N-CSRS 1 v395232_n-csrs.htm N-CSRS

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-03651

 

Touchstone Strategic Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Jill T. McGruder
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 800-638-8194

 

Date of fiscal year end: March 31

 

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2014

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 
 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 

 

September 30, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Semi-Annual Report

 

Touchstone Strategic Trust

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund

Touchstone Focused Fund

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund

Touchstone International Value Fund

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund

 

 

 

 
 

  

Table of Contents

 

  Page  
Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments 3 - 5  
Portfolios of Investments:    
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund 6  
Touchstone Focused Fund 13  
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund 15  
Touchstone International Value Fund 17  
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund 20  
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund 21  
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 23  
Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund 26  
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 28 - 31  
Statements of Operations 32 - 33  
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 34 - 37  
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity 38 - 42  
Financial Highlights 43 - 58  
Notes to Financial Statements 59 - 79  
Other Items 80 - 87  
Privacy Protection Policy 91  

 

This report identifies the Funds' investments on September 30, 2014. These holdings are subject to change. Not all investments in each Fund performed the same, nor is there any guarantee that these investments will perform as well in the future. Market forecasts provided in this report may not occur.

 

2
 

  

Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments (Unaudited)

September 30, 2014

 

The tables below provide each Fund’s sector allocation and, in the case of Touchstone Flexible Income Fund, its credit quality. We hope it will be useful to shareholders as it summarizes key information about each Fund’s investments.

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund    
Credit Quality*  (% of Fixed Income Securities) 
AAA/Aaa   7.3%
AA/Aa   43.2 
A/A   13.6 
BBB/Baa   28.0 
BB/Ba   2.5 
B/B   1.4 
CCC/Caa   1.0 
Not Rated   3.0 
    100.0%

 

Credit Quality*  (% of Preferred Stocks) 
A/A   8.2%
BBB/Baa   52.7 
BB/Ba   30.2 
B/B   1.5 
Not Rated   7.4 
    100.0%

 

Sector Allocation**  (% of Net Assets) 
Fixed Income Securities   57.7%
Preferred Stocks   29.6 
Common Stocks     
Financials   4.0 
Telecommunication Services   0.5 
Health Care   0.4 
Utilities   0.4 
Consumer Staples   0.3 
Industrials   0.3 
Materials   0.3 
Information Technology   0.2 
Investment Funds   6.6 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (0.3)
Total   100.0%

  

Touchstone Focused Fund    
Sector Allocation**  (% of Net Assets) 
Financials   15.5%
Industrials   13.9 
Information Technology   13.9 
Consumer Staples   10.7 
Health Care   10.0 
Consumer Discretionary   9.0 
Energy   8.3 
Materials   6.9 
Telecommunication Services   5.8 
Investment Funds   8.7 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (2.7)
Total   100.0%

  

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund    
Sector Allocation**  (% of Net Assets) 
Information Technology   30.0%
Health Care   18.4 
Consumer Discretionary   15.4 
Industrials   11.0 
Energy   6.3 
Financials   5.5 
Materials   5.2 
Telecommunication Services   1.7 
Consumer Staples   1.0 
Investment Funds   5.8 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (0.3)
Total   100.0%

 

*Credit quality may be rated by Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. If all three agencies rate the bond, the middle or common rating is used; if two of the agencies rate the bond, the lower rating is used; if one agency rates the bond, that rating is used; if none of the agencies rate the bond, the bond will be classified as not-rated.
  
**Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).

 

3
 

 

Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Touchstone International Value Fund
Sector Allocation*  (% of Net Assets) 
Financials   29.8%
Industrials   16.3 
Health Care   13.1 
Consumer Staples   10.9 
Consumer Discretionary   7.3 
Information Technology   4.1 
Energy   4.0 
Materials   4.0 
Utilities   3.6 
Telecommunication Services   2.0 
Investment Funds   6.0 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (1.1)
Total   100.0%

  

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund
Sector Allocation*  (% of Net Assets) 
Health Care   18.5%
Consumer Discretionary   18.0 
Industrials   16.4 
Information Technology   16.1 
Financials   8.0 
Energy   6.8 
Materials   6.5 
Consumer Staples   5.9 
Telecommunication Services   0.8 
Investment Funds   4.9 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (1.9)
Total   100.0%

  

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund    
Sector Allocation*  (% of Net Assets) 
Health Care   28.3%
Information Technology   22.0 
Industrials   13.7 
Consumer Staples   8.9 
Materials   8.8 
Energy   5.9 
Utilities   5.9 
Consumer Discretionary   5.1 
Investment Fund   2.1 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (0.7)
Total   100.0%

  

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets    
Growth Fund    
Sector Allocation*  (% of Net Assets) 
Common Stocks     
Information Technology   22.7%
Consumer Discretionary   15.7 
Consumer Staples   13.7 
Health Care   11.1 
Financials   3.4 
Energy   2.8 
Utilities   2.1 
Industrials   1.0 
Materials   0.9 
Low Exercise Price Option   21.6 
Investment Fund   5.9 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (0.9)
Total   100.0%

 

* Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).

 

4
 

  

Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund
Sector Allocation*  (% of Net Assets) 
Health Care   25.5%
Information Technology   22.6 
Consumer Discretionary   15.1 
Industrials   11.6 
Financials   7.6 
Energy   6.2 
Materials   6.1 
Consumer Staples   1.0 
Investment Funds   11.6 
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net)   (7.3)
Total   100.0%

  

* Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).

 

5
 

 

Portfolio of Investments

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

Principal     Market
Amount(A)     Value
       
     Corporate Bonds — 27.9%     
           
     Financials — 19.1%     
$375,000   American Financial Group, Inc.,     
     9.875%, 6/15/19  $483,415 
 1,200,000   American Tower Corp.,     
     4.500%, 1/15/18   1,281,023 
 2,300,000   Australia & New Zealand Banking     
     Group Ltd., 3.450%, 8/8/22(B)   2,364,423 
 2,360,000   Bank of America Corp.,     
     8.000%, 7/29/49(B)   2,544,387 
 1,800,000   Barclays PLC, 8.250%, 12/29/49(B)   1,847,250 
 1,240,000   BioMed Realty LP, 3.850%, 4/15/16   1,292,481 
 2,350,000   Charles Schwab Corp. (The),     
     7.000%, 2/28/49(B)   2,739,230 
 2,101,000   DDR Corp. MTN, 7.500%, 7/15/18   2,473,177 
 2,468,611   Doric Nimrod Air Finance Alpha Ltd.     
     2012-1 Class B Pass Through Trust,     
     144a, 6.500%, 5/30/21   2,631,053 
 1,850,000   Export-Import Bank of Korea,     
     4.375%, 9/15/21   1,994,300 
 1,500,000   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,     
     2.375%, 1/13/22   1,491,327 
 1,650,000   Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC,     
     4.250%, 2/3/17   1,749,574 
 3,900,000   General Electric Capital Corp., Ser A,     
     7.125%, 12/15/49(B)   4,514,250 
 2,222,000   Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The),     
     5.700%, 12/29/49(B)   2,254,219 
 1,500,000   HSBC Holdings PLC,     
     5.625%, 12/29/49(B)   1,489,500 
 1,550,000   JPMorgan Chase & Co.,     
     6.750%, 8/29/49(B)   1,628,275 
 2,710,000   JPMorgan Chase & Co.,     
     7.900%, 4/29/49(B)   2,933,575 
 1,850,000   M&T Bank Corp., 6.450%, 12/29/49(B)   1,956,375 
 2,500,000   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.,     
     4.454%, 5/29/49(B)   2,500,000 
 1,625,000   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.,     
     6.750%, 7/29/49(B)   1,795,625 
 2,350,000   Prudential Financial, Inc.,     
     5.875%, 9/15/42(B)   2,491,000 
 1,277,000   Prudential PLC EMTN (GBP),     
     11.750%, 12/29/49(B)   1,302,540 
 4,225,000   Wells Fargo & Co., Ser K,     
     7.980%, 3/29/49(B)   4,623,418 
 1,930,000   Westpac Banking Corp. EMTN (AUD),     
     3.625%, 2/28/23(B)   1,981,724 
         52,362,141 
           
     Industrials — 5.0%     
 2,115,000   Asciano Finance Ltd., 144a,     
     5.000%, 4/7/18   2,278,532 
 2,987,788   Continental Airlines 2012-2 Class A     
     Pass Through Trust,     
     4.000%, 10/29/24   3,055,013 
 2,700,405   Delta Air Lines 2002-1 Class G-1 Pass     
     Through Trust, 6.718%, 1/2/23   3,118,968 
 2,320,000   Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.,     
     5.750%, 12/15/53(B)   2,511,400 
 2,628,750   US Airways 2012-2 Class A Pass     
     Through Trust, 4.625%, 6/3/25   2,740,472 
         13,704,385 
           
     Energy — 2.4%     
 2,450,000   DCP Midstream LLC, 144a,     
     5.850%, 5/21/43(B)   2,419,375 
 1,800,000   Enbridge Energy Partners LP,     
     4.200%, 9/15/21   1,899,835 
 1,000,000   Petroleos Mexicanos, 5.500%, 1/21/21   1,100,500 
 1,007,000   Plains Exploration & Production Co.,     
     6.875%, 2/15/23   1,142,945 
         6,562,655 
           
     Utilities — 0.9%     
 1,000,000   NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.,     
     6.650%, 6/15/67(B)   1,025,000 
 875,000   SSE PLC MTN (GBP), 5.453%, 9/29/49(B)   1,451,052 
         2,476,052 
           
     Consumer Discretionary — 0.5%     
 1,250,000   Dana Holding Corp., 6.500%, 2/15/19   1,296,875 
 250,000   United States Cellular Corp.,     
     6.700%, 12/15/33   248,788 
         1,545,663 
     Total Corporate Bonds  $76,650,896 
           
     Sovereign Government Obligations — 9.5%     
 2,480,000   Australia Government Bond (AUD),     
     4.750%, 6/15/16   2,249,118 
 67,320,000   Mexican Bonos (MXN),     
     6.250%, 6/16/16(C)   5,228,103 
 2,500,000   Municipal Finance Authority of British     
     Columbia (CAD), 4.650%, 4/19/16   2,349,636 
 4,670,000   New Zealand Government Bond     
     (NZD), 5.000%, 3/15/19   3,795,371 
 11,445,000   Poland Government Bond (PLN),     
     2.500%, 7/25/18   3,488,244 
 850,000   Province of New Brunswick Canada     
     (CAD), 4.300%, 12/3/15   786,870 
 4,930,000   Province of Ontario Canada (CAD),     
     4.400%, 3/8/16   4,602,933 
 1,800,000   South Australian Government     
     Financing Authority (AUD),     
     5.750%, 9/20/17   1,700,964 
 1,795,000   Svensk Exportkredit AB (SEK),     
     1.750%, 5/30/17   1,824,433 
     Total Sovereign Government Obligations  $26,025,672 
           
     Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — 7.0%     
 1,290,000   Banc of America Merrill Lynch     
     Commercial Mortgage, Inc., Ser     
     2005-6, Class AJ, 5.349%, 9/10/47(B)   1,343,594 

 

6
 

  

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Principal     Market
Amount(A)     Value
    
     Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — 7.0% (Continued)     
$2,300,000   Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage     
     Securities Trust, Ser 2005-PWR8,     
     Class AJ, 4.750%, 6/11/41  $2,342,934 
 1,418,000   Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage     
     Securities Trust, Ser 2005-PWR9,     
     Class AJ, 4.985%, 9/11/42(B)   1,455,950 
 1,450,000   CD 2005-CD1 Commercial Mortgage     
     Trust, Ser 2005-CD1, Class C,     
     5.400%, 7/15/44(B)   1,490,458 
 35,811,718   FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass     
     Through Certificates, Ser K006 Class     
     AX1, 1.192%, 1/25/20(B)   1,616,362 
 16,035,406   FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass     
     Through Certificates, Ser K019 Class     
     X1, 1.875%, 3/25/22(B)   1,641,849 
 20,081,010   FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass     
     Through Certificates, Ser K025 Class     
     X1, 1.026%, 10/25/22(B)   1,157,851 
 1,575,000   JP Morgan Chase Commercial     
     Mortgage Securities Trust, Ser     
     2005-LDP3, Class C,     
     5.267%, 8/15/42(B)   1,605,158 
 741,268   Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust     
     Ser 2004-7AR, Class 2A6,     
     2.426%, 9/25/34(B)   746,242 
 2,530,000   Mortgage Pass Through Certificates,     
     Ser 2001-CIB2, Class D,     
     6.847%, 4/15/35(B)   2,565,908 
 647,479   Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp.     
     Alternative Loan Trust Series     
     2005-AR4, 4.186%, 8/25/35(B)   641,498 
 2,375,000   Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage     
     Trust Series 2006-C23,     
     5.466%, 1/15/45(B)   2,500,182 
     Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities  $19,107,986 
           
     U.S. Treasury Obligation — 4.1%     
 11,165,000   U.S. Treasury Note, 2.500%, 5/15/24   11,171,978 
           
     Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 3.9%     
 2,351,512   FHLMC REMIC, Ser 3199 Class DS,     
     6.996%, 8/15/36(B)(D)   463,099 
 2,824,644   FNMA REMIC, Ser 2008-60 Class SA,     
     6.346%, 7/25/38(B)(D)   406,572 
 10,838,807   GNMA, Ser 2010-66 Class IO,     
     0.928%, 6/16/52(B)   397,936 
 12,131,594   GNMA, Ser 2011-126 Class IO,     
     1.380%, 4/16/53(B)   743,909 
 7,297,351   GNMA, Ser 2011-64 Class IX,     
     0.547%, 10/16/44(B)   354,454 
 11,459,050   GNMA, Ser 2011-78, Class IX,     
     1.006%, 8/16/46(B)   617,425 
 4,550,900   GNMA, Ser 2011-83, Class NI,     
     4.500%, 10/16/37   472,524 
 25,634,269   GNMA, Ser 2012-22, Class IO,     
     1.463%, 10/16/53(B)   1,711,549 
 12,280,213   GNMA, Ser 2012-27 Class IO,     
     1.284%, 4/16/53(B)   795,205 
 18,152,001   GNMA, Ser 2012-33 Class IO,     
     1.262%, 6/16/52(B)   1,111,647 
 14,949,447   GNMA, Ser 2012-46 Class IO,     
     1.227%, 9/16/53(B)   889,208 
 14,118,872   GNMA, Ser 2012-67 Class IO,     
     1.434%, 10/16/53(B)   1,079,148 
 9,677,452   GNMA, Ser 2012-86 Class IO,     
     1.281%, 12/16/53(B)   726,544 
 12,899,890   GNMA, Ser 2014-31, Class IO,     
     1.043%, 9/16/55(B)   883,204 
     Total Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations  $10,652,424 
           
     Asset-Backed Securities — 3.1%     
 1,420,000   American Homes 4 Rent 2014-SFR2,     
     Ser 2014-SFR2, Class A, 144a,     
     3.786%, 10/17/36   1,420,146 
 1,845,000   Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust /     
     Ally, Ser 2013-1, Class D,     
     2.190%, 9/20/21   1,840,808 
 982,044   Conseco Financial Corp., Ser 1998-4,     
     Class A7, 6.870%, 4/1/30(B)   1,037,941 
 682,432   Countrywide Asset-Backed     
     Certificates, Ser 2007-1, Class 2A2,     
     0.255%, 7/25/37(B)   676,541 
 930,000   Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust 2013-A,     
     1.860%, 8/15/19   936,424 
 806,602   Mid-State Capital Corp. Trust, Ser     
     2005-1, Class M2, 7.079%, 1/15/40   891,767 
 1,230,000   Oscar US Funding Trust 2014-1, Ser     
     2014-1A, Class A4, 144a,     
     2.550%, 12/15/21   1,229,653 
 617,520   RAMP Trust, Ser 2003-RZ5, Class A7,     
     5.470%, 9/25/33(E)   637,968 
     Total Asset-Backed Securities  $8,671,248 
           
     U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed Obligations — 1.2%     
 48,497   FHLMC, Pool #972110,     
     2.350%, 10/1/32(B)   48,830 
 112,839   FHLMC, Pool #G03170, 6.500%, 8/1/37   127,588 
 142,918   FHLMC, Pool #G12780, 6.500%, 9/1/22   158,040 
 20,900   FNMA, Pool #738900,     
     2.435%, 7/1/18(B)   21,110 
 178,092   FNMA, Pool #844415, 5.500%, 10/1/35   199,385 
 1,008,191   FNMA, Pool #AB1952, 4.000%, 12/1/40   1,069,164 
 720,682   FNMA, Pool #AB1953, 4.000%, 12/1/40   763,630 
 849,988   FNMA, Pool #AB3387, 4.000%, 8/1/41   896,973 
     Total U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed Obligations  $3,284,720 

 

7
 

  

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Principal     Market
Amount(A)     Value
       
     Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 1.0%     
$193,827   Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities     
     Trust, Ser 2003-AC7, Class A2,     
     5.750%, 1/25/34(E)  $202,108 
 489,548   Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust,     
     Ser 2004-30CB, Class 3A1,     
     5.000%, 2/25/20   505,414 
 1,300,800   JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, Ser     
     2014-2, Class 1A1, 144a,     
     3.000%, 6/25/29(B)   1,324,293 
 8,317   Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc.,     
     Ser 2003-A1, Class 2A,     
     2.188%, 12/25/32(B)   8,573 
 332,092   RALI Trust, Series 2004-QS6 Class A1,     
     5.000%, 5/25/19   337,238 
 380,490   Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed     
     Securities Trust, Ser 2004-X Class     
     1A5, 2.615%, 11/25/34(B)   385,600 
     Total Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations  $2,763,226 
           
Shares         
           
     Preferred Stocks — 29.6%     
           
     Financials — 20.4%     
 38,000   Aegon N.V. (Netherlands), 6.38%   966,721 
 54,000   Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.,     
     Ser E REIT, 6.45%   1,364,580 
 42,800   Allstate Corp. (The), 6.75%   1,113,656 
 71,500   American Capital Agency Corp., 8.00%   1,822,535 
 17,700   American Capital Agency Corp., 7.75%   432,057 
 116,150   American Financial Group, Inc., 7.00%   3,065,198 
 11,485   American Tower Corp., 5.25%   1,246,122 
 107,000   Arch Capital Group Ltd., Ser C     
     (Bermuda), 6.75%   2,871,880 
 109,150   Aviva PLC (United Kingdom), 8.25%   3,061,658 
 53,450   Citigroup Capital XIII, 7.88%(B)   1,438,874 
 90,034   Citigroup, Inc., 6.88%(B)   2,371,496 
 44,600   Countrywide Capital IV, 6.75%   1,136,854 
 31,600   Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Ser E REIT,     
     7.00%   813,384 
 86,000   Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Ser H REIT,     
     7.38%   2,240,300 
 50,200   Duke Realty Corp. REIT, 6.50%   1,258,514 
 142,555   Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Ser     
     B (Bermuda), 7.50%   3,687,898 
 66,880   Kimco Realty Corp., Ser H REIT, 6.90%   1,762,288 
 87,000   Lloyds Banking Group PLC (United     
     Kingdom), 7.75%   2,285,490 
 96,000   Morgan Stanley, 6.88%(B)   2,508,480 
 46,000   Morgan Stanley, 7.13%(B)   1,237,860 
 21,500   Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VI, 4.25%   548,250 
 23,140   Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VII, 4.25%   583,359 
 22,400   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.,      
     Ser P, 6.13%(B)   611,744 
 46,000   PS Business Parks, Inc., Ser S REIT,     
     6.45%   1,166,100 
 67,000   PS Business Parks, Inc., Ser U REIT,     
     5.75%   1,530,950 
 30,000   Public Storage, Ser P REIT, 6.35%   770,700 
 67,000   Public Storage, Ser Y REIT, 6.38%   1,723,910 
 62,925   Public Storage REIT, 6.50%   1,638,567 
 82,800   Realty Income Corp., Ser F REIT, 6.63%   2,165,220 
 28,500   Stifel Financial Corp., 6.70%   720,195 
 66,575   US Bancorp, Ser F, 6.50%(B)   1,909,371 
 78,400   US Bancorp, Ser G, 6.00%(B)   2,116,016 
 119,275   Vornado Realty LP REIT, 7.88%   3,012,886 
 26,000   Vornado Realty Trust, Ser J REIT, 6.88%   687,180 
         55,870,293 
           
     Utilities — 4.8%     
 35,000   Alabama Power Co., 6.45%   926,100 
 44,000   Dominion Resources, Inc. VA, 6.13%   2,466,640 
 68,000   DTE Energy Co., 6.50%   1,752,360 
 21,000   Entergy Louisiana LLC, 6.00%   527,100 
 20,000   Entergy Louisiana LLC, 5.88%   515,600 
 84,000   Entergy Mississippi, Inc., 6.00%   2,150,400 
 20,000   Georgia Power Co., Ser 07-A, 6.50%   2,106,000 
 27,288   Southern California Edison Co.,     
     4.92%(B)   2,802,136 
         13,246,336 
           
     Industrials — 1.9%     
 129,100   Seaspan Corp. (Marshall Islands),     
     9.50%   3,450,843 
 32,900   Seaspan Corp. (Marshall Islands),     
     6.38%   841,911 
 13,650   United Technologies Corp., 7.50%†   803,848 
         5,096,602 
           
     Chemicals — 1.7%     
 91,175   CHS, Inc., 7.10%(B)   2,425,255 
 88,000   CHS, Inc., 7.10%(B)   2,243,120 
         4,668,375 
           
     Consumer Discretionary — 0.8%     
 93,242   Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.88%   2,299,348 
     Total Preferred Stocks  $81,180,954 
           
     Common Stocks — 6.4%     
           
     Financials — 4.0%     
 42,786   American Capital Agency Corp. REIT   909,202 
 18,223   Camden Property Trust REIT   1,248,822 
 69,372   Duke Realty Corp. REIT   1,191,811 
 109,144   Home Loan Servicing Solutions Ltd.     
     (Cayman Island)   2,312,761 
 51,357   Hospitality Properties Trust, REIT   1,378,935 
 73,623   Starwood Property Trust, Inc. REIT   1,616,761 
 93,142   Two Harbors Investment Corp. REIT   900,683 
 22,000   Ventas, Inc. REIT   1,362,900 
         10,921,875 

 

8
 

  

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

      Market
Shares     Value
       
     Common Stocks — 6.4% (Continued)     
           
     Telecommunication Services — 0.5%     
 39,217   Vodafone Group PLC ADR  $1,289,847 
           
     Health Care — 0.4%     
 13,035   Covidien PLC (Ireland)   1,127,658 
           
     Utilities — 0.4%     
 31,707   PPL Corp.   1,041,258 
           
     Consumer Staples — 0.3%     
 16,056   Lorillard, Inc.   961,915 
           
     Industrials — 0.3%     
 4,252   Lockheed Martin Corp.#   777,181 
           
     Materials — 0.3%     
 6,923   LyondellBasell Industries N.V. - Class A   752,253 
           
     Information Technology — 0.2%     
 9,705   NXP Semiconductors N.V.,     
     (Netherlands)*   664,113 
     Total Common Stocks  $17,536,100 
           
     Investment Funds — 6.6%     
 23,600   Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged     
     Dividend Income Fund±  $476,484 
 4,994,244   Invesco Government & Agency     
     Portfolio, Institutional Class,     
     0.01%**∞Ω   4,994,244 
 135,400   Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund,     
     Inc.±   1,022,270 
 5,218,693   Touchstone Institutional Money     
     Market Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   5,218,693 
 124,367   WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity     
     Fund   6,506,881 
     Total Investment Funds  $18,218,572 
            
Total Long Positions     
(Cost $276,195,342)  $275,263,776 

 

   Number   
   of  Market
   Contracts  Value
Written Call Options — 0.0%          
Lockheed Martin Corp.          
Strike @180.00          
Exp 10/14          
(Proceeds $12,320)   (40)  $(17,800)
           
Total —100.3%       $275,245,976 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.3%)        (747,436)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $274,498,540 

  

(A)Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
  
(B)Variable rate security - Rate reflected is the rate in effect as of September 30, 2014.
  
(C)Amount shown represents units. One unit represents a principal amount of 100.
  
(D)Interest rate security. This type of security represents the right to receive the monthly interest payments on an underlying pool of mortgages. Payments of principal on the pool reduce the value of the “interest only” holding.
  
(E)Step Bond - A bond that pays an initial interest rate for the first period and then a higher interest rate for the following periods until maturity. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at September 30, 2014.
  
#All or a portion of these securities are held as collateral for written options. The total value of the securities held as collateral as of September 30, 2014 was $731,120.
  
*Non-income producing security.
  
**Represents collateral for securities loaned.
  
^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.
  
±Closed-End Fund
  
All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $4,855,469.
  
Open-End Fund
  
ΩRepresents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

9
 

  

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

AUD - Australian Dollar

 

BRL - Brazilian Real

 

CAD - Canadian Dollar

 

EMTN - Euro medium term note

 

FHLMC - Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association

 

FNMA - Federal National Mortgage Association

 

GBP - British Pound

 

GNMA - Government National Mortgage Association

 

JPY - Japanese Yen

 

IDR - Indonesian Rupiah

 

INR - Indian Rupee

 

LLC - Limited Liability Company

 

MTN - Medium Term Note

 

MXN - Mexican Peso

 

NOK - Norwegian Krone

 

NZD - New Zealand Dollar

 

PHP - Philippine Peso

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

PLN - Polish Zloty

 

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

 

REMIC - Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

 

SEK - Swedish Krona

 

USD - United States Dollar

 

144a - This is a restricted security that was sold in a transaction qualifying for the exemption under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At September 30, 2014, these securities were valued at $11,303,052 or 4.1% of net assets. These securities were deemed liquid pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total
                     
Assets:                    
Corporate Bonds  $   $76,650,896   $   $76,650,896 
Sovereign Government Obligations       26,025,672        26,025,672 
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities       19,107,986        19,107,986 
U.S. Treasury Obligation       11,171,978        11,171,978 
Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations       10,652,424        10,652,424 
Asset-Backed Securities       7,441,595    1,229,653    8,671,248 
U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed Obligations       3,284,720        3,284,720 
Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations       2,763,226        2,763,226 
Preferred Stocks   81,180,954            81,180,954 
Common Stocks   17,536,100            17,536,100 
Investment Funds   18,218,572            18,218,572 
                  $275,263,776 

  

10
 

 

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
                 
Other Financial Instruments***                    
                     
Assets:                    
Forward Currency Contracts  $   $634,965   $   $634,965 
Futures Interest Rate Contracts   154,595            154,595 
                  $789,560 
Liabilities:                    
Forward Currency Contracts  $   $(115,491)  $   $(115,491)
Futures Commodity Contracts   (260,705)           (260,705)
Futures Interest Rate Contracts   (113,385)           (113,385)
Written Option Equity Contracts   (17,800)           (17,800)
                  $(507,381)

 

*** Other Financial Instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in total investments. Amounts shown represent unrealized appreciation (depreciation).

 

Level 3 Rollforward Disclosure

 

The following is a rollforward of the Fund's investments that were valued using unobservable inputs for the period ended September 30, 2014:

 

Measurements Using Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

   Asset-Backed     
Assets  Securities   Total 
           
Beginning balance  $   $ 
Net Purchases and Sales   1,229,653    1,229,653 
Ending balance  $1,229,653   $1,229,653 

 

Asset-Backed      Valuation  Unobservable
Securities  Fair Value   Technique  Input
           
Oscar US Funding Trust  $1,229,653   Purchase Price  New Issue

 

Transactions in written options for the period ended September 30, 2014.

 

   Number of   Proceeds 
   Contracts   Received 
         
Beginning of Period, March 31, 2014      $ 
Call Options Written   3,275    323,283 
Call Options Closed   (390)   (26,065)
Call Options Expired   (2,845)   (284,898)
           
September 30, 2014   40   $12,320 

 

11
 

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Futures Contracts

 

At September 30, 2014, $472,708 was segregated with the broker as collateral for futures contracts. The Fund had the following futures contracts, brokered by Morgan Stanley, open at September 30, 2014:

 

              Unrealized 
   Expiration  Number of   Notional   Appreciation/ 
Description  Date  Contracts   Value   Depreciation 
Short Futures:                  
90 Day Euro Futures  March 2018   300    72,757,500   $59,115 
                   
Long Futures:                  
90 Day Euro Futures  March 2017   300    73,181,250    (113,385)
CBOE Volatility Index Futures  November 2014   72    1,198,800    95,480 
WTI Crude Futures  December 2016   30    2,567,400    (111,929)
WTI Crude Futures  December 2016   28    2,396,240    (148,776)
                   
                 (278,610)
                $(219,495)

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

              Unrealized 
      Contract to   Appreciation/ 
Counterparty  Expiration Date  Receive   Deliver   (Depreciation) 
                
BNY ConvergEX  10/22/2014  PHP139,134,375   USD3,184,946   $(86,328)
BNY ConvergEX  10/22/2014  USD3,217,298   BRL7,296,188    255,293 
BNY ConvergEX  10/28/2014  USD3,758,640   NZD4,670,000    123,795 
BNY ConvergEX  10/31/2014  IDR18,736,963,157   USD1,512,265    16,963 
BNY ConvergEX  10/31/2014  INR260,140,652   IDR51,602,499,405    (29,163)
BNY ConvergEX  10/31/2014  USD1,514,169   INR93,963,271    3,477 
BNY ConvergEX  11/04/2014  USD7,595,264   CAD8,280,000    208,656 
BNY ConvergEX  11/06/2014  USD3,475,795   EUR2,730,000    26,781 
                $519,474 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12
 

 

Portfolio of Investments

Touchstone Focused Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
         
Common Stocks — 94.0%          
           
Financials — 15.5%          
Bank of America Corp.   3,150,922   $53,723,220 
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)   1,591,976    61,657,230 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)   297,753    54,658,518 
         170,038,968 
           
Industrials — 13.9%          
AGCO Corp.   632,530    28,754,814 
Alliant Techsystems, Inc.   199,078    25,410,316 
Esterline Technologies Corp.*   219,020    24,370,355 
II-VI, Inc.*   1,238,917    14,582,053 
Joy Global, Inc.†   382,476    20,860,241 
Kennametal, Inc.   469,724    19,404,298 
WESCO International, Inc.*†   248,260    19,428,828 
         152,810,905 
           
Information Technology — 13.9%          
Apple, Inc.   367,143    36,989,657 
Avnet, Inc.   546,703    22,688,174 
Cisco Systems, Inc.   1,172,442    29,510,365 
Google, Inc. - Class C*   37,936    21,902,730 
Google, Inc. - Class A*   36,948    21,740,573 
Microsoft Corp.   420,444    19,491,784 
         152,323,283 
           
Consumer Staples — 10.7%          
JM Smucker Co. (The)   225,243    22,296,805 
Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A   1,319,243    45,203,861 
Sysco Corp.   933,625    35,431,069 
TESCO PLC ADR†   1,641,327    14,911,456 
         117,843,191 
           
Health Care — 10.0%          
Abbott Laboratories   956,360    39,775,012 
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A*   194,215    22,023,981 
Owens & Minor, Inc.†   877,760    28,737,862 
WellPoint, Inc.   163,834    19,597,823 
         110,134,678 
           
Consumer Discretionary — 9.0%          
Carnival Corp. (Panama)   680,789    27,347,294 
Helen of Troy Ltd.*   463,571    24,346,749 
International Speedway Corp. - Class A   375,463    11,879,649 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (Liberia)   524,542    35,296,431 
         98,870,123 
           
Energy — 8.3%          
Devon Energy Corp.   328,665    22,408,380 
Halliburton Co.   350,394    22,603,917 
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   320,452    24,386,397 
World Fuel Services Corp.   527,103    21,041,952 
         90,440,646 
           
Materials — 6.9%          
Agrium, Inc. (Canada)†   276,694    24,625,766 
Berry Plastics Group, Inc.*   920,448    23,232,108 
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.   400,320    27,381,888 
         75,239,762 
           
Telecommunication Services — 5.8%          
KDDI Corp. ADR   2,301,764    34,480,425 
Orange SA ADR†   2,007,093    29,584,551 
         64,064,976 
Total Common Stocks       $1,031,766,532 
           
Investment Funds — 8.7%          
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.01%**∞Ω   44,712,455    44,712,455 
Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   50,300,454    50,300,454 
Total Investment Funds       $95,012,909 
           
Total Investment Securities —102.7%          
(Cost $964,049,155)       $1,126,779,441 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.7%)        (29,215,772)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $1,097,563,669 

 

*Non-income producing security.

 

**Represents collateral for securities loaned.

 

^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $43,288,078.

 

Open-End Fund

 

ΩRepresents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

13
 

 

Touchstone Focused Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $1,031,766,532   $   $   $1,031,766,532 
Investment Funds   95,012,909            95,012,909 
                  $1,126,779,441 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14
 

 

Portfolio of Investments

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
         
Common Stocks — 94.5%          
           
Information Technology — 30.0%          
Alliance Data Systems Corp.*   17,315   $4,298,795 
Apple, Inc.   142,297    14,336,423 
Autodesk, Inc.*   53,380    2,941,238 
Cavium, Inc.*   55,646    2,767,276 
Electronics For Imaging, Inc.*   60,180    2,658,151 
F5 Networks, Inc.*   22,875    2,716,178 
Facebook, Inc. - Class A*   60,390    4,773,226 
FEI Co.   46,580    3,513,064 
Google, Inc. - Class C*   8,866    5,118,874 
Google, Inc. - Class A*   8,866    5,216,843 
International Business Machines Corp.   17,000    3,227,110 
Microsoft Corp.   151,900    7,042,084 
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*   33,180    3,254,958 
Qlik Technologies, Inc.*   89,450    2,418,727 
QUALCOMM, Inc.   45,029    3,366,818 
Red Hat, Inc.*   50,080    2,811,992 
Salesforce.com, Inc.*   46,370    2,667,666 
ServiceNow, Inc.*   64,720    3,804,242 
VeriFone Systems, Inc.*   90,686    3,117,785 
Visa, Inc. - Class A   18,650    3,979,350 
         84,030,800 
           
Health Care — 18.4%          
Actavis PLC (Ireland)*   33,800    8,155,264 
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*†   81,410    2,717,466 
Celgene Corp.*   112,120    10,626,734 
Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)   26,790    4,172,542 
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   88,210    5,851,851 
Endo International PLC (Ireland)*   65,130    4,450,984 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (Ireland)*   30,090    4,831,250 
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ADR   118,920    6,391,950 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   37,200    4,527,240 
         51,725,281 
           
Consumer Discretionary — 15.4%          
Comcast Corp. - Class A   111,720    6,008,302 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)   31,330    2,874,214 
Liberty Global PLC - Class C, (United Kingdom)*   101,810    4,175,737 
Polaris Industries, Inc.   28,440    4,260,028 
Priceline Group, Inc. (The)*   4,430    5,132,509 
Signet Jewelers Ltd. (Bermuda)   38,340    4,367,309 
Starbucks Corp.   35,860    2,705,996 
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A   137,880    4,727,905 
Urban Outfitters, Inc.*   110,470    4,054,249 
Walt Disney Co. (The)   55,030    4,899,321 
         43,205,570 
           
Industrials — 11.0%          
AMETEK, Inc.   82,230    4,128,768 
B/E Aerospace, Inc.*   20,821    1,747,715 
Caterpillar, Inc.   36,690    3,633,411 
Copart, Inc.*   108,410    3,394,859 
Danaher Corp.   55,650    4,228,287 
IHS, Inc. - Class A*   39,150    4,901,188 
Norfolk Southern Corp.   39,370    4,393,692 
United Continental Holdings, Inc.*   93,160   $4,358,956 
         30,786,876 
           
Energy — 6.3%          
Halliburton Co.   71,520    4,613,755 
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   63,270    4,814,847 
Suncor Energy, Inc. (Canada)   90,480    3,270,852 
Tesoro Corp.   83,000    5,061,340 
         17,760,794 
           
Financials — 5.5%          
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.   106,555    3,832,783 
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   32,360    3,992,577 
CBRE Group, Inc. - Class A*   162,410    4,830,073 
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. REIT   120,980    2,656,721 
         15,312,154 
           
Materials — 5.2%          
Eastman Chemical Co.   52,970    4,284,743 
Huntsman Corp.   190,440    4,949,536 
Monsanto Co.   47,400    5,332,974 
         14,567,253 
           
Telecommunication Services — 1.7%          
Verizon Communications, Inc.   95,840    4,791,042 
           
Consumer Staples — 1.0%          
B&G Foods, Inc.   103,050    2,839,028 
Total Common Stocks       $265,018,798 
           
Investment Funds — 5.8%          
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.01%**∞Ω   2,806,684    2,806,684 
Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   13,362,079    13,362,079 
Total Investment Funds       $16,168,763 
           
Total Investment Securities —100.3%          
(Cost $234,558,255)       $281,187,561 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.3%)        (860,449)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $280,327,112 

 

*Non-income producing security.

 

**Represents collateral for securities loaned.

 

^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $2,650,272.

 

Open-End Fund

 

15
 

 

 

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Represents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $265,018,798   $   $   $265,018,798 
Investment Funds   16,168,763            16,168,763 
                  $281,187,561 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16
 

 

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone International Value Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
Common Stocks — 95.1%          
           
United Kingdom — 15.4%          
           
Consumer Staples — 4.4%          
Dairy Crest Group PLC   215,347   $1,339,701 
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC   90,139    3,892,848 
           
Energy — 2.7%          
Royal Dutch Shell PLC - Class A   84,722    3,245,039 
           
Financials — 0.9%          
Barclays PLC   307,263    1,132,966 
           
Health Care — 2.4%          
Glaxosmithkline PLC   122,800    2,812,944 
           
Materials — 2.1%          
DS Smith PLC   567,628    2,450,504 
           
Utilities — 2.9%          
National Grid PLC   235,805    3,394,584 
Total United Kingdom        18,268,586 
           
Switzerland — 14.6%          
           
Financials — 6.3%          
Credit Suisse Group AG   84,656    2,347,171 
Helvetia Holding AG   1,877    911,270 
Swiss Life Holding AG   8,200    1,960,029 
Zurich Insurance Group AG   7,562    2,255,847 
           
Health Care — 5.4%          
Lonza Group AG   20,200    2,441,688 
Novartis AG   41,449    3,913,928 
           
Industrials — 2.9%          
ABB Ltd.   62,472    1,405,571 
ABB Ltd. ADR   30,100    674,541 
OC Oerlikon Corp. AG   110,900    1,382,330 
Total Switzerland        17,292,375 
           
Japan — 12.3%          
           
Industrials — 8.2%          
Amada Co. Ltd.   221,100    2,106,674 
ITOCHU Corp.   200,100    2,444,805 
Mabuchi Motor Co. Ltd.   40,300    3,512,815 
Sumitomo Corp.   157,600    1,739,456 
           
Information Technology — 4.1%          
Canon, Inc.   70,500    2,295,147 
Hitachi Ltd.   334,000    2,550,490 
Total Japan        14,649,387 
           
Netherlands — 7.6%          
           
Financials — 7.6%          
Aegon N.V.   324,900    2,680,519 
Delta Lloyd N.V.   122,700    2,959,288 
ING Groep NV*   235,243    3,360,487 
Total Netherlands        9,000,294 
           
France — 5.3%          
           
Consumer Staples — 2.1%          
Casino Guichard Perrachon SA   23,031    2,480,459 
           
Health Care — 3.2%          
Sanofi   33,725    3,814,951 
Total France        6,295,410 
           
Norway — 4.9%          
           
Consumer Staples — 2.2%          
Marine Harvest ASA   57,767    808,320 
Orkla ASA   202,867    1,834,557 
           
Financials — 2.7%          
DNB ASA   171,101    3,203,775 
Total Norway        5,846,652 
           
Singapore — 4.7%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 2.6%          
Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd.   91,000    3,060,916 
           
Financials — 2.1%          
United Overseas Bank Ltd.   141,000    2,475,817 
Total Singapore        5,536,733 
           
Germany — 4.4%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 2.6%          
Daimler AG   40,300    3,091,230 
           
Financials — 1.8%          
Deutsche Boerse AG   31,406    2,115,471 
Total Germany        5,206,701 
           
Denmark — 4.0%          
           
Financials — 2.4%          
Danske Bank A/S   104,125    2,830,353 
           
Telecommunication Services — 1.6%          
TDC A/S   254,000    1,929,065 
Total Denmark        4,759,418 
           
South Korea — 2.9%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 1.1%          
Hankook Tire Co. Ltd.   26,800    1,307,936 
           
Financials — 1.8%          
Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd.   47,650    2,194,542 
Total South Korea        3,502,478 
           
Spain — 2.7%          
           
Financials — 2.7%          
Banco Santander SA   327,388    3,147,222 

 

17
 

 

Touchstone International Value Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
Common Stocks — 95.1% (Continued)          
           
Brazil — 2.3%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 0.2%          
Brookfield Incorporacoes SA*   452,800   $283,029 
           
Industrials — 2.1%          
Embraer SA ADR   63,700    2,498,314 
Total Brazil        2,781,343 
           
Israel — 2.1%          
           
Health Care — 2.1%          
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.          
ADR   46,300    2,488,625 
           
United States — 2.1%          
           
Consumer Staples — 0.7%          
Philip Morris International, Inc.   9,300    775,620 
           
Industrials — 1.4%          
Joy Global, Inc.†   31,400    1,712,556 
Total United States        2,488,176 
           
Ireland — 1.9%          
           
Materials — 1.9%          
CRH PLC   99,000    2,262,949 
           
Sweden — 1.7%          
           
Industrials — 1.7%          
Sandvik AB   176,800    1,994,390 
           
Thailand — 1.5%          
           
Consumer Staples — 1.5%          
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL   1,893,100    1,766,115 
           
Austria — 1.5%          
           
Financials — 1.5%          
Erste Group Bank AG   77,100    1,766,017 
           
Hong Kong — 1.5%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 0.8%          
Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd.   303,700    921,091 
           
Utilities — 0.7%          
Guangdong Investment Ltd.   692,400    808,782 
Total Hong Kong        1,729,873 
           
Italy — 1.3%          
           
Energy — 1.3%          
Eni SpA†   67,091    1,599,039 
           
Indonesia — 0.4%          
           
Telecommunication Services — 0.4%          
Telekomunikasi Indonesia Persero Tbk PT   1,864,400    446,018 
Total Common Stocks       $112,827,801 
           
Investment Funds — 6.0%          
Invesco Government & Agency          
Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.01%**∞Ω   1,684,987    1,684,987 
Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   5,425,265    5,425,265 
Total Investment Funds       $7,110,252 
           
Total Investment Securities —101.1%          
(Cost $109,227,500)       $119,938,053 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (1.1%)        (1,353,135)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $118,584,918 

 

* Non-income producing security.
   
** Represents collateral for securities loaned.
   
^  Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.
   
 All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $1,631,036.
   
Open-End Fund
   

Represents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

18
 

 

Touchstone International Value Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $112,827,801   $   $   $112,827,801 
Investment Funds  $7,110,252   $   $   $7,110,252 
                  $119,938,053 

 

At September 30, 2014, a security valued at $446,018 was transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. The transfer from Level 2 to Level 1 is due to a closure of foreign market at March 31, 2014.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

19
 

 

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
Common Stocks — 98.6%          
           
Health Care — 28.3%          
Actavis PLC (Ireland)*   145,100   $35,009,729 
AmerisourceBergen Corp.   405,900    31,376,070 
Biogen Idec, Inc.*   77,825    25,745,288 
CIGNA Corp.   166,900    15,136,161 
Illumina, Inc.*   112,900    18,506,568 
McKesson Corp.   108,800    21,180,096 
Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.*   102,000    15,936,480 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   254,000    30,911,800 
WellPoint, Inc.   241,100    28,840,382 
         222,642,574 
           
Information Technology — 22.0%          
Amkor Technology, Inc.*   1,776,100    14,937,001 
Avago Technologies Ltd. (Singapore)   238,200    20,723,400 
Facebook, Inc. - Class A*   276,100    21,822,944 
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.   346,700    19,519,210 
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.*   135,400    19,243,048 
Micron Technology, Inc.*   1,129,900    38,710,374 
NXP Semiconductors N.V., (Netherlands)*   280,600    19,201,458 
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.   327,700    19,022,985 
         173,180,420 
           
Industrials — 13.7%          
Delta Air Lines, Inc.   681,300    24,628,995 
General Dynamics Corp.   127,000    16,140,430 
Lockheed Martin Corp.   113,700    20,782,086 
Southwest Airlines Co.   880,800    29,744,616 
Trinity Industries, Inc.   348,700    16,291,264 
         107,587,391 
           
Consumer Staples — 8.9%          
CVS Caremark Corp.   349,900    27,848,541 
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.   457,100    29,396,101 
Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A   337,000    13,267,690 
         70,512,332 
           
Materials — 8.8%          
Century Aluminum Co.*   837,235    21,742,993 
Dow Chemical Co. (The)   289,800    15,197,112 
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. - Class A (Netherlands)   142,700    15,505,782 
US Silica Holdings, Inc.   275,175    17,201,189 
         69,647,076 
           
Energy — 5.9%          
Diamondback Energy, Inc.*   222,900    16,668,462 
Green Plains Inc.   423,700    15,842,143 
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.   147,100    14,396,677 
         46,907,282 
           
Utilities — 5.9%          
American Electric Power Co., Inc.   532,100    27,780,941 
NiSource, Inc.   449,425    18,417,436 
         46,198,377 
           
Consumer Discretionary — 5.1%          
Lear Corp.   218,900    18,915,149 
Marriott International, Inc. - Class A   299,945    20,966,156 
         39,881,305 
Total Common Stocks       $776,556,757 
           
Investment Fund — 2.1%          
Touchstone Institutional Money Market          
Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   16,457,502    16,457,502 
           
Total Investment Securities —100.7%          
(Cost $672,825,102)       $793,014,259 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.7%)        (5,550,316)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $787,463,943 

 

* Non-income producing security.
   
^ Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.
   
Open-End Fund
   

Represents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:

Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $776,556,757   $   $   $776,556,757 
Investment Fund   16,457,502            16,457,502 
                  $793,014,259 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20
 

 

 

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
         
Common Stocks — 97.0%          
           
Health Care — 18.5%          
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.*   671,751   $9,011,540 
Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)   106,194    16,539,716 
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   252,150    16,727,631 
Endo International PLC (Ireland)*   169,170    11,561,078 
ICON PLC (Ireland)*   165,970    9,498,463 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (Ireland)*   114,075    18,315,882 
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.*   44,274    11,339,900 
MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.*   80,170    11,897,228 
Qiagen N.V. (Netherlands)*†   386,790    8,807,208 
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.   187,550    11,380,534 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   110,551    12,415,983 
         137,495,163 
           
Consumer Discretionary — 18.0%          
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.   476,025    13,561,952 
AMC Networks, Inc. - Class A*   118,150    6,902,323 
Deckers Outdoor Corp.*   119,168    11,580,746 
Dollar General Corp.*   125,180    7,649,750 
Hanesbrands, Inc.   94,120    10,112,253 
Jarden Corp.*   221,525    13,315,868 
Kate Spade & Co.*   296,030    7,764,867 
Liberty Global PLC - Class C, (United Kingdom)*   277,840    11,395,608 
Mohawk Industries, Inc.*   38,950    5,251,239 
Polaris Industries, Inc.   98,460    14,748,323 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.   112,520    9,362,789 
Tiffany & Co.   123,780    11,921,252 
Urban Outfitters, Inc.*   297,230    10,908,341 
         134,475,311 
           
Industrials — 16.4%          
AMETEK, Inc.   278,490    13,982,983 
Copart, Inc.*   455,710    14,270,559 
IHS, Inc. - Class A*   103,450    12,950,906 
ITT Corp.   206,760    9,291,794 
JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.   164,560    12,185,668 
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.   107,700    7,445,840 
Nielsen Holdings N.V.   201,131    8,916,137 
Norfolk Southern Corp.   109,470    12,216,852 
Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. (Netherlands)*   219,610    9,779,233 
TransDigm Group, Inc.   45,010    8,296,693 
United Continental Holdings, Inc.*   268,640    12,569,666 
         121,906,331 
           
Information Technology — 16.1%          
Akamai Technologies, Inc.*   159,030    9,509,993 
Alliance Data Systems Corp.*   56,265    13,968,912 
Autodesk, Inc.*   255,110    14,056,561 
F5 Networks, Inc.*   115,400    13,702,596 
FEI Co.   133,620    10,077,620 
LinkedIn Corp. - Class A*   43,106    8,956,996 
NICE Systems Ltd. ADR   215,193    8,777,722 
NXP Semiconductors N.V., (Netherlands)*   179,870    12,308,504 
Red Hat, Inc.*   171,660    9,638,709 
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.   142,500    8,272,125 
Total System Services, Inc.   348,812    10,799,220 
         120,068,958 
           
Financials — 8.0%          
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   94,240    11,627,331 
Aon PLC (United Kingdom)   151,970    13,323,210 
CBRE Group, Inc. - Class A*   440,233    13,092,529 
Regions Financial Corp.   1,063,320    10,675,733 
T Rowe Price Group, Inc.   135,160    10,596,544 
         59,315,347 
           
Energy — 6.8%          
CONSOL Energy, Inc.   348,040    13,176,794 
Ensco PLC- Class A (United Kingdom)   133,620    5,519,842 
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.*   292,120    8,941,793 
Tesoro Corp.   257,390    15,695,642 
Valero Energy Corp.   163,130    7,548,025 
         50,882,096 
           
Materials — 6.5%          
Albemarle Corp.   94,240    5,550,735 
Celanese Corp.   122,240    7,153,485 
Eastman Chemical Co.   129,234    10,453,738 
MeadWestvaco Corp.   296,770    12,149,764 
Vulcan Materials Co.   221,170    13,321,069 
         48,628,791 
           
Consumer Staples — 5.9%          
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.   206,760    14,506,282 
Constellation Brands, Inc. - Class A*   43,710    3,809,764 
Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.   174,410    16,781,730 
WhiteWave Foods Co. - Class A*   246,254    8,946,408 
         44,044,184 
           
Telecommunication Services — 0.8%          
SK Telecom Co. Ltd. ADR†   190,031    5,765,541 
Total Common Stocks       $722,581,722 
           
Investment Funds — 4.9%          
Invesco Government & Agency          
Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.01%**∞Ω   11,178,421    11,178,421 
Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   25,717,511    25,717,511 
Total Investment Funds       $36,895,932 
           
Total Investment Securities —101.9%          
(Cost $646,912,351)       $759,477,654 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (1.9%)          (14,188,269 )
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $745,289,385 

 

21
 

  

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

*Non-income producing security.

 

**Represents collateral for securities loaned.

 

^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $ 10,813,720.

 

Open-End Fund

 

ΩRepresents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:
Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
                     
Common Stocks  $722,581,722   $   $   $722,581,722 
Investment Funds   36,895,932            36,895,932 
                  $759,477,654 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22
 

  

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
           
Common Stocks — 73.4%          
           
Cayman Islands — 20.0%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 5.3%          
NagaCorp Ltd.   826,000   $591,455 
Qunar Cayman Islands Ltd. ADR*   76,300    2,109,695 
Sands China Ltd.   363,200    1,894,383 
           
Energy — 0.5%          
Anton Oilfield Services Group   1,482,000    438,978 
           
Health Care — 1.9%          
Mindray Medical International Ltd.          
ADR   53,000    1,598,480 
           
Information Technology — 11.4%          
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR*   14,200    1,261,670 
Baidu, Inc. ADR*   28,375    6,192,276 
Tencent Holdings Ltd.   163,100    2,426,067 
           
Materials — 0.9%          
Yingde Gases Group Co. Ltd.   854,500    807,746 
Total Cayman Islands        17,320,750 
           
Brazil — 12.9%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 4.7%          
Kroton Educacional SA   514,700    3,234,026 
Multiplus SA   67,000    803,097 
           
Consumer Staples — 2.3%          
Raia Drogasil SA   232,100    2,015,912 
           
Financials — 1.4%          
CETIP SA - Mercados Organizados   99,300    1,233,263 
           
Health Care — 0.9%          
Odontoprev SA   211,500    765,556 
           
Industrials — 1.0%          
Mills Estruturas e Servicos de          
Engenharia SA   118,900    873,382 
           
Information Technology — 2.6%          
Cielo SA   134,600    2,190,223 
Total Brazil        11,115,459 
           
Indonesia — 7.5%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 0.9%          
Media Nusantara Citra Tbk PT   2,793,600    732,503 
           
Consumer Staples — 0.9%          
Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT   301,400    786,584 
           
Financials — 2.0%          
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT   2,043,400    1,748,252 
           
Health Care — 1.6%          
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT   10,154,100    1,416,657 
           
Utilities — 2.1%          
Perusahaan Gas Negara Persero Tbk          
PT   3,731,100    1,837,226 
Total Indonesia        6,521,222 
           
South Africa — 5.6%          
           
Consumer Discretionary — 4.8%          
Naspers Ltd. - Class N   37,700    4,160,023 
           
Consumer Staples — 0.8%          
Shoprite Holdings Ltd.   54,100    671,146 
Total South Africa        4,831,169 
           
Taiwan — 3.5%          
           
Information Technology — 3.5%          
Largan Precision Co. Ltd.   42,000    3,009,911 
           
Thailand — 3.3%          
           
Consumer Staples — 2.0%          
CP ALL PCL   1,274,800    1,759,362 
           
Health Care — 1.3%          
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL   1,921,300    1,096,193 
Total Thailand        2,855,555 
           
Russia — 2.5%          
           
Consumer Staples — 2.5%          
Magnit OJSC GDR   37,100    2,142,896 
           
United Kingdom — 2.4%          
           
Health Care — 2.4%          
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC   73,700    2,070,554 
           
Jersey — 2.3%          
           
Energy — 2.3%          
Petrofac Ltd.   118,900    1,998,854 
           
United States — 2.2%          
           
Information Technology — 2.2%          
MercadoLibre, Inc.   17,400    1,890,510 
           
China — 2.0%          
           
Health Care — 2.0%          
Shandong Weigao Group Medical          
Polymer Co. Ltd.   1,740,000    1,720,986 
           
Turkey — 1.9%          
           
Consumer Staples — 1.9%          
BIM Birlesik Magazalar AS   77,900    1,630,510 

 

23
 

 

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

       Market 
   Shares   Value 
         
Common Stocks — 73.4% (Continued)          
           
Netherlands — 1.7%          
           
Information Technology — 1.7%          
Yandex N.V. - Class A*   51,400   $1,428,663 
           
South Korea — 1.4%          
           
Consumer Staples — 1.4%          
LG Household & Health Care Ltd.   2,600    1,249,183 
           
Philippines — 1.3%          
           
Consumer Staples — 1.3%          
Universal Robina Corp.   279,400    1,164,232 
           
Virgin Islands (British) — 1.3%          
           
Information Technology — 1.3%          
Mail.ru Group Ltd. GDR*   38,400    1,079,424 
           
Mexico — 1.0%          
           
Health Care — 1.0%          
Genomma Lab Internacional SAB de          
CV - Class B*   369,200    885,167 
           
Portugal — 0.6%          
           
Consumer Staples — 0.6%          
Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA   49,200    541,757 
Total Common Stocks       $63,456,802 
           
    Number      
    of      
    Contracts      
           
Low Exercise Price Options — 21.6%          
           
Saudi Arabia — 3.0%          
           
Almarai Co. Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 3/13/17   124,200    2,635,810 
           
India — 18.6%          
           
Adani Ports and Special Economic          
Zone          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 9/21/16   291,300    1,302,111 
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 9/23/16   49,400    891,176 
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 11/2/16   24,000    432,960 
Asian Paints Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 8/17/16   61,900    627,666 
Asian Paints Ltd.          
Strike $0.01, Exp 7/31/18   128,500    1,302,990 
Housing Development Finance Corp.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 5/5/16   212,000    3,601,880 
ITC Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 8/4/16   497,400    2,964,504 

 

   Number     
   of   Market 
   Contracts   Value 
           
Low Exercise Price Options — 21.6% (Continued)          
           
India — (Continued)          
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd.          
Strike $0.01, Exp 7/25/17   71,400   $1,414,434 
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 7/3/17   33,200    657,692 
Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd.          
Strike $0.01, Exp 8/29/18   105,600    1,585,056 
Titan Co. Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 4/26/16   37,300    245,061 
Titan Co. Ltd.          
Strike $0.0001, Exp 8/24/16   162,818    1,069,714 
Total India        16,095,244 
Total Low Exercise Price Options       $18,731,054 
           
    Shares      
           
Investment Fund — 5.9%          
Touchstone Institutional Money Market          
Fund, 0.01%^∞Ω   5,090,909    5,090,909 
           
Total Investment Securities —100.9%          
(Cost $89,474,131)       $87,278,765 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.9%)         (779,877 )
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $86,498,888 

 

*Non-income producing security.

 

^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Open-End Fund

 

ΩRepresents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

GDR - Global Depositary Receipt

 

PCL - Public Company Limited

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

24
 

  

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:
Description  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
                 
Common Stocks  $63,456,802   $   $   $63,456,802 
Low Exercise Price Options Equity Contracts       18,731,054        18,731,054 
Investment Fund   5,090,909            5,090,909 
                  $87,278,765 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

25
 

 

Portfolio of Investments

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund – September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

      Market
   Shares  Value
           
Common Stocks — 95.7%          
           
Health Care — 25.5%          
ABIOMED, Inc.*†   62,266   $1,546,065 
Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   27,588    683,079 
Air Methods Corp.*   40,673    2,259,385 
Akorn, Inc.*   85,188    3,089,769 
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*   39,010    921,806 
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.*†   17,958    232,736 
Centene Corp.*   33,808    2,796,260 
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.*   52,396    3,130,137 
Chemed Corp.†   18,189    1,871,648 
China Biologic Products, Inc.*†   26,477    1,428,699 
DexCom, Inc.*   40,557    1,621,874 
Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*†   19,635    776,957 
Globus Medical, Inc. - Class A*   41,338    813,118 
ICON PLC (Ireland)*   56,578    3,237,959 
Insulet Corp.*   20,885    769,612 
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.*†   135,178    1,858,698 
Medidata Solutions, Inc.*   41,900    1,855,751 
Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   35,405    401,493 
Natus Medical, Inc.*   52,148    1,538,887 
Ophthotech Corp.*   28,567    1,112,113 
STERIS Corp.   34,695    1,872,142 
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.*   43,982    590,238 
WuXi PharmaTech Cayman, Inc. ADR*   57,908    2,027,938 
         36,436,364 
           
Information Technology — 22.6%          
Advent Software, Inc.   60,344    1,904,457 
ARRIS Group, Inc.*   62,864    1,782,509 
Bitauto Holdings Ltd. ADR*   21,307    1,661,946 
Ciena Corp.*†   84,121    1,406,503 
Euronet Worldwide, Inc.*   58,240    2,783,290 
Finisar Corp.*†   70,270    1,168,590 
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.   70,965    3,386,450 
Manhattan Associates, Inc.*   65,977    2,204,951 
MAXIMUS, Inc.   39,230    1,574,300 
Mentor Graphics Corp.   69,160    1,417,434 
Netscout Systems, Inc.*   41,091    1,881,968 
Power Integrations, Inc.   32,747    1,765,391 
PTC, Inc.*   57,976    2,139,314 
Synaptics, Inc.*   18,988    1,389,922 
Syntel, Inc.*   23,180    2,038,449 
Verint Systems, Inc.*   40,030    2,226,068 
Virtusa Corp.*   44,338    1,576,659 
         32,308,201 
           
Consumer Discretionary — 15.1%          
Brinker International, Inc.   28,022    1,423,237 
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.   29,331    3,026,666 
Deckers Outdoor Corp.*   21,026    2,043,307 
Finish Line, Inc. (The) - Class A   53,439    1,337,578 
G-III Apparel Group Ltd.*   23,594    1,954,999 
Iconix Brand Group, Inc.*   50,420    1,862,515 
Lithia Motors, Inc. - Class A   36,296    2,747,244 
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.*   32,008    803,081 
Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc.*   24,240    1,928,292 
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. - Class A*   41,701    2,223,080 
Visteon Corp.*   22,391    2,177,525 
         21,527,524 
           
Industrials — 11.6%          
ArcBest Corp.   51,529    1,922,032 
Astronics Corp.*   31,086    1,482,180 
Astronics Corp.*   5,619    266,893 
AZZ, Inc.   26,811    1,119,895 
Chart Industries, Inc.*†   9,864    602,986 
DXP Enterprises, Inc.*   18,968    1,397,562 
Hexcel Corp.*   39,798    1,579,981 
Korn/Ferry International*   60,410    1,504,209 
Primoris Services Corp.   38,184    1,024,859 
Proto Labs, Inc.*   18,723    1,291,887 
Saia, Inc.*   46,924    2,325,553 
Tutor Perini Corp.*   63,886    1,686,590 
voxeljet AG ADR (Germany)*†   22,466    311,603 
         16,516,230 
           
Financials — 7.6%          
Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.†   17,826    709,831 
E-House China Holdings Ltd. ADR†   93,275    887,978 
Financial Engines, Inc.   42,449    1,452,393 
HFF, Inc. - Class A   72,009    2,084,661 
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. - Class A   66,143    1,650,268 
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.   14,431    892,702 
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.*   31,911    1,666,712 
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.   8,264    1,435,457 
         10,780,002 
           
Energy — 6.2%          
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.*   46,228    2,487,991 
Diamondback Energy, Inc.*   20,726    1,549,890 
Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (Canada)*   149,537    2,029,217 
Matador Resources Co.*   50,622    1,308,579 
Matrix Service Co.*   63,858    1,540,256 
         8,915,933 
           
Materials — 6.1%          
CaesarStone Sdot - Yam Ltd. (Israel)   38,357    1,982,290 
Constellium NV - Class A*   45,948    1,130,780 
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp.*   70,088    1,960,361 
Silgan Holdings, Inc.   35,142    1,651,674 
US Silica Holdings, Inc.   31,672    1,979,817 
         8,704,922 
           
Consumer Staples — 1.0%          
Revlon, Inc. - Class A*   47,370    1,501,155 
Total Common Stocks       $136,690,331 

 

26
 

 

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

      Market
   Shares  Value
       
Investment Funds — 11.6%          
Invesco Government & Agency          
Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.01%**¥W   10,076,037   $10,076,037 
Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, 0.01%^¥W   6,434,103    6,434,103 
Total Investment Funds       $16,510,140 
           
Total Investment Securities —107.3%       
(Cost $148,044,341)       $153,200,471 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (7.3%)        (10,466,633)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $142,733,838 

 

*Non-income producing security.

 

**Represents collateral for securities loaned.

 

^Affiliated Fund. See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of September 30, 2014 was $9,255,583.

 

¥Open-End Fund

 

WRepresents the 7-day SEC yield as of September 30, 2014.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations:

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

Other Information:

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:
Description  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total
             
Common Stocks  $136,690,331   $   $   $136,690,331 
Investment Funds   16,510,140            16,510,140 
                  $153,200,471 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

27
 

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

   Touchstone     Touchstone  Touchstone
   Flexible  Touchstone  Growth  International
   Income  Focused  Opportunities  Value
   Fund  Fund  Fund  Fund
Assets                    
Investments, at cost  $276,195,342   $964,049,155   $234,558,255   $109,227,500 
Affiliated securities, at market value  $5,218,693   $50,300,454   $13,362,079   $5,425,265 
Non-affiliated securities, at market value   270,045,083    1,076,478,987    267,825,482    114,512,788 
Investments, at market value (A)  $275,263,776   $1,126,779,441   $281,187,561   $119,938,053 
Cash deposits held at prime broker*   478,573             
Foreign Currency (B)   187,985             
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts   634,965             
Dividends and interest receivable   2,241,861    772,774    156,220    221,053 
Receivable for capital shares sold   1,433,636    1,811,090    3,739,934    153,561 
Receivable for investments sold   172    22,724,105        1,849 
Receivable for securities lending income   2,819    8,153    961    2,548 
Tax reclaim receivable   22,655    204    1,911    166,976 
Other assets   27,651    48,149    23,224    12,288 
Total Assets   280,294,093    1,152,143,916    285,109,811    120,496,328 
                     
Liabilities                    
Written options, at market value (C)   17,800             
Bank overdrafts                
Due to broker   5,865             
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts   115,491             
Payable for return of collateral for securities on loan   4,994,244    44,712,455    2,806,684    1,684,987 
Payable for capital shares redeemed   181,422    781,543    71,191    15,884 
Payable for variation margin for futures contracts   219,495             
Payable for investments purchased       7,471,721    1,607,465    70,314 
Payable to Investment Advisor   153,419    572,937    169,829    85,794 
Payable to other affiliates   19,843    144,134    37,885    516 
Payable to Trustees   3,106    3,194    3,110    3,091 
Payable for professional services   10,312    18,514    11,008    11,552 
Payable to Transfer Agent   64,937    808,256    64,950    17,298 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities   9,619    67,493    10,577    21,974 
Total Liabilities   5,795,553    54,580,247    4,782,699    1,911,410 
                     
Net Assets  $274,498,540   $1,097,563,669   $280,327,112   $118,584,918 
                     
Net assets consist of:                    
Paid-in capital  $288,899,738   $955,947,503   $218,698,029   $220,774,934 
Accumulated net investment income (loss)   (221,008)   8,512,045    91,713    5,350,071 
Accumulated net realized gains (losses) on investments, futures contracts, written options and foreign currency transactions   (13,527,015)   (29,626,165)   14,908,064    (118,240,824)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, futures contracts, written options and foreign currency transactions   (653,175)   162,730,286    46,629,306    10,700,737 
Net Assets  $274,498,540   $1,097,563,669   $280,327,112   $118,584,918 
(A) Includes market value of securities on loan of:  $4,855,469   $43,288,078   $2,650,272   $1,631,036 
(B) Cost of foreign currency:  $194,897   $   $   $ 
(C) Proceeds received for written options:  $12,320   $   $   $ 

 

* Represents segregated cash for futures contracts and written options.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28
 

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

      Touchstone   
   Touchstone  Sands Capital  Touchstone
Touchstone  Mid Cap  Emerging  Small Cap
Large Cap  Growth  Markets  Growth
Growth Fund  Fund  Growth Fund  Fund
          
$672,825,102   $646,912,351   $89,474,131   $148,044,341 
$16,457,502   $25,717,511   $5,090,909   $6,434,103 
 776,556,757    733,760,143    82,187,856    146,766,368 
$793,014,259   $759,477,654   $87,278,765   $153,200,471 
              
         86,879     
              
 288,690    322,381    94,962    18,954 
 830,419    1,108,199    1,027,998    1,389,600 
     5,186,744    1,075,298     
 864    509        11,038 
     9,561    1,406    1,156 
 36,108    38,925    965    55,888 
 794,170,340    766,143,973    89,566,273    154,677,107 
                  
              
 4,000        7,105     
              
              
     11,178,421        10,076,037 
 5,478,407    4,265,103    1,405    281,467 
              
     4,330,115    2,865,534    1,402,072 
 522,654    460,511    115,546    116,933 
 260,048    275,006    294    8,047 
 3,198    3,169    5,188    3,087 
 20,997    17,359    1,386    8,990 
 368,680    295,285    15,431    34,264 
 48,413    29,619    55,496    12,372 
 6,706,397    20,854,588    3,067,385    11,943,269 
                  
$787,463,943   $745,289,385   $86,498,888   $142,733,838 
                  
$472,641,489   $533,626,805   $88,582,547   $133,984,167 
 1,454,691    (1,180,442)   53,057    (506,388)
                  
 193,178,606    100,277,719    59,835    4,099,929 
                  
 120,189,157    112,565,303    (2,196,551)   5,156,130 
$787,463,943   $745,289,385   $86,498,888   $142,733,838 
$   $10,813,720   $   $9,255,583 
$   $   $87,077   $ 
$   $   $   $ 

 

29
 

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

   Touchstone     Touchstone  Touchstone
   Flexible  Touchstone  Growth  International
   Income  Focused  Opportunities  Value
   Fund  Fund  Fund  Fund
             
Pricing of Class A Shares                    
Net assets applicable to Class A shares  $23,857,385   $292,595,797   $45,643,208   $7,190,883 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
   2,264,752    8,314,418    1,353,661    797,701 
Net asset value price per share*  $10.53   $35.19   $33.72   $9.01 
Maximum sales charge - Class A shares   5.75%   5.75%   5.75%   5.75%
Maximum offering price per share (100%/(100%-maximum sales charge) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent) per share - Class A shares  $11.17   $37.34   $35.78   $9.56 
                     
Pricing of Class B Shares                    
Net assets applicable to Class B shares  $   $   $   $ 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
                
Net asset value, offering price per share**  $   $   $   $ 
                     
Pricing of Class C Shares                    
Net assets applicable to Class C shares  $21,946,842   $7,598,726   $12,360,949   $236,078 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
   2,108,746    220,222    409,173    28,338 
Net asset value, offering price per share**  $10.41   $34.50   $30.21   $8.33 
                     
Pricing of Class Y Shares                    
Net assets applicable to Class Y shares  $189,384,272   $747,491,418   $101,504,820   $36,998,787 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
   17,932,466    20,927,036    2,972,108    4,095,268 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share  $10.56   $35.72   $34.15   $9.03 
                     
Pricing of Institutional Class Shares                    
Net assets applicable to Institutional Class Shares  $39,310,041   $49,877,728   $120,818,135   $74,159,170 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
   3,723,331    1,390,342    3,514,452    8,198,207 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share  $10.56   $35.87   $34.38   $9.05 

 

* There is no sales load on subscriptions of $1 million or more. Redemptions that were part of a no-load $1 million or more subscription may be subject to a contingent deferred sales load if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase.

 

** Redemption price per share varies by length of time shares are held.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30
 

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

      Touchstone   
Touchstone  Touchstone  Sands Capital  Touchstone
Large Cap  Mid Cap  Emerging  Small Cap
Growth  Growth  Markets  Growth
Fund  Fund  Growth Fund  Fund
          
$279,729,423   $236,666,738   $   $23,681,619 
                  
 8,434,869    8,780,199        4,583,857 
$33.16   $26.95   $   $5.17 
 5.75%   5.75%       5.75%
                  
$35.18   $28.59   $   $5.49 
                  
$2,199,128   $3,616,357   $   $ 
                  
 70,401    171,166         
$31.24   $21.13   $   $ 
                  
$109,314,493   $143,837,915   $   $7,838,409 
                  
 3,541,283    6,961,781        1,794,154 
$30.87   $20.66   $   $4.37 
                  
$396,220,899   $308,095,657   $32,284,320   $101,717,186 
                  
 11,777,726    11,207,431    3,140,195    17,809,419 
$33.64   $27.49   $10.28   $5.71 
                  
$   $53,072,718   $54,214,568   $9,496,624 
                  
     1,922,341    5,273,181    1,656,548 
$   $27.61   $10.28   $5.73 

 

31
 

 

Statements of Operations

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

   Touchstone     Touchstone  Touchstone
   Flexible  Touchstone  Growth  International
   Income  Focused  Opportunities  Value
   Fund  Fund  Fund  Fund
Investment Income                    
Dividends from affiliated funds  $49,085   $2,500   $176   $81 
Dividends from non-affiliated securities(A)   3,141,774    9,372,570    1,444,572    2,827,059 
Interest   4,172,662             
Income from securities loaned   12,208    75,605    1,602    115,257 
Total Investment Income   7,375,729    9,450,675    1,446,350    2,942,397 
Expenses                    
Investment advisory fees   891,856    3,365,723    1,019,719    639,489 
Administration fees   203,942    857,750    217,641    102,383 
Compliance fees and expenses   856    856    856    856 
Custody fees   9,928    8,399    5,931    18,949 
Professional fees   17,310    25,698    13,495    16,489 
Transfer Agent fees, Class A   13,650    318,374    35,464    7,353 
Transfer Agent fees, Class B                
Transfer Agent fees, Class C   10,488    2,478    8,153    289 
Transfer Agent fees, Class Y   40,256    407,936    16,150    5,168 
Transfer Agent fees, Institutional Class   200    165    939    67 
Registration fees, Class A   8,064    12,384    6,344    2,198 
Registration fees, Class B                
Registration fees, Class C   5,375    4,585    4,680    3,007 
Registration fees, Class Y   8,494    11,899    6,867    2,166 
Registration fees, Institutional Class   2,277    6,601    4,958    1,495 
Reports to Shareholders, Class A   4,011    18,684    5,226    2,507 
Reports to Shareholders, Class B                
Reports to Shareholders, Class C   3,510    5,147    3,325    2,006 
Reports to Shareholders, Class Y   5,014    29,408    3,615    2,006 
Reports to Shareholders, Institutional Class   2,006    5,341    3,023    6,518 
Distribution expenses, Class A   31,515    342,130    58,942    8,254 
Distribution expenses, Class B                
Distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, Class C   108,834    34,812    62,976    1,162 
Trustee fees   6,093    6,095    6,093    6,093 
Other expenses   29,143    294,448    26,735    18,228 
Total Expenses   1,402,822    5,758,913    1,511,132    846,683 
Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Advisor and/or Affiliates(C)   (241,189)   (435,395)   (156,495)   (189,630)
Fees eligible for recoupment by the Advisor(C)                
Net Expenses   1,161,633    5,323,518    1,354,637    657,053 
Net Investment Income (Loss)   6,214,096    4,127,157    91,713    2,285,344 
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments                    
Net realized gains on investments from non-affiliated securities   2,322,062    33,820,872    20,460,631    4,095,130 
Net realized losses on futures contracts   (613,148)            
Net realized gains on written options   257,559             
Net realized losses on foreign currency transactions   (29,764)           (43,239)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (3,915,571)   (28,616,529)   (11,186,252)   (7,197,811)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts   (189,495)            
Net change in unrealized depreciation on written options   (5,480)            
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency transactions   608,611            (14,457)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments   (1,565,226)   5,204,343    9,274,379    (3,160,377)
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations  $4,648,870   $9,331,500   $9,366,092   $(875,033)
  $1,554   $420,226   $21,935   $305,978 

(A) Net of foreign tax withholding of:

(B)Represents the period from commencement of operations (May 9, 2014) through September 30, 2014.

(C)See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

32
 

 

Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

      Touchstone   
      Sands Capital   
Touchstone  Touchstone  Emerging  Touchstone
Large Cap  Mid Cap  Markets  Small Cap
Growth Fund  Growth Fund  Growth Fund(B)  Growth Fund
          
$651   $1,121   $182   $272 
 7,213,118    3,917,013    359,235    220,601 
              
 14,320    3,541        53,923 
 7,228,089    3,921,675    359,417    274,796 
                  
 3,463,325    2,733,972    249,505    596,820 
 780,674    596,525    34,654    95,499 
 856    856    726    856 
 12,426    9,997    65,672    9,714 
 27,843    22,734    13,056    10,297 
 160,222    229,639        22,132 
 3,724    5,376         
 54,748    97,731        5,326 
 333,046    168,182    9,765    22,180 
     458    3,087    62 
 9,190    7,121        6,276 
 4,940    2,677         
 7,490    6,797        3,386 
 10,453    9,486    3,183    22,302 
     5,562    3,272    1,631 
 17,936    16,668        3,192 
 4,031    2,965         
 9,471    12,263        2,189 
 32,923    13,084    2,550    2,739 
     2,775    4,500    1,805 
 358,162    339,060        41,120 
 4,742    6,514         
 553,882    740,334        38,060 
 6,094    6,094    5,188    6,095 
 74,200    65,247    13,574    14,129 
 5,930,378    5,102,117    408,732    905,810 
 (156,980)       (102,372)   (127,896)
             3,270 
 5,773,398    5,102,117    306,360    781,184 
 1,454,691    (1,180,442)   53,057    (506,388)
                  
 144,661,181    50,090,645    82,935    4,007,121 
              
              
         (23,100)    
 (103,101,396)   (38,300,194)   (2,195,366)   (5,204,683)
                  
              
              
                  
         (1,185)    
 41,559,785    11,790,451    (2,136,716)   (1,197,562)
$43,014,476   $10,610,009   $(2,083,659)  $(1,703,950)
$133,101   $38,006   $16,488   $2,191 

 

33
 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   Touchstone
   Flexible Income Fund
   For the   
   Six Months   
   Ended   
   September 30,  For the
   2014  Year Ended
   (Unaudited)  March 31, 2014
From Operations          
Net investment income  $6,214,096   $13,210,500 
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, futures contracts, written options and foreign currency transactions   1,936,709    (149,555)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, futures contracts, written options and foreign currency transactions   (3,501,935)   (11,122,348)
Change in Net Assets from Operations   4,648,870    1,938,597 
           
Distributions to Shareholders from:          
Net investment income, Class A   (605,561)   (1,413,413)
Net investment income, Class C   (458,424)   (914,420)
Net investment income, Class Y   (4,340,236)   (8,411,708)
Net investment income, Institutional Class   (1,079,605)   (1,839,935)
Net realized gains, Class A        
Net realized gains, Class C        
Net realized gains, Class Y        
Net realized gains, Institutional Class        
Total Distributions   (6,483,826)   (12,579,476)
           
Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions (A)   36,349,339    (36,644,688)
           
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   34,514,383    (47,285,567)
           
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   239,984,157    287,269,724 
End of period  $274,498,540   $239,984,157 
Accumulated Net Investment Income (Loss)  $(221,008)  $48,722 

(A) For details on share transaction by class, see Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity on pages 39 to 41.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

34
 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)

 

Touchstone  Touchstone  Touchstone
Focused Fund  Growth Opportunities Fund  International Value Fund
For the     For the     For the   
Six Months     Six Months     Six Months   
Ended     Ended     Ended   
September 30,  For the  September 30,  For the  September 30,  For the
2014  Year Ended  2014  Year Ended  2014  Year Ended
(Unaudited)  March 31, 2014  (Unaudited)  March 31, 2014  (Unaudited)  March 31, 2014
                
$4,127,157   $4,699,330   $91,713   $770,546   $2,285,344   $3,352,624 
                            
 33,820,872    36,541,971    20,460,631    27,186,499    4,051,891    3,421,679 
                            
 (28,616,529)   161,165,217    (11,186,252)   28,041,471    (7,212,268)   17,249,649 
 9,331,500    202,406,518    9,366,092    55,998,516    (875,033)   24,023,952 
                            
     (166,736)               (62,082)
     (1,440)               (1,681)
     (5,166,618)       (33,838)       (404,720)
     (5,691)       (103,133)       (1,070,089)
             (1,915,424)        
             (556,202)        
             (3,785,821)        
             (4,539,084)        
     (5,340,485)       (10,933,502)       (1,538,572)
                            
 82,295,866    221,717,909    3,079,955    8,699,074    (14,208,726)   (15,884,732)
                            
 91,627,366    418,783,942    12,446,047    53,764,088    (15,083,759)   6,600,648 
                            
 1,005,936,303    587,152,361    267,881,065    214,116,977    133,668,677    127,068,029 
$1,097,563,669   $1,005,936,303   $280,327,112   $267,881,065   $118,584,918   $133,668,677 
$8,512,045   $4,384,888   $91,713   $   $5,350,071   $3,064,727 

 

35
 

 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)

 

   Touchstone 
   Large Cap Growth Fund 
   For the     
   Six Months     
   Ended     
   September 30,   For the 
   2014   Year Ended 
   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
From Operations          
Net investment income (loss)  $1,454,691   $1,108,424 
Net realized gains on investments and foreign currency transactions   144,661,181    116,170,988 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency transactions   (103,101,396)   66,832,014 
Change in Net Assets from Operations   43,014,476    184,111,426 
           
Distributions to Shareholders from:          
Net investment income, Class A       (504,736)
Net investment income, Class Y       (2,365,788)
Net realized gains, Class A       (24,957,494)
Net realized gains, Class B       (446,705)
Net realized gains, Class C       (10,190,455)
Net realized gains, Class Y       (47,776,919)
Net realized gains, Institutional Class        
Total Distributions       (86,242,097)
           
Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions(B)   (236,373,226)   (41,273,702)
           
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   (193,358,750)   56,595,627 
           
Net Assets          
Beginning of   980,822,693    924,227,066 
End of  $787,463,943   $980,822,693 
Accumulated Net Investment Income (Loss)  $1,454,691   $ 

 

(A)Represents the period from commencement of operations (May 9, 2014) through September 30, 2014.
(B)For details on share transaction by class, see Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity on pages 42 and 43.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

36
 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)

 

    Touchstone     
    Sands Capital     
    Emerging     
Touchstone   Markets   Touchstone 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   Growth Fund   Small Cap Growth Fund 
For the         For the   For the     
Six Months       Six Months   Six Months     
Ended       Ended   Ended     
September 30,   For the   September 30,   September 30,   For the 
2014   Year Ended   2014(A)   2014   Year Ended 
(Unaudited)   March 31, 2014   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
                  
$(1,180,442)  $(3,093,231)  $53,057   $(506,388)  $(230,093)
 50,090,645    109,410,184    59,835    4,007,121    9,463,241 
 (38,300,194)   48,014,661    (2,196,551)   (5,204,683)   2,600,759 
 10,610,009    154,331,614    (2,083,659)   (1,703,950)   11,833,907 
                       
                       
                  
                  
     (28,966,943)           (1,906,417)
     (607,372)            
     (18,515,631)           (545,775)
     (24,268,590)           (2,418,021)
     (3,464,048)           (1,432,011)
     (75,822,584)           (6,302,224)
                       
 (26,946,650)   32,829,729    88,582,547    52,304,911    50,722,552 
                       
 (16,336,641)   111,338,759    86,498,888    50,600,961    56,254,235 
                       
                       
 761,626,026    650,287,267        92,132,877    35,878,642 
$745,289,385   $761,626,026   $86,498,888   $142,733,838   $92,132,877 
$(1,180,442)  $   $53,057   $(506,388)  $ 

 

37
 

  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity

 

   Touchstone Flexible Income Fund 
   For the Six Months Ended   For the Year 
   September 30, 2014   Ended 
   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars 
Class A                    
Proceeds from Shares issued   267,193   $2,843,277    478,902   $5,101,992 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(A)                
Reinvestment of distributions   46,391    494,214    112,892    1,185,530 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (495,435)   (5,292,255)   (1,920,074)   (20,305,857)
Change from Class A Share Transactions   (181,851)   (1,954,764)   (1,328,280)   (14,018,335)
Class C                    
Proceeds from Shares issued   395,008    4,166,894    592,026    6,179,415 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(A)                
Reinvestment of distributions   32,363    340,559    67,886    704,337 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (327,733)   (3,450,924)   (1,062,018)   (11,004,750)
Change from Class C Share Transactions   99,638    1,056,529    (402,106)   (4,120,998)
Class Y                    
Proceeds from Shares issued   4,767,616    51,011,568    4,954,381    53,071,881 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(A)                
Reinvestment of distributions   147,455    1,574,065    304,968    3,211,530 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (1,257,174)   (13,441,816)   (9,155,539)   (96,251,878)
Change from Class Y Share Transactions   3,657,897    39,143,817    (3,896,190)   (39,968,467)
Institutional Class                    
Proceeds from Shares issued   689,338    7,360,896    2,541,308    26,938,080 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(A)                
Reinvestment of distributions   85,399    911,662    150,682    1,580,008 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (946,323)   (10,168,801)   (674,863)   (7,054,976)
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions   (171,586)   (1,896,243)   2,017,127    21,463,112 
Change from Share Transactions   3,404,098   $36,349,339    (3,609,449)  $(36,644,688)

(A)See Note 11 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

38
 

  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)

 

Touchstone Focused Fund   Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund 
For the Six Months Ended   For the Year   For the Six Months Ended   For the Year 
September 30, 2014   Ended   September 30, 2014   Ended 
(Unaudited)   March 31, 2014   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars 
                              
 2,265,210   $80,452,441    3,233,110   $101,371,386    24,175   $804,091    224,602   $6,685,637 
                                      
         4,327,516    125,354,407                 
         5,319    152,669            58,105    1,796,018 
 (657,259)   (23,344,082)   (1,167,836)   (37,461,827)   (128,918)   (4,362,375)   (1,581,923)   (42,548,372)
 1,607,951    57,108,359    6,398,109    189,416,635    (104,743)   (3,558,284)   (1,299,216)   (34,066,717)
                                      
 78,093    2,703,852    147,209    4,739,202    16,609    497,377    54,444    1,488,773 
                                      
         24,433    701,039                 
         34    971            15,674    436,672 
 (21,830)   (763,245)   (9,911)   (318,605)   (33,664)   (1,007,781)   (65,332)   (1,778,183)
 56,263    1,940,607    161,765    5,122,607    (17,055)   (510,404)   4,786    147,262 
                                      
 1,205,300    43,206,323    1,651,183    54,120,220    341,538    11,712,601    2,057,827    57,663,059 
                                      
         215,356    6,308,617                 
         173,246    5,029,335            116,122    3,627,585 
 (1,104,504)   (39,682,543)   (1,962,109)   (61,819,037)   (161,648)   (5,456,977)   (678,318)   (20,781,626)
 100,796    3,523,780    77,676    3,639,135    179,890    6,255,624    1,495,631    40,509,018 
                                      
 641,685    23,722,405    533,929    16,892,087    232,460    7,968,320    553,354    16,857,399 
                                      
         966,069    28,372,347                 
         195    5,691            147,309    4,634,843 
 (109,570)   (3,999,285)   (663,046)   (21,730,593)   (207,227)   (7,075,301)   (631,902)   (19,382,731)
 532,115    19,723,120    837,147    23,539,532    25,233    893,019    68,761    2,109,511 
 2,297,125   $82,295,866    7,474,697   $221,717,909    83,325   $3,079,955    269,962   $8,699,074 

 

39
 

  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)

 

   Touchstone International Value Fund 
   For the Six Months     
   Ended   For the Year 
   September 30, 2014   Ended 
   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars 
Class A                    
Proceeds from Shares sold   190,243   $1,777,092    29,607   $247,397 
Reinvestment of distributions           6,444    56,838 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (53,747)   (501,078)   (214,235)   (1,807,090)
Change from Class A Share Transactions   136,496    1,276,014    (178,184)   (1,502,855)
Class B                    
Proceeds from Shares sold                
Reinvestment of distributions                
Cost of Shares redeemed                
Change from Class B Share Transactions                
Class C                    
Proceeds from Shares sold   3,004    26,477    5,415    41,269 
Reinvestment of distributions           144    1,176 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (136)   (1,186)   (10,603)   (81,715)
Change from Class C Share Transactions   2,868    25,291    (5,044)   (39,270)
Class Y                    
Proceeds from Shares sold   50,117    469,801    1,285,819    11,605,788 
Reinvestment of distributions           36,098    318,381 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (752,959)   (7,002,122)   (663,667)   (5,346,773)
Change from Class Y Share Transactions   (702,842)   (6,532,321)   658,250    6,577,396 
Institutional Class                    
Proceeds from Shares sold   279,397    2,605,299    905,130    7,621,905 
Reinvestment of distributions           121,325    1,070,089 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (1,234,675)   (11,583,009)   (3,544,077)   (29,611,997)
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions   (955,278)   (8,977,710)   (2,517,622)   (20,920,003)
                     
Change from Share Transactions   (1,518,756)  $(14,208,726)   (2,042,600)  $(15,884,732)

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

40
 

  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)

 

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund   Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund 
For the Six Months       For the Six Months     
Ended   For the Year   Ended   For the Year 
September 30, 2014   Ended   September 30, 2014   Ended 
(Unaudited)   March 31, 2014   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars 
                              
 465,295   $15,150,024    1,123,148   $34,813,790    621,927   $16,762,782    1,942,968   $49,444,583 
         743,623    22,704,422            1,108,223    27,317,700 
 (1,077,357)   (35,143,497)   (2,791,139)   (85,461,658)   (3,475,440)   (92,526,862)   (4,115,507)   (101,578,937)
 (612,062)   (19,993,473)   (924,368)   (27,943,446)   (2,853,513)   (75,764,080)   (1,064,316)   (24,816,654)
                                      
         5,030    145,108            7,694    149,046 
         8,824    254,580            21,555    417,516 
 (51,651)   (1,568,685)   (135,149)   (3,963,000)   (55,015)   (1,160,375)   (110,587)   (2,229,438)
 (51,651)   (1,568,685)   (121,295)   (3,563,312)   (55,015)   (1,160,375)   (81,338)   (1,662,876)
                                      
 79,218    2,405,005    324,155    9,355,889    98,142    2,017,348    494,544    9,680,428 
         237,079    6,763,867            705,343    13,401,513 
 (293,484)   (8,880,200)   (765,143)   (22,150,290)   (488,697)   (10,072,903)   (1,355,516)   (26,975,200)
 (214,266)   (6,475,195)   (203,909)   (6,030,534)   (390,555)   (8,055,555)   (155,629)   (3,893,259)
                                      
 950,407    31,345,853    2,472,115    76,607,666    2,482,702    68,804,784    4,981,764    125,685,812 
         1,531,276    47,463,243            893,059    22,397,917 
 (7,099,082)   (239,681,726)   (4,080,740)   (127,807,319)   (1,038,512)   (28,590,081)   (2,975,353)   (76,834,857)
 (6,148,675)   (208,335,873)   (77,349)   (3,736,410)   1,444,190    40,214,703    2,899,470    71,248,872 
                                      
                 1,000,588    27,798,580    155,510    4,050,162 
                         137,626    3,464,048 
                 (373,425)   (9,979,923)   (615,940)   (15,560,564)
                 627,163    17,818,657    (322,804)   (8,046,354)
                                      
 (7,026,654)  $(236,373,226)   (1,326,921)  $(41,273,702)   (1,227,730)  $(26,946,650)   1,275,383   $32,829,729 

 

41
 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)

 

   Touchstone                 
   Sands Capital                 
   Emerging Markets                 
   Growth                 
   Fund   Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund 
   For the Period   For the Six Months         
   Ended   Ended   For the Year 
   September 30, 2014   September 30, 2014   Ended 
   (Unaudited)(A)   (Unaudited)   March 31, 2014 
   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars 
Class A                              
Proceeds from Shares issued      $    1,489,513   $7,817,329    3,189,765   $16,400,309 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(B)                   1,739,693    8,196,736 
Reinvestment of distributions                   362,909    1,709,144 
Cost of Shares redeemed           (3,648,330)   (19,266,899)   (1,493,248)   (7,236,957)
Change from Class A Share Transactions           (2,158,817)   (11,449,570)   3,799,119    19,069,232 
Class C                              
Proceeds from Shares issued           211,928    938,757    621,723    2,672,634 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(B)                   427,646    1,723,545 
Reinvestment of distributions                   79,640    321,556 
Cost of Shares redeemed           (88,645)   (391,364)   (289,351)   (1,235,254)
Change from Class C Share Transactions           123,283    547,393    839,658    3,482,481 
Class Y                              
Proceeds from Shares issued   3,183,246    34,392,651    13,002,869    75,273,268    5,615,489    31,321,212 
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with merger(B)                   3,022,354    15,683,603 
Reinvestment of distributions                   410,137    2,118,342 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (43,051)   (459,685)   (1,596,726)   (9,241,442)   (6,082,905)   (32,782,345)
Change from Class Y Share Transactions   3,140,195    33,932,966    11,406,143    66,031,826    2,965,075    16,340,812 
Institutional Class                              
Proceeds from Shares issued   5,376,878    55,781,305    43,109    250,946    2,520,844    14,095,605 
Reinvestment of distributions                   257,444    1,333,085 
Cost of Shares redeemed   (103,697)   (1,131,724)   (519,561)   (3,075,684)   (645,826)   (3,598,663)
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions   5,273,181    54,649,581    (476,452)   (2,824,738)   2,132,462    11,830,027 
Change from Share Transactions   8,413,376   $88,582,547    8,894,157   $52,304,911    9,736,314   $50,722,552 

 

(A)Represents the period from commencement of operations (May 9, 2014) through September 30, 2014.
(B)See Note 11 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

42
 

 

Financial Highlights

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Class A

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                         
   Ended       Eight                 
   September   Year   Months                 
   30,   Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.60   $10.94   $10.76   $10.47   $10.00   $8.93   $9.36 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.25    0.51    0.35(B)   0.49(C)   0.52(C)   0.51(C)   0.56(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.06)   (0.37)   0.16    0.31    0.44    1.26    (0.39)
Total from investment operations   0.19    0.14    0.51    0.80    0.96    1.77    0.17 
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income   (0.26)   (0.48)   (0.33)   (0.51)   (0.49)   (0.70)   (0.59)
Realized capital gains                           (0.01)
Total distributions   (0.26)   (0.48)   (0.33)   (0.51)   (0.49)   (0.70)   (0.60)
Net asset value at end of period  $10.53   $10.60   $10.94   $10.76   $10.47   $10.00   $8.93 
Total return(D)   1.79%(E)   1.45%   4.77%(E)   7.86%   9.90%   20.27%   3.02%
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $23,858   $25,928   $41,301   $49,458   $25,400   $19,461   $13,406 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.09%(F)   0.98%   0.94%(F)   0.95%   1.02%   1.12%   1.18%
Gross expenses   1.36%(F)   1.35%   1.37%(F)   1.60%   1.61%   1.65%   1.65%
Net investment income   4.70%(F)   4.82%   4.76%(B)(F)   4.65%   4.99%   5.27%   7.05%
Portfolio turnover rate   43%(E)   44%   41%(E)   47%   42%   31%   32%

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund-Class C

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                         
   Ended       Eight                 
   September       Months                 
   30,   Year Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.47   $10.82   $10.65   $10.36   $9.90   $8.85   $9.29 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.21    0.43    0.29(B)   0.40(C)   0.44(C)   0.43(C)   0.49(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.05)   (0.37)   0.15    0.32    0.44    1.25    (0.38)
Total from investment operations   0.16    0.06    0.44    0.72    0.88    1.68    0.11 
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income   (0.22)   (0.41)   (0.27)   (0.43)   (0.42)   (0.63)   (0.54)
Realized capital gains                           (0.01)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.41)   (0.27)   (0.43)   (0.42)   (0.63)   (0.55)
Net asset value at end of period  $10.41   $10.47   $10.82   $10.65   $10.36   $9.90   $8.85 
Total return(D)   1.53%(E)   0.61%   4.20%(E)   7.16%   9.09%   19.20%   2.29%
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $21,947   $21,043   $26,087   $25,115   $16,818   $12,504   $8,468 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.84%(F)   1.74%   1.69%(F)   1.70%   1.77%   1.87%   1.93%
Gross expenses   2.09%(F)   2.09%   2.16%(F)   2.35%   2.36%   2.40%   2.40%
Net investment income   3.95%(F)   4.07%   4.01%(B)(F)   3.82%   4.25%   4.53%   6.32%
Portfolio turnover rate   43%(E)   44%   41%(E)   47%   42%   31%   32%

 

(A)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.
(B)Reflects the impact of a corporate action event that resulted in a one-time increase to net investment income. If the corporate action event had not occurred, the Class A and Class C net investment income per share and ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been lower by $0.01 and 0.13%, respectively.
(C)The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(D)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(E)Not annualized.
(F)Annualized.

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

43
 

 

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund - Class Y

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                         
   Ended       Eight                 
   September       Months                 
   30,   Year Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)(B)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.62   $10.97   $10.79   $10.49   $10.02   $8.95   $9.38 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.26    0.54    0.37(C)   0.50(D)   0.54(D)   0.53(D)   0.57(D)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.05)   (0.38)   0.16    0.33    0.45    1.26    (0.38)
Total from investment operations   0.21    0.16    0.53    0.83    0.99    1.79    0.19 
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income   (0.27)   (0.51)   (0.35)   (0.53)   (0.52)   (0.72)   (0.61)
Realized capital gains                           (0.01)
Total distributions   (0.27)   (0.51)   (0.35)   (0.53)   (0.52)   (0.72)   (0.62)
Net asset value at end of period  $10.56   $10.62   $10.97   $10.79   $10.49   $10.02   $8.95 
Total return   2.02%(E)   1.63%   4.96%(E)   8.21%   10.15%   20.39%   3.38%
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $189,384   $151,652   $199,293   $200,325   $122,125   $80,807   $59,493 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   0.81%(F)   0.71%   0.64%(F)   0.70%   0.77%   0.87%   0.93%
Gross expenses   0.97%(F)   1.00%   1.05%(F)   1.35%   1.36%   1.40%   1.40%
Net investment income   4.98%(F)   5.10%   5.06%(C)(F)   4.80%   5.22%   5.51%   7.29%
Portfolio turnover rate   43%(E)   44%   41%(E)   47%   42%   31%   32%

 

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Institutional Class

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 

   Six Months       Eight 
   Ended       Months 
   September 30,   Year Ended   Ended 
   2014   March 31,   March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(B)(G) 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.62   $10.96   $10.86 
Income (loss) from investment operations:               
Net investment income   0.27    0.54    0.30(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.05)   (0.36)   0.12 
Total from investment operations   0.22    0.18    0.42 
Distributions from:               
Net investment income   (0.28)   (0.52)   (0.32)
Net asset value at end of period  $10.56   $10.62   $10.96 
Total return   2.06%(E)   1.81%   3.93%(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:               
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $39,310   $41,361   $20,589 
Ratio to average net assets:               
Net expenses   0.74%(F)   0.65%   0.59%(F)
Gross expenses   0.93%(F)   0.95%   1.03%(F)
Net investment income   5.05%(F)   5.16%   5.11%(C)(F)
Portfolio turnover rate   43%(E)   44%   41%(E)

 

(A)Effective September 10, 2012, Institutional Class shares were renamed Class Y shares.
(B)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.
(C)Reflects the impact of a corporate action event that resulted in a one-time increase to net investment income. If the corporate action event had not occurred, the Class Y and Institutional Class net investment income per share and ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been lower by $0.01 and 0.13%, respectively.
(D)The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(E)Not annualized.
(F)Annualized.
(G)The Fund began issuing Institutional Class shares on September 10, 2012.

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

44
 

 

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Focused Fund—Class A

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                 
   Ended                     
   September 30,                     
   2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $34.87   $27.55   $23.63   $21.92   $21.49   $14.44 
Income from investment operations:                              
Net investment income(A)   0.10    0.11    0.16    0.12    0.08    0.10 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.22    7.46    3.79(B)   1.67    1.66    7.08 
Total from investment operations   0.32    7.57    3.95    1.79    1.74    7.18 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.25)   (0.03)   (0.24)   (0.05)   (0.13)
Realized capital gains                   (1.26)    
Total distributions       (0.25)   (0.03)   (0.24)   (1.31)   (0.13)
Capital Contribution               0.16 (C)        
Net asset value at end of period  $35.19   $34.87   $27.55   $23.63   $21.92   $21.49 
Total return(D)   0.92%(E)   27.67%   16.75%(B)   9.08%(C)   9.34%   49.80%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $292,596   $233,841   $8,497   $7,352   $12,226   $33,875 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.20%(F)   1.20%   1.20%   1.20%   1.20%   1.20%
Gross expenses   1.36%(F)   1.46%   1.90%   1.44%   1.42%   1.38%
Net investment income   0.56%(F)   0.35%   0.66%   0.58%   0.40%   0.49%
Portfolio turnover rate   13%(E)   27%(G)   189%   99%   115%   318%

 

Touchstone Focused Fund—Class C

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months         
   Ended   Year Ended   Period Ended 
   September 30, 2014   March 31,   March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(H) 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $34.32   $27.33   $22.61 
Income (loss) from investment operations:               
Net investment loss(A)   (0.03)   (0.13)   (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.21    7.38    4.80(B)
Total from investment operations   0.18    7.25    4.78 
Distributions from:               
Net investment income       (0.26)   (0.06)
Net asset value at end of period  $34.50   $34.32   $27.33 
Total return(D)   0.56%(E)   26.72%   21.19%(B)(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:               
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $7,599   $5,626   $60 
Ratio to average net assets:               
Net expenses   1.95%(F)   1.95%   1.95%(F)
Gross expenses   2.20%(F)   2.84%   258.39%(F)
Net investment loss   (0.19%)(F)   (0.40%)   (0.09%)(F)
Portfolio turnover rate   13%(E)   27%(G)   189%

 

(A)The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)Net realized gains (losses) on investments per share and total return reflect non-recurring litigation settlements. These resulted in an increase in net realized gains per share of $0.18 and an increase in total return of 0.76% and 0.78% for Class A and Class C, respectively.
(C)Impact of one time distribution of settlement funds from the Bank of America Fair Fund. If the distribution had not occurred the total return would have been lower.
(D)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(E)Not annualized.
(F)Annualized.
(G)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Focused Equity Fund (see Note 11). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(H)Represents the period from commencement of operations (April 16, 2012) through March 31, 2013.

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

45
 

 

Financial Highlights (Continued)
 
Touchstone Focused Fund - Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30, 2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $35.34   $27.86   $23.85   $22.17   $21.75   $14.58 
Income from investment operations:                              
Net investment income(A)   0.15    0.19    0.22    0.18    0.12    0.10 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.23    7.54    3.84(B)   1.66    1.71    7.20 
Total from investment operations   0.38    7.73    4.06    1.84    1.83    7.30 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.25)   (0.05)   (0.32)   (0.15)   (0.13)
Realized capital gains                   (1.26)    
Total distributions       (0.25)   (0.05)   (0.32)   (1.41)   (0.13)
Capital Contribution               0.16(C)        
Net asset value at end of period  $35.72   $35.34   $27.86   $23.85   $22.17   $21.75 
Total return   1.08%(D)   27.95%   17.07%(B)   9.29%(C)   9.71%   50.14%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $747,491   $736,023   $578,006   $555,142   $595,397   $577,028 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   0.92%(E)   0.94%   0.95%   0.95%   0.95%   0.95%
Gross expenses   0.97%(E)   1.02%   1.05%   1.28%   1.32%   1.38%
Net investment income   0.84%(E)   0.61%   0.91%   0.85%   0.60%   0.50%
Portfolio turnover rate   13%(D)   27%(F)   189%   99%   115%   318%

 

Touchstone Focused Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30, 2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $35.47   $27.96   $23.91   $22.23   $21.81   $14.62 
Income from investment operations:                              
Net investment income(A)   0.17    0.24    0.25    0.22    0.15    0.18 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.23    7.57    3.86(B)   1.66    1.71    7.18 
Total from investment operations   0.40    7.81    4.11    1.88    1.86    7.36 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.30)   (0.06)   (0.36)   (0.18)   (0.17)
Realized capital gains                   (1.26)    
Total distributions       (0.30)   (0.06)   (0.36)   (1.44)   (0.17)
Capital Contribution               0.16(C)        
Net asset value at end of period  $35.87   $35.47   $27.96   $23.91   $22.23   $21.81 
Total return   1.13%(D)   28.19%   17.24%(B)   9.45%(C)   9.86%   50.44%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $49,878   $30,446   $589   $29,879   $28,879   $31,166 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   0.80%(E)   0.80%   0.80%   0.80%   0.80%   0.80%
Gross expenses   0.91%(E)   1.00%   1.16%   0.89%   0.95%   0.91%
Net investment income   0.96%(E)   0.75%   1.06%   1.02%   0.75%   0.91%
Portfolio turnover rate   13%(D)   27%(F)   189%   99%   115%   318%

 

(A)The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(B)Net realized gains (losses) on investments per share and total return reflect non-recurring litigation settlements. These resulted in an increase in net realized gains per share of $0.18 and an increase in total return of 0.76% and 0.75% for Class Y and Institutional Class, respectively.

(C)Impact of one time distribution of settlement funds from the Bank of America Fair Fund. If the distribution had not occurred the total return would have been lower.

(D)Not annualized.

(E)Annualized.

(F)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Focused Equity Fund (see Note 11). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

46
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)
 
Touchstone Growth Opportunities—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30,                     
   2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $32.61   $27.05   $25.64   $25.27   $20.88   $14.41 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   (0.03)   0.01    (0.01)   (0.16)   0.07    (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.14    6.91    3.35    0.53    4.44    6.50 
Total from investment operations   1.11    6.92    3.34    0.37    4.51    6.47 
Distributions from:                              
Net Investment Income                   (0.12)    
Realized capital gains       (1.36)   (1.93)            
Total distributions       (1.36)   (1.93)       (0.12)    
Net asset value at end of period  $33.72   $32.61   $27.05   $25.64   $25.27   $20.88 
Total return(A)   3.44%(B)   25.84%   14.08%   1.47%   21.71%   44.90%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $45,643   $47,552   $74,588   $62,274   $96,930   $32,182 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.24%(C)   1.22%   1.22%   1.21%   1.16%   1.24%
Gross expenses   1.40%(C)   1.43%   1.37%   1.43%   1.50%   1.85%
Net investment income (loss)   (0.18%)(C)   0.09%   (0.06%)   (0.52%)   0.10%   (0.22%)
Portfolio turnover rate   41%(B)   79%   95%(D)   204%   130%   100%

 

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund — Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30,                     
   2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $29.32   $24.62   $23.68   $23.50   $19.49   $13.55 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.14)   (0.18)   (0.17)   (0.29)   (0.07)   (0.17)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.03    6.24    3.04    0.47    4.12    6.11 
Total from investment operations   0.89    6.06    2.87    0.18    4.05    5.94 
Distributions from:                              
Net Investment Income                   (0.04)    
Realized capital gains       (1.36)   (1.93)            
Total distributions       (1.36)   (1.93)       (0.04)    
Net asset value at end of period  $30.21   $29.32   $24.62   $23.68   $23.50   $19.49 
Total return(A)   3.03%(B)   24.92%   13.24%   0.77%   20.82%   43.84%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $12,361   $12,498   $10,375   $9,132   $10,592   $8,085 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.99%(C)   1.97%   1.97%   1.96%   1.93%   1.99%
Gross expenses   2.21%(C)   2.25%   2.37%   2.45%   2.58%   2.63%
Net investment loss   (0.93%)(C)   (0.66%)   (0.81%)   (1.27%)   (0.43%)   (0.96%)
Portfolio turnover rate   41%(B)   79%   95%(D)   204%   130%   100%

 

(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.

(D)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Acquired Fifth Third Fund. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

47
 

 

Financial Highlights (Continued)
 
Touchstone Growth Opportunities—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30,                     
   2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $32.97   $27.27   $25.80   $25.38   $20.94   $14.41 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   0.03    0.11    0.03    (0.05)   0.14    (—)(A) 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.15    6.96    3.40    0.47    4.45    6.53 
Total from investment operations   1.18    7.07    3.43    0.42    4.59    6.53 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.01)   (0.03)       (0.15)    
Realized capital gains       (1.36)   (1.93)            
Total distributions       (1.37)   (1.96)       (0.15)    
Net asset value at end of period  $34.15   $32.97   $27.27   $25.80   $25.38   $20.94 
Total return   3.58%(B)   26.23%   14.38%   1.66%   22.06%   45.32%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $101,505   $92,063   $35,354   $12,254   $2,947   $2,223 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   0.91%(C)   0.92%   0.96%   0.96%   0.93%   0.98%
Gross expenses   1.01%(C)   1.03%   1.16%   1.42%   1.73%   3.73%
Net investment income (loss)   0.15%(C)   0.39%   0.19%   (0.27%)   0.63%   (0.04%)
Portfolio turnover rate   41%(B)   79%   95%(D)   204%   130%   100%

 

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund — Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                     
   Ended                     
   September 30,                     
   2014   Year Ended March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $33.18   $27.42   $25.92   $25.46   $20.98   $14.42 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net Investment income (loss)   0.03    0.14    0.07    (0.03)   0.16    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.17    7.01    3.41    0.49    4.48    6.55 
Total from investment operations   1.20    7.15    3.48    0.46    4.64    6.56 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.03)   (0.05)       (0.16)    
Realized capital gains       (1.36)   (1.93)            
Total distributions       (1.39)   (1.98)       (0.16)    
Net asset value at end of period  $34.38   $33.18   $27.42   $25.92   $25.46   $20.98 
Total return   3.65%(B)   26.34%   14.50%   1.81%   22.25%   45.49%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $120,818   $115,769   $93,800   $70,643   $56,381   $21,807 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   0.86%(C)   0.84%   0.84%   0.81%   0.75%   0.84%
Gross expenses   0.96%(C)   0.98%   1.00%   1.06%   1.15%   1.49%
Net investment income (loss)   0.21%(C)   0.47%   0.31%   (0.12%)   0.78%   0.15%
Portfolio turnover rate   41%(B)   79%   95%(D)   204%   130%   100%

 

(A)Less than $0.005 per share.

(B)Not annualized.

(C)Annualized.

(D)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Acquired Fifth Third Fund. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

48
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)
 
Touchstone International Value Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                         
   Ended                         
   September       Eight Months                 
   30,   Year Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $9.12   $7.62   $7.06   $8.42   $7.33   $7.24   $12.23 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.15(B)   0.24    0.06(B)   0.14(B)   0.17(B)   0.14(B)   0.20(B)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.26)   1.35    0.73    (1.30)   1.09    0.19    (3.59)
Total from investment operations   (0.11)   1.59    0.79    (1.16)   1.26    0.33    (3.39)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income       (0.09)   (0.23)   (0.20)   (0.17)   (0.24)   (0.17)
Realized capital gains                           (1.43)
Total distributions       (0.09)   (0.23)   (0.20)   (0.17)   (0.24)   (1.60)
Net asset value at end of period  $9.01   $9.12   $7.62   $7.06   $8.42   $7.33   $7.24 
Total return(C)   (1.21%)(D)   20.90%   11.15%(D)   (13.67%)   17.17%   4.34%   (24.64%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $7,191   $6,032   $6,394   $7,266   $10,258   $10,216   $11,754 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.39%(E)   1.37%   1.36%(E)(F)   1.40%(F)   1.42%(F)   1.43%(F)   1.47%(F)
Gross expenses   1.87%(E)   1.79%   2.22%(E)   1.68%   1.61%   1.59%   1.59%
Net investment income   3.21%(E)   2.32%   1.21%(E)   2.00%   2.10%   1.87%   2.74%
Portfolio turnover rate   7%(D)   31%   133%(D)   121%   131%   137%   104%

Touchstone International Value Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

   Six Months                         
   Ended                         
   September       Eight Months                 
   30,   Year Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $8.46   $7.10   $6.59   $7.85   $6.84   $6.79   $11.61 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.11(B)   0.15    0.02(B)   0.08(B)   0.10(B)   0.08(B)   0.14(B)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.24)   1.27    0.67    (1.21)   1.01    0.18    (3.42)
Total from investment operations   (0.13)   1.42    0.69    (1.13)   1.11    0.26    (3.28)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income       (0.06)   (0.18)   (0.13)   (0.10)   (0.21)   (0.11)
Realized capital gains                           (1.43)
Total distributions       (0.06)   (0.18)   (0.13)   (0.10)   (0.21)   (1.54)
Net asset value at end of period  $8.33   $8.46   $7.10   $6.59   $7.85   $6.84   $6.79 
Total return(C)   (1.54%)(D)   20.05%   10.53%(D)   (14.37%)   16.23%   3.59%   (25.18%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $236   $216   $217   $169   $275   $310   $378 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   2.14%(E)   2.12%   2.11%(E)(F)   2.15%(F)   2.17%(F)   2.18%(F)   2.22%(F)
Gross expenses   6.82%(E)   6.04%   9.33%(E)   2.43%   2.36%   2.34%   2.34%
Net investment income   2.46%(E)   1.57%   0.46%(E)   1.24%   1.28%   1.11%   2.01%
Portfolio turnover rate   7%(D)   31%   133%(D)   121%   131%   137%   104%

 

(A)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.

(B)The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(C)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.

(D)Not annualized.

(E)Annualized.

(F)Includes interest expense relating to settlement of foreign futures. Interest expense was less than 0.005% for the eight months ended March 31, 2013 and 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.02% for the years ended July 31, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

49
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)
 
Touchstone International Value Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                         
   Ended                         
   September       Eight Months                 
   30,   Year Ended   Ended                 
   2014   March 31,   March 31,   Year Ended July 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(A)(B)   2012   2011   2010   2009 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $9.13   $7.62   $7.07   $8.44   $7.35   $7.25   $12.24 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income   0.17(C)   0.19    0.07(C)   0.16(C)   0.18(C)   0.16(C)   0.22(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.27)   1.43    0.73    (1.31)   1.10    0.19    (3.59)
Total from investment operations   (0.10)   1.62    0.80    (1.15)   1.28    0.35    (3.37)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income       (0.11)   (0.25)   (0.22)   (0.19)   (0.25)   (0.19)
Realized capital gains                           (1.43)
Total distributions       (0.11)   (0.25)   (0.22)   (0.19)   (0.25)   (1.62)
Net asset value at end of period  $9.03   $9.13   $7.62   $7.07   $8.44   $7.35   $7.25 
Total return   (1.10%)(D)   21.32%   11.33%(D)   (13.47%)   17.42%   4.61%   (24.36%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $36,999   $43,794   $31,527   $123,607   $176,521   $229,888   $233,968 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.04%(E)   1.04%   1.08%(E)(F)   1.15%(F)   1.17%(F)   1.18%(F)   1.22%(F)
Gross expenses   1.30%(E)   1.33%   1.51%(E)   1.43%   1.36%   1.34%   1.34%
Net investment income   3.55%(E)   2.65%   1.49%(E)   2.27%   2.22%   2.18%   3.01%
Portfolio turnover rate   7%(D)   31%   133%(D)   121%   131%   137%   104%

 

Touchstone International Value Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding
Throughout Each Period

   Six Months         
   Ended   Year     
   September 30,   Ended   Period Ended 
   2014   March 31,   March 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2014   2013(B)(G) 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $9.14   $7.62   $7.43 
Income (loss) from investment operations:               
Net investment income   0.17(C)   0.28    0.08(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.26)   1.36    0.36 
Total from investment operations   (0.09)   1.64    0.44 
Distributions from:               
Net investment income       (0.12)   (0.25)
Net asset value at end of period  $9.05   $9.14   $7.62 
Total return   (0.99%)(D)   21.51%   5.94%(D)
Ratios and supplemental data:               
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $74,159   $83,628   $88,931 
Ratio to average net assets:               
Net expenses   0.99%(E)   0.97%   0.96%(E)
Gross expenses   1.27%(E)   1.29%   1.36%(E)
Net investment income   3.61%(E)   2.72%   1.61%(E)
Portfolio turnover rate   7%(D)   31%   133%(D)

 

(A)Effective September 10, 2012, Institutional Class shares were renamed Class Y shares.

(B)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.

(C)The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(D)Not annualized.

(E)Annualized.

(F)Includes interest expense relating to settlement of foreign futures. Interest expense was less than 0.005% for the eight months ended March 31, 2013 and 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.02% for the years ended July 31, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

(G)The Fund began issuing Institutional Class shares on September 10, 2012.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

50
 

 

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund—Class A

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010
Net asset value at beginning of period  $31.81   $28.74   $27.74   $24.95   $20.74   $14.73 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   0.04    0.02    0.11    0.02(A)   (0.09)   (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.31    5.96    1.00    2.77    4.30    6.08 
Total from investment operations   1.35    5.98    1.11    2.79    4.21    6.06 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.05)   (0.11)           (0.04)
Realized capital gains       (2.86)               (0.01)
Total distributions       (2.91)   (0.11)           (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period  $33.16   $31.81   $28.74   $27.74   $24.95   $20.74 
Total return(B)   4.25%(C)   21.27%   4.05%   11.18%   20.30%   41.15%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $279,729   $287,813   $286,572   $238,488   $291,827   $334,465 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.25%(D)   1.23%   1.22%   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%
Gross expenses   1.28%(D)   1.29%   1.32%   1.35%   1.36%   1.37%
Net investment income (loss)   0.23%(D)   0.06%   0.47%   0.08%   (0.36%)   (0.29%)
Portfolio turnover rate   60%(C)   92%   109%(E)   91%   76%   83%

 

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund — Class B

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010
Net asset value at beginning of period  $30.08   $27.41   $26.47   $23.85   $19.93   $14.22 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   (0.08)(A)   (0.19)   0.01    (0.03)(A)   (0.20)   (0.44)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.24    5.72    0.93    2.65    4.12    6.15 
Total from investment operations   1.16    5.53    0.94    2.62    3.92    5.71 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.86)                
Net asset value at end of period  $31.24   $30.08   $27.41   $26.47   $23.85   $19.93 
Total return(B)   3.86%(C)   20.62%   3.55%   10.99%   19.67%   40.15%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $2,199   $3,671   $6,671   $10,949   $13,467   $14,897 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   2.00%(D)   1.79%   1.68%   1.45%   1.74%   2.00%
Gross expenses   2.20%(D)   1.79%   1.68%   1.45%   1.83%   2.29%
Net investment income (loss)   (0.52)%(D)   (0.50%)   0.00%(F)   (0.12%)   (0.85%)   (1.05%)
Portfolio turnover rate   60%(C)   92%   109%(E)   91%   76%   83%

 

(A)The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C)Not annualized.
(D)Annualized.
(E)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Acquired Fifth Third Fund. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(F)Less than 0.005%.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

51
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund—Class C

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $29.72   $27.17   $26.31   $23.84   $19.97   $14.25 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.09)   (0.21)   (0.08)   (0.16)(A)   (0.27)   (0.22)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.24    5.62    0.94    2.63    4.14    5.94 
Total from investment operations   1.15    5.41    0.86    2.47    3.87    5.72 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.86)                
Net asset value at end of period  $30.87   $29.72   $27.17   $26.31   $23.84   $19.97 
Total return(B)   3.87%(C)   20.35%   3.27%   10.36%   19.38%   40.14%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $109,314   $111,631   $107,572   $116,350   $127,172   $142,179 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   2.00%(D)   1.98%   1.97%   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%
Gross expenses   2.02%(D)   2.04%   2.08%   2.09%   2.13%   2.16%
Net investment loss   (0.52)%(D)   (0.69)%   (0.28%)   (0.67%)   (1.11%)   (1.05%)
Portfolio turnover rate   60%(C)   92%   109%(E)   91%   76%   83%

 

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund — Class Y

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $32.23   $29.07   $28.09   $25.19   $20.89   $14.84 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   0.08(A)   0.09    0.18    0.09(A)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   1.33    6.06    1.00    2.81    4.32    6.17 
Total from investment operations   1.41    6.15    1.18    2.90    4.30    6.16 
Distributions from:                              
Net investment income       (0.13)   (0.20)           (0.10)
Realized capital gains       (2.86)               (0.01)
Total distributions       (2.99)   (0.20)           (0.11)
Net asset value at end of period  $33.64   $32.23   $29.07   $28.09   $25.19   $20.89 
Total return   4.38%(C)   21.62%   4.32%   11.47%   20.58%   41.53%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $396,221   $577,708   $523,413   $385,411   $331,733   $352,847 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   0.99%(D)   0.97%   0.96%   0.99%   0.99%   0.99%
Gross expenses   1.03%(D)   1.05%   1.08%   1.14%   1.13%   1.06%
Net investment income (loss)   0.49%(D)   0.32%   0.72%   0.34%   (0.10%)   (0.06%)
Portfolio turnover rate   60%(C)   92%   109%(E)   91%   76%   83%

 

(A)The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C)Not annualized.
(D)Annualized.
(E)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Acquired Fifth Third Fund. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

52
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class A

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $26.50   $23.61   $22.41   $24.91   $20.18   $12.95 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.05)   (0.10)   (0.05)   (0.16)   (0.03)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.50    5.74    2.71    (1.05)   4.76    7.26 
Total from investment operations   0.45    5.64    2.66    (1.21)   4.73    7.23 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.75)   (1.46)   (1.29)        
Net asset value at end of period  $26.95   $26.50   $23.61   $22.41   $24.91   $20.18 
Total return(A)   1.66%(B)   24.82%   12.73%   (3.68%)   23.44%   55.83%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $236,667   $308,316   $299,834   $330,808   $584,089   $583,543 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.36%(C)   1.38%   1.40%   1.40%   1.47%   1.50%
Gross expenses   1.36%(C)   1.38%   1.40%   1.40%   1.47%   1.51%
Net investment loss   (0.31%)(C)   (0.41%)   (0.21%)   (0.79%)   (0.13%)   (0.15%)
Portfolio turnover rate   32%(B)   79%   70%   64%   99%   62%

 

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund — Class B

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $20.82   $19.12   $18.48   $20.89   $16.98   $10.98 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.09)   (0.19)   (0.12)   (0.48)   (0.10)   (0.16)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.40    4.64    2.22    (0.64)   4.01    6.16 
Total from investment operations   0.31    4.45    2.10    (1.12)   3.91    6.00 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.75)   (1.46)   (1.29)        
Net asset value at end of period  $21.13   $20.82   $19.12   $18.48   $20.89   $16.98 
Total return(A)   1.49%(B)   24.36%   12.41%   (3.99%)   23.03%   54.64%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $3,616   $4,709   $5,880   $10,681   $23,376   $32,762 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.78%(C)   1.73%   1.72%   1.59%   1.77%   2.25%
Gross expenses   1.78%(C)   1.73%   1.72%   1.59%   1.82%   2.38%
Net investment loss   (0.73%)(C)   (0.76%)   (0.52%)   (0.97%)   (0.43%)   (0.90%)
Portfolio turnover rate   32%(B)   79%   70%   64%   99%   62%

 

(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.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

53
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class C

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $20.39   $18.84   $18.31   $20.81   $17.00   $10.99 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.11)   (0.22)   (0.18)   (0.36)   (0.17)   (0.14)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.38    4.52    2.17    (0.85)   3.98    6.15 
Total from investment operations   0.27    4.30    1.99    (1.21)   3.81    6.01 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.75)   (1.46)   (1.29)        
Net asset value at end of period  $20.66   $20.39   $18.84   $18.31   $20.81   $17.00 
Total return(A)   1.33%(B)   23.90%   11.90%   (4.43%)   22.41%   54.69%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $143,838   $149,927   $141,485   $162,693    $ 223,376    $218,413 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   2.08%(C)   2.11%   2.15%   2.17%   2.24%   2.25%
Gross expenses   2.08%(C)   2.11%   2.15%   2.17%   2.27%   2.31%
Net investment loss   (1.03%)(C)   (1.14%)   (0.95%)   (1.56%)   (0.90%)   (0.90%)
Portfolio turnover rate   32%(B)   79%   70%   64%   99%   62%

 

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund — Class Y

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months               
   Ended               
   September 30,               
   2014  Year Ended March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014    2013    2012    2011    2010  
Net asset value at beginning of period  $27.00   $23.93   $22.63   $25.07   $20.27   $12.96 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   (—)(D)   (0.05)   0.01    (0.10)   0.01    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.49    5.87    2.75    (1.05)   4.79    7.30 
Total from investment operations   0.49    5.82    2.76    (1.15)   4.80    7.31 
Distributions from:                              
Realized capital gains       (2.75)   (1.46)   (1.29)        
Net asset value at end of period  $27.49   $27.00   $23.93   $22.63   $25.07   $20.27 
Total return   1.85%(B)   25.17%   13.05%   (3.42%)   23.68%   56.40%
Ratios and supplemental data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $308,096   $263,578   $164,267   $123,593   $47,470   $26,162 
Ratio to average net assets:                              
Net expenses   1.06%(C)   1.07%   1.16%   1.11%   1.24%   1.25%
Gross expenses   1.06%(C)   1.07%   1.16%   1.11%   1.24%   1.26%
Net investment income (loss)   (0.00%)(C)(E)   (0.11%)   0.04%   (0.49%)   0.05%   0.14%
Portfolio turnover rate   32%(B)   79%   70%   64%   99%   62%

 

(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.
(D)Less than $0.005 per share.
(E)Less than 0.005%.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

54
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Institutional Class

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

   Six Months         
   Ended        Period
   September        Ended
   30, 2014  Year Ended March 31,  March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013  2012(A)
Net asset value at beginning of period  $27.10   $23.99   $22.65   $25.30 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                    
Net investment income (loss)   0.01    0.03    0.04    (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.50    5.83    2.76    (1.33)
Total from investment operations   0.51    5.86    2.80    (1.36)
Distributions from:                    
Realized capital gains       (2.75)   (1.46)   (1.29)
Net asset value at end of period  $27.61   $27.10   $23.99   $22.65 
Total return   1.88%(B)   25.32%   13.23%   (4.22%)(B)
Ratios and supplemental data:                    
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $53,073   $35,097   $38,821   $25,550 
Ratio to average net assets:                    
Net expenses   0.97%(C)   0.97%   0.98%   1.03%(C)
Gross expenses   0.97%(C)   0.97%   0.98%   1.17%(C)
Net investment income (loss)   0.09%(C)   (0.00%)(D)   0.21%   (0.41%)(C)
Portfolio turnover rate   32%(B)   79%   70%   64%

 

(A)Represents the period from commencement of operations (April 1, 2011) through March 31, 2012.
(B)Not annualized.
(C)Annualized.
(D)Less than 0.005%.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

55
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Fund—Class Y

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

   Period
   Ended
   September 30,
   2014
   (Unaudited)(A)
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.00 
Income from investment operations:     
Net investment income   (B)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.28 
Total from investment operations   0.28 
Net asset value at end of period  $10.28 
Total return   2.80%(C)
Ratios and supplemental data:     
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $32,284 
Ratio to average net assets:     
Net expenses   1.49%(D)
Gross expenses   2.10%(D)
Net investment income   0.16%(D)
Portfolio turnover rate   12%(C)

 

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Institutional Class

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

   Period
   Ended
   September 30,
   2014
   (Unaudited)(A)
Net asset value at beginning of period  $10.00 
Income from investment operations:     
Net investment income   0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments   0.27 
Total from investment operations   0.28 
Net asset value at end of period  $10.28 
Total return   2.80%(C)
Ratios and supplemental data:     
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $54,215 
Ratio to average net assets:     
Net expenses   1.39%(D)
Gross expenses   1.83%(D)
Net investment income   0.27%(D)
Portfolio turnover rate   12%(C)

 

(A)Represents the period from commencement of operations (May 9, 2014) through September 30, 2014.
(B)Less than $0.005 per share.
(C)Not annualized.
(D)Annualized.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

56
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund—Class A

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                  
   Ended     Eight Months            
   September  Year Ended  Ended            
   30,2014  March 31,  March 31,  Year Ended July 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013(A)  2012  2011  2010  2009
Net asset value at beginning of period  $5.24   $4.84   $4.25   $4.24   $3.63   $3.01   $3.49 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income (loss)   (0.04)   (0.01)   (B)(C)   (—)(B)(C)   (0.01)(B)   (0.01)(B)   0.01(B)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.03)   1.02    0.85    0.01    0.62    0.63    (0.47)
Total from investment operations   (0.07)   1.01    0.85    0.01    0.61    0.62    (0.46)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income           (0.02)               (0.01)
Realized capital gains       (0.61)   (0.24)               (0.01)
Total distributions       (0.61)   (0.26)               (0.02)
Net asset value at end of period  $5.17   $5.24   $4.84   $4.25   $4.24   $3.63   $3.01 
Total return(D)   (1.34%)(E)   22.63%   20.93%(E)   0.24%   16.80%   20.60%   (13.18%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $23,682   $35,303   $14,243   $15,010   $18,117   $11,649   $7,497 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.44%(F)   1.45%   1.60%(F)   1.60%   1.60%   1.60%   1.60%
Gross expenses   1.67%(F)   1.81%   2.13%(F)   2.01%   1.96%   2.07%   2.14%
Net investment income (loss)   (0.98%)(F)   (0.48%)   0.15%(F)   (0.07%)   (0.33%)   (0.41%)   0.40%
Portfolio turnover rate   38%(E)   195%(G)   45%(E)(H)   48%   59%   56%   46%

  

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund—Class C

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                  
   Ended     Eight Months            
   September  Year Ended  Ended            
   30, 2014  March 31,  March 31,  Year Ended July 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013(A)  2012  2011  2010  2009
Net asset value at beginning of period  $4.45   $4.22   $3.75   $3.77   $3.25   $2.72   $3.17 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment loss   (0.03)   (0.04)   (0.02)(B)   (0.03)(B)   (0.04)(B)   (0.04)(B)   (0.01)(B)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.05)   0.88    0.74    0.01    0.56    0.57    (0.43)
Total from investment operations   (0.08)   0.84    0.72    (0.02)   0.52    0.53    (0.44)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income           (0.01)                
Realized capital gains       (0.61)   (0.24)               (0.01)
Total distributions       (0.61)   (0.25)               (0.01)
Net asset value at end of period  $4.37   $4.45   $4.22   $3.75   $3.77   $3.25   $2.72 
Total return(D)   (1.80%)(E)   21.85%   20.17%(E)   (0.53%)   16.00%   19.49%   (13.75%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $7,838   $7,429   $3,509   $3,830   $5,563   $2,876   $1,446 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   2.19%(F)   2.20%   2.35%(F)   2.35%   2.35%   2.35%   2.35%
Gross expenses   2.52%(F)   2.65%   3.16%(F)   2.76%   2.71%   2.82%   2.88%
Net investment loss   (1.73%)(F)   (1.23%)   (0.60%)(F)   (0.82%)   (1.10%)   (1.17%)   (0.35%)
Portfolio turnover rate   38%(E)   195%(G)   45%(E)(H)   48%   59%   56%   46%

 

(A)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.
(B)The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(C)Less than $0.005 per share.
(D)Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(E)Not annualized.
(F)Annualized.
(G)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Diversified Small Cap Growth Fund (see Note 11). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(H)Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities delivered from processing a redemption-in-kind.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

57
 

  

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund—Class Y

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months                  
   Ended                  
   September     Eight Months            
   30,  Year Ended  Ended            
   2014  March 31,  March 31,  Year Ended July 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013(A)(B)  2012  2011  2010  2009
Net asset value at beginning of period  $5.78   $5.27   $4.61   $4.58   $3.92   $3.24   $3.75 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                   
Net investment income (loss)   (0.01)   (0.01)   0.01(C)   0.01(C)   (C)(D)   (0.01)(C)   0.02(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.06)   1.13    0.92    0.02    0.66    0.69    (0.51)
Total from investment operations   (0.07)   1.12    0.93    0.03    0.66    0.68    (0.49)
Distributions from:                                   
Net investment income           (0.03)               (0.01)
Realized capital gains       (0.61)   (0.24)               (0.01)
Total distributions       (0.61)   (0.27)               (0.02)
Net asset value at end of period  $5.71   $5.78   $5.27   $4.61   $4.58   $3.92   $3.24 
Total return   (1.21%)(E)   22.88%   20.94%(E)   0.66%   16.84%   20.99%   (12.86%)
Ratios and supplemental data:                                   
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $101,717   $37,030   $18,123   $23,232   $26,317   $21,195   $17,394 
Ratio to average net assets:                                   
Net expenses   1.19%(F)   1.20%   1.35%(F)   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%
Gross expenses   1.37%(F)   1.50%   1.77%(F)   1.76%   1.71%   1.82%   1.89%
Net investment income (loss)   (0.73%)(F)   (0.23%)   0.40%(F)   0.17%   (0.08%)   (0.16%)   0.64%
Portfolio turnover rate   38%(E)   195%(G)   45%(E)(H)   48%   59%   56%   46%

 

Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund—Institutional Class

Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

   Six Months      
   Ended  Year   
   September 30,  Ended  Period Ended
   2014  March 31,  March 31,
   (Unaudited)  2014  2013(B)(I)
Net asset value at beginning of period  $5.80   $5.28   $4.92 
Income (loss) from investment operations:               
Net investment income (loss)   (0.02)   (—)(D)   0.02(C)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.05)   1.13    0.61 
Total from investment operations   (0.07)   1.13    0.63 
Distributions from:               
Net investment income           (0.03)
Realized capital gains       (0.61)   (0.24)
Total distributions       (0.61)   (0.27)
Net asset value at end of period  $5.73   $5.80   $5.28 
Total return   (1.21%)(E)   23.04%   13.56%(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:               
Net assets at end of period (000's)  $9,497   $12,372   $3 
Ratio to average net assets:               
Net expenses   1.04%(F)   1.04%   1.25%(F)
Gross expenses   1.29%(F)   1.40%   945.43%(F)
Net investment income (loss)   (0.58%)(F)   (0.07%)   0.50%(F)
Portfolio turnover rate   38%(E)   195%(G)   45%(E)(H)

 

(A)Effective September 10, 2012, Institutional Class shares were renamed Class Y shares.
(B)The Fund changed its fiscal year end from July 31 to March 31.
(C)The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(D)Less than $0.005 per share.
(E)Not annualized.
(F)Annualized.
(G)Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Diversified Small Cap Growth Fund (see Note 11). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(H)Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities delivered from processing a redemption-in-kind.
(I)The Fund began issuing Institutional Class shares on September 10, 2012.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

58
 

  

Notes to Financial Statements

September 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

1. Organization

 

The Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust was established as a Massachusetts business trust pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated November 18, 1982. The Trust consists of eighteen funds, including the following eight funds (individually, a “Fund”, and collectively, the “Funds”):

  

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (“Flexible Income Fund”)

Touchstone Focused Fund (“Focused Fund”)

Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund (“Growth Opportunities Fund”)

Touchstone International Value Fund (“International Value Fund”)

Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund (“Large Cap Growth Fund”)

Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund (“Mid Cap Growth Fund”)

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (“Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund”) Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund (“Small Cap Growth Fund”)

 

Each Fund is diversified, with the exception of the Focused Fund, the Growth Opportunities Fund, the Large Cap Growth Fund, and the Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, each of which is non-diversified.

 

The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of each Fund. The table below indicates the classes of shares that each Fund is registered to offer:

 

          Institutional
  Class A Class B Class C Class Y Class
Flexible Income Fund X X X X
Focused Fund X X X X
Growth Opportunities Fund X X X X
International Value Fund X X X X
Large Cap Growth Fund X X X X
Mid Cap Growth Fund X X X X X
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund X X
Small Cap Growth Fund X X X X

  

Class B shares are closed to new investors and subsequent purchases. The assets of each Fund are segregated, and a shareholder’s interest is limited to the Fund in which shares are held. The Funds’ prospectus provides a description of each Fund’s investment goals, policies, and strategies along with information on the classes of shares currently being offered.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

The following is a summary of the Funds’ significant accounting policies:

 

Security valuation and fair value measurements — Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) defines fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value.The Fund defines the term “market value”, as used throughout this report, as the estimated fair value. The Fund uses various methods to measure fair value of its portfolio securities on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP fair value measurement standards require disclosure of a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

• Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
  
• Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

59
 

  

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

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

  

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, money market instruments are valued using amortized cost, in accordance with rules under the 1940 Act. Generally, amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security, but since the value is not obtained from a quoted price in an active market, such securities are reflected as Level 2.

 

The aggregate value by input level, as of September 30, 2014, for each Fund’s investments, as well as a reconciliation of assets for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value, if applicable, is included in each Fund’s Portfolio of Investments, which also includes a breakdown of the Fund’s investments by geographic, portfolio or sector allocation. The Flexible Income Fund held Level 3 categorized securities during the period ended September 30, 2014. Refer to the Portfolio of Investments for a reconciliation of Level 3 holdings.

 

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an investment’s assigned level within the hierarchy. All transfers in and out of the levels are recognized at the value at the end of the period. During the period ended September 30, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for all Funds, except as shown in the Portfolio of Investments for the International Value Fund.

 

The Funds’ portfolio securities are valued as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). Portfolio securities traded on stock exchanges are valued at the last reported sale price, official close price, or last bid price if no sales are reported. Portfolio securities quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”) or from the primary exchange on which the security trades. To the extent these securities are actively traded, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Shares of options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices at the close of the options market in which the options trade. An option for which there is no mean price is valued at the last bid (long position) or ask (short positions) price and categorized in Level 1. Shares of open-end mutual funds in which the Funds invest are valued at their respective net asset values (“NAV”) as reported by the underlying funds and are categorized in Level 1.

 

Debt securities held by the Funds are valued at their most recent 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, and are generally categorized in Level 2. Money market instruments and other debt securities with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value and are categorized in Level 2. 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.

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices and are determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Interpolated values are derived when the settlement date of the contract is an interim date for which quotations are not available and categorized in Level 2.

 

Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange or denominated in foreign currency are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange, translated to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, and generally categorized in Level 1. However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange was

 

60
 

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value and generally categorized in Level 2. This may cause the value of the security, if held on the books of the Fund to be different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of that Fund’s NAV. 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 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.
   
If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
   
If the validity of market quotations is not reliable.

 

Securities held by the Fund that do not have readily available market quotations, significant observable inputs, or securities for which the available market quotations are not reliable, are priced at their estimated fair value using procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees and are generally categorized in Level 3.

 

Investment companies — Certain Funds invest in securities of other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), open-end funds, and closed-end funds. Open-end funds are investment companies that issue new shares continuously and redeem shares daily. Closed-end funds are investment companies that typically issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a securities exchange or over-the-counter. An ETF is an investment company that typically seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio shares of all the companies, or a representative sample of the companies, that are components of a particular index. ETFs are traded on a securities exchange based on their market value. The risks of investment in other investment companies typically reflect the risks of the types of securities in which investment companies invest. Investments in ETFs and closed-end funds are subject to the additional risk that shares of the fund may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV. When a Fund invests in another investment company, shareholders of the Fund indirectly bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses, including operating, registration, trustee, licensing, and marketing, as well as their share of the Funds’ fees and expenses.

 

Options — The Flexible Income Fund may write or purchase financial option contracts primarily to hedge against changes in the value of equity securities (or securities that the Fund intends to purchase), against fluctuations in fair value caused by changes in prevailing market interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates and against changes in overall equity market volatility. In addition, the Fund may utilize options in an attempt to generate gains from option premiums or to reduce overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s option strategy primarily focuses on the use of writing call options on equity indexes. When the Fund writes or purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium received or paid by the Fund is recorded as a liability or an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written or purchased. Premiums received or paid from writing or purchasing options which expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains or losses. The difference between the premium and the amount paid or received on effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain or loss. If an option is exercised, the premium paid or received is added to the cost of the purchase or proceeds from the sale in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss on investment transactions. The Fund, as writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result bear the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. The Fund, as purchaser of an option, bears the risk that the counterparties to the option may not have the ability to meet the terms of the option contracts. There is minimal counterparty credit risk involved in entering into option contracts since they are exchange-traded instruments and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded options, guarantees the options against default. Options are valued at

 

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the last quoted sales price. If there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, long option positions are valued at the most recent bid price, and short option positions are valued at the most recent ask price. As of September 30, 2014, the Flexible Income Fund held written options with a fair value of $17,800 and had securities with a fair value of $731,120 held as collateral and cash collateral of $5,865 for written options. The Fund did not hold any purchased options as of September 30, 2014.

 

Futures Contracts — The Flexible Income Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options to manage its exposure to changing interest rates and securities prices. Some strategies reduce a Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure. Futures and options on futures can be volatile instruments and involve certain risks that could negatively impact a Fund’s return. In order to avoid leveraging and related risks, when a Fund purchases futures contracts, it will collateralize its position by depositing an amount of cash or liquid securities, equal to the market value of the futures positions held, less margin deposits, in a segregated account with its custodian or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, or the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) interpretations there under. Collateral equal to the current market value of the futures position will be marked to market on a daily basis.

 

When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contract. Risks of entering into futures contracts include the possibility that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in the value of the underlying instruments. Second, it is possible that a lack of liquidity for futures contracts could exist in the secondary market resulting in an inability to close a futures position prior to its maturity date. Third, the purchase of a futures contract involves the risk that the Funds could lose more than the original margin deposit required to initiate the futures transaction. Finally, the risk exists that losses could exceed amounts disclosed on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. There is minimal counterparty credit risk involved in entering into futures contracts since they are exchange-traded instruments and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. As of September 30, 2014, the Flexible Income Fund held future contracts as shown on the Portfolio of Investments and had cash in the amount of $470,452 held as collateral for future contracts.

 

Swap Contracts — The Flexible Income Fund may enter into swap transactions, which are financial instruments that typically involve the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indexes, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated, structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes, or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of a Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by a Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, bilateral swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date only under limited circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counter-party is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares

 

62
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, a Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.

 

Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouses servicing as a central counterparty. Pursuant to rules promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Act, central clearing of swap agreements is currently required for certain market participants trading certain instruments, and central clearing for additional instruments is expected to be implemented by regulators until the majority of the swaps market is ultimately subject to central clearing.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify a Fund’s gains or losses. In order to reduce the risk associated with leveraging, a Fund may cover its current obligations under swap agreements according to guidelines established by the SEC. If a Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement. If a Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the agreement.

 

Swaps other than security-based swaps are included in the definition of “commodity interests” under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”). Under recent amendments to Rule 4.5 under the CEA, a Fund may be considered a commodity pool if it trades more than a de minimis amount of commodity interests (including swaps). Under such circumstances, the Fund and its investment advisor may be subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). None of theTouchstone Funds intends to trade above the de minimis limitation, and the Flexible Income Fund’s investment advisor has claimed an exclusion from registering with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and an exemption from registering with the CFTC as a commodity trading advisor.

 

As of September 30, 2014, the Fund did not hold any swap contracts.

 

Foreign currency translation — The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars and translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:

 

(1) market value of investment securities, assets and liabilities at the current rate of exchange on the valuation date; and
   
(2) purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses at the relevant rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

The Funds do not isolate that portion of gains and losses on investments in equity securities that is due to changes in the foreign exchange rates from that which is due to changes in market prices of equity securities.

 

Forward foreign currency contracts — A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a specific currency at a price that is set on the date of the contract. The forward contract calls for delivery of the currency on a future date that is specified in the contract. Risks related to the use of forwards include the possible failure of counterparties to meet the terms of the forward agreement, the failure of the counterparties to timely post collateral, the risk that currency movements will not occur thereby reducing the Fund’s total return, and the potential for losses in excess of the Fund’s initial investment.

 

The market value of a forward foreign currency contract fluctuates with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Forward foreign currency contracts are marked to market daily and the change in value is recorded by a Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Realized gains or losses, equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed, are recorded upon delivery or receipt of the currency.

 

63
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

During the six months ended September 30, 2014, the Flexible Income Fund used forward foreign currency contracts to enhance potential gains, hedge against anticipated currency exchange rates, maintain diversity and liquidity of the portfolio and adjust exposure to foreign currencies.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts — The Funds may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that involve risks not associated with investing in stocks. Risks include declines in the value of real estate, general and economic conditions, changes in the value of the underlying property and defaults by borrowers. The value of assets in the real estate industry may go through cycles of relative underperformance and outperformance in comparison to equity securities markets in general. Dividend income is recorded using management’s estimate of the income included in distributions received from REIT investments. The actual amounts of income, return of capital and capital gains are only determined by each REIT after its fiscal year-end and may differ from the estimated amount. Estimates of income are adjusted in the Funds to the actual amounts when the amounts are determined.

 

Derivative instruments and hedging activities — In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate its counterparty risk, Flexible Income Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement” or “MNA”) or similar agreement with certain counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and foreign exchange contracts, and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and master netting provisions in the event of a default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a party may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instrument’s payables or receivables with collateral held or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default (close-out netting).These default events include bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Note, however, that bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset.

 

When entering into a derivative transaction, a Fund may be required to post and maintain collateral or margin (including both initial and maintenance margin). Collateral and margin requirements differ by type of derivative. Margin requirements are established by the broker or clearing house for exchange traded and centrally cleared derivatives (financial futures contracts, options, and centrally cleared swaps). Brokers can ask for margining in excess of the clearing house’s minimum in certain circumstances. Collateral terms are contract specific for OTC derivatives (foreign currency exchange contracts, options, and swaps). For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the marked-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty. For financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Portfolio of Investments. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. A Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.

 

Certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to OTC derivatives transactions to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreement, which would cause the Fund to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.

 

64
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

As of September 30, 2014, the derivative assets and liabilities (by type) on a gross basis were as follows:

 

   Assets   Liabilities 
Flexible Income Fund          
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts  $634,965   $(115,491)
Written Options       (17,800)
Futures Contracts   154,595    (374,090)

 

The following table presents the Flexible Income Fund’s derivative assets net of amounts available for offset under a MNA and net of the related collateral pledged to the Fund as of September 30, 2014:

 

   Gross
Amount of
   Gross Amount Available   Non-Cash   Cash     
   Recognized   for Offset in Statement   Collateral   Collateral     
   Assets   of Assets and Liabilities   Pledged   Pledged   Net Amount(A) 
Flexible Income Fund                         
Forward Foreign                         
Currency Contracts(B)  $634,965   $(114,591)  $   $   $520,374 
Futures(C)   154,595    (154,595)            

 

The following table presents the Flexible Income Fund’s derivative liabilities net of amounts available for offset under a MNA and net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund as of September 30, 2014:

 

   Gross
Amount of
   Gross Amount Available   Non-Cash   Cash     
   Recognized   for Offset in Statement   Collateral   Collateral     
   Liabilities   of Assets and Liabilities   Pledged   Pledged   Net Amount(D) 
Flexible Income Fund                         
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts(B)  $115,491   $(115,491)  $   $   $ 
Futures(C)   374,090    (154,595)       (219,495)    
Written Options(F)   17,800        (11,935)   (5,865)    

 

(A) Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
   
(B) BNY ConvergEx is the counterparty.
   
(C) Morgan Stanley is the counterparty.
   
(D) Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
   
(E) Susquehanna is the counterparty.

 

65
 

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the fair value of the Funds’ derivative financial instruments by primary risk exposure as of September 30, 2014:

 

Fair Value of Derivative Investments
As of September 31, 2014
   Derivatives not accounted for as hedging  Asset   Liability 
Fund  instruments under ASC 815  Derivatives   Derivatives 
Flexible Income Fund  Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts*  $634,965   $(115,491)
   Futures - Interest Rate Contracts**   41,210     
   Futures - Commodity Contracts**   (260,705)    
   Written Options - Equity Contracts***       (17,800)
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund  Low Exercise Price Options - Equity Contracts****   18,731,054     

 

* Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location: Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts and unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts, respectively.

 

** Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location: Payable/Receivable for variation margin for futures contracts. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the payables/receivable of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of future contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments and within the components of net assets section of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

*** Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location: Written options, at market value.

 

**** Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location: Non-affiliated securities, at market value.

 

The following table sets forth the operations of the Funds’ derivative financial instruments by primary risk exposure as of September 30, 2014:

 

The Effect of Derivative Investments on the Statement of Operations
for the Six Months Ended September 31, 2014
          Change in 
          Unrealized 
      Realized Gain   Appreciation 
   Derivatives not accounted for as hedging  (Loss)   (Depreciation) 
Fund  instruments under ASC 815  on Derivatives   on Derivatives 
Flexible Income Fund  Forward - Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts*  $376,859   $635,536 
   Futures - Interest Rate Contracts**   (613,148)   71,210 
   Futures - Commodity Contracts       (260,705)
   Purchased Options - Equity Contracts***   (227,349)    
   Written Options - Equity Contracts****   257,559    (5,480)
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund  Low Exercise Price Options - Equity Contracts***   330,138    541,923 

 

* Statements of Operations Location: Net realized losses on foreign currency transactions and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency transactions, respectively.

 

** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized losses on futures contracts and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively.

 

*** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains from non-affiliated securities and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on non-affiliated securities, respectively.

 

**** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains on written options and change in unrealized depreciation on written options, respectively.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

For the six months ended September 30, 2014, the average quarterly balance of outstanding value of derivative financial instruments were as follows:

 

       Sands Capital 
       Emerging 
   Flexible   Markets 
   Income   Growth 
   Fund   Fund 
Equity contracts:          
Purchased Options - Cost  $76,027   $ 
Written Options - Proceeds  $97,781   $ 
Low Exercise Price Options - Cost  $   $7,303,353 
Interest rate contracts:          
Futures - Average notional value  $51,160,397   $ 
Foreign currency exchange contracts:          
Average number of contracts   8     
Average U.S. dollar amount purchased  $17,344,614   $ 
Average U.S. dollar amount sold  $6,094,341   $ 

 

Portfolio securities loaned — Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities. Lending portfolio securities exposes a Fund to the risk that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities or may not be able to provide additional collateral or that the Funds may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower fails financially. To minimize these risks, the borrower must agree to maintain cash collateral with the Funds’ custodian. The loaned securities are secured by collateral valued at least equal, at all times, to the market value of the loaned securities plus accrued interest, if any. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agent will use its best effort to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts under the security lending agreement. The cash collateral is reinvested by the Funds’ custodian into an approved investment vehicle. The approved investment vehicle is subject to market risk.

 

As of September 30, 2014, the following Funds loaned securities and received collateral as follows:

 

   Market Value of   Market Value of 
   Securities   Collateral 
   Loaned   Received 
Flexible Income Fund  $4,855,469   $4,994,244 
Focused Fund   43,288,078    44,712,455 
Growth Opportunities Fund   2,650,272    2,806,684 
International Value Fund   1,631,036    1,684,987 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   10,813,720    11,178,421 
Small Cap Growth Fund   9,255,583    10,076,037 

 

All cash collateral is received, held, and administered by the Funds’ custodian for the benefit of the lending Fund in its custody account or other account established for the purpose of holding collateral.

 

Funds participating in securities lending receive compensation in the form of fees. Securities lending income is derived from lending long securities from the Funds to creditworthy approved borrowers at rates that are determined based on daily trading volumes, float, short-term interest rates and market liquidity. A lending Fund retains the interest or dividends on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The lending Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the loaned securities.

 

Unrealized gain or loss on the market value of the loaned securities that may occur during the term of the loan is recognized by the lending Fund. The lending Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Share valuation — The NAV per share of each class of shares of each Fund is calculated daily by dividing the total value of a Fund’s assets attributable to that class, less liabilities attributable to that class, by the number of outstanding shares of that class.

 

The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares of the Funds is equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 6.10% of the NAV (or 5.75% of the offering price). There is no sales load on purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares. The maximum offering price per share of Classes B, C, Y, and Institutional Class shares of the Funds is equal to the NAV per share.

 

The redemption price per share of each class of shares of the Funds is generally equal to the NAV per share. However, Class A redemptions that were part of a no-load $1 million subscription may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class B shares of the Funds are subject to a CDSC of 5.00% in the event of a shareholder redemption within a one-year period of purchase. The CDSC will be incrementally reduced over time. After the 6th year, there is no CDSC. Additionally, Class C shares of the Funds are subject to a CDSC of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase.

 

Investment income — Dividend income from securities is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of foreign withholding taxes, if any, which are reduced by any amounts reclaimable by the Funds, where applicable. Interest income from securities is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, premium amortized and discount accreted. Realized gains and losses resulting from principal paydowns on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are included in interest income. Market discounts, original issues discount (“OID”) and market premiums on debt securities are accreted/amortized to interest income over the life of the security with a corresponding adjustment in the cost basis of that security.

 

Distributions to shareholders — Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its income and capital gains. Each Fund, except for the Flexible Income Fund, declares and distributes net investment income, if any, annually, as a dividend to shareholders. The Flexible Income Fund declares and distributes net investment income, if any, monthly, as a dividend to shareholders. Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually, net of applicable capital loss carryforwards. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations. Recognition of the Funds’ net investment income that invest in Underlying Funds is affected by the timing of dividend declarations by those Underlying Funds.

 

Allocations — Investment income earned, realized capital gains and losses, and unrealized appreciation and depreciation for a Fund are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon its proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Class-specific expenses are charged directly to the class incurring the expense. Common expenses, which are not attributable to a specific class, are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon their proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Expenses not directly billed to a Fund are allocated proportionally among all the Funds in the Trust, and, if applicable, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust, and Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (collectively with the Trust, “Touchstone Fund Complex”), daily in relation to net assets of each Fund or another reasonable measure.

 

Security transactions — Security transactions are reflected for financial reporting purposes as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of portfolio securities are calculated using the identified cost basis.

 

Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3. Investment Transactions

 

Investment transactions (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) were as follows for the six months ended September 30, 2014:

 

   Flexible       Growth   International 
   Income   Focused   Opportunities   Value 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Purchases of investment securities  $105,536,412   $193,233,500   $110,127,737   $8,131,356 
Proceeds from sales and maturities  $162,783,708   $134,605,761   $118,196,293   $24,427,531 

 

           Sand     
           Capital     
           Emerging     
   Large Cap   Mid Cap   Markets   Small Cap 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Purchases of investment securities  $567,460,111   $230,392,422   $90,937,572   $93,878,888 
Proceeds from sales and maturities  $802,728,529   $276,839,115   $6,637,245   $42,991,502 

 

For the six months ended September 30, 2014, purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities in U.S. Government Securities were $107,451,400 and $96,526,289 for the Flexible Income Fund, respectively.

 

4. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Related Parties

 

Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”), Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Underwriter”), or BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the Sub-Administrator and Transfer Agent to the Funds. Such officers receive no compensation from the Trust. The Advisor and the Underwriter are each wholly-owned, indirect subsidiaries of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. (“Western & Southern”).

 

On behalf of the Funds, the Advisor pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly retainer plus additional retainers to the Lead Independent Trustee and the chairs of each standing committee. Interested Trustees do not receive compensation from the Funds. Each Independent Trustee will also receive compensation for each board meeting and committee meeting attended. Each standing committee chair will receive additional compensation for each committee meeting that he or she oversees. The Advisor is reimbursed by the Funds for the Independent Trustees’ compensation and out-of-pocket expenses relating to their services. The Funds accrued Trustee-related expenses of $47,845 for the six months ended September 30, 2014.

 

MANAGEMENT & EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENTS

 

The Advisor provides general investment supervisory services for the Funds, under terms of an advisory agreement (“Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Advisor a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on average daily net assets as shown in the table below.

 

Flexible Income Fund 0.70% on the first $500 million
  0.60% on such assets in excess of $500 million

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Focused Fund 0.70% on the first $100 million
  0.65% of the next $400 million
  0.60% on such assets in excess of $500 million
Growth Opportunities Fund 0.75% on the first $500 million
  0.70% of the next $500 million
  0.65% on such assets in excess of $1 billion
International Value Fund 1.00%
Large Cap Growth Fund 0.75% on the first $200 million
  0.70% of the next $800 million
  0.65% on such assets in excess of $1 billion
Mid Cap Growth Fund 0.75% on the first $500 million
  0.70% of the next $500 million
  0.65% on such assets in excess of $1 billion
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 1.15%
Small Cap Growth Fund 1.00% on the first $300 million
  0.95% on such assets in excess of $300 million

 

The Advisor has entered into investment sub-advisory agreements with the following parties (each, a “Sub-Advisor”):

 

Apex Capital Management, Inc. Navellier & Associates, Inc.
Small Cap Growth Fund Large Cap Growth Fund
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC Sands Capital Management, LLC
International Value Fund Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
ClearArc Capital, Inc. Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Flexible Income Fund Growth Opportunities Fund
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.* Mid Cap Growth Fund
Focused Fund  

 

*Affiliate of the Advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern.

 

The Advisor, not the Funds, pays sub-advisory fees to each Sub-Advisor.

 

The Advisor entered into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) to contractually limit operating expenses of the Funds, excluding: dividend and interest expenses on short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”; if any, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business. The maximum operating expense limit in any year with respect to the Funds is based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Funds. The Advisor has agreed to separately waive class-level expenses, advisory fees, administration fees, and to reimburse expenses in order to maintain expense limitations for the Funds:

 

                   Institutional 
   Class A   Class B   Class C   Class Y   Class 
Flexible Income Fund   1.09%       1.84%   0.84%   0.74%
Focused Fund   1.20%       1.95%   0.95%   0.80%
Growth Opportunities Fund*   1.24%       1.99%   0.99%   0.89%
International Value Fund   1.39%       2.14%   1.14%   0.99%
Large Cap Growth Fund   1.25%   2.00%   2.00%   0.99%    
Mid Cap Growth Fund**   1.39%   2.14%   2.14%   1.14%   0.99%
Sands Capital Emerging Markets                         
Growth Fund               1.49%   1.39%
Small Cap Growth Fund   1.44%       2.19%   1.19%   1.04%

 

70
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

*Prior to July 29, 2014, the expense limitation for Classes A, C, Y, and Institutional Class shares were 1.24%, 1.99%, 0.99% and 0.84%, respectively.

 

**Prior to July 29, 2014, the expense limitation for Classes A, B, C, Y, and Institutional Class shares were 1.43%, 2.18%, 2.18%, 1.18% and 1.03%, respectively.

 

These expense limitations will remain in effect for all Funds through at least July 29, 2015.

 

During the six months ended September 30, 2014, the Advisor or its affiliates waived investment advisory fees and administration fees or reimbursed expenses, including distribution fees of the Funds as follows:

 

   Investment      

Other

Operating

     
   Advisory   Administration   Expenses     
Fund  Fees Waived   Fees Waived   Reimbursed   Total 
Flexible Income Fund  $11,124   $203,942   $26,123   $241,189 
Focused Fund       272,689    162,706    435,395 
Growth Opportunities Fund       124,167    32,328    156,495 
International Value Fund   66,940    102,383    20,307    189,630 
Large Cap Growth Fund           156,980    156,980 
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund   45,875    34,654    21,843    102,372 
Small Cap Growth Fund   16,612    95,499    15,785    127,896 

 

Effective September 10, 2012, under the terms of the Expense Limitation Agreement the Advisor is entitled to recover, subject to approval by the Funds’ Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the year in which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Funds. No recoupment will occur unless a Fund’s operating expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. As of September 30, 2014, the Advisor may seek recoupment of previously waived fees and reimbursed expenses as follows:

 

   Expiration   Expiration   Expiration     
   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,     
Fund  2016   2017   2018   Total 
Flexible Income Fund  $560,578   $772,157   $219,536   $1,552,271 
Focused Fund   590,230    712,383    284,676    1,587,289 
Growth Opportunities Fund   178,636    317,974    133,070    629,680 
International Value Fund   258,059    397,344    181,296    836,699 
Large Cap Growth Fund   390,044    432,998    101,418    924,460 
Small Cap Growth Fund   53,106    180,962    115,609    349,677 

 

For the six months ended September 30, 2014, the Advisor may recoup fees subject to Board approval, from the Small Cap Growth Fund of $3,270.

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

  

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 SEC 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 each Fund. For its services, the Advisor receives an annual fee of 0.20% on the first $6 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, the Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, and the Touchstone Variable Series Trust); 0.16% of the next $4 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and 0.12% of the aggregate average daily net assets over $10 billion. The fee is allocated among the funds of the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding

 

71
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, the Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, and the Touchstone Variable Series 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.

 

TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT

 

Under the terms of the Transfer Agent Agreement between the Trust and BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other shareholder service functions. For these services, BNY Mellon receives a monthly fee per shareholder account from each Fund. In addition, each Fund pays out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BNY Mellon, including, but not limited to, postage and supplies.

 

The Funds may reimburse the Advisor for fees paid to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions for sub-transfer agency, sub-administration and other services provided to investors whose shares of record are held in omnibus, other group accounts, retirement plans or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees may vary based on, for example, the nature of services provided, but generally range up to 0.15% of the assets of the class serviced or maintained by the intermediary or up to $17 per sub-account maintained by the intermediary. The Funds currently only reimburse the Advisor up to $17 per sub-account maintained by the intermediary.

 

PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Trust has adopted distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each class of shares it offers that are subject to 12b-1 distribution fees. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. The fees charged to the Funds are limited to the actual expenses incurred. Under the Class A plan, each Fund offering Class A shares pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class B plan, each Fund offering Class B shares pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class B shares. Under the Class C plan, each Fund offering Class C shares pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are 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).

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

The Underwriter is the Funds’ principal underwriter and, as such, acts as exclusive agent for distribution of the Funds’ shares. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust and the Underwriter, the Underwriter earned the following from underwriting and broker commissions on the sale of Class A shares of the Funds listed below during the six months ended September 30, 2014:

 

Fund  Amount 
Flexible Income Fund  $4,660 
Focused Fund   20,920 
Growth Opportunities Fund   2,157 
International Value Fund   550 
Large Cap Growth Fund   14,650 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   17,527 
Small Cap Growth Fund   3,447 

 

72
 

  

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

In addition, the Underwriter collected CDSC on the redemption of Classes A, B, and C shares of the Funds listed below during the six months ended September 30, 2014:

 

Fund  Class A   Class B   Class C 
Flexible Income Fund  $   $   $893 
Focused Fund           484 
Growth Opportunities Fund           127 
Large Cap Growth Fund       5    365 
Mid Cap Growth Fund       5    319 

 

AFFILIATED INVESTMENTS

 

Each Fund may invest in the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, subject to compliance with several conditions set forth in an exemptive order received by the Trust from the SEC. To the extent that the Funds are invested in the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, the Advisor and Administrator will be paid additional fees from the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund that will not be waived or reimbursed.

 

A summary of each Fund’s investment, as applicable, in the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund for the six months ended September 30, 2014, is as follows:

 

   Share Activity         
   Balance           Balance       Value 
Fund  03/31/14   Purchases   Sales   09/30/14   Dividends   09/30/14 
Flexible Income Fund   2,507,785    57,604,518    (54,893,610)   5,218,693   $49,085   $5,218,693 
Focused Fund   39,213,944    108,436,318    (97,349,808)   50,300,454    2,500    50,300,454 
Growth Opportunities Fund   2,639,703    58,672,678    (47,950,302)   13,362,079    176    13,362,079 
International Value Fund   1,265,134    15,980,155    (11,820,024)   5,425,265    81    5,425,265 
Large Cap Growth Fund   11,965,055    272,214,895    (267,722,448)   16,457,502    651    16,457,502 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   8,029,360    178,973,864    (161,285,713)   25,717,511    1,121    25,717,511 
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund       65,615,570    (60,524,661)   5,090,909    182    5,090,909 
Small Cap Growth Fund   4,787,968    42,203,513    (40,557,378)   6,434,103    272    6,434,103 

 

5. Federal Tax Information

 

Federal income tax — It is each Fund’s policy to continue to comply with the special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. As provided therein, in any fiscal year in which a Fund so qualifies and distributes at least 90% of its investment company taxable income, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the income distributed. It is each Fund’s policy to distribute all of its taxable income and accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made.

 

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare and pay as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its investment company taxable income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ending October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

73
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The tax character of distributions paid are as follows:

 

       Flexible         
       Income Fund       Focused Fund 
       Eight Months             
   Year Ended   Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended 
   March 31,   March 31,   July 31,   March 31,   March 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2014   2013 
From ordinary income  $12,579,476   $8,931,021   $10,351,922   $5,340,485   $1,158,632 
From long-term capital gains                    
   $12,579,476   $8,931,021   $10,351,922   $5,340,485   $1,158,632 

 

   Growth       International     
   Opportunities Fund       Value Fund     
           Eight Months     
   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended   Ended   Year Ended 
   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   July 31, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013   2012 
From ordinary income  $740,475   $13,520,246   $1,538,572   $3,533,117   $4,727,748 
From long-term capital gains   10,193,027                 
   $10,933,502   $13,520,246   $1,538,572   $3,533,117   $4,727,748 

 

   Large Cap   Mid Cap   Small Cap 
   Growth Fund   Growth Fund   Growth Fund 
               Eight     
                   Months     
   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended   Ended   Year Ended 
   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   March 31,   July 31, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013   2014   2013   2012 
From ordinary income  $14,481,879   $4,798,981   $14,379,637   $5,551,913   $1,065,782   $172,176   $ 
From long-term capital gains   71,760,218        61,442,947    35,848,435    5,236,442    1,906,955     
   $86,242,097   $4,798,981   $75,822,584   $41,400,348   $6,302,224   $2,079,131   $ 

 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of March 31, 2014:

 

   Flexible       Growth   International 
   Income   Focused   Opportunities   Value 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Tax cost of portfolio investments  $232,751,741   $871,345,404   $209,015,972   $118,529,780 
Gross unrealized appreciation   9,032,238    194,086,958    59,872,484    19,916,978 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (6,081,024)   (2,782,478)   (2,427,202)   (2,772,689)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   2,951,214    191,304,480    57,445,282    17,144,289 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on                    
future contracts, foreign currency                    
contracts and translation of other assets and liabilities                    
denominated in foreign currency   10,817            4,641 
Accumulated capital and other losses   (15,470,309)   (63,404,702)   (5,325,925)   (122,251,093)
Other temporary differences   (576,777)            
Undistributed ordinary income   518,813    4,384,888        3,787,180 
Undistributed capital gains           143,634     
Accumulated earnings (deficit)  $(12,566,242)  $132,284,666   $52,262,991   $(101,314,983)

 

74
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

   Large Cap   Mid Cap   Small Cap 
   Growth   Growth   Growth 
   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Tax cost of portfolio investments  $798,859,666   $618,372,147   $88,955,720 
Gross unrealized appreciation   240,029,904    151,221,226    11,621,083 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (16,739,351)   (3,565,372)   (1,478,824)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   223,290,553    147,655,854    10,142,259 
Accumulated capital and other losses           (2,427,249)
Undistributed ordinary income   2,912,353    16,331,591    2,738,611 
Undistributed capital gains   45,605,072    37,065,126     
Accumulated earnings (deficit)  $271,807,978   $201,052,571   $10,453,621 

 

The difference between the tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost is primarily due to wash sale loss deferrals, investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFIC”), preferred securities and differences in tax character of income received from underlying investments.

 

As of March 31, 2014, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes:

 

       No   No     
   Short Term Expiring On   Expiration   Expiration     
Fund  2017   2018   2019   Short Term *   Long Term *   Total 
Flexible Income Fund  $   $5,269,097   $10,201,212   $   $   $15,470,309 
Focused Fund   63,404,702                    63,404,702 
Growth Opportunities Fund   4,662,931**   662,994**               5,325,925 
International Value Fund   49,777,567    70,912,135        1,561,391        122,251,093 
Small Cap Growth Fund   2,427,249**                   2,427,249 

 

* The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2010. The Act made changes to several tax rules impacting the Funds. The provisions of the Act are effective for each fiscal year ended for the Funds beginning April 1, 2011. Although the Act provides several benefits, including the unlimited carryover of future capital losses, there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of each Fund’s pre-enactment capital loss carryovers may expire without being utilized due to the fact that post-enactment capital losses must be utilized before pre-enactment capital loss carryovers may be utilized. Under the Act, new capital losses may now be carried forward indefinitely, and retain the character of the original loss as compared with pre-enactment law, where capital losses could be carried forward for up to eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of the original loss.

 

** Utilization maybe limited by current income tax regulations.

 

The capital loss carryforwards may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.

 

As of September 30, 2014, the Trust had the following federal tax costs resulting in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of follows:

 

               Net 
       Gross   Gross   Unrealized 
   Federal Tax   Unrealized   Unrealized   Appreciation 
Fund  Cost   Appreciation   Depreciation   (Depreciation) 
Flexible Income Fund  $276,195,342   $6,528,530   $(7,460,096)  $(931,566)
Focused Fund   964,049,155    188,427,175    (25,696,889)   162,730,286 
Growth Opportunities Fund   234,558,255    49,763,738    (3,134,432)   46,629,306 
International Value Fund   109,227,500    14,961,223    (4,250,670)   10,710,553 
Large Cap Growth Fund   672,825,102    137,924,457    (17,735,300)   120,189,157 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   646,912,351    124,472,527    (11,907,224)   112,565,303 
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth                    
Fund   89,474,131    2,701,086    (4,896,452)   (2,195,366)
Small Cap Growth Fund   148,044,341    10,598,158    (5,442,028)   5,156,130 

 

75
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The Funds have analyzed their tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (tax years ended July 31, 2010 through March 31, 2014) and have concluded that no provision for income tax is required in their financial statements.

 

6. Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

 

7. Risks Associated with Foreign Investments

 

Some of the Funds may invest in the securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities issued by companies whose principal business activities are outside the U.S. may involve significant risks not present in domestic investments. For example, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies, particularly those not subject to the disclosure and reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. Investments in foreign securities also involve the risk of possible adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of the Fund, political or financial instability or diplomatic and other developments which could affect such investments. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the U.S., and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets, broker-dealers, and issuers than in the U.S.

 

8. Risks Associated with Credit

 

An issuer may be unable to make timely payments of either principal or interest. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value. Credit risk is particularly relevant to those portfolios that invest a significant amount of their assets in junk bonds or lower-rated securities.

 

9. Risks Associated with Interest Rate Changes

 

As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities a 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 price of debt securities falls, and when interest rates fall, the price of debt securities rises. 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, 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. For example, as a general rule a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration. 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 a Fund’s net asset value.

 

76
 

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

10. Risk Associated with Concentration

 

Certain Funds invest a high percentage of their assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, these Funds 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 on the Funds’ NAVs and magnified effect on the total return.

 

11. Fund Mergers

 

Focused Fund:

 

At a meeting held on February 21, 2013, the Board approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) providing for the transfer of all assets and liabilities of the Touchstone Focused Equity Fund, a series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, to the Touchstone Focused Fund, a series of the Trust. The merger took place on May 17, 2013.

 

       After 
   Before Reorganization   Reorganization 
   Touchstone         
   Focused   Touchstone   Touchstone 
   Equity   Focused   Focused 
   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Class A               
Shares   4,327,516(A)   675,503    5,003,019 
Net Assets  $125,354,407   $19,567,121   $144,921,528 
Net Asset Value  $28.97(A)  $28.97   $28.97 
Class C               
Shares   24,433(B)   5,930    30,363 
Net Assets  $701,039   $170,147   $871,186 
Net Asset Value  $28.69(B)  $28.69   $28.69 
Class Y               
Shares   215,356(C)   20,691,506    20,906,862 
Net Assets  $6,308,617   $606,136,778   $612,445,395 
Net Asset Value  $29.29(C)  $29.29   $29.29 
Institutional Class               
Shares   966,069(D)   19,411    985,480 
Net Assets  $28,372,347   $570,075   $28,942,422 
Net Asset Value  $29.37(D)  $29.37   $29.37 
Fund Total               
Shares Outstanding   11,617,300    21,392,350    26,925,724 
Net Assets  $160,736,410   $626,444,121   $787,180,531 
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)  $22,524,353   $42,269,274   $64,793,569 

 

(A)Reflects a 0.4800:1 stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, May 17, 2013.

 

(B)Reflects a 0.4773:1 stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, May 17, 2013.

 

(C)Reflects a 0.4794:1 stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, May 17, 2013.

 

(D)Reflects a 0.4596:1 stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, May 17, 2013.

 

77
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Assuming this reorganization had been completed on April 1, 2013, the Focused Fund’s results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2014 would have been as follows:

 

Net investment income  $4,751,931 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments  $229,820,866 
      
Net increase in net assets from operations  $234,572,797 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single portfolio since the reorganization was completed, it is not practical to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings to the Focused Fund that have been included in its statements of operations since the reorganization.

 

Small Cap Growth Fund:

 

At a meeting held on May 23, 2013, the Board approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for the transfer of all assets and liabilities of the Touchstone Diversified Small Cap Growth Fund to the Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund, each a series of the Trust. The merger took place on August 23, 2013.

 

       After 
   Before Reorganization   Reorganization 
   Touchstone         
   Diversified   Touchstone   Touchstone 
   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap 
   Growth   Growth   Growth 
   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Class A               
Shares   1,739,693(A)   3,075,664    4,815,357 
Net Assets  $8,196,736   $14,491,331   $22,688,067 
Net Asset Value  $4.71(A)  $4.71   $4.71 
Class C               
Shares   427,646(B)   866,512    1,294,158 
Net Assets  $1,723,545   $3,492,344   $5,215,889 
Net Asset Value  $4.03(B)  $4.03   $4.03 
Class Y               
Shares   3,022,354(C)   4,301,850    7,324,204 
Net Assets  $15,683,603   $22,323,365   $38,006,968 
Net Asset Value  $5.19(C)  $5.19   $5.19 
Institutional Class               
Shares       2,538,312    2,538,312 
Net Assets  $   $13,196,652   $13,196,652 
Net Asset Value  $   $5.20   $5.20 
Fund Total               
Shares Outstanding   1,838,239    10,782,338    15,972,031 
Net Assets  $25,603,884   $53,503,692   $79,107,576 
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)  $193,301   $4,179,561   $4,372,862 

 

(A)Reflects a 2.9349:1 reverse stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, August 23, 2013.

 

(B)Reflects a 3.2805:1 reverse stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, August 23, 2013.

 

(C)Reflects a 2.7104:1 reverse stock split which occurred on the date of reorganization, August 23, 2013.

 

78
 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Assuming this reorganization had been completed on April 1, 2013, the Small Cap Growth Fund’s results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2014 would have been as follows:

 

Net investment loss  $(316,566)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments  $15,459,525 
      
Net increase in net assets from operations  $15,142,959 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single portfolio since the reorganization was completed, it is not practical to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings to the Small Cap Growth Fund that have been included in its statements of operations since the reorganization.

 

12. Subsequent Events

 

Subsequent events occurring after the date of this report have been evaluated for potential impact to this report through the date financial statements were issued. There were no subsequent events that necessitated recognition or disclosure on the Funds’ financial statement.

 

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Other Items (Unaudited)

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

The Sub-Advisors are responsible for exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and held by the Funds. A description of the policies and procedures that the Sub-Advisors use in fulfilling this responsibility is available as an appendix to the most recent Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone website at www.touchstoneinvestments.com or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website www.sec.gov. Information regarding how those proxies were voted during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov

 

Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure

 

The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for each Fund as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The complete listing (i) is available on the Commission’s website; (ii) may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; and (iii) will be made available to shareholders upon request by calling 1.800.543.0407; or (iv) can be obtained on the Touchstone website at www.touchstoneinvestments.com. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Schedule of Shareholder Expenses

 

As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including reinvested dividends or other distributions; and (2) ongoing costs, including investment advisory fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (April 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014).

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below for each share class of a Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period Ended September 30, 2014” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below for each share class of a Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line for each share class of a Fund in the table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Schedule of Shareholder Expenses (continued)

 

                  Expenses 
      Net Expense   Beginning   Ending   Paid During 
      Ratio   Account   Account   the Period 
      Annualized   Value   Value   Ended 
      September 30,   April 1,   September 30,   September 30, 
      2014   2014   2014   2014* 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.09%  $1,000.00   $1,017.90   $5.51 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.09%  $1,000.00   $1,019.60   $5.52 
                        
Class C  Actual   1.84%  $1,000.00   $1,015.30   $9.30 
Class C  Hypothetical   1.84%  $1,000.00   $1,015.84   $9.30 
                        
Class Y  Actual   0.81%  $1,000.00   $1,020.20   $4.10 
Class Y  Hypothetical   0.81%  $1,000.00   $1,021.01   $4.10 
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   0.74%  $1,000.00   $1,020.60   $3.75 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   0.74%  $1,000.00   $1,021.36   $3.75 
                        
Touchstone Focused Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.20%  $1,000.00   $1,009.20   $6.04 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.20%  $1,000.00   $1,019.05   $6.07 
                        
Class C  Actual   1.95%  $1,000.00   $1,005.60   $9.80 
Class C  Hypothetical   1.95%  $1,000.00   $1,015.29   $9.85 
                        
Class Y  Actual   0.92%  $1,000.00   $1,010.80   $4.64 
Class Y  Hypothetical   0.92%  $1,000.00   $1,020.46   $4.66 
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   0.80%  $1,000.00   $1,011.30   $4.03 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   0.80%  $1,000.00   $1,021.06   $4.05 
                        
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.24%  $1,000.00   $1,034.40   $6.32 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.24%  $1,000.00   $1,018.85   $6.28 
                        
Class C  Actual   1.99%  $1,000.00   $1,030.30   $10.13 
Class C  Hypothetical   1.99%  $1,000.00   $1,015.09   $10.05 
                        
Class Y  Actual   0.91%  $1,000.00   $1,035.80   $4.64**
Class Y  Hypothetical   0.91%  $1,000.00   $1,020.51   $4.61**
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   0.86%  $1,000.00   $1,036.50   $4.39**
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   0.86%  $1,000.00   $1,020.76   $4.36**
                        
Touchstone International Value Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.39%  $1,000.00   $987.90   $6.93 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.39%  $1,000.00   $1,018.10   $7.03 
                        
Class C  Actual   2.14%  $1,000.00   $984.60   $10.65 
Class C  Hypothetical   2.14%  $1,000.00   $1,014.34   $10.81 
                        
Class Y  Actual   1.04%  $1,000.00   $989.00   $5.19 
Class Y  Hypothetical   1.04%  $1,000.00   $1,019.85   $5.27 
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   0.99%  $1,000.00   $990.10   $4.94 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   0.99%  $1,000.00   $1,020.10   $5.01 

 

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Schedule of Shareholder Expenses (continued)

 

                  Expenses 
      Net Expense   Beginning   Ending   Paid During 
      Ratio   Account   Account   the Period 
      Annualized   Value   Value   Ended 
      September 30,   April 1,   September 31,   September 30, 
      2014   2014   2014   2014* 
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.25%  $1,000.00   $1,042.50   $6.40 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.25%  $1,000.00   $1,018.80   $6.33 
                        
Class B  Actual   2.00%  $1,000.00   $1,038.60   $10.22 
Class B  Hypothetical   2.00%  $1,000.00   $1,015.04   $10.10 
                        
Class C  Actual   2.00%  $1,000.00   $1,038.70   $10.22 
Class C  Hypothetical   2.00%  $1,000.00   $1,015.04   $10.10 
                        
Class Y  Actual   0.99%  $1,000.00   $1,043.80   $5.07 
Class Y  Hypothetical   0.99%  $1,000.00   $1,020.10   $5.01 
                        
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.36%  $1,000.00   $1,016.60   $6.88 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.36%  $1,000.00   $1,018.25   $6.88 
                        
Class B  Actual   1.78%  $1,000.00   $1,014.90   $8.99 
Class B  Hypothetical   1.78%  $1,000.00   $1,016.14   $9.00 
                        
Class C  Actual   2.08%  $1,000.00   $1,013.30   $10.50 
Class C  Hypothetical   2.08%  $1,000.00   $1,014.64   $10.50 
                        
Class Y  Actual   1.06%  $1,000.00   $1,018.50   $5.36 
Class Y  Hypothetical   1.06%  $1,000.00   $1,019.75   $5.37 
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   0.97%  $1,000.00   $1,018.80   $4.91 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   0.97%  $1,000.00   $1,020.21   $4.91 
                        
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund                       
Class Y(A)  Actual   1.49%  $1,000.00   $1,028.00   $5.84 
Class Y  Hypothetical   1.49%  $1,000.00   $1,017.60   $5.81 
                        
Institutional Class(A)  Actual   1.39%  $1,000.00   $1,028.00   $5.44 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   1.39%  $1,000.00   $1,018.10   $5.42 
                        
Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund                       
Class A  Actual   1.44%  $1,000.00   $986.60   $7.17 
Class A  Hypothetical   1.44%  $1,000.00   $1,017.85   $7.28 
                        
Class C  Actual   2.19%  $1,000.00   $982.00   $10.88 
Class C  Hypothetical   2.19%  $1,000.00   $1,014.09   $11.06 
                        
Class Y  Actual   1.19%  $1,000.00   $987.90   $5.93 
Class Y  Hypothetical   1.19%  $1,000.00   $1,019.10   $6.02 
                        
Institutional Class  Actual   1.04%  $1,000.00   $987.90   $5.18 
Institutional Class  Hypothetical   1.04%  $1,000.00   $1,019.85   $5.27 

 

(A)Represents the period from commencement of operations (May 9, 2014) through September 30, 2014. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 141/365.

 

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* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect one-half year period).

 

** The expense limitations of the Growth Opportunities Fund was changed effective 7/29/2014. Had the new expense limitations been in place for the full six months the Actual expenses paid during the period ended 9/30/2014 would have been $4.85 and $4.54 for Class Y and the Institutional Class shares, respectively. The Hypothetical expenses for the same time period would have been $4.81 and $4.51 for Class Y and the Institutional Class shares, respectively.

 

Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval Disclosure.

 

At a meeting held on February 13, 2014, the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of the Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”), and by a separate vote, the Independent Trustees of the Trust, approved an amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor adding the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (the “Fund”) and also initially approved the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund between the Advisor and Sands Capital Management LLC (the “Sub-Advisor”).

 

In determining whether to approve the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Advisor furnished information necessary for a majority of the Independent Trustees to make the determination that approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board also took into account information provided to the Board in its meetings throughout the year with respect to the services provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor to otherTouchstone Funds managed by the Sub-Advisor that used the same core investment process that the Sub-Advisor proposed to use in managing the Fund (the “Model Touchstone Funds”). In addition, the Board took into consideration certain information and materials that the Board had received and considered in connection with its approval of the renewal in November 2013 of the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements with respect to the Model Touchstone Funds. Those approvals, on which the Board voted at its meeting held in person on November 21, 2013, followed a lengthy process during which the Board considered a variety of factors. The information considered by the Board at the February 2014 meeting included: (1) a comparison of the Fund’s proposed advisory fee and other fees and anticipated total expense ratio with those of comparable funds; (2) performance information for the Model Touchstone Funds; (3) the Advisor’s and its affiliates’ estimated revenues and costs of providing services to the Fund; and (4) information about the Advisor’s and Sub-Advisor’s personnel.

 

Prior to voting, the Independent Trustees reviewed the proposed approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement with management and with experienced independent legal counsel and received materials from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Independent Trustees also reviewed the proposed approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement in a private session with independent legal counsel at which no representatives of management were present.

 

In approving the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund, including the personnel who would be providing such services; (2) the Advisor’s anticipated compensation and profitability; (3) the level of the Fund’s proposed advisory fees and expenses; (4) anticipated economies of scale; and (5) the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Advisor Services. The Board considered the level and depth of knowledge of the Advisor, including the professional experience and qualifications of senior personnel. In evaluating the quality of services to be provided by the Advisor, the Board took into account its familiarity with the Advisor’s senior management through Board meetings, discussions and reports during the preceding year. The Board also took

 

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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

into account the Advisor’s compliance policies and procedures. The quality of administrative and other services of comparable funds managed by the Advisor, including the Advisor’s role in coordinating the activities of those funds’ other service providers, was also considered. The Board also considered the Advisor’s relationship with its affiliates and the resources available to them, as well as any potential conflicts of interest.

 

The Board discussed the Advisor’s effectiveness in monitoring the performance of sub-advisors, including the Sub-Advisor, and the Advisor’s timeliness in responding to any performance issues. The Board considered the Advisor’s process for monitoring the Sub-Advisor, which includes an examination of both qualitative and quantitative elements of the Sub-Advisor’s organization, personnel, procedures, investment discipline, infrastructure and performance. The Board considered that the Advisor conducts regular on-site compliance visits with the Sub-Advisor, during which the Advisor examines a wide variety of factors, such as the financial condition of the Sub-Advisor, the quality of the Sub-Advisor’s systems, the effectiveness of the Sub-Advisor’s disaster recovery programs, trade allocation and execution procedures, compliance with the Sub-Advisor’s policies and procedures, results of regulatory examinations and any other factors that might affect the quality of services to be provided by the Sub-Advisor to the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s compliance monitoring processes also include quarterly reviews of compliance reports, and that any issues arising from such reports and the Advisor’s compliance visits to the Sub-Advisor are reported to the Board.

 

The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to each Fund by the Advisor under the Investment Advisory Agreement.

 

Advisor’s Compensation and Profitability. The Board took into consideration the financial condition and profitability of the Advisor and its affiliates (including the Sub-Advisor to one of the Funds) and the direct and indirect benefits derived by the Advisor and its affiliates from the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds. The information considered by the Board included operating profit margin information for the Advisor’s business as a whole. The Board noted that the Advisor had waived a portion of advisory fees and administrative fees and/or reimbursed expenses in order to limit the net operating expenses of each Fund except the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund. The Board also noted that the Advisor pays the Sub-Advisors’ sub-advisory fees out of the advisory fees the Advisor receives from the Funds. The Board reviewed the profitability of the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds both before and after tax expenses, and also considered whether the Advisor has the financial wherewithal to continue to provide services to the Funds, noting the ongoing commitment of the Advisor’s parent company with respect to providing support and resources as needed. The Board considered that the Funds’ distributor, an affiliate of the Advisor, receives Rule 12b-1 distribution fees from the Funds and receives a portion of the sales charges on sales or redemptions of certain classes of shares. The Board also noted that the Advisor derives benefits to its reputation and other benefits from its association with the Funds.

 

The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund by the Advisor under the Investment Advisory Agreement.

 

Advisor’s Compensation and Profitability. The Board took into consideration the financial condition and anticipated level of profitability of the Advisor and its affiliates and the direct and indirect benefits to be derived by the Advisor and its affiliates from the Advisor’s relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor had contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit the Fund’s total operating expenses for at least a year following the date on which the Fund commenced operations. The Board also noted that the Advisor would pay the Sub-Advisor’s sub-advisory fee out of the advisory fee the Advisor would receive from the Fund. The Board reviewed the anticipated level of profitability of the Advisor’s relationship with the Fund and whether the Advisor has the financial wherewithal to provide services to the Fund, noting the ongoing commitment of the Advisor’s parent company with respect to providing support and resources as needed. The Board also noted that the Advisor would derive benefits to its reputation and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

 

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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The Board recognized that the Advisor should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits in exchange for the level of services it would provide to the Fund and the entrepreneurial risk that it would assume as Advisor. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Advisor’s and its affiliates’ anticipated level of profitability, if any, from their relationship with the Fund was reasonable and not excessive.

 

Expenses and Performance. The Board compared the Fund’s proposed advisory fee and total expense ratio net of applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements with those of comparable funds. The Board noted that the advisory fee proposed for the Fund was above the Fund’s expense universe median and the Fund’s total expenses, net of fee waivers and/or reimbursements, were in the third quintile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Board noted the Advisor’s explanation for setting the advisory fee above the expense universe median. The Board took into consideration the performance of the Model Touchstone Funds. The Board noted that the portfolio managers who would manage the Fund were different from the portfolio manager who managed the ModelTouchstone Funds. The Board also noted that the Board reviews on a quarterly basis detailed information about the Model Touchstone Funds performance results, portfolio composition and investment strategies. In addition, the Board took into consideration certain differences between how the Model Touchstone Funds are managed and how the Fund will be managed as well as the impact these differences are expected to have on the Fund’s performance.

 

The Board noted that the Advisor had contractually agreed to waive a portion of its fees and/or reimburse certain Fund expenses in order to limit the Fund’s operating expenses to targeted levels. The Board further noted that the sub-advisory fees under the Sub-Advisory Agreement would be paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fee it receives from the Fund and noted the impact of such sub-advisory fee on the profitability of the Advisor. In reviewing the proposed expense ratios and the performance of the Model Touchstone Funds, the Board also took into account the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Fund by the Advisor and its affiliates. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the proposed advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services to be received by the Fund from the Advisor.

 

Economies of Scale. The Board considered the effect of the Fund’s potential growth and size on its performance and expenses. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the proposed advisory fee structure, including the rationale for not including any breakpoints in the advisory fee. The Board considered whether breakpoints should be included in the advisory fee schedule. The Board determined that adding breakpoints at specified asset levels to the advisory fee schedule of the Fund would not be appropriate at this time. The Board also noted that if the Fund’s assets increase over time, the Fund might realize economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other expenses.

 

Conclusion. In considering the approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Trustees evaluated all information available to them. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement, among others: (a) the Advisor demonstrated that it possesses the capability and resources to perform the duties required of it under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (b) the Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; and (c) the Fund’s proposed advisory fee is reasonable in relation to the fees of similar funds and the services to be provided by the Advisor. Based on their conclusions, the Trustees determined that approval of the amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

In initially approving the Fund’s Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund, including the personnel who would be providing such services; (2) the Sub-Advisor’s proposed compensation; (3) the Sub-Advisor’s past performance with respect to its management of the ModelTouchstone Funds; and (4) the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

 

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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided; Investment Personnel. The Board considered information provided by the Advisor regarding the services to be provided by the Sub-Advisor. The Board noted that, on a periodic basis, the Board meets with the portfolio managers of the Sub-Advisor to discuss their performance and investment processes and strategies with respect to the Model Touchstone Funds. The Board considered the Sub-Advisor’s level of knowledge and investment style. The Board reviewed the experience and credentials of the investment personnel who would be responsible for managing the investment of portfolio securities with respect to the Fund. The Board also noted its familiarity with the Sub-Advisor, owing to the Sub-Advisor’s management of the Model Touchstone Funds. The Board also considered the Sub-Advisor’s regulatory and compliance history. The Board noted that the Advisor’s compliance monitoring includes quarterly reviews of compliance reports and annual compliance reviews of the Sub-Advisor and that compliance issues, if any, are reported to the Board. The Board also noted the Sub-Advisor’s brokerage practices.

 

Sub-Advisor’s Compensation, Profitability and Economies of Scale. The Board took into consideration the financial condition of the Sub-Advisor and any direct and indirect benefits to be derived by the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates from the Sub-Advisor’s relationship with the Fund. In considering the anticipated level of profitability to the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates of the Sub-Advisor’s relationship with the Fund, the Board noted the proposed contractual undertaking of the Advisor to maintain expense limitations for the Fund and also noted that the sub-advisory fee under the Sub-Advisory Agreement would be paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fee that it would receive from the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, and that the sub-advisory fee is negotiated at arm’s length. As a consequence, the anticipated level of profitability to the Sub-Advisor of its relationship with the Fund was not a substantial factor in the Board’s deliberations. For similar reasons, the Board did not consider potential economies of scale in the Sub-Advisor’s management of the Fund to be a substantial factor in its consideration.

 

Sub-Advisory Fee and Fund Performance. The Board considered that the Fund would pay an advisory fee to the Advisor and that the Advisor would pay a sub-advisory fee to the Sub-Advisor out of the advisory fees it receives from the Fund. The Board also compared the Sub-Advisor’s proposed sub-advisory fee to the sub-advisory fees paid to sub-advisors for managing comparable funds, including the Model Touchstone Funds. The Board considered the amount of the advisory fee to be retained by the Advisor and the amount to be paid to the Sub-Advisor with respect to the various services to be provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor.

 

The Board considered the Sub-Advisor’s long-term performance record in managing the Model Touchstone Funds, certain differences between how the Sub-Advisor manages the Model Touchstone Funds and how it will manage the Fund, as well as the impact these differences are expected to have on the Fund’s performance. The Board also noted the Advisor’s expertise and resources in monitoring the performance, investment style and risk-adjusted performance of the Sub-Advisor with respect to the Model Touchstone Funds. The Board was mindful of the Advisor’s focus on the performance of sub-advisors, including the Sub-Advisor, and the Advisor’s ways of addressing underperformance. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s proposed sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services to be received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor.

 

Conclusion. In considering the initial approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding the Sub-Advisory Agreement, among others:

 

(a) the Sub-Advisor is qualified to manage the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment goal and policies; (b) the Sub-Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; (c) the Fund’s proposed advisory

 

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fee is reasonable in relation to the fees of similar funds and to the services to be provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor; and (d) the Sub-Advisor’s proposed investment strategies are appropriate for pursuing the investment goal of the Fund. Based on its conclusions, the Board determined that approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

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PRIVACY PROTECTION POLICY

 

We Respect Your Privacy

 

Thank you for your decision to invest with us. Touchstone and its affiliates have always placed a high value on the trust and confidence our clients place in us. We believe that confidence must be earned and validated through time. In today’s world, when technology allows the sharing of information at light speeds, trust must be reinforced by our sincere pledge to take the steps necessary to ensure that the information you share with us is treated with respect and confidentiality.

 

Our Pledge to Our Clients

 

We collect only the information we need to service your account and administer our business.
   
We are committed to keeping your information confidential and we place strict limits and controls on the use and sharing of your information.
   
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of your information.
   
We Collect the Following Nonpublic Personal Information About You:
 
Information we receive from you on or in applications or other forms, correspondence, or conversations, including, but not limited to, your name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth; and
   
Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others, including, but not limited to, your account number and balance, payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information, and other financial information.

 

Categories of Information We Disclose and Parties to Whom We Disclose

  

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our current or former clients to nonaffiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law.

 

We Place Strict Limits and Controls on the Use and Sharing of Your Information

 

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to authorized employees who need the information to administer your business.
   
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to protect this information.
   
We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our current or former clients to anyone, except as required or permitted by law or as described in this document.
   
We will not sell your personal information to anyone.

 

We May Provide Information to Service Your Account

 

Sometimes it is necessary to provide information about you to various companies such as transfer agents, custodians, broker-dealers and marketing service firms to facilitate the servicing of your account. These organizations have a legitimate business need to see some of your personal information in order for us to provide service to you. We may disclose to these various companies the information that we collect as described above. We require that these companies, including our own subsidiaries and affiliates, strictly maintain the confidentiality of this information and abide by all applicable laws. Companies within our corporate family that may receive this information are financial service providers and insurance companies. We do not permit these associated companies to sell the information for their own purposes, and we never sell our customer information.

 

This policy is applicable to the following affiliated companies: Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Securities, Inc.,* and W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.

 

* Touchstone Securities, Inc. serves as the underwriter to the Touchstone Funds.

 

A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group®

 

The Privacy Protection Policy is not part of the Semi-Annual Report.

 

91
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Touchstone Investments

 

Distributor

Touchstone Securities, Inc.*

303 Broadway

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203 800.638.8194

www.touchstoneinvestments.com

 

Investment Advisor

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203

 

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

 

Shareholder Service

800.543.0407

 

* A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group

 

TSF-54-TST-SAR-1410

 

 

 
 

 

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

  (a) Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.
  (b) Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

 
 

 

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
     
  (b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a)(1) Not applicable.
     
  (a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
     
  (a)(3) Not applicable.
     
  (b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

 
 

SIGNATURES

 



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant) Touchstone Strategic Trust
   
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Jill T. McGruder
  Jill T. McGruder, President
  (principal executive officer)
   
Date 12/03/14

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Jill T. McGruder
  Jill T. McGruder, President
  (principal executive officer)
   
Date 12/03/14
   
   
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
  Terrie A. Wiedenheft, Controller and Treasurer
  (principal financial officer)
   
Date 12/03/14

 

 

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.