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INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C) OF THE SECURITIES
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BNY Mellon Strategic Funds, Inc.

______________________________________________________________________
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

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BNY MELLON SELECT MANAGERS SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

240 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10286

Dear Shareholder:

The enclosed document is for informational purposes only. You are not being asked to vote or take action on any matter. The enclosed document relates to changes involving a current sub-adviser for BNY Mellon Select Managers Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Fund"), a series of BNY Mellon Strategic Funds, Inc. (the "Company").

Specifically, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") approved a new sub-investment advisory agreement (the "Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement"), on behalf of the Fund, between BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., the Fund's investment adviser ("BNYM Investment Adviser"), and Geneva Capital Management LLC ("Geneva"). Geneva has served as a sub-adviser for the Fund since October 2014 (and a predecessor firm served as sub-adviser from the Fund's inception in July 2010 to October 2014). Due to a change in the ownership and organizational structure of Geneva that occurred on March 17, 2020, the sub-investment advisory agreement (the "Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement") between BNYM Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, and Geneva, terminated in accordance with the terms of said Agreement and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. To enable Geneva to continue to provide sub-investment advisory services to the Fund, the Board approved the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, which is substantially similar in material respects to the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, as under the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, BNYM Investment Adviser, and not the Fund, compensates Geneva out of the fee BNYM Investment Adviser receives from the Fund. Geneva has confirmed that the services provided to the Fund by Geneva and the manner in which Geneva manages its allocated portion of the Fund's investment portfolio will continue under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement to the same extent as under the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Further information about Geneva and the Board's approval of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement is contained in the enclosed document, which you should review carefully. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call 1-800-373-9387.

Sincerely 
 
 
/s/ Sarah Kelleher 
Sarah Kelleher 
Assistant Secretary 
BNY Mellon Strategic Funds, Inc. 

 

June 5, 2020


 

BNY MELLON SELECT MANAGERS SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10286

INFORMATION STATEMENT

This Information Statement is being furnished by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of BNY Mellon Strategic Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), on behalf of BNY Mellon Select Managers Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Fund"), a series of the Company, to inform shareholders of the Fund about changes in the ownership and organizational structure of Geneva Capital Management LLC ("Geneva"), which has been a sub-adviser for the Fund since October 2014 (and a predecessor firm served as sub-adviser from the Fund's inception in July 2010 to October 2014).

Due to the change in the ownership and organizational structure of Geneva that occurred on March 17, 2020, the sub-investment advisory agreement (the "Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement") between BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., the Fund's investment adviser ("BNYM Investment Adviser"), on behalf of the Fund, and Geneva, terminated in accordance with the terms of said Agreement and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). To enable Geneva to continue to provide sub-investment advisory services to the Fund, the Board approved a new sub-investment advisory agreement (the "Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement"), on behalf of the Fund, between BNYM Investment Adviser and Geneva. The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board upon the recommendation of BNYM Investment Adviser, without shareholder approval, as is permitted by the exemptive order of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") issued to the Company and BNYM Investment Adviser.

This Information Statement is being mailed on or about June 5, 2020 to shareholders of record of the Fund as of May 7, 2020. Please note that only one Information Statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of the Fund who share an address, unless such shareholders have given instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of the Information Statement, shareholders should contact the Fund at the address or phone number listed below for the Fund.

The principal executive office of the Fund is located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. A copy of the Fund's most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report are available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Company at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, visiting www.bnymellonim.com/us or calling toll-free 1-800-373-9387.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY

THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT AND THE FUND'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS ARE AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://IM.BNYMELLON.COM/US/EN/INDIVIDUAL/RESOURCES/PROXY-MATERIALS.JSP

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND WE ARE REQUESTING
THAT YOU DO NOT SEND US A PROXY.


 

INTRODUCTION

The Fund uses a "multi-manager" approach by selecting one or more sub-advisers to manage the Fund's assets. Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act generally requires the shareholders of a mutual fund to approve an agreement pursuant to which a person serves as the investment adviser or sub-adviser for the mutual fund. The Company, on behalf of the Fund, and BNYM Investment Adviser have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC, which permits the Fund and BNYM Investment Adviser, subject to certain conditions and approval by the Board, to hire, terminate or replace sub-advisers and to modify material terms and conditions of sub-investment advisory arrangements with such sub-advisers without shareholder approval. BNYM Investment Adviser has ultimate responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) to supervise the sub-advisers and recommend the hiring, termination, and replacement of the sub-advisers to the Board. The exemptive relief also relieves the Fund from disclosing the sub-investment advisory fees paid by BNYM Investment Adviser to unaffiliated sub-advisers in documents filed with the SEC and provided to shareholders.

The Fund and BNYM Investment Adviser have agreed to comply with certain conditions when acting in reliance on the exemptive relief granted by the SEC. These conditions require, among other things, that Fund shareholders be notified of the retention of a sub-adviser within 90 days of the effective date of the sub-adviser's retention. This Information Statement provides such notice of the changes and presents details regarding Geneva and the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The investment adviser for the fund is BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. BNYM Investment Adviser manages approximately $253 billion in 141 mutual fund portfolios. For the past fiscal year, the Fund paid BNYM Investment Adviser a management fee at the annual rate of .90% of the value of the fund's average daily net assets. BNYM Investment Adviser is the primary mutual fund business of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon"), a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries. BNY Mellon is a leading investment management and investment services company, uniquely focused to help clients manage and move their financial assets in the rapidly changing global marketplace. BNY Mellon has $37.1 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.9 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's leading investment management organizations, and one of the top U.S. wealth managers, encompassing BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms, wealth management services and global distribution companies. Additional information is available at: https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/individual/resources/proxy-materials.jsp

BNYM Investment Adviser provides management services to the Fund pursuant to the management agreement (the "Management Agreement") between the Company, on behalf of the Fund, and BNYM Investment Adviser, dated August 24, 1994, as amended, June 3, 2019. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, BNYM Investment Adviser provides investment management of the Fund's portfolio in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies as stated in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information as from time to time in effect. In connection therewith, BNYM Investment Adviser obtains and provides investment research and supervises the Fund's continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Fund's assets. BNYM Investment Adviser furnishes to the Fund such statistical information, with respect to the investments which the Fund may hold or contemplate purchasing, as the Fund may reasonably request. The

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Management Agreement permits BNYM Investment Adviser to enter into sub-investment advisory agreements with one or more sub-advisers. The Management Agreement is subject to annual approval by (i) the Board or (ii) vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), provided that in either event the continuance also is approved by a majority of the Directors who are not "interested persons" (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or BNYM Investment Adviser (the "Independent Directors"), by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Management Agreement is terminable without penalty, on not more than 60 days' notice, by the Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, or, on not less than 90 days' notice, by BNYM Investment Adviser. The Management Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Management Agreement provides that BNYM Investment Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering services to the Fund and that BNYM Investment Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of BNYM Investment Adviser's duties, or by reason of BNYM Investment Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties, under the Management Agreement. The Management Agreement was last approved by the Board, with respect to the Fund, at a meeting held on November 5, 2019, and by the Fund's initial shareholder on April 26, 2010. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the Management Agreement is available in the Fund's semi-annual report for the six-months ended November 30, 2019.

BNYM Investment Adviser has overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund's portfolio, and, subject to review and approval by the Board: (i) sets the Fund's overall investment strategies; (ii) evaluates, selects, and recommends sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets; (iii) allocates and reallocates, when appropriate, the Fund's assets among sub-advisers; (iv) monitors and evaluates the performance of the Fund's sub-advisers, including the sub-advisers' compliance with the investment objective, policies, and restrictions of the Fund; and (v) implements procedures to ensure that the sub-advisers comply with the Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions.

BNYM Investment Adviser serves as the Fund's portfolio allocation manager. BNYM Investment Adviser is responsible for evaluating and recommending sub-advisers for the Fund and determining the portion of the Fund's assets to be managed by each sub-adviser. BNYM Investment Adviser also is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the sub-advisers for the Fund and recommending to the Board whether a sub-adviser should be terminated. Stephen Kolano and Elena Goncharova are jointly and primarily responsible for the evaluation, recommendation and monitoring of sub-advisers for the Fund. Mr. Kolano is the Director of Quantitative Research & Analysis for BNY Mellon Wealth Management and President of BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Investment Strategy and Solutions Group ("ISSG"), a registered investment adviser and an affiliate of BNYM Investment Adviser. Ms. Goncharova is a portfolio manager and investment strategist with ISSG. Mr. Kolano and Ms. Goncharova have been employed by BNY Mellon since 2002 and 2012, respectively. Mr. Kolano and Ms. Goncharova also are employees of BNYM Investment Adviser, each since 2018, and perform their responsibilities for the Fund in their capacity as employees of BNYM Investment Adviser.

The Fund has agreed to pay BNYM Investment Adviser a management fee at an annual rate of 0.90% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. BNYM Investment Adviser has contractually agreed, until September 30, 2020, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the expenses of the Fund so that the direct expenses of Class A, C, I and Y (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.05%, 1.05%, 1.05% and .98%, respectively. For the Fund's fiscal years ended May 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, $5,380,027, $6,501,676 and $6,243,199, respectively, was payable by the Fund to BNYM Investment Adviser pursuant to the Management Agreement; of which $2,596 was waived in 2017 and

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$690 was waived in 2018 as a result of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangements then in place.

CHANGES INVOLVING A CURRENT SUB-ADVISER

Overview

Geneva has served as a sub-adviser for the Fund, managing an allocated portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, since October 2014 (and a predecessor firm served as sub-adviser from the Fund's inception in July 2010 to October 2014). The target percentage of the Fund's assets allocated to Geneva is approximately 20%. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, considered and re-approved the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement at the Board meeting held on November 5, 2019. At an in-person Board meeting held on February 24, 2020 (the "February Meeting"), the Board discussed the then-pending acquisition of Geneva by certain members of the Geneva management team, in partnership with Estancia Capital Management, a private equity firm ("Estancia Capital"), from Janus Henderson Global Investors. (the "Transaction"). At the February Meeting, BNYM Investment Adviser reported that the Transaction was expected to close on or about March 17, 2020.

At the February Meeting, the Board considered that the Transaction would result in a change of control of Geneva, and, consequently, the assignment and automatic termination of the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement pursuant to the terms of said Agreement and provisions of the 1940 Act. In order for Geneva to provide uninterrupted sub-investment advisory services to the Fund after consummation of the Transaction, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, approved (i) the continuation of Geneva as a sub-adviser for the Fund and (ii) the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, effective upon the termination of the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement is substantially similar in material respects to the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The fee payable to Geneva by BNYM Investment Adviser, and the scope of services that Geneva is required to provide in managing its allocated portion of the Fund's portfolio, are the same under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Henderson Global Investors Inc. acquired the entire issued share capital of Geneva in 2014 and, in 2016, acquired Janus Capital Group Inc. to form Janus Henderson Global Investors. In December 2019, certain members of the Geneva management team, in partnership with Estancia Capital, entered into an agreement with Janus Henderson Global Investors to buy back 100% of the equity interests of Geneva. The Transaction closed in March 2020 with Estancia Capital acquiring a minority equity position in Geneva. Estancia Capital makes small to lower middle market equity investments in financial services companies and partners with management and investment teams in providing equity, growth and working capital to facilitate strategic and opportunistic development of portfolio companies, including management buy-outs from larger financial firms, private ownership/succession transitions, growth initiatives, recapitalizations and investment team lift-outs.

Geneva expects that the management of the portion of the Fund's assets allocated to it will be unaffected by the Transaction. After consummation of the Transaction, Geneva's entire investments and operations teams remained the same, and Geneva's management team became the controlling owners of the firm. The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund's portfolio managed by Geneva continue to serve in those capacities following the consummation of Transaction. Geneva continues to employ the same investment philosophy and process that has been in place since 1987.

Geneva has stated that one of the goals of the Transaction is to return Geneva to its original roots as a majority employee-owned organization and that the Transaction was structured in a manner to provide

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Geneva a path to complete employee ownership over time. Moreover, Geneva believes that buying itself back from Janus Henderson Global Investors will make a significant contribution to the continued growth and development of Geneva, while preserving its culture, investment approach, and focus on serving clients.

Geneva

Geneva is located at 100 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2550, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. As of March 31, 2020, Geneva had approximately $4.1 billion in assets under management.

Geneva seeks to identify high quality companies with low leverage, superior management, leadership positions within their industries, and a consistent, sustainable record of growth in managing its allocated portion of the Fund's assets. In selecting stocks, Geneva emphasizes bottom-up fundamental analysis to develop an understanding of a company supplemented by top-down considerations which include reviewing general economic and market trends and analyzing their effect on various industries. Geneva also seeks to screen out high risk ideas, such as turnaround stories, initial public offerings and companies that are highly leveraged, non-U.S. based, or do not have earnings. Geneva's objective is to find companies that perform well over long periods of time. Portfolio managers occasionally trim positions to take profits and maintain diversification, while using a proprietary valuation model that adds discipline to the investment process. Geneva generally will sell a stock if it perceives a major change in the long-term outlook for the company or its industry, the stock becomes extremely overvalued based on Geneva's proprietary valuation model or for portfolio diversification. As of March 31, 2020, approximately 23% of the Fund's assets were allocated to Geneva.

William A. Priebe, CFA, Jose Munoz, CFA, and William Scott Priebe have been responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund's portfolio that is managed by Geneva since the Fund's inception in July 2010 and July 2017 with respect to Mr. Munoz. Each member of the Geneva investment team is responsible for both research and portfolio management functions.

Geneva currently serves as sub-adviser to the following registered investment company, which has a similar investment objective and similar investment policies as the Fund:

  Net Assets   
Name of Investment Company  (as of 4/30/20)  Advisory Fee Rate 
 
Nationwide Mutual Funds     
Geneva Small Cap Growth Fund  $1.0 billion  * 

 

*     

The Advisory Fee Rate is not disclosed pursuant to reliance on an exemptive order granted by the SEC, which permits sub-investment advisory fees to be disclosed only in the aggregate for multiple sub-advisers in a manager of managers arrangement.

Geneva is not affiliated with BNYM Investment Adviser, and Geneva discharges its responsibilities subject to the oversight and supervision of BNYM Investment Adviser. Under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, BNYM Investment Adviser, and not the Fund, compensates Geneva out of the fee BNYM Investment Adviser receives from the Fund. There will be no increase in the advisory fees paid by the Fund to BNYM Investment Adviser as a consequence of the continuation of Geneva as a sub-adviser for the Fund or the implementation of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The fees paid by BNYM Investment Adviser to Geneva depend upon the fee rates negotiated by BNYM Investment Adviser and on the percentage of the Fund's assets allocated to Geneva. In accordance with

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procedures adopted by the Board, Geneva may effect Fund portfolio transactions through an affiliated broker-dealer and the affiliated broker-dealer may receive brokerage commissions in connection therewith as permitted by applicable law.

The following is a list of persons (to the extent known by the Fund) who are deemed to control Geneva by virtue of ownership of stock or other interests of Geneva: William S. Priebe, Katrina Marie Ellenberg, Stephen James Shenkenberg, Jose Manuel Munoz Quiroga, Matthew Paul Pistorio, GCM Purchaser, LLC, GCM Holdco, LLC, Geneva Management LLC, ECP II GCM Aggregator, LLC and Estancia Capital Partners Fund II, L.P.

Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement

The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board at the February Meeting, which was called for the purpose of approving the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue until November 30, 2020, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors.

The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement is substantially similar in material respects to the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The fee payable to Geneva by BNYM Investment Adviser, and the scope of services that Geneva is required to provide in managing its allocated portion of the Fund's portfolio, are the same under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that, subject to BNYM Investment Adviser's supervision and approval, Geneva provide investment management of the portion of the Fund's assets allocated to it. Geneva, among other duties, will obtain and provide investment research and supervise the Fund's investments with respect to the portion of the Fund's assets allocated to it and will conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Fund's assets allocated to it, including the placing of portfolio transactions for execution with brokers. Geneva also will perform certain other administrative and compliance-related functions in connection with the management of its allocated portion of the Fund's assets. The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that Geneva shall exercise its best judgment in rendering services to the Fund and that Geneva will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or BNYM Investment Adviser, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of Geneva's duties, or by reason of Geneva's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties, under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that Geneva be compensated based on the average daily net assets of the Fund allocated to Geneva. Geneva is compensated from the management fee that BNYM Investment Adviser receives from the Fund. Geneva generally will bear the expenses it incurs in connection with its activities under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. All other expenses to be incurred in the operation of the Fund (other than those borne by BNYM Investment Adviser) are borne by the Fund.

The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by: (i) BNYM Investment Adviser on 60 days' notice to Geneva; (ii) the Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities on 60 days' notice to Geneva; or (iii) Geneva on not less than 90 days' notice to the Company and BNYM Investment Adviser. The Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. In addition, the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate if the Management Agreement terminates for any reason.

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Considerations of the Board

At the February Meeting, the Board discussed the Transaction with representatives of BNYM Investment Adviser, as well as the terms of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement and the implications, if any, that the closing of the Transaction would have for Geneva's performance as a sub-adviser to the Fund. At the February Meeting, representatives of BNYM Investment Adviser confirmed that there would be no change in Geneva's investment process for managing its allocated portion of the Fund's investment portfolio as a result of the Transaction.

At the February Meeting, BNYM Investment Adviser recommended the approval of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, pursuant to which Geneva would continue to serve as a sub-adviser to the Fund. The recommendation for the approval of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement was based on the following considerations, among others: (i) the Transaction was not expected to have a material impact on the nature, extent or quality of the sub-investment advisory services that Geneva provides to the Fund; (ii) the Geneva personnel who have been principally responsible for managing Geneva's allocated portion of the Fund's investment portfolio would continue to serve in their respective senior capacities with Geneva following the Transaction; and (iii) the terms of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement were substantially similar in material respects to the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board also considered the fact that BNYM Investment Adviser continued to express confidence in Geneva and its investment management capabilities.

At the February Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, considered and approved the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. In determining whether to approve the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board considered the materials prepared by BNYM Investment Adviser received in advance of the November 5, 2019 Board meeting and the February Meeting and other information, which included: (i) a copy of a form of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement; (ii) information regarding the Transaction and BNYM Investment Adviser's rationale for retaining Geneva following the closing of the Transaction; (iii) information regarding Geneva's investment process; (iv) information regarding Geneva's reputation, investment management business, personnel, and operations, and the effect that the Transaction may have on Geneva's business and operations; (v) information regarding Geneva's brokerage and trading policies and practices; (vi) information regarding the level of sub-investment advisory fees charged by Geneva; (vii) information regarding Geneva's historical performance returns managing its allocated portion of the Fund's portfolio, including information comparing that performance to a relevant index; (viii) information regarding Geneva's compliance program; and (ix) Geneva's Form ADV. The Board also considered the substance of discussions with representatives of BNYM Investment Adviser at the November 5, 2019 Board meeting and the February Meeting. Additionally, the Board reviewed materials supplied by counsel that were prepared for use by the Board in fulfilling its duties under the 1940 Act.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services to be Provided by Geneva. In examining the nature, extent and quality of the services that had been furnished by Geneva to the Fund under the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, and were expected to be provided by Geneva to the Fund under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board considered: (i) Geneva's organization, history, reputation, qualification and background, as well as the qualifications of its personnel; (ii) Geneva's expertise in providing portfolio management services to the Fund and the performance history of Geneva's allocated portion of the Fund's portfolio; (iii) Geneva's investment strategy for the Fund; (iv) Geneva's performance relative to unmanaged indices; and (v) Geneva's compliance program. The Board also considered the review process undertaken by BNYM Investment Adviser and BNYM Investment Adviser's favorable assessment of the nature and quality of the sub-investment advisory services provided and expected to be provided to the Fund by Geneva after consummation of the Transaction. The Board also noted that the executive and portfolio management teams of Geneva were expected to stay in place after consummation

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of the Transaction. The Board concluded that the Fund and its shareholders would continue to benefit from the quality and experience of Geneva's investment professionals. Based on their consideration and review of the foregoing information, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the sub-investment advisory services provided by Geneva under the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, as well as Geneva's ability to render such services based on its experience, operations and resources, were adequate and appropriate for the Fund in light of the Fund's investment objective, and supported a decision to approve the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Investment Performance of Geneva. The Board considered Geneva's investment performance in managing its allocated portion of the Fund's portfolio as a factor in evaluating the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board compared this historical performance to a relevant benchmark and concluded that Geneva's historical performance record in managing its allocated portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, when viewed together with the other factors considered by the Board, supported a decision to approve the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services to be Provided and Profitability. The Board considered the proposed fee payable under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement, noting that the proposed fee would be paid by BNYM Investment Adviser and, thus, would not impact the fees paid by the Fund. The Board recognized that, because Geneva's fee would be paid by BNYM Investment Adviser, and not the Fund, an analysis of profitability was more appropriate in the context of the Board's consideration of the Management Agreement and, therefore, the Board received and considered a profitability analysis of BNYM Investment Adviser and its affiliates. The Board noted that the fee payable to Geneva by BNYM Investment Adviser under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement was the same as that payable under the Initial Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement and, thus, approval of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement had no impact on BNYM Investment Adviser's profitability. The Board concluded that the proposed fee payable to Geneva by BNYM Investment Adviser with respect to the assets to be allocated to Geneva in its capacity as sub-adviser was reasonable and appropriate and BNYM Investment Adviser's profitability was not excessive in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by BNYM Investment Adviser and to be provided by Geneva under the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Economies of Scale to be Realized. The Board recognized that, because Geneva's fee would continue to be paid by BNYM Investment Adviser, and not the Fund, an analysis of economies of scale was more appropriate in the context of the Board's consideration of the Management Agreement. Accordingly, consideration of economies of scale with respect to Geneva was not relevant to the Board's determination to approve the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement.

The Board also considered whether there were any ancillary benefits that accrued to Geneva as a result of Geneva's relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that Geneva may direct Fund brokerage transactions to certain brokers to obtain research and other services. However, the Board noted that Geneva was required to select brokers who met the Fund's requirements for seeking best execution, and that BNYM Investment Adviser monitored and evaluated Geneva's trade execution with respect to Fund brokerage transactions on a quarterly basis and provided reports to the Board on these matters. The Board concluded that the benefits that had accrued and were expected to continue to accrue to Geneva by virtue of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable.

In considering the materials and information described above, the Independent Directors received assistance from, and met separately with, their independent legal counsel, and were provided with a written description of their statutory responsibilities and the legal standards that are applicable to the approval of investment advisory and sub-investment advisory agreements.

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After full consideration of the factors discussed above, with no single factor identified as being of paramount importance, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, with the assistance of independent legal counsel, concluded that the approval of the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund, and approved the Current Geneva Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Other Fund Service Providers

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation ("BNYMSC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNYM Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as distributor (i.e., principal underwriter) of the Fund's shares pursuant to a distribution agreement between the Company and BNYMSC.

The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of BNYM Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the Fund's custodian.

BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNYM Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent.

Payments to Affiliated Brokers

During the Fund's fiscal year ended May 31, 2020, the Fund did not pay any commissions to affiliated brokers.

Certain Beneficial Ownership

As of May 7, 2020, the Fund had 18,203,690 total shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Set forth below is information as to those shareholders known by the Company to own of record or beneficially 5% or more of the indicated class of the Fund's outstanding voting shares as of May 7, 2020.

  Amount of  Percentage of  
  Outstanding Shares  Outstanding  
Name and Address  Held  Shares of Class Held  
 
Class A       
 
National Financial Services LLC       
499 Washington Boulevard       
Jersey City, NJ 07310  13,883.623  23.6073%
 
UBS WM USA       
1000 Harbor Boulevard       
Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761  10,177.945  17.3063%  
 
The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian       
19500 Sweetwater Springs Road       
Greeneville, CA 95446-8921  3,127.359  5.3177%  

 

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Venkateswarlu Marella       
Flushing, NY 11367-0065  3,026.644  5.1464 % 
 
Class C       
 
UBS WM USA       
1000 Harbor Boulevard       
Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761  10,970.087  50.4793 % 
 
Pershing LLC       
P.O. Box 2052       
Jersey City, NJ 07303-2052  6,767.736  31.1420 % 
 
 
Class I       
 
Charles Schwab Company Inc.       
101 Montgomery Street       
San Francisco, CA 94104-4151  70,030.412  19.2941 % 
 
National Financial Services LLC       
499 Washington Boulevard       
Jersey City, NJ 07310  49,970.525  13.7674 % 
 
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.       
P.O. Box 560067       
Charlotte, NC 28256-3957  38,136.494  10.5070 % 
 
Pershing LLC       
P.O. Box 2052       
Jersey City, NJ 07303-2052  33,731.365  9.2933 % 
 
Reliance Trust Company       
P.O. Box 48529       
Atlanta, GA 30362-1529       
  29,932.746  8.2468 % 
SEI Private Trust Company       
One Freedom Valley Drive       
Oaks, PA 19456  28,922.890  7.9685 % 
 
Class Y       
 
SEI Private Trust Company       
One Freedom Valley Drive       
Oaks, PA 19456  17,905,012.404  95.9193 % 

 

Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder that beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the Fund's outstanding voting securities may be deemed a "control person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.

As of May 7, 2020, none of the other Directors or officers of the Company owned any of the Fund's outstanding shares of common stock.

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OTHER MATTERS

Under the proxy rules of the SEC, shareholder proposals meeting requirements contained in those rules may, under certain conditions, be included in the Fund's proxy materials for a particular meeting of shareholders. One of these conditions relates to the timely receipt by the Fund of any such proposal. Since the Fund does not have regular annual meetings of shareholders, under these rules, proposals submitted for inclusion in the proxy materials for a particular meeting must be received by the Fund a reasonable time before the solicitation of proxies for the meeting is made. The fact that the Fund receives a shareholder proposal in a timely manner does not ensure its inclusion in proxy materials since there are other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion.

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