including:
 
Level of knowledge and skill
Performance as compared to its peers or benchmark
Consistency of performance over 5 years or more
Level of compliance with investment rules and strategies
Employees, facilities and financial strength
Quality of service
 
Touchstone Advisors will also continually monitor the sub-advisor’s performance through various analyses and through in-person, telephone and written consultations with the sub-advisor. Touchstone Advisors discusses its expectations for performance with the sub-advisor and provides evaluations and recommendations to the Board, including whether or not the sub-advisor’s contract should be renewed, modified or terminated.
 

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The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or Touchstone Advisors, under certain conditions, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval. The Fund must still obtain shareholder approval of any sub-advisory agreement with a sub-advisor affiliated with the Trust or Touchstone Advisors. Fort Washington, the Fund's sub-advisor, is an affiliate of Touchstone Advisors. Shareholders of the Fund will be notified of any changes in its sub-advisory arrangement.
 
Two or more sub-advisors may manage the Fund, with each managing a portion of the Fund’s assets. If the Fund has more than one sub-advisor, Touchstone Advisors allocates how much of the Fund’s assets are managed by each sub-advisor. Touchstone Advisors may change these allocations from time to time, often based upon the results of its evaluations of the sub-advisors.
 
Touchstone Advisors is also responsible for running all of the operations of the Fund, except those that are subcontracted to the sub-advisor, custodian, transfer agent, sub-administrative agent or other parties. For its services, Touchstone Advisors is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from the Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Fund pays Touchstone Advisors a fee at an annual rate of 0.50%. Touchstone Advisors pays sub-advisory fees to each sub-advisor from its advisory fee.
 
Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion of the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory agreements can be found in the Trust’s semiannual report dated December 31, 2016.
 
Fort Washington is an affiliate of Touchstone Advisors. Therefore, Touchstone Advisors may have a conflict of interest when making decisions to keep Fort Washington as the Fund’s sub-advisor. The Board reviews Touchstone Advisors’ decisions, with respect to the retention of Fort Washington, to reduce the possibility of a conflict of interest situation.

Additional Information

The Trustees of the Trust oversee generally the operations of the Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

This prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of a Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

Sub-Advisor and Portfolio Managers
 
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Fort Washington”), located at 303 Broadway, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, has been a registered investment advisor since 1990 and provides investment advisory services to individuals, institutions, mutual funds and variable annuity products. Fort Washington makes the daily decisions regarding buying and selling specific securities for the Fund, according to the Fund’s investment goals and strategies. As of December 31, 2016, Fort Washington managed approximately $48.9 billion in assets.
 
John J. Goetz, CFA, is primarily responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Goetz has been a Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of Fort Washington since 2000 and was employed by the Fund’s previous investment advisor from 1981 until 2000.
 
Richard Ellensohn is the co-manager of the Fund. Mr. Ellensohn began working at Fort Washington in May 2000 as an Analyst, was named Assistant Portfolio Manager in February 2007, and was named Portfolio Manager in March 2012.
 
Additional Information
 
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation structure, other managed accounts and ownership of securities in their managed funds.
 

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CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
 
Share Class Offerings. Each class of shares has different sales charges and distribution fees.  The amount of sales charges and distribution fees you pay will depend on which class of shares you decide to purchase. In addition, certain intermediaries may provide different sales charge discounts and waivers. These sales charge variations and the applicable intermediaries are described in Appendix A – Intermediary–Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
 
Class A Shares
 
The offering price of Class A shares of the Fund is equal to its net asset value (“NAV”) plus a front-end sales charge that you pay when you buy your shares.  The front-end sales charge is generally deducted from the amount of your investment.  Class A shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocable to Class A shares.
 
Class A Sales Charge. The following table shows the amount of front-end sales charge you will pay on purchases of Class A shares for the Fund. The amount of front-end sales charge is shown as a percentage of offering price and the net amount invested after the charge has been subtracted.  Note that the front-end sales charge gets lower as your investment amount gets larger.
 
Amount of Your Investment
 
Sales Charge as % of
Offering Price
 
Sales Charge as % of
Net Amount Invested
 
Dealer Reallowance as %
of Offering Price
Under $50,000
 
4.75
%
 
4.99
%
 
4.00
%
$50,000 but less than $100,000
 
4.50
%
 
4.71
%
 
3.75
%
$100,000 but less than $250,000
 
3.50
%
 
3.63
%
 
2.75
%
$250,000 but less than $500,000
 
2.95
%
 
3.04
%
 
2.25
%
$500,000 but less than $1 million
 
2.25
%
 
2.30
%
 
1.75
%
$1 million or more
 
0.00%


0.00%

 
None

 
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge*. There is no front-end sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in Class A shares of the Fund.  If you redeem shares that were part of the $1 million breakpoint purchase within one year of that purchase, you may pay a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1% on the shares redeemed if a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Distributor” or “Touchstone Securities”) to a participating unaffiliated broker-dealer.  There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between Touchstone Funds with the same load schedule or from a higher load schedule to a lower load schedule.  In addition, there is no front-end sales charge on the following purchases:
 
Purchases by registered representatives or other employees** (and their immediate family members***) of financial intermediaries having selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
Purchases in accounts as to which a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary charges an asset management fee economically comparable to a sales charge, provided the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary has a selling agreement with Touchstone Securities.
Purchases by a trust department of any financial intermediary serving in a fiduciary capacity as trustee to any trust over which it has discretionary trading authority.
Purchases through a financial intermediary that has agreements with Touchstone Securities, or whose programs are available through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Touchstone Securities relating to mutual fund supermarket programs, fee-based wrap, or asset allocation programs.
Purchases by an employee benefit plan having more than 25 eligible employees or a minimum of $250,000 in plan assets. This waiver applies to any investing employee benefit plan meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and whose transactions are executed through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to use the Touchstone Funds in connection with the plan’s accounts. The term “employee benefit plan” applies to qualified pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plans.
Purchases by an employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
Reinvestment of redemption proceeds from Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund if the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of redemption.

*Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch.
**The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.

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***Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, and children of a registered representative or employee, and any other individual to whom the registered representative or employee provides material support.

In addition, Class A shares may be purchased with no front-end sales charge through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisors.  In each case, the intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Fund in their program where the intermediary provides investors participating in the program with additional services, including advisory, asset allocation, recordkeeping and other services.  Touchstone Securities has entered into an agreement with Merrill Lynch to make this arrangement available to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch. You should ask your financial intermediary if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals.  The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs (currently, Merrill Lynch) may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the Fund and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program.  Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.

Sales charge waivers must be satisfied at the time of purchase.  For direct purchases through Touchstone Securities you may apply for a waiver by marking the appropriate section on the investment application and completing the “Special Account Options” form.  You can obtain the application and form by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.  Purchases at NAV may be made for investment only, and the shares may not be resold except through redemption by or on behalf of the Fund.  At the option of the Fund, the front-end sales charge may be included on future purchases.
 
Reduced Class A Sales Charge. You may also purchase Class A shares of the Fund at the reduced sales charges shown in the table above through the Rights of Accumulation Program or by signing a Letter of Intent.  The following purchasers (“Qualified Purchasers”) may qualify for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
 
an individual, an individual’s spouse, an individual’s children under the age of 21; or
a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved.
 
The following accounts (“Qualified Accounts”) held in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
 
Individual accounts
Joint tenant with rights of survivorship accounts
Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (“UGTMA”) accounts
Trust accounts
Estate accounts
Guardian/Conservator accounts
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), including Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension Plans (“SEP”), and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE”)
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (“Education IRAs”)

Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through certain intermediaries.
 
Rights of Accumulation Program. Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments held in a Qualified Account. You or your dealer must notify Touchstone Securities at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification. If your shares are held directly in a Touchstone Fund or through a dealer, you may combine the historical cost or current NAV (whichever is higher) of your existing Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gains. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your broker-dealer may not maintain this information.
 

14



If your shares are held through financial intermediaries you may combine the current NAV of your existing Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. You or your financial intermediary must notify Touchstone at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification.
 
Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, Touchstone Securities will calculate the combined value of all of the Qualified Purchaser’s Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for variations in Rights of Accumulation for Fund shares purchased through certain intermediaries.
 
Letter of Intent. If you plan to invest at least $50,000 (excluding any reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application.  A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $50,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced sales charge indicated on the above chart.  The minimum initial investment under a Letter of Intent is $10,000.  You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent.  If you do not buy enough shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5% of your intended purchase will be held in escrow.  If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13-month period to qualify for the projected reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your escrow account.  If you have purchased Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.

Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for variations in Letter of Intent terms for Fund shares purchased through certain intermediaries.
 
Other Information. Information about sales charges and breakpoints is also available in a clear and prominent format on the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.  You can access this information by selecting “Sales Charges and Breakpoints” under the “Pricing and Performance” link.  For more information about qualifying for a reduced or waived sales charge, contact your financial intermediary or contact Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
 
Class C Shares
 
Class C shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Fund. Class C shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. A CDSC of 1.00% will be charged on Class C shares redeemed within 1 year after you purchased them. In most cases, it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares for amounts of $1 million or more. Therefore a request to purchase Class C shares for $1 million or more will be considered as a purchase request for Class A shares or declined. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary–Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for a description of the load waivers and discounts available to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through certain intermediaries.
 
Class Y Shares
 
Class Y shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Fund. Class Y shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC. In addition, Class Y shares may be purchased through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisors.  In each case, the intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Touchstone Funds in their program where the intermediary provides investors participating in their program with additional services, including advisory, asset allocation, recordkeeping or other services.  You should ask your financial institution if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals.  The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class

15



of shares included in the program.  Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
 
Institutional Class Shares
 
Institutional Class shares of the Fund are sold at NAV, without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Fund. Institutional Class shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC.
 
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
 
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans. The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act for its Class A shares and Class C shares. The plans allow the Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. Under the Class A Plan, the Fund pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, the Fund pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee). Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
 
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities, the Trust’s principal underwriter, at its own expense (from a designated percentage of its income) currently provides additional compensation to certain dealers. Touchstone Securities pursues a focused distribution strategy with a limited number of dealers who have sold shares of the Fund or other Touchstone Funds. Touchstone Securities reviews and makes changes to the focused distribution strategy on a periodic basis. These payments are generally based on a pro rata share of a dealer’s sales. Touchstone Securities may also provide compensation in connection with conferences, sales, or training programs for employees, seminars for the public, advertising, and other dealer-sponsored programs.
 
Touchstone Advisors, at its own expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain affiliated and unaffiliated dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers for certain services including distribution, administrative, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency or shareholder servicing activities. These additional cash payments to a financial intermediary are payments over and above sales commissions or reallowances, distribution fees or servicing fees (including networking, administration, and sub-transfer agency fees). These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary bears certain costs in connection with providing shareholder services to Fund shareholders. Touchstone Advisors may also reimburse Touchstone Securities for making these payments.
 
Touchstone Advisors and its affiliates may also pay cash compensation in the form of finders’ fees or referral fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of shares sold. The amount and value of additional cash payments vary for each financial intermediary. The additional cash payment arrangement between a particular financial intermediary and Touchstone Advisors or its affiliates may provide for increased rates of compensation as the dollar value of the Fund’s shares or particular class of shares sold or invested through such financial intermediary increases. The availability of these additional cash payments, the varying fee structure within a particular additional cash payment arrangement and the basis for and manner in which a financial intermediary compensates its sales representatives may create a financial incentive for a particular financial intermediary and its sales representatives to recommend the Fund’s shares over the shares of other mutual funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm as to compensation received by your financial intermediary. Although the Fund may use financial firms that sell the Fund’s shares to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund, the Fund and Touchstone Advisors will not consider the sale of the Fund’s shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions. For more information on payment arrangements, please see the section entitled “Touchstone Securities” in the SAI.
 
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
 
Choosing the Appropriate Investments to Match Your Goals. Investing well requires a plan. We recommend that you meet with your financial advisor to plan a strategy that will best meet your financial goals.
 
Purchasing Your Shares
 
Please read this prospectus carefully and then determine how much you want to invest.
 
Classes A and C shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial advisor.
Class Y shares are available through certain financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.
Institutional Class shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.
 

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In order to open an account you must complete an investment application.  You can obtain an investment application from Touchstone Securities, your financial advisor, or other financial intermediary, or by visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.  You may purchase shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading (“Business Day”). For more information about how to purchase shares, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
 
Investor Alert: Each Touchstone Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject any purchase request, including exchanges from other Touchstone Funds, which it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management.  For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of the timing of the investment or because of a history of excessive trading by the investor.  (See “Market Timing Policy” in this prospectus.) Touchstone Securities may change applicable initial and additional investment minimums at any time.
 
Opening an Account
 
Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there will be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we are unable to completely verify your identity through our verification process, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the price determined at the end of business (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), on the day that your account is closed. If we close your account because we are unable to completely verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment.
 
Investing in the Fund
 
By mail or through your financial advisor
 
Please make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds. We do not accept third-party checks for initial investments.
Send your check with the completed investment application by regular mail to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581.
Your application will be processed subject to your check clearing. If your check is returned for insufficient funds or  uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
You may also open an account through your financial advisor.
 
By wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”)
 
You may open an account by purchasing shares by wire or ACH transfer. Call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 for wire or ACH instructions.
Touchstone Securities will not process wire or ACH purchases until it receives a completed investment application.
There is no charge imposed by the Fund to make a wire or ACH purchase. Your bank, financial intermediary or processing organization may charge a fee to send a wire or ACH purchase to Touchstone Securities.
 
Through your financial intermediary
 
You may invest in certain share classes by establishing an account through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
Your financial intermediary will act as the shareholder of record of your shares.
Financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may impose other restrictions or may charge you fees for their services.
Financial intermediaries may designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Fund’s behalf.
Your financial intermediary may receive compensation from the Fund, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors, or their affiliates.
Before investing in the Fund through your financial intermediary, you should read any materials provided by your financial intermediary together with this prospectus.
 
By exchange. Other Touchstone Funds may be exchanged pursuant to the exchange rules outlined below:

17




Class A shares may be exchanged into Class A shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class C shares may be exchanged into Class C shares of any other Touchstone Fund, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class Y shares of the Fund are exchangeable for Class Y shares of any other Touchstone Fund, as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met. Class Y shares may be available through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers.  Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Institutional Class shares of the Funds are exchangeable for Institutional Class shares of any other Touchstone Fund as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class A, C, and Y shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state; such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares.”
Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange. However, when you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares you redeem may be subject to a CDSC, depending on when you originally purchased the exchanged shares. For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange.
Before making an exchange of your Fund shares, you should carefully review the disclosure provided in the prospectus of the Touchstone Fund into which you are exchanging.  Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
You may realize taxable gain if you exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another Fund. See “Distributions and Taxes — Federal Income Tax Information” for more information and the federal income tax consequences of such an exchange.

Through retirement plans
 
You may invest in certain Touchstone Funds through various retirement plans. These include individual retirement plans and employer sponsored retirement plans.
 
Individual Retirement Plans
 
Traditional IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
Spousal IRAs
Roth IRAs
Education IRAs
SEP IRAs
 
Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
 
Defined benefit plans
Defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase plans)
457 plans
 
To determine which type of retirement plan is appropriate for you, please contact your tax advisor.
 
For further information about any of the plans, agreements, applications and annual fees, contact Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 or contact your financial intermediary.
 
Through a processing organization. You may also purchase shares of the Fund through a “processing organization,” (e.g., a mutual fund supermarket) which is a broker-dealer, bank, or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers. Some of the Touchstone Funds have authorized certain processing organizations (“Authorized Processing Organizations”) to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. Before investing in the Fund through a processing organization, you should read any materials provided by the processing organization together with this prospectus. You should also ask the processing organization if they are authorized by Touchstone Securities to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. If the processing organization is not authorized, then your purchase order could be rejected which could subject your investment to market risk. When shares

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are purchased through an Authorized Processing Organization, there may be various differences compared to investing directly with Touchstone Securities. The Authorized Processing Organization may:
 
Charge a fee for its services
Act as the shareholder of record of the shares
Set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements
Impose other charges and restrictions
Designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Fund’s behalf
 
Touchstone Securities considers a purchase or sales order as received when an Authorized Processing Organization, or its authorized designee, receives the order in proper form.
 
Shares held through an Authorized Processing Organization may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your Authorized Processing Organization and Touchstone Securities. Certain Authorized Processing Organizations may receive compensation from the Fund, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors, or their affiliates.
 
It is the responsibility of an Authorized Processing Organization to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone Securities in a timely manner.
 
Pricing of Purchases
 
Purchase orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s public offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charge). Purchase orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the public offering price determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
 
Adding to Your Account
 
By check
 
Complete the investment form provided with a recent account statement.
Make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds.
Write your account number on the check.
Either: (1) Mail the check with the investment form to Touchstone Securities; or (2) Mail the check directly to your financial intermediary at the address printed on your account statement. Your financial intermediary is responsible for forwarding payment promptly to Touchstone Securities.
If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
 
Through Touchstone Securities — By telephone or Internet
 
You can exchange your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
You may also exchange your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than $100,000.
In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
 
Requiring personal identification.
Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.

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Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
 
By wire or ACH
 
Contact your bank and ask it to wire or ACH funds to Touchstone Securities. Specify your name and account number when remitting the funds.
Your bank may charge a fee for handling wire transfers. ACH transactions take 2-3 business days but can be transferred from most banks without a fee.
If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH instructions on file for your non-retirement individual or joint account you may initiate a purchase transaction through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Purchases in the Fund will be processed at that day’s NAV (or public offering price, if applicable) if Touchstone Securities receives a properly executed wire or ACH by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading.
Contact Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary for further instructions.
 
By exchange
 
You may add to your account by exchanging shares from another Touchstone Fund.
For information about how to exchange shares among the Touchstone Funds, see “Investing in the Fund - By exchange” in this prospectus.
Exchange transactions can also be initiated for non-retirement individual or joint accounts via the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
Purchases with Securities
 
Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to, shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to Touchstone Advisors. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult with their personal tax advisor regarding their particular tax situation.
 
Automatic Investment Options
 
The various ways that you can automatically invest in the Fund are outlined below. Touchstone Securities does not charge any fees for these services. For further details about these services, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, please contact them for further details on automatic investment options.

Automatic Investment Plan. You can pre-authorize monthly investments in the Fund of $50 or more to be processed electronically from a checking or savings account.  You will need to complete the appropriate section in the investment application or special account options to do this.  Amounts that are automatically invested in the Fund will not be available for redemption until three business days after the automatic reinvestment.

Reinvestment/Cross Reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains can be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them or in another Touchstone Fund within the same class of shares without a fee or sales charge. Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in the Fund that pays them, unless you indicate otherwise on your investment application. You may also choose to have your dividends or capital gains paid to you in cash if such amounts are greater than $25; lesser amounts will be automatically reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable for federal income tax purposes whether you reinvest such dividends in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment. In addition, any undeliverable checks or checks that are not cashed for six months will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation.
 
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan. You may automatically invest Social Security checks, private payroll checks, pension payouts or any other pre-authorized government or private recurring payments in the Fund.


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Dollar Cost Averaging. Our dollar cost averaging program allows you to diversify your investments by investing the same amount on a regular basis. You can set up periodic automatic exchanges of at least $50 from one Touchstone Fund to any other Touchstone Fund. The applicable sales charge, if any, will be assessed.
 
Selling Your Shares
 
You may sell some or all of your shares on any day that the Fund calculates its NAV. If your request is received by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, financial advisor or financial institution, in proper form by the close of regular trading on the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will receive a price based on that day’s NAV for the shares you sell. Otherwise, the price you receive will be based on the NAV that is next calculated.
 
If you elect to receive your redemption proceeds in cash and the payment is not cashed for six months, your account will be coded as a lost shareholder account and correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the Fund in order to remove this coding. If the Fund does not hear from you within 30 days of the mailing of this notice, the redemption check will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation.
 

Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
 
You can sell your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
You may also sell your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.
You may sell shares over the telephone or via Internet only if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold by telephone or via Internet.
If we receive your sale request by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading, the sale of your shares will be processed at the next determined NAV on that Business Day. Otherwise it will occur on the next Business Day.
Interruptions in telephone or Internet service could prevent you from selling your shares when you want to. When you have difficulty making telephone or Internet sales, you should mail to Touchstone Securities (or send by overnight delivery) a written request for the sale of your shares.
In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
 
Requiring personal identification.
Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
 
Through Touchstone Securities - By mail
 
Write to Touchstone Securities.
Indicate the number of shares or dollar amount to be sold.
Include your name and account number.
Sign your request exactly as your name appears on your investment application.
You may be required to have your signature guaranteed (See “Signature Guarantees” in this prospectus for more information).
 
Through Touchstone Securities - By wire
 
Complete the appropriate information on the investment application.
If your proceeds are $1,000 or more, you may request that Touchstone Securities wire them to your bank account.

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You may be charged a fee of up to $15 by the Fund or the Fund’s Authorized Processing Organization for wiring redemption proceeds. You may also be charged a fee by your bank. Certain institutional shareholders who trade daily are not charged wire redemption fees.
Your redemption proceeds may be deposited directly into your bank account through an ACH transaction. There is no fee imposed by the Fund for ACH transactions, however, you may be charged a fee by your bank to receive an ACH transaction. Contact Touchstone Securities for more information.
If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH or wire instructions on file for your non-retirement account you may transact through the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
Through Touchstone Securities - Through a systematic withdrawal plan
 
You may elect to receive, or send to a third party, systematic withdrawals of $50 or more if your account value is at least $5,000.
Systematic withdrawals can be made monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually.
There is no fee for this service.
There is no minimum account balance required for retirement plans.
 
Special Tax Consideration
 
Systematic withdrawals in the Fund may result in the sale of your shares at a loss or may result in a taxable gain.
 
Through your financial intermediary, or Authorized Processing Organization
 
You may also sell shares by contacting your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, which may charge you a fee for this service. Shares held in street name must be sold through your financial intermediary or, if applicable, the Authorized Processing Organization.
Your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization is responsible for making sure that sale requests are transmitted to Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Your financial intermediary may charge you a fee for selling your shares.
Redemption proceeds will only be wired to your account at the financial intermediary.
 
Investor Alert: Unless otherwise specified, proceeds will be sent to the record owner at the address shown on Touchstone     Securities’ records.
 
Pricing of Redemptions
 
Redemption orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s NAV. Redemption orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
 
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”)
 
If you purchase $1 million or more in Class A shares at NAV and a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating unaffiliated dealer, a CDSC of up to 1.00% may be charged on redemptions made within 1 year of your purchase. Additionally, when an upfront commission is paid to a participating dealer on transactions of $1 million or more in Class A Shares, the Fund will withhold any 12b-1 fee for the first 12 months following the purchase date. If you redeem Class C shares of the Fund within 1 year of your purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% will be charged.
 
The CDSC will not apply to redemptions of shares you received through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions and may be waived under certain circumstances described below. The CDSC will be assessed on the lesser of your shares’ NAV at the time of redemption or the time of purchase. The CDSC is paid to Touchstone Securities to reimburse expenses incurred in providing distribution-related services to the Fund.

All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.

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No CDSC is applied if:
 
The redemption is due to the death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge.
Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone Securities directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans, and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial intermediary.
The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA account after age 70 1/2.
 
The above-mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to redemptions made within one year for purchases of $1 million or more in Class A shares of the Touchstone Funds where a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating broker-dealer. The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary–Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts for variations in CDSC waivers for shares purchased through certain intermediaries.
 
Signature Guarantees
 
Some circumstances require that your request to sell shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain one from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. The Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee for any request related to your account including, but not limited to:
 
Proceeds to be paid when information on your account has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address, or the name or address of a payee).
Proceeds are being sent to an address other than the address of record.
Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from unlike registrations such as a joint account to an individual’s account.
Sending proceeds via wire or ACH when bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred between accounts with different account registrations.
 
Market Timing Policy
 
Market timing or excessive trading in accounts that you own or control may disrupt portfolio investment strategies, may increase brokerage and administrative costs, and may negatively impact investment returns for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs. The Fund will take reasonable steps to discourage excessive short-term trading and will not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies and procedures with respect to market timing of the Fund by shareholders. The Fund will monitor selected trades on a daily basis in an effort to deter excessive short-term trading. If the Fund has reason to believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, the Fund may ask the shareholder to stop such activities or restrict or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts. While the Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments the Fund believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of its shareholders. However, because the Fund cannot prevent all market timing, shareholders may be subject to the risks described above.
 
Generally, a shareholder may be considered a market timer if he or she has (i) requested an exchange or redemption out of any of the Touchstone Funds within 2 weeks of an earlier purchase or exchange request out of any Touchstone Fund, or (ii) made more than 2 “round-trip” exchanges within a rolling 90 day period. A “round-trip” exchange occurs when a shareholder exchanges from one Touchstone Fund to another Touchstone Fund and back to the original Touchstone Fund. If a shareholder exceeds these limits,

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the Fund may restrict or suspend that shareholder’s exchange privileges and subsequent exchange requests during the suspension will not be processed. The Fund may also restrict or refuse to process purchases by the shareholder. These exchange limits and excessive trading policies generally do not apply to systematic purchases and redemptions.
 
Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisors and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. If the Fund identifies excessive trading in such an account, the Fund may instruct the intermediary to restrict the investor responsible for the excessive trading from further trading in the Fund. In accordance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries. Under these agreements, a financial intermediary is obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, the Fund’s market-timing policy; (2) furnish the Fund, upon its request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Fund; and (3) enforce the Fund’s market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Fund as having engaged in market timing. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.
 
The Fund applies these policies and procedures uniformly to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. The Fund has no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Fund, nor will it enter into any such arrangements in the future.
 
Householding Policy (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities)
 
The Fund will send one copy of its prospectus and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as “householding”, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others in your household invest in the Fund through a financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.

In addition, eDelivery is available for statements, confirms and regulatory documents (annual and semi-annual reports, prospectuses, information statements and proxy materials) for shareholders holding accounts directly with Touchstone Securities, please contact Shareholder Services at 1.800.534.0407 for more information. If you hold your account through a broker-dealer or financial intermediary, please contact them directly to inquire about eDelivery opportunities.
 
Receiving Sale Proceeds
 
Touchstone Securities will forward the proceeds of your sale to you (or to your financial intermediary) within 7 days (normally within 3 business days) after receipt of a proper request.
 
Proceeds Sent to Financial Intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organizations. Proceeds that are sent to your Authorized Processing Organization or financial intermediary will not usually be reinvested for you unless you provide specific instructions to do so. Therefore, the financial advisor, Authorized Processing Organization or financial intermediary may benefit from the use of your money.
 
Fund Shares Purchased by Check (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). We may delay the processing and payment of redemption proceeds for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you believe you may need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
 
Reinstatement Privilege (Classes A and C only). You may, within 90 days of redemption, including redemption proceeds reinvested from an unaffiliated money market fund, reinvest all or part of your sale proceeds by sending a written request and a check to Touchstone Securities. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting, you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of your Class A shares, and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is equal to or more than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting you can reinvest into Class A shares of any applicable Touchstone Fund at NAV. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund, you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after Touchstone Securities receives your request. If the reinvestment proceeds were from the sale of your Class C shares, you can reinvest those proceeds into Class C shares of

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any Touchstone Fund. If you paid a CDSC on the reinstated amount, that CDSC will be reimbursed to you upon reinvestment. The redemption and repurchase of shares may still result in a tax liability for federal income tax purposes.
 
Low Account Balances (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities).  If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes), Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. This involuntary sale does not apply to retirement accounts or custodian accounts under the UGTMA. Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.

Delay of Payment. It is possible that the payment of your sale proceeds could be postponed or your right to sell your shares could be suspended during certain circumstances. These circumstances can occur:
 
When the NYSE is closed on days other than customary weekends and holidays;
When trading on the NYSE is restricted; or
During any other time when the SEC, by order, permits.
 
Redemption in-Kind. Under unusual circumstances (such as a period of unusually high market volatility), when the Board deems it appropriate, the Fund may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio securities of the Fund taken at current value in order to meet redemption requests. Shareholders may incur transaction and brokerage costs when they sell these portfolio securities. Until such time as the shareholder sells the securities they receive in-kind, the securities are subject to market risk. Redemptions in-kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash.
 
Pricing of Fund Shares
 
The Fund calculates its share price (NAV) by dividing the total value of its net assets by the number of shares outstanding. A separate NAV is calculated for each share class of the Fund. Shares are purchased or sold at the next offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) determined after Touchstone Securities or an Authorized Processing Organization receives your purchase or sales order in proper form.
 
Debt securities held by the Fund are valued at their evaluated bid by an independent pricing service or at their last broker-quoted bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. Independent pricing services use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values through accepted market modeling conventions. Inputs to the models may include prepayment speeds, pricing spread, yield, trade information, dealer quotes, market color, cash flow models, the securities’ terms and conditions, among others. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, provided such amount approximates market value. While this method provides consistency in valuation (and may only be used if it approximates market value), it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price that would be received if the Fund sold the investment.
 
Securities held by the Fund that do not have readily available market quotations, are priced at their fair value using procedures approved by the Board. Any debt securities held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available are generally priced at their most recent bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. The Fund may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
 
If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation.
 
The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price the Fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. The Fund has established fair value policies and procedures that delegate fair value responsibilities to the Advisor. These policies and procedures outline the fair value method for the Advisor. The Advisor’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors established by the Board, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that the Fund assigns to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available. With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that is invested in other mutual funds, that portion of the Fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that mutual fund. The prospectus for the other mutual fund explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that fund.
 

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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and capital gains. Dividends, if any, are declared daily and paid monthly. Distributions of capital gains, if any, will be made at least annually. If you own shares on the Fund’s  distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
 
You will receive income dividends and distributions of capital gains in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. Cash payments will only be made for amounts equal to or exceeding $25; for amounts less than $25 the dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in the paying Fund and class. To elect cash payments, you must notify the Fund in writing or by phone prior to the date of distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after we receive your notice. To cancel your election, simply send written notice to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581, or call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial institution, you must contact the institution to elect cash payment. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV  determined as of the date of cancellation.

Federal Income Tax Information
 
The tax information in this prospectus is provided only for general information purposes for U.S. taxpayers and should not be considered as tax advice or relied on by a shareholder or prospective investor.
 
General. The Fund intends to qualify annually to be treated as regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As such, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on the earnings they distribute to shareholders provided they satisfy certain requirements and restrictions of the Code, one of which is to distribute to the Fund’s shareholders substantially all of the Fund’s net investment income and capital gains each year. If for any taxable year the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC: (1) it will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and thus will be subject to taxation on a graduated basis at the corporate tax rate; and (2) distributions from its earnings and profits (as determined under federal income tax principles) will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for “qualified dividend income” treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
 
Distributions. The Fund will make distributions to you that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, foreign, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions are taxable whether you reinvest such distributions in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. Taxable Fund distributions are taxable to a shareholder even if the distributions are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and, thus, were included in the price the shareholder paid for the shares. For example, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record date of the Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of the investment back as a taxable distribution. Distributions declared by the Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record during such month and paid by January 31 of the following year are treated for federal income tax purposes as if received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
 
Ordinary Income. Net investment income, except for qualified dividend income and income designated as tax-exempt, and short-term capital gains that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares. Certain dividends distributed to non-corporate shareholders and designated by the Fund as “qualified dividend income” are eligible for the long-term capital gains rate, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
 
Net Capital Gains. Net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) distributed to you, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares.
 
Sale or Exchange of Shares. It is a taxable event for you if you sell shares of the Fund or exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another Touchstone Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. Any realized gain will be taxable to you, and, generally, will be capital gain, assuming you held the shares of the Fund as a capital asset. The capital gain will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Sales of shares of the Fund that you have held for twelve months or less will be a short-term capital gain or loss and if held for more than twelve months will constitute a long-term capital gain or loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any

26



distribution of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends, if any, received by the shareholder with respect to such shares.
 
Returns of Capital. If the Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain.  A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
 
Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all distributions and sales proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding.
 
Medicare Tax. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
 
Foreign Taxes. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. If the Fund qualifies (by having more than 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of the taxable year consist of stock or securities in foreign corporations or by being a qualified fund of funds) and elects to pass through foreign taxes paid on its investments during the year, such taxes will be reported to you as income. You may, however, be able to claim an offsetting tax credit or deduction on your federal income tax return, depending on your particular circumstances and provided you meet certain holding period and other requirements. Tax-exempt holders of Fund shares, such as qualified tax-advantaged retirement plans, will not benefit from such a deduction or credit.
 
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax as a result of an investment in the Fund. This prospectus does not discuss the U.S. or foreign tax consequences of an investment by a non-U.S. shareholder in the Fund. Accordingly, non-U.S. shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
 
Statements and Notices. You will receive an annual statement outlining the tax status of your distributions. You may also receive written notices of certain foreign taxes paid by the Fund during the prior taxable year.
 
Important Tax Reporting Considerations. The Fund is required to report cost basis and holding period information to both the IRS and shareholders for gross proceeds from the sales of shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 ("covered shares"). However, cost basis reporting by a mutual fund is not required if the shares were acquired in a reorganization, such as the reorganization of the Predecessor Fund into the Fund, and the basis of the acquired shares is determined from the basis of shares that were not covered shares. Cost basis and holding period information is reported on Form 1099-B. The average cost method will be used to determine the cost basis of Fund shares that are covered shares unless the shareholder instructs the Fund in writing that the shareholder wants to use another available method for cost basis reporting (for example, First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), Specific Lot Identification (SLID) or High Cost, First Out (HIFO)). If the shareholder designates SLID as the shareholder’s tax cost basis method, the shareholder will also need to designate a secondary cost basis method (Secondary Method). If a Secondary Method is not provided, the Fund will designate FIFO as the Secondary Method and will use the Secondary Method with respect to systematic withdrawals. If you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary will be responsible for this reporting and the financial intermediary’s default cost basis method may apply. Please consult your tax adviser for additional information regarding cost basis reporting and your situation.
 
Redemptions by S corporations of covered shares are required to be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-B. If a shareholder is a corporation and has not instructed the Fund that it is a C corporation in its Account Application or by written instruction, the Fund will treat the shareholder as an S corporation and file a Form 1099-B.
 
This section is only a summary of some important federal income tax considerations that may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding these considerations is included in the Fund’s SAI. You are urged and advised to consult your own tax advisor regarding the effects of an investment in the Fund on your tax situation, including the application of foreign, state, local, and other tax laws to your particular situation.


27



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
The Fund has adopted the financial statements of the Predecessor Fund. The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Predecessor Fund’s financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Predecessor Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Predecessor Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The financial highlights for the Predecessor Fund for each of the years presented through June 30, 2016 were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Predecessor Fund’s financial statements and related notes, are included in the Predecessor Fund’s June 30, 2016 annual report. The financial highlights for the periods ended December 31, 2016 have been derived from the Fund's unaudited financial statements, which are included in the Fund's semi-annual report. You can obtain the annual or semi-annual report at no charge by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by downloading a copy from the Touchstone Investments website: TouchstoneInvestments.com/home/formslit. The annual report and semi-annual report have been incorporated by reference into the SAI.
 
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 
Six Months Ended December 31, 2016
Year Ended June 30,
 
(Unaudited)
2016
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
12.04

$
11.70

$
11.76

 
$
11.47

 
$
11.90

 
$
11.36

 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net investment income
0.17

0.36

0.38

 
0.39

 
0.39

 
0.41

 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
(0.57
)
0.36

(0.06
)
 
0.33

 
(0.36
)
 
0.55

 
Total from investment operations
(0.40
)
0.72

0.32

 
0.72

 
0.03

 
0.96

 
Distributions from:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net investment income
(0.17
)
(0.36
)
(0.38
)
 
(0.39
)
 
(0.39
)
 
(0.41
)
 
Realized capital gains
(0.02
)
(0.02
)

 
(0.04
)
 
(0.07
)
 
(0.01
)
 
Total distributions
(0.19
)
(0.38
)
(0.38
)
 
(0.43
)
 
(0.46
)
 
(0.42
)
 
Net asset value at end of period
$
11.45

$
12.04

$
11.70

 
$
11.76

 
$
11.47

 
$
11.90

 
Total return(A)
(3.34)%(B)
6.25
%
2.72
%
 
6.41
%
 
0.13
%
 
8.60
%
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
46,733

$
52,599

$
47,153

 
$
44,939

 
$
46,803

 
$
50,946

 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net expenses
0.85%(C)

0.85
%
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
 
Gross expenses
1.12%(C)

1.13
%
1.09
%
 
1.10
%
 
1.09
%
 
1.12
%
 
Net investment income
2.94%(C)

3.05
%
3.20
%
 
3.42
%
 
3.25
%
 
3.51
%
 
Portfolio turnover rate
17%(B)

27
%
23
%
 
25
%
 
24
%
 
33
%
 
 (A) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.











28







Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
 
 
Six Months Ended December 31, 2016
Year Ended June 30,
 
(Unaudited)
2016
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
12.06

$
11.72

$
11.78

 
$
11.48

 
$
11.92

 
$
11.37

 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net investment income
0.13

0.27

0.29

 
0.31

 
0.30

 
0.32

 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
(0.59
)
0.36

(0.06
)
 
0.34

 
(0.37
)
 
0.56

 
Total from investment operations
(0.46
)
0.63

0.23

 
0.65

 
(0.07
)
 
0.88

 
Distributions from:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net investment income
(0.13
)
(0.27
)
(0.29
)
 
(0.31
)
 
(0.30
)
 
(0.32
)
 
Realized capital gains
(0.02
)
(0.02
)

 
(0.04
)
 
(0.07
)
 
(0.01
)
 
Total distributions
(0.15
)
(0.29
)
(0.29
)
 
(0.35
)
 
(0.37
)
 
(0.33
)
 
Net asset value at end of period
$
11.45

$
12.06

$
11.72

 
$
11.78

 
$
11.48

 
$
11.92

 
Total return(A)
(3.78)%(B)
5.45
%
1.96
%
 
5.70
%
 
(0.70
)%
 
7.87
%
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
7,063

$
7,320

$
7,266

 
$
7,333

 
$
6,978

 
$
6,797

 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Net expenses
1.60%(C)
1.60
%
1.60
%
 
1.60
%
 
1.60
 %
 
1.60
%
 
Gross expenses
1.99%(C)

2.09
%
1.93
%
 
2.01
%
 
1.99
 %
 
2.07
%
 
Net investment income
2.19%(C)

2.30
%
2.45
%
 
2.67
%
 
2.50
 %
 
2.76
%
 
Portfolio turnover rate
17%(B)

27
%
23
%
 
25
%
 
24
 %
 
33
%
 
(A) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.


29



Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 
Period Ended December 31, 2016 (A)
 
(Unaudited)
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
12.00

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income
0.20

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
(0.61
)
Total from investment operations
(0.41
)
Distributions from:
 
Net investment income
(0.13
)
Realized capital gains
(0.02
)
Total distributions
(0.15
)
Net asset value at end of period
$
11.44

Total return(A)
(3.25)%(B)

Ratios and supplemental data:
 
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
2

Ratio to average net assets:
 
Net expenses
0.60%(C)

Gross expenses
352.11%(C)

Net investment income
5.07%(C)

Portfolio turnover rate
17%(B)

(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (August 31, 2016) through December 31, 2016.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.

30



Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 
Period Ended December 31, 2016 (A)
 
(Unaudited)
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
12.00

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income
0.20

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
(0.60
)
Total from investment operations
(0.40
)
Distributions from:
 
Net investment income
(0.13
)
Realized capital gains
(0.02
)
Total distributions
(0.15
)
Net asset value at end of period
$
11.45

Total return(A)
(3.26)%(B)

Ratios and supplemental data:
 
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
2

Ratio to average net assets:
 
Net expenses
0.55%(C)

Gross expenses
356.55%(C)

Net investment income
5.12%(C)

Portfolio turnover rate
17%(B)

(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (August 31, 2016) through December 31, 2016.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.


31



TOUCHSTONE INVESTMENTS*
 
DISTRIBUTOR
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194
 
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
 
TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
1.800.543.0407
 
*A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
 
The following are federal trademark registrations and applications owned by IFS Financial Services, Inc., a member of Western & Southern Financial Group: Touchstone, Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Investments, Touchstone Family of Funds and Touchstone Select.

32





touchstonelogoa30.jpg
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
 
Go paperless, sign up today at:
TouchstoneInvestments.com/home
 
For investors who want more information about the Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:
 
Appendix A: Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts is a separate document that provides additional information about the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts and is incorporated into this prospectus, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated herein by reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
 
Annual/Semiannual Reports (“Financial Reports”): The Fund’s Financial Reports provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
 
You can get free copies of Appendix A, the SAI, the Financial Reports, other information and answers to your questions about the Fund by contacting your financial advisor or by contacting Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407. Appendix A, the SAI and Financial Reports are also available on the Touchstone Investments website at TouchstoneInvestments.com/home/formslit/.
 
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You can receive information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1.202.551.8090.
 
Reports and other information about the Fund are available without charge on the EDGAR database of the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. For a fee, you can get text-only copies of reports and other information by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 or by sending an e-mail request to: publicinfo@sec.gov.
 
Investment Company Act. File No. 811–03651





















33



Appendix A to Prospectus for Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (the "Fund")

Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts

As noted in the Fund's prospectus, the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. The sales charge waivers and discounts described in this Appendix A are available only if you purchase shares through the designated intermediary. The information disclosed in this Appendix A is part of, and incorporated in, the Fund's prospectus.

* * * * * *

Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Merrill Lynch

The following information is provided by Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"): Effective April 10, 2017, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
•    Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
•    Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
•    Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program
•    Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform
•    Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform
•    Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
•    Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date
•    Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members
•    Trustees of the Fund, and employees of Touchstone Advisors or any of its affiliates, as described in this Prospectus
•    Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Touchstone family of mutual funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as rights of reinstatement)

CDSC Waivers on Class A Shares and Class C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
•    Death or disability of the shareholder
•    Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this Prospectus
•    Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•    Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½
•    Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initialed by Merrill Lynch
•    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
•    Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A shares and Class C shares only)

A-1




Front-end Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and Letters of Intent
•    Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus
•    Rights of Accumulation (ROA), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
•    Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)
 










































TSF-54BB-TST-OHIO-TFB-1704


A-2
 




TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
 
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
April 10, 2017
 
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
TOHAX
 
TOHCX
 
TOHYX
 
TOHIX
 
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and relates only to the above-referenced Fund (the “Fund”). It is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated April 10, 2017, as may be amended. The audited financial statements of Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund, a series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, including the notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, included in the annual report to shareholders (the “Annual Report”), are hereby incorporated into this SAI by reference. The Fund’s unaudited financial statements for the six months ended December 31, 2016, included in the semi-annual report to shareholders (the “Semi-Annual Report”), are hereby incorporated into this SAI by reference. A copy of the prospectus, the Annual Report and the Semi-Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, by calling 1.800.543.0407, or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com.

1



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PAGE
THE TRUST

PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

THE ADVISOR

THE SUB-ADVISOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

THE ADMINISTRATOR

TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES (THE "DISTRIBUTOR”)
24

DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

PROXY VOTING
28

CODE OF ETHICS
28

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE AND PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
31

OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
33

TAXES
35

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
42

CUSTODIAN

LEGAL COUNSEL
43

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
43

TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
43

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
44

APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
45

APPENDIX B: PROXY VOTING POLICIES
54


2



THE TRUST
 
Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company, was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 18, 1982.  The Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of the Trust and a non-diversified open-end management investment company.

Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”) is the investment advisor and administrator for the Fund.  The Advisor has selected a sub-advisor to manage, on a daily basis, the assets of the Fund.  The Advisor has sub-contracted certain administrative and accounting services to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon” or the “Sub-Administrator”). Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities”) is the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares.  Touchstone Securities is an affiliate of the Advisor.

The Fund offers four separate classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class Y, and Institutional Class. The shares of the Fund represent an interest in the same assets of the Fund.

The shares have the same rights and are identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (ii) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales charges; (iii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees incurred by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares; (iv) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements; and (v) certain classes offer different features and services to shareholders and may have different investment minimums.  The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.

Under Massachusetts law, under certain circumstances, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could be deemed to have the same type of personal liability for the obligations of the Trust as does a partner of a partnership.  However, numerous investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts and the Trust is not aware of an instance where such a result has occurred.  In addition, the Trust's Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for the indemnification out of the Trust property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.  Moreover, it provides that the Trust will, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon.  As a result, and particularly because the Trust assets are readily marketable and ordinarily substantially exceed liabilities, management believes that the risk of shareholder liability is slight and limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations.  Management believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability is remote.

History of the Fund
 
Before the Fund commenced operations, the assets of the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund, a series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (the "Predecessor Fund"), were acquired by the Fund in a tax-free reorganization as set forth in an agreement and plan of reorganization (the “Reorganization”) between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, on behalf of the Predecessor Fund.  The Reorganization occurred on December 16, 2016. As a result of the Reorganization, the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund were assumed by the Fund.  Financial and performance information included herein is that of the Predecessor Fund.
 
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
 
The Fund’s investment goal, principal investment strategies, and principal risks are described in the prospectus. The following supplements the information contained in the prospectus concerning the Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks. In addition, although not principal strategies of the Fund, the Fund may invest in other types of securities and engage in other investment practices as described in the prospectus or in this SAI. Unless otherwise indicated, the Fund is permitted to invest in each of the investments listed below, or engage in each of the investment techniques listed below consistent with the Fund’s investment goal, policies and strategies. The investment limitations below are considered to be non-fundamental policies, which may be changed at any time by a vote of the Fund’s Board, unless designated as a “Fundamental” policy. In addition, any stated percentage limitations are measured at the time of the purchase of a security.
 

3



Bank Debt Instruments. Bank debt instruments in which the Fund may invest consist of certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits issued by national banks and state banks, trust companies and mutual savings banks, or of banks or institutions the accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time at a stated or variable interest rate. Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer, which instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity. The Fund will only invest in bankers’ acceptances of banks having a short-term rating of A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate. The Fund will not invest in time deposits maturing in more than seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 10% of the value of its net assets would be invested in such securities and other illiquid securities.
 
Borrowing. The Fund may borrow money from banks or from other lenders to the extent permitted by applicable law, for temporary or emergency purposes and to meet redemptions and may pledge assets to secure such borrowings. The 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of at least 300% for all such borrowings. If at any time the value of the Fund’s assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within 3 days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of its borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this test. To reduce its borrowings, the Fund might be required to sell securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, because interest on money borrowed is the Fund expense that it would not otherwise incur, the Fund may have less net investment income during periods when its borrowings are substantial. The interest paid by the Fund on borrowings may be more or less than the yield on the securities purchased with borrowed funds, depending on prevailing market conditions. The Fund will not make any borrowing that would cause its outstanding borrowings to exceed one-third of the value of its total assets.
 
As a matter of current operating policy, the Fund may borrow money from banks or other lenders, as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, in an amount not exceeding 10% of its total assets. The Fund may pledge assets in connection with borrowings but will not pledge more than 10% of its total assets. The Fund will not make any additional purchases of portfolio securities while borrowings are outstanding. These policies are not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
 
Borrowing magnifies the potential for gain or loss on the portfolio securities of the Fund and, therefore, if employed, increases the possibility of fluctuation in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). This is the speculative factor known as leverage. To reduce the risks of borrowing, the Fund will limit their borrowings as described above.
 
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from one to two hundred seventy days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. The Fund will only invest in taxable commercial paper provided the paper is rated in one of the two highest categories by any two NRSROs (or by any one NRSRO if the security is rated by only that NRSRO). The Fund may also invest in unrated commercial paper of issuers who have outstanding unsecured debt rated Aa or better by Moody’s or AA or better by S&P. Certain notes may have floating or variable rates. Variable and floating rate notes with a demand notice period exceeding seven days will be subject to the Fund’s restrictions on illiquid investments (see “Investment Limitations”) unless, in the judgment of the sub-advisor, subject to the direction of the Board of Trustees, such note is liquid. The Fund does not presently intend to invest in taxable commercial paper. The Appendix contains more information about commercial paper ratings.
 
Cyber Security Risk.  The Fund and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber security breaches. Cyber security breaches may result from deliberate cyber attacks, although unintentional events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber attacks. Cyber attacks may include the stealing or corrupting of data maintained online or digitally, denial-of-service attacks on Fund websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or other operational disruption. Successful cyber attacks against, or security breaches of, the Fund or the Advisor, a sub-advisor, the Fund’s distributor, custodians, the transfer agent, selling agents and/or other third party service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders.  Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities or other instruments in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment therein to lose value.
 
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may invest in floating or variable rate Municipal Obligations (as defined below). Floating rate obligations have an interest rate that is tied to the prevailing interest rate of another financial instrument. Variable rate obligations have an interest rate that is adjusted at specified intervals to a market interest rate at the time of reset. Periodic interest rate adjustments help stabilize the obligations’ market values and cause their price to approximate par. The Fund may purchase these obligations from the issuers or may purchase participation interests in pools of these obligations from banks or other financial institutions. Variable and floating rate obligations usually carry demand features that permit the Fund to sell the

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obligations back to the issuers or to financial intermediaries at par value plus accrued interest upon not more than 30 days’ notice at any time or prior to specific dates. Certain of these variable rate obligations, often referred to as “adjustable rate put bonds,” may have a demand feature exercisable on a quarterly to annual basis. If the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in obligations with demand features permitting sale to a limited number of entities, the inability of the entities to meet demands to purchase the obligations could affect the Fund’s liquidity. However, obligations with demand features frequently are secured by letters of credit or comparable guarantees that may reduce the risk that an entity would not be able to meet such demands. In determining whether an obligation secured by a letter of credit meets the Fund’s quality standards, the sub-advisor will ascribe to such obligation the same rating given to unsecured debt issued by the letter of credit provider. In looking to the creditworthiness of a party relying on a foreign bank for credit support, the sub-advisor will consider whether adequate public information about the bank is available and whether the bank may be subject to unfavorable political or economic developments, currency controls or other governmental restrictions affecting its ability to honor its credit commitment. As a matter of current operating policy, the Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in floating or variable rate obligations as to which it cannot exercise the demand feature on not more than seven days’ notice if the Sub-Advisor, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, determines that there is no secondary market available for these obligations and all other illiquid securities. This operating policy is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
 
Inverse Floating Obligations. The Fund may invest in securities representing interests in Municipal Obligations, known as inverse floating obligations, which pay interest rates that vary inversely to changes in the interest rates of specified short-term Municipal Obligations or an index of short-term Municipal Obligations. The interest rates on inverse floating obligations will typically decline as short-term market interest rates increase and increase as short-term market rates decline. Such securities have the effect of providing a degree of investment leverage, since they will generally increase or decrease in value in response to changes in market interest rates at a rate which is a multiple (typically two) of the rate at which fixed-rate, long-term Municipal Obligations increase or decrease in response to such changes. As a result, the market value of inverse floating obligations will generally be more volatile than the market value of fixed-rate Municipal Obligations.
 
Lease Obligations. The Fund may invest in Municipal Obligations that constitute participation in lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “lease obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Although lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation. Lease obligations provide a premium interest rate which, along with the regular amortization of the principal, may make them attractive for a portion of the Fund’s assets. Certain of these lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on an annual basis. In addition to the “non-appropriation” risk, these securities represent a type of financing that has not yet developed the depth of marketability associated with more conventional bonds. Although “non-appropriation” lease obligations are secured by the leased property, the disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. The Trust will seek to minimize the special risks associated with such securities by only investing in “non-appropriation” lease obligations where (1) the nature of the leased equipment or property is such that its ownership or use is essential to a governmental function of the municipality, (2) the lease payments will commence amortization of principal at an early date resulting in an average life of seven years or less for the lease obligation, (3) appropriate covenants will be obtained from the municipal obligor prohibiting the substitution or purchase of similar equipment if the lease payments are not appropriated, (4) the lease obligor has maintained good market acceptability in the past, (5) the investment is of a size that will be attractive to institutional investors, and (6) the underlying leased equipment has elements of portability and/or use that enhance its marketability in the event foreclosure on the underlying equipment were ever required.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in lease obligations if the sub-advisor determines that there is no secondary market available for these obligations and all other illiquid securities. The Fund does not intend to invest more than an additional 5% of its net assets in municipal lease obligations determined by the sub-advisor, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, to be liquid. In determining the liquidity of such obligations, the sub-advisor will consider such factors as (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer. The Fund will only purchase unrated lease obligations that meet its quality standards, as determined by the sub-advisor, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, including an assessment of the likelihood that the lease will not be cancelled.
 
Municipal Obligations consist of tax-exempt bonds, tax-exempt notes and tax-exempt commercial paper.
 
Tax-Exempt Bonds. Tax-exempt bonds are issued to obtain funds to construct, repair or improve various facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, hospitals, housing, schools, streets and water and sewer works; to pay general operating expenses or to refinance

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outstanding debts. They also may be issued to finance various private activities, including the lending of funds to public or private institutions for construction of housing, educational or medical facilities or the financing of privately owned or operated facilities.
 
The two principal classifications of tax-exempt bonds are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the issuer’s full credit and taxing power. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a specific project, facility or tax. Industrial development revenue bonds are a specific type of revenue bond backed by the credit of the private user of the facility.
 
The Fund may invest in any combination of general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and industrial development bonds. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in tax-exempt obligations issued by municipal governments or political subdivisions of governments within a particular segment of the bond market, such as housing agency bonds, hospital revenue bonds or airport bonds. It is possible that economic, business or political developments or other changes affecting one bond may also affect other bonds in the same segment in the same manner, thereby potentially increasing the risk of such investments.
 
The Fund may also invest more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds issued before August 16, 1986, which may be backed only by the assets and revenues of the nongovernmental users. The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its assets in securities backed by nongovernmental entities that are in the same industry. Other than “private activity” bonds (the name used by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to refer to industrial development bonds issued on or after August 16, 1986) issued during 2009 or 2010, the Fund’s investment in private activity bonds is limited to less than 20% of its assets. Interest on private activity obligations, as defined in the Code, issued after August 7, 1986, while exempt from federal income tax, is an alternative minimum tax preference item. However, interest from certain private activity bonds issued during 2009 and 2010 will not constitute an item of tax preference for shareholders for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, interest from governmental bonds and certain private activity bonds will not result in an adjustment for corporate shareholders in determining their alternative minimum tax. A proportionate share of tax-exempt interest dividends paid to a regulated investment company with investments in private activity bonds will be treated as a preference item to shareholders to the extent the bonds were not issued during 2009 or 2010. The Fund will invest its assets so that no more than 20% of its annual income gives rise to federal income tax, including alternative minimum tax preference items. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the consequences, if any, that distributions from the Fund will have on their potential alternative minimum tax computation.
 
Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper. Tax-exempt commercial paper typically represents short-term, unsecured, negotiable promissory notes issued by a state and its political subdivisions. These notes are issued to finance seasonal working capital needs of municipalities or to provide interim construction financing and are paid from general revenues of municipalities or are refinanced with long-term debt. In most cases, tax-exempt commercial paper is backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or other institutions and is actively traded.
 
Tax-Exempt Notes. Tax-exempt notes generally are used to provide for short-term capital needs and generally have maturities of one year or less. Tax-exempt notes include:
 
1.
Tax Anticipation Notes. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance working capital needs of municipalities. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues, such as income, sales, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes.
 
2.
Revenue Anticipation Notes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under the federal revenue sharing programs.
 
3.
Bond Anticipation Notes. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the money for the repayment of the notes.

Quality Ratings of Municipal Obligations.
 
The Fund may invest primarily in Municipal Obligations rated at the time of purchase within the three highest grades assigned by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch. The Fund may also purchase Ohio municipal obligations and other securities rated within the four highest rating categories. The Fund may also invest in tax-exempt notes and commercial paper determined by the sub-advisor to meet the Fund’s quality standards. The Fund’s quality standards limit its investments in tax-exempt notes to those which are rated within the three highest grades by Moody’s (MIG-1, MIG-2 or MIG-3), Fitch (F1+, F1 or F2) or the two highest grades by S&P (SP-1 or SP-2) and in tax-exempt commercial paper to those which are rated within the two highest grades by Moody’s (Prime-1 or Prime-2), S&P (A-1 or A-2) or Fitch (F1 and F2).
 

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The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions of the quality of the obligations rated by them. It should be emphasized that such ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields, while obligations of the same maturity and coupon, but with different ratings, may have the same yield. It is the responsibility of the sub-advisor to appraise independently the fundamental quality of the obligations held by the Fund. Certain Municipal Obligations may be backed by letters of credit or similar commitments issued by banks and, in such instances, the obligation of the bank and other credit factors will be considered in assessing the quality of the Municipal Obligations.
 
Any Municipal Obligation that depends on credit of the U.S. government (e.g., project notes) will be considered by the sub-advisor as having the equivalent of the highest rating of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch. In addition, unrated Municipal Obligations will be considered as being within the foregoing quality ratings if other equal or junior Municipal Obligations of the same issuer are rated and their ratings are within the foregoing ratings of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch. The Fund may also invest in Municipal Obligations that are not rated if, in the opinion of the sub-advisor, such obligations are of comparable quality to those rated obligations in which the Fund may invest.
 
Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an obligation may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by the Fund. If the rating of an obligation held by the Fund is reduced below its minimum requirements, the Fund will be required to exercise the demand provision or sell the obligation as soon as practicable. A description of the Municipal Obligation ratings by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch is in the Appendix to this SAI.
 
Market Disruption Risk. During periods of extreme market volatility, prices of securities held by the Fund may be negatively impacted due to imbalances between market participants seeking to sell the same or similar securities and market participants willing or able to buy such securities. As a result, the market prices of securities held by the Fund could go down, at times without regard to the financial condition of or specific events impacting the issuer of the security.
 
Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund themselves are regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve their investment goals.
 
Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the Fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Fund. The Fund has established procedures to assess the liquidity of portfolio holdings and to value instruments for which market prices may not be readily available. The Advisor and sub-advisor will monitor developments and seek to manage the Fund in a manner consistent with achieving the Fund’s investment goals, but there can be no assurance that they will be successful in doing so.

Municipal Obligations. The Fund invests primarily in municipal obligations. Municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by a state and its political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities and other qualifying issuers which pay interest that is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from federal income tax (“Municipal Obligations”). The Fund invests primarily in Ohio obligations, which are Municipal Obligations issued by the State of Ohio and its political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities and other qualifying issuers which pay interest that is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from both federal income tax and Ohio personal income tax.
 
Obligations with Puts Attached. The Fund may purchase Municipal Obligations with the right to resell the obligation to the seller at a specified price or yield within a specified period. The right to resell is commonly known as a “put” or a “standby commitment.” The Fund may purchase Municipal Obligations with puts attached from banks and broker-dealers. The Fund intends to use obligations with puts attached for liquidity purposes to ensure a ready market for the underlying obligations at an acceptable price. Although no value is assigned to any puts on Municipal Obligations, the price that the Fund pays for the obligations may be higher than the price of similar obligations without puts attached. The purchase of obligations with puts attached involves the risk that the seller may not be able to repurchase the underlying obligation. The Fund intends to purchase such obligations only from sellers deemed by the sub-advisor, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, to present minimal credit risks. In addition, the value of the obligations with puts attached held by the Fund will not exceed 10% of its net assets.
 
Other Investment Companies. Such investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and applicable SEC staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. The 1940 Act limitations currently provide, in part, that the Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to

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own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company or (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the aggregate in all investment companies. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
 
Participation Interests. The Fund may invest in participation interests in Municipal Obligations owned by banks or other financial institutions. Participation interests frequently are backed by irrevocable letters of credit or a guarantee of a bank. The Fund will have the right to sell the interest back to the bank or other financial institution and draw on the letter of credit on demand, generally on seven days’ notice, for all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the par value of the Municipal Obligation plus accrued interest. The Fund intends to exercise the demand on the letter of credit only under the following circumstances: (1) default of any of the terms of the documents of the Municipal Obligation, (2) as needed to provide liquidity in order to meet redemptions, or (3) to maintain a high quality investment portfolio. The bank or financial institution will retain a service and letter of credit fee and a fee for issuing the repurchase commitment in an amount equal to the excess of the interest paid by the issuer on the Municipal Obligations over the negotiated yield at which the instruments were purchased by the Fund. Participation interests will be purchased only if, in the opinion of counsel of the issuer, interest income on the interest will be tax-exempt when distributed as dividends to shareholders. As a matter of current operating policy, the Fund will not invest more than 10%  of its net assets in participation interests that do not have a demand feature and all other illiquid securities. This operating policy is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
 
Banks and financial institutions are subject to extensive governmental regulations which may limit the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments that may be made and interest rates and fees which may be charged. The profitability of banks and financial institutions is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of capital funds to finance lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions also play an important part in the operations of these entities and exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers may affect the ability of a bank or financial institution to meet its obligations with respect to a participation interest.
 
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are transactions by which the Fund purchases a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller at an agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. To minimize these possibilities, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with its custodian, with banks having assets in excess of $10 billion and with broker-dealers who are recognized as primary dealers in U.S. government obligations by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Collateral for repurchase agreements is held in safekeeping in the customer-only account of the Fund’s custodian at the Federal Reserve Bank. The Fund will not enter into a repurchase agreement not terminable within seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 10%  of the value of its net assets would be invested in such securities and other illiquid securities.
 
Although the securities subject to a repurchase agreement might bear maturities exceeding one year, settlement for the repurchase would never be more than one year after the Fund’s acquisition of the securities and normally would be within a shorter period of time. The resale price will be in excess of the purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon market rate effective for the period of time the Fund’s money will be invested in the securities, and will not be related to the coupon rate of the purchased security. At the time the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the value of the underlying security, including accrued interest, will equal or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement, and in the case of a repurchase agreement exceeding one day, the seller will agree that the value of the underlying security, including accrued interest, will at all times equal or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement. The collateral securing the seller’s obligation must consist of cash or securities that are issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies. The collateral will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.
 
For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller subject to the repurchase agreement and is therefore subject to that Fund’s investment restriction applicable to loans. It is not clear whether a court would consider the securities purchased by the Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by that Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the securities before repurchase of the security under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delays and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the security. If a court characterized the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the security, that Fund may be required to return the security to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt obligation purchased for the Fund, the sub-advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case, the seller. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also

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the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the security, in which case the Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to that Fund of the sale of the security to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), the Fund involved will direct the seller of the security to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that the Fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
 
Securities Lending. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend its securities pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by collateral consisting of: (1) cash in U.S. dollars; (2) securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United States government or issued and unconditionally guaranteed by any agencies thereof; or (3) irrevocable performance letters of credit issued by banks approved by the Fund. All collateral must equal at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The Fund continues to receive interest on the loaned securities while simultaneously earning interest on the investment of cash collateral. Collateral is marked to market daily. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially or become insolvent. The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Board must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans. As a matter of current operating policy, the Fund will limit the amount of its loans of portfolio securities to no more than 25% of its net assets. This policy is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
 
Securities With Limited Marketability. As a matter of current operating policy, the Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 10% of its net assets in securities that are not readily marketable, including: participation interests that are not subject to demand features; floating and variable rate obligations as to which the Fund cannot exercise the related demand feature and as to which there is no secondary market; repurchase agreements not terminable within seven days, and lease obligations for which there is no secondary market. This policy is not fundamental for the Fund and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
 
State Risk. Economic and political conditions in the state of Ohio may impact the value of Ohio municipal obligations. Ohio enjoys a broad and diverse economic base anchored by manufacturing and includes several regional economic centers and corporate headquarters in addition to expanding health care and technology sectors. The State’s primary source of revenues is through sales and personal income taxes, which have shown steady growth as the State’s economy has improved in-line with the broader U.S. economy. The positive economic results, combined with a proactive budget process, have resulted in budget surplus in each of the last two fiscal years and more recently allowed the State to lower personal income tax rates. The State’s unemployment rate was 4.9% as of August 2016, in comparison with the national average of 4.9%. The consumer sector in Ohio remains strong. Leading indicators point toward continued growth at a modest pace, fueled by a healthy household sector but restrained by weak manufacturing. The State’s economic trend and proactive fiscal management have allowed it to maintain very strong credit ratings. As of November 4, 2016, the State’s general obligation debt is rated AA+ by both S&P and Fitch and Aa1 by Moody’s. There is no assurance that these trends will continue in the future.

Temporary Defensive Investments. The Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s normal investment strategies in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions as determined by the advisor. Such positions could include, but are not limited to, investments in (1) highly liquid short-term fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of municipal or corporate issuers, obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit; (2) repurchase agreements involving any such securities; and (3) other money market instruments. In addition, the Fund may hold uninvested cash on a temporary basis if, in the advisor’s discretion, market conditions warrant. The Fund’s uninvested cash balances may or may not earn interest while maintained at the Fund’s custodian. There is no limit on the extent to which the Fund may take temporary defensive positions. In taking such positions, the Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective.
 
When-Issued Obligations. The Fund may invest in when-issued Municipal Obligations. Obligations offered on a when-issued basis are settled by delivery and payment after the date of the transaction, usually within 15 to 45 days. In connection with these investments, the Fund will direct its custodian to place cash or liquid securities in a segregated account in an amount sufficient to make payment for the securities to be purchased. When a segregated account is maintained because the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis, the assets deposited in the segregated account will be valued daily at market for the purpose of determining the adequacy of the securities in the account. If the market value of such securities declines, additional cash or securities will be

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placed in the account on a daily basis so that the market value of the account will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis. To the extent funds are in a segregated account, they will not be available for new investment or to meet redemptions. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis and the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to changes in market value based upon changes in the level of interest rates (which will generally result in all of those securities changing in value in the same way, i.e., all those securities experiencing appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise). Therefore, if in order to achieve higher returns the Fund remains substantially fully invested at the same time that it has purchased securities on a when-issued basis, there will be a possibility that the market value of the Fund’s assets will have greater fluctuation. The purchase of securities on a when-issued basis may involve a risk of loss if the broker-dealer selling the securities fails to deliver after the value of the securities has risen.
 
When the time comes for the Fund to make payment for securities purchased on a when-issued basis, the Fund will do so by using then-available cash flow, by sale of the securities held in the segregated account, by sale of other securities or, although it would not normally expect to do so, by directing the sale of the securities purchased on a when-issued basis themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the Fund’s payment obligation). Although the Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell these obligations before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable by the sub-advisor as a matter of investment strategy. Sales of securities for these purposes carry a greater potential for the realization of capital gains and losses, which are not exempt from federal income taxes.
 
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
Fundamental Limitations.
 
The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Fund which cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares.
 
The term “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less. Except for the limitations on illiquid securities and bank borrowings, if the percentage restriction on investment or use of assets set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changing market values or other circumstances will not be considered a deviation from this policy.
 
For the purpose of these investment limitations, the identification of the “issuer” of Municipal Obligations which are not general obligation bonds is made by the sub-advisor on the basis of the characteristics of the obligation, the most significant of which is the source of funds for the payment of principal of and interest on such obligations.
 
Several of these fundamental investment limitations include the defined term “1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.” This term means the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such statutes, rules and regulations are amended from time to time or are interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC and any exemptive order or similar relief applicable to the Fund.
 
The following fundamental investment limitations apply to the Fund:
 
1.
Borrowing Money. The Fund may not engage in borrowing except as permitted by the 1940 Act, any rule, regulation or order under the 1940 Act or any SEC staff interpretation of the 1940 Act.
 
2.
Underwriting. The Fund may not underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that, in connection with the sale or disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
 
3.
Loans. The Fund may not make loans to other persons except that the Fund may (1) engage in repurchase agreements, (2) lend portfolio securities, (3) purchase debt securities, (4) purchase commercial paper, and (5) enter into any other lending arrangement permitted by the 1940 Act, any rule, regulation or order under the 1940 Act or any SEC staff interpretation of the 1940 Act.
 
4.
Real Estate. The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except that the Fund may (1) hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities or other instruments, (2) purchase or sell securities or other instruments backed by real estate or interests in real estate, and (3) purchase or sell securities of entities or investment vehicles, including real estate investment trusts, that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests in real estate.

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5.
Commodities. The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities except that the Fund may (1) hold and sell physical commodities acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities or other instruments, (2) purchase or sell securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities, (3) purchase or sell options, and (4) purchase or sell futures contracts. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that the tax-exempt obligations, U.S. government obligations and other securities in which the Fund may otherwise invest would be considered to be such commodities, contracts or investments.
 
6.
Concentration. The Fund may not purchase the securities of an issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or its instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.
 
7.
Senior Securities. The Fund may not issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act, any rule, regulation or order under the 1940 Act or any SEC staff interpretation of the 1940 Act.

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:
 
1.
Borrowing. The 1940 Act allows the fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets).
 
2.
Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves the fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.
 
3.
Lending. Under the 1940 Act, the fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Fund’s current investment policy on lending is as follows: the Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending as described in its Statement of Additional Information.
 
4.
Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by the fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.
 
Non-Fundamental Limitations
 
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted the following non-fundamental investment limitations. These limitations may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be provided with at least 60-days prior notice of any change in the Fund’s non-fundamental investment policy.
 
80% Investment Policy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets (defined as net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high quality, long-term Ohio municipal obligations, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and industrial development bonds.
 
Except for temporary defensive purposes, the assets of the Fund will be invested so that no more than 20% of the annual income of the Fund will be subject to federal income tax. Under normal market conditions, the Fund anticipates that not more than 5% of its net assets will be invested in any one type of taxable obligation. (See the paragraph entitled “Temporary defensive investments” under the section “Permitted Investments and Risk Factors”.)
 




11



The Fund may not:
 
1.
Pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate assets except to secure borrowings (not to exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s assets) permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing.
2.
Purchase securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale if, as a result thereof, more than 10% of the value of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in such securities.
3.
Sell any securities short or sell put and call options, except to the extent that sales by the Fund of tax-exempt obligations with puts attached or sales by the Fund of other securities in which the Fund may otherwise invest would be considered to be sales of options.
 
The Fund will determine compliance with the fundamental and non-fundamental investment restriction percentages above (with the exception of the restriction relating to borrowing) and other investment restrictions in this SAI immediately after and as a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, the Fund will not consider changes in values, net assets, or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment restrictions.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
 
The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, the length of time served, principal occupations for the past 5 years, number of funds overseen in the Touchstone Fund Complex and other directorships held. All funds managed by the Advisor are part of the “Touchstone Fund Complex.” The Touchstone Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. The Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.”
 
Interested Trustees(1): 
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held with 
Trust
 
Term of 
Office
And Length 
of Time 
Served
 
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
 
Number of Funds
Overseen in the
Touchstone Fund 
Complex(2)
 
Other
Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years (3)
Jill T. McGruder

Touchstone
Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1955
 
Trustee and President
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 1999
 
President and CEO of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company).
 
41
 
IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company) from 1999 to the present; Integrity and National Integrity Life Insurance Co. from 2005 to the present; Touchstone Securities (the Trust’s distributor) from 1999 to the present; Touchstone Advisors (the Trust’s investment advisor and administrator) from 1999 to the present; W&S Brokerage Services (a brokerage company) from 1999 to the present; W&S Financial Group Distributors (a distribution company) from 1999 to the present; Every Child Succeeds (a social services agency) from 2007 to the present; Taft Museum of Art from 2007 to the present; and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati from 2012 to the present.
 

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Independent Trustees:
 
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held with 
Trust
 
Term of 
Office
And Length 
of Time 
Served(2)
 
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
 
Number of Funds
Overseen in the
Touchstone Fund
Complex(2)
 
Other
Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years (3)
Phillip R. Cox

c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1947

 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 1999
 
President and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Financial Corp. (a financial services company) from 1971 to the present.
 
41
 
Director of Cincinnati Bell (a communications company) from 1994 to the present; Bethesda Inc. (a hospital) from 2005 to the present; Timken Co. (a manufacturing company) from 2004 to 2014; TimkenSteel from 2014 to the present; Diebold, Inc. (a technology solutions company) from 2004 to the present; and Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy from 2005 to the present.
William C. Gale

c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1952
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2013
 
Retired; formerly Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (from 2003 to January 2015) of Cintas Corporation (a business services company).
 
41
 
None.
Susan J. Hickenlooper

c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1946
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2009
 
Retired; formerly Financial Analyst for Impact 100 (Charitable Organization) from November 2012 to 2013.
 
41
 
Trustee of Diocese of Southern Ohio from 2014 to the present.
Kevin A. Robie

c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1956
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2013
 
Vice President of Portfolio Management at Soin International LLC (a private multinational holding company) from 2004 to the present.
 
41
 
Director of Buckeye EcoCare, Inc. (a lawn care company) from 2013 to the present; Trustee of Dayton Region New Market Fund, LLC (a private fund) from 2010 to the present; Trustee of the Entrepreneurs Center, Inc. (a small business incubator) from 2006 to the present.

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Edward J. VonderBrink

c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1944
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2013
 
Consultant, VonderBrink Consulting LLC from 2000 to the present.
 
41
 
Director of Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. (healthcare IT) from 2006 to 2015; Mercy Health from 2013 to the present; Mercy Health Foundation (healthcare nonprofit) from 2008 to the present; Al Neyer Inc. (a construction company) from 2013 to the present; and BASCO
Shower Door from 2011 to the present.
(1) Ms. McGruder, as a director of the Advisor and the Distributor, and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor and Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(2) As of December 16, 2016, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 6 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(3 ) Each Trustee is also a Trustee of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.

 Principal Officers:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held with Trust(1)
 
Term of Office and 
Length of Time Served
 
Principal Occupation(s) During 
Past 5 Years
Jill T. McGruder

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1955
 
President and Trustee
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
President since
2006
 
See biography above.  
Steven M. Graziano

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1954
 
Vice President
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Vice President since 2009
 
President of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Timothy D. Paulin

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1963
 
Vice President
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Vice President since 2010
 
Senior Vice President of Investment Research and Product Management of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

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Timothy S. Stearns

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1963
 
Chief
Compliance Officer
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Chief Compliance Officer since 2013
 
Chief Compliance Officer of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Chief Compliance Officer of Envestnet Asset Management, Inc. (2009 to 2013).
Terrie A. Wiedenheft

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Year of Birth: 1962
 
Controller
and Treasurer
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Controller and
Treasurer since 2006
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company).
Ellen Blanchard

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
201 Washington St., 34th Fl.
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Year of Birth: 1973
 
Secretary
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Secretary since 2015
 
Director and Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
(1)Each officer also holds the same office with Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
 
Additional Information about the Trustees
 
The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustees possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills to serve on the Board. The Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Advisor, Sub-Advisors, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion. The Board has also considered the contributions that each Trustee can make to the Board and the Fund.
 
In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills apply as to each Trustee: Ms. McGruder has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and director of various other businesses, as well as executive and leadership roles within the Advisor; Mr. Cox has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and as a director of companies from varied industries; Mr. Gale has experience as a chief financial officer, an internal auditor of various global companies, and has accounting experience as a manager at a major accounting firm; Ms. Hickenlooper has executive and board experience at various businesses, foundations and charitable organizations; Mr. Robie, has portfolio management experience at a private multinational holding company; and Mr. VonderBrink has experience as a consultant and director of other corporations. In its periodic self-assessment of its effectiveness, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any Trustee or on the Board by reason thereof.
 
Board Structure
 
The Board is composed of five Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee, Jill T. McGruder, who is Chairperson of the Board. The full Board has appointed Phillip R. Cox to serve as the Lead Independent Trustee. Ms. McGruder oversees the day-to-day business affairs of the Trust and communicates with Mr. Cox regularly on various Trust issues, as appropriate. Mr. Cox, among other things, chairs meetings of the Independent Trustees, serves as a spokesperson for the Independent Trustees, and serves as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s management between Board meetings. Except for any duties specified, the designation of Lead Independent Trustee does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations, or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations, or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally. The Independent Trustees are advised at these meetings, as well as at other times, by separate, independent legal counsel.
 

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The Board holds four regular meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and the Fund. The Board also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. These meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.
 
The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit Committee and a Governance Committee (discussed in more detail below). The Board conducts much of its work through these Committees. Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees, which ensures that the Fund has effective and independent governance and oversight.
 
The Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of Independent Trustees, coupled with an Interested Chairperson and a Lead Independent Trustee, is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board believes that having an Interested Chairperson is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust given: (1) the extensive oversight provided by the Trust’s Advisor over the affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisors that conduct the day-to-day management of the Fund of the Trust; (2) the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing Committees; (3) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet regularly, together with independent legal counsel, in the absence of the Interested Chairperson; and (4) the Interested Chairperson’s additional roles as a director of the Advisor and the Distributor and senior executive of IFS Financial Services, Inc., the Advisor’s parent company, and of other affiliates of the Advisor, which enhance the Board’s understanding of the operations of the Advisor and the role of the Trust and the Advisor within Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. The Board also believes that the role of the Lead Independent Trustee within the leadership structure is integral to promoting independent oversight of the Fund’s operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders’ interests. In addition, the Board believes its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from the Trust’s management.
 
Board Oversight of Risk
 
Consistent with its responsibilities for oversight of the Trust and its Fund, the Board, among other things, oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment program and business affairs directly and through the committee structure that it has established. Risks to the Fund include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk and operational risk, as well as the overall business risk relating to the Fund. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these risks. Under the overall oversight of the Board, the Advisor, sub-advisors, and other key service providers to the Fund, including the administrator, the distributor, the transfer agent, the custodian, and the independent auditors, have also implemented a variety of processes, procedures and controls to address these risks. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. These processes include those that are embedded in the conduct of regular business by the Board and in the responsibilities of officers of the Trust and other service providers.
 
The Board requires senior officers of the Trust, including the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), to report to the Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee receive regular reports from the Trust’s independent auditors on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trust’s CCO, including meetings in executive sessions, to discuss issues related to portfolio compliance and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Trust’s compliance program. In addition, the Board also receives reports from the Advisor on the investments and securities trading of the Fund, including their investment performance and asset weightings compared to appropriate benchmarks, as well as reports regarding the valuation of those investments. The Board also receives reports from the Trust’s primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the Sub-Advisor to the Fund.
 
Standing Committees of the Board
 
The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Board has established the following Committees to assist in its oversight functions. Each Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees.
 
Audit Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies, practices and internal controls. Mr. Gale is Chair of the Audit Committee. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, the Audit Committee held four meetings.
 
Governance Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s compliance program and compliance issues, procedures for valuing securities and

16



responding to any pricing issues. Ms. Hickenlooper is Chair of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.
 
In addition, the Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates to serve on the Board. The Governance Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for nomination to the Board only in the event that there is a vacancy on the Board. Shareholders who wish to submit recommendations for nominations to the Board to fill the vacancy must submit their recommendations in writing to Ms. Susan Hickenlooper, Chair of the Governance Committee, c/o Touchstone Funds, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Shareholders should include appropriate information on the background and qualifications of any person recommended to the Governance Committee (e.g., a resume), as well as the candidate’s contact information and a written consent from the candidate to serve if nominated and elected. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration in the event of a future vacancy on the Board.
 
Trustee Ownership in the Touchstone Funds
 
The following table reflects the Trustees’ beneficial ownership in the Predecessor Fund (i.e., dollar range of securities in the PredeFund) and the Touchstone Fund Complex as of December 31, 2016.
 
Trustees
 
Interested 
Trustee
 
Independent Trustees
Fund
Jill T. McGruder
 
Phillip R.
Cox
 
William C.
Gale
 
Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
Kevin A. Robie
 
Edward J. VonderBrink
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund(1)
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
Aggregate Dollar Ranging Securities in the Touchstone Fund Complex(2)
Over $100,000
 
$1- $10,000
 
$0
 
Over $100,000
 
$0
 
$0
(1)Information presented is for the Predecessor Fund. The Fund did not commence operations until December 16, 2016.
(2)As of January 30, 2017, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 6 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
 
Trustee Compensation
 
The following table shows the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Trust and the aggregate compensation paid by the Touchstone Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.
Name
 
Compensation
from Trust(1)
 
Aggregate Compensation
from the Touchstone Fund Complex(1)
Interested Trustee
 
 

 
 

Jill T. McGruder
 
$
0

 
$
0

Independent Trustees(2)
 
 

 
 

Philip R. Cox
 
$
57,809

 
$
137,500

William C. Gale
 
$
53,125

 
$
126,500

Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
$
53,125

 
$
126,500

Kevin Robie
 
$
48,440

 
$
115,500

Edward VonderBrink
 
$
48,440

 
$
115,500

(1)As of January 30, 2017, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 6 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(2)The Independent Trustees are eligible to participate in the Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan, which allows them to defer payment of a specific amount of their Trustee compensation, subject to a minimum quarterly reduction of $1,000. There was $60,500 accrued by the Independent Trustees from the Touchstone Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.


 



17



The following table shows the Trustee quarterly compensation schedule:
 
 
 
Quarterly
Retainer
 
Governance
Committee
 
Audit
Committee
 
Board
Meeting Fees
Compensation                                                                    Beginning 1/1/16
1/1/14-12/31/15
 
$15,500
$13,500
 
$4,500
$4,500
 
$4,500
$4,500
 
$5,000
$5,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lead Independent Trustee Fees                                         Beginning 1/1/16
1/1/14-12/31/15
 
$6,000
$5,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Committee Chair Fees                                                              Beginning 1/1/16
1/1/14-12/31/15
 
$1,000
$1,000
 
$2,000
$1,500
 
$2,000
$1,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Telephonic Meeting Attendance Fee = $1,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

All fees are typically divided equally among the Funds comprising the Touchstone Fund Complex.
 
THE ADVISOR
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor” or “Touchstone Advisors”), is the Fund’s investment advisor under the terms of an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) dated May 1, 2000, as in effect with respect to the Fund on December 16, 2016. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board of the Trust (the “Trustees”). The Advisor determines the appropriate allocation of assets to the Fund’s sub-advisor(s) (the “Sub-Advisor”).

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties, but shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties.
 
The continuance of the Advisory Agreement as to the Fund after the first two years must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Board or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund, and, in either case, (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Board who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to the Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, on not less than 30-day nor more than 60-day written notice to the Advisor, or by the Advisor on 90-day written notice to the Trust.
 
The Advisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFS Financial Services, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western-Southern Life Assurance Company. Western-Southern Life Assurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. Western & Southern Financial Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company (“Western & Southern”). Western & Southern is located at 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Ms. Jill T. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Advisor because she is a Director of the Advisor and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor. Ms. McGruder, by reason of these affiliations, may directly or indirectly receive benefits from the advisory fees paid to the Advisor.
 
Manager-of-Managers Structure
 
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or the Advisor, under certain circumstances, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval (a “manager-of-managers structure”). The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, seeks to achieve its investment goal by using a “manager-of-managers” structure. Under a manager-of-managers structure, the Advisor acts as investment advisor, subject to direction from and oversight by the Board, to allocate and reallocate the Fund’s assets among sub-advisors, and to recommend that the Trustees hire, terminate or replace unaffiliated sub-advisors without shareholder approval. By reducing the number of shareholder meetings that may have to be held to approve new or additional sub-advisors for the Fund, the Trust anticipates that there will be substantial potential cost savings, as well as the opportunity to achieve certain management

18



efficiencies, with respect to the Fund in which the manager-of-managers approach is chosen. Shareholders of the Fund will be notified of a change in its sub-advisor. The Fund's Sub-Advisor is an affiliate of the Advisor.
 

Fees Paid to the Advisor
 
For its services, the Advisor is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from the Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, as set forth below. The Fund’s advisory fee is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets during the current month.
 
Fund
 
Investment Advisory Fee
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
 
0.50% on the first $100 million;
0.45% on the next $100 million of assets;
0.40% on the next $100 million of assets; and
0.375% on assets over $300 million
 
The Fund shall pay the expenses of its operation, including but not limited to the following (i) charges and expenses for Fund accounting, pricing and appraisal services and related overhead, (ii) the charges and expenses of auditors; (iii) the charges and expenses of its custodian, transfer agent and administrative agent appointed by the Trust with respect to the Fund; (iv) brokers’ commissions, and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with securities transactions to which the Fund is a party; (v) insurance premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for membership in trade associations and all taxes and fees payable to federal, state or other governmental agencies; (vi) fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations of the Fund with the SEC, state or blue sky securities agencies and foreign countries; (vii) all expenses of meetings of Trustees and of shareholders of the Trust and of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, notices, proxy statements and all reports to shareholders and to governmental agencies; (viii) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees; (ix) compensation of the Independent Trustees of the Trust;; and (x) interest on borrowed money, if any. The compensation and expenses of any officer, Trustee or employee of the Trust who is an affiliated person of the Advisor are paid by the Advisor.
 
By its terms, the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will remain in force for an initial period of two years and from year to year thereafter, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or (b) a vote of the majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities; provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval. The Fund’s investment advisory agreement may be terminated at any time, on sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board, by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, or by the Advisor. The investment advisory agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each class of shares of the Fund pays its respective pro rata portion of the advisory fee payable by the Fund.
 
Expense Limitation Agreement. Touchstone Advisors has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to ensure the Fund’s total annual operating expenses do not exceed the contractual limits set forth in the Fund’s fee table. Expenses that are not waived or reimbursed by the Advisor include dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transactions costs; portfolio transactions and investment related expenses; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business; amounts, if any, payable pursuant to a shareholder servicing plan; and amounts, if any, payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Excluded Expenses”). The Fund bears the costs of these Excluded Expenses. The contractual limits set forth in the fee table have been adjusted to include the effect of Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees and other anticipated class specific expenses, if applicable. Fee waivers or expense reimbursements are calculated and applied monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets during the month. The terms of Touchstone Advisors’ contractual waiver agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Fund’s Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the year in which Touchstone Advisors reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. No recoupment will occur unless the Fund’s operating expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.
 






19



Advisory Fees and Fee Waivers or Reimbursements. For the three most recent fiscal years ended June 30, the Predecessor Fund paid advisory fees and received waivers or reimbursements as shown in the following table:
 
 
 
Advisory Fees Paid
 
Fee Waivers and/or Reimbursements
Fund
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
$
284,781

 
$
270,346

 
$
255,096

 
$
175,937

 
$
136,883

 
$
139,604

 

THE SUB-ADVISOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
 
The Advisor has selected Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Fort Washington”) to manage the Fund’s assets. Fort Washington makes the investment decisions for the Fund, and continuously reviews, supervises, and administers a separate investment program for the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.
 
The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that a Sub-Advisor shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties.
 
For its services, Fort Washington receives a fee from the Advisor. Fort Washington’s fee with respect to the sub-advised Fund is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets during the current month.
 
The Advisor pays sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Advisor from the advisory fee. The compensation of any officer, director or employee of the Sub-Advisor who is rendering services to the Fund is paid by the Sub-Advisor. The Advisor paid to Fort Washington the following amounts for the Predecessor Fund during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
 
Fund
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
$
114,064

 
$
108,139

 
$
102,039

 
A description of certain information with respect to the Sub-Advisor is below. In addition, the following charts list the Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of their other managed accounts per investment category, the total assets in each category of managed accounts and their beneficial ownership in the Fund managed at the end of the June 30, 2016 fiscal year. Listed below the charts is (i) a description of the portfolio managers’ compensation structure as of June 30, 2016, and (ii) a description of any material conflicts that may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments and the investments of the other accounts included in the chart and any material conflicts in allocation of investment opportunities between the Predecessor Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager as of June 30, 2016. As of June 30, 2016, no portfolio manager managed an account where the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.

Sub-Advisor Control. This section presents the Sub-Advisor’s control persons.
 
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Fort Washington”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western & Southern and is therefore an affiliate of Touchstone Advisors and Touchstone Securities. Ms. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of Fort Washington.
 














20



Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
 
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
Portfolio Manager/Types of Accounts
 
Total
Number of
Other 
Accounts
Managed
 
Total Other
Assets
(million)
 
Number of Other
Accounts
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory
Fee
 
Total Other 
Assets
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory
Fee (million)
John Goetz
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Registered Investment Companies
 
0
 
$
0

 
0
 
$
0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
0
 
$
0

 
0
 
$
0

Other Accounts
 
7
 
$
33.2

 
0
 
$
0

Rick Ellensohn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
0
 
$
0

 
0
 
$
0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
0
 
$
0

 
0
 
$
0

Other Accounts
 
0
 
$
0

 
0
 
$
0

 
Material Conflicts of Interest (as of June 30, 2016). Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account (including the Fund). This would include devotion of unequal time and attention to the management of the accounts, inability to allocate limited investment opportunities across a broad array of accounts and incentive to allocate opportunities to an account where the portfolio manager has a greater financial incentive, such as allocation opportunities for performance based accounts. Fort Washington has adopted policies and procedures to address such conflicts.
 
Trade Allocation. As an adviser and a fiduciary to clients, the clients’ interests must always be placed first and foremost, and the Firm’s trading practices and procedures prohibit unfair trading practices and seek to disclose and avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interests or resolve such conflicts in the client’s favor. The Firm has adopted the following policies and practices to meet Fort Washington’s fiduciary responsibilities and to check that the Firm’s trading practices are fair to all clients and that no client or account is advantaged or disadvantaged over any other.
 
It is the policy of Fort Washington to generally aggregate orders for its client accounts when it is determined that it is in the best interests of its clients. Fort Washington has adopted the following procedures:
 
Clients are treated in a fair and equitable manner as to the securities purchased and sold for their accounts. There should be no allocation to an account or set of accounts based on account performance, the amount or structure of management fees, whether the account is public or private, or whether the account is affiliated.
Clients are treated fairly with respect to the priority of execution of orders.
Clients are treated fairly with respect to the allocation of trades and each client participates in the allocation of trades on terms no less advantageous than those of other clients. As a general rule, allocations among accounts with the same or similar investment objectives will be made pro rata based upon the size of the accounts and cash available for investment.
A record of each allocation will be maintained in either the Bloomberg Trading system or in InData where trades are generally allocated automatically to participating accounts by Fort Washington prior to the execution of the trade.
Client accounts participating in an aggregated order receive the same treatment with respect to average price on transactions and if non-directed, pay the same commission.
Trading practices are generally disclosed in the Firm’s Disclosure Documents provided to prospective clients and annually offered to clients.

Directed Brokerage. Fort Washington may accept client instructions for directing the client’s brokerage transactions to a particular broker-dealer. Any client instructions to Fort Washington are to be in writing with appropriate disclosures, including that Fort Washington will not negotiate commissions, may not obtain volume discounts or aggregate directed transactions, and that commission charges will vary among clients and best execution may not be obtained.
 
The Best Execution Committee has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of the directed brokerage policy, practices, disclosures and recordkeeping.
 
To provide reasonable assurance of compliance with the policy above, Fort Washington’s controls include, but are not limited to the following:

21



 
All client directed brokerage instructions and/or arrangements are to be in writing and are reviewed during annual client account reviews.
Fort Washington provides appropriate disclosures in Fort Washington’s Disclosure Documents and/or Fort Washington’s advisory agreement.
Any client brokerage instructions are maintained in the client document file.
Any relationships and conflicts of interest relating to arrangements in which brokers refer clients to Fort Washington are disclosed to clients and in Form ADV.
 
Personal Trading. Fort Washington’s policy allows employees to maintain personal securities accounts provided any personal investing by an employee in any accounts in which the employee has a beneficial interest, including any accounts for any immediate family or household members, is consistent with Fort Washington’s fiduciary duty to its clients and consistent with regulatory requirements.
 
Each employee must identify any reportable personal investment accounts upon becoming a supervised person, upon opening a reportable personal investment account, and annually thereafter. In addition, all supervised persons must report all reportable transactions and investment activity on at least a quarterly basis to the Compliance Department.
 
Fort Washington has adopted the following procedures in conjunction with its Code of Ethics which is maintained as a separate policy. The policy was designed to meet the requirements of 17j-1 and 204A-1 as follows:
 
All supervised persons are to identify any applicable personal investment account and any applicable accounts in which they have a beneficial interest, including any accounts for immediate family and household members.
New supervised persons are required to report their reportable holdings within 10 days of their hire date to the Compliance Department.
On a Quarterly basis, all supervised persons must provide reporting of all reportable personal securities transactions, conducted during the prior quarter, within 30 days of the end of each quarter. This information should be given to the Compliance Department.
All supervised persons are required to report their reportable annual holdings within 45 days of the calendar year end to the Compliance Department.
Supervised persons do not have to report transaction and accounts involving the following securities or accounts:  direct obligations of the Government of the United States, banker acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements), purchases or sale of securities under a dividend reinvestment plan, shares and accounts holding shares issued by open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by Fort Washington or any entity under common control within Fort Washington, a transaction based on corporate actions, systematic investment plans as defined as a prescribed investment (excluding investments in reportable funds) that will be made automatically on a regular pre-determined basis without affirmative action by the Supervised Person, or transactions and holdings within managed accounts.
The Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), or his or her designee, will review all supervised persons’ reports of personal securities transactions for compliance with the Code of Ethics, policies and procedures, including the Insider Trading Policy, regulatory requirements and the Firm’s fiduciary duty to its clients.
The CCO, or his or her designee, will review the Code of Ethics “Reviewer’s” quarterly statements and transactions.
The CCO, or their designee, will conduct a periodic assessment of performance of personal security accounts to client accounts.
The CCO, or his or her designee, will conduct a periodic analysis of supervised persons trading patterns.
The Compliance Department utilizes Schwab Compliance Technologies to monitor personal trading activities.
Violations will be reported to the Fort Washington’s President & CEO, the appropriate supervisor and to Fort Washington’s Board of Directors.
The CCO, or his or her designee, conducts training which covers the Code of Ethics along with other policies.
The Compliance Department conducts annual compliance training for all employees and access persons which includes the Code of Ethics.
 
Compensation (as of June 30, 2016). All of Fort Washington’s portfolio managers receive a fixed base salary and annual performance bonuses. Bonuses are based primarily on the overall performance of Fort Washington as well as the pre-tax performance (relative to the appropriate benchmark) of their respective asset category over a one-year and a three-year time horizon. Secondarily, portfolio managers are also assessed on their ability to retain clients and attract new clients. Additionally, a long-term retention plan was instituted in 2000, whereby certain investment professionals are periodically granted participation units with a 7-year cliff vesting schedule. The structure includes long-term vesting provisions. The percentage of compensation allocated to

22



performance bonuses, asset-increase incentives and long-term incentive compensation is determined annually by the firm’s president and approved by the Board of Directors.
 
Fort Washington’s parent company also provides all personnel a defined benefit retirement plan, which provides a lifetime annuity upon retirement that is based on a percentage of final average pay and years of service under the plan.
 
Associates are also eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan. The 401(k) company match is 50% of the first 4% of earnings saved.
 
Ownership of Shares of the Predecessor Fund. The following table indicates for the Predecessor Fund, the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers as of June 30, 2016:
 
Portfolio Manager
 
Dollar Range of Predecessor Fund
Shares Owned
John Goetz
 
$50,001 - $100,000
Rick Ellensohn
 
$1 - $10,000
 
THE ADMINISTRATOR
 
The Advisor entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Advisor is responsible for: supplying executive and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to shareholders and reports to, and filings with, the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities authorities, as well as materials for meetings of the Board; calculating the daily NAV per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of the Fund.
 
For its services through December 31, 2014, the Advisor’s annual fee was:
 
0.20% on the first $6 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.16% on the next $4 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.12% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $10 billion.
 
The fee was computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding, Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
 
Beginning January 1, 2015, the Advisor’s annual administrative fee is:
 
0.145% on the first $20 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.11% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets;
0.09% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.07% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $40 billion.
 
The fee is allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
 
The Advisor has engaged BNY Mellon as the Sub-Administrator to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides administrative and accounting services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Advisor, not the Trust. (See “Transfer and Sub-Administrative Agent” in this SAI.)

The following shows administration fees incurred by the Predecessor Fund listed below for the three most recent fiscal years ended June 30.
Administrative Service Fees
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/16
 
For the Fiscal
 Year Ended 
06/30/15
 
For the Fiscal 
Year Ended 
06/30/14
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
$
82,587

 
$
82,403

 
$
82,850

 




23



TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES (THE "DISTRIBUTOR”)
 
Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities” the “Distributor”), and the Trust are parties to a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with respect to the Fund. The Distributor’s principal place of business is 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer, and an affiliate of the Advisor by reason of common ownership. The Distributor is obligated to sell shares on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The Distributor currently allows concessions to dealers who sell shares of the Fund. The Distributor retains that portion of the sales charge that is not re-allowed to dealers who sell shares of the Fund. The Distributor retains the entire sales charge on all direct initial investments in a Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designated dealer of record.
 
The table below sets forth the aggregate underwriting commissions on sales of the Predecessor Fund, including the amounts the Distributor paid to broker-dealers, the amounts the Distributor earned as a broker-dealer in the selling network, and the amounts of underwriting commissions retained by the Distributor for the three most recent fiscal years ended June 30.
 
Fund
 
Aggregate 
Underwriting 
Commissions on 
Sales
 
Amount Retained
in Underwriting 
Commissions
Ohio Tax–Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
 

 
 

  2016
 
$
33,458

 
$
6,892

2015
 
$
47,624

 
$
12,124

2014
 
$
5,341

 
$
913

 
The Distributor retains the contingent deferred sales charge on redemptions of shares of the Fund that are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. The following table shows, with respect to the Predecessor Fund, the amounts retained from sales loads and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) for the three most recent fiscal years ended June 30.
 
 
Amount Retained
Fund
 
For the fiscal 
year ended 
06/30/16
 
For the fiscal 
year ended 
06/30/15
 
For the fiscal 
year ended 
06/30/14
Ohio Tax–Free Bond Fund 
(Predecessor Fund)
 
 

 
 

 
 

Class C
 
$
50

 
$
0

 
$
61

 
Ms. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor because she is a Director of the Distributor and an officer of affiliates of the Distributor. Ms. McGruder, by reason of such affiliation, may directly or indirectly receive benefits from the underwriting fees paid to the Distributor.
 
The Distribution Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years after the effective date of the agreement and is renewable annually thereafter. The Distribution Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by (i) the Trust, (a) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or by the Distributor, (b) by vote of the Board of the Trust, or (c) by the “vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, or (ii) by the Distributor, in any case without payment of any penalty on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. The Distribution Agreement shall also automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

Touchstone Securities may pay from its own resources cash bonuses or other incentives to selected dealers in connection with the sale of shares of the Fund. On some occasions, such bonuses or incentives may be conditioned upon the sale of a specified minimum dollar amount of the shares of Fund and/or other funds in the Touchstone Funds during a specific period of time. Such bonuses or incentives may include financial assistance to dealers in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their employees, seminars for the public, advertising, sales campaigns and other dealer-sponsored programs or events. The Advisor, at its expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain affiliated and unaffiliated dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers for distribution, administrative or shareholder servicing activities. The Advisor may also reimburse the Distributor for making these payments.
 

24



Touchstone Securities, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries which sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Touchstone Funds. Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by federal or state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
 
Touchstone Securities makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to its guidelines and applicable law. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event or the relationship. As of June 30, 2016, the Distributor anticipates that the following broker-dealers or their affiliates will receive additional payments as described in the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI:
 
Name of Broker-Dealer
American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.
Fifth Third Securities Inc.
First Clearing, LLC/Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
First Command Financial Planning, Inc.
Hewitt Financial Services, LLC
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
LPL Financial Services
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Pershing LLC
PNC Investments, LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Vanguard Brokerage Services, Inc.
 
Touchstone Securities is motivated to make payments to the broker-dealers described above because they promote the sale of Fund shares and the retention of those investments by clients of financial advisors. To the extent financial advisors sell more shares of the Fund or retain shares of the Fund in their clients’ accounts, the Advisor benefits from the incremental management and other fees paid to the Advisor by the Fund with respect to those assets.
 
Your financial intermediary may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this SAI. You can ask your financial intermediary about any payments it receives from Touchstone Securities or the Fund, as well as about fees or commissions it charges. You should consult disclosures made by your financial advisor at the time of purchase.
 
The Fund may compensate dealers, including the Distributor and its affiliates, based on the average balance of all accounts in the Fund for which the dealer is designated as the party responsible for the account.
 
DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
 
The Fund has adopted a distribution and/or shareholder servicing plan for certain classes of shares which permits the Fund to pay for expenses incurred in the distribution and promotion of its shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and account maintenance and other shareholder services in connection with maintaining such account. The Distributor may provide those services itself or enter into arrangements under which third-parties provide such services and are compensated by the Distributor.
 
Class A Shares. With respect to its Class A shares, the Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class A Plan”) under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for distribution payments. Of the total compensation authorized, the Fund may pay for shareholder services in an amount up to 0.25%.
 
Class C Shares. With respect to its Class C shares, the Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class C Plan” and, together with the Class A Plan, the “Plans”) under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, one hundred basis points (1.00%) in the aggregate, with twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for shareholder service fees and seventy-five basis points (0.75%) for distribution payments.
 

25



General Information. In connection with the distribution of shares, the Distributor may use the payments for: (i) compensation for its services in distribution assistance; or (ii) payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance.
 
In addition, the Distributor may use payments to provide or enter into written agreements with service providers who will provide shareholder services, including: (i) maintaining accounts relating to shareholders that invest in shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to client inquiries relating to the services performed by the Distributor or service providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in shares; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or the service providers; (ix) processing dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; and (x) providing such other similar services as the Fund may reasonably request.
 
Agreements implementing the Plans (the “Implementation Agreements”), including agreements with dealers wherein such dealers agree for a fee to act as agents for the sale of the Fund’s shares, are in writing and have been approved by the Board. All payments made pursuant to the Plans are made in accordance with written Implementation Agreements. Some financial intermediaries charge fees in excess of the amounts available under the Plans, in which case the Advisor pays the additional fees.
 
The continuance of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements must be specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Trust’s Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or any Implementation Agreement at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. A Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund or the applicable class of the Fund. In the event a Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Fund (or class) will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred by the Distributor after the termination date. Each Implementation Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund (or the applicable class) on not more than 60 days’ written notice to any other party to the Implementation Agreement. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution without shareholder approval. All material amendments to the Plans must be approved by a vote of the Trust’s Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees.
 
In approving the Plans, the Trustees determined, in the exercise of their business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties as Trustees, that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Fund and their shareholders. The Board believes that expenditure of the Fund’s assets for distribution expenses under the Plans should assist in the growth of the Fund, which will benefit the Fund and its shareholders through increased economies of scale, greater investment flexibility, greater portfolio diversification, and less chance of disruption of planned investment strategies. The Plans will be renewed only if the Trustees make a similar determination for each subsequent year of the Plans. There can be no assurance that the benefits anticipated from the expenditure of the Fund’s assets for distribution will be realized. While the Plans are in effect, all amounts spent by the Fund pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made must be reported quarterly to the Board for its review. Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of more than one class of shares of the Fund will be allocated at least annually to each class of shares based upon the ratio in which the sales of each class of shares bears to the sales of all the shares of the Fund. In addition, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust are committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees during such period.
 
Jill T. McGruder, as an interested person of the Trust, may be deemed to have a financial interest in the operation of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements.
 











26




The Predecessor Fund paid the following in Distribution and Shareholder Servicing fees for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016:
 
 
 
12b-1 Plan Expenses
Fund
 
Printing and 
Mailing
 
Distribution 
Services
 
Compensation to 
Broker Dealers
 
Compensation to 
Sales Personnel
 
Service 
Providers
 
Total
Ohio Tax–Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Class A
 
$
501

 
$
52,642

 
$
58,758

 
$
12,365

 
$
0

 
$
124,266

Class C
 
$
101

 
$
12,848

 
$
57,648

 
$
1,894

 
$
0

 
$
72,491


BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
 
Decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund and the placing of the Fund’s securities transactions and negotiation of commission rates where applicable are made by the Sub-Advisor and are subject to oversight by the Advisor and the Board. In the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, the Sub-Advisor’s primary objective will be to obtain the most favorable price and execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future.
 
The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, subject to certain limitations, to pay a trading commission to a broker who provides research services that is higher than the amount of trading commission another broker would have charged for the same transaction. This excess commission recognizes the additional research services rendered by the broker, but only if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the research services provided and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonably significant benefit from such research services.
 
Research services include securities and economic analyses, reports on issuers’ financial conditions and future business prospects, newsletters and opinions relating to interest trends, general advice on the relative merits of possible investment securities for the Fund and statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities. Although this information is useful to the Fund and the Sub-Advisor, it is not possible to place a dollar value on it. Research services furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effect securities transactions may be used by the Sub-Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Sub-Advisor in connection with the Fund.
 
The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of securities transactions. However, the Fund may execute securities transactions on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market conducted on an agency basis. The Fund will not execute any brokerage transactions in its portfolio securities with an affiliated broker if such transactions would be unfair or unreasonable to its shareholders. Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers. Although the Fund does not anticipate any ongoing arrangements with other brokerage firms, brokerage business may be transacted with other firms. Affiliated broker-dealers of the Trust will not receive reciprocal brokerage business as a result of the brokerage business transacted by the Fund with other brokers. The Fund may direct transactions to certain brokers in order to reduce brokerage commissions through a commission recapture program offered by Frank Russell Securities, Inc.
 
In certain instances there may be securities that are suitable for the Fund as well as for the Sub-Advisor’s other clients. Investment decisions for the Fund and for the Sub-Advisor’s other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. It may develop that a particular security is bought or sold for only one client even though it might be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment advisor, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. However, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the Fund.
 

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The Predecessor Fund paid no aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions for the past three fiscal years ended June 30.
 
PROXY VOTING
 
The Fund has adopted the Sub-Advisor’s proxy voting policy and procedures for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund, including procedures used when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates.  A copy of the Sub-Advisor’s proxy voting policy is included in Appendix B.  Information about how the Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent year ending June 30 is available by August 31st of that year without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1.800.543.0407 and on the SEC’s website at Sec.gov.  The Fund’s Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at Sec.gov and on the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.

CODE OF ETHICS
 
The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor and Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of Trustees, officers, and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund), but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. High turnover may result in the Fund recognizing greater amounts of income and capital gains, which would increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders and increase the amount of commissions paid by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of a Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions, and will not be a limiting factor when the Sub-Advisor believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. The Fund may engage in active trading to achieve its investment goals and, as a result, may have substantial portfolio turnover. The Fund does not intend to purchase securities for short-term trading.
 
During the fiscal years ended 2014, 2015, and 2016, the portfolio turnover rate for the Predecessor Fund was as follows:
 
Fund
 
For the fiscal year ended 6/30/16
 
For the fiscal year 
ended 6/30/15
 
For the fiscal year 
ended 6/30/14
Ohio Tax–Free Bond Fund
(Predecessor Fund)
 
27
%
 
23
%
 
25
%
 
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
 
The Touchstone Funds have adopted policies and procedures for disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to any person requesting this information. These policies and procedures are monitored by the Board through periodic reporting by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer. No compensation will be received by the Fund, the Advisor, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities.
 
The procedures prohibit the disclosure of portfolio holdings except under the following conditions:
 
1)
A request made by the Sub-Advisor for the Fund (or that portion of the Fund) that it manages;
 
2)
A request by executive officers of the Advisor for routine oversight and management purposes;
 
3)
For use in preparing and distributing routine shareholder reports, including disclosure to the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, typesetter, and printer. Routine shareholder reports are filed as of the end of each fiscal quarter

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with the SEC within 60 days after the quarter end and routine shareholder reports are distributed to shareholders within 60 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period. The Fund provides their full holdings to their independent registered public accounting firm annually, as of the end of their fiscal year, within one to ten business days after fiscal year end. The Fund provides their full holdings to their typesetter at least 50 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The Fund provides their full holdings to their printer at least 50 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period.
 
4)
A request by service providers to fulfill their contractual duties relating to the Fund, subject to approval by the Chief Compliance Officer.
 
5)
A request by a newly hired Sub-Advisor or sub-advisor candidate prior to the commencement of its duties to facilitate its transition as a new sub-advisor, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
 
6)
A request by a potential merger candidate for the purpose of conducting due diligence, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
 
7)
A request by a rating or ranking agency, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
The Fund provides its top ten holdings on its publicly available website and to market data agencies monthly, as of the end of a calendar month, at least seven business days after month end.
The Fund provides its full holdings on its publicly available website, and to market data agencies, its typesetter and printer, quarterly, as of the end of a calendar quarter, at least fifteen days after quarter end.
 
You may access the public website TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
8)
The Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosing non-public portfolio holdings to third-parties more frequently or at different periods than as described above prior to when such information is made public, provided that certain conditions are met. The third-party must (i) specifically request in writing the more current non-public portfolio holdings, providing a reasonable basis for the request; (ii) execute an agreement to keep such information confidential, to only use the information for the authorized purpose, and not to use the information for their personal benefit; (iii) agree not to trade on such information, either directly or indirectly; and (iv) unless specifically approved by the Chief Compliance Officer in writing, the non-public portfolio holdings are subject to a ten day time delay before dissemination. Any non-public portfolio holdings that are disclosed will not include any material information about the Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions.
 
As of June 30, 2016, one or more Touchstone Funds may currently disclose portfolio holdings information based on ongoing arrangements to the following parties:
 
CMS Bondedge
Bloomberg LP
Morningstar, Inc.
 
Employees of the Advisor and the Fund’s Sub-Advisor that are access persons under the Fund’s Code of Ethics have access to Fund holdings on a regular basis, but are subject to confidentiality requirements and trading prohibitions in the Code of Ethics. In addition, custodians of the Fund’s assets and the Fund’s accounting services agent, each of whose agreements contains a confidentiality provision (which includes a duty not to trade on non-public information), have access to the current Fund holdings on a daily basis.
 
The Chief Compliance Officer is authorized to determine whether disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Any conflict between the interests of shareholders and the interests of the Advisor, Touchstone Securities, or any affiliates, will be reported to the Board, which will make a determination that is in the best interests of shareholders.
 
CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE AND PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
 
The share price, also called NAV, and the public offering price (NAV plus applicable sales charge) of the Fund’s shares is normally determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading (“Business Day”). For a description of the methods used to determine the share price and the public offering price, see “Pricing of Fund Shares” in the prospectus.
 

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Securities held by the Fund are valued under the direction of the Administrator and under the general supervision of the Board.  The Administrator or its delegates may use independent pricing services to obtain valuations of securities.  The pricing services rely primarily on prices of actual market transactions as well as on trade quotations obtained from third parties.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  If market prices are unavailable or believed to be unreliable, the Sub-Administrator will initiate a process by which the Trust’s Fair Value Committee will make a good faith determination as to the “fair value” of the security using procedures approved by the Board.  The pricing services may use a matrix system to determine valuations of fixed income securities when market prices are not readily available.  This system considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations.  The procedures used by any such pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Trust under the general supervision of the Board.
 
Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less will be valued by the amortized cost method provided such amount approximates market value, which involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter (absent unusual circumstances) assuming a constant amortization of maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuations in general market rates of interest on the value of the instrument.  While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by this method, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument.
 
Because it is difficult to evaluate the likelihood of exercise or the potential benefit of a put attached to an obligation, it is expected that such puts will be determined to have a value of zero, regardless of whether any direct or indirect consideration was paid.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a policy for the Fund, which may be changed without shareholder approval, that the maturity of fixed rate or floating and variable rate instruments with demand features will be determined as follows. The maturity of each such fixed rate or floating rate instrument will be deemed to be the period of time remaining until the principal amount owed can be recovered through demand. The maturity of each such variable rate instrument will be deemed to be the longer of the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount owed can be recovered through demand.
 
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
 
Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with each other share. Upon liquidation, shares are entitled to a pro rata share in the net assets of the Fund, after taking into account additional distribution and shareholder servicing expenses attributable to the Class. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may create additional series of shares or separate classes of funds. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any portfolio or separate class and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that portfolio or separate class and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued.
 
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust states that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided therein, to call upon any shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
 
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisors, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
 
Each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. Shares issued by the Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights. Voting rights are not cumulative. Shareholders of each Class of the Fund will vote separately on matters pertaining solely to the Fund or that Class. The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders, but approval will be sought for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances.
 

30



In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

Derivative Claims of Shareholders

The Trust’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) contain provisions regarding derivative claims of shareholders. Under these provisions, a shareholder must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board, or a majority of any committee of the Board established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration for his service on the Board or on the boards of one or more Trusts that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust.

Unless a demand is not required under the foregoing paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

Forum for Adjudication of Disputes

The By-Laws provide that, unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer, or other employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (each, a “Covered Action”). The By-Laws further provide that if any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any shareholder, such shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the preceding sentence (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such shareholder.

The By-Laws provide that any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of the foregoing paragraph and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in the foregoing paragraph.

This forum selection provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust and its service providers, which may discourage such lawsuits with respect to such claims. If a court were to find the forum selection provision contained in the By-Laws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, the Trust may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
 
The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class shares.
 
The Fund participates in fund “supermarket” arrangements.  In such an arrangement, a program is made available by a broker or other institution (a sponsor) that allows investors to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund through the sponsor of the fund supermarket.  In connection with these supermarket arrangements, the Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders.  In turn, the brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf.  As such, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, accepts the order.  The customer order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after acceptance by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee. In addition, a broker may charge transaction fees on the purchase or sale of Fund shares.  Also in connection with fund supermarket arrangements, the performance of the Fund may be compared in publications to the performance of various indices and investments for which

31



reliable performance data is available and compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services.
 
The Touchstone Funds are intended for sale to residents of the U.S., and, with very limited exceptions, are not registered or otherwise offered for sale in other jurisdictions. The above restrictions are generally not applicable to sales in U.S. territories or to diplomatic staff members or members of the U.S. military with an APO or FPO address outside of the U.S. Investors are responsible for compliance with tax, securities, currency exchange or other regulations applicable to redemption and purchase transactions in any state or jurisdiction to which they may be subject. Investors should consult with their financial intermediary and appropriate tax and legal advisors to obtain information on the rules applicable to these transactions.
 
The shares of the Fund may not be directly or indirectly offered or distributed in any country outside of the U.S. If an investor becomes a resident of another jurisdiction after purchasing shares of the Fund, the investor will not be able to purchase any additional shares of the Fund (other than reinvestment of dividends and capital gains) or exchange shares of the Fund for other U.S. registered Touchstone Funds.
 
Class A Shares. For initial purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more and subsequent purchases further increasing the size of an individual shareholder account, participating dealers may receive compensation of up to 1.00% (a “Finder's Fee”) of such purchases from Touchstone Securities according to the following schedule:
 
Amount of Investment
Finder's Fee
$1 million but less than $3 million
1.00
%
$3 million but less than $5 million
0.75
%
$5 million but less than $25 million
0.50
%
$25 million or more
0.25
%
 
The Distributor does not have an annual reset for Dealer Fees. In determining a dealer’s eligibility for a Dealer Fee, purchases of Class A shares of an individual shareholder account in a Touchstone Fund may be aggregated with concurrent purchases of Class A shares of other Touchstone Funds for that individual shareholder. If a commission was paid to a participating dealer that dealer is not eligible to receive 12b-1 fees on the shares that were used to generate the Dealer Fee until they have aged for a period of one year. Additionally, if a Dealer Fee was paid and the Class A shares are redeemed within a year of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% will be charged on the redemption. Dealers should contact the Distributor for more information on the calculation of the dealer’s commission in the case of combined purchases.
 
A dealer is eligible for a Finder's Fee only if the dealer has not previously received a Dealer Fee on the assets used to meet the required investment amount. Similarly, an exchange from any other Touchstone Fund will not qualify for a Dealer Fee unless the dealer did not receive any compensation on those assets at the time of the initial investment. In all cases the Distributor reserves the right to deny payment of a Dealer Fee if it reasonably believes such a fee has already been paid on those assets.
 
Share Class Conversions. Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares and/or Class C shares for Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares of the same fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. Class Y shares may be available through financial institutions that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. No front-end sales charges will apply to any such exchange, however, if the Class C share assets have been held less than 12 months and a 1% commission was paid to the broker at the time of purchase, a 1% CDSC will be assessed on the exchange transaction, which may be processed as a liquidation and a purchase. Class Y shareholders that meet the required minimum for Institutional Class shares may exchange their Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares within the Fund if offered in their state and if such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution.

For federal income tax purposes, exchanges of one share class for a different share class of the same fund (even if processed as a liquidation and a purchase) should not result in the realization by the investor of a capital gain or loss. There can be no assurance of any particular tax treatment, however, and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax advisor before entering into a share class exchange.
 
Financial intermediaries may convert shares in a customer or client’s account to a more expensive share class if prior to the conversion the intermediary determines that the higher priced share class is more suitable to the customer’s interests and the

32



intermediary discloses any additional compensation to the customer, including revenue sharing arrangements with the Advisor or the Distributor.
 
If a financial institution, processing organization or intermediary (a “converting entity”) is initiating a share class conversion(s) for Touchstone Funds on a platform, then the converting entity should contact Touchstone Securities at least 60 days in advance and obtain Touchstone Securities’ approval of the share class conversion.

Additional Information on the CDSC. The CDSC is waived under the following circumstances:
 
Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Code) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
 
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
 
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.
 
Redemptions that are mandatory withdrawals from a traditional IRA account after age 70½.
 
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus for a description of waivers and discounts available to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through certain intermediaries.     

General. All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
 
CDSC for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares.  A CDSC is imposed upon certain redemptions of Class A shares of the Fund (or shares into which such Class A shares were exchanged) purchased at NAV in amounts totaling $1 million or more, if the dealer’s commission described above was paid by Touchstone Securities and the shares are redeemed within one year from the date of purchase.  The CDSC will be paid to Touchstone Securities and will be equal to the commission percentage paid at the time of purchase as applied to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class A shares being redeemed, or (2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption.  If a purchase of Class A shares is subject to the CDSC, you will be notified on the confirmation you receive for your purchase.  Redemptions of such Class A shares of the Fund held for at least one year will not be subject to the CDSC.
 
Examples.  The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC.  Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired 50 additional shares through reinvestment of distributions.  If at such time you should redeem 450 shares (totaling proceeds of $5,400), then 50 shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment.  With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV of $2 per share.  Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay the charge.  At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of Class C shares.   In determining whether an amount is available for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.

OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
 
Waiver of Minimum Investment Requirements.  The minimum and subsequent investment requirements for purchases in the Fund may not apply to:
 

33



1.  Any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below) of Western & Southern Financial Group, any of its affiliates, or any portfolio advisor or service provider to the Trust.

2. Any employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third-party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
 
The minimum investment waivers are not available for Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

Waiver of Class A Sales Charges.  In addition to the categories of purchasers described in the prospectus for whom the sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of the Fund may be waived, Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not subject to sales charges (and no concessions are paid by Touchstone Securities on such purchases):
 
1. Purchases into the Fund by any director, officer, employee* (and their immediate family members**), or current separate account client of or referral by a sub-advisor to that particular Fund;
 
2. Purchases by any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**) of Western & Southern Financial Group or any of its affiliates; and
 
3. Purchases by any employees of BNY Mellon, who provide services for the Touchstone Funds.
 
Exemptions must be qualified in advance by Touchstone Securities.  At the option of the Trust, the front-end sales charge may be included on purchases by such persons in the future.
 
*The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.
**Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law and children of a registered representative or employee and any other individual to whom the registered representative or employee provides material support.

Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for Clients of Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers. Currently, this arrangement applies to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch.

Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Constellation Shareholders. Shareholders who owned shares of the Touchstone Tax-Free Trust as of November 17, 2006 who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts in any Touchstone Fund are not subject to the front-end sales charge for purchases of Class A shares. If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load waiver and you may be required to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
 
Shareholders who are eligible for the sales charge waivers listed above may open an account with the Fund directly to receive the sales charge waiver.

Purchases in-Kind. In limited circumstances and subject to the prior consent of the Fund, the Fund may accept payment for shares in securities. Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to the Advisor. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction. Before purchasing shares by tendering payment in-kind, investors are urged and advised to consult with their own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of such a transaction.
 
Redemptions in-Kind. Under unusual circumstances, when the Board deems it in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, the Fund may make payment for shares repurchased or redeemed in whole or in part in securities of the Fund taken at current value. Should payment be made in securities, the redeeming shareholder will bear the market risk until the securities are sold and the redeeming shareholder will generally incur brokerage costs and other costs in converting such securities to cash. Portfolio securities that are issued in an in-kind redemption will be readily marketable. The Trust has filed an irrevocable election with the SEC under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act wherein the Fund is committed to pay redemptions in cash, rather than in-kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any ninety-day period, the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s NAV at

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the beginning of such period. Redemptions in-kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash.
 
Undeliverable Checks.  Dividend and distribution checks issued from non-retirement accounts for less than $25.00 will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them. If you elect to receive your dividends and distributions of $25.00 or more in cash, and the payment is returned as “undeliverable”, the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation. If your redemption proceeds are returned as “undeliverable”, your account will be considered a lost shareholder account, correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the Fund, and the outstanding payment will be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. Upon contact, the Fund will no longer consider your account to be a lost shareholder account, and your outstanding payment will be reissued to your corrected address.
 
Uncashed Checks. All uncashed checks on your account will appear with your monthly or quarterly statement for your convenience. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check is not cashed within six months (an “outstanding payment”), the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation. In the event the proceeds represent a full liquidation or a distribution from a retirement account, the proceeds will be deposited into a nonretirement account for you and invested in the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund. In addition, if the payment was for dividends or distributions, your
cash election will be automatically changed and future dividends and distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment.
 
For redemption checks returned as “undeliverable”, the check will be voided and deposited into a lost shareholder account for the Fund. If the account holder contacts the Fund and provides proper documentation to update the address on the account, a check for the previously voided amount will be re-issued to the shareholder and sent to the new address of record.
 
Fund Shares Purchased by Check. We may delay the processing and payment of a redemption request for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
 
Low Account Balances (Only applicable for shares held through Touchstone Securities directly). If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes), Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
 
Facilitated Transfers.  In the event an existing Touchstone shareholder wishes to move money between their Touchstone mutual fund account and a money market fund, Touchstone has partnered with The Dreyfus Corporation to help facilitate this type of transaction pursuant to certain limitations. Please contact Touchstone Shareholder Services at 1.800.543.0407 for more information if you are interested in pursuing this type of transaction.
 
TAXES
 
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that might be relevant to beneficial owners of shares of the Fund. Therefore, the summary discussion that follows may not be considered to be individual tax advice and may not be relied upon by any shareholder. The summary is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (the “Regulations”), and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, which change could be retroactive, and may affect the conclusions expressed herein. The summary applies only to beneficial owners of the Fund’s shares in whose hands such shares are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and may not apply to certain types of beneficial owners of the Fund’s shares, including, but not limited to insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, shareholders holding the Fund’s shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as an individual retirement account (an “IRA”), a 401(k) plan account, or other qualified retirement account), financial institutions, pass-through entities, broker-dealers, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, persons who are neither a citizen nor resident of the United States, shareholders holding the Fund’s shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, and shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax. Persons who may be subject to tax in more than one country should consult the provisions of any applicable tax treaty to determine the potential tax consequences to them.
 

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The Fund has not requested nor will the Fund request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the following discussion applicable to shareholders of the Fund addresses only some of the federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in such Fund.
 
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the ownership, purchase and disposition of an investment in the Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign, and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
 
General. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is treated as a separate corporation. The Fund has elected, and intends to continue to qualify for, taxation as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Code. By qualifying as a RIC, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax on that portion of its investment company taxable income and realized net capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.
 
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the Fund, some of which are described below, may involve complex tax rules some of which may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without the concurrent receipt of cash. Although the Fund seeks to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by the Fund, in which case it may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described below. Cash to make the required minimum distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by its governing documents and other regulatory restrictions, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed.
 
Qualification As A Regulated Investment Company. Qualification as a RIC under the Code requires, among other things, that the Fund: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (together with (i), the “Qualifying Income Requirement”); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the value of its assets is comprised of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with those other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of its total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers controlled by it and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (together with (i) the “Diversification Requirement”); and (c) distribute for each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount income, market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign currency exchange gains, and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain” as defined below and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid; and (ii) 90% of its tax-exempt interest, if any, net of certain expenses allocable thereto (“net tax-exempt interest”).
 
The U.S. Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which gains from foreign currencies (and options, futures, and forward contracts on foreign currency) would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement only if such gains are directly related to the principal business of the Fund of investing in stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities. To date, the U.S. Treasury Department has not issued such regulations.
 
As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders in any taxable year for which it distributes, in compliance with the Code’s timing and other requirements at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest. The Fund may retain for investment all or a portion of its net capital gain (i.e., the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who will be (i) required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of tax paid by the Fund against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of the shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of capital gain.
 

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The Qualifying Income Requirement and Diversification Requirement that must be met under the Code in order for the Fund to qualify as a RIC, as described above, may limit the extent to which it will be able to engage in derivative transactions. Rules governing the federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements, are not entirely clear in certain respects, particularly in light of two IRS revenue rulings issued in 2006. Revenue Ruling 2006-1 held that income from a derivative contract with respect to a commodity index is not qualifying income for a RIC. Subsequently, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2006-31 in which it stated that the holding in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 “was not intended to preclude a conclusion that the income from certain instruments (such as certain structured notes) that create a commodity exposure for the holder is qualifying income.” Accordingly, the Qualifying Income Requirement may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in commodity-related derivative transactions and other derivative transactions. The Fund will account for any investments in commodity derivative transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate; the IRS, however, might not accept such treatment. If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of the Fund as a RIC might be jeopardized.
 
In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, income derived from a partnership is treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. However, all of the net income of a RIC derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes if they meet the passive income requirement under Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
 
For purposes of the Diversification Requirement described above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
 
If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures to satisfy the Diversification Requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. If the applicable relief provisions are not available or cannot be met, the Fund will fail to qualify as a RIC and will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation subject to tax on a graduated basis with a maximum tax rate of 35% and all distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) to its shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for qualified dividend income treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
 
Excise Tax. If the Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its taxable ordinary income (excluding capital gains and losses) for such year, (2) at least 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (as adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the twelve month period ending on October 31 of such year, and (3) all taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which it did not pay federal income tax, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on the undistributed amounts. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November, or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such month and paid by it during January of the following year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders (other than those not subject to federal income tax) in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. The Fund generally intends to actually distribute or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its net income and gain, if any, by the end of each calendar year in compliance with these requirements so that it will generally not be required to pay the Excise Tax. The Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate its investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid the Excise Tax liability at a time when its Advisor might not otherwise have chosen to do so. Liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a RIC. However, no assurances can be given that the Fund will not be subject to the Excise Tax and, in fact, in certain instances if warranted, the Fund may choose to pay the Excise Tax as opposed to making an additional distribution.
 
Capital Loss Carryforwards. The excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gain is treated as short-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year and the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gain is treated as long-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. If carried forward capital losses offset future capital gains, such future capital gains are not subject to Fund-level federal income taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. The Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses.
 

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Municipal Bonds. The Fund intends to invest at least 50% of its total assets in tax-exempt or municipal bonds at the end of each calendar quarter so that dividends derived from its net interest income on tax-exempt or municipal bonds and so designated by the Fund will be “tax-exempt interest dividends,” which are generally exempt from federal income tax when received by a shareholder. A portion of the distributions paid by the Fund may be subject to tax as ordinary income (including certain amounts attributable to bonds acquired at a market discount.)
 
Tax-exempt interest dividends allocable to interest from certain “private activity bonds” will not be tax-exempt for purposes of the federal income tax to shareholders who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such obligations or “related persons” of “substantial users.” Any distributions of net short-term capital gains would be taxed as ordinary income and any distribution of capital gain dividends would be taxed as long-term capital gains. Certain tax-exempt interest dividends may increase alternative minimum taxable income for purposes of determining a shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax. Interest on “specified private activity bonds,” as defined by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, is an item of tax preference possibly subject to the alternative minimum tax. The Fund may invest in such “specified private activity bonds” subject to the requirement that the Fund invests its assets so that at least 80% of its annual income will be exempt from federal income tax, including the alternative minimum tax. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 also created a tax preference for corporations equal to one-half of the excess of adjusted net book income over alternative minimum taxable income. As a result, one-half of tax-exempt interest income received from the Fund may be a tax preference for corporate investors. Interest from certain private activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 will not constitute an item of tax preference for shareholders for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, interest from governmental bonds and certain private activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 will not result in an adjustment for corporate shareholders in determining their alternative minimum tax. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the consequences, if any, that distributions from the Fund will have on their potential alternative minimum tax computation.
 
The tax-exempt portion of the dividends paid for a calendar year constituting “tax-exempt interest dividends” will be designated after the end of that year and will be based upon the ratio of net tax-exempt income to total net income earned by the Fund during the entire year. That ratio may be substantially different than the ratio of net tax-exempt income to total net income earned during a portion of the year. Thus, an investor who holds shares for only a part of the year may be allocated more or less tax-exempt interest dividends than would be the case if the allocation were based on the ratio of net tax-exempt income to total net income actually earned by the Fund while the investor was a shareholder. The Fund will furnish a statement notifying its shareholders of the portion of the dividends paid with respect to a taxable year that constitute tax-exempt interest dividends.
 
Under the Code, all or a portion of interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the Fund will not be deductible by the shareholder. The portion of interest that is not deductible is equal to the total interest paid or accrued on the indebtedness multiplied by the percentage of the Fund’s total distributions (not including distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) paid to the shareholder that are tax-exempt interest dividends. A shareholder’s ability to deduct interest not limited under this rule may still be limited by other provisions of the Code. Under rules used by the IRS for determining when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of the shares.
 
Shareholders receiving social security or railroad retirement benefits may be taxed on a portion of those benefits as a result of receiving tax-exempt income from the Fund (including tax-exempt interest dividends distributed by the Fund). The tax may be imposed on up to 50% of a recipient’s social security or railroad retirement benefits in cases where the sum of the recipient’s adjusted gross income (with certain adjustments, including tax-exempt interest) and 50% of the recipient’s social security or railroad retirement benefits, exceeds a base amount. In addition, up to 85% of a recipient’s social security or railroad retirement benefits may be subject to tax if the sum of the recipient’s adjusted gross income (with certain adjustments, including tax-exempt interest) and 50% of the recipient’s social security or railroad retirement benefits exceeds a higher base amount. Shareholders receiving social security or railroad retirement benefits are urged and advised to consult with their own tax advisors.
 
Original Issue Discount And Market Discount. The Fund may acquire debt securities that are treated as having original issue discount (“OID”) (generally a debt obligation with a purchase price less than its principal amount, such as a zero coupon bond). Generally, the Fund will be required to include the OID in income over the term of the debt security, even though it will not receive cash payments for such OID until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having OID which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income. Inflation-protected bonds generally can be expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation. The IRS may treat a portion of the OID includible in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities as a dividend for federal income tax purposes.
 

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A debt security acquired in the secondary market by the Fund may be treated as having market discount if acquired at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. The Fund’s market discount accrues ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the date of acquisition to the date of maturity even though the Fund will not receive cash. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on its disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.
 
In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding such securities receives no interest payments in cash on such securities during the year.
 
The Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the income accruing on the securities, described above, that is currently includable in income, even though cash representing such income may not have been received by the Fund. Cash to pay these distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by the Fund’s governing documents, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would have in the absence of such transactions.
  
Constructive Sales. Certain rules may affect the timing and character of gain if the Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If the Fund enters into certain transactions (including a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract, a futures or forward contract, or other transactions identified in U.S. Treasury regulations) in property while holding an appreciated financial position in substantially identical property, it will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the appreciated financial position and will be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The character of gain from a constructive sale will depend upon the Fund’s holding period in the appreciated financial position. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the position was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on the Fund’s holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.
 
In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property by the Fund will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing will not apply, however, to the Fund’s transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day period is the Fund’s risk of loss regarding the position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).
 
Wash Sales. The Fund may in certain circumstances be impacted by special rules relating to “wash sales.” In general, the wash sale rules prevent the recognition of a loss by the Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired by it within 30 days before or 30 days after the sale.
 
Short Sales. The Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to its shareholders. Short sales also may be subject to the “Constructive Sales” rules, discussed above.

Tax Credit Bonds. If the Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more “tax credit bonds” (defined below) on one or more specified dates during the Fund’s taxable year, and it satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, it may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to it for that year with respect to such tax credit bonds. A tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a “qualified tax credit bond” (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, or a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the Code), a “build America bond” (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other bonds specified in the Code. If the Fund were to make an election, a shareholder of the Fund would be required to include in gross income an amount equal to such shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to such credits and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.
 
Other Regulated Investment Companies. Generally, the character of the income or capital gains that the Fund receives from another investment company will pass through to the Fund’s shareholders as long as the Fund and the other investment company each qualify as RICs under the Code. However, to the extent that another investment company that qualifies as a RIC realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, the Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses until it disposes of shares of such investment company. Moreover, even when the Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as an ordinary

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deduction. In particular, the Fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of shares of other investment companies against its ordinary income.
 
As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income and net capital gains that the Fund will be required to distribute to shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests, rather than investing in shares of the investment companies. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from the Fund (e.g., long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests.
 
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in a non-U.S. corporation, which could be treated as a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) or become a PFIC under the Code. A PFIC is generally defined as a foreign corporation that meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income for its taxable year is income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains); or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, such passive income. If the Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and interest charges on “excess distributions” received with respect to such PFIC stock or on any gain from the sale of such PFIC stock (collectively “PFIC income”), plus interest thereon even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders. The Fund’s distributions of PFIC income will be taxable as ordinary income even though, absent the application of the PFIC rules, some portion of the distributions may have been classified as capital gain.
 
The Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for taxes and interest charges incurred with respect to a PFIC. Payment of this tax would therefore reduce the Fund’s economic return from its investment in PFIC shares. To the extent the Fund invests in a PFIC, it may elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then instead of the tax and interest obligation described above on excess distributions, the Fund would be required to include in income each taxable year its pro rata share of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain. As a result of a QEF election, the Fund would likely have to distribute to its shareholders an amount equal to the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain to satisfy the Code’s minimum distribution requirement described herein and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax, even if the QEF did not distribute those earnings and gain to the Fund. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements in making the election.
 
The Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” its stock in any PFIC. “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock over the Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, the Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock it included in income for prior taxable years under the election. The Fund’s adjusted basis in its PFIC stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. In either case, the Fund may be required to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash.

Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Various limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular federal income tax and alternative minimum tax.
 
Distributions. Distributions paid out of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined at the end of the year), whether reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, are generally taxable and must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a federal income tax return. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares and then as capital gain.
 
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions designated by the Fund as “capital gain dividends” (distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over short-term capital losses) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time they have held their shares of such Fund. Such dividends do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends received deduction or for qualified dividend income purposes as described below.

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Distributions of “qualified dividend income” received by non-corporate shareholders of the Fund may be eligible for the long-term capital gain rate. The Fund’s distribution will be treated as qualified dividend income and therefore eligible for the long-term capital gain rate to the extent the Fund receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. A corporate shareholder of the Fund may be eligible for the dividends received deduction on the Fund’s distributions attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by the Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met.
 
Shareholders may also be subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on net investment income including interest (excluding tax-exempt interest), dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
 
The Fund will furnish a statement to shareholders providing the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as long-term capital gain.
 
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans.
 
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors for more information.

Purchases of Fund Shares. Prior to purchasing shares in the Fund, the impact of dividends or distributions which are expected to be or have been declared, but not paid, should be carefully considered. Any dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares of the Fund prior to the record date will have the effect of reducing the per share NAV by the per share amount of the dividend or distribution, and to the extent the distribution consists of the Fund’s taxable income, the purchasing shareholder will be taxed on the taxable portion of the dividend or distribution received even though some or all of the amount distributed is effectively a return of capital.
 
Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Upon the disposition of shares of the Fund (whether by redemption, sale or exchange), a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. The capital gain will be long-term if the shares were held for more than 12 months and short-term if held for 12 months or less. If a shareholder sells or exchanges Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the sale or exchange, as a result of having initially acquired those shares, the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or another Fund, the sales charge previously incurred in acquiring the Fund’s shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated as having been incurred in the new purchase. Any loss realized on a disposition will be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules to the extent that the shares disposed of by the shareholder are replaced by the shareholder (including through dividend reinvestment) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. Capital losses are generally deductible only against capital gains except that individuals may deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses against ordinary income.
 
The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (described above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares.
 
Backup Withholding. The Fund generally is required to withhold, and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions, an amount equal to 28% of all distributions and redemption proceeds paid or credited to a shareholder of the Fund if (i) the shareholder fails to furnish the Fund with the correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) certified under penalties of perjury, (ii) the shareholder fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iii) the IRS or a broker has notified the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest or dividend income. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions or proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

41



 
State And Local Taxes. State and local laws often differ from federal income tax laws with respect to the treatment of specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt shareholder could realize unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).
 
It is possible that a tax-exempt shareholder of the Fund will also recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” (as described above) derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs. Furthermore, any investment in a residual interest of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
 
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs.
 
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
 
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
 
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
 
Persons or organizations beneficially owning more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are presumed to “control” the Fund. As a result, those persons or organizations could have the ability to influence an action taken by the Fund if such action requires a shareholder vote. As of March 10, 2017, the name, address and percentage ownership of each entity that owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund are as follows:

Fund and Share Class
 
Shareholder
 
Percentage of 
Class
OHIO TAX FREE BOND FUND CLASS A
 
BAND & CO C/O US BANK NA
1555 N. RIVERCENTER DRIVE STE. 302
MILWAUKEE WI 53212


 
11.89
%
 
 
MLPF & S THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION 971S2
4800 DEER LAKE FLOOR DR EAST 2RD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
 
8.71
%
 
 
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLAZA
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399


 
8.41
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SVCS LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
 
8.31
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122
 
5.04
%

42



OHIO TAX FREE BOND FUND CLASS C
 
UBS WM USA FBO
0O0 11011 6100
SPEC CDY A/C EXL BEN CUSTOMERS
OF UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086
 
21.89
%
 
 
MLPF & S THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE FL DR EAST 3RD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
 
17.78
%
 
 
MARTHA F HIGHSMITH TTEE
MARTHA F HIGHSMITH TRUST
U/A DTD 06/25/2013
1302 AVON DR
CINCINNATI OH 45229-0000
 
11.37
%
 
 
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLAZA
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399


 
11.35
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122
 
7.31
%
OHIO TAX FREE BOND FUND CLASS Y
 
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS INC ATTN CORP ACCOUNTING 303 BROADWAY SUITE 1100 CINCINNATI OH 45202-0000
 
99.96
%
OHIO TAX FREE BOND FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
 
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS INC ATTN CORP ACCOUNTING 303 BROADWAY SUITE 1100 CINCINNATI OH 45202-0000
 
100.00
%

As of March 10, 2017 the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned of record and beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust and of the Predecessor Fund.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, is the Trust’s custodian. BBH acts as the Trust’s depository, safe keeps its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses money as instructed and maintains records in connection with its duties.
 
LEGAL COUNSEL
 
Vedder Price P.C., 222 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, serves as counsel to the Trust.
 
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The firm of Ernst & Young LLP, 312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. Ernst & Young LLP will perform an annual audit of the Trust’s financial statements and advise the Trust as to certain accounting matters. Ernst & Young LLP also served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Predecessor Fund.
 
TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
 
Transfer Agent. The Trust’s transfer agent is BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. BNY Mellon maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other shareholder servicing functions. For providing transfer agent and shareholder services to the Trust, BNY Mellon receives a monthly per account fee from the Fund, plus out of-pocket expenses. The Fund may also pay a fee to certain servicing organizations (such as broker-dealers and financial institutions) that provide sub-transfer agency services. These services include maintaining shareholder records, processing shareholder transactions and distributing communications to shareholders.
 
Sub-Administrative Agent. The Advisor provides administrative services to the Trust under an Administration Agreement and has sub-contracted certain accounting and administrative services to BNY Mellon. The sub-administrative services sub-contracted to BNY Mellon include accounting and pricing services, SEC and state security filings, providing executive and administrative services and providing reports for meetings of the Board. The Advisor pays BNY Mellon a sub-administrative fee out of its administration fee.
 
Set forth below are the sub-administration fees paid by the Administrator during the stated periods:
Sub-Administration Fees
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/16
 
For the Fiscal Year 
Ended 06/30/15
 
For the Fiscal Year 
Ended 06/30/14
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Predecessor Fund)
 
$
27,418

 
$
24,663

 
$
21,755


43



FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
The Fund has adopted the financial statements of the Predecessor Fund, which are incorporated herein by reference.  The Annual Report for the Predecessor Fund may be obtained free of charge by calling Touchstone Advisors at 1-800-543-0407 or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may also obtain the annual report or unaudited semi-annual report, as well as other information about the Predecessor Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at Sec.gov.

44



APPENDIX A(1)
 
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
 
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard &Poor’s® (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s, S&P® and Fitch are provided below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. An advisor attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking. However, subsequent to purchase by a fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the fund. In that event, an advisor will consider whether it is in the best interest of a fund to continue to hold the securities.
 
Moody’s credit ratings are current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities. Moody’s defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default. Credit ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited to: liquidity risk, market value risk, or price volatility. Credit ratings are not statements of current or historical fact. Credit ratings do not constitute investment or financial advice, and credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold particular securities. Credit ratings do not comment on the suitability of an investment for any particular investor. Moody’s issues its credit ratings with the expectation and understanding that each investor will make its own study and evaluation of each security that is under consideration for purchase, holding, or sale.
 
An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
 
Fitch credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, and repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit-ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
 

(1)  This Appendix A may contain information obtained from third parties, including ratings from credit ratings agencies such as Standard & Poor’s. Reproduction and distribution of third party content in any form is prohibited except with the prior written permission of the related third party. Third party content providers do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of any information, including ratings, and are not responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of such content. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS GIVE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, COMPENSATORY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, LEGAL FEES, OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST INCOME OR PROFITS AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS OR LOSSES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY USE OF THEIR CONTENT, INCLUDING RATINGS. Credit ratings are statements of opinions and are not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell securities. They do not address the suitability of securities or the suitability of securities for investment purposes, and should not be relied on as investment advice.

45



Short-Term Credit Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
 
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
 
“P-1” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
“P-2” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
“P-3” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
 
“NP” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
 
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.
 
S&P
 
S&P’s short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days-including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating.
 
The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P for short-term issues:
 
“A-1” - Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
 
“A-2” - Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
 
“A-3” - Obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“B” - Obligations are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
 
“C” - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“D” - Obligations are in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
 
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

46



Fitch
 
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream, and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
 
The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
 
“F1” — Highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
 
“F2” — Good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
 
“F3” — Fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
 
“B” — Speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
 
“C” — High short-term default risk. This designation indicates that default is a real possibility.
 
“RD” — Restricted default. This designation indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Or, the default of a specific short-term obligation.
 
“D” — Default. This designation indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of all short-term obligations.
 
Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:
 
The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
 
The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
 
The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.
 
The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.
 
The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.
 
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.

47



Long-Term Credit Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:
 
“Aaa” - Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
 
“Aa” - Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
 
“A” - Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
 
“Baa” - Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
 
“Ba” - Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
 
“B” - Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
 
“Caa” - Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
 
“Ca” - Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
 
“C” - Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
 
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
 
S&P
 
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:
 
Likelihood of payment — capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
 
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
 
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P for long-term issues:
 
“AAA” - An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
“AA” - An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
 

48



“A” - An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
 
“BBB” - An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC,” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
 
“BB” - An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“B” - An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB,” but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“CCC” - An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“CC” - An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
 
“C” - A “C” rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the “C” rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
 
“D” - An obligation rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
 
Plus (+) or minus (-) - The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
 
“NR” - This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
 
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
 
Fitch
 
Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns and insurance companies, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations.
The “threshold” default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership

49



or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.
 
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default. For historical information on the default experience of Fitch-rated issuers, please consult the transition and default performance studies available from the Fitch Ratings website.
 
The following summarizes long-term IDR categories used by Fitch:
 
“AAA” — Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
 
“AA” — Very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
 
“A” — High credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
 
“BBB” — Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
 
“BB” — Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.
 
“B” — Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
 
“CCC” — Substantial credit risk. “CCC” ratings indicate that default is a real possibility.
 
“CC” — Very high levels of credit risk. “CC” ratings indicate default of some kind appears probable.
 
“C” — Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. “C” ratings indicate default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a “C” category rating for an issuer include:
 
a.
the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
 
b.
the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or
 
c.
Fitch otherwise believes a condition of “RD” or “D” to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.
 
“RD” - Restricted default. “RD” ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased business. This would include:
 
a.
the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
 
b.
the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
c.
the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or
 
d.
execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

50



 
“D” — Default. “D” ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.
 
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.
 
“Imminent” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.
 
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.
 
Note: The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” Long-Term IDR category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below “B.”
 
Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:
 
The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.
The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.
The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.
The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.
 
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.

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Municipal Note Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and are divided into three levels - “MIG 1” through “MIG 3”. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated “SG”, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for these short-term obligations:
 
“MIG 1” - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
“MIG 2” - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
 
“MIG 3” - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
 
“SG” - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
 
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned; a long- or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” rating scale.
 
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated “NR”, e.g., “Aaa/NR” or “NR/VMIG 1”.
 
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
 
“VMIG 1” - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“VMIG 2” - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“VMIG 3” - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“SG” - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
S&P
 
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:
 
Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
 

52



Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
“SP-1” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
 
“SP-2” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
 
“SP-3” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
Fitch
 
Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term credit ratings.

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APPENDIX B
 
FORT WASHINGTON INVESTOR ADVISORS, INC.
PROXY VOTING POLICY
 
Fort Washington’s policy is to vote proxies in the best interests of the Fund at all times.  Fort Washington has adopted procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of the Fund in accordance with its fiduciary duties and SEC rules governing investment advisers.  Reflecting a basic investment philosophy that good management is shareholder focused, proxy votes will generally be cast in support of management on routine corporate matters and in support of any management proposal that is plainly in the interest of all shareholders.  Specifically, proxy votes generally will be cast in favor of proposals that:
 
maintain or strengthen the shared interests of stockholders and management;
 
increase shareholder value; and
 
maintain or increase shareholder rights generally.
 
Proxy votes will generally be cast against proposals having the opposite effect of the above.  Where Fort Washington perceives that a management proposal, if approved, would tend to limit or reduce the market value of the company’s securities, it will generally vote against it.  Fort Washington generally supports shareholder rights and recapitalization measures undertaken unilaterally by boards of directors properly exercising their responsibilities and authority, unless we believe such measures could have the effect of reducing shareholder rights or potential shareholder value.  In cases where shareholder proposals challenge such actions, Fort Washington’s voting position will generally favor not interfering with the directors’ proper function in the interest of all shareholders.
 
Fort Washington may delegate its responsibilities under its proxy voting procedures to a third party, provided that Fort Washington retains final authority and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting.  Fort Washington has retained ISS to assist it in the proxy voting process and will use ISS’ proxy voting guidelines as a resource in its proxy voting.
 
Fort Washington will review proxies to assess the extent, if any, to which there may be a material conflict between it and the interests of the Fund.  If Fort Washington determines that a potential conflict may exist, it will be reported to the Proxy Voting Committee.  The Proxy Voting Committee is authorized to resolve any conflict in a manner that is in the collective best interests of the Fund (excluding a potential conflict).  The Proxy Voting Committee may resolve a potential conflict in any of the following manners:
 
If the proposal is specifically addressed in the proxy voting procedures, Fort Washington may vote the proxy in accordance with these policies, provided that such pre-determined policy involves little discretion on Fort Washington’s part;
 
Fort Washington may engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted;
 
Fort Washington may establish an ethical wall or other informational barriers between the person involved in the potential conflict and the persons making the voting decision in order to insulate the potential conflict from the decision maker.













 
TSF-54BB-TST-SAI-OHIO-TFB-1704           


54
 


PART C.               OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 28. Exhibits:

(a)(1)
 
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993 and Amendment No. 1 dated May 24, 1994, Amendment No. 2 dated February 28, 1997 and Amendment No. 3 dated August 11, 1997, are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on July 31, 1998.
 
 
 
(a)(2)
 
Amendment No. 4 to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 12, 1998 and Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 16, 2000 and April 6, 2000 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000.

 
 
 
(a)(3)
 
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 21, 2000 and March 27, 2001 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(a)(4)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 28, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 6, 2002.
 
 
 
(a)(5)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 7, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2003.
 
 
 
(a)(6)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 14, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 30, 2004.
 
 
 
(a)(7)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 3, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 1, 2006.
 
 
 
(a)(8)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 30, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(9)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 22, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(10)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(11)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 22, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
  

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(a)(12)
 
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on November 30, 2011.
 
 
 
(a)(13)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(a)(14)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 31, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014.
 
 
 
(a)(15)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 9, 2014 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 9, 2014.
 
 
 
(a)(16)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 2016 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(b)
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws dated November 19, 2015 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(c)
 
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(i)
 
Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated May 1, 2000, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(ii)
 
Amended Schedule 1 dated December 16, 2016 to the Advisory Agreement dated May 1, 2000 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(iii)
 
Amendment to the Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(2)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008.
 
 
 
(d)(3)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2010.
 
 
 
(d)(4)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.

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(d)(5)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(6)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC with respect to the Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(r) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(7)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Focused Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(s) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(8)(i)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and ClearArc Capital Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(w) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(8)(ii)
 
Amendment to Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2013 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and ClearArc Capital, Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(18)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013.
 
 
 
(d)(9)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(y) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(10)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 1, 2016 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fiera Capital Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(d)(11)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated December 31, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Analytic Investors, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013.
 
 
 
(d)(12)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 23, 2014 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Sands Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2014.
 
 
 
(d)(13)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company with respect to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 9, 2014.
 
 
 
(d)(14)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Rockefeller & Co., Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund (formerly the Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund) is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2015.
  
(d)(15)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Ares Capital Management II, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 31, 2015.
 
 
 

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(d)(16)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 1, 2015 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company with respect to the Touchstone Capital Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 26, 2015.
 
 
 
(d)(17)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Wilshire Associates Incorporated with respect to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on November 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(d)(18)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 1, 2016 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fiera Capital Inc. with respect to the Touchstone International Growth Fund, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(d)(19)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreements between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and DSM Capital Partners LLC with respect to the Touchstone Large Company Growth Fund and the Touchstone Global Growth Fund are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 139 and Exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138, respectively, to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), both filed with the SEC on August 15, 2016.
 
 
 
(d)(20)
 
Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016.
 
 
 
(e)(1)
 
Distribution Agreement with Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(e)(2)
 
Form of Underwriter’s Dealer Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 10, 2004.
 
 
 
(f)
 
Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (f) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2009.
 
 
 
(g)(1)
 
Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008.
 
 
 
(g)(2)
 
Amended Schedule of Global Services & Charges to the Custody Agreement between the Trust and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013.
 
 
 
(h)(1)
 
Recordkeeping Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2004.
 
 
 
(h)(2)
 
Amended Administration Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated January 1, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007.
 
 
 

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(h)(3)
 
Amended Schedule, dated January 1, 2015, to the Administration Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc., dated February 17, 2006, as amended January 1, 2007, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(4)
 
Amended and Restated Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. dated January 1, 2015 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(5)
 
Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement between the Trust and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. dated January 1, 2015 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.
 
 
 
 
(h)(6)(i)
 
State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(6)(ii)
 
Amended and Restated Schedule A to the State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(h) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(6)(iii)
 
Amended and Restated Schedule A dated September 6, 2012 to the State Filing Services Agreement dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(7)
 
Allocation Agreement for Allocation of Fidelity Bond Proceeds is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(i)
 
Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(ii)
 
Amended Schedule A dated July 30, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(iii)
 
Amended Schedule B dated August 15, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 26, 2016.

 
 
 
(h)(8)(iv)
 
Amended Schedule C, dated April 30, 2016, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(v)
 
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 31, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(9)
 
Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated February 1, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013.
 
 
 
(i)
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
(j)
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 150 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017.
 
 
 
(k)
 
Not applicable.

5




6



 
 
 
(l)
 
Copy of Letter of Initial Stockholder, which was filed as an Exhibit to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
 
 
(m)(1)
 
Registrant’s Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares and Class C shares are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000.
 
 
 
(m)(2)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class B shares is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(m)(3)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Emerging Growth Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone U.S. Long/Short Fund, Touchstone Value Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Micro Cap Value Fund, Touchstone Small Company Value Fund, Touchstone International Value Fund and Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(m)(4)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class C shares with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Emerging Growth Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone U.S. Long/Short Fund, Touchstone Value Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Micro Cap Value Fund, Touchstone Small Company Value Fund, Touchstone International Value Fund and Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(n)(1)
 
Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(n)(2)
 
Amended Schedule A dated December 16, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016.
 
 
 
(o)
 
Reserved.
 
 
 
(p)(1)
 
Code of Ethics for Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(2)
 
Code of Ethics for Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(3)
 
Code of Ethics for Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013.
 

7



(p)(4)
 
Code of Ethics for Analytic Investors, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(7)
 
Code of Ethics for Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(8)
 
Code of Ethics for Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(9)
 
Code of Ethics for Thompson Siegel & Walmsley, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(10)
 
Code of Ethics for ClearArc Capital, Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(11)
 
Code of Ethics for Apex Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013.
 
 
 
(p)(12)
 
Code of Ethics for Sands Capital Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(13)
 
Code of Ethics for London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to Touchstone Strategic Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 033-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014.
 
 
 
(p)(14)
 
Code of Ethics for Rockefeller & Co., Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(15)
 
Code of Ethics for Ares Capital Management II, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 120 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(16)
 
Code of Ethics for Wilshire Associates Incorporated is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on November 24, 2015.
.
 
 
 
(p)(17)
 
Code of Ethics for DSM Capital Partners LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 15, 2016.
 
 
 
(q)
 
Power of Attorney is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 30, 2016.
 
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
 
None.
 
Item 30. Indemnification
 
(a)  Article VI of the Registrant’s Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of officers and Trustees as follows:
 

8



Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.
 
The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers, including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (“disabling conduct”).  Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, no Covered Person shall be indemnified for any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject unless (1) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination is made, based upon a review of the facts, that the Covered Person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended nor parties to the proceeding “disinterested, non-party Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
 
Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses.
 
The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding, upon the undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined that such Covered Person is entitled to indemnification, so long as one of the following conditions is met: (i) the Covered Person shall provide security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
 
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc.
 
The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled.  As used in this Article VI, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, an “interested Covered Person” is one against whom the action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened, and a “disinterested” person is a person against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened.  Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
 
(b)  The Registrant maintains a mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officer’s liability policy.  The policy provides coverage to the Registrant, its trustees and officers and includes losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.  The Registrant may not pay for insurance that protects the Trustees and officers against liabilities arising from action involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices.
 
The advisory agreements and the sub-advisory agreements provide that Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (or a sub-advisor) shall not be liable for any act or omission in the course of rendering services, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard by Touchstone (or a sub-advisor) of its obligations under the agreement.
 
Item 31.   Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
 
A.TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. (the “Advisor”) is a registered investment advisor that provides investment advisory services to the Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust (the “Touchstone Fund Complex”).
 

9



The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of the Advisor.  Unless otherwise noted, the address of the corporations listed below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
 
(1)
Jill T. McGruder — CEO and Director Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
President and Chief Executive Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(b)
President and Chief Executive Officer - Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(c)
President and Chief Executive Officer - National Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(d)
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.
(e)
President - Touchstone Fund Complex
(f)
Chief Executive Officer - Insurance Profillment Solutions, LLC
(g)
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.*
(h)
Senior Vice President - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(i)
Director — Western & Southern Financial Group*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Co., National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Western & Southern Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*

(2)
Donald J. Wuebbling — Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Director - Touchstone Securities, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.* Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company,* National Integrity Life Insurance Company,* Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC, IFS Financial Services, Inc.,, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Columbus Life Insurance Company*
 
(3)
James J. Vance - Senior Vice President and Treasurer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Senior Vice President and Treasurer - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.*, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company 
(b)
Treasurer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC, Insurance Profillment Solutions*, Tristate Ventures, LLC*, Western & Southern Investment Holdings, LLC, Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(c)
Assistant Treasurer - LLIA, Inc.
 
(4)
Terrie A. Wiedenheft — Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

(a)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc. 
(b)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.* and Touchstone Securities, Inc. 
(c)
Chief Financial Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc. 
(d)
Senior Vice President - Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. 
(e)
Vice President, Commission Accounting and Finance - Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company 
(f)
Treasurer and Controller - Touchstone Fund Complex
 
(5)
James N. Clark — Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.* Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., The Lafayette Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC
 

10



(6)
Rhonda S. Malone - Secretary - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Secretary - Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, IFS Financial Services, Inc. 
(b)
Senior Counsel — Securities - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.*
 
(7)
Steven M. Graziano — President - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Vice President - Touchstone Fund Complex 
(b)
President — Touchstone Securities, Inc.
 
(8)
Timothy S. Stearns — Chief Compliance Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Fund Complex

(a)
Vice President - Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(b)
Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., Western & Southern Agency, Inc.*, IFS Financial Services, Inc.
 
(9)
Timothy D. Paulin — Senior Vice President, Investment Research and Product Management — Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
a.
Vice President - Touchstone Fund Complex
 
B.
FORT WASHINGTON INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC. (“Fort Washington”) is a registered investment adviser that provides sub-advisory services to the Funds. Fort Washington serves as the Sub-Advisor to Touchstone Investment Trust and certain series of Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. Fort Washington also provides investment advice to institutional and individual clients.  The address of Fort Washington is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
 
The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of Fort Washington.

*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

(1)
Maribeth S. Rahe, President & Chief Executive Officer and Director

(a)
Board Member, Executive/Foundation Committee of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; Leadership Development, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce; Life Trustee, New York Landmarks Conservancy; Life Trustee, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center; Board Member, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings Inc.; Chair, Audit Committee, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Member, Nominating/Governance and Compensation Committees, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Vice Chairman, Executive/Finance Committee, Cincinnati Arts Association; Advisory Board, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Advisory Board, Williams College of Business, Xavier University; Advisory Board, CincyTech USA; Member, Partner-In-Action; Investment Committee, United Way of Cincinnati; Board Member, First Financial Bank; Member, Audit/Trust/M&A Committees, First Financial Bank; Executive Committee, Commonwealth Club
(b)
President & CEO of Tristate Ventures, LLC*
(c)
President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
(d)
President, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC
(e)
Manager, President & CEO, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(f)
Director, Chairman of the Board - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.
(g)
President & CEO of Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC

(2)
Nicholas P. Sargen, Senior Vice President, Chief Economist, Investment Strategist, and Director

(a)
Senior Vice President, Chief Economist, and Investment Strategist, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(b)
Board of Trustees & Treasurer, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation
(c)
Advisory Board, Xavier Department of Economics

11



(d)
Chairman, Investment Committee - Christ Church Cathedral

(3)
John F. Barrett, Chairman and Director

(a)
Chairman of Board, CEO and Director, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(b)
Director & Chairman, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company; Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(c)
Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC
(d)
President & Trustee, Western & Southern Financial Fund
(e)
Board Member, Convergys Corp, Cintas Corporation
(f)
Director, American Council of Life Insurers; Director, Financial Services Roundtable; Board Member, Americans for the Arts; Member & Executive Committee, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation; Board of Governors, Cincinnati USA Partnership for Economic Development; Member, Cincinnati Business Committee; Co-Chairman, Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association; Member, Cincinnati Equity Fund; Honorary Trustee, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation; Chairman, Medical Center Fund, UC; Advisory Board, Barrett Cancer Center; Vice Chairman, UC Foundation Capital Campaign; Honorary Chairman, UC Presidential Bicentennial Commission

(4)
Brendan M. White, Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Director

(a)
Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Investment Holdings, LLC
(b)
Manager, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(c)
Co-Chief Investment Officer, Tri-State Ventures, LLC

(5)
Roger M. Lanham, Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Director

(a)
Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Investment Holdings, LLC
(b)
Manager, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(c)
Co-Chief Investment Officer, Tri-State Ventures, LLC

(6)
Timothy J. Policinksi, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(7)
Michele Hawkins, Chief Compliance Officer & Managing Director

(a)
Advisory Board Member, Xavier University Cintas Institute for Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
(b)
Chief Compliance Officer, Peppertree Partners, LLC

(8)
Margaret C. Bell, Managing Director

(9)
Terrie A. Wiedenheft, Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer - See biography above

(10)
James J. Vance, Senior Vice President & Treasurer - See biography above

(11)
Stephen A. Baker, Managing Director & Deputy Head of Private Equity

(a)
Board of Trustees, Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation, CH Mack, Inc.
(b)
Vice President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
(c)
Vice President, Manager, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(d)
Managing Director, Tri-State Ventures, LLC, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC

(12)
Paul D. Cohn, Managing Director

12




(13)
Thomas L. Finn, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(a)
Board Member, Cincinnati Foundation for the Aged, Beechwood Foundation.
(b)
Investment Committee, YMCA

(14)
Mark A. Frietch, Managing Director

(15)
John J. Goetz, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(a)
Investment Company Institute - MMFunds Advisory Committee

(16)
Charles A. Ulbricht, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(a)     AVP Investments, Lafayette Life Foundation

(17)
Scott D. Weston, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(a)
Financial Advisory Board & Foundation Board Member, Mariemont School District

(18)
Martin W. Flesher, Vice President

(19)
Jeffrey D. Meek, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

(a)
Treasurer, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(b)
Assistant Treasurer, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC
(c)
Vice President, Tri-State Ventures, LLC, Western & Southern Investment Holdings, LLC

(20)
Jonathan D. Niemeyer, Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, Director, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Eagle Realty Group, LLC, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.

(a)
Board of Directors, The Pro Foundation Inc., Board of Advisors, David Pollack’s Empower Foundation
(b)
Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(c)
Director, Insurance Profillment Solutions, LLC, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(d)
Board Member, Association of Life Insurance Counsel

(21)
James E. Wilhelm, Jr., Managing Director, Head of Public Equity

(a)     Board Member, Xavier Student Investment Fund

(22)
Donald J. Wuebbling, Director

(a)
Secretary & Counsel, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Co., Columbus Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(b)
Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Agency, Inc., Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.

(23)
William G. Creviston, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(24)
Douglas E. Kelsey, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(25)
Jeremiah R. Moore, Vice President & Deputy Head of Wealth Management


13



(26)
Barry D. Pavlo, Vice President

(27)
William T. Sena Jr., Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(28)
P. Gregory Williams, Vice President

(29)
Eric J. Walzer, Vice President

(30)
Timothy J. Jossart, Vice President & Assistant Portfolio Manager

(31)
Daniel J. Carter, Assistant Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(32)
S. Zulfi Ali, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager

(33)
William H. Bunn, Vice President & Senior Credit Analyst

(34)
Kevin M. Bass, Assistant Vice President & Senior Equity Research Manager

(35)
Bernard M. Casey, Assistant Vice President & Senior Credit Analyst

(36)
Joe Don Cole, Vice President, Private Equity Investor Relations

(37)
Connie L. Krebs, Assistant Vice President and Director of Relationship Management/Client Service

(38)
Michael R. Maeder, Managing Director, Private Equity

(39)
Kenneth J. Ryan, Vice President

(40)
David W. Walters, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Asset & Liability Management

(41)
Chris C. Zehetmaier, Assistant Vice President, Marketing

(42)
Kathleen A. Cornelius, Assistant Treasurer

(43)
Timothy D. Speed, Assistant Treasurer

(44)
Cheryl J. Stotts, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer

(45)
Stephen R. Mullin, Managing Director, Private Client Group

(46)
Jon Salstrom, Vice President, Consultant Relations

(47)
Lawrence M. Carone, Vice President of Business Development

(48)
Casey A. Basil, Assistant Vice President, Senior Credit Analyst

(49)
Jay Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer

(50)
John Musgrove, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer

(51)
David T. Henderson, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer

(52)
Garrick T. Bauer, Assistant Vice President, Senior Credit Analyst

(53)
Kate C. Brown, Vice President

(54)
Sunit Gogia, Assistant Vice President, Senior Equity Research Manager
 
 

14



C.    Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. (“Westfield”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund.  The address of Westfield is One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111.  The following are executive officers and directors of Westfield:
 
Westfield is 100% employee owned. Strategic business decisions are managed and controlled by an executive management committee composed of William A. Muggia, Morton L. Fearey, II, Hamlen Thompson, Bruce Jacobs, Richard Lee, Robert Flores, Ethan Meyers and John Montgomery.
 
D.     Analytic Investors, LLC (“Analytic”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund.  The address of Analytic is 555 West Fifth Street, 50th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90013.
 
The directors and officers of Analytic are provided on Analytic’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 104963; SEC File No. 801-07082), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Analytic’s directors and officers is with Analytic and its affiliated companies, except as noted below.
 
Roger Clarke:  President of Ensign Peak Advisors (since 9/2007), Director of Bonneville Holding Corporation (since 2000), Director of Deseret Mutual Insurance Company (since 2006) and Deseret Trust Company (since 1996).
 
E.    Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC (“Barrow Hanley”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Value Fund and Touchstone International Value Fund.  The address of Barrow Hanley is 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, TX 75201.
 
The directors and officers of Barrow Hanley are provided on Barrow Hanley’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 105519; SEC File No. 801-31237), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Barrow Hanley’s directors and officers is with Barrow Hanley and its affiliated companies.
 
F.    Copper Rock Capital Partner LLC (“Copper Rock”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund.  The address of Copper Rock is 200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor Boston, MA 02116.
 
The directors and officers of Copper Rock are provided on Copper Rock’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 134176; SEC File No. 801-63900), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Copper Rock’s directors and officers is with Copper Rock and its affiliated companies.
 
G.    Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (“TS&W”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund.  The address of TS&W is 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23230.
 
The directors and officers of TS&W are provided on TS&W’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 105726; SEC File No. 801-06273), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of TS&W’s directors and officers is with TS&W and its affiliated companies.
 
H.    ClearArc Capital Inc. (“ClearArc”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund.  The address of ClearArc is 580 Walnut Street, 6th Floor,, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
 
The directors and officers of ClearArc are provided on ClearArc’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 104650; SEC File No. 801-11184), which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
I.    Apex Capital Management, a trade-name being used by Fiera Capital Inc. ("Fiera"), is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Cap Growth Value Fund and the Touchstone International Growth Fund.  The address of Fiera is 375 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10152.
 
The directors and officers of Fiera are provided on Fiera’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (CRD# 113638 / SEC# 801-8948), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Fiera'’s directors and officers is with Fiera.
 
J.    Sands Capital Management, Inc. (“Sands Capital”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund.  The Address of Sands Capital is 1101 Wilson Blvd.,

15



Suite 2300, Arlington, VA 22209.  No director, officer, or partner of Sands Capital has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
K.    London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (“TLC”) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund. The address of TLC is 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia, 23226. No director, officer or partner of TLC has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
L.    Rockefeller & Co., Inc. (“Rockefeller”) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund. The address of Rockefeller is 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Third Floor, New York, New York 10020. No director, officer or partner of Rockefeller has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
M.    Ares Capital Management II, LLC (“Ares”) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund.  The address of Ares is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067. No director, officer or partner of Ares has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
N.    Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and the Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund. The address of Wilshire is 1299 Ocean Avenue Suite 700, Santa Monica, CA 90401. No director, officer or partner of Wilshire has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
Item 32.       Principal Underwriters
 
Touchstone Securities, Inc. acts as underwriter for the Touchstone Fund Complex.
 
(a)
Unless otherwise noted, the address of the persons named below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
 
*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
 
 
 
POSITION WITH
 
POSITION WITH
NAME
 
UNDERWRITER
 
REGISTRANT
Steven M. Graziano
 
President
 
Vice President
Jill T. McGruder
 
Director & CEO
 
Trustee/President
James N. Clark*
 
Director
 
None
Donald J. Wuebbling*
 
Director
 
None
James J. Vance*
 
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
 
None
Daniel R. Larsen
 
Vice President
 
None
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Controller/Treasurer
Thomas Shoemake
 
Chief Compliance Officer
 
None
Rhonda Malone*
 
Secretary
 
None
Sharon L. Karp
 
Vice President
 
None
Kathleen A. Cornelius
 
Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Jay V. Johnson
 
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
 
None
John S. Musgrove
 
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Timothy D. Speed
 
Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Cheryl J. Stotts
 
Assistant Treasurer
 
None
 
(b)
None
 

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Item 33.       LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
 
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
 
(a)   With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3); (6); (8); (12); and 31a-1(d), the required books and records will be maintained at the offices of Registrant’s Custodian:
 
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, MA 02109
 
(b)   With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1), (4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the Registrant’s Administrator and Sub-Administrator.
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
201 Washington Street, 34th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
 
(c)  With respect to Rules 31a-1(b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the principal offices of the Registrant’s investment advisors:
 
All Funds:
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
Touchstone Focused Fund
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1200
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
 
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (“TLC”)
1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301
Richmond, VA 23226
 
Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund
Rockefeller & Co., Inc.
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Third Floor
New York, NY 10020
 
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
Analytic Investors, LLC
555 West Fifth Street, 50th Floor

17



Los Angeles, CA 90013
 
Touchstone Value Fund and Touchstone International Value Fund
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC
2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
 
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
Copper Rock Capital Partner LLC
200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor
Boston, MA 02116
 
Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC
6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23230
 
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
Wilshire Associates
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 700
Santa Monica, CA 90401
 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
ClearArc Capital Inc.
580 Walnut Street, 6th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 2300
Arlington, VA 22209
 
Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone International Growth Fund
Apex Capital Management, a trade-name being used by Fiera Capital Inc.
375 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10152

 Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund
Ares Capital Management II, LLC
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Touchstone Large Company Growth Fund and Touchstone Global Growth Fund
DSM Capital Partners LLC
7111 Fairway Drive
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
 
Item 34.       MANAGEMENT SERVICES NOT DISCUSSED IN PART A OR PART B
 
None.
 
Item 35.       UNDERTAKINGS
 
None.
 



18



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirement for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment (“PEA”) No. 151 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A under Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this PEA No. 151 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, and State of Ohio on April 10, 2017.
 
 
 
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
 
 
By:
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
 
 
 
Jill T. McGruder
 
 
 
President
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this PEA No. 151 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 10, 2017
Phillip R. Cox
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 10, 2017
William C. Gale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 10, 2017
Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 10, 2017
Kevin A. Robie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 10, 2017
Edward J. Vonderbrink
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
 
Trustee and President
 
April 10, 2017
Jill T. McGruder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Controller, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
 
April 10, 2017
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
*By:
/s/Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
(Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with PEA No. 143)


19