497 1 ovafmainspecialsainovemberf.htm


Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

April 30, 2013, as revised November 6, 2013

Statement of Additional Information

This document contains additional information about the Funds and the Trust, and supplements information in the Funds' Prospectuses dated April 30, 2013 with respect to each Fund except Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, and supplements information in Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA prospectus dated November 6, 2013. This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus. It should be read together with the Funds' Prospectuses and the Prospectus for the insurance products you have selected.  The Funds' financial statements are incorporated by reference into this SAI from each Fund's most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report (except Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, which is a new Fund). Shares of the Funds are sold to provide benefits under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts, as described in the Prospectuses for the Funds and for the insurance products you have selected.

This SAI and the Funds' Prospectuses can also be viewed or downloaded online at the OppenheimerFunds internet website at www.oppenheimerfunds.com. They may also be obtained by writing to OppenheimerFunds Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217, or by calling OppenheimerFunds Services at the toll-free number shown below.

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS (the "Trust") is an investment company consisting of 11 separate series (each a "Fund" or the "Funds"). Any reference to the term "Fund" or "Funds" throughout this SAI refers to each Fund named below, unless otherwise indicated.

 

Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer    
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA   Capital Income Fund/VA*   Core Bond Fund/VA    
Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares    
Service Shares   Service Shares   Service Shares    
             
Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer    
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA* Equity Income Fund/VA*   Global Fund/VA*    
Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares   Class 3 Shares
Service Shares   Service Shares   Service Shares   Class 4 Shares
             
Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer    
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA   Main Street Fund®/VA   Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA*
Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares    
Service Shares   Service Shares   Service Shares    
             
Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer        
Money Fund/VA   Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA      
Non-Service Shares   Non-Service Shares        
    Service Shares        


 

 

* Prior to April 30, 2013, Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund/VA was named "Oppenheimer Balanced Fund/VA;" Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund/VA was named "Oppenheimer Value Fund/VA;" Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA was named "Oppenheimer Small- & Mid-Cap Growth Fund/VA;" Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA was named "Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA;" and Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA was named "Oppenheimer Main Street Small- & Mid-Cap Fund®/VA."

6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924
1.800.988.8287



Table of contents

ABOUT THE FUNDS

Additional Information About the Funds' Investment Policies and Risks

3

The Funds' Main Investment Policies

3

Other Investments and Investment Strategies

20

Investment Restrictions

37

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

39

How the Funds are Managed

42

Board of Trustees and Oversight Committees

43

Trustees and Officers of the Funds

44

The Manager and the Sub-Adviser

59

Brokerage Policies of the Funds

68

Distribution and Service Arrangements

71

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

72

ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT

How to Buy Shares

77

Distributions and Taxes

80

Additional Information About the Funds

82

APPENDIX A: MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

Appendix A

83

APPENDIX B: RATINGS DEFINITIONS

Appendix B

87

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial Statements

97


Summary Prospectus

To Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00610

To Capital Income Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00670

To Core Bond Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00630

To Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00620

To Equity Income Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00642

To Global Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00485

To Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00265

To Main Street Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00650

To Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00297

To Money Fund/VA

https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/investors/documents/summaryprospectus/00660

To Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

Additional Information About the Funds' Investment Policies and Risks

OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. ("OFI Global"), the Funds' investment adviser, has retained OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the "Sub-Adviser") to choose the Funds' investments and provide related advisory services to the Funds. The portfolio managers, who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds' portfolios, are employed by the Sub-Adviser unless indicated otherwise. In this Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"), references to the "Manager" mean OFI Global and the Sub-Adviser unless the context indicates otherwise or unless otherwise specified.

The investment objective, the principal investment policies and the main risks of the Funds are described in their Prospectuses. This SAI contains supplemental information about those policies and risks and the types of securities that the Funds' Sub-Adviser can select for the Funds. Additional information is also provided about the strategies that the Funds may use to try to achieve their objectives.

The composition of the Funds' portfolios and the techniques and strategies that the Funds use in selecting portfolio securities will vary over time. The Funds are not required to use all of the investment techniques and strategies described below in seeking their objectives. They may use some of the investment techniques and strategies only at some times or they may not use them at all.

The Funds' Main Investment Policies

In selecting securities for the Funds' portfolios, the Sub-Adviser and Sub-Sub-Advisers, where applicable, evaluate the merits of particular securities primarily through the exercise of their own investment analysis. That process may include, among other things:

  • evaluation of the issuer's historical operations,
  • prospects for the industry of which the issuer is part,
  • the issuer's financial condition,
  • its pending product developments and business (and those of competitors),
  • the effect of general market and economic conditions on the issuer's business, and
  • legislative proposals that might affect the issuer.

The Funds are categorized by the types of investments they make. Capital Appreciation Fund/VA, Global Fund/VA, Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA, Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund Fund/VA, Main Street Fund®/VA and Equity Income Fund/VA can be categorized as "Equity Funds." Core Bond Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA can be categorized as "Fixed Income Funds." Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA can be categorized as an "alternative" fund because it invests across a variety of alternative asset classes and investment strategies, including both equity and fixed income securities within those asset classes, subject to the allocations determined from time to time by the Sub-Adviser. Capital Income Fund/VA shares the investment characteristics (and certain of the investment policies) of both the Equity Funds and the Fixed Income Funds, depending upon the allocations determined from time to time by their respective portfolio managers. In general, the discussion of particular investments and strategies below indicates which Funds can use that investment or technique as part of their investment program. For example, some investments can be held by only some of the Funds and some can be held by all. Please refer to the prospectus of a particular Fund for an explanation of its principal investment policies and risks. The allocation of Main Street Fund®/VA's portfolio to equity securities is generally substantially larger than its allocation to fixed-income securities. Money Fund/VA's investment policies are explained separately; however, discussion below about investment restrictions, repurchase agreements and illiquid securities also apply to Money Fund/VA.

Fund

Investment Category

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

Equity

Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA

Fixed-Income

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Fixed-Income

Oppenheimer Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

Alternative

Oppenheimer Money Fund/VA

Money Market

Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund/VA

Other

The full name of each Fund is shown above and on the cover page. The word "Oppenheimer" is omitted from these names in the rest of this document to conserve space.

Investments in Equity Securities. The Equity Funds focus their investments in equity securities, which include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and securities convertible into common stock. Certain equity securities may be selected not only for their appreciation possibilities but because they may provide dividend income. At times, a Fund may have substantial amounts of its assets invested in securities of issuers in one or more capitalization ranges, based upon the Sub-Adviser's use of its investment strategies and its judgment of where the best market opportunities are to seek a Fund's objective.

Small- and mid-cap companies may offer greater opportunities for capital appreciation than securities of larger, more established companies. However, those securities also involve greater risks than securities of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid- cap issuers may be subject to greater price volatility in general than securities of large-cap companies. Therefore, to the degree that a Fund has investments in smaller capitalization companies at times of market volatility, that Fund's share prices may fluctuate more. Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA and Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA will invest primarily in securities of small- and mid-cap issuers, but, for the other Equity Funds those investments may be limited to the extent the Sub-Adviser believes that such investments would be inconsistent with the goal of preservation of principal.

While Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA and Capital Income Fund/VA do not primarily focus their investments in equity securities, they are expected to invest significantly in them.

Risks of Small- and Mid-Sized Companies. Small- and mid-sized companies may be either established or newer companies, including "unseasoned" companies that have been in operation for less than three years. While smaller companies might offer greater opportunities for gain than larger companies, they also may involve greater risk of loss. They may be more sensitive to changes in a company's earnings expectations and may experience more abrupt and erratic price movements. Smaller companies' securities often trade in lower volumes and in many instances, are traded over-the-counter or on a regional securities exchange, where the frequency and volume of trading is substantially less than is typical for securities of larger companies traded on national securities exchanges. Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of its holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Small- and mid-sized companies may not have established markets for their products or services and may have fewer customers and product lines. They may have more limited access to financial resources and may not have the financial strength to sustain them through business downturns or adverse market conditions. Since small- and mid-sized companies typically reinvest a high proportion of their earnings in their business, they may not pay dividends for some time, particularly if they are newer companies. Smaller companies may have unseasoned management or less depth in management skill than larger, more established companies. They may be more reliant on the efforts of particular members of their management team and management changes may pose a greater risk to the success of the business. Securities of small, unseasoned companies may be particularly volatile, especially in the short term, and may have very limited liquidity. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-sized company, if any gain is realized at all.

Growth Investing. In selecting equity investments, the portfolio managers for the Equity Funds may from time to time use a growth investing style, a value investing style, or a combination of both. In using a growth approach, the portfolio managers seek securities of "growth" companies. Growth companies are those companies that the Sub-Adviser believes are entering into a growth cycle in their business, with the expectation that their stock will increase in value. They may be established companies, as well as, newer companies in the development stage. Growth companies may have a variety of characteristics that in the Sub-Adviser's view define them as "growth" issuers.

Growth companies may be generating or applying new technologies, new or improved distribution techniques or new services. They may own or develop natural resources. They may be companies that can benefit from changing consumer demands or lifestyles, or companies that have projected earnings in excess of the average for their sector or industry. In each case, they have prospects that the Sub-Adviser believes are favorable for the long term. The portfolio managers of the Funds look for growth companies with strong, capable management, sound financial and accounting policies, successful product development and marketing and other factors.

Value Investing. In selecting equity investments, the portfolio managers for the Equity Funds in particular may from time to time use a value investing style. In using a value approach, the portfolio managers seek stock and other equity securities that appear to be temporarily undervalued, by various measures, such as price/earnings ratios, rather than seeking stocks of "growth" issuers. This approach is subject to change and might not necessarily be used in all cases. Value investing seeks stocks having prices that are low in relation to their real worth or future prospects, in the hope that a Fund will realize appreciation in the value of its holdings when other investors realize the intrinsic value of the stock.

Using value investing requires research as to the issuer's underlying financial condition and prospects. Some of the measures that can be used to identify these securities include, among others:

  • Price/Earnings ratio, which is the stock's price divided by its earnings per share. A stock having a price/earnings ratio lower than its historical range, or the market as a whole or that of similar companies may offer attractive investment opportunities.
  • Price/book value ratio, which is the stock price divided by the book value of the company per share, which measures the company's stock price in relation to its asset value.
  • Dividend Yield is measured by dividing the annual dividend by the stock price per share.
  • Valuation of Assets, which compares the stock price to the value of the company's underlying assets, including their projected value in the marketplace and liquidation value.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are debt securities that are convertible into an issuer's common stock. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure and therefore are subject to less risk than common stock in case of the issuer's bankruptcy or liquidation.

The value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment value" and its "conversion value." If the investment value exceeds the conversion value, the security will behave more like a debt security, and the security's price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the security will behave more like an equity security: it will likely sell at a premium over its conversion value, and its price will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying security.

While many convertible securities are a form of debt security, in some cases their conversion feature (allowing conversion into equity securities) causes the Sub-Adviser to regard them more as "equity equivalents." In those cases, the credit rating assigned to the security has less impact on the Sub-Adviser's investment decision than in the case of non-convertible fixed income securities. Convertible securities are subject to the credit risks and interest rate risks described below in "Investments in Bonds and Other Debt Securities."

To determine whether convertible securities should be regarded as "equity equivalents," the Sub-Adviser may examine the following factors:

  1. whether, at the option of the investor, the convertible security can be exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the issuer,
  2. whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its earnings per share of common stock on a fully diluted basis (considering the effect of conversion of the convertible securities), and
  3. the extent to which the convertible security may be a defensive "equity substitute," providing the ability to participate in any appreciation in the price of the issuer's common stock.

Preferred Stocks. Preferred stocks are equity securities but have certain attributes of debt securities. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, has a stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate. "Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of prior unpaid dividends to be paid before the issuer can pay dividends on common shares.

If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions for their call or redemption prior to maturity which can have a negative effect on their prices when interest rates decline. Preferred stock may be "participating" stock, which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated dividend in certain cases.

Preferred stocks are equity securities because they do not constitute a liability of the issuer and therefore do not offer the same degree of protection of capital as debt securities and may not offer the same degree of assurance of continued income as debt securities. The rights of preferred stock on distribution of a corporation's assets in the event of its liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a corporation's debt securities. Preferred stock generally has a preference over common stock on the distribution of a corporation's assets in the event of its liquidation.

Rights and Warrants. The Funds may invest in warrants or rights. Warrants basically are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

Investing in Cyclical Opportunities. The Funds, particulalry Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, might seek to take advantage of short-term market movements or events affecting particular issuers or industries by investing in companies that are sensitive to changes in the business cycle. For example, when the economy is expanding, companies in consumer durables and the technology sector might benefit. There is the risk that those securities might lose value if the business cycle becomes unfavorable to that issuer or industry or if the portfolio manager's expectations for favorable cyclical movement is not realized.

Investments in Bonds and Other Debt Securities. The Fixed Income Funds in particular, and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA and Capital Income Fund/VA to a significant extent, can invest in bonds, debentures and other debt securities to seek current income as part of their investment objectives.

A Fund's debt investments can include investment-grade and non-investment-grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). Investment-grade bonds are bonds rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or at least "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Rating Services ("S&P") or Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") or that have comparable ratings by another nationally recognized rating organization. In making investments in debt securities, the Sub-Adviser may rely to some extent on the ratings of ratings organizations or it may use its own research to evaluate a security's credit-worthiness. If the securities that a Fund buys are unrated, to be considered part of a Fund's holdings of investment-grade securities, they must be judged by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality to bonds rated as investment grade by a rating organization.

Credit Risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer of a debt security to meet interest and principal payment obligations as they become due. Some of the special credit risks of lower-grade securities are discussed in the Prospectus. There is a greater risk that the issuer may default on its obligation to pay interest or to repay principal than in the case of investment grade securities. The issuer's low creditworthiness may increase the potential for its insolvency. An overall decline in values in the high yield bond market is also more likely during a period of a general economic downturn. An economic downturn or an increase in interest rates could severely disrupt the market for high yield bonds, adversely affecting the values of outstanding bonds as well as the ability of issuers to pay interest or repay principal. In the case of foreign high yield bonds, these risks are in addition to the special risks of foreign investing discussed in the Prospectus and in this SAI.

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the fluctuations in value of fixed-income securities resulting from the inverse relationship between price and yield. For example, an increase in general interest rates will tend to reduce the market value of already-issued fixed-income investments, and a decline in general interest rates will tend to increase their value. In addition, debt securities with longer maturities, which tend to have higher yields, are subject to potentially greater fluctuations in value from changes in interest rates than obligations with shorter maturities.

Fluctuations in the market value of fixed-income securities after the Funds buy them will not affect the interest income payable on those securities (unless the security pays interest at a variable rate pegged to interest rate changes). However, those price fluctuations will be reflected in the valuations of the securities, and therefore the Funds' net asset values will be affected by those fluctuations.

Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. That is the risk that when interest rates fall, the issuer will repay the security prior to the security's expected maturity, or with respect to certain fixed-income securities, that borrowers will prepay the loans that underlie these securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the security's expected maturity. The Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential for gains when prevailing interest rates fall. If the Fund buys those securities at a premium, accelerated prepayments on those securities could cause it to lose a portion of its principal investment represented by the premium. The impact of prepayments on the price of a security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security's price volatility. Interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can also change the income flows and prepayment assumptions about those investments.

Extension Risk. If interest rates rise rapidly, repayments of principal on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Those securities generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their value to fall sharply.

Event Risk. If an issuer of debt securities is the subject of a buyout, debt restructuring, merger or recapitalization that increases its debt load, it could interfere with its ability to make timely payments of interest and principal and cause the value of its debt securities to fall.

Special Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as "junk bonds") are those rated below investment grade by  S&P, Moody's, Fitch or other nationally recognized statistical rating organization or unrated securities the Sub-Adviser believes are of comparable quality. The Sub-Adviser continuously monitors the issuers of below-investment-grade securities held by the Fund for their ability to make required principal and interest payments, as well as in an effort to control the liquidity of the Fund so that it can meet redemption requests. While below-investment-grade securities generally may have a higher yield than securities rated in the higher rating categories, they are subject to increased risks. Below-investment-grade securities are considered to be speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to timely repay principal and pay interest or dividends in accordance with the terms of the obligation and may have more credit risk than investment-grade rated securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:

  • Prices of below-investment-grade securities are subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Negative economic developments may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on those of other higher-rated fixed income securities. In addition, the market values of below-investment-grade securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do the market values of higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates.
  • Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. The issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of higher-grade securities. Below-investment-grade securities are vulnerable to adverse changes in the issuer's industry and to general economic conditions. If the issuer experiences financial stress, it may not be able to pay interest and principal payments in a timely manner. The issuer's ability to pay its debt obligations also may be lessened by specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing. In the event of a default of an issuer of a below-investment-grade security, the Fund may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery or to negotiate new terms.
  • Below-investment-grade securities are frequently ranked junior to claims by other creditors. If the issuer cannot meet its obligations, the senior obligations are generally paid off before the junior obligations, which could limit the Fund's ability to fully recover principal or to receive interest payments when senior securities are in default. As a result, investors in below-investment-grade securities have a lower degree of protection with respect to principal and interest payments than do investors in higher rated securities.
  • There may be less of a market for below-investment securities and as a result they may be harder to sell at an acceptable price. Not all dealers maintain markets in all below-investment-grade securities. As a result, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. The Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its securities. Market quotations are generally available on many below-investment-grade securities only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. In addition, the trading volume for below-investment-grade securities is generally lower than that for higher rated securities and the secondary markets could contract under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. Under certain economic and/or market conditions, the Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain below-investment-grade securities due to the limit number of investors in that sector of the market. When the secondary market for below-investment-grade securities becomes more illiquid, or in the absence of readily available market quotations for such securities, the relative lack of reliable objective data makes it more difficult to value the Fund's securities and judgment plays a more important role in determining such valuations.
  • Below-investment-grade securities frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from the Fund before it matures. During times of falling interest rates, issuers of these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and finance them with securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them; the Fund may have to replace the securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return for the Fund.
  • Below-investment-grade securities markets may also react strongly to adverse news about an issuer or the economy, or to the perception or expectation of adverse news, whether or not it is based on fundamental analysis. An increase in interest rates could severely disrupt the market for below-investment-grade securities. Additionally, below-investment-grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. These developments could adversely affect a Fund's net asset value and investment practices, the secondary market for below-investment-grade securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the value and liquidity of outstanding below-investment-grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

These additional risks mean that the Fund may not receive the anticipated level of income from these securities, and the Fund's net asset value may be affected by declines in the value of lower-grade securities. Credit rating downgrades of a single issuer or related similar issuers whose securities the Fund holds in significant amounts could substantially and unexpectedly increase the Fund's exposure to below-investment-grade securities and the risks associated with them, especially liquidity and default risk.

While securities rated "Baa" by Moody's, "BBB" by S&P or Fitch, or the similar category by the Sub-Adviser if an unrated security, are investment-grade, they may be subject to special risks and have some speculative characteristics.

Floating Rate and Variable Rate Obligations. Some securities the Funds can purchase have variable or floating interest rates. Variable rates are adjusted at stated periodic intervals. Variable rate obligations can have a demand feature that allows the Funds to tender the obligation to the issuer or a third party prior to its maturity. The tender may be at par value plus accrued interest, according to the terms of the obligations.

The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is adjusted automatically according to a stated prevailing market rate, such as a bank's prime rate, the 91-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, or some other standard. The instrument's rate is adjusted automatically each time the base rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate note is also based on a stated prevailing market rate but is adjusted automatically at specified intervals of not less than one year. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on such securities reduce the fluctuation in their market value. As interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less than that for fixed-rate obligations of the same maturity. The Sub-Adviser may determine that an unrated floating rate or variable rate demand obligation meets the Funds' quality standards by reason of being backed by a letter of credit or guarantee issued by a bank that meets those quality standards.

Floating rate and variable rate demand notes that have a stated maturity in excess of one year may have features that permit the holder to recover the principal amount of the underlying security at specified intervals not exceeding one year and upon no more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of that type of note normally has a corresponding right in its discretion, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the note plus accrued interest. Generally, the issuer must provide a specified number of days' notice to the holder.

Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional interests in pools of assets, typically accounts receivable or consumer loans. They are issued by trusts or special-purpose corporations. They are similar to mortgage-backed securities, described below, and are backed by a pool of assets that consist of obligations of individual borrowers. The income from the pool is passed through to the holders of the asset-back security. The pools may offer a credit enhancement, such as a bank letter of credit, to try to reduce the risks that the underlying debtors will not pay their obligations when due. However, the enhancement, if any, might not be for the full par value of the security. If the enhancement is exhausted and any required payments of interest or repayments of principal are not made, that Fund could suffer losses on its investment or delays in receiving payment.

The value of an asset-backed security is affected by changes in the market's perception of the asset backing the security, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans, or the financial institution providing any credit enhancement, and is also affected if any credit enhancement has been exhausted. The risks of investing in asset-backed securities are ultimately related to payment of consumer loans by the individual borrowers. As a purchaser of an asset-backed security, a Fund would generally have no recourse to the entity that originated the loans in the event of default by a borrower. The underlying loans are subject to prepayments, which may shorten the weighted average life of asset-backed securities and may lower their return, in the same manner as in the case of mortgage-backed securities and CMOs, described below.

Mortgage-Related Securities. Mortgage-related securities (also referred to as mortgage-backed securities) are a form of fixed-income investment collateralized by pools of commercial or residential mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by government agencies or entities or by private issuers. These securities include collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), mortgage pass-through securities, stripped mortgage pass-through securities, interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs") and other real-estate related securities.

Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government have relatively little credit risk (depending on the nature of the issuer). Privately issued mortgage-related securities have some credit risk, as the underlying mortgage may not fully collateralize the obligation and full payment of them is not guaranteed. Both types of mortgage-related securities are subject to interest rate risks and prepayment risks, as described in the Prospectuses.

As with other debt securities, the prices of mortgage-related securities tend to move inversely to changes in interest rates. The Fixed Income Funds and Capital Income Fund/VA can buy mortgage-related securities that have interest rates that move inversely to changes in general interest rates, based on a multiple of a specific index. Although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when interest rates rise, the converse is not always the case.

In periods of declining interest rates, mortgages are more likely to be prepaid. Therefore, a mortgage-related security's maturity can be shortened by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages. Therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the security's yield. The principal that is returned earlier than expected may have to be reinvested in other investments having a lower yield than the prepaid security. Therefore, these securities may be less effective as a means of "locking in" attractive long-term interest rates, and they may have less potential for appreciation during periods of declining interest rates, than conventional bonds with comparable stated maturities.

Prepayment risks can lead to substantial fluctuations in the value of a mortgage-related security. In turn, this can affect the value of that Fund's shares. If a mortgage-related security has been purchased at a premium, all or part of the premium that Fund paid may be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security, whether that results from interest rate changes or prepayments on the underlying mortgages. In the case of stripped mortgage-related securities, if they experience greater rates of prepayment than were anticipated, that Fund may fail to recoup its initial investment on the security.

During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of mortgage-related securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower prepayments effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected maturity. Generally, that would cause the value of the security to fluctuate more widely in responses to changes in interest rates. If the prepayments on a Fund's mortgage-related securities were to decrease broadly, that Fund's effective duration, and therefore its sensitivity to interest rate changes, would increase. As with other debt securities, the values of mortgage-related securities may be affected by changes in the market's perception of the creditworthiness of the entity issuing the securities or guaranteeing them. Their values may also be affected by changes in government regulations and tax policies.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. CMOs are multi-class bonds that are backed by pools of mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through certificates. They may be collateralized by:

  1. pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac,
  2. unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs,
  3. unsecuritized conventional mortgages,
  4. other mortgage-related securities, or
  5. any combination of these.

Each class of CMO, referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the underlying mortgages may cause the CMO to be retired much earlier than the stated maturity or final distribution date. The principal and interest on the underlying mortgages may be allocated among the several classes of a series of a CMO in different ways. One or more trenches may have coupon rates that reset periodically at a specified increase over an index. These are floating rate CMOs, and typically have a cap on the coupon rate. Inverse floating rate CMOs have a coupon rate that moves in the reverse direction to an applicable index. The coupon rate on these CMOs will increase as general interest rates decrease. These are usually much more volatile than fixed rate CMOs or floating rate CMOs.

U.S. Government Securities. These are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or other government agencies or federally-chartered corporate entities referred to as "instrumentalities." The obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities in which the Funds may invest may or may not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and credit" of the United States. "Full faith and credit," means generally that the taxing power of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of principal on a security. If a security is not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the owner of the security must look principally to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment. The owner might not be able to assert a claim against the United States if the issuing agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Funds will invest in securities of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities only if the Sub-Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to the agency or instrumentality is minimal.

U.S. Treasury Obligations. These include Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (maturities of one to 10 years), and Treasury bonds (maturities of more than 10 years). Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States as to timely payments of interest and repayments of principal. They also can include U.S. Treasury securities that have been "stripped" by a Federal Reserve Bank, zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities described below, and Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities ("TIPS").

Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities. The Funds can buy these TIPS, which are designed to provide an investment vehicle that is not vulnerable to inflation. The interest rate paid by TIPS is fixed. The principal value rises or falls semi-annually based on changes in the published Consumer Price Index. If inflation occurs, the principal and interest payments on TIPS are adjusted to protect investors from inflationary loss. If deflation occurs, the principal and interest payments will be adjusted downward, although the principal will not fall below its face amount at maturity.

Obligations Issued or Guaranteed by U.S. Government Agencies or Instrumentalities. These include direct obligations and mortgage-related securities that have different levels of credit support from the government. Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") pass-through mortgage certificates (called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, such as Federal National Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them, such as Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") obligations ("Freddie Macs").

U.S. Government Mortgage-Related Securities. The Funds can invest in a variety of mortgage-related securities that are issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, some of which are described below.

GNMA Certificates. The Government National Mortgage Association is a wholly-owned corporate instrumentality of the United States within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA's principal programs involve its guarantees of privately-issued securities backed by pools of mortgages. Ginnie Maes are debt securities representing an interest in one mortgage or a pool of mortgages that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") or the Farmers Home Administration ("FMHA") or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration ("VA").

The Ginnie Maes in which the Funds invest are of the "fully modified pass-through" type. They provide that the registered holders of the Ginnie Maes will receive timely monthly payments of the pro-rata share of the scheduled principal payments on the underlying mortgages, whether or not those amounts are collected by the issuers. Amounts paid include, on a pro rata basis, any prepayment of principal of such mortgages and interest (net of servicing and other charges) on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Ginnie Maes, whether or not the interest on the underlying mortgages has been collected by the issuers.

The Ginnie Maes purchased by the Funds are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA. In giving that guaranty, GNMA expects that payments received by the issuers of Ginnie Maes on account of the mortgages backing the Ginnie Maes will be sufficient to make the required payments of principal of and interest on those Ginnie Maes. However, if those payments are insufficient, the guaranty agreements between the issuers of the Ginnie Maes and GNMA require the issuers to make advances sufficient for the payments. If the issuers fail to make those payments, GNMA will do so.

Under federal law, the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts that may be required to be paid under any guaranty issued by GNMA as to such mortgage pools. An opinion of an Assistant Attorney General of the United States, dated December 9, 1969, states that such guaranties "constitute general obligations of the United States backed by its full faith and credit." GNMA is empowered to borrow from the United States Treasury to the extent necessary to make any payments of principal and interest required under those guaranties.

Ginnie Maes are backed by the aggregate indebtedness secured by the underlying FHA-insured, FMHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages. Except to the extent of payments received by the issuers on account of such mortgages, Ginnie Maes do not constitute a liability of those issuers, nor do they evidence any recourse against those issuers. Recourse is solely against GNMA. Holders of Ginnie Maes (such as the Funds) have no security interest in or lien on the underlying mortgages.

Monthly payments of principal will be made, and additional prepayments of principal may be made, to the Funds with respect to the mortgages underlying the Ginnie Maes owned by the Funds. All of the mortgages in the pools relating to the Ginnie Maes in the Funds are subject to prepayment without any significant premium or penalty, at the option of the mortgagors. While the mortgages on one-to-four family dwellings underlying certain Ginnie Maes have a stated maturity of up to 30 years, it has been the experience of the mortgage industry that the average life of comparable mortgages, as a result of prepayments, refinancing and payments from foreclosures, is considerably less.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) Certificates. FHLMC, a corporate instrumentality of the United States, issues FHLMC Certificates representing interests in mortgage loans. FHLMC guarantees to each registered holder of a FHLMC Certificate timely payment of the amounts representing a holder's proportionate share in:

  1. interest payments less servicing and guarantee fees,
  2. principal prepayments, and
  3. the ultimate collection of amounts representing the holder's proportionate interest in principal payments on the mortgage loans in the pool represented by the FHLMC Certificate, in each case whether or not such amounts are actually received.

The obligations of FHLMC under its guarantees are obligations solely of FHLMC and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) Certificates. Fannie Mae, a federally-chartered and privately-owned corporation, issues Fannie Mae Certificates which are backed by a pool of mortgage loans. Fannie Mae guarantees to each registered holder of a Fannie Mae Certificate that the holder will receive amounts representing the holder's proportionate interest in scheduled principal and interest payments, and any principal prepayments, on the mortgage loans in the pool represented by such Certificate, less servicing and guarantee fees, and the holder's proportionate interest in the full principal amount of any foreclosed or other liquidated mortgage loan. In each case the guarantee applies whether or not those amounts are actually received. The obligations of Fannie Mae under its guarantees are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities other than Fannie Mae.

Forward Rolls. The Funds can enter into "forward roll" transactions with respect to mortgage-related securities (also referred to as "mortgage dollar rolls"). In this type of transaction, a Fund sells a mortgage-related security to a buyer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security (the same type of security, and having the same coupon and maturity) at a later date at a set price. The securities that are repurchased will have the same interest rate as the securities that are sold, but typically will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages (with different prepayment histories) than the securities that have been sold. Proceeds from the sale are invested in short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements. The income from those investments, plus the fees from the forward roll transaction, are expected to generate income to a Fund in excess of the yield on the securities that have been sold.

The Funds will only enter into "covered" rolls. To assure its future payment of the purchase price, the Funds will identify on its books liquid assets in an amount equal to the payment obligation under the roll.

These transactions have risks. During the period between the sale and the repurchase, the Fund will not be entitled to receive interest and principal payments on the securities that have been sold. It is possible that the market value of the securities the Fund sells may decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase securities.

Zero-Coupon U.S. Government Securities. The Funds may buy zero-coupon U.S. government securities. These will typically be U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves, or certificates representing interests in those stripped debt obligations and coupons.

Zero-coupon securities do not make periodic interest payments and are sold at a deep discount from their face value at maturity. The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date. This discount depends on the time remaining until maturity, as well as prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the credit quality of the issuer. The discount typically decreases as the maturity date approaches.

Because zero-coupon securities pay no interest and compound semi-annually at the rate fixed at the time of their issuance, their value is generally more volatile than the value of other debt securities that pay interest. Their value may fall more dramatically than the value of interest-bearing securities when interest rates rise. When prevailing interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities tend to rise more rapidly in value because they have a fixed rate of return.

A Fund's investment in zero-coupon securities may cause that Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the zero-coupon investment. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a Fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of Fund shares.

Commercial (Privately-Issued) Mortgage Related Securities. The Funds can invest in commercial mortgage-related securities issued by private entities. Generally these are multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans on commercial properties. They are subject to the credit risk of the issuer. These securities typically are structured to provide protection to investors in senior classes from possible losses on the underlying loans. They do so by having holders of subordinated classes take the first loss if there are defaults on the underlying loans. They may also be protected to some extent by guarantees, reserve funds or additional collateralization mechanisms.

Inflation-Indexed Debt Securities. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to an identified rate of inflation. For example, the U.S. Treasury uses the Consumer Price Index as the inflation measure for Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of the inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to smaller principal amounts) will be reduced. If the index measuring inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payable (calculated with respect to a larger principal amounts) will increase. With respect to certain inflation-indexed bonds, instead of adjusting the bond's principal value, the inflation adjustment is reflected in the coupon payment. Because of this inflation adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed-rate bonds with similar maturities.

Special Risks of Inflation-Indexed Debt Securities. If inflation declines, the principal amount or the interest rate of an inflation-indexed bond will be adjusted downward. This will result in reduced income and may result in a decline in the bond's price which could cause losses for the fund. Interest payments on inflation-protected debt securities can be unpredictable and will vary as the principal or interest rate is adjusted for inflation. Inflation-indexed bonds normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise which could cause losses for the fund. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate).

Loan Participation Interests. The Fund may invest in loan participation interests, subject to the Fund's limitation on investments in illiquid investments. A participation interest is an undivided interest in a loan made by the issuing financial institution in the proportion that the buyer's participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the loan. The issuing financial institution may have no obligation to the Fund other than to pay the Fund the proportionate amount of the principal and interest payments it receives. The Fund may also buy interests in trusts and other entities that hold loan obligations. 

Participation interests are primarily dependent upon the creditworthiness of the borrowing corporation, which is obligated to make payments of principal and interest on the loan. There is a risk that a borrower may have difficulty making payments. If a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments, the Fund could experience a reduction in its income. The value of that participation interest might also decline, which could affect the net asset value of the Fund's shares. If the issuing financial institution fails to perform its obligations under the participation agreement, the Fund might incur costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In some cases, these participation interests, whether held directly by the Fund or indirectly through an interest in a trust or other entity, may be partially "unfunded," meaning the Fund may be required to advance additional money on future dates. 

Loan Assignments. Capital Income Fund/VA may also purchase a loan by assignment. When the Fund purchases a loan by assignment, it typically succeeds to whatever rights the assigning lender had under the loan agreement and becomes a "lender" under the loan agreement, which may provide that the Fund can enforce the terms of the agreement and may provide that the Fund may have rights with respect to any funds acquired by the borrower's other lenders. Subject to the terms of the loan agreement, the Fund may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement and may have rights with respect to any funds acquired by other lenders through set-off. When the Fund buys an assignment, it may be required to pay a fee, or forgo a portion of interest and fees payable to it, to the lender selling the assignment. In addition, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the lending agent. Occasionally, the assignor pays a fee to the assignee. If the Fund assigns a loan, it may be required to pass along to a buyer a portion of any fees that the Fund is entitled to. Loan assignments are subject to the Fund's limit on investing in illiquid securities and are also subject to credit risk.

Event-Linked Bonds. The Funds may invest in "event-linked" bonds. Event-linked bonds, which are sometimes referred to as "catastrophe" bonds, are fixed income securities for which the return of principal and payment of interest is contingent on the non-occurrence of a specific trigger event, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or other occurrence that leads to physical or economic loss. In some cases, the trigger event will not be deemed to have occurred unless the event is of a certain magnitude (based on scientific readings) or causes a certain measurable amount of loss to the issuer, a particular industry group or a reference index. If the trigger event occurs prior to maturity, a Fund may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest. The Funds may also invest in similar bonds where a Fund may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest if the mortality rate in a geographic area exceeds a stated threshold prior to maturity whether or not a particular catastrophic event has occurred.

Event-linked bonds may be issued by government agencies, insurance companies, reinsurers, and financial institutions, among other issuers, or special purpose vehicles associated with the foregoing. Often event-linked bonds provide for extensions of maturity in order to process and audit loss claims in those cases when a trigger event has occurred or is likely to have occurred. An extension of maturity may increase a bond's volatility.

Event-linked bonds may expose the Funds to certain other risks, including issuer default, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, liquidity risk and adverse tax consequences. Lack of a liquid market may result in higher transaction costs and the possibility that a Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. Event-linked bonds are typically rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organization and a Fund will only invest in event-linked bonds that meet the credit quality requirements for the Fund.

Exchange-Traded Notes. Exchange-traded notes (‘‘ETNs") are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange (e.g., the NYSE) during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold the ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day's market benchmark or strategy factor.

ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer's credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer's credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When a Fund invests in ETNs, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. These fees and expenses generally reduce the return realized at maturity or upon redemption from an investment in an ETN; therefore, the value of the index underlying the ETN must increase significantly in order for an investor in an ETN to receive at least the principal amount of the investment at maturity or upon redemption. A Fund's decision to sell ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Certain of the Funds, particularly Diversified Alternaitves Fund/VA, Capital Income Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA, may invest in REITs. REITs are trusts that sell shares to investors and use the proceeds to invest in real estate. A REIT can focus on a particular project, such as a shopping center or apartment complex, or may buy many properties or properties located in a particular geographic region.

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. An equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings and derives its income primarily from rental income. An equity REIT may also realize capital gains (or losses) by selling real estate properties in its portfolio that have appreciated (or depreciated) in value. A mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real estate, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans. A mortgage REIT generally derives its income primarily from interest payments on the credit it has extended. A hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs, generally by holding both ownership interests and mortgage interests in real estate. 

To the extent that a REIT focuses on a particular project, sector of the real estate market or geographic region, its share price will be affected by economic and political events affecting that project, sector or geographic region. Property values may fall due to increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from unanticipated economic, legal, cultural or technological developments. REIT prices also may drop because of the failure of borrowers to pay their loans, a dividend cut, a disruption to the real estate investment sales market, changes in federal or state taxation policies affecting REITs, and poor management.

Foreign Securities. The Equity Funds and the Fixed Income Funds may invest in foreign securities, and Global Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA expect to have substantial investments in foreign securities. These include equity securities issued by foreign companies and debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign companies or governments, including supra-national entities. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt securities of companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States and debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments other than the U.S. government or by foreign supra-national entities. They also include securities of companies (including those that are located in the U.S. or organized under U.S. law) that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from foreign businesses, investments or sales, or that have a significant portion of their assets abroad. They may be traded on foreign securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA has no limitation on the amount of foreign securities in which it may invest but will not concentrate 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of any one foreign government.

Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American Depository Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign securities" for the purpose of a Fund's investment allocations, because they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks, discussed below, that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.

Because the Funds may purchase securities denominated in foreign currencies, a change in the value of such foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the amount of income the Funds have available for distribution. Because a portion of the Funds' investment income may be received in foreign currencies, the Funds will be required to compute their income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the Funds will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. After the Funds have distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the Funds' having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was available from investment income, which could result in a return of capital to shareholders.

Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers. They include the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. The Funds will hold foreign currency only in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign securities.

Foreign Debt Obligations. The debt obligations of foreign governments and entities may or may not be supported by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. The Fixed Income Funds may buy securities issued by certain supra-national entities, which include entities designated or supported by governments to promote economic reconstruction or development, international banking organizations and related government agencies. Examples are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly called the "World Bank"), the Asian Development bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The governmental members of these supra-national entities are "stockholders" that typically make capital contributions and may be committed to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its borrowings. A supra-national entity's lending activities may be limited to a percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no assurance that the constituent foreign governments will continue to be able or willing to honor their capitalization commitments for those entities.

The Fixed Income Funds can invest in U.S. dollar-denominated "Brady Bonds." These foreign debt obligations may be fixed-rate par bonds or floating-rate discount bonds. They are generally collateralized in full as to repayment of principal at maturity by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon obligations that have the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds can be viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity. Those uncollateralized amounts constitute what is called the "residual risk".

If there is a default on collateralized Brady Bonds resulting in acceleration of the payment obligations of the issuer, the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will those obligations be sold to distribute the proceeds. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds. The defaulted bonds will continue to remain outstanding, and the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the normal course. Because of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, Brady Bonds are considered speculative investments.

Risks of Foreign Investing. Investments in foreign securities may offer special opportunities for investing but also present special additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in domestic securities. Some of these additional risks are:

  • reduction of income by foreign taxes;
  • fluctuation in value of foreign investments due to changes in currency rates or currency control regulations (for example, currency blockage);
  • transaction charges for currency exchange;
  • lack of public information about foreign issuers;
  • lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in foreign countries comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers;
  • less volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges;
  • greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the U.S.;
  • less governmental regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and brokers than in the U.S.;
  • greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits;
  • higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
  • increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
  • possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, currency devaluation, political, financial or social instability or adverse diplomatic developments; and
  • unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign economies.

In the past, U.S. government policies have discouraged certain investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions, and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.

Special Risks of Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing markets abroad may also offer special opportunities for growth investing but have greater risks than more developed foreign markets, such as those in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. There may be even less liquidity in their securities markets, and settlements of purchases and sales of securities may be subject to additional delays. They are subject to greater risks of limitations on the repatriation of income and profits because of currency restrictions imposed by local governments. Those countries may also be subject to the risk of greater political and economic instability, which can greatly affect the volatility of prices of securities in those countries. The Sub-Adviser will consider these factors when evaluating securities in these markets.

Eurozone Investment Risks. The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of most western European countries and a growing number of eastern European countries, each known as a member state. One of the key mandates of the EU is the establishment and administration of a common single market, consisting of, among other things, a single currency and a common trade policy. In order to pursue this goal, member states established the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), which sets out different stages and commitments that member states need to follow to achieve greater economic and monetary policy coordination, including the adoption of a single currency, the euro. Many member states have adopted the euro as their currency and, as a result, are subject to the monetary policies of the European Central Bank (ECB).

The global economic crisis that began in 2008 has caused severe financial difficulties for many EU countries, pushing some EU countries to the brink of insolvency and causing others to experience recession, large public debt, restructuring of government debt, credit rating downgrades and an overall weakening of banking and financial sectors. Recovery from the crisis has been challenged by high unemployment and budget deficits as well as by weaknesses in sovereign debt issued by Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Italy and other EU countries. The sovereign debt of several of these countries was downgraded in 2012 and many remain subject to further downgrades, which may have a negative effect on European and non-European banks that have significant exposure to sovereign debt. Since 2010, several countries, including Greece, Italy, Spain, the Republic of Ireland and Portugal, agreed to multi-year bailout loans from the ECB, the International Monetary Fund, and other institutions. To address budget deficits and public debt concerns, a number of European countries have imposed strict austerity measures and comprehensive financial and labor market reforms. In the wake of the crisis, EU countries will need to make economic and political decisions in order to restore economies to sustainable growth. While a number of initiatives have been instituted to strengthen regulation and supervision of financial markets in the EU, greater regulation is expected but the exact nature and effect of this regulation is still unknown.

Some EU countries may continue to be dependent on assistance from the ECB, the International Monetary Fund, or other governments and institutions. Such assistance could depend on a country's implementation of reforms or attainment of a certain level of performance. Failure by one or more EU countries to reach those objectives or an insufficient level of assistance could result in a deeper or prolonged economic downturn, which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in European countries. By adopting the euro, a member country relinquishes control of its own monetary policies. As a result, European countries are significantly affected by fiscal and monetary controls implemented by the EMU and may be limited to some degree from implementing their own economic policies. The euro may not fully reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the various economies that comprise the EMU and Europe generally.

Additionally, it is possible that EMU member countries could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the monetary union. The effects of such outcomes on the rest of the Eurozone and global markets as a whole are unpredictable, but are likely to be negative, including adversely impacted market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and more volatile and illiquid markets. Under such circumstances, investments denominated in euros or replacement currencies may be difficult to value, the ability to operate an investment strategy in connection with euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably.

Publicly Traded Partnerships; Master Limited Partnerships. Certain of the Funds, particularly Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, Capital Income Fund/VA, Equity Income Fund/VA, Main Street Fund/VA, Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA, and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA, may invest in publicly traded limited partnerships such as master limited partnerships ("MLPs"). MLPs issue units that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and are freely tradable on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. An MLP may have one or more general partners, who conduct the business, and one or more limited partners, who contribute capital. The general partner and partners are jointly and severally responsible for the liabilities of the MLP. A Fund invests as a limited partner, and normally would not be liable for the debts of an MLP beyond the amounts the Fund has contributed but it would not be shielded to the same extent that a shareholder of a corporation would be. In certain circumstances, creditors of an MLP would have the right to seek a return of capital that had been distributed to a limited partner. This right of an MLP's creditors would continue even after the Fund had sold its investment in the partnership. MLPs typically invest in real estate, oil and gas and equipment leasing assets, but they also finance entertainment, research and development, and other projects.

MLP Equity Securities. Equity securities issued by MLPs currently consist of common units, subordinated units and preferred units, as described more fully below.

MLP Common Units. The common units of many MLPs are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE'') and the Nasdaq National Market System ("Nasdaq''). MLP common units can be purchased through open market transactions and underwritten offerings, but may also be acquired through direct placements and privately negotiated transactions. Holders of MLP common units typically have very limited control and voting rights. Holders of such common units are typically entitled to receive the minimum quarterly distribution ("MQD"), including arrearage rights, from the issuer. Generally, an MLP must pay (or set aside for payment) the MQD to holders of common units before any distributions may be paid to subordinated unit holders. In addition, incentive distributions are typically not paid to the general partner or managing member unless the quarterly distributions on the common units exceed specified threshold levels above the MQD. In the event of liquidation, common unit holders are intended to have a preference to the remaining assets of the issuer over holders of subordinated units. MLPs also issue different classes of common units that may have different voting, trading, and distribution rights.

MLP Subordinated Units. Subordinated units, which, like common units, represent limited partner or member interests, are not typically listed or traded on an exchange. Outstanding subordinated units may be purchased through negotiated transactions directly with holders of such units or newly issued subordinated units may be purchased directly from the issuer. Holders of such subordinated units are generally entitled to receive a distribution only after the MQD and any arrearages from prior quarters have been paid to holders of common units. Holders of subordinated units typically have the right to receive distributions before any incentive distributions are payable to the general partner or managing member. Subordinated units generally do not provide arrearage rights. Most MLP subordinated units are convertible into common units after the passage of a specified period of time or upon the achievement by the issuer of specified financial goals. MLPs also issue different classes of subordinated units that may have different voting, trading, and distribution rights.

MLP Convertible Subordinated Units. MLP convertible subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to the MLPs, and institutional investors. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unitholders. Subordinated units may be purchased in direct placements from such persons or other persons that may hold such units. MLP convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified MQD, plus any arrearages, and may receive less than common unitholders in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unitholders generally are entitled to MQD prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner, but are not entitled to arrearage rights. Therefore, MLP convertible subordinated units generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. They are generally convertible automatically into the senior common units of the same issuer at a one-to-one ratio upon the passage of time or the satisfaction of certain financial tests. Although the means by which convertible subordinated units convert into senior common units depend on a security's specific terms, MLP convertible subordinated units typically are exchanged for common shares. These units do not trade on a national exchange or OTC, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. The value of a convertible subordinated unit is a function of its worth if converted into the underlying common units. Convertible subordinated units generally have similar voting rights as do MLP common units. Distributions may be paid in cash or in-kind.

MLP Preferred Units. MLP preferred units are not typically listed or traded on an exchange. MLP preferred units can be purchased through negotiated transactions directly with MLPs, affiliates of MLPs and institutional holders of such units. Holders of MLP preferred units can be entitled to a wide range of voting and other rights, depending on the structure of each separate security.

MLP General Partner or Managing Member Interests. The general partner or managing member interest in MLPs is typically retained by the original sponsors of an MLP, such as its founders, corporate partners and entities that sell assets to the MLP. The holder of the general partner or managing member interest can be liable in certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder's investment in the general partner or managing member. General partner or managing member interests often confer direct board participation rights in, and in many cases control over the operations of, the MLP. General partner or managing member interests can be privately held or owned by publicly traded entities. General partner or managing member interests receive cash distributions, typically in an amount of up to 2% of available cash, which is contractually defined in the partnership or limited liability company agreement. In addition, holders of general partner or managing member interests typically receive incentive distribution rights ("IDRs''), which provide them with an increasing share of the entity's aggregate cash distributions upon the payment of per common unit distributions that exceed specified threshold levels above the MQD. Due to the IDRs, general partners of MLPs have higher distribution growth prospects than their underlying MLPs, but quarterly incentive distribution payments would also decline at a greater rate than the decline rate in quarterly distributions to common and subordinated unit holders in the event of a reduction in the MLP's quarterly distribution. The ability of the limited partners or members to remove the general partner or managing member without cause is typically very limited. In addition, some MLPs permit the holder of IDRs to reset, under specified circumstances, the incentive distribution levels and receive compensation in exchange for the distribution rights given up in the reset.

MLP Debt Securities. Debt securities issued by MLPs may include those rated below investment grade or that are unrated but judged to be below investment grade by the Sub-Adviser at the time of purchase. A debt security of an MLP will be considered to be investment grade if it is rated as such by one of the rating organizations or, if unrated, are judged to be investment grade by the Sub-Adviser at the time of purchase. Investments in such securities may not offer the tax characteristics of equity securities of MLPs.

I-Shares. I-Shares represent an indirect ownership interest in an MLP and are issued by an MLP affiliate. The MLP affiliate uses the proceeds from the sale of I-Shares to purchase limited partnership interests in the MLP in the form of I-units. Thus, I-Shares represent an indirect interest in an MLP limited partnership interest. I-units have similar features as MLP common units in terms of voting rights, liquidation preference and distribution. I-Shares themselves have limited voting rights and are similar in that respect to MLP common units. I-Shares differ from MLP common units primarily in that instead of receiving cash distributions, holders of I-Shares will receive distributions of additional I-Shares in an amount equal to the cash distributions received by common unit holders. I-Shares are traded on the NYSE. Issuers of MLP I-Shares are treated as corporations and not partnerships for tax purposes. MLP affiliates also include publicly traded limited liability companies that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests of MLPs.

Risks of Investing in MLPs. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of units of MLPs have more limited control rights and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP as compared to holders of stock of a corporation. For example, unit holders may not elect the general partner or the directors of the general partner and they have limited ability to remove an MLP's general partner. MLPs are controlled by their general partners, which may be subject to conflicts of interest. General partners typically have limited fiduciary duties to an MLP, which could allow a general partner to favor its own interests over the MLP's interests. General partners of MLPs often have limited call rights that may require unit holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. MLPs may also issue additional common units without unit holder approval, which would dilute the interests of existing unit holders, including the Fund's ownership interest.

Neither the Fund nor its investment manager has control over the actions of underlying MLPs, particularly as to whether the MLPs can make distributions to its partners and on the tax character of those distributions. The amount of cash that each individual MLP can distribute to its partners will depend on the amount of cash it generates from operations, which will vary from quarter to quarter depending on factors affecting the particular business lines of the MLP. Available cash will also depend on the MLPs' level of operating costs (including incentive distributions to the general partner), level of capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisition costs (if any), fluctuations in working capital needs and other factors.

MLP common units, like other equity securities, can be affected by macroeconomic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment towards an issuer or certain market sector, changes in a particular issuer's financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs, like the prices other equity securities, also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including earnings power and coverage ratios.

Tax Risk of Master Limited Partnerships. MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income plus any applicable state and local taxes. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment.

The benefit the Fund is expected to derive from its investment in MLPs depends largely on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, an MLP has no federal income tax liability at the entity level. If, as a result of a change in current law or a change in an MLP's underlying asset mix, an MLP were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the MLP would be obligated to pay federal income tax on its income at the corporate tax rate (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). If an MLP were classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the amount of cash available for distribution would be reduced and part or all of the distributions the Fund receives might be taxed entirely as dividend income. Therefore, treatment of one or more MLPs as a corporation for federal income tax purposes could affect the Fund's investment in the MLP and would reduce the amount of cash available to pay or distribute to the Fund. As discussed under below, a Fund may also invest in MLPs that qualify as publicly traded partnerships treated as corporations for U.S. tax purposes.

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis. For example, members of Congress are considering substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect certain publicly traded partnerships. Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively. Specifically, federal income tax legislation has been proposed that would eliminate partnership tax treatment for certain publicly traded partnerships and re characterize certain types of income received from partnerships. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in MLPs and therefore the value of the Fund. In addition, federal tax incentives are widely used by oil, gas and coal companies. If those incentives were eliminated, or if new fees were imposed on certain energy producers, MLPs and other natural resources sector companies in which a Fund invests, and/or the natural resources sector generally, could be adversely affected.

A Fund will be a limited partner in the MLPs in which it invests. As a result, it will be allocated a pro rata share of income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses from those MLPs. Historically, a significant portion of income from such MLPs has been offset by tax deductions. The percentage of an MLP's income and gains which is offset by tax deductions and losses will fluctuate over time for various reasons. A significant slowdown in acquisition activity by MLPs held in a Fund's portfolio could result in a reduction of accelerated depreciation generated by new acquisitions, which may result in increased current income tax liability to the Fund.

A Fund currently may also invest in MLPs that may qualify to be taxed as corporations for United States federal tax purposes and that make distributions in additional shares rather than cash. Because these distributions of additional shares will be made proportionately to all owners of shares, the receipt of these additional shares will not be included in the gross income of an owner of shares for United States federal income tax purposes. When the Fund as an owner of the shares of such an MLP receives additional shares, it will be required to allocate its tax basis in its shares of the MLP equally between shares that the Fund already owns and the new additional shares received. Gain or loss recognized by the Fund as an owner of shares, on the sale or other disposition of a share will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. As a regulated investment company, the Funds are required to derive at least 90% of its gross income for every taxable year from qualifying income. As an owner of shares of such an MLP, a Fund will not report on its United States federal income tax return any of such an MLP's items of income, gain, loss and deduction. Thus, ownership of shares by a Fund will not result in income which is not qualifying income to the fund that elects to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal tax purposes. Furthermore, any gain from the sale or other disposition of the shares of an MLP that a Fund owns, and the associated purchase rights, will qualify for purposes of that 90% test. Finally, shares, and the associated purchase rights, will constitute qualifying assets to mutual funds which also must own at least 50% qualifying assets at the end of each quarter.

Energy Infrastructure Industry MLPs. Certian of the Funds, paricularly Diversified Alternaitves Fund/VA, may invest in MLPs which are engaged in the: (i) gathering, transporting, processing, treating, terminalling, storing, refining, distributing, mining or marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products or coal, (ii) the acquisition, exploitation and development of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, (iii) processing, treating, and refining of natural gas liquids and crude oil, and (iv) owning, managing and transporting alternative energy infrastructure assets, including alternative fuels such as ethanol, hydrogen and biodiesel. These MLPs are subject to many of the risks associated with investments in the energy infrastructure companies, including the following:

  • Commodity Risks. The return on an investment in an MLP will depend on the margins received by MLPs and energy infrastructure companies. These margins may fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors including global and domestic economic conditions, weather conditions, natural disasters, the supply and price of imported energy commodities, the production and storage levels of energy, political instability, terrorist activities, transportation facilities, energy conservation, domestic and foreign governmental regulation and taxation and the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems. Volatility of commodity prices also may make it more difficult for MLPs and energy infrastructure companies to raise capital to the extent the market perceives that their performance may be directly or indirectly tied to commodity prices.
  • Supply and Demand Risks. A decrease in the production of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, coal or other energy commodities, a reduction in the volume of such commodities available for transportation, mining, processing, storage or distribution, or a sustained decline in demand for such commodities, may adversely affect the financial performance or prospects of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies. MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which will be impacted by a wide range of factors, including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, growing interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, and economic conditions, among others.
  • Operational Risks. MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are subject to various operational risks, such as disruption of operations, inability to timely and effectively integrate newly acquired assets, unanticipated expenses, lack of proper asset integrity, underestimated cost projections, inability to renew or increased costs of rights of way, failure to obtain the necessary permits to operate and failure of third-party contractors to perform their contractual obligations. Thus, some MLPs and energy infrastructure companies may be subject to construction risk, acquisition risk or other risks arising from their specific business strategies.
  • Acquisition Risks. The ability of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies to grow and, where applicable, to increase dividends or distributions to their equity holders can be highly dependent on their ability to make acquisitions of energy businesses that result in an increase in free cash flow. In the event that such companies are unable to make such acquisitions, their future growth and ability to make or raise dividends or distributions will be limited and their ability to repay their debt and make payments to preferred equity holders may be weakened. Furthermore, even if these companies do consummate acquisitions that they believe will be accretive, the acquisitions may instead result in a decrease in free cash flow.
  • Regulatory Risks. MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are subject to significant federal, state and local government regulation in virtually every aspect of their operations. Various governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including civil fines, injunctions or both. More extensive laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted in the future which would likely increase compliance costs and may adversely affect the financial performance of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies.
  • Rising Interest Rate Risks. The values of debt and equity securities of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies held by a Fund are susceptible to decline when interest rates rise. Rising interest rates could adversely impact the financial performance of these companies by increasing their costs of capital. This may reduce their ability to execute acquisitions or expansion projects in a cost-effective manner.
  • Terrorism Risks. The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 had a disruptive effect on the economy and the securities markets. Events in the Middle East could have significant adverse effects on the U.S. economy and the stock market. Uncertainty surrounding military strikes or actions or a sustained military campaign may affect an MLP's or energy infrastructure company's operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel supplies and markets, and transmission and distribution facilities could be direct targets, or indirect casualties, of an act of terror. The U.S. government has issued warnings that energy assets, specifically the United States' pipeline infrastructure, may be the future target of terrorist organizations. In addition, changes in the insurance markets have made certain types of insurance more difficult, if not impossible, to obtain and have generally resulted in increased premium costs.
  • Weather Risks. Extreme weather patterns or environmental hazards, such as the BP oil spill in 2010, could result in significant volatility in the supply of energy and power and could adversely impact the value of the debt and equity securities of the MLPs and energy infrastructure industry in which a Fund may invest. This volatility may create fluctuations in commodity prices and earnings of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies.
  • Catastrophe Risk. The operations of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are subject to many hazards, including: damage to pipelines, storage tanks or related equipment and surrounding properties caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and other natural disasters; inadvertent damage from construction or other equipment; leaks of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum products or other hydrocarbons; and fires and explosions. These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage and may result in the curtailment or suspension of their related operations. Not all MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are fully insured against all risks inherent to their businesses. If a significant accident or event occurs that is not fully insured, it could adversely affect an MLP's or energy infrastructure company's operations and financial condition and the securities issued by the company.
  • Competition Risk. The MLPs and energy infrastructure companies may face substantial competition in acquiring assets, expanding or constructing assets and facilities, obtaining and retaining customers and contracts, securing trained personnel and operating their assets. Many of their competitors, including major oil companies, independent exploration and production companies, MLPs and other diversified energy companies, will have superior financial and other resources.
  • Depletion and Exploration Risk. Energy reserves naturally deplete as they are produced over time. Many energy companies are either engaged in the production of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, or coal, or are engaged in transporting, storing, distributing and processing these items or their derivatives on behalf of shippers. To maintain or grow their revenues, these companies or their customers need to maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply, through the development of existing sources or, through acquisitions. The financial performance of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies may be adversely affected if they, or the companies to whom they provide the service, are unable to cost-effectively acquire additional reserves sufficient to replace the depleted reserves. If an MLP or energy infrastructure company fails to add reserves by acquiring or developing them, its reserves and production will decline over time as the reserves are produced. If an MLP or energy infrastructure company is not able to raise capital on favorable terms, it may not be able to add to or maintain its reserves.
  • Financing Risk. Some MLPs and energy infrastructure companies may rely on capital markets to raise money to pay their existing obligations. Their ability to access the capital markets on attractive terms or at all may be affected by any of the risk factors associated with MLPs and energy infrastructure companies described above, by general economic and market conditions or by other factors. This may in turn affect their ability to satisfy their obligations to us. In addition, certain MLPs and energy infrastructure companies are dependent on their parents or sponsors for a majority of their revenues.

Greenfield Projects. Greenfield projects are energy-related projects built by private joint ventures formed by energy infrastructure companies. Greenfield projects may include the creation of a new pipeline, processing plant or storage facility or other energy infrastructure asset that is integrated with the company's existing assets. Greenfield projects involve less investment risk than typical private equity financing arrangements. The primary risk involved with greenfield projects is execution risk or construction risk. Changing project requirements, elevated costs for labor and materials, and unexpected construction hurdles all can increase construction costs. Financing risk exists should changes in construction costs or financial markets occur. Regulatory risk exists should changes in regulation occur during construction or the necessary permits are not secured prior to beginning construction.

MLP Affiliates. The Funds, particularly Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, may invest in the equity and debt securities issued by affiliates of MLPs, including the general partners or managing members of MLPs and companies that own MLP general partner interests and are energy infrastructure companies. Such issuers may be organized and/or taxed as corporations and therefore may not offer the advantageous tax characteristics of MLP units. A Fund may purchase such other MLP equity securities through market transactions, but may also do so through direct placements.

Portfolio Turnover. "Portfolio turnover" describes the rates at which the Funds traded their portfolio securities during their last fiscal year. For example, if a Fund sold all of its securities during the year, its portfolio turnover rate would have been 100%. The Funds' portfolio turnover rates will fluctuate from year to year, and any of the Funds may have portfolio turnover rates of more than 100% annually.

Increased portfolio turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction costs for a Fund, which may reduce its overall performance. Additionally, the realization of capital gains from selling portfolio securities may result in distributions of taxable long-term capital gains to shareholders, since a Fund will normally distribute all of its capital gains realized each year, to avoid excise taxes under the Code.

Other Investments and Investment Strategies

Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking their respective objectives, the Funds may from time to time use the types of investment strategies and investments described below. They are not required to use all of these strategies at all times, and at times may not use them.

Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. A Fund may invest in securities of small, unseasoned companies, subject to limits (if any) stated in that Fund's Prospectus. These are companies that have been in operation for less than three years, including the operations of any predecessors. Securities of these companies may be subject to volatility in their prices. They may have a limited trading market or no trading market, which may adversely affect a Fund's ability to value them or to dispose of them and can reduce the price that Fund might be able to obtain for them. Other investors that own a security issued by a small, unseasoned issuer for which there is limited liquidity might trade the security when a Fund is attempting to dispose of their holdings of that security. In that case, a Fund might receive a lower price for its holdings than might otherwise be obtained.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions. The Funds may invest in securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell securities on a "delayed-delivery" or "forward commitment" basis. When-issued and delayed-delivery are terms that refer to securities whose terms and indenture are available and for which a market exists, but which are not available for immediate delivery.

When such transactions are negotiated, the price (which is generally expressed in yield terms) is fixed at the time the commitment is made. Delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. The securities are subject to change in value from market fluctuations during the period until settlement. The value at delivery may be less than the purchase price. For example, changes in interest rates in a direction other than that expected by the Sub-Adviser before settlement will affect the value of such securities and may cause a loss to the Funds. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by a Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to that Fund from the investment until it receives the security at settlement. There is a risk of loss to a Fund if the value of the security changes prior to the settlement date, and there is the risk that the other party may not perform.

The Funds engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the Sub-Adviser considers to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of entering into the obligation. When a Fund enters into a when-issued or delayed-delivery transaction, it relies on the other party to complete the transaction. Its failure to do so may cause that Fund to lose the opportunity to obtain the security at a price and yield the Sub-Adviser considers to be advantageous.

When a Fund engages in when-issued and delayed-delivery transactions, it does so for the purpose of acquiring or selling securities consistent with its investment objective and policies for its portfolio or for delivery pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, and not for the purpose of investment leverage. Although a Fund will enter into delayed-delivery or when-issued purchase transactions to acquire securities, it may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement. If a Fund chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or to dispose of its right to delivery against a forward commitment, it may incur a gain or loss.

At the time a Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell a security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it records the transaction on its books and reflects the value of the security purchased in determining that Fund's net asset value. In a sale transaction, it records the proceeds to be received. That Fund will identify on its books liquid assets at least equal in value to the value of that Fund's purchase commitments until that Fund pays for the investment.

When-issued and delayed-delivery transactions can be used by the Funds as a defensive technique to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, a Fund might sell securities in its portfolio on a forward commitment basis to attempt to limit its exposure to anticipated falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, a Fund might sell portfolio securities and purchase the same or similar securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis to obtain the benefit of currently higher cash yields.

Zero-Coupon Securities. The Fixed Income Funds and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA may buy zero-coupon and delayed interest securities, and "stripped" securities of foreign government issuers, which may or may not be backed by the "full faith and credit" of the issuing foreign government, and of domestic and foreign corporations. The Fixed Income Funds, Capital Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA may also buy zero-coupon and "stripped" U.S. government securities. Zero-coupon securities issued by foreign governments and by corporations will be subject to greater credit risks than U.S. government zero-coupon securities.

"Stripped" Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fixed Income Funds, Capital Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA can invest in stripped mortgage-related securities that are created by segregating the cash flows from underlying mortgage loans or mortgage securities to create two or more new securities. Each has a specified percentage of the underlying security's principal or interest payments. These are a form of derivative investment.

Mortgage securities may be partially stripped so that each class receives some interest and some principal. However, they may be completely stripped. In that case all of the interest is distributed to holders of one type of security, known as an "interest-only" security, or "I/O," and all of the principal is distributed to holders of another type of security, known as a "principal-only" security or "P/O." Strips can be created for pass-through certificates or CMOs.

The yields to maturity of I/Os and P/Os are very sensitive to principal repayments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgages. If the underlying mortgages experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund might not fully recoup its investment in an I/O based on those assets. If underlying mortgages experience less than anticipated prepayments of principal, the yield on the P/Os based on them could decline substantially.

Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may acquire securities subject to repurchase agreements. They may do so for liquidity purposes to meet anticipated redemptions of Funds shares, or pending the investment of the proceeds from sales of Funds shares, or pending the settlement of portfolio securities transactions, or for temporary defensive purposes, as described below.

In a repurchase transaction, a Fund buys a security from, and simultaneously resells it to, an approved institution for delivery on an agreed-upon future date. The resale price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period during which the repurchase agreement is in effect. Approved institutions include U.S. commercial banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks, or broker-dealers that have been designated as primary dealers in government securities. They must meet credit requirements set by the Sub-Adviser from time to time.

The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery pursuant to the resale typically occurs within one to five days of the purchase. Repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days are subject to each Fund's limit on holding illiquid investments. No Fund will enter into a repurchase agreement that causes more than 15% of its net assets (for Money Fund/VA, 5% of its total assets) to be subject to repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days. There is no limit on the amount of a Fund's net assets that may be subject to repurchase agreements having maturities of seven days or less.

Repurchase agreements, considered "loans" under the Investment Company Act, are collateralized by the underlying security. The Funds' repurchase agreements require that at all times while the repurchase agreements are in effect, the value of the collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price to fully collateralize the repayment obligation. However, if the institution fails to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Funds may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. The Sub-Adviser will monitor the institution's creditworthiness to confirm that it is financially sound and will continuously monitor the collateral's value.

Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Funds, along with other affiliated entities managed by the Manager, may transfer uninvested cash balances into one or more joint repurchase accounts. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements, secured by U.S. government securities. Securities that are collateral for repurchase agreements are financial assets subject to the Funds' entitlement orders through its securities account at its custodian bank until the agreements mature. Each joint repurchase arrangement requires that the market value of the collateral be sufficient to cover payments of interest and principal; however, in the event of default by the other party to the agreement, retention or sale of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may engage in reverse repurchase agreements. A reverse repurchase agreement is the sale of a debt obligation to a party for a specified price, with the simultaneous agreement to repurchase it from that party on a future date at a higher price. These transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold under a reverse repurchase agreement could decline below the price that a Fund is required to repurchase them. A Fund will identify liquid assets on its books to cover its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements until payment is made to the other party.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Generally, an illiquid asset is an asset that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price at which it has been valued. Under the policies and procedures established by the Board, the Sub-Adviser determines the liquidity of portfolio investments. The Sub-Adviser monitors holdings of illiquid and restricted securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any holdings to maintain adequate liquidity. Among the types of illiquid securities are repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.  Liquidity may dissipate at anytime and there can be no assurance that the Sub-Adviser's liquidity determinations will be correct or that a reduction in liquidity will not occur between the time such determination is made and an event prompting the Fund to sell a security.

Restricted securities acquired through private placements have contractual restrictions on their public resale that might limit the ability to value or to dispose of the securities and might lower the price that could be realized on a sale. To sell a restricted security that is not registered under applicable securities laws, the security might need to be registered. The expense of registering restricted securities may be negotiated with the issuer at the time of purchase. If the securities must be registered in order to be sold, a significant period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered. There is a risk of downward price fluctuation during that period.

Limitations that apply to purchases of restricted securities do not limit purchases of restricted securities that are eligible for sale to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, if those securities have been determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser under Board-approved guidelines. Those guidelines take into account the trading activity for the securities and the availability of reliable pricing information, among other factors. If there is a lack of trading interest in a particular Rule 144A security, holdings of that security may be considered to be illiquid.

Borrowing and Leverage. Each Fund, other than Money Fund/VA, has the ability to borrow from banks on an unsecured basis. Each Fund has undertaken to limit borrowing to 25% of the value of that Fund's net assets, which is further limited to 10% if borrowing is for a purpose other than to facilitate redemptions. Investing borrowed funds in portfolio securities is a speculative technique known as "leverage." A Fund cannot borrow money in excess of 33-1/3% of the value of that Fund's total assets. The Funds may borrow only from banks and/or affiliated investment companies. With respect to this fundamental policy, the Funds can borrow only if they maintain a 300% ratio of assets to borrowings at all times in the manner set forth in the Investment Company Act.  Currently, under the Investment Company Act, a mutual fund may borrow only from banks (for other than emergency purposes) and only to the extent that the value of the Fund's assets, less its liabilities other than borrowings, is equal to at least 300% of all borrowings including the proposed borrowing, except that it may also borrow up to 5% of its total assets for temporary or emergency purposes from any lender. Under the Investment Company Act, there is a rebuttable presumption that a loan is temporary if it is repaid within 60 days and not extended or renewed.

 

When a Fund borrows, it segregates or identifies securities on its books equal to 300% of the amount borrowed to cover its obligation to repay the loan. If the value of the Fund's assets fail to meet this 300% asset coverage requirement, it will reduce its borrowings within three days to meet the requirement. To do so, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investments at a disadvantageous time.

 

When a Fund invests borrowed money in portfolio securities, it is using a speculative investment technique known as "leverage." If the Fund does borrow, its expenses may be greater than comparable funds that do not borrow. The Fund will pay interest on loans, and that interest expense may raise the overall expenses of the Fund and reduce its returns. In the case of borrowing for leverage, the interest paid on a loan might be more (or less) than the yield on the securities purchased with the loan proceeds. Additionally, the use of leverage may make the Fund's share prices more sensitive to interest rate changes and thus might cause the Fund's net asset value per share to fluctuate more than that of funds that do not borrow.

 

Currently, the Funds do not contemplate using this technique in the next year but if they do so, it will not likely be to a substantial degree. 

Bank Obligations. The Funds can buy time deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances. They must be:

  • obligations issued or guaranteed by a domestic bank (including a foreign branch of a domestic bank) having total assets of at least U.S. $1 billion, or
  • obligations of a foreign bank with total assets of at least U.S. $1 billion

"Banks" include commercial banks, savings banks and savings and loan associations, which may or may not be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Commercial Paper. The Funds can invest in commercial paper if it is rated within the top three rating categories of S&P and Moody's or other rating organizations.

If the paper is not rated, it may be purchased if the Sub-Adviser determines that it is comparable to rated commercial paper in the top three rating categories of national rating organizations.

The Funds can buy commercial paper, including U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign branches of U.S. banks, issued by other entities if the commercial paper is guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank, government or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper may otherwise be purchased by the Funds.

Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by the Funds at varying rates of interest under direct arrangements between the Funds, as lender, and the borrower. They permit daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Funds have the right to increase the amount under the note at any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease the amount. The borrower may prepay up to the full amount of the note without penalty. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.

Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not expected that there will be a trading market for them. There is no secondary market for these notes, although they are redeemable (and thus are immediately repayable by the borrower) at principal amount, plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, the Funds' right to redeem such notes is dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.

The Funds have no limitations on the type of issuer from whom these notes will be purchased. However, in connection with such purchases and on an ongoing basis, the Sub-Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Investments in master demand notes are subject to the limitation on investments by the Funds in illiquid securities, described in the Prospectus. A description of the investment policies for Money Fund/VA is located below under the heading "Money Fund/VA Investment Policies." 

Derivatives. The Funds can invest in a variety of derivative investments, including swaps, "structured" notes, convertible notes, options, forward contracts and futures contracts, to seek income or for hedging purposes. The use of derivatives requires special skills and knowledge of investment techniques that are different than what is required for normal portfolio management. If the Sub-Adviser uses a derivative instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, the use of derivatives may reduce a Fund's return.


Although they are not obligated to do so, the Funds can use derivatives to hedge. To attempt to protect against declines in the market value of a Fund's portfolio, to permit a Fund to retain unrealized gains in the value of portfolio securities which have appreciated, or to facilitate selling securities for investment reasons, a Fund could:

  • sell futures contracts,
  • buy puts on such futures or on securities, or
  • write covered calls on securities or futures. Covered calls may also be used to increase a Fund's income. 

The Funds can use hedging to establish a position in the securities market as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities. In that case a Fund would normally seek to purchase the securities and then terminate that hedging position. A Fund might also use this type of hedge to attempt to protect against the possibility that its portfolio securities would not be fully included in a rise in value of the market. To do so a Fund could:

  • buy futures, or
  • buy calls on such futures or on securities.

A Fund's strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will be incidental to that Fund's activities in the underlying cash market. The particular hedging strategies a Fund can use are described below. A Fund may employ new hedging strategies when they are developed, if those investment methods are consistent with that Fund's investment objectives and are permissible under applicable regulations governing that Fund.

"Structured" Notes. "Structured" notes are specially-designed derivative debt instruments. The terms of the instrument may be "structured" by the purchaser and the issuer of the note. Payments of principal or interest on these notes may be linked to the value of an index (such as a currency or securities index), one or more securities or a commodity or to the financial performance of one or more obligors. The value of these notes will normally rise or fall in response to the changes in the performance of the underlying security, index, commodity or obligors.

Structured notes are subject to interest rate risk and are also subject to credit risk with respect both to the issuer and, if applicable, to the underlying security or obligor. If the underlying investment or index does not perform as anticipated, the Funds might receive less interest than the stated coupon payment or receive less principal upon maturity of the structured note. The price of structured notes may be very volatile and they may have a limited trading market, making it difficult for the Funds to value them or sell them at an acceptable price.  In some cases, the Funds may enter into agreements with an issuer of structured notes to purchase a minimum amount of these notes over time.

Swaps. The Funds may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, total return, credit default and volatility swaps. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified period of time typically ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or the difference between the returns) earned or realized on a particular asset, such as an equity or debt security, commodity or currency, or non-asset reference, such as an interest rate or index. The swapped returns are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount, that is, the return on a particular dollar amount invested in the underlying asset or reference. A Fund may enter into a swap agreement to, among other reasons, gain exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible, protect against currency fluctuations, or reduce risk arising from ownership of a particular security or instrument. A Fund will identify liquid assets on that Fund's books (such as cash or U.S. government securities) to cover any amounts it could owe under swaps that exceed the amounts it is entitled to receive, and it will adjust that amount daily, as needed.

 

The Funds may enter into swap transactions with certain counterparties pursuant to master netting agreements. A master netting agreement provides that all swaps done between a Fund and that counterparty shall be regarded as parts of an integral agreement. If amounts are payable on a particular date in the same currency in respect of more than one swap transaction, the amount payable shall be the net amount. In addition, the master netting agreement may provide that if one party defaults generally or on any swap, the counterparty can terminate all outstanding swaps with that party.

 

The use of swap agreements by the Funds entails certain risks. The swaps market is generally unregulated. There is no central exchange or market for swap transactions and therefore they are less liquid investments than exchange-traded instruments and may be considered illiquid by a Fund. Swap agreements entail credit risk arising from the possibility that the counterparty will default. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund's loss will consist of the net amount of contractual payments that that Fund has not yet received. The Sub-Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties to a Fund's swap transactions on an ongoing basis. A Fund's successful use of swap agreements is dependent upon the Sub-Adviser's ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Swap agreements may effectively add leverage to a Fund's portfolio because that Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

  • Interest Rate Swaps. The Funds, especially Core Bond Fund/VA, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA, Capital Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, may enter into interest rate swaps. In an interest rate swap, a Fund and another party exchange their right to receive or their obligation to pay interest on a security or other reference rate. For example, they might swap the right to receive floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. There is a risk that, based on movements of interest rates, the payments made by a Fund under a swap agreement will be greater than the payments it receives.
  • Total Return Swaps. The Funds may enter into total return swaps, under which one party agrees to pay the other the total return of a defined underlying asset, such as a security or basket of securities, or non-asset reference, such as a securities index, during the specified period in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from different underlying assets or references. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated by the Sub-Adviser.
  • Credit Default Swaps. The Fixed Income Funds, Capital Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA may enter into credit default swaps. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer's failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. The Funds may seek to enhance returns by selling protection or attempt to mitigate credit risk by buying protection against the occurrence of a credit event by a specified issuer. The Funds may enter into credit default swaps, both directly and indirectly in the form of a swap embedded within a structured security. Credit default swaps may refer to a single security or on a basket of securities.

If a Fund buys credit protection using a credit default swap and a credit event occurs, that Fund will deliver the defaulted bonds underlying the swap and the swap counterparty will pay the par amount of the bonds. Alternatively, the credit default swap may be cash settled where the seller of protection will pay the buyer of protection the difference between the par value and the market value of the defaulted bonds. If a Fund sells credit protection using a credit default swap and a credit event occurs, that Fund will pay the par amount of the defaulted bonds underlying the swap and the swap counterparty will deliver the bonds. If the swap is on a basket of securities, the notional amount of the swap is reduced by the par amount of the defaulted bonds, and the fixed payments are then made on the reduced notional amount.

 

Risks of credit default swaps include counterparty credit risk (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and the risk that a Fund will not properly assess the cost of the instrument based on the lack of transparency in the market. If a Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay par value on defaulted bonds. If a Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and that Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid. In addition, if a Fund is buying credit protection and a credit event does occur, there is a risk when that Fund does not own the underlying security, that Fund will have difficulty acquiring the bond on the open market and may receive adverse pricing.

  • Volatility Swap Contracts. The Funds may enter into volatility swaps to hedge the direction of volatility in a particular asset or non-asset reference, or for other non-speculative purposes. For volatility swaps, counterparties agree to buy or sell volatility at a specific level over a fixed period. Volatility swaps are subject to credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations), and the risk that the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in forecasts of volatility of the underlying asset or reference.

Swap Options and Swap Forwards. The Funds also may enter into options on swaps as well as forwards on swaps. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement on pre-designated terms. The Funds may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. A swap forward is an agreement to enter into a swap agreement at some point in the future, usually three to six months from the date of the contract.

The writer of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the preset rate on the underlying swap. The Funds generally will incur a greater risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When a Fund purchases a swap option it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid if that Fund lets the option expire unexercised. When a Fund writes a swap option it will become obligated, upon exercise of the option by the counterparty, according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Futures. The Funds can buy and sell futures contracts that relate to debt securities (these are referred to as "interest rate futures"), broadly-based securities indices ("stock index futures" and "bond index futures"), foreign currencies, commodities and an individual stock ("single stock futures").

A broadly-based stock index is used as the basis for trading stock index futures. They may in some cases be based on stocks of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries. A stock index assigns relative values to the securities included in the index and its value fluctuates in response to the changes in value of the underlying securities. A stock index cannot be purchased or sold directly. Bond index futures are similar contracts based on the future value of the basket of securities that comprise the index. These contracts obligate the seller to deliver, and the purchaser to take, cash to settle the futures transaction. There is no delivery made of the underlying securities to settle the futures obligation. Either party may also settle the transaction by entering into an offsetting contract.

An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) cash or a specified type of debt security to settle the futures transaction. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close out the position. Similarly, a single stock future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) cash or a specified equity security to settle the futures transaction. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close out the position. Single stock futures trade on a very limited number of exchanges, with contracts typically not fungible among the exchanges.

The Funds can invest a portion of their assets in commodity futures contracts. Commodity futures may be based upon commodities within five main commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes crude oil, natural gas, gasoline and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes cattle and hogs; (3) agriculture, which includes wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, coffee, sugar and cocoa; (4) industrial metals, which includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc; and (5) precious metals, which includes gold, platinum and silver. The Funds may purchase and sell commodity futures contracts, options on futures contracts and options and futures on commodity indices with respect to these five main commodity groups and the individual commodities within each group, as well as other types of commodities.

No money is paid or received by the Funds on the purchase or sale of a future. Upon entering into a futures transaction, the Funds will be required to deposit an initial margin payment with the futures commission merchant (the "futures broker"). Initial margin payments will be deposited with the Funds' custodian bank in an account registered in the futures broker's name. However, the futures broker can gain access to that account only under specified conditions. As the future is marked to market (that is, its value on that Fund's books is changed) to reflect changes in its market value, subsequent margin payments, called variation margin, will be paid to or by the futures broker daily.

At any time prior to expiration of the future, the Funds may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final determination of variation margin is made and any additional cash must be paid by or released to that Fund. Any loss or gain on the future is then realized by that Fund for tax purposes. All futures transactions (except forward contracts) are effected through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.

Put and Call Options. The Funds can buy and sell exchange-traded and over-the-counter put options ("puts") and call options ("calls"), including index options, securities options, currency options, commodities options and options on futures.

Writing Call Options. The Funds may write (that is, sell) calls. If a Fund sells a call option, it must be covered. That means a Fund must own the security subject to the call while the call is outstanding, or the call must be covered by segregating liquid assets to enable that Fund to satisfy its obligations if the call is exercised. There is no limit on the amount of a Fund's total assets that may be subject to covered calls that Fund writes.

When a Fund writes a call on a security, it receives cash (a premium). That Fund agrees to sell the underlying security to a purchaser of a corresponding call on the same security during the call period at a fixed exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. The call period is usually not more than nine months. The exercise price may differ from the market price of the underlying security. That Fund has the risk of loss that the price of the underlying security may decline during the call period. That risk may be offset to some extent by the premium that Fund receives. If the value of the investment does not rise above the call price, it is likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case that Fund would keep the cash premium and the investment.

When a Fund writes a call on an index, it receives cash (a premium). If the buyer of the call exercises it, that Fund will pay an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price, multiplied by a specific multiple that determines the total value of the call for each point of difference. If the value of the underlying investment does not rise above the call price, it is likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case, that Fund would keep the cash premium.

A Fund's custodian bank, or a securities depository acting for the custodian, will act as that Fund's escrow agent, through the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), as to the investments on which that Fund has written calls traded on exchanges or as to other acceptable escrow securities. In that way, no margin will be required for such transactions. OCC will release the securities on the expiration of the option or when the Fund enters into a closing transaction.

When a Fund writes an over-the-counter ("OTC") option, it will enter into an arrangement with a primary U.S. government securities dealer which will establish a formula price at which that Fund will have the absolute right to repurchase that OTC option. The formula price will generally be based on a multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which the option is exercisable below the market price of the underlying security (i.e., the option is "in the money"). When that Fund writes an OTC option, it will treat as illiquid (for purposes of its restriction on holding illiquid securities) the market-to-market value of the underlying security, unless the option is subject to a buy-back agreement with the executing broker.

To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, a Fund may purchase a corresponding call in a "closing purchase transaction." That Fund will then realize a profit or loss, depending upon whether the net of the amount of the option transaction costs and the premium received on the call that Fund wrote is more or less than the price of the call that Fund purchases to close out the transaction. That Fund may realize a profit if the call expires unexercised, because that Fund will retain the underlying security and the premium it received when it wrote the call. If that Fund cannot effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a market, it will have to hold the callable securities until the call expires or is exercised.

A Fund may also write calls on a futures contract without owning the futures contract or securities deliverable under the contract. To do so, at the time the call is written, that Fund must cover the call by segregating an equivalent dollar amount of liquid assets as identified in that Fund's books. That Fund will segregate additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below 100% of the current value of the future. Because of this segregation requirement, in no circumstances would that Fund's receipt of an exercise notice as to that future require that Fund to deliver a futures contract. It would simply put that Fund in a short futures position, which is permitted by that Fund's hedging policies.

Writing Put Options. The Funds may write (that is, sell) put options. A put option on securities gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during the option period. A put must be covered by segregated liquid assets.

If a Fund writes a put, the put must be covered by liquid assets identified in that Fund's books. The premium a Fund receives from writing a put represents a profit, as long as the price of the underlying investment remains equal to or above the exercise price. However, a Fund also assumes the obligation during the option period to buy the underlying investment from the buyer of the put at the exercise price, even if the value of the investment falls below the exercise price.

If a put a Fund has written expires unexercised, that Fund realizes a gain in the amount of the premium less the transaction costs incurred. If the put is exercised, that Fund must fulfill its obligation to purchase the underlying investment at the exercise price. That price will usually exceed the market value of the investment at that time. In that case, that Fund may incur a loss if it sells the underlying investment. That loss will be equal to the sum of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs that Fund incurred.

When writing a put option on a security, to secure its obligation to pay for the underlying security a Fund will deposit in escrow liquid assets with a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the underlying securities. That Fund therefore forgoes the opportunity of investing the segregated assets or writing calls against those assets.

As long as a Fund's obligation as the put writer continues, it may be assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through which the put was sold. That notice will require that Fund to take delivery of the underlying security and pay the exercise price. That Fund has no control over when it may be required to purchase the underlying security, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put. That obligation terminates upon expiration of the put. It may also terminate if, before it receives an exercise notice, that Fund effects a closing purchase transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as it sold. Once that Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction.

A Fund may decide to effect a closing purchase transaction to realize a profit on an outstanding put option it has written or to prevent the underlying security from being put. Effecting a closing purchase transaction will also permit that Fund to write another put option on the security, or to sell the security and use the proceeds from the sale for other investments. That Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending on whether the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing the put option.

Purchasing Puts and Calls. The Funds may purchase call options. When a Fund buys a call (other than in a closing purchase transaction), it pays a premium. That Fund then has the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed exercise price.

A Fund benefits only if it sells the call at a profit or if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is above the sum of the call price plus the transaction costs and the premium paid for the call and that Fund exercises the call. If that Fund does not exercise the call or sell it (whether or not at a profit), the call will become worthless at its expiration date. In that case that Fund will have paid the premium but lost the right to purchase the underlying investment.

A Fund can buy puts whether or not it owns the underlying investment. When a Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as to puts on indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to a seller of a put on a corresponding investment during the put period at a fixed exercise price.

Buying a put on an investment the Fund does not own (such as an index or a future) permits the Fund either to resell the put or to buy the underlying investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price will vary inversely to the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of the underlying investment is above the exercise price and, as a result, the put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on its expiration date.

Buying a put on securities or futures a Fund owns enables the Fund to attempt to protect itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment at the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market price of the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price and, as a result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become worthless at its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid the premium but lost the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the Fund may sell the put prior to its expiration. That sale may or may not be at a profit.

When the Fund purchases a call or put on an index or future, it pays a premium, but settlement is in cash rather than by delivery of the underlying investment to the Fund. Gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question (and thus on price movements in the securities market generally) rather than on price movements in individual securities or futures contracts.

Buying and Selling Options on Foreign Currencies. The Funds can buy and sell exchange-traded and over-the-counter put options and call options on foreign currencies. A Fund could use these calls and puts to try to protect against declines in the dollar value of foreign securities and increases in the dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund wants to acquire.

If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a rise in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the increased cost of those securities may be partially offset by purchasing calls or writing puts on that foreign currency. If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency, the decline in the dollar value of portfolio securities denominated in that currency might be partially offset by writing calls or purchasing puts on that foreign currency. However, the currency rates could fluctuate in a direction adverse to a Fund's position. That Fund will then have incurred option premium payments and transaction costs without a corresponding benefit.

A call the Fund writes on a foreign currency is "covered" if the Fund owns the underlying foreign currency covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that foreign currency without additional cash consideration (or it can do so for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account by its custodian bank) upon conversion or exchange of other foreign currency held in its portfolio.

A Fund could write a call on a foreign currency to provide a hedge against a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a security which a Fund owns or has the right to acquire and which is denominated in the currency underlying the option. That decline might be one that occurs due to an expected adverse change in the exchange rate. This is known as a "cross-hedging" strategy. In those circumstances, that Fund covers the option by maintaining cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt securities in an amount equal to the exercise price of the option, in a segregated account with that Fund's custodian bank.

Risks of Hedging with Options and Futures. The use of hedging strategies requires special skills and knowledge of investment techniques that are different than what is required for normal portfolio management. If the Sub-Adviser uses a hedging strategy at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce a Fund's return. The Fund could also experience losses if the prices of its futures and options positions were not correlated with its other investments.

A Fund's option activities could affect its portfolio turnover rate and brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by a Fund might cause that Fund to sell related portfolio securities, thus increasing its turnover rate. The exercise by a Fund of puts on securities will cause the sale of underlying investments, increasing portfolio turnover. Although the decision whether to exercise a put it holds is within a Fund's control, holding a put might cause that Fund to sell the related investments for reasons that would not exist in the absence of the put.

A Fund could pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a call or put, sells a call or put, or buys or sells an underlying investment in connection with the exercise of a call or put. Those commissions could be higher on a relative basis than the commissions for direct purchases or sales of the underlying investments. Premiums paid for options are small in relation to the market value of the underlying investments. Consequently, put and call options offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by trading in options could result in a Fund's net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the underlying investment.

If a covered call written by a Fund is exercised on an investment that has increased in value, that Fund will be required to sell the investment at the call price. It will not be able to realize any profit if the investment has increased in value above the call price.

An option position may be closed out only on a market that provides secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. The Fund might experience losses if it could not close out a position because of an illiquid market for the future or option.

There is a risk in using short hedging by selling futures or purchasing puts on broadly-based indices or futures to attempt to protect against declines in the value of a Fund's portfolio securities. The risk is that the prices of the futures or the applicable index will correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of a Fund's securities. For example, it is possible that while a Fund has used derivative instruments in a short hedge, the market may advance and the value of the securities held in that Fund's portfolio might decline. If that occurred, that Fund would lose money on the derivative instruments and also experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities. However, while this could occur for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time the value of a diversified portfolio of securities will tend to move in the same direction as the indices upon which the derivative instruments are based.

The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of a Fund's portfolio diverges from the securities included in the applicable index. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price of the portfolio securities being hedged and movements in the price of the hedging instruments, that Fund might use derivative instruments in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of portfolio securities being hedged. It might do so if the historical volatility of the prices of the portfolio securities being hedged is more than the historical volatility of the applicable index.

The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets are subject to distortions, due to differences in the nature of those markets. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions.

The Fund can use derivative instruments to establish a position in the securities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual securities (long hedging) by buying futures and/or calls on such futures, broadly-based indices or on securities. It is possible that when the Fund does so the market might decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in securities because of concerns that the market might decline further or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the hedge position that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.

Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are foreign currency exchange contracts. They are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery at a fixed price. The Funds can use them to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund has bought or sold, or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. The Fund can also use "cross-hedging" where the Fund hedges against changes in currencies other than the currency in which a security it holds is denominated.

Under a forward contract, one party agrees to purchase, and another party agrees to sell, a specific currency at a future date. That date may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties. The transaction price is set at the time the contract is entered into. These contracts are traded in the inter-bank market conducted directly among currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.

The Fund may use forward contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future exchange rates. The use of forward contracts does not eliminate the risk of fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance. Although forward contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they limit any potential gain if the value of the hedged currency increases.

When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates receiving dividend payments in a foreign currency, the Fund might desire to "lock-in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the dividend payments. To do so, the Fund could enter into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transaction, in a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of the foreign currency. This is called a "transaction hedge." The transaction hedge will protect the Fund against a loss from an adverse change in the currency exchange rates during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold or on which the payment is declared, and the date on which the payments are made or received.

The Fund could also use forward contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar value of portfolio positions. This is called a "position hedge." When the Fund believes that a foreign currency might suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it could enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of that foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of a Fund's portfolio securities denominated in that foreign currency. When the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar might suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, it could enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed dollar amount. Alternatively, the Fund could enter into a forward contract to sell a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount if the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency to be sold pursuant to its forward contract will fall whenever there is a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which portfolio securities of the Fund are denominated. That is referred to as a "cross hedge."

A Fund will cover its short positions in these cases by identifying on its books assets having a value equal to the aggregate amount of that Fund's commitment under forward contracts. A Fund will not enter into forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of the contracts would obligate that Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of that Fund's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in that currency or another currency that is the subject of the hedge.

However, to avoid excess transactions and transaction costs, a Fund may maintain a net exposure to forward contracts in excess of the value of that Fund's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in foreign currencies if the excess amount is "covered" by liquid securities denominated in any currency. The cover must be at least equal at all times to the amount of that excess. As one alternative, the Fund may purchase a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the amount of foreign currency being hedged by a forward sale contract at a price no higher than the forward contract price. As another alternative, the Fund may purchase a put option permitting the Fund to sell the amount of foreign currency subject to a forward purchase contract at a price as high or higher than the forward contact price.

The precise matching of the amounts under forward contracts and the value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the future value of securities denominated in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it is sold. In some cases the Sub-Adviser might decide to sell the security and deliver foreign currency to settle the original purchase obligation. If the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver, the Fund might have to purchase additional foreign currency on the "spot" (that is, cash) market to settle the security trade. If the market value of the security instead exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver to settle the trade, the Fund might have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the security. There will be additional transaction costs on the spot market in those cases.

The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, causing the Fund to sustain losses on these contracts and to pay additional transactions costs. The use of forward contracts in this manner might reduce a Fund's performance if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices to a greater degree than if the Fund had not entered into such contracts.

At or before the maturity of a forward contract requiring a Fund to sell a currency, that Fund might sell a portfolio security and use the sale proceeds to make delivery of the currency. In the alternative a Fund might retain the security and offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing a second contract. Under that contract the Fund will obtain, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the currency that it is obligated to deliver. Similarly, a Fund might close out a forward contract requiring it to purchase a specified currency by entering into a second contract entitling it to sell the same amount of the same currency on the maturity date of the first contract. The Fund would realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into such an offsetting forward contract under either circumstance. The gain or loss will depend on the extent to which the exchange rate or rates between the currencies involved moved between the execution dates of the first contract and offsetting contract.

The costs to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no brokerage fees or commissions are involved. Because these contracts are not traded on an exchange, the Fund must evaluate the credit and performance risk of the counterparty under each forward contract.

Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. The Fund may convert foreign currency from time to time, and will incur costs in doing so. Foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, but they do seek to realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they buy and sell various currencies. Thus, a dealer might offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange if the Fund desires to resell that currency to the dealer.

Asset Coverage for Certain Investments and Trading Practices. A Fund will segregate with its custodian or otherwise designate on its books and records liquid assets in an amount the Fund believes to be adequate to ensure that it has sufficient liquid assets to meet its obligations under its derivatives contracts, or the Fund may engage in other measures to "cover" its obligations with respect to such transactions. Depending upon the contractual terms of the derivatives instrument, the customary settlement practice associated with the derivative instrument and the instrument's liquidity, among other things, the amounts that are segregated or designated may be based on the notional (or contract) amount of the derivative or on the daily mark-to-market obligation under the derivatives contract. These amounts may be reduced by amounts on deposit with the applicable broker or counterparty to the derivatives transaction. With respect to less liquid derivative instruments (or in other situations in which the Sub-Adviser believes it necessary), a Fund may segregate amounts in addition to the amounts described above. By segregating or designating liquid assets equal to only the mark-to-market obligation under a derivatives contract, a Fund will have the ability to utilize these instruments to a greater extent than if the Fund segregated or designated liquid assets equal to the full market value of the underlying asset or the notional (or contract) amount of the instrument.

In certain circumstances, a Fund may enter into an offsetting position rather than segregating or designating liquid assets (e.g., the Fund may "cover" a written put option with a purchased put option with the same or higher exercise price). Although the Sub-Adviser will attempt to ensure that a Fund has sufficient liquid assets to meet its obligations under its derivative contracts, it is possible that the Fund's liquid assets may be insufficient to support such obligations under its derivatives positions.

Segregating or designating a large percentage of the Fund's liquid assets could impede the Sub-Adviser's ability to manage the Fund's portfolio. A Fund may modify its asset segregation policies from time to time.

Regulatory Aspects of Derivatives and Hedging Instruments. As a result of recent amendments to rules under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), the Manager must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to a Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or be subject to registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" ("CPO") with respect to a Fund, and, upon the finalization of additional CFTC rules, be required to operate a Fund in compliance with certain disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.

Previously, the CFTC permitted unlimited futures transactions and options thereon, so long as a fund had claimed an exclusion from registration as a CPO, and swap contracts were not formerly regulated by the CFTC. Under the amended rules, the investment adviser of a registered investment company may claim an exemption from registration as a CPO only if the registered investment company that it advises uses futures contracts, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps solely for "bona fide hedging purposes," or limits its use of such instruments for non-bona fide hedging purposes to certain de minimis amounts.

While the Manager will be registered as a CPO under the CEA, the Manager currently intends except with respect to Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA (discussed below), to limit each Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps in order to permit such Fund to continue to claim an exemption under the CFTC rules. As such, with respect to the management of each Fund except Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, the Manager will not be subject to the disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the CFTC rules.

With respect to Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, consistent with that Fund's principal investment strategy, the Manager intends to maintain the flexibility to utilize futures contracts, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps for non-bona fide hedging purposes beyond the de minimis amounts provided under the CFTC rules. As such, Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA does not qualify for the Rule 4.5 exemption under CFTC rules. Therefore, the Manager (as a registered CPO), will be required to comply with the CFTC disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements with respect to its management of Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA upon the finalization of additional CFTC rules.

Financial reform legislation enacted in 2010 that is currently being implemented imposes execution and clearing requirements on certain types of over-the-counter derivatives, among other things. In a cleared derivatives transaction, a Fund's ultimate counterparty is a central derivatives clearing organization, or clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. A Fund will enter into cleared derivatives transactions with an executing broker. Such transactions then will be submitted for clearing and, if cleared, will be held in accounts at regulated futures commission merchants that are members of central clearing house counterparties. In contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, cleared derivatives transactions are submitted for clearing to central clearing house counterparties immediately following execution of the agreement. Central clearing house counterparties and the members of such clearing houses generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time, and can also require increases in margin above the margin that was required at the beginning of a transaction.

A Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared derivatives transaction, no futures commission merchant or clearing house counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction on a Fund's behalf. In such an event, a Fund is likely to have to pay a termination amount to the executing broker. Further, the assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of a Fund's futures commission merchant or the clearing house counterparty, because a Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of the futures commission merchant's customers. Also, a Fund is subject to the risk that the futures commission merchant will use a Fund's assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the futures commission merchant's other customers, to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the futures commission merchant to the clearing house counterparty. In addition, futures commission merchants generally provide to the clearing house counterparty the net amount of variation margin required for cleared derivatives for all customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount for each customer. A Fund is therefore subject to the risk that a clearing house counterparty will not make variation margin payments owed to a Fund if another customer of the futures commission merchant has suffered a loss and is in default. In cleared derivatives transactions, a Fund is also required to post initial as well as variation margin, thus increasing the cost of transacting in this type of instrument.

The ultimate impact of the 2010 financial reform legislation and related regulations remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund's ability to engage in, or increase the cost to a Fund of, derivatives transactions.

Tax Aspects of Certain Hedging Instruments. Certain foreign currency exchange contracts in which a Fund may invest are treated as "Section 1256 contracts" under the IRC. In general, gains or losses relating to Section 1256 contracts are characterized as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses under the Code. However, foreign currency gains or losses arising from Section 1256 contracts that are forward contracts generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition, Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each taxable year are "marked-to-market," and unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized. These contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of determining the excise tax potentially applicable to a Fund and for other purposes under rules prescribed pursuant to the IRC. An election can be made by a Fund to exempt those transactions from this marked-to-market treatment.

Certain forward contracts a Fund enters into may result in "straddles" for federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character and timing of gains (or losses) recognized by that Fund on straddle positions. Generally, a loss sustained on the disposition of a position making up a straddle is allowed only to the extent that the loss exceeds any unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the straddle. Disallowed loss is generally allowed at the point where there is no unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the straddle, or the offsetting position is disposed of.

Under the IRC, the following gains or losses are treated as ordinary income or loss:

  1. gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time a Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities, and
  2. gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of a foreign currency between the date of acquisition of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward contracts and the date of disposition.

Currency gains and losses are offset against market gains and losses on each trade before determining a net "Section 988" gain or loss under the IRC for that trade, which may increase or decrease the amount of a Fund's investment income available for distribution to its shareholders.

Money Fund/VA Investment Policies. Under Rule 2a-7 under the investment Company Act, Money Fund/VA may purchase only "Eligible Securities," as defined below, that the Manager, under procedures approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees, has determined have minimal credit risk. An "Eligible Security" is (a) a security that has received a rating in one of the two highest short-term rating categories by any two "nationally recognized statistical rating organizations" as defined in Rule 2a-7 ("Rating Organizations"), or, if only one Rating Organization has rated that security, by that Rating Organization (the "Rating Requirements"), (b) a security that is guaranteed, and either that guarantee or the party providing that guarantee meets the Rating Requirements, or (c) an unrated security that is either issued by an issuer having another similar security that meets the Rating Requirements, or is judged by the Manager to be of comparable quality to investments that meet the Rating Requirements. Rule 2a-7 permits Money Fund/VA to purchase "First Tier Securities," which are Eligible Securities rated in the highest category for short-term debt obligations by at least two Rating Organizations, or, if only one Rating Organization has rated a particular security, by that Rating Organization, or comparable unrated securities, subject to limits set forth in the Money Fund/VA's Prospectus. The Fund can also buy "Second Tier Securities," which are Eligible Securities that are not First Tier securities.

 

If a security's rating is downgraded, the Manager and/or the Board may have to reassess the security's credit risk. If a security has ceased to be a First Tier Security, the Manager will promptly reassess whether the security continues to present "minimal credit risk." If the Manager becomes aware that any Rating Organization has downgraded its rating of a Second Tier Security or rated an unrated security below its second highest rating category, the Trust's Board of Trustees shall promptly reassess whether the security presents minimal credit risk and whether it is in Money Fund/VA's best interests to dispose of it.

 

If Money Fund/VA disposes of the security within five days of the Manager learning of the downgrade, the Manager will provide the Board with subsequent notice of such downgrade. If a security is in default, or ceases to be an Eligible Security, or is determined no longer to present minimal credit risks, the Board must determine if disposal of the security would be in Money Fund/VA's best interests.

 

The Rating Organizations currently designated as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations by the SEC include Standard & Poor's (a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies), Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch, Inc. and Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited. See Appendix B to this SAI for a description of the rating categories of those Rating Organizations. 

  • Certificates of Deposit and Commercial Paper. For purposes of this section, the term "bank" includes commercial banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations and the term "foreign bank" includes foreign branches of U.S. banks (issuers of "Eurodollar" instruments), U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks (issuers of "Yankee dollar" instruments) and foreign branches of foreign banks. Money Fund/VA also may purchase obligations issued by other entities if they are: (i) guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper may otherwise be purchased by Money Fund/VA, or (ii) subject to repurchase agreements (explained in the prospectus), if the collateral for the agreement complies with Rule 2a-7.
  • Bank Loan Participation Agreements. Money Fund/VA may invest in bank loan participation agreements, although such investments have not been a principal investment strategy. They provide that Fund with an undivided interest in a loan made by the issuing bank in the proportion that Fund's interest bears to the total principal amount of the loan. In evaluating the risk of these investments, that Fund looks to the creditworthiness of the borrower that is obligated to make principal and interest payments on the loan.
  • Time Deposits. Money Fund/VA may invest in fixed time deposits, which are non-negotiable deposits in a bank for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties; however, such deposits which are subject to such penalties, other than deposits maturing in less than seven days, are subject to the 5% limitation applicable to illiquid securities purchased by Money Fund/VA.
  • Floating Rate/Variable Rate Notes. Money Fund/VA may invest in instruments with floating or variable interest rates. The interest rate on a floating rate obligation is based on a stated prevailing market rate, such as the Federal Funds rate or a bank's prime rate, or the level of an interest rate index, such as London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") and is adjusted automatically each time such market rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate obligation is also based on a stated prevailing market rate but is adjusted automatically at a specified interval of no less than one year. Some variable rate or floating rate obligations in which Money Fund/VA may invest have a demand feature entitling the holder to demand payment at an amount approximately equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest at any time, or at specified intervals not exceeding one year. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit. The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from time to time. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on such securities reduce the fluctuation in their market value. As interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less than that for fixed-rate obligations of the same maturity.
  • Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by Money Fund/VA at varying rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between Money Fund/VA, as lender, and the corporate borrower that issues the note. These notes permit daily changes in the amounts borrowed. Money Fund/VA has the right to increase the amount under the note at any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease the amount. The borrower may repay up to the full amount of the note at any time without penalty. It is not generally contemplated that master demand notes will be traded because they are direct lending arrangements between the lender and the borrower. There is no secondary market for these notes, although they are redeemable and thus immediately repayable by the borrower at face value, plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, Money Fund/VA's right to redeem is dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. In evaluating the master demand arrangements, the Manager considers the earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios of the issuer. If they are not rated by Rating Organizations, Money Fund/VA may invest in them only if, at the time of an investment, they are Eligible Securities. The Manager will continuously monitor the borrower's financial ability to meet all of its obligations because Money Fund/VA's liquidity might be impaired if the borrower were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. There is no limit on the amount of the Money Fund/VA's assets that may be invested in floating rate and variable rate obligations. Floating rate or variable rate obligations which do not provide for recovery of principal and interest within seven days' notice will be subject to the limitation applicable to illiquid securities purchased by Money Fund/VA.

Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Funds can also invest in the securities of other investment companies, which can include open-end funds, closed-end funds and unit investment trusts, subject to the limits set forth in the Investment Company Act that apply to those types of investments. For example, a Fund can invest in Exchange-Traded Funds, which are typically open-end funds or unit investment trusts, listed on a stock exchange. A Fund might do so as a way of gaining exposure to the segments of the equity or fixed-income markets represented by the Exchange-Traded Funds' portfolio, at times when a Fund may not be able to buy those portfolio securities directly.

Investing in another investment company may involve the payment of substantial premiums above the value of such investment company's portfolio securities and is subject to limitations under the Investment Company Act. The Funds do not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Sub-Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any premiums or sales charges. As a shareholder of an investment company, a Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that investment company's expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Funds do not anticipate investing a substantial amount of their net assets in shares of other investment companies.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Under U.S. tax laws, passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") are those foreign corporations which generate primarily "passive" income. Passive income is defined as any income that is considered foreign personal holding company income under the Internal Revenue Code. For federal tax purposes, a foreign corporation is deemed to be a PFIC if 75% or more of its gross income during a fiscal year is passive income or if 50% or more of its assets are assets that produce, or are held to produce, passive income.

Foreign mutual funds are generally deemed to be PFICs, since nearly all of the income of a mutual fund is passive income. Foreign mutual funds investments may be used to gain exposure to the securities of companies in countries that limit or prohibit direct foreign investment; however investments in foreign mutual funds by the Fund are subject to limits under the Investment Company Act. 

Other types of foreign corporations may also be considered PFICs if their percentage of passive income or passive assets exceeds the limits described above. Federal tax laws impose severe tax penalties for failure to properly report investment income from PFICs. Although every effort is made to ensure compliance with federal tax reporting requirements for these investments, foreign corporations that are PFICs for federal tax purposes may not always be recognized as such.

Loans of Portfolio Securities. Securities lending pursuant to a Securities Lending Agency Agreement (the "Securities Lending Agreement") with Goldman Sachs Bank USA, doing business as Goldman Sachs Agency Lending ("Goldman Sachs"), may be used to attempt to increase income. Loans of portfolio securities are subject to the restrictions stated in the Prospectus and must comply with all applicable regulations and with the Funds' Securities Lending Procedures adopted by the Board. The terms of any loans must also meet applicable tests under the Internal Revenue Code.

There are certain risks in connection with securities lending, including possible delays in receiving additional collateral to secure a loan, or a delay or expenses in recovery of the loaned securities. Goldman Sachs has agreed, in general, to guarantee the obligations of borrowers to return loaned securities and to be responsible for certain expenses relating to securities lending. Under the Securities Lending Agreement, the Funds' securities lending procedures and applicable regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), the Funds must receive collateral from the borrower consisting of cash, bank letters of credit or securities of the U.S. Government (or its agencies or instrumentalities). On each business day, the amount of collateral that the Funds have received must at least equal the value of the loaned securities. If the Funds receive cash collateral from the borrower, the Sub-Adviser, in its capacity as the Fund's collateral administrator, may invest that cash in certain high quality, short-term investments, including in money market funds advised by the Manager. The Funds will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of such money market funds, including the advisory fee payable to the Manager or its affiliate as adviser to such funds. The Sub-Adviser may charge a collateral administration fee of 0.08% on the value of cash collateral invested in other securities. All of the Funds' collateral investments must comply with its securities lending procedures. The Funds will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of cash collateral, including the risk that the Fund may lose money on the investment or may fail to earn sufficient income to meet its obligations to the borrower.

The terms of the loans must permit the Funds to recall loaned securities on five business days' notice and the Funds will seek to recall loaned securities in time to vote on any matters that the Manager determines would have a material effect on the Funds' investment. The Securities Lending Agreement may be terminated by either Goldman Sachs or the Funds on 30 days' written notice.

Loans of portfolio securities are limited to not more than 25% of the value of the Funds' net assets.

Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. When market conditions are unstable, or the Sub-Adviser believes it is otherwise appropriate to reduce holdings in stocks or bonds, the Funds can invest in a variety of debt securities for defensive purposes. The Funds can also purchase these securities for liquidity purposes to meet cash needs due to the redemption of Fund shares, or to hold while waiting to reinvest cash received from the sale of other portfolio securities. The Funds can buy:

  • obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies,
  • commercial paper (short-term, unsecured, promissory notes of domestic or foreign companies) rated in the three top rating categories of a nationally recognized rating organization,
  • short-term debt obligations of corporate issuers, rated investment grade (rated at least Baa by Moody's or at least BBB by Standard & Poor's or a comparable rating by another rating organization), or unrated securities judged by the Sub-Adviser to have a comparable quality to rated securities in those categories,
  • certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances of domestic and foreign banks having total assets in excess of $1 billion, and
  • repurchase agreements.

Short-term debt securities would normally be selected for defensive or cash management purposes because they can normally be disposed of quickly, are not generally subject to significant fluctuations in principal value and their value will be less subject to interest rate risk than longer-term debt securities.

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA can also engage in the following techniques and strategies:

"Structured" Investments. "Structured" investments are financial instruments and contractual obligations designed to provide a specific risk-reward profile. A structured instrument is generally a hybrid security (often referred to as "hybrids") that combines characteristics of two or more different financial instruments. The terms of these investments may be contractually "structured" by the purchaser and the issuer (which is typically associated with an investment banking firm) of the instrument. Structured investments may have certain features of equity and debt securities, but may also have additional features. The key characteristics of structured investments are:

  • They change the risk or return on an underlying investment asset (such as a bond, money market instrument, loan or equity security).
  • They may replicate the risk or return of an underlying investment asset.
  • They typically involve the combination of an investment asset and a derivative.
  • The derivative is an integral part of the structure, not just a temporary hedging tool.

The returns on these investments may be linked to the value of an index (such as a currency or securities index) or a basket of instruments (a portfolio of assets, such as, high yield bonds, emerging market bonds, equities from a specific industry sector, a broad-based equity index or commodities), an individual stock, bond or other security, an interest rate, or a commodity. Some of the types of structured investments are:

  • Equity-linked notes
  • Index-linked notes
  • Inflation-linked notes
  • Commodity-linked notes
  • Credit-linked notes
  • Currency-linked notes

The values of structured investments will normally rise or fall in response to the changes in the performance of the underlying index, security, interest rate or commodity. Certain structured investments may offer full or partial principal protection, or may pay a variable amount at maturity, or may pay a coupon linked to a specific security or index while leaving the principal at risk. These investments may be used to seek to realize gain or limit exposure to price fluctuations and help control risk.

Depending on the terms of the particular instrument, structured investments may be subject to equity market risk, commodity market risk, currency market risk or interest rate risk. Structured notes are subject to credit risk with respect to the issuer of the instrument (referred to as "counter-party" risk) and, for structured debt investments, might also be subject to credit risk with respect to the issuer of the underlying investment. For notes that do not include principal protection (a form of insurance), a main risk is the possible loss of principal. There is a legal risk involved with holding complex instruments, where regulatory or tax considerations may change during the term of a note. Some structured investments may create leverage, which involves additional risks.

If the underlying investment or index does not perform as anticipated, the investment might not result in a gain or may cause a loss. The price of structured investments may be very volatile and they may have a limited trading market, making it difficult for the Fund to value them or sell them at an acceptable price. Usually structured investments are considered illiquid investments for purposes of limits on those investments.

Commodity-Linked Notes. A commodity-linked note is a derivative instrument that has characteristics of both a debt security and a commodity-linked derivative. It typically makes interest payments like a debt security and at maturity the principal payment is linked to the price movement of an underlying commodity-related variable that may be: a physical commodity (such as heating oil, livestock, or agricultural products), a commodity future or option contract, a commodity index, or some other readily measurable variable that reflects changes in the value of particular commodities or the commodities markets. Commodity-linked notes are typically issued by a bank, other financial institution or a commodity producer, and are negotiated with the issuer to obtain specific terms and features that are tailored to particular investment needs.

Qualifying Hybrid Instruments. "Qualifying hybrid instruments" are commodity-linked notes that are excluded from regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules thereunder.

Investment in Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA each may invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary (the "Subsidiary"). Each Fund's Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity-linked derivatives (including commodity futures, financial futures, options and swap contracts) and exchange traded funds related to gold or other special minerals ("Gold ETFs"). The Subsidiary may also invest in certain fixed-income securities and other investments that may serve as margin or collateral for its derivatives positions.

Since each Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in the Subsidiary, which may hold certain of the investments described in the Fund's prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information, each Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in those investments through its Subsidiary. Therefore, references in the Funds' Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information to investments by the Fund also may be deemed to include the Fund's indirect investments through the Subsidiary.

The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act") and is not subject to its investor protections, except as noted in each Fund's Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information. Each Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, does not have all of the protections offered by the Investment Company Act. However, each Subsidiary is wholly-owned and controlled by its respective Fund and managed by the Manager. Therefore, the Fund's ownership and control of the Subsidiary make it unlikely that the Subsidiary would take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. The Funds' Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Funds, including its expected investment in the Subsidiary, and each Fund's role as the sole shareholder of its Subsidiary. Also, in managing the Subsidiary's portfolio, the Manager is subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to the management of a Fund, and, in particular, to the requirements relating to portfolio leverage, liquidity, brokerage, and the timing and method of the valuation of the Subsidiary's portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary.

Changes in the laws of the United States (where each Fund is organized) and/or the Cayman Islands (where each Subsidiary is organized), could prevent a Fund and/or its Subsidiary from operating as described in the Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose certain taxes on the Subsidiary, including income and capital gains tax, among others. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require a Subsidiary to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of a Fund would likely decrease.

For information about the tax treatment of the Subsidiary and its investments, please refer to "Distributions and Taxes."

Special Risks of Investments in Mining Securities, Metal Investments and Gold ETFs. The Prospectuses of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA describe whether and to what extent the Fund may invest in Mining Securities, Metal Investments and/or Gold ETFs.

Investments in Mining Securities, Metal Investments and Gold ETFs involve additional risks and considerations not typically associated with other types of investments: (1) the risk of substantial price fluctuations of gold and precious metals; (2) the concentration of gold supply is mainly in five territories (South Africa, Australia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (the former Soviet Union), Canada and the United States), and the prevailing economic and political conditions of these countries may have a direct effect on the production and marketing of gold and sales of central bank gold holdings; (3) unpredictable international monetary policies, economic and political conditions; (4) possible U.S. governmental regulation of Metal Investments, as well as foreign regulation of such investments; and (5) possible adverse tax consequences for the Fund in making Metal Investments, if it fails to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code. An adverse change with respect to any of these risk factors could have a significant negative effect on each Fund's net asset value per share. These risks are discussed in greater detail below.

  • Risk of Price Fluctuations. The prices of precious and strategic metals are affected by various factors such as economic conditions, political events, governmental monetary and regulatory policies and market events. The prices of Mining Securities, Metal Investments and Gold ETFs held by the Fund may fluctuate sharply, which will affect the value of the Fund's shares.
  • Concentration of Source of Gold Supply and Control of Gold Sales. Currently, the five largest producers of gold are the Republic of South Africa, Australia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (which includes Russia and certain other countries that were part of the former Soviet Union), Canada and the United States. Economic and political conditions in those countries may have a direct effect on the production and marketing of gold and on sales of central bank gold holdings. In South Africa, the activities of companies engaged in gold mining are subject to the policies adopted by the Ministry of Mines. The Reserve Bank of South Africa, as the sole authorized sales agent for South African gold, has an influence on the price and timing of sales of South African gold. Political and social conditions in South Africa are still somewhat unsettled and may pose certain risks to the Fund (in addition to the risks described under the caption "Foreign Securities"), because the Fund may hold a portion of its assets in securities of South African issuers.
  • Unpredictable International Monetary Policies, Economic and Political Conditions. There is the possibility that unusual international monetary or political conditions may make the Fund's portfolio assets less liquid, or that the value of the Fund's assets might be more volatile, than would be the case with other investments. In particular, the price of gold is affected by its direct and indirect use to settle net balance of payments deficits and surpluses between nations. Because the prices of precious or strategic metals may be affected by unpredictable international monetary policies and economic conditions, there may be greater likelihood of a more dramatic fluctuation of the market prices of the Fund's investments than of other investments.
  • Commodities Regulations. The trading of Metal Investments in the United States could become subject to the rules that govern the trading of agricultural and certain other commodities and commodity futures. In the opinion of the Fund's counsel, at present the Fund's permitted Metal Investments (if any) are either not subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or an exemption from regulation is available. The absence of regulation may adversely affect the continued development of an orderly market in Metal Investments trading in the United States. The development of a regulated futures market in Metal Investments trading may affect the development of a market in, and the price of, Metal Investments in the United States.
  • Effect on the Fund's Tax Status. By making Metal Investments and/or investments in Gold ETFs, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA each risk failing to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. If the Funds should fail to qualify, they would lose the beneficial tax treatment accorded to qualifying investment companies under Subchapter M of the Code. Failure to qualify would occur if in any fiscal year a Fund either (a) derived more than 10% of its gross income (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, which disregards losses for this purpose) from sales or other dispositions of Metal Investments and/or Gold ETFs, or (b) held more than 50% of its net assets in the form of Metal Investments and/or Gold ETFs or in securities not meeting certain tests under the Internal Revenue Code or (c) held more than 25% of its total assets in the form of a single Metal Investment either directly, Gold ETFs or by derivative contract (see "Distributions and Taxes"). Accordingly, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA each will endeavor to manage its portfolio within the limitations described above, and each has adopted an investment strategy limiting the amount of its total assets that can be invested in Metal Investments and/or Gold ETFs. There can be no assurance that either Fund will qualify in every fiscal year. Furthermore, to comply with the limitations described above, either Fund may be required to make investment decisions the Manager would otherwise not make, foregoing the opportunity to realize gains, if necessary, to permit the Fund to qualify.

Investment Restrictions

Diversification. The Funds are classified as "diversified" under the Investment Company Act. Currently, under the Investment Company Act a "diversified" fund is one with at least 75% of the value of its total assets represented by: (i) cash and cash items (including receivables), (ii) securities issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, (iii) securities of other investment companies, and (iv) other securities that, for any one issuer, are limited in respect to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the fund's total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. A change to a non-diversified status would require shareholder approval.

Fundamental Policies. The Funds have adopted policies and restrictions to govern their investments. Under the Investment Company Act, fundamental policies are those policies that can be changed only by the vote of a "majority" of each Fund's outstanding voting securities which is defined as the vote of the holders of the lesser of:

  • 67% or more of the shares present or represented by proxy at a shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy, or
  • more than 50% of the outstanding shares.

Each Fund's investment objective is a non-fundamental policy. Other policies and restrictions described in the Funds' Prospectuses or this SAI are "fundamental" only if they are identified as such. The Funds' Board of Trustees can change non-fundamental policies and restrictions without shareholder approval. However, significant changes to investment policies and restrictions will be described in supplements or updates to a Fund's Prospectus or this SAI, as appropriate. The Funds' most significant investment policies are described in the Prospectus.

Other Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The following investment restrictions are fundamental policies of each Fund, except Money Fund/VA. 

  • The Fund may not borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemptions may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund may not make any investment if, as a result, the Fund's investments will be concentrated in any one industry, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction. For purposes of this concentration limitation, the Fund's investment adviser may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and instrument and may assign an industry or sector classification consistent with those characteristics in the event that any third party classification provider that may be used by the investment adviser does not assign a classification.
  • The Fund cannot make loans, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot invest in real estate or commodities, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot issue "senior securities," except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act or the Securities Act of 1933, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statutes, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.

The following investment restrictions are fundamental policies of Money Fund/VA.

  • The Fund may not borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemptions may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund may not make any investment if, as a result, the Fund's investments will be concentrated in any one industry, except that the Fund may invest without limit in obligations issued by banks, and except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction. For purposes of this concentration limitation, the Fund's investment adviser may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and instrument and may assign an industry or sector classification consistent with those characteristics in the event that any third party classification provider that may be used by the investment adviser does not assign a classification.
  • The Fund cannot make loans, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot invest in real estate or commodities, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot issue "senior securities," except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statute, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.
  • The Fund cannot underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act or the Securities Act of 1933, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom that is applicable to the Fund, as such statutes, rules, regulations or exemption may be amended or interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission, its staff, or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.

The following is only a brief summary of certain current limitations imposed on investment companies by the Investment Company Act and certain rules and interpretations thereunder, and is not a complete description of such limits. The discussion below is based on current law, regulations and administrative interpretations. Those laws, regulations and administrative interpretations may be changed by legislative, judicial, or administrative action, sometimes with retroactive effect.

The Investment Company Act prohibits a fund from issuing "senior securities," which are generally defined as fund obligations that have a priority over the fund's shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of fund assets, except that the fund may borrow money as described above.

Currently, under the Investment Company Act, and an Oppenheimer funds' exemptive order, a fund may borrow only from banks and/or affiliated investment companies in an amount up to one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed less all liabilities and indebtedness other than borrowing), except that a fund may borrow up to 5% of its total assets from any person for temporary purposes. Under the Investment Company Act, there is a rebuttable presumption that a loan is temporary if it is repaid within 60 days and not extended or renewed.

Under the Investment Company Act, a fund currently cannot make any commitment as an underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than ten percent of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds twenty-five percent of the value of the fund's total assets, except to the extent that a fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act when reselling securities held in its own portfolio.

The Investment Company Act does not prohibit a fund from owning real estate, commodities or contracts related to commodities. The extent to which the Fund can invest in real estate and/or commodities or contracts related to commodities is set out in the investment strategies described in the Prospectus and this SAI.

Current SEC staff interpretations under the Investment Company Act prohibit a fund from lending more than one-third of its total assets, except through the purchase of debt obligations or the use of repurchase agreements.

The Investment Company Act does not define what constitutes "concentration" in an industry.  However, the SEC has taken the position that investment of more than 25% of a fund's total assets in issuers in the same industry constitutes concentration in that industry. That limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities or securities issued by investment companies; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single "industry."

Unless a Fund's Prospectus or this SAI states that a percentage restriction applies on an ongoing basis, it applies only at the time that a Fund makes an investment (except in the case of borrowing and investments in illiquid securities). A Fund need not sell securities to meet the percentage limits if the value of the investment increases in proportion to the size of the Fund.

For purposes of the Funds' policy not to concentrate its investments as described above, the Funds have adopted classifications of industries and group of related industries. These classifications are not fundamental policies.

The Global Strategic Income Fund/VA's and Diversified Alternative Fund/VA's Subsidiaries will also follow those Funds' fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions, described above, with respect to its investments.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

While recognizing the importance of providing Fund shareholders with information about their Fund's investments and providing portfolio information to a variety of third parties to assist with the management, distribution and administrative processes, the need for transparency must be balanced against the risk that third parties who gain access to a Fund's portfolio holdings information could attempt to use that information to trade ahead of or against a Fund, which could negatively affect the prices a Fund is able to obtain in portfolio transactions or the availability of the securities that a portfolio manager is trading on a Fund's behalf.

The Funds, the Manager, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have therefore adopted policies and procedures regarding the dissemination of information about the Funds' portfolio holdings by employees, officers and directors or trustees of the Funds, the Manager, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent. These policies are designed to assure that non-public information about the Funds' portfolio securities holdings is distributed only for a legitimate business purpose, and is done in a manner that (a) conforms to applicable laws and regulations and (b) is designed to prevent that information from being used in a way that could negatively affect the Funds' investment program or enable third parties to use that information in a manner that is harmful to the Funds. It is a violation of the Code of Ethics for any covered person to release holdings in contravention of the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures adopted by the Funds.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies. The Funds, the Manager, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent and their affiliates and subsidiaries, employees, officers, and directors or trustees, shall neither solicit nor accept any compensation or other consideration (including any agreement to maintain assets in the Funds or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Manager or any affiliated person of the Manager) in connection with the disclosure of the Funds' non-public portfolio holdings. The receipt of investment advisory fees or other fees and compensation paid to the Manager and its subsidiaries pursuant to agreements approved by the Funds' Board shall not be deemed to be "compensation" or "consideration" for these purposes. Until publicly disclosed, the Funds' portfolio holdings are proprietary, confidential business information. After they are publicly disclosed, the Funds' portfolio holdings may be released in any appropriate manner.

  • Public Disclosure.The Funds' portfolio holdings, other than Money Fund/VA, are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the close of each of the Funds' fiscal quarters, either in its annual or semi-annual report to shareholders or in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q. Those documents are publicly available at the SEC. In addition, the top 20 month-end securities holdings (based on invested assets), listed by security or by issuer, may be posted on the OppenheimerFunds' website (at www.oppenheimerfunds.com) with a 15-day delay. The Funds may post a smaller list of holdings (e.g., the top five or top 10 portfolio holdings), or may not post any holdings, if the Manager believes that would be in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders. Other general information about the Funds' portfolio investments, such as portfolio composition by asset class, industry, country, currency, credit rating or maturity, may also be publicly disclosed with a 15-day delay. 
  • Money Fund/VA's portfolio holdings, as of the most recent prior close of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), are posted on the Money Fund/VA's website at www.oppenheimerfunds.com on each business day. Therefore, the Money Fund/VA's portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than one business day after the close of trading on the NYSE on each day on which the NYSE is open. The Money Fund/VA's portfolio holdings are also made publicly available no later than 60 days after the close of each of the Fund's fiscal quarters in its semi-annual and annual report to shareholders, or in its Schedule of Investment on Form N-Q. Those documents are publicly available at the SEC.  Additionally, the Fund posts its portfolio holdings with additional detail on a monthly basis on the Fund's website and files information on its holdings quarterly with the SEC on Form N-MFP, which is available on both the Fund's website and the SEC's website.

The Fund's complete portfolio holdings positions may be released to the following categories of individuals or entities on an ongoing basis, provided that such individual or entity either (1) has signed an agreement to keep such information confidential and not trade on the basis of such information, or (2) as a member of the Fund's Board, or as an employee, officer or director of the Manager, the Distributor, or the Transfer Agent, or of their legal counsel, is subject to fiduciary obligations (a) not to disclose such information except in compliance with the Fund's policies and procedures and (b) not to trade for his or her personal account on the basis of such information:

  • Employees of the Fund's Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent who need to have access to such information (as determined by senior officers of such entities);
  • The Fund's independent registered public accounting firm;
  • Members of the Fund's Board and the Board's legal counsel;
  • The Fund's custodian bank;
  • A proxy voting service designated by the Fund and its Board;
  • Rating/ranking organizations (such as Lipper, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.);
  • Portfolio pricing services retained by the Manager to provide portfolio security prices; and
  • Dealers, to obtain bids (price quotations if securities are not priced by the Fund's regular pricing services).

Month-end lists of the Fund's complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed for legitimate business reasons, no sooner than 30 days after the relevant month end, pursuant to special requests and under limited circumstances discussed below, provided that:

  • The third-party recipient must first submit a request for release of Fund portfolio holdings, explaining the business reason for the request;
  • Senior officers (a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel or above) in the Manager's Portfolio and Legal departments must approve the completed request for release of Fund portfolio holdings; and
  • Before receiving the data, the third-party recipient must sign the Manager's portfolio holdings non-disclosure agreement, agreeing to keep confidential the information that is not publicly available regarding the Fund's holdings and agreeing not to trade directly or indirectly based on the information.

Other than for Money Fund/VA, portfolio holdings information of the Fund may be provided, under limited circumstances, to brokers or dealers with whom the Fund trades and entities that provide investment coverage or analytical information regarding the Fund's portfolio, provided that there is a legitimate investment reason for providing the information to the broker, dealer or other entity. Month-end portfolio holdings information may, under this procedure, be provided to vendors providing research information or analytics to the Fund, with at least a 15-day delay after the month end, but in certain cases may be provided to a broker or analytical vendor with a 1- 2 day lag to facilitate the provision of requested investment information to the Manager to facilitate a particular trade or portfolio manager's investment process for the Fund. Any third party receiving such information must first sign the Manager's portfolio holdings non-disclosure agreement as a pre-condition to receiving this information.

Portfolio holdings may be disclosed for legitimate business purposes to brokers and dealers for purposes of providing portfolio analytic services, in connection with portfolio transactions (purchases and sales), and to obtain bids or bid and asked prices (if securities held by the Fund are not priced by the Fund's regular pricing services). Portfolio holdings also may be disclosed for legitimate business purposes to consultants for pension plans that invest in Oppenheimer funds and sponsors of 401(k) plans that include Oppenheimer funds.

Portfolio holdings information (which may include information on the Fund's entire portfolio or individual securities therein) may be provided by senior officers of the Manager/Sub-Adviser or attorneys on the legal staff of the Manager, Distributor, or Transfer Agent, in the following circumstances:

  • Response to legal process in litigation matters, such as responses to subpoenas or in class action matters where the Fund may be part of the plaintiff class (and seeks recovery for losses on a security) or a defendant; 
  • Response to regulatory requests for information (from the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), state securities regulators, and/or foreign securities authorities, including without limitation requests for information in inspections or for position reporting purposes); 
  • To potential sub-advisers of portfolios (pursuant to confidentiality agreements); 
  • To consultants for retirement plans for plan sponsors/discussions at due diligence meetings (pursuant to confidentiality agreements); and
  • Investment bankers in connection with merger discussions (pursuant to confidentiality agreements).

Portfolio managers and analysts may, subject to the Manager's/Sub-Adviser's policies on communications with the press and other media, discuss portfolio information in interviews with members of the media, or in due diligence or similar meetings with clients or prospective purchasers of Fund shares or their financial representatives.

The Fund's shareholders may, under unusual circumstances (such as a lack of liquidity in the Fund's portfolio to meet redemptions), receive redemption proceeds of their Fund shares paid as pro rata shares of securities held in the Fund's portfolio. In such circumstances, disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings may be made to such shareholders.

Any permitted release of otherwise non-public portfolio holdings information must be in accordance with the then-current policy on approved methods for communicating confidential information.

The Chief Compliance Officer (the "CCO") of the Fund and the Manager/Sub-Adviser, Distributor, and Transfer Agent shall oversee the compliance by the Manager/Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent, and their personnel with applicable policies and procedures. At least annually the CCO reports to the Fund's Board any material violation of these policies and procedures during the previous period and makes recommendations to the Board as to any amendments that the CCO believes are necessary and desirable to carry out or improve these policies and procedures.

The Sub-Adviser and the Fund have entered into ongoing arrangements, in addition to those described above, to make available information about the Fund's portfolio holdings. One or more of the Oppenheimer funds may currently disclose portfolio holdings information based on ongoing arrangements to the following parties:

Bloomberg L.P.

Fidelity Management & Research Company

    The Yield Book Inc.

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

MSCI Inc.

FactSet Research Systems Inc.

Sungard Investment Systems, LLC

How the Funds are Managed

Organization and History. Each Fund is an investment portfolio, or "series" of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (the "Trust"), a multi-series open-end diversified management investment company that was organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Trust was reorganized as a Delaware statutory trust in August 2012 and presently includes 11 series. All references to the Funds' Board of Trustees and Officers refer to the Trustees and Officers, respectively, of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds.

The suffix "VA" was added to each Fund's name on May 1, 1999 (if applicable). The following table shows each Fund's current name, its year of organization and any prior Fund names:

Fund Name

Year of
Organization

Prior Fund Name

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

1983

N/A

Capital Income
Fund/VA

1986

Oppenheimer Balanced Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2013).

Core Bond Fund/VA

1983

Oppenheimer Bond Fund/VA (prior to April 29, 2005).

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

1986

Oppenheimer Small- & Mid-Cap Growth Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2013); Oppenheimer MidCap Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2010); Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2006).

Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

2013

N/A

Equity Income Fund/VA

2002

Oppenheimer Value Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2013).

Global Fund/VA

1990

Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2013).

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

1993

Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2010).

Main Street Fund/VA

1995

N/A

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

1998

Oppenheimer Main Street Small- & Mid-Cap Fund®/VA (prior to April 30, 2013); Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA (prior to April 29, 2011).

Money Fund/VA

 

 

 

1983

N/A

 

Shareholders. Insurance companies that hold shares of the Funds in their separate accounts for the benefit of their customers' variable annuities, variable life insurance policies and other investment products are the record holders and the owners of shares of beneficial interest in the Funds. The right of those customers of the insurance companies to give directions to the insurance company for the purchase or redemption of shares is determined under the contract between the customer and the insurance company. The insurance companies, and not their customers, are "shareholders" of the Funds. The rights of those insurance companies as record holders and owners of shares of a Fund are different from the rights of their customers. These customers are indirect owners for all purposes except for those rights reserved by insurance companies in the insurance contract, or as permitted by the SEC.

Classes of Shares. The Trustees are authorized, without shareholder approval, to create new series and classes of shares, to reclassify unissued shares into additional series or classes and to divide or combine the shares of a class into a greater or lesser number of shares without changing the proportionate beneficial interest of a shareholder in the Fund. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights, preemptive rights or subscription rights. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy at shareholder meetings.

The Funds currently have four classes of shares authorized. All Funds offer a class of shares with no name designation referred to in this SAI and the Prospectus as "non-service shares." As of September 15, 2006, all Funds except Money Fund/VA also offer a service share class, subject to a Distribution and Service Plan. Money Fund/VA currently only offers the class of non-service shares. Global Fund/VA offers two additional share classes, referred to in this SAI as "Class 3" and "Class 4", which are subject to a redemption fee. In addition, Class 4 shares are subject to a Distribution and Service Plan. Each class of shares:

  • has its own dividends and distributions,
  • pays certain expenses which may be different for the different classes,
  • will generally have a different net asset value,
  • will generally have separate voting rights on matters in which interests of one class are different from interests of another class, and
  • votes as a class on matters that affect that class alone.

Each share of each class has one vote at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally, on matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Each share of a Fund represents an interest in each Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share of the same class of that Fund.

Shareholder and Trustee Liability; Shareholder Meetings. Under Delaware law and the Trust's Declaration of Trust, Fund shareholders are entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to shareholders of corporations organized under Delaware law. Under Delaware law and the Trust's Declaration of Trust, Trustees are not personally liable to any person for any obligations of the Funds. Therefore a shareholder or Trustee of the Funds generally will not be subject to personal liability for Fund obligations. The risk that a Fund shareholder or Trustee will incur personal liability for Fund obligations is limited to the circumstances in which a state court may not apply Delaware law or the terms of the Trust's Declaration of Trust.

As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is not required to hold regular annual meetings of shareholders and does not plan to do so. The Trust may hold shareholder meetings from time to time.

Board of Trustees and Oversight Committees

The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for overseeing the Fund. The Board is led by Sam Freedman, an independent trustee, who is not an "interested person" of the Fund, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act. The Board meets periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's activities, including to review its performance, oversee potential conflicts that could affect the Fund, and review the actions of the Manager and Sub-Adviser. With respect to its oversight of risk, the Board, through its committees, relies on reports and information received from various parties, including the Manager and Sub-Adviser, internal auditors, the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund's outside auditors and Fund counsel. It is important to note that, despite the efforts of the Board and of the various parties that play a role in the oversight of risk, it is likely that not all risks will be identified or mitigated.

The Board has an Audit Committee, a Review Committee and a Governance Committee. Each of the Committees is comprised solely of Trustees who are not "interested persons" under the Investment Company Act (the "Independent Trustees"). The Board has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund because it allocates areas of responsibility among the committees in a manner that enhances the Board's oversight.

During the Fund's fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the Audit Committee held 4 meetings, the Review Committee held 4 meetings and the Governance Committee held 4 meetings.

The members of the Audit Committee are F. William Marshall, Jr. (Chairman), Edward L. Cameron, Jon S. Fossel, Karen L. Stuckey and James D. Vaughn. The Audit Committee selects the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm (also referred to as the "independent Auditors"). Other main functions of the Audit Committee, outlined in the Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to: (i) reviewing the scope and results of financial statement audits and the audit fees charged; (ii) reviewing reports from the Fund's independent Auditors regarding the Fund's internal accounting procedures and controls; (iii) reviewing reports from the Manager's Internal Audit Department; (iv) maintaining a separate line of communication between the Fund's independent Auditors and the Independent Trustees; (v) reviewing the independence of the Fund's independent Auditors; and (vi) approving in advance the provision of any audit or non-audit services by the Fund's independent Auditors, including tax services, that are not prohibited by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to the Fund, the Manager and certain affiliates of the Manager. The Audit Committee also reviews reports concerning the valuation on certain investments.

The members of the Review Committee are Richard F. Grabish (Chairman), Beverly L. Hamilton, Victoria J. Herget and Robert J. Malone. Among other duties, as set forth in the Review Committee's Charter, the Review Committee reviews Fund performance and expenses as well as oversees several of the Fund's principal service providers and certain policies and procedures of the Fund. The Review Committee also reviews certain reports from and meets periodically with the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer.

The members of the Governance Committee are Beverly L. Hamilton (Chairman), Edward L. Cameron, Richard F. Grabish, Victoria J. Herget, Robert J. Malone, F. William Marshall, Jr., Karen L. Stuckey and James D. Vaughn. The Governance Committee has adopted a charter setting forth its duties and responsibilities. Among other duties, the Governance Committee reviews and oversees Fund governance and the nomination of Trustees, including Independent Trustees. The Governance Committee has adopted a process for shareholder submission of nominees for board positions. Shareholders may submit names of individuals, accompanied by complete and properly supported resumes, for the Governance Committee's consideration by mailing such information to the Governance Committee in care of the Fund. The Governance Committee has not established specific qualifications that it believes must be met by a nominee. In evaluating nominees, the Governance Committee considers, among other things, an individual's background, skills, and experience; whether the individual is an "interested person" as defined in the Investment Company Act; and whether the individual would be deemed an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of applicable SEC rules. The Governance Committee also considers whether the individual's background, skills, and experience will complement the background, skills, and experience of other Trustees and will contribute to the Board's diversity. The Governance Committee may consider such persons at such time as it meets to consider possible nominees. The Governance Committee, however, reserves sole discretion to determine which candidates for Trustee it will recommend to the Board and the shareholders and it may identify candidates other than those submitted by shareholders. The Governance Committee may, but need not, consider the advice and recommendation of the Manager or its affiliates in selecting nominees. The full Board elects new Trustees except for those instances when a shareholder vote is required.

Shareholders who desire to communicate with the Board should address correspondence to the Board or an individual Board member and may submit correspondence electronically at www.oppenheimerfunds.com under the caption "contact us" or by mail to the Fund at the address on the front cover of this SAI.

Below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Board member that led the Board to conclude that he or she should serve as a Trustee of the Fund.

Each Independent Trustee has served on the Board for the number of years listed below, during the course of which he or she has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Board's deliberations. Each Trustee's outside professional experience is outlined in the table of Biographical Information, below.

Trustees and Officers of the Funds

Except for Mr. Glavin, each of the Trustees is an Independent Trustee. All of the Trustees are also trustees of the following Oppenheimer funds (referred to as "Denver Board Funds"):

Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund

Oppenheimer SteelPath Master MLP Fund, LLC

Oppenheimer Cash Reserves

Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Funds Trust

Oppenheimer Commodity Strategy Total Return Fund

OppenheimerSenior Floating Rate Fund

Oppenheimer Corporate Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus Fund

Oppenheimer Currency Opportunities Fund

Oppenheimer Short Duration Fund

Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds:

Oppenheimer Equity Fund

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund

Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund

Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Integrity Funds:

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund/VA

Oppenheimer International Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Main Street Funds

Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Main Street Select Fund

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund

Oppenheimer Money Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Main Street Small- & Mid-Cap Fund

Oppenheimer Master Event-Linked Bond Fund, LLC

Panorama Series Fund:

Oppenheimer Master Inflation Protected Securities Fund, LLC

Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Master Loan Fund, LLC

Messrs. Anello, Bhaman, Brown, Edwards, Gabinet, Glavin, Govil, Hamilton, Kennedy, Krantz, Kotlarz, Legg, Levine, Memani, O'Donnell, Petersen, Proctor, Ram, Steinmetz, Strzalkowski, Vandehey, Vardharaj, Weiner, Wixted, Zibelli and Ziehl and Mss. Budzinski, Bloomberg, Kantesaria, Ketner Pak, LaFond, Nasta and Zervos, who are officers of the Funds, hold the same offices with one or more of the other Denver Board Funds.

Present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and their immediate family members) of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates, and retirement plans established by them for their employees are permitted to purchase Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds at net asset value without sales charge. The sales charge on Class A shares is waived for that group because of the reduced sales efforts realized by the Distributor. Present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and their eligible family members) of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates, its parent company and the subsidiaries of its parent company, and retirement plans established for the benefit of such individuals, are also permitted to purchase Class Y shares of the Oppenheimer funds that offer Class Y shares.

As of October 31, 2013 the Trustees/Directors and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of any class of shares of the Fund beneficially or of record.

The foregoing statement does not reflect ownership of shares held of record by an employee benefit plan for employees of the Manager, Sub-Adviser and its subsidiaries, other than the shares beneficially owned under that plan by the officers of the Fund. In addition, none of the Independent Trustees/Directors (nor any of their immediate family members) owns securities of either the Manager, Sub-Adviser or the Distributor or of any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Manager or the Distributor.

Biographical Information. The Trustees and officers, their positions with the Fund, length of service in such position(s) and principal occupations and business affiliations during at least the past five years are listed in the charts below. The address of each Independent Trustee in the chart below is 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924. Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, or until his or her resignation, retirement, death or removal.

 

Each Trustee has served the Fund in the following capacities from the following dates:

Independent Trustees

Position(s)

Length of Service

Sam Freedman

Board Chairman

Since 2013

Trustee

Since 1996

Edward L. Cameron

Trustee

Since 1999

Jon S. Fossel

Trustee

Since 1990

Richard F. Grabish

Trustee

Since 2012

Beverly L. Hamilton

Trustee

Since 2002

Victoria J. Herget

Trustee

Since 2012

Robert J. Malone

Trustee

Since 2002

F. William Marshall, Jr.

Trustee

Since 2000

Karen L. Stuckey

Trustee

Since 2012

James D. Vaughn

Trustee

Since 2012

Interested Trustee

William F. Glavin, Jr.

Trustee

Since 2009

 

Independent Trustees

Name, Year of Birth, Position(s)

Principal Occupations(s) During the Past
5 Years; Other Trusteeship Held

Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex

Sam Freedman (1940), Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Director of Colorado UpLIFT (charitable organization) (since September 1984). Mr. Freedman held several positions with the Sub-Adviser and with subsidiary or affiliated companies of the Sub-Adviser (until October 1994). Mr. Freedman has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 1996, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Edward L. Cameron (1938), Trustee

Member of The Life Guard of Mount Vernon (George Washington historical site) (June 2000 - June 2006); Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (accounting firm) (July 1974-June 1999); Chairman of Price Waterhouse LLP Global Investment Management Industry Services Group (accounting firm) (July 1994-June 1998). Mr. Cameron has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 1999, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Jon S. Fossel (1942), Trustee

Chairman of the Board (2006-December 2011) and Director (June 2002-December 2011) of UNUMProvident (insurance company); Director of Northwestern Energy Corp. (public utility corporation) (November 2004-December 2009); Director of P.R. Pharmaceuticals (October 1999-October 2003); Director of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (non-profit organization) (February 1998-February 2003 and February 2005-February 2007); Chairman and Director (until October 1996) and President and Chief Executive Officer (until October 1995) of the Sub-Adviser; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the following: Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC") (parent holding company of the Sub-Adviser), Shareholders Services, Inc. and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. (until October 1995). Mr. Fossel has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 1990, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Richard F. Grabish (1948), Trustee

Formerly Senior Vice President and Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing (March 1997-December 2007), Director (March 1987-December 2007) and Manager of Private Client Services (June 1985-June 2005) of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (broker/dealer and investment firm); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A.G. Edwards Trust Company, FSB (March 2001-December 2007); President and Vice Chairman of A.G. Edwards Trust Company, FSB (investment adviser) (April 1987-March 2001); President of A.G. Edwards Trust Company, FSB (investment adviser) (June 2005-December 2007). Mr. Grabish has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2001, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Beverly L. Hamilton (1946), Trustee

Trustee of Monterey Institute for International Studies (educational organization) (since February 2000); Board Member of Middlebury College (educational organization) (December 2005-June 2011); Chairman (since 2010) of American Funds' Emerging Markets Growth Fund, Inc. (mutual fund); Director of The California Endowment (philanthropic organization) (April 2002-April 2008); Director (February 2002-2005) and Chairman of Trustees (2006-2007) of the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula; Director (October 1991-2005); Vice Chairman (2006-2009) of American Funds' Emerging Markets Growth Fund, Inc. (mutual fund); President of ARCO Investment Management Company (February 1991-April 2000); Member of the investment committees of The Rockefeller Foundation (2001-2006) and The University of Michigan (since 2000); Advisor at Credit Suisse First Boston's Sprout venture capital unit (venture capital fund) (1994-January 2005); Trustee of MassMutual Institutional Funds (investment company) (1996-June 2004); Trustee of MML Series Investment Fund (investment company) (April 1989-June 2004); Member of the investment committee of Hartford Hospital (2000-2003); and Advisor to Unilever (Holland) pension fund (2000-2003). Ms. Hamilton has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2002, during which time she has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Victoria J. Herget (1951), Trustee

Independent Director of the First American Funds (mutual fund family) (2003-2011); former Managing Director (1993-2001), Principal (1985-1993), Vice President (1978-1985) and Assistant Vice President (1973-1978) of Zurich Scudder Investments (and its predecessor firms); Board Chair (2008-Present) and Director (2004-Present), United Educators (insurance company); Trustee (1992-2007), Chair of the Board of Trustees (1999-2007), Investment Committee Chair (1994-1999) and Investment Committee member (2007-2010) of Wellesley College; Trustee (since 2000) and Chair (since 2010), Newberry Library; Trustee, Mather LifeWays (since 2001); Trustee, BoardSource (2006-2009) and Chicago City Day School (1994-2005). Ms. Herget has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2012, during which time she has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

Robert J. Malone (1944), Trustee

Chairman of the Board (since 2012) and Director (since August 2005) of Jones International University (educational organization) (since August 2005); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Steele Street Bank Trust (commercial banking) (since August 2003); Trustee of the Gallagher Family Foundation (non-profit organization) (since 2000); Board of Directors of Opera Colorado Foundation (non-profit organization) (2008-2012); Director of Colorado UpLIFT (charitable organization) (1986-2010); Director of Jones Knowledge, Inc. (2006-2010); Former Chairman of U.S. Bank-Colorado (subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp and formerly Colorado National Bank) (July 1996-April 1999); Director of Commercial Assets, Inc. (real estate investment trust) (1993-2000); Director of U.S. Exploration, Inc. (oil and gas exploration) (1997-February 2004); Chairman of the Board (1991-1994) and Trustee (1985-1994) of Regis University; and Chairman of the Board (1990-1991 and Trustee (1984-1999) of Young Presidents Organization. Mr. Malone has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2002, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Board's deliberations.

38

F. William Marshall, Jr. (1942), Trustee

Trustee Emeritus of Worcester Polytech Institute (WPI) (private university) (since 2009); Trustee of MassMutual Select Funds (formerly MassMutual Institutional Funds) (investment company) (since 1996), MML Series Investment Fund (investment company) (since 1996) and Mass Mutual Premier Funds (investment company) (since January 2012); President and Treasurer of the SIS Fund (private charitable fund) (January 1999-March 2011); Former Trustee of WPI (1985-2008); Former Chairman of the Board (2004-2006) and Former Chairman of the Investment Committee of WPI (1994-2008); Chairman of SIS Family Bank, F.S.B. (formerly SIS Bank) (commercial bank) (January 1999-July 1999); Executive Vice President of Peoples Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (commercial bank) (January 1999-July 1999); and Former President and Chief Executive Officer of SIS Bancorp. (1993-1999). Mr. Marshall has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2000, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

42*

Karen L. Stuckey (1953), Trustee

Partner (1990-2012) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (held various positions 1975-1990); Emeritus Trustee (since 2006) and Trustee (1992-2006) and member of Executive, Nominating and Audit Committees and Chair of Finance Committee of Lehigh University; and member, Women's Investment Management Forum since inception. Ms. Stuckey has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2012, during which time she has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

James D. Vaughn (1945), Trustee

Retired; former managing partner (1994-2001) of Denver office of Deloitte & Touche LLP, (held various positions 1969-1993); Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Schroder Funds (2003-2012); Board member and Chairman of Audit Committee of AMG National Trust Bank (since 2005); Trustee and Investment Committee member, University of South Dakota Foundation (since 1996); Board member, Audit Committee Member and past Board Chair, Junior Achievement (since 1993); former Board member, Mile High United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, Economic Club of Colorado and Metro Denver Network. Mr. Vaughn has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2012, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

38

*Includes four open-end investment companies: MassMutual Select Funds, MML Series Investment Fund, MassMutual Premier Funds and MML Series Investment Fund II. In accordance with the instructions for SEC Form N-1A, for purposes of this section only, MassMutual Select Funds and MML Series Investment Fund are included in the "Fund Complex." The Manager does not consider MassMutual Select Funds, MML Series Investment Fund, MassMutual Premier Funds and MML Series Investment Fund II to be part of the OppenheimerFunds' "Fund Complex" as that term may be otherwise interpreted.


Mr. Glavin is an "Interested Trustee" because he is affiliated with the Manager and the Sub-Adviser by virtue of his positions as an officer and director of the Manager and a director of the Sub-Adviser, and as a shareholder of the Sub-Adviser's parent company. Both as a Trustee and as an officer, he serves for an indefinite term, or until his resignation, retirement, death or removal. Mr. Glavin's address is Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10281-1008.

 

Interested Trustee and Officer

Name, Year of Birth, Position(s)

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years; Other Trusteeships/Directorships Held

Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex

William F. Glavin, Jr. (1958) Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer

Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Manager (since January 2013); President of the Manager (January 2013-May 2013); Chairman of the Sub-Adviser (December 2009-December 2012); Chief Executive Officer (January 2009-December 2012) and Director of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2009); President of the Sub-Adviser (May 2009-December 2012); Management Director (since June 2009), President (since December 2009) and Chief Executive Officer (since January 2011) of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC") (the Sub-Adviser's parent holding company); Director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since March 2010); Executive Vice President (March 2006 - February 2009) and Chief Operating Officer (July 2007 - February 2009) of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (OAC's parent company); Director (May 2004 - March 2006) and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (May 2004 - January 2005), President (January 2005 - March 2006) and Chief Executive Officer (June 2005 - March 2006) of Babson Capital Management LLC; Director (March 2005 - March 2006), President (May 2003 - March 2006) and Chief Compliance Officer (July 2005 - March 2006) of Babson Capital Securities, Inc. (a broker-dealer); President (May 2003 - March 2006) of Babson Investment Company, Inc.; Director (May 2004 - August 2006) of Babson Capital Europe Limited; Director (May 2004 - October 2006) of Babson Capital Guernsey Limited; Director (May 2004 - March 2006) of Babson Capital Management LLC; Non-Executive Director (March 2005 - March 2007) of Baring Asset Management Limited; Director (February 2005 - June 2006) Baring Pension Trustees Limited; Director and Treasurer (December 2003 - November 2006) of Charter Oak Capital Management, Inc.; Director (May 2006 - September 2006) of C.M. Benefit Insurance Company; Director (May 2008 - June 2009) and Executive Vice President (June 2007 - July 2009) of C.M. Life Insurance Company; President (March 2006 - May 2007) of MassMutual Assignment Company; Director (January 2005 - December 2006), Deputy Chairman (March 2005 - December 2006) and President (February 2005 - March 2005) of MassMutual Holdings (Bermuda) Limited; Director (May 2008 - June 2009) and Executive Vice President (June 2007 - July 2009) of MML Bay State Life Insurance Company; Chief Executive Officer and President (April 2007 - January 2009) of MML Distributors, LLC.; and Chairman (March 2006 -December 2008) and Chief Executive Officer (May 2007 - December 2008) of MML Investors Services, Inc. Mr. Glavin has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since December 2009, during which time he has become familiar with the Fund's (and other Oppenheimer funds') financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters and has contributed to the Boards' deliberations.

89

The addresses of the officers in the chart below are as follows: for Messrs. Anello, Bhaman, Brown, Edwards, Gabinet, Glavin, Govil, Hamilton, Kotlarz, Krantz, Levine, Memani, Ram, Steinmetz, Strzalkowski, Vardharaj, Weiner, Ziehl and Zibelli and Mss. Bloomberg, Budzinski, Kantesaria, Ketner Pak, Nasta and Zervos, Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008, for Messrs. Kennedy, Legg, O'Donnell, Petersen, Proctor, Vandehey and Wixted and Ms. LaFond, 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924. Each officer serves for an indefinite term or until his or her resignation, retirement death or removal.

 

Each of the Officers has served the Funds in the following capacities from the following dates:

Raymond Anello

Vice President

Since 2011

Rajeev Bhaman

Vice President

Since 2004

Jack Brown

Vice President

Since 2013

Joy Budzinski

Vice President

Since 2013

Manind Govil

Vice President

Since 2009

Mark Hamilton

Vice President

Since 2013

Kristin Ketner Pak

Vice President

Since 2013

Magnus Krantz

Vice President

Since 2013

Michael Kotlarz

Vice President

Since 2012

Michael Levine

Vice President

Since 2013

Krishna Memani

Vice President

Since 2009

Christopher Proctor

Vice President

Since 2010

Benjamin Ram

Vice President

Since 2009

Arthur P. Steinmetz

Vice President

Since 1993

Peter A. Strzalkowski

Vice President

Since 2009

Raman Vardharaj

Vice President

Since 2009

Adam Weiner

Vice President

Since 2013

Sara Zervos

Vice President

Since 2010

Ronald Zibelli, Jr.

Vice President

Since 2006

Matthew Ziehl

Vice President

Since 2009

William F. Glavin, Jr.

President and Principal Executive Officer

Since 2009

Christina Nasta

Vice President and Chief Business Officer

Since 2011

Mark S. Vandehey

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2004

Brian W. Wixted

Treasurer and Principal Financial & Accounting Officer

Since 1999

James A. Kennedy

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2011

Brian S. Petersen

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2004

Mathew O'Donnell

Assistant Treasurer

Since 2012

Arthur S. Gabinet

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Since 2011

Lisa I. Bloomberg

Assistant Secretary

Since 2004

Taylor V. Edwards

Assistant Secretary

Since 2008

Amee Kantesaria

Assistant Secretary

Since 2012

Randy G. Legg

Assistant Secretary

Since 2008

Gloria LaFond

Blue Sky Officer

Since 2011

 

Other Information About the Officers of the Funds

Name, Year of Birth, Position(s)

Principal Occupation(s) During the Last 5 Years

Portfolios Overseen in Fund Complex

Raymond Anello (1964)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009) and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since April 2011). Sector manager for energy and utilities for the Sub-Adviser's Main Street Investment Team (since May 2009). Portfolio Manager of the RS All Cap Dividend product (from its inception in July 2007-April 2009) and served as a sector manager for energy and utilities for various other RS Investments products. Guardian Life Insurance Company (October 1999) and transitioned to RS Investments (October 2006) in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company's acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. An equity portfolio manager/analyst and high yield analyst at Orion Capital (1995-1998) and an assistant portfolio manager at the Garrison Bradford portfolio management firm (1988-1995).

2

Rajeev Bhaman (1963)
Vice President

Director of Global Equities of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2006); Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (January 1997-May 2006).

2

Jack Brown (1973)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009) and was a senior analyst for the High Yield Corporate Debt team (from 2000 to 2012). He joined the Sub-Adviser (in 1995) and has held numerous positions including fixed income liaison, analyst and senior analyst.

2

Joy Budzinski (1968)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009) and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since November 2012). Sector manager for healthcare for the Sub-Adviser's Main Street Investment Team (since May 2009). Healthcare sector manager at RS Investment and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Guardian Life Insurance Company (August 2006) and transitioned to RS Investments (October 2006) in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company's acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. Senior equity analyst at Bank of New York BNY Asset Management (2001 -2006); portfolio manager and analyst at Alliance of America (1999-2001); portfolio manager and analyst at JP Morgan Chase (1993-1997); analyst at Prudential Investments (1997-1998).

2

Manind "Mani" Govil (1969)
Vice President

Senior Vice President, the Main Street Team Leader and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009). Portfolio manager with RS Investment Management Co. LLC (October 2006-March 2009). Head of equity investments at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (August 2005-October 2006) when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. Lead portfolio manager - large cap blend/core equity, co-head of equities and head of equity research (2001-July 2005), and was lead portfolio manager - core equity (April 1996-July 2005), at Mercantile Capital Advisers, Inc.

3

Mark Hamilton (1965)
Vice President

Chief Investment Officer, Asset Allocation of the Sub-Adviser (since April 2013) and a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since April 2013).  Mr. Hamilton served at AllianceBernstein L.P. (from 1994-2013), as an Investment Director of Dynamic Asset Allocation (from 2010-2013), Head of North American Blend Team (from 2009-2010), and Senior Portfolio Manager of Blend Strategies (from 2006-2010).

7

Kristin Ketner Pak (1965)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since June 2009) and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since November 2012). Sector manager for consumer discretionary and consumer staples for the Sub-Adviser's Main Street Investment Team (since May 2009). Sector manager at RS Investment and Guardian Life Insurance Company.  Ms. Ketner Pak joined Guardian Life Insurance Company in February 2006 and transitioned to RS Investments in October 2006 in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company's acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. Portfolio Manager at Solstice Equity Management (2002-2005); Retail analyst at Goldman Sachs (1999-2001); Director of Strategy and Integration at Staples (1997-1999); Investment banker at Merrill Lynch (1987-1992 and 1995-1997) and Montgomery Securities (1994-1995).

2

Michael Kotlarz (1972)
Vice President

Vice President and Senior Research Analyst of the Sub-Adviser (since March 2008). Managing Director of Equity Research at Ark Asset Management (March 2000-March 2008).

3

Magnus Krantz (1967)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009) and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since November 2012); sector manager for technology for the Sub-Adviser's Main Street Investment Team (since May 2009). Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Krantz was a sector manager at RS Investment and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Mr. Krantz joined Guardian Life Insurance Company in December 2005 and transitioned to RS Investments in October 2006 in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company's acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. Portfolio manager and analyst at Citigroup Asset Management (1998-2005) and as a consultant at Price Waterhouse (1997-1998). Product development engineer at Newbridge Networks (1993-1996); Software engineer at Mitel Corporation (1990-1993).

3

Michael Levine (1965)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since June 1998) and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since September 2000).

2

Krishna Memani (1960)
Vice President

President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2013); Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2013) and Head of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Team of the Sub-Adviser (since March 2009). Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser (October 2010-December 2012) and Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (March 2009-December 2012). Managing Director and Head of the U.S. and European Credit Analyst Team at Deutsche Bank Securities (June 2006-January 2009). Chief Credit Strategist at Credit Suisse Securities (August 2002-March 2006). Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at Putnam Investments (September 1998-June 2002).

13

Christopher Proctor (1968)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since August 2008) and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2010). Vice President at Calamos Asset Management (January 2007-March 2008) and Scudder-Kemper Investments (1999-2002). Managing Director and Co-Founder of Elmhurst Capital Management (June 2004-January 2007); Senior Manager of Research for Etrade Global Asset Management (2002-2004).

5

Benjamin Ram (1972)
Vice President

Vice President and portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009); Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2011). Sector manager for financial investments and a co portfolio manager for mid-cap portfolios with the RS Core Equity Team of RS Investment Management Co. LLC (October 2006-May 2009). Portfolio Manager of Mid Cap Strategies, Sector Manager Financials at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (January 2006-October 2006) when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. Financial analyst (2003-2005), and co-portfolio manager (2005-2006) at Mercantile Capital Advisers, Inc.; Bank analyst at Legg Mason Securities (2000-2003) and a senior financial analyst at the CitiFinancial division of Citigroup, Inc. (1997-2000).

2

Arthur P. Steinmetz (1958)
Vice President

Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities (since January 2013); Executive Vice President and Director of the Manager (since January 2013); President and Director of OFI SteelPath, Inc. (since January 2013); Chief Investment Officer of the Sub-Adviser (October 2010-December 2012); Chief Investment Officer, Fixed-Income, of the Sub-Adviser (April 2009-October 2010); Executive Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (October 2009-December 2012); Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser (January 2009-April 2009); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (March 1993-September 2009).

3

Peter A. Strzalkowski (1965)
Vice President

Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since August 2007) and a member of the Sub-Adviser's Investment Grade Fixed Income Team (since April 2009). Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Vector Capital Management, LLC, a structured products money management firm he founded, (July 2006-August 2007). Senior Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management, L.P. (June 2005-July 2006) and a Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Microsoft Corp. (June 2003-June 2005). Vice President and Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at First Citizens Bank Trust, Capital Management Group (April 2000-June 2003); Vice President and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Centura Banks (November 1998-April 2000).

4

Raman Vardharaj (1971)
Vice President

Vice President and portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009); Sector manager and a senior quantitative analyst creating stock selection models, monitoring portfolio risks and analyzing portfolio performance across the RS Core Equity Team of RS Investment Management Co. LLC (October 2006-May 2009); Quantitative analyst at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (1998-October 2006) when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC.

2

Adam Weiner (1969)
Vice President

Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009) and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser (since November 2012). Sector manager for industrials and materials for the Sub-Adviser's Main Street Investment Team (since May 2009). Sector manager at RS Investment for industrials and materials (January 2007-April 2009). Director and senior equity analyst at Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM) (September 2004-December 2006). Equity analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston 2004-2006 (buy-side) and 1999-2004 (sell-side) and Morgan Stanley (1996-1999); internal auditor at Dun and Bradstreet (1992-1996). Budget analyst, Information Resources Division of the Executive Office of the President (1990-1992).

2

Sara Zervos, PhD (1969)
Vice President

Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2011); Head of the Global Debt Team (since October 2010) and is the team's Director of International Research; Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (April 2008-December 2010). Portfolio manager with Sailfish Capital Management (May 2007-February 2008) and a portfolio manager for emerging market debt at Dillon Read Capital Management and OTA Asset Management (June 2004-April 2007).

4

Ronald Zibelli, Jr. (1959)
Vice President

Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2006). Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, he spent six years at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, during which time he was a Managing Director and Small Cap Growth Team Leader, responsible for managing 11 portfolios. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, Mr. Zibelli spent 12 years with Chase Manhattan Bank, including two years as Senior Portfolio Manager (U.S. Small Cap Equity) at Chase Asset Management.

3

Matthew Ziehl (1967)
Vice President

Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009). Portfolio manager with RS Investment Management Co. LLC (October 2006-May 2009); Managing Director at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (December 2001-October 2006) when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. Team leader and co portfolio manager with Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc. for small growth portfolios (January 2001-December 2001).

2

 

Name, Year of Birth, Position(s)

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years

Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex

Mark S. Vandehey (1950)
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Manager (since January 2013); Chief Compliance Officer of OFI SteelPath, Inc. (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (March 2004-December 2012); Chief Compliance Officer of the Sub-Adviser, OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., OFI Global Trust Company, OFI Global Institutional, Inc., Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc., OFI Private Investments, Inc., Harborview Asset Management Corporation, Trinity Investment Management Corporation, and Shareholder Services, Inc. (since March 2004); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., Centennial Asset Management Corporation and Shareholder Services, Inc. (June 1983-December 2012).

89

Christina M. Nasta (1973)
Vice President and Chief Business Officer

Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (July 2010-December 2012); Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (January 2003-July 2010); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (January 2003-July 2010).

89

Brian W. Wixted (1959)
Treasurer and Principal Financial & Accounting Officer

Senior Vice President of the Manager (since January 2013); Treasurer of the Sub-Adviser, HarbourView Asset Management Corporation, Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc., and Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (March 1999-June 2008), OFI Private Investments, Inc. (March 2000-June 2008), OppenheimerFunds International Ltd. and OppenheimerFunds plc (since May 2000), OFI Global Institutional, Inc. (November 2000-June 2008), and OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program (charitable trust program established by the Sub-Adviser) (June 2003-December 2011); Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of OFI Global Trust Company (since May 2000); Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corporation (March 1999-June 2008).

89

James A. Kennedy (1958)
Assistant Treasurer

Senior Vice President of the Manager (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (September 2006-December 2012.)

89

Mathew O'Donnell (1967)
Assistant Treasurer

Vice President of the Manager (since January 2013); Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (January 2008-December 2012); Accounting Policy Director of the Sub-Adviser (May 2007-March 2012).

89

Arthur S. Gabinet (1958)
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Manager (since January 2013); General Counsel OFI SteelPath, Inc. (since January 2013); Executive Vice President (May 2010-December 2012) and General Counsel (since January 2011) of the Sub-Adviser; General Counsel of the Distributor (since January 2011); General Counsel of Centennial Asset Management Corporation (January 2011-December 2012); Executive Vice President (January 2011-December 2012) and General Counsel of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation (since January 2011); Assistant Secretary (since January 2011) and Director (since January 2011) of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd. and OppenheimerFunds plc; Director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (January 2011-December 2012) and General Counsel (since January 2011); Executive Vice President (January 2011-December 2011) and General Counsel of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Shareholder Services, Inc. (since January 2011); Executive Vice President (January 2011-December 2012) and General Counsel of OFI Private Investments Inc. (since January 2011); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program (January 2011-December 2011); Executive Vice President (January 2011-December 2012) and General Counsel of OFI Global Institutional, Inc. (since January 2011); General Counsel, Asset Management of the Sub-Adviser (May 2010-December 2010); Principal, The Vanguard Group (November 2005-April 2010); District Administrator, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (January 2003-October 2005).

89

Lisa I. Bloomberg (1968)
Assistant Secretary

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the Manager (since January 2013); Senior Vice President (February 2010-December 2012) and Deputy General Counsel (May 2008-December 2012) of the Sub-Adviser; Vice President (May 2004-January 2010) and Associate Counsel of the Sub-Adviser (May 2004-May 2008).

89

Randy G. Legg (1965)
Assistant Secretary

Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Manager (since January 2013); Vice President (June 2005-December 2012) and Senior Counsel (March 2011-December 2012) of the Sub-Adviser; Associate Counsel (January 2007-March 2011) of the Sub-Adviser.

89

Taylor V. Edwards (1967)
Assistant Secretary

Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Manager (since January 2013); Vice President (February 2007-December 2012) and Senior Counsel (February 2012-December 2012) of the Sub-Adviser; Associate Counsel (May 2009-January 2012); Assistant Vice President (January 2006-January 2007) and Assistant Counsel (January 2006-April 2009) of the Sub-Adviser.

89

Amee Kantesaria (1980)
Assistant Secretary

Vice President and Assistant Counsel of the Manager (since January 2013); Vice President (May 2009-December 2012) and Assistant Counsel (December 2006-December 2012) of the Sub-Adviser; Assistant Vice President (December 2006-May 2009) of the Sub-Adviser; Assistant Secretary (since January 2011) of the Sub-Adviser and Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp.

89

Gloria J. LaFond (1945)
Blue Sky Officer

Assistant Vice President of the Manager (since January 2013); Assistant Vice President (January 2006-December 2012) of the Sub-Adviser.

89

Trustees Share Ownership. The chart below shows information about each Trustee's beneficial share ownership in the Fund and in all of the registered investment companies that the Trustee oversees in the Oppenheimer family of funds ("Supervised Funds").

 

As of December 31, 2012

Dollar Range of Shares Beneficially Owned in the Funds

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Beneficially Owned in Supervised Funds

Independent Trustees

Edward L. Cameron

None

Over $100,000

Jon S. Fossel

None

Over $100,000

Sam Freedman

None

Over $100,000

Richard F. Grabish

None

Over $100,000

Beverly L. Hamilton

None

Over $100,000

Victoria J. Herget

None

Over $100,000

Robert J. Malone

None

Over $100,000

F. William Marshall, Jr.

None

Over $100,000

Karen L. Stuckey

None

Over $100,000

James D. Vaughn

None

Over $100,000

Interested Trustee

William F. Glavin

None

Over $100,000

Remuneration of the Officers and Trustees. The officers of the Fund, who are associated with the Manager, receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The Independent Trustees' total compensation from the Fund and fund complex represents compensation for serving as a Trustee and member of a committee (if applicable) of the Boards of the Fund and other funds in the OppenheimerFunds complex during the calendar year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Name and Other Fund Position(s) (as applicable)

Aggregate Compensation From the Fund1

Total Compensation From the Fund and Fund Complex2

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012

Year Ended December 31, 2012

Sam Freedman

$42,619

$225,400

Chairman of the Board

Edward L. Cameron

$34,761

$183,750

Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

Jon S. Fossel

$37,060

$196,000

Audit Committee Member

Richard Grabish

$27,388

$155,027

Review Committee Chairman and Governance Committee Member

Beverly Hamilton

$37,0603

$196,000

Governance Committee Chairman and Review Committee Member

Victoria J. Herget

$30,223

$159,519

Review Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

Robert J. Malone

$42,619

$225,400

Review Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

F. William Marshall, Jr.

$44,472

$377,6324

Audit Committee Chairman and Governance Committee Member

Karen L. Stuckey

$27,874

$147,000

Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

James D. Vaughn

$30,223

$159,519

Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

1. "Aggregate Compensation from the Fund" includes fees and deferred compensation, if any. Because Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA commenced operations on November 14, 2013, the estimated compensation paid to each Trustee from that Fund for fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 is $0.
2. In accordance with SEC regulations, for purposes of this section only, "Fund Complex" includes the Oppenheimer Funds, the MassMutual Institutional Funds, the MassMutual Select Funds and the MML Series Investment Fund, the investment adviser for which is the indirect parent company of the Fund's Manager. The Manager also serves as the Sub-Adviser to the following: MassMutual Premier International Equity Fund, MassMutual Premier Main Street Fund, MassMutual Premier Strategic Income Fund, MassMutual Premier Capital Appreciation Fund, and MassMutual Premier Global Fund. The Manager does not consider MassMutual Institutional Funds, MassMutual Select Funds and MML Series Investment Fund to be part of the Oppenheimer Funds' "Fund Complex" as that term may be otherwise interpreted.
3. Includes $37,060 deferred by Ms. Hamilton under the "Compensation Deferral Plan" described below.
4. Includes $142,432 compensation paid to Mr. Marshall for serving as a Trustee for MassMutual Select Funds and MML Series Investment Fund.


Compensation Deferral Plan. The Board of Trustees has adopted a Compensation Deferral Plan for Independent Trustees that enables them to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are entitled to receive from certain Funds. Under the plan, the compensation deferred by a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee. The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based on the amount of compensation deferred and the performance of the selected funds.

Deferral of the Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect a Fund's assets, liabilities or net income per share. The plan will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any particular level of compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued by the SEC, a fund may invest in the funds selected by the Trustee under the plan without shareholder approval for the limited purpose of determining the value of the Trustee's deferred compensation account.

Major Shareholders.  For information on control persons and principal holders of securities of the Funds, please see Appendix A.

The Manager and the Sub-Adviser

The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a holding company primarily owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, a global, diversified insurance and financial services company.

Code of Ethics. The Funds (except Money Fund/VA), the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to detect and prevent improper personal trading by certain employees, including portfolio managers, that would compete with or take advantage of a Fund's portfolio transactions. Covered persons include persons with knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of the Fund and other funds advised by the Manager. The Code of Ethics does permit personnel subject to the Code to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, subject to a number of restrictions and controls. Compliance with the Code of Ethics is carefully monitored and enforced by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor.

The Code of Ethics is an exhibit to the Funds' registration statement filed with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You can obtain information about the hours of operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1.202.551.8090. The Code of Ethics can also be viewed as part of the Funds' registration statement on the SEC's EDGAR database at the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov., or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

The Investment Advisory Agreement.The Manager provides investment advisory and management services to each Fund under an investment advisory agreement between the Manager and each Fund. The Manager has retained the Sub-Adviser pursuant to a separate sub-advisory agreement, described below, under which the Sub-Adviser chooses the Funds' investments and provides related advisory services to the Funds. Prior to January 1, 2013, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. was the Manager of the Fund.

The advisory agreement requires the Manager, at its expense, to provide the Funds with adequate office space, facilities and equipment. It also requires the Manager to provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical personnel required to provide effective administration for the Funds. Those responsibilities include the compilation and maintenance of records with respect to Funds' operations, the preparation and filing of specified reports, and composition of proxy materials and registration statements for the continuous public sale of shares of the Funds.

The Funds pay expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the investment advisory agreements. The investment advisory agreements list examples of expenses paid by the Funds. The major categories relate to interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, fees to certain Directors/Trustees, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs and non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs. The management fees paid by the Funds to the Manager are calculated at the rates described in the Prospectus, which are applied to the assets of the Funds as a whole. The fees are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of a Fund's net assets represented by that class. The management fees paid by the Funds to the Manager during their last three fiscal years were:

Management Fees for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31

Fund

2010

2011

2012

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

$9,268,654

$7,570,152

$6,753,708

Capital Income Fund/VA

$1,780,237

$1,695,109

$1,985,570

Core Bond Fund/VA

$1,161,961

$1,115,919

$1,120,003

Discovery Mid Cap
Growth Fund/VA

$4,152,994

$4,602,216

$4,415,676

Equity Income Fund/VA

$52,993

$56,629

$54,356

Global Fund/VA

$16,477,772

$17,004,569

$15,919,693

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

$17,980,400

$13,684,521

$13,867,182

Main Street Fund/VA

$10,730,968

$9,967,881

$9,147,166

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

$5,732,969

$6,299,582

$6,378,552

Money Fund/VA

$739,544

$702,396

$739,124

The investment advisory agreements state that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the investment advisory agreements, the Manager is not liable for any loss the Funds sustain in connection with matters to which the agreement relates.

The agreements permit the Manager to act as investment advisor for any other person, firm or corporation and to use the name "Oppenheimer" in connection with other investment companies for which it may act as investment advisor or general distributor. If OFI shall no longer act as investment advisor to the Funds, OFI may withdraw the right of the Funds to use the name "Oppenheimer" as part of their name.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the sub-advisory agreement between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall regularly provide investment advice with respect to the Funds and invest and reinvest cash, securities, commodity interests and the property comprising the assets of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser selects securities and/or commodity interests for the Funds' portfolios and provides related advisory services. The portfolio managers of the Funds are employed by the Sub-Adviser and are principally responsible for the provision of advisory services of the Funds' portfolios. Other members of the Sub-Adviser's investment teams provide the portfolio managers with counsel and support in managing the Funds' portfolios.

Under the sub-advisory agreement, the Manager pays the Sub-Adviser a percentage of the net investment advisory fee (after all applicable waivers) that it receives from the Funds as compensation for the provision of investment advisory services. The fee paid to the Sub-Adviser under the sub-advisory agreement is paid by the Manager, not by the Funds.

The sub-advisory agreement states that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services under the Sub-Advisory Agreement or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security.

In addition, as described below under "Organization and Management of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries," the Subsidiary for each of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA has entered into a separate contract with the Manager for the management of the Subsidiary's portfolio. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from each Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Manager each Fund's respective Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Funds invest in their respective Subsidiaries, and may not be terminated by the Manager unless the Manager first obtains the prior approval of the Board of Trustees of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA or Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA, as applicable, for such termination.

The Sub-Sub-Advisers. OFI SteelPath, Inc., one of the Sub-Sub-Advisers to the Fund, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OFI, the Fund's Sub-Adviser. Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, LLC, another Sub-Sub-Adviser to the Fund, is an indirect subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company ("MassMutual"), the parent company of the Manager.

The Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreements. Under the Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreements between the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Advisers, each Sub-Sub-Adviser shall regularly provide investment advice with respect to that portion, or all, of the Fund's assets that the SubAdviser and/or the Adviser shall allocate to the Sub-Sub-Adviser from time to time (the "Allocated Assets"), and invest and reinvest cash, securities and the property comprising the assets of the Allocated Assets that the respective Sub-Sub-Adviser manages. The Sub-Sub-Adviser also agrees to provide assistance in the distribution and marketing of the Fund.

Under the Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Sub-Adviser pays each Sub-Sub-Adviser an annual fee in monthly installments, with respect to and based on the portion of the average daily net assets of the Fund comprising the Allocated Assets. The fee paid to the Sub-Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreement is paid by the Sub-Adviser, not by the Fund. The Sub-Adviser will pay each Sub-Sub-Adviser a percentage of the investment management fee collected by the Sub-Adviser from the Manager with respect to and based on the portion of the average daily net assets of the Fund comprising the assets managed by each Sub-Sub-Adviser, which shall be calculated after any investment management fee waivers (voluntary or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Sub-Adviser, without the Sub-Sub-Adviser's concurrence, agrees to voluntarily waive a portion of the investment management fee the Manager is required to pay to the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Sub-Adviser's fee hereunder shall be based upon the investment management fee the Manager would have to pay exclusive of any such waiver agreed to by the Sub-Adviser in its sole discretion.

Each Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreement states that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations, the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services under the Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreement or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security.

Portfolio Proxy Voting. The Fund has adopted Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, which include Proxy Voting Guidelines, under which the Fund votes proxies relating to securities held by the Fund ("portfolio proxies"). The Manager generally undertakes to vote portfolio proxies with a view to enhancing the value of the company's stock held by the Fund. The Fund has retained an independent, third party proxy voting agent to vote portfolio proxies in accordance with the Fund's Proxy Voting Guidelines and to maintain records of such portfolio proxy voting. The Manager's internal Proxy Voting Committee is responsible for monitoring the third party proxy voting agent.

The Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures include provisions to address conflicts of interest that may arise between the Fund and the Manager or the Manager's affiliates or business relationships. Such a conflict of interest may arise, for example, where the Manager or an affiliate of the Manager manages or administers the assets of a pension plan or other investment account of the portfolio company soliciting the proxy or seeks to serve in that capacity. The Manager and its affiliates generally seek to avoid such material conflicts of interest by maintaining separate investment decision making processes to prevent the sharing of business objectives with respect to proposed or actual actions regarding portfolio proxy voting decisions. Additionally, the Manager employs the following procedures, as long as OFI determines that the course of action is consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders:

If the proposal that gives rise to the conflict is specifically addressed in the Proxy Voting Guidelines, the Manager will vote the portfolio proxy in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines.

  • If such proposal is not specifically addressed in the Proxy Voting Guidelines, or if the Proxy Voting Guidelines provide discretion to the Manager on how to vote (i.e., on a case-by-case basis), the Manager will vote in accordance with the third-party proxy voting agent's general recommended guidelines on the proposal provided that the Manager has reasonably determined that there is no conflict of interest on the part of the proxy voting agent.
  • With respect to such proposal where a portfolio manager has requested that the Manager vote (i) in a manner inconsistent with the Proxy Voting Guidelines, or (ii) if such proposal is not specifically addressed in the Proxy Voting Guidelines, in a manner inconsistent with the third-party proxy voting agent's general recommended guidelines, the Proxy Voting Committee may determine that such a request is in the best interests of the Fund (and, if applicable, its shareholders) and does not pose an actual material conflict of interest. In making its determination, the Proxy Voting Committee may consider, among other things, whether the portfolio manager is aware of the business relationship with the company, and/or is sufficiently independent from the business relationship, and to the Proxy Voting Committee's knowledge, whether the Manager has been contacted or influenced by the company in connection with the proposal.

If none of the previous procedures provides an appropriate voting recommendation, the Proxy Voting Committee may: (i) determine how to vote on the proposal; (ii) recommend that the Manager retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Manager on how to vote the proposal; or (iii) determine that voting on the particular proposal is impracticable and/or is outweighed by the cost of voting and direct the Manager to abstain from voting.

The Proxy Voting Guidelines' provisions with respect to certain routine and non-routine proxy proposals are summarized below:

  • The Fund evaluates director nominees on a case-by-case basis, examining the following factors, among others: composition of the board and key board committees, experience and qualifications, attendance at board meetings, corporate governance provisions and takeover activity, long-term company performance, the nominee's investment in the company, and whether the company or nominee is targeted in connection with public "vote no" campaigns.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals requiring the position of chairman to be filled by an independent director unless there are compelling reasons to recommend against the proposal such as a counterbalancing governance structure.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals asking that a majority of directors be independent. The Fund generally supports proposals asking that a board audit, compensation, and/or nominating committee be composed exclusively of independent directors.
  • The Fund generally votes against shareholder proposals to require a company to nominate more candidates than the number of open board seats.
  • The Fund generally supports shareholder proposals to reduce a super-majority vote requirement, and opposes management proposals to add a super-majority vote requirement.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals to allow shareholders the ability to call special meetings.
  • The Fund generally votes for proposals that remove restrictions on or provide the right of shareholders to act by written consent independently of management taking into account the company's specific governance provisions including right to call special meetings, poison pills, vote standards, etc. on a case-by-case basis.
  • The Fund generally votes against proposals to create a new class of stock with superior voting rights.
  • The Fund generally votes against proposals to classify a board.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
  • The Fund generally votes against proposals to establish a new board committee.
  • The Fund generally votes on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options on a case-by-case basis.
  • The Fund votes on qualified employee stock purchase plans on a case-by-case basis. The Fund generally supports non-qualified employee stock purchase plans that feature broad-based participation, limits on employee contribution, company matching up to 25%, and no discount on the stock price on the date of purchase.
  • The Fund generally supports transfer stock option ("TSO") programs, if executive officers and non-employee directors are excluded from participating, if stock options are purchased from third-party financial institutions at a discount to their fair value using option pricing models, and if there is a two-year minimum holding period for sale proceeds. The Fund generally votes against equity plan proposals if the details of ongoing TSO programs are not provided to shareholders.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals to require majority voting for the election of directors.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals seeking disclosure regarding the company's, board's or committee's use of compensation consultants.
  • The Fund generally supports "pay-for-performance" and "pay-for-superior-performance standard" proposals that align a significant portion of total compensation of senior executives to company performance, and generally supports an annual frequency for advisory votes on executive compensation.
  • The Fund generally supports having shareholder votes on poison pills.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals calling for companies to adopt a policy of not providing tax gross-up payments.
  • The Fund votes case-by-case on bonus banking/bonus banking "plus" proposals.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals calling for companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for golden coffins/executive death benefits. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals for which the broad-based employee population is eligible.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals to eliminate accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards to senior executives in the event of change in control (except for pro rata vesting considering the time elapsed and attainment of any related performance goals between the award date and the change in control).
  • In the case of social, political and environmental responsibility issues, the Fund will generally abstain where there could be a detrimental impact on share value or where the perceived value if the proposal was adopted is unclear or unsubstantiated.
  • The Fund generally supports proposals that would clearly have a discernible positive impact on short- or long-term share value, or that would have a presently indiscernible impact on short- or long-term share value but promotes general long-term interests of the company and its shareholders.

The Fund is required to file Form N-PX, with its complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30th, no later than August 31st of each year. The Fund's Form N-PX filing is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund toll-free at 1.800.525.7048 and (ii) on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Pending Litigation.  Since 2009, seven class action lawsuits have been pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and certain Oppenheimer mutual funds (but not including the Fund) advised by OFI Global and distributed by the Distributor (the "Defendant Funds"). The lawsuits also name as defendants certain officers and current and former trustees of the respective Defendant Funds. The lawsuits raise claims under federal securities law and allege, among other things, that the disclosure documents of the respective Defendant Fund contained misrepresentations and omissions and that the respective Defendant Funds' investment policies were not followed. The plaintiffs in these actions seek unspecified damages, equitable relief and awards of attorneys' fees and litigation expenses. The Defendant Funds' Boards of Trustees have also engaged counsel to represent the Funds and the present and former Independent Trustees named in those suits. On August 26, 2013, the parties in six of these lawsuits executed a memorandum of understanding setting forth the terms of proposed settlements of those actions. The proposed settlements are subject to a variety of contingencies, including the execution of settlement agreements, which will require preliminary and final approval by the court. The proposed settlements do not resolve a seventh outstanding lawsuit relating to Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund.

Other class action and individual lawsuits have been filed since 2008 in various state and federal courts against the Sub-Adviser and certain of its affiliates by investors seeking to recover investments they allegedly lost as a result of the "Ponzi" scheme run by Bernard L. Madoff and his firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC ("BLMIS"). Plaintiffs in these suits allege that they suffered losses as a result of their investments in several funds managed by an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser and assert a variety of claims, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and violation of federal and state securities laws and regulations, among others. They seek unspecified damages, equitable relief and awards of attorneys' fees and litigation expenses. Neither the Distributor, nor any of the Oppenheimer mutual funds, their independent trustees or directors are named as defendants in these lawsuits. None of the Oppenheimer mutual funds invested in any funds or accounts managed by Madoff or BLMIS. On February 28, 2011, a stipulation of partial settlement of three groups of consolidated putative class action lawsuits relating to these matters was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On August 19, 2011, the court entered an order and final judgment approving the settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate. In September 2011, certain parties filed notices of appeal from the court's order approving the settlement. The settlement does not resolve other outstanding lawsuits against the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates relating to BLMIS.

On April 16, 2010, a lawsuit was filed in New York state court against the Sub-Adviser, an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser and AAArdvark IV Funding Limited ("AAArdvark IV"), an entity advised by the Sub-Adviser's affiliate, in connection with investments made by the plaintiffs in AAArdvark IV. Plaintiffs allege breach of contract and common law fraud claims against the defendants and seek compensatory damages, costs and disbursements, including attorney fees. On April 11, 2013, the court granted defendants' motion for summary judgment, dismissing plaintiffs' fraud claim with prejudice and dismissing their contract claim without prejudice, and granted plaintiffs leave to replead their contract claim to assert a cause of action for specific performance within 30 days. On May 9, 2013, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal from the court's dismissal order. On July 15, 2011, a lawsuit was filed in New York state court against the Sub-Adviser, an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser and AAArdvark Funding Limited ("AAArdvark I"), an entity advised by the Sub-Adviser's affiliate, in connection with investments made by the plaintiffs in AAArdvark I. The complaint alleges breach of contract and common law fraud claims against the defendants and seeks compensatory damages, costs and disbursements, including attorney fees. On November 9, 2011, a lawsuit was filed in New York state court against the Sub-Adviser, an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser and AAArdvark XS Funding Limited ("AAArdvark XS"), an entity advised by the Sub-Adviser's affiliate, in connection with investments made by the plaintiffs in AAArdvark XS. The complaint alleges breach of contract against the defendants and seeks compensatory damages, costs and disbursements, including attorney fees.

The Sub-Adviser believes the lawsuits and appeals described above are without legal merit and, with the exception of actions it has settled, is defending against them vigorously. While it is premature to render any opinion as to the outcome in these lawsuits, or whether any costs that the Defendant Funds may bear in defending the suits might not be reimbursed by insurance, the Sub-Adviser believes that these suits should not impair the ability of the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor to perform their respective duties to the Fund, and that the outcome of all of the suits together should not have any material effect on the operations of any of the Oppenheimer mutual funds.

Portfolio Managers. Each Fund's portfolio is managed by the following:

 

Fund

Portfolio Manager(s)

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Michael Kotlarz

Capital Income Fund/VA

Magnus Krantz, Krishna Memani

Core Bond Fund/VA

Krishna Memani, Peter A. Strzalkowski

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

Ronald Zibelli, Jr.

Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

Mark Hamilton, David Wharmby, Brian Watson

Equity Income Fund/VA

Michael Levine

Global Fund/VA

Rajeev Bhaman

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Arthur P. Steinmetz, Krishna Memani, Jack Brown, Sara Zervos

Main Street Fund/VA

Manind "Mani" Govil, Benjamin Ram

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

Matthew Ziehl, Raymond Anello, Raman Vardharaj,
Joy Budzinski, Kristen Ketner Pak, Magnus Krantz, Adam Weiner

Money Fund/VA

Christopher Proctor

Each of the above individuals is referred to as a "Portfolio Manager" and collectively they are referred to as the "Portfolio Managers." They are the persons who are responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund's respective investments.

Other Accounts Managed. In addition to managing the Funds' investment portfolio, Messrs. Anello, Bhaman, Brown, Govil, Hamilton, Krantz, Kotlarz, Levine, Memani, Proctor, Ram, Steinmetz, Strzalkowski, Vardharaj, Watson, Weiner, Wharmby, Zibelli and Ziehl and Mss. Budzinski, Ketner Pak and Zervos also manage other investment portfolios or accounts on behalf of the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. The following tables provide information regarding those portfolios and accounts as of December 31, 2012, except for information for Mssrs. Hamilton, Watson and Wharmby, which is provided as of October 31, 2013. Except for one registered investment company managed by Mr. Bhaman, no portfolio or account has a performance-based advisory fee:

 

Fund Name & Portfolio Managers

Registered Investment Companies Managed

Total Assets in Registered Investment Companies Managed1

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed

Total Assets in Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed

Other Accounts Managed

Total Assets in Other Accounts Managed3

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Michael Kotlarz

5

$7.91

1

$153.882

0

$0

Capital Income Fund/VA

Magnus Krantz

4

$4.38

0

$0

2

$388.392

Krishna Memani

14

$23.50

2

$16.402

0

$0

Core Bond/VA

Krishna Memani

14

$23.61

2

$16.402

0

$0

Peter A. Strzalkowski

3

$4.03

5

$2.222

0

$0

Discovery Mid Cap
Growth Fund/VA

Ronald J. Zibelli, Jr.

5

$2.23

1

$23.832

0

$0

Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

Mark Hamilton

6

$7.00

1

$14.852

0

$0

David Wharmby

2

$1.17

1

$16.932

5

$124.812

Brian Watson

6

$7.82

6

$809.052

1

$279.362

Equity Income Fund/VA

Michael Levine

1

$3.49

0

$0

0

$0

Global Fund/VA

Rajeev Bhaman

7

$12.62

2

$666.552

1

$120.362

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Arthur P. Steinmetz

3

$23.88

2

$16.402

0

$0

Krishna Memani

14

$21.21

2

$16.402

0

$0

Jack Brown

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

Sara Zervos

3

$22.24

1

$1.43

0

$0

Main Street Fund/VA

Manind Govil

8

$9.35

0

$0

1

$248.102

Benjamin Ram

7

$7.91

0

$0

0

$0

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

Matthew Ziehl

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Raymond Anello

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Raman Vardharaj

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Joy Budzinski

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Kristin Ketner Pak

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Magnus Krantz

4

$3.73

0

$0

2

$388.392

Adam Weiner

3

$3.44

0

$0

2

$388.392

Money Fund/VA

Christopher Proctor

4

$10.33

0

$0

1

$250.292

1. In billions.
2. In millions.
3. Does not include personal accounts of portfolio managers and their families, which are subject to the Code of Ethics.


As indicated above, a portfolio manager may also manage other funds and accounts. At different times, a portfolio manager may manage other funds or accounts with investment objectives and strategies similar to, or different from, those of the Funds. At times, those responsibilities could potentially conflict with the interests of the Funds. That may occur whether the investment objectives and strategies of the other funds and accounts are the same as, or different from, the Funds' investment objectives and strategies. For example, a portfolio manager may need to allocate investment opportunities between a Fund and another fund or account having similar objectives or strategies, or may need to execute transactions for another fund or account that could have a negative impact on the value of securities held by a Fund. Not all funds and accounts advised by the Sub-Adviser have the same management fee. If the management fee structure of another fund or account is more advantageous to the Sub-Adviser than the fee structure of a Fund, the Sub-Adviser could have an incentive to favor the other fund or account. However, the Sub-Adviser's compliance procedures and Code of Ethics recognize the Sub-Adviser's obligation to treat all of its clients, including the Funds, fairly and equitably, and are designed to preclude a portfolio manager from favoring one client over another. It is possible, of course, that those compliance procedures and the Code of Ethics may not always be adequate to do so.

Compensation of Portfolio Managers. Portfolio managers are employed and compensated by the Sub-Adviser or an affiliate, not by the Funds. Under the compensation program for portfolio managers and portfolio analysts, compensation is based primarily on the relative investment performance results of the funds or accounts they manage, rather than on the financial success of the Sub-Adviser. This is intended to align the interests of the portfolio managers and analysts with the success of the funds and accounts of their shareholders. The compensation structure is designed to attract and retain highly qualified investment management professionals and to reward individual and team contributions toward creating shareholder value. A portfolio manager's compensation is not directly based on the total value of assets they manage; however, higher total compensation potential is likely to align with greater assets under management. The compensation structure is intended to be internally and externally equitable and serve to reduce potential conflicts of interest arising from a portfolio manager's responsibilities managing different funds or accounts. 

Portfolio manager compensation generally consists of three components: a base salary, an annual bonus, and eligibility to participate in long-term awards. In general, the average proportion of total compensation among these three components is as follows: base salary is 15%, annual bonus is 65%, and long-term awards are 20%.

The base pay component for each portfolio manager is reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the performance of the individual, is commensurate with the requirements of the particular portfolio, reflects any specific competence or specialty of the individual manager, and is competitive with other comparable positions.

The annual bonus is calculated based on two factors: a formulaic performance portion and a discretionary portion. In general, the formulaic performance portion is a much larger part of the annual bonus than the discretionary portion. The formulaic performance portion of the annual bonus is measured against the one, three and five year performance, or performance since inception, as applicable, of the fund(s) relative to an appropriate peer group category selected by senior management. The compensation structure is weighted towards long-term performance of the funds, with one year performance weighted at 20%, three year performance rated at 30%, and five year performance weighted at 50%. This formula has the effect of rewarding consistently above median performance, which best aligns the interests of the portfolio manager and the shareholder. Below median performance in all three periods results in an extremely low, and in some cases no, formulaic performance based bonus.

The discretionary portion of the annual bonus is determined by senior management of the Sub-Adviser and is based on a number of factors, including, management quality (such as style consistency, risk management, sector coverage, team leadership and coaching), contributions to marketing efforts and organizational development.

Finally, the long-term award component consists of grants in the form of appreciation rights in regard to the common stock of the Sub-Adviser's holding company parent, restricted shares of such common stock, as well as deferred cash investments in the fund(s) managed by a portfolio manager. Portfolio managers must elect to receive either 20% or 40% of their long-term award component in the form of deferred cash investments in the fund(s) managed. Through this long-term award component, portfolio managers' interests are further aligned with those of fund shareholders.

The compensation structure of other funds and/or accounts managed by a portfolio manager, if any, is generally the same as the compensation structure described above. A portfolio manager's compensation with regard to other portfolios may be based on the performance of those portfolios compared to a peer group category that may be different from that described below.

With respect to compensation of portfolio managers relating to a Fund's cash management, such compensation reflects aspects unique to that role: The formulaic performance portion of the annual bonus is measured against the one and three year performance, or performance since inception, as applicable, of the fund(s) relative to appropriate peer group rankings, credit performance and collateral management selected by senior management. The compensation structure is weighted at 50% for one year performance and 50% for three year performance. This formula has the effect of rewarding consistently above median performance, which best aligns the interests of the portfolio manager and the shareholder. Below median performance results in an extremely low, and in some cases no, formulaic performance based bonus. Finally, the long-term award component consists of two equal portions, the first portion being grants in the form of appreciation rights in regard to the common stock of the Sub-Adviser's holding company parent, and the second portion being restricted shares of such common stock.

The peer group categories with respect to the Funds are listed below.  

 

Fund Name and Portfolio Managers

Peer Group Category

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Morningstar Large Growth

Michael Kotlarz

Capital Income Fund/VA

Magnus Krantz (Equity Sleeve)

Lipper Multi-Cap Core

Krishna Memani (Fixed Income Sleeve)

Morningstar Intermediate Term Bond

Core Bond Fund/VA

Morningstar Intermediate-Term Bond

Krishna Memani
Peter A. Strzalkowski

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth

Ronald Zibelli, Jr.

Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA

Morningstar Multialternative

Mark Hamilton
David Wharmby
Brian Watson

Equity Income Fund/VA

Morningstar Large Value

Michael Levine

Global Fund/VA

Morningstar World Stock

Rajeev Bhaman

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Morningstar Multisector Bond

Arthur P. Steinmetz
Krishna Memani
Sara Zervos
Jack Brown

Main Street Fund/VA

Morningstar Large Blend

Manind "Mani" Govil
Benjamin Ram

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

Morningstar Small Blend

Matthew Ziehl
Raymond Anello
Raman Vardharaj
Joy Budzinski
Kristin Ketner Pak
Magnus Krantz
Adam Weiner

Money Fund/VA

N/A

Christopher Proctor

Ownership of Fund Shares. As of December 31, 2012, the Portfolio Managers did not beneficially own any shares of the Funds, which are sold only through insurance companies to their contract owners.

Organization and Management of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. Each of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its Subsidiary. It is expected that the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity and financial futures and option contracts, Gold ETFs, as well as fixed income securities and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary's derivatives positions.

Each Subsidiary is an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose registered office is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. The Subsidiaries affairs are overseen by a board of directors consisting of the following directors:

Sophia A. Dilbert: Ms. Dilbert is a Vice President of Maples Fiduciary Services, and works on a wide range of investment fund products, including multi-manager funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, unit trust structures and segregated portfolio companies. Ms. Dilbert is a graduate of The University of Liverpool, having obtained a Degree of Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1995. She was called as a barrister in England and Wales in 1996 and thereafter admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands. Ms. Dilbert worked with Maples and Calder as an Associate Attorney from 1996 to 2004 specializing in capital markets and investment funds. Her area of practice also included general corporate and commercial law, real estate, immigration and employment matters. From 2004 to 2007, she worked as a Senior Associate with Stuarts Walker Hersant in their corporate and investments funds practice before becoming the Global Head of Legal at Admiral Administration Ltd. from 2007 to 2011. Ms. Dilbert is a member of the Caymanian Bar Association, the Cayman Islands Law Society, the Financial Services Council and is a member of the Council of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.

Letitia Solomon: Ms. Solomon is a Vice President of Maples Fiduciary Services, and works on a wide range of investment fund products, including multi-manager funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, unit trust structures, and segregated portfolio companies. Prior to joining Maples Fiduciary Services Ms. Solomon worked with Deloitte as a Senior Manager, responsible for a team of consultants providing consulting services to private and public sector entities. Prior to that Ms. Solomon worked in the Ministry of Finance of the Cayman Islands Government where she progressed to the level of Assistant Financial Secretary. Ms. Solomon acquired extensive experience in drafting anti-money laundering policies including the anti-money laundering guidance notes as well as in developing regulatory policy and guidelines for the financial services industry. Ms. Solomon commenced her career with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority ("CIMA") where she spent nine years providing supervision and regulation of financial services entities and ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory laws and regulations. Ms. Solomon graduated from the University of South Florida with a BSc in Finance. She also holds a MBA from Edinburgh University, Scotland. Ms. Solomon is also a former Director of the CIMA. She is an Accredited Director by the Chartered Secretaries of Canada, and is also a member of the Cayman Islands Directors Association.

Brian W. Wixted: Mr. Wixted's biographical information appears above in the chart "Other Officers of the Funds."

The services of Sophia A. Dilbert and Letitia Solomon are being provided by Maples Fiduciary Services (Cayman) Limited ("MaplesFS"), a regulated entity in the Cayman Islands.

MaplesFS has entered into a Director Services Agreement with each Subsidiary which sets out the terms on which it will provide the services of Sophia A. Dilbert and Letitia Solomon.

The directors provided by MaplesFS are non-executive directors of each Subsidiary. They may be engaged in any other business and/or be concerned or interested in or act as directors or officers of any other company or entity. Neither MaplesFS nor any of the directors supplied by MaplesFS are responsible for (i) the commercial structuring of a Subsidiary or its investment strategy, (ii) the purchase or sale of any investment on behalf of a Subsidiary (which is the responsibility solely of the Investment Manager), (iii) the valuation of the assets of a Subsidiary, or (iv) any loss or damage caused by the acts or omissions of the Manager, any other service provider to a Subsidiary, or any of their delegates or sub-delegates unless any such loss or damage is actually occasioned by the actual fraud, willful default or gross negligence (as defined in the Director Services Agreement) of the directors supplied by MaplesFS.

Each Subsidiary's Articles of Association (the "Articles") provide that every director and officer of the Subsidiary shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Subsidiary against any liability incurred as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his or her functions other than such liability (if any) that may be incurred by reason of the actual fraud, willful default or gross negligence of such director or officer. The Articles also provide that no such director or officer shall be liable to the Subsidiary for any loss or damage in carrying out his or her functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, willful default or gross negligence of such director or officer.

The Director Services Agreement provides that none of MaplesFS or any of the directors provided by the Maples Group shall be liable to the Subsidiary under or in connection with the Director Services Agreement in an amount more than that specified in the Agreement, except in circumstances where such liability was caused by the actual fraud of MaplesFS or, as the case may be, any of the directors provided by the Maples Group.

Each Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts with the Manager for the management of its portfolio. Each Subsidiary has also entered into arrangements with KPMG LLP to serve as the Subsidiary's independent auditor. Each Subsidiary has also entered into arrangements with JP Morgan Chase Bank to serve as the Subsidiary's custodian, and with OppenheimerFunds Services to serve as the Subsidiary's transfer agent. Each Subsidiary has adopted compliance policies and procedures that are substantially similar to the policies and procedures adopted, respectively, by Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA's and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA's Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Subsidiaries' policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to each Fund's Board regarding its Subsidiary's compliance with its policies and procedures.

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA each pays the Manager a fee for its services. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from each Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Manager by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for as long as each Fund invests in its Subsidiary, and may not be terminated by the Manager unless the Manager first obtains the prior approval for such termination from the Board of Trustees of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA . Each Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the custody, transfer agency, and audit services that it receives. Both Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA expects that the expenses borne by its Subsidiary will not be material in relation to the value of each Fund's respective assets. It is also anticipated that each Fund's own expenses will be reduced to some extent as a result of the payment of such expenses at the Subsidiary level. It is therefore expected that each Fund's investment in the Subsidiary will not result in it paying duplicative fees for similar services provided to the Fund and its Subsidiary.

Please refer to the section titled "Distributions and Taxes" for information about certain tax aspects of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA's and Diversified Alternative Fund/VA's investment in the Subsidiaries.

Brokerage Policies of the Funds

Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of the Sub-Adviser under the sub-advisory agreements is to arrange the portfolio transactions for the Funds. The sub-advisory agreements contain provisions relating to the employment of broker-dealers to effect the Funds' portfolio transactions. The Sub-Adviser is authorized by the sub-advisory agreements to employ broker-dealers, including "affiliated brokers," as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act, that the Sub-Adviser thinks, in its best judgment based on all relevant factors, will implement the policy of the Funds to obtain, at reasonable expense, the "best execution" of the Funds' portfolio transactions. "Best execution" means prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable price obtainable for the services provided. The Sub-Adviser need not seek competitive commission bidding. However, the Sub-Adviser is expected to be aware of the current rates of eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the extent consistent with the interests and policies of the Funds as established by its Board of Trustees.

Under the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements, in choosing brokers to execute portfolio transactions for the Funds, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser may select brokers (other than affiliates) that provide both brokerage and research services to the Funds. The commissions paid to those brokers may be higher than another qualified broker would charge, if the Manager and Sub-Adviser make a good faith determination that the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.

Brokerage Practices Followed by the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser allocates brokerage for the Funds subject to the provisions of the sub-advisory agreements and other applicable rules and procedures described below.

The Sub-Adviser's portfolio traders allocate brokerage based upon recommendations from the Sub-Adviser's portfolio managers, together with the portfolio traders' judgment as to the execution capability of the broker or dealer. In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly place trades and allocate brokerage. In either case, the Sub-Adviser's executive officers supervise the allocation of brokerage.

For Equity Funds, transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In transactions on foreign exchanges, a Fund may be required to pay fixed brokerage commissions and therefore would not have the benefit of negotiated commissions that are available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid primarily for transactions in listed securities or for certain fixed-income agency transactions executed in the secondary market. Otherwise, brokerage commissions are paid only if it appears likely that a better price or execution can be obtained by doing so. In an option transaction, a Fund ordinarily uses the same broker for the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction in the securities to which the option relates.

For the Fixed-Income Funds, most securities purchases made by a Fund are in principal transactions at net prices. A Fund usually deals directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market maker without incurring charges for the services of a broker on its behalf unless the Sub-Adviser determines that a better price or execution may be obtained by using the services of a broker. Therefore, a Fund does not incur substantial brokerage costs. Portfolio securities purchased from underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter in the price of the security. Portfolio securities purchased from dealers include a spread between the bid and asked price. In an option transaction, a Fund ordinarily uses the same broker for the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction in the investment to which the option relates.

Other accounts advised by the Sub-Adviser have investment policies similar to those of the Funds. Those other accounts may purchase or sell the same securities as a Fund at the same time as that Fund, which could affect the supply and price of the securities. If two or more accounts advised by the Sub-Adviser purchase the same security on the same day from the same dealer, the transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account. When possible, the Sub-Adviser tries to combine concurrent orders to purchase or sell the same security by more than one of the accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. The transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account.

Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act prohibits any fund from compensating a broker or dealer for promoting or selling the fund's shares by (1) directing to that broker or dealer any of the fund's portfolio transactions, or (2) directing any other remuneration to that broker or dealer, such as commissions, mark-ups, mark downs or other fees from the fund's portfolio transactions, that were effected by another broker or dealer (these latter arrangements are considered to be a type of "step-out" transaction). In other words, a fund and its investment adviser cannot use the fund's brokerage for the purpose of rewarding broker-dealers for selling the fund's shares.

However, the Rule permits funds to effect brokerage transactions through firms that also sell fund shares, provided that certain procedures are adopted to prevent a quid pro quo with respect to portfolio brokerage allocations. As permitted by the Rule, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted procedures (and the Funds' Board of Trustees has approved those procedures) that permit the Funds to direct portfolio securities transactions to brokers or dealers that also promote or sell shares of the Funds, subject to the "best execution" considerations discussed above. Those procedures are designed to prevent: (1) the Sub-Adviser's personnel who effect the Funds' portfolio transactions from taking into account a broker's or dealer's promotion or sales of the Funds shares when allocating the Funds' portfolio transactions, and (2) the Funds, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor from entering into agreements or understandings under which the Sub-Adviser directs or is expected to direct the Funds' brokerage directly, or through a "step-out" arrangement, to any broker or dealer in consideration of that broker's or dealer's promotion or sale of the Funds' shares or the shares of any of the other Oppenheimer funds.

The investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements permit the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to allocate brokerage for research services. The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful both to the Funds and to one or more of the other accounts advised by the Manager or its affiliates. Investment research may be supplied to the Manager and the Sub-Adviser by the broker or by a third party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.

Investment research services include information and analysis on particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, analytical software and similar products and services. If a research service also assists the Manager or Sub-Adviser in a non-research capacity (such as bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or component that provides assistance to the Manager or Sub-Adviser in the investment decision making process may be paid in commission dollars.

Although the Manager and the Sub-Adviser currently do not do so, the Board of Trustees may permit the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to use stated commissions on secondary fixed-income agency trades to obtain research if the broker represents to the Manager or Sub-Adviser that: (i) the trade is not from or for the broker's own inventory, (ii) the trade was executed by the broker on an agency basis at the stated commission, and (iii) the trade is not a riskless principal transaction. The Board of Trustees may also permit the Manager and Sub-Adviser to use commissions on fixed-price offerings to obtain research, in the same manner as is permitted for agency transactions.

The research services provided by brokers broaden the scope and supplement the research activities of the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. That research provides additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to obtain market information for the valuation of securities that are either held in the Funds' portfolio or are being considered for purchase. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser provide information to the Board about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services, together with the Manager's and the Sub-Adviser's representation that the amount of such commissions was reasonably related to the value or benefit of such services.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Fund paid the total brokerage commissions indicated in the chart below:

Total Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Funds*

Fund

2010

2011

2012

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

$1,121,338

$491,675

$346,752

Capital Income Fund/VA

$88,070

$127,466

$227,905

Core Bond Fund/VA

$8,759

$7,334

$8,049

Discovery Mid Cap
Growth Fund/VA

$985,846

$900,927

$603,992

Equity Income Fund/VA

$14,042

$10,738

$10,481

Global Fund/VA

$1,058,464

$969,552

$951,074

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

$343,287

$321,826

$674,998

Main Street Fund/VA

$1,348,818

$1,004,339

$770,518

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

$1,160,632

$1,601,977

$1,390,451

Money Fund/VA

$0

$0

$0

* Amounts do not include spreads or commissions on principal transactions on a net trade basis.


During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the Fund paid the following amounts in commissions to firms that provide brokerage and research services to the Fund with respect to the aggregate portfolio transactions indicated. All such transactions were on a "best execution" basis, as described above. The provision of research services was not necessarily a factor in the placement of all such transactions.

 

Fund

Commissions Paid
to Firms that
Provide Research

Aggregate Transactions
by Firms that
Provide Research

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

$335,659

$708,531,623

Capital Income Fund/VA

$218,279

$287,759,617

Core Bond Fund/VA

$0

$0

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

$586,895

$779,616,400

Equity Income Fund/VA

$9,836

$12,556,199

Global Fund/VA

$931,059

$823,328,581

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

$0

$0

Main Street Fund/VA

$742,424

$1,240,265,654

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

$1,315,384

$1,430,010,717

Money Fund/VA

$0

$0

Regular Broker-Dealers. If the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year, securities of its regular brokers or dealers as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Investment Company Act or of their parents, the following table identifies those regular brokers or dealers or their parents that derived more than 15% of their gross revenues from the business of a broker, a dealer, an underwriter, or an investment adviser as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012:

 

Fund Name

Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or
Parent of Regular Broker or Dealer

Aggregate Holdings of the Securities of the Issuer
as of the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Capital Income Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Core Bond Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Equity Income Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Global Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Main Street Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Money Fund/VA

N/A

N/A

Distribution and Service Arrangements

The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with each Fund, OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. ("OFDI" or the "Distributor") will act as the principal underwriter for the Funds' Service shares and Class 4 shares only.

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plans. Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act (a "Plan") for its Service shares and Class 4 shares, although as of December 31, 2012, only Global Fund/VA offered Class 4 shares. Each Fund that offers Service shares and/or Class 4 shares will make compensation payments to the Distributor in connection with the distribution and/or servicing of those shares. The Distributor will pay insurance company separate account sponsors and other entities that offer and/or provide services to Service shares and Class 4 shares, as described in the applicable Fund's Prospectus.

Each Plan has been approved by a vote of (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on that Plan, and (ii) the Manager as the then-sole initial holder of such shares.

Under the Plans, the Funds currently use the fees it receives to pay insurance company separate account sponsors or their affiliates (each is referred to as a "Recipient") for personal services and account maintenance services they provide for their customers who hold Service and Class 4 shares. The services include, among others, answering customer inquiries about the Funds, assisting in establishing and maintaining accounts in the Funds, and providing other services at the request of a Fund.

Under the Plans, no payment will be made to any Recipient in any period if the aggregate net assets of a Fund's Service and Class 4 shares held by the Recipient for itself and its customers did not exceed a minimum amount, if any, that may be determined from time to time by a majority of the Trust's Independent Trustees. The Plans provide for a fee of 0.25% of average annual net assets (although the Board of Trustees had set the fee at 0.15% of average net assets for all series prior to May 1, 2003). As of December 31, 2012, the Board had set no minimum asset amount. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, all payments made under the Service share Plan were paid by the Distributor, to Recipients (including Recipients affiliated with the Manager).

The Service shares and Class 4 shares payments during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, for all Funds having Service shares and Class 4 shares outstanding as of that date, were as follows:

Fund

Service Plan Payments by OFDI

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Service Shares

$959,337

Capital Income Fund/VA Service Shares

$192,074

Core Bond Fund/VA Service Shares

$168,000

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Service Shares

$94,918

Equity Income Fund/VA Service Shares

$17,737

Global Fund/VA Service Shares

$2,674,031

Global Fund/VA Class 4 Shares

$175,308

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Service Shares

$4,289,482

Main Street Fund/VA Service Shares

$2,303,240

Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA Service Shares

$2,100,177

Under the Plans, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor may make payments to affiliates. In their sole discretion, they may also from time to time make substantial payments from their own resources, which include the profits the Sub-Adviser derives from the advisory fees it receives from the Funds, to compensate brokers, dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries for providing distribution assistance and/or administrative services or that otherwise promote sales of the Funds' shares. These payments, some of which may be referred to as "revenue sharing," may relate to the Funds' inclusion on a financial intermediary's preferred list of funds offered to its clients.

Unless a plan is terminated as described below, each Plan continues in effect from year to year but only if the Trust's Board of Trustees and its Independent Trustees specially vote annually to approve its continuance. Approval must be by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on continuing each Plan. Each Plan may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding Service shares or Class 4 shares. The Board of Trustees and the Independent Trustees must approve all material amendments to each plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount of payments to be made under a plan must be approved by shareholders of the class affected by the amendment.

While the plans are in effect and Service shares and/or Class 4 shares are outstanding, the Treasurer of the Trust shall provide separate written reports on each plan to the Board of Trustees at least quarterly for their review. The reports shall detail the amount of all payments made under a plan and the purpose for which the payments were made. Those reports are subject to the review and approval of the Independent Trustees.

A plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination of these Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" of the Trust are committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. This does not prevent the involvement of others in the selection and nomination process as long as the final decision as to selection or nomination is approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

Financial intermediaries may receive various forms of compensation or reimbursement from the Fund in the form of distribution and service (12b-1) plan payments as described above. They may also receive payments or concessions from the Distributor, derived from sales charges paid by the financial intermediary's clients, also as described in this SAI. In addition, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor (including their affiliates) may make payments to financial intermediaries in connection with the intermediaries' offering and sales of Fund shares and shares of other Oppenheimer funds, or their provision of marketing or promotional support, transaction processing or administrative services. Among the financial intermediaries that may receive these payments are brokers or dealers who sell or hold shares of the Fund, banks (including bank trust departments), registered investment advisers, insurance companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, recordkeepers or other institutions that have selling, servicing or similar arrangements with the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor. The payments to financial intermediaries vary by the types of product sold, the features of the Fund share class and the role played by the intermediary.

Types of payments to financial intermediaries may include, without limitation, all or portions of the following:

Payments made by the Fund, or by an investor buying or selling shares of the Fund, including:

  • ongoing asset-based distribution and/or service fees (described in the section "Distribution and Service Arrangements - Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plans" above);
  • shareholder servicing expenses that are paid from Fund assets to reimburse the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor for Fund expenses they incur for providing omnibus accounting, recordkeeping, networking, sub-transfer agency or other administrative or shareholder services (including retirement plan and 529 plan administrative services fees).

In addition, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may, at their discretion, make the following types of payments from their own respective resources, which may include profits the Sub-Adviser derives from investment advisory fees paid by the Fund. Payments are made based on the guidelines established by the Sub-Adviser and Distributor, subject to applicable law. These payments are often referred to as "revenue sharing" payments, and may include:

  • compensation for marketing support, support provided in offering shares in the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds through certain trading platforms and programs, and transaction processing or other services;
  • other compensation, to the extent the payment is not prohibited by law or by any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA.

Although a broker or dealer that sells Fund shares may also act as a broker or dealer in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds, neither the Manager nor the Sub-Adviser considers does not consider a financial intermediary's sales of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when choosing brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds.

Revenue sharing payments can pay for distribution-related or asset retention items including, without limitation:

  • transactional support, one-time charges for setting up access for the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds on particular trading systems, and paying the intermediary's networking fees;
  • program support, such as expenses related to including the Oppenheimer funds in retirement plans, college savings plans, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, fund "supermarkets", bank or trust company products or insurance companies' variable annuity or variable life insurance products;
  • placement on the dealer's list of offered funds and providing representatives of the Distributor with access to a financial intermediary's sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives; or
  • firm support, such as business planning assistance, advertising, or educating a financial intermediary's sales personnel about the Oppenheimer funds and shareholder financial planning needs.

These payments may provide an incentive to financial intermediaries to actively market or promote the sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds, or to support the marketing or promotional efforts of the Distributor in offering shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds. In addition, some types of payments may provide a financial intermediary with an incentive to recommend the Fund or a particular share class. Financial intermediaries may earn profits on these payments, since the amount of the payments may exceed the cost of providing the services. Certain of these payments are subject to limitations under applicable law. Financial intermediaries may categorize and disclose these arrangements to their clients and to members of the public in a manner different from the disclosures in the Fund's Prospectus and this SAI. You should ask your financial intermediary for information about any payments it receives from the Fund, the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor and any services it provides, as well as the fees and commissions it charges.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the following financial intermediaries and/or their affiliates (which in some cases are broker-dealers) offered shares of the Oppenheimer funds and received revenue sharing or similar distribution-related payments (of at least $5,000) from the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor for marketing or program support:

Aegon USA Securities Inc.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

AIG Advisor Group, Inc.

MetLife Investors Insurance Company

Allianz Life Insurance Company

MetLife Securities, Inc.

Allstate Life Insurance Company

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

American General Annuity Insurance Company

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

American Portfolios Financial Services Inc.

Multi-Financial Securities Corporation

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Mutual Service Corporation

Ameritas Life Insurance Company

Nathan & Lewis Securities, Inc.

Ascensus, Inc.

National Planning Corporation

AXA Advisors, LLC

National Planning Holdings, Inc.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Nationwide Investment Services, Inc.

Cadaret Grant & Co.

New England Securities, Inc.

CCO Investment Services Corporation

NFP Securities Inc.

Chase Investment Services Corporation

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC

C.M. Life Insurance Company

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Commonwealth Financial Network

Park Avenue Securities LLC

CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.

PlanMember Securities Corp.

CUSO Financial Services LP

Prime Capital Services, Inc.

Directed Services LLC

Primevest Financial Services, Inc.

Edward Jones and Company

Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company

Essex National Securities, Inc.

Prudential Investment Management Services, Inc.

Financial Network Investment Corporation

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

First Clearing LLC

Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.

First Global Capital Corporation

RBC Capital Markets

FSC Securities Corporation

Riversource Life Insurance Co.

GE Life and Annuity Company

Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

Genworth Financial, Inc.

Sagepoint Financial Advisors

Great West Life Insurance Company

Securities America, Inc.

GWFS Equities, Inc.

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.

Signator Investments, Inc.

H.D. Vest Investment Services, Inc.

SII Investments, Inc.

Hartford Life Insurance Company

Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC

Hartford Securities Distribution Company

State Farm VP Management Corp.

ING Financial Partners, Inc.

Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Inc.

Investacorp, Inc.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)

INVEST Financial Corporation

Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York

Investment Centers of America, Inc.

Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company (Bermuda) Ltd.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

SunTrust Bank

Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation

SunTrust Investment Services, Inc.

Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Legend Equities Co.

Tower Square Securities, Inc.

Lincoln Benefit National Life

UBS Financial Services, Inc.

Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation

Union Central Life Insurance Company

Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation

UVEST Financial Services Group, Inc.

Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.

Walnut Street Securities, Inc.

Linsco Private Ledger

Waterstone Financial Group

LPL Financial LLC

Wells Fargo Advisors

MassMutual Financial Group

Wescom Financial Services

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the following firms (which in some cases are broker-dealers) received payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor (of at least $2,500) for administrative or other services provided (other than revenue sharing arrangements), as described above:

 

Acacia National

MetLife Securities Inc.

ACS HR Solutions LLC

Mid Atlantic Capital Co.

ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.

Milliman, Inc.

Aegon USA

Minnesota Life Insurance Company

Alliance Benefit Group

MML Investors Services LLC

Allianz Life Insurance Company

Morgan Keegan & Co, Inc.

Allstate Financial Services, LLC

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Allstate Life Insurance Company

Multi-Financial Securities

American Funds

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company

American General Annuity Insurance Company

National City Bank

American Portfolios Financial

National Investor Services Corp.

American United Life Insurance Co.

National Financial Services LLC

Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.

National Planning Corporation

Ameritas Investment Corp.

Nationwide

Ameritas Life Insurance Company

New England Securities

Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company

New York Life Insurance and Annuity Company

Ascensus

Newport Retirement Services

AXA Advisors LLC

Next Financial Group Inc.

Baden Retirement Services

NFP Securities Inc

Banc of America Investment

Northridge Securities Corp.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Northwestern Mutual Investment

Benefit Administration Co.

NRP Financial Inc.

Benefit Consultants Group

NYLIFE Distributors LLC

Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc.

NYLIFE Securities LLC

Benetech, Inc.

Oneamerica Securities Inc.

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Cadaret Grant & Co.

Pacific Life Insurance Co.

Cambridge Investment Research

Park Avenue Securities LLC

Cetera Financial Specialists LLC

Penn Mutual

Cetera Investment Services LLC

Pershing LLC

Champions of the Community, Inc.

PFS Investments Inc.

Charles Schwab & Co, Inc.

Phoenix Life Insurance Company

Chase Investment Services Corp.

Plan Administrators Inc.

CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc.

PlanMember Securities

Commonwealth Financial Network

PNC Investments LLC

CPI Qualified Plan Consultants

Prime Capital Services

CUNA Brokerage Services Inc.

Primevest Financial Services, Inc.

CUNA Mutual Insurance Society

Principal Life Insurance

CUSO Financial Services LP

Proequities Inc.

DA Davidson & Co.

Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company

DailyAccess Corp

Pruco Securities LLC

David Lerner Associates, Inc.

Prudential Investment Management

Digital Retirement Solutions

PSMI Group

Dyatech, LLC

Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments

E*TRADE Clearing LLC

Questar Capital Corporation

Edward Jones and Company

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

ExpertPlan Retirement Plan Services

Raymond James Financial Services

Federal Kemper Life Assurance Company

RBC Capital Markets

Fidelity

Reliance Trust Co.

Financial Network Investment

Richards, Merrill & Peterson Inc.

Financial Telesis Inc.

Robert W. Baird & Co.

First Allied Securities Inc.

Rothman Securities Inc.

First Clearing LLC

Royal Alliance Associates Inc.

First Global Capital Corporation

Sagepoint Financial Inc.

Freestone Capital Management

Santander Securities

FSC Securities Corp.

Scott & Stringfellow LLC

GE Financial Assurance

Securities America Inc.

GE Life and Annuity Company

Securities Service Network Inc.

Geneos Wealth Management Inc.

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

Genworth Financial Securities

Signator Investors Inc.

Girard Securities Inc.

SII Investments Inc.

Great West Life Insurance Company

Smith Hayes Financial Services

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.

Southwest Securities, Inc.

H.D. Vest Investment Services, Inc.

Standard Insurance Co.

Hartford Life & Annuity

State Farm Mutual Funds

Hartford Life Insurance Company

Stanton Group, Inc.

H Beck Inc.

Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc.

Hennion & Walsh Inc.

Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Inc.

Hewitt Associates LLC

Summit Brokerage Services Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Sunamerica

Independent Financial Group, LLC

Sun Trust Investments

ING Financial Advisers LLC

Suntrust Investment Services Inc.

Intuition Systems, Inc.

T. Rowe Price

Invest Financial Corporation

TD Ameritrade

Investacorp Inc.

The Investment Center Inc.

Investments Centers of America

The O N Equity Sales Company

Investors Capital Corp.

The Retirement Plan Company, LLC

Jackson National Life Insurance Company

Thrivent Investment Management

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Tiaa-Cref Individual & Institutional

JJB Hillard W.L. Lyons, Inc.

Transamerica Financial Advisors

John Hancock Life Insurance Company

Transamerica Life Insurance Co.

JP Morgan Securities, LLC

UBS Financial Services, Inc.

Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company

Unified Fund Services, Inc.

Key Investment Services Inc.

Union Bank & Trust Company

KMS Financial Services Inc.

Union Central Life Insurance Company

Lasalle St. Securities LLC

United Planners Financial

Legends Equities Corp.

USAA Investment Management Co.

Lincoln Benefit National Life

USI Securities Inc.

Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation

Valic Financial Advisors, Inc.

Lincoln Financial Securities

Vanderbilt Securities LLC

Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.

Vanguard Group

LPL Financial Corporation

VSR Financial Services Inc.

Madison Avenue Securities Inc.

Walnut Street Securities

Manulife Financial

Wedbush Securities

Matrix Settlement & Clearance Services

Wells Fargo Advisors LLC

Mercer HR Services

Wells Fargo Investments LLC

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner

Wilmington Trust Company

MetLife Investors Insurance

How to Buy Shares

Shares of the Funds are sold to provide benefits under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity and other insurance company separate accounts, as explained in the Prospectuses of the Funds and of the insurance product you have selected. Instructions from an investor to buy or sell shares of a Fund should be directed to the insurance sponsor for the investor's separate account, or that insurance sponsor's agent.

Determination of Net Asset Value Per Share. The net asset value, or "NAV," per share for each class of shares of the Fund is determined by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding. The NAV is determined as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on each day that the NYSE is open. The NYSE normally closes at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, but may close earlier on some other days (for example, in case of weather emergencies or on days falling before a U.S. holiday). All references to time in this SAI mean "Eastern time." The NYSE's most recent annual announcement (which is subject to change) states that it will close on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It may also close on other days.

Dealers other than NYSE members may conduct trading in certain securities on days that the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays) or after 4:00 p.m. on a regular business day. Because the Fund's net asset values will not be calculated on those days, the Fund's net asset values per share may be significantly affected on days when shareholders may not purchase or redeem shares. Additionally, trading on many foreign stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets normally is completed before the close of the NYSE.

Changes in the values of securities traded on foreign exchanges or markets as a result of events that occur after the close of the principal market on which a security is traded, but before the close of the NYSE, will not be reflected in the Fund's calculation of its net asset values that day unless the Sub-Adviser learns of the event and determines that the event is likely to cause a material change in the value of the security. The Board has adopted valuation procedures for the Fund and has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations under those procedures to the Sub-Adviser's "Valuation Committee". Fair value determinations by the Sub-Adviser are subject to review, approval, ratification and confirmation by the Board at its next scheduled meeting after the fair valuations are determined.

Allocation of Expenses. Each Fund pays expenses related to its daily operations, such as custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees, legal fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of each Fund's assets and are not paid directly by shareholders. However, those expenses reduce the net asset values of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by shareholders through their investment.

For each Fund that has more than one class of shares outstanding, methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and distributions of each Fund's share classes recognizes two types of expenses. General expenses that do not pertain specifically to any one class are allocated pro rata to the shares of all classes. The allocation is based on the percentage of a Fund's total assets that is represented by the assets of each class, and then equally to each outstanding share within a given class. Such general expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and audit fees, printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports, Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and other materials for current shareholders, fees to unaffiliated Trustees, custodian expenses, share issuance costs, organization and start-up costs, interest, taxes and brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs.

Other expenses that are directly attributable to a particular class are allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Examples of such expenses include distribution and service plan (12b-1) fees, transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, and shareholder meeting expenses (to the extent that such expenses pertain only to a specific class).

Securities Valuation. The Funds' Board of Trustees has established procedures for the valuation of the Funds' securities. In general those procedures for all Funds other than Money Fund/VA are as follows:

  • Equity securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange are valued as follows:
  1. if last sale information is regularly reported, they are valued at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which they are traded, on that day, or
  2. if last sale information is not available on a valuation date, they are valued at the last reported sale price preceding the valuation date if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and "asked" prices on the valuation date or, if not, at the closing "bid" price on the valuation date.
  • Equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally are valued in one of the following ways:
  1. at the last sale price available to the pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees, or
  2. at the last sale price obtained by the Sub-Adviser from the report of the principal exchange on which the security is traded at its last trading session on or immediately before the valuation date, or
  3. at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices obtained from the principal exchange on which the security is traded or, on the basis of reasonable inquiry, from two market makers in the security.
  • Long-term debt securities having a remaining maturity in excess of 60 days are valued based on the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the Funds' Board of Trustees or obtained by the Sub-Adviser from two active market makers in the security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
  • The following securities are valued at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the Funds' Board of Trustees or obtained by the Sub-Adviser from two active market makers in the security on the basis of reasonable inquiry:
  1. debt instruments that have a maturity of more than 397 days when issued,
  2. debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued and have a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, and
  3. non-money market debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued and which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less.
  • The following securities are valued at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts:
  1. money market debt securities held by a non-money market fund that had a maturity of less than 397 days when issued that have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less, and
  2. debt instruments held by a money market fund that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less.
  • Securities (including restricted securities) not having readily-available market quotations are valued at fair value determined under the Board's procedures. If the Sub-Adviser is unable to locate two market makers willing to give quotes, a security may be priced at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices provided by a single active market maker (which in certain cases may be the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available).

In the case of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds and foreign government securities, when last sale information is not generally available, the Sub-Adviser may use pricing services approved by the Board of Trustees. The pricing service may use "matrix" comparisons to the prices for comparable instruments on the basis of quality, yield and maturity. Other special factors may be involved (such as the tax-exempt status of the interest paid by municipal securities). The Sub-Adviser will monitor the accuracy of the pricing services. That monitoring may include comparing prices used for portfolio valuation to actual sales prices of selected securities.

The closing prices in the New York foreign exchange market on a particular business day that are provided to the Sub-Adviser  by a bank, dealer or pricing service that the Sub-Adviser has determined to be reliable are used to value foreign currency, including forward contracts, and to convert to U.S. dollars securities that are denominated in foreign currency.

Puts, calls, and futures are valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange on which they are traded, as determined by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees or by the Sub-Adviser. If there were no sales that day, they shall be valued at the last sale price on the preceding trading day if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and "asked" prices on the principal exchange on the valuation date. If not, the value shall be the closing bid price on the principal exchange on the valuation date. If the put, call or future is not traded on an exchange, it shall be valued by the mean between "bid" and "asked" prices obtained by the Sub-Adviser from two active market makers. In certain cases that may be at the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available.

When a Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received is included in that Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset. An equivalent credit is included in the liability section. The credit is adjusted ("marked-to-market") to reflect the current market value of the option. In determining the Funds' gain on investments, if a call or put written by a Fund is exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium received. If a call or put written by a Fund expires, that Fund has a gain in the amount of the premium. If a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will have a gain or loss, depending on whether the premium received was more or less than the cost of the closing transaction. If a Fund exercises a put it holds, the amount that Fund receives on its sale of the underlying investment is reduced by the amount of premium paid by that Fund.

Money Fund/VA Net Asset Valuation Per Share. Money Fund/VA will seek to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share for purchases and redemptions. There can be no assurance it will be able to do so. Money Fund/VA operates under Rule 2a-7 under which it may use the amortized cost method of valuing their shares. The Funds' Board of Trustees has adopted procedures for that purpose. The amortized cost method values a security initially at its cost and thereafter assumes a constant amortization of any premium or accretion of any discount, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the security. This method does not take into account unrealized capital gains or losses.

The Funds' Board of Trustees has established procedures intended to stabilize Money Fund/VA's net asset value at $1.00 per share. If Money Fund/VA's net asset value per share were to deviate from $1.00 by more than 0.5%, Rule 2a-7 requires the Board promptly to consider what action, if any, should be taken. If the Trustees find that the extent of any such deviation may result in material dilution or other unfair effects on shareholders, the Board will take whatever steps it considers appropriate to eliminate or reduce such dilution or unfair effects, including, without limitation, selling portfolio securities prior to maturity, shortening the average portfolio maturity, withholding or reducing dividends, reducing the outstanding number of shares of that Fund without monetary consideration, or calculating net asset value per share by using available market quotations.

As long as Money Fund/VA uses Rule 2a-7, it must abide by certain conditions described in the Prospectus which limit the maturity of securities that Fund buys. Under Rule 2a-7, the maturity of an instrument is generally considered to be its stated maturity (or in the case of an instrument called for redemption, the date on which the redemption payment must be made), with special exceptions for certain variable rate demand and floating rate instruments. Repurchase agreements and securities loan agreements are, in general, treated as having maturity equal to the period scheduled until repurchase or return, or if subject to demand, equal to the notice period.

While amortized cost method provides certainty in valuation, there may be periods during which the value of an instrument, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price Money Fund/VA would receive if it sold the instrument. During periods of declining interest rates, the daily yield on shares of that Fund may tend to be lower (and net investment income and daily dividends higher) than market prices or estimates of market prices for its portfolio. Thus, if the use of amortized cost by the funds resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in Money Fund/VA would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield than would result from investment in a fund utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in that Fund would receive less investment income than if Money Fund/VA were priced at market value. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the daily yield on shares of that Fund will tend to be higher and its aggregate value lower than that of a portfolio priced at market value. A prospective investor would receive a lower yield than from an investment in a portfolio priced at market value, while existing investors in Money Fund/VA would receive more investment income than if that Fund were priced at market value.

Fair Value Pricing. Pursuant to Rule 2a-7, Money Fund/VA will also calculate a shadow price for periodic review by the Board. For purposes of calculating the shadow price, Money Fund/VA may if after the close of the principal market on which a security held by the Fund is traded and before the time as of which the Fund's net asset value is calculated that day, an event occurs that the Manager learns of and believes in the exercise of its judgment will cause a material change in the value of that security, that security may be valued by another method that the Board believes would more accurately reflect the security's fair value. Fair value determinations by the Manager are subject to review, approval and ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting after the fair valuations are determined.

Money Fund/VA's use of fair value pricing procedures involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security.

Valuation of the Subsidiaries and their Underlying Investments. The securities valuation procedures for Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA are the same used in valuing each respective Subsidiary's portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary.

Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares tendered for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, under certain circumstances, the Board of Trustees of a Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment of a redemption order wholly or partly in cash. In that case, the Fund may pay the redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of liquid portfolio securities from the portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has adopted procedures for "in kind" redemptions. In accordance with the procedures, the Board of Trustees of a Fund may be required to approve an "in kind" redemption paid to a shareholder that holds 5% or more of the shares of any class, or of all outstanding shares, of that Fund, or to any other shareholder that may be deemed to be an "affiliated person" under section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act.

Each of Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA, Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®/VA and Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under that rule, each of Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA, Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®/VA and Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of such Fund redeemed during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. As of the date of this SAI, those Funds intend to redeem shares in kind only under certain limited circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). If shares are redeemed in kind, the redeeming shareholder may incur brokerage or other costs in selling the securities.  Each of the Funds will value securities used to pay redemptions in kind using the same method it uses to value its portfolio securities described above under "Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share." That valuation will be made as of the time the redemption price is determined.

Distributions and Taxes

Dividends and Distributions. The Funds have no fixed dividend rate and there can be no assurance as to the payment of any dividends or the realization of any capital gains. The dividends and distributions paid by a class of shares will vary from time to time depending on market conditions, the composition of the Funds' portfolio, and expenses borne by the Fund or borne separately by a class (if more than one class of shares is outstanding). Dividends are calculated in the same manner, at the same time, and on the same day for each class of shares. Dividends on Service shares and Class 4 Shares are expected to be lower because of the additional expenses for those shares. Dividends will also differ in amount as a consequence of any difference in the net asset values of the different classes of shares.

Taxes. Each Fund is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the provisions of Subchapter M of the Code. As a regulated investment company, each Fund is required to distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign currency transactions). To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, a Fund must meet certain income source, asset diversification and income distribution requirements. If each Fund qualifies as a "regulated investment company" and complies with the relevant provisions of the Code, each Fund will be relieved of federal income tax on the part of its net ordinary income and realized net capital gain which it distributes to the separate accounts. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund will be subject to federal, and possibly state, corporate taxes on its taxable income and gains. Furthermore, all distributions to its shareholders would then constitute ordinary dividend income to the extent of such Fund's available earnings and profits, and insurance policy and product holders could be subject to current tax on distributions received with respect to Fund shares.

Each Fund supports variable life insurance, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts and therefore must, and intends to, comply with the diversification requirements imposed by section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations hereunder. These requirements place certain limitations on the proportion of each Fund's assets that may be represented by any single investment (which includes all securities of the issuer) and are in addition to the diversification requirements applicable to such Fund's status as a regulated investment company. For these purposes, each U.S. Government agency or instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer, while a particular foreign government and its agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions are all considered the same issuer.

Generally, a regulated investment company must distribute substantially all of its ordinary income and capital gains in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement in order to avoid a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. However, the excise tax does not apply to a Fund whose only shareholders are certain tax-exempt trusts or segregated asset accounts of life insurance companies held in connection with variable contracts, or any other tax-exempt entity whose ownership of beneficial interests in the company would not preclude exemption from the excise tax or another regulated investment company that qualifies for this exemption. The Funds intend to qualify for this exemption or to make distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirements and therefore do not expect to be subject to this excise tax.

Foreign Taxes. Investment income received from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes. In this regard, withholding tax rates in countries with which the United States does not have a tax treaty are often as high as 30% or more. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that entitle certain investors to a reduced rate of tax (generally 10-15%) or to certain exemptions from tax. Each Fund will operate so as to qualify for such reduced tax rates or tax exemptions whenever possible. While insurance policy and product holders will bear the cost of any foreign tax withholding, they will not be able to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction for taxes paid by the Fund.

The Funds that may invest in foreign securities, may invest in securities of "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"). A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of the its gross income is passive; or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. A Fund investing in securities of PFICs may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and interest charges, which would reduce the investment return of a Fund making such investments. The owners of variable annuities, variable life insurance products and other insurance company separate accounts investing in such Fund would effectively bear the cost of these taxes and interest charges. In certain cases, a Fund may be eligible to make certain elections with respect to securities of PFICs that could reduce taxes and interest charges payable by the Fund. However, no assurance can be given that such elections can or will be made.

Tax Considerations with Respect to each Subsidiary. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA may each invest a portion of its assets in its Subsidiary, each of which is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiariesy, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. It is expected that each the Subsidiary will conduct its activities in a manner so as to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under Section 864(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Safe Harbor") pursuant to which a the Subsidiary, provided it is not a dealer in stocks, securities or commodities, may engage in the following activities without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business: (1) trading in stocks or securities (including contracts or options to buy or sell securities) for its own account; and (2) trading, for its own account, in commodities that are "of a kind customarily dealt in on an organized commodity exchange" if the transaction is of a kind customarily consummated at such place. Thus, a the Subsidiary's securities and commodities trading activities should not constitute a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of a the Subsidiary's activities were determined not to be of the type described in the Safe Harbor or if a the Subsidiary's gains are attributable to investments in securities that constitute U.S. real property interests (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business, or be taxed as such.

In general, a foreign corporation that does not conduct a U.S. trade or business is nonetheless subject to tax at a flat rate of 30 percent on the gross amount of certain U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (or lower tax treaty rate), generally payable through withholding. There is presently no tax treaty in force between the U.S. and the Cayman Islands that would reduce this rate of withholding tax. Income subject to such a flat tax includes dividends and certain interest income. The 30 percent tax does not apply to U.S.-source capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) or to interest paid to a foreign corporation on its deposits with U.S. banks. The 30 percent tax also does not apply to interest which qualifies as "portfolio interest." The term "portfolio interest" generally includes interest (including original issue discount) on an obligation in registered form which has been issued after July 18, 1984 and with respect to which the person, who would otherwise be required to deduct and withhold the 30 percent tax, received the required statement that the beneficial owner of the obligation is not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. Under certain circumstances, interest on bearer obligations may also be considered portfolio interest.

Each The Subsidiary is wholly-owned, respectively, by Global Strategic Income Fund/VA or Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA. A U.S. person who owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a "U.S. Shareholder" for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50 percent of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by "U.S. Shareholders." Because Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA are U.S. persons that own all of the stock of its Subsidiary, each Fund is a "U.S. Shareholder" and its Subsidiary is a CFC. As a "U.S. Shareholder," each Fund is required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes all of its Subsidiary's "subpart F income" (defined, in part, below), whether or not such income is distributed by the Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary's income will be "subpart F income." "Subpart F income" generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. "Subpart F income" also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in any commodities. Each Fund's recognition of its Subsidiary's "subpart F income" will increase its tax basis in the Subsidiary.

Distributions by the Subsidiaries to Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed "subpart F income," and will correspondingly reduce each Fund's tax basis in its Subsidiary. "Subpart F income" is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiary's underlying income.

In general, each "U.S. Shareholder" is required to file IRS Form 5471 with its U.S. federal income tax (or information) returns providing information about its ownership of the CFC and the CFC. In addition, a "U.S. Shareholder" may in certain circumstances be required to report a disposition of shares in the Subsidiary by attaching IRS Form 5471 to its U.S. federal income tax (or information) return that it would normally file for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. In general, these filing requirements will apply to investors of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Diversified Alternatives Fund/VA if the investor is a U.S. person who owns directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Sections 958(a) and (b) of the Internal Revenue Code) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during any tax year of the foreign corporation, and who owned that stock on the last day of that year.

This is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations currently in effect as interpreted by the Courts and the Internal Revenue Service. For further information, consult the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for your particular insurance product, as well as your own tax advisor.

Additional Information About the Funds

The Transfer Agent. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. is the Fund's Transfer Agent and Shareholder Services, Inc. doing business as OppenheimerFunds Services, is the Fund's Sub-Transfer Agent. OppenheimerFunds Services is responsible for maintaining the Fund's shareholder registry and shareholder accounting records, and for paying dividends and distributions to shareholders. It also handles shareholder servicing and administrative functions. It also acts as shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds. Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to OppenheimerFunds Services at the address and toll-free numbers shown on the back cover.

Information about your investment in the Funds through your variable annuity contract, variable life insurance policy or other plan can be obtained only from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Funds' Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent do not hold or have access to those records. Instructions for buying or selling shares of the Funds should be given to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Funds or to the Funds' Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent.

The Custodian. JPMorgan Chase Bank is the custodian of the Fund's assets. The custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund's portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and from the Fund. It is the practice of the Fund to deal with the custodian in a manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the custodian may have with the Manager and its affiliates. The Fund's cash balances with the custodian in excess of $250,000 are not protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). Those uninsured balances at times may be substantial.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  KPMG LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. KPMG LLP audits the Fund's financial statements and performs other related audit and tax services.  KPMG LLP also acts as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and certain other funds advised by the Manager and its affiliates. Audit and non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP to the Fund must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Appendix A

Major Shareholders

Control Persons. Shareholders who beneficially own 25% or more of outstanding shares of a Fund may be in control of the Fund and may be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders. As of October 31, 2013, to the best of our knowledge, the following insurance companies held 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund:

Fund

Name of Insurance Company

Address of Insurance Company

Percent Owned by Insurance Co.

Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

48.80%

Capital Income Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

44.43%

Core Bond Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

26.41%

Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

69.64%

Equity Income Fund/VA

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474

50.94%

Equity Income Fund/VA

Hartford Life Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06089

32.80%

Global Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

28.08%

Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474

29.17%

Main Street Fund/VA

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029
Columbus, OH 43218-2029

26.66%

Money Fund/VA

Protective Life Insurance Company

PO Box 2606
2801 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, AL 35202-2687

68.65%

Money Fund/VA

MassMutual

1295 State Street
Springfield, MA 01111

28.49%




Principal Holders of Securities. 
As of October 31, 2013, to the best of our knowledge, the only persons or entities who owned of record or were known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Fund's outstanding shares are listed below:

 

Name

Address

% Owned

Share Class

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

62.33%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company

1295 State Street

26.69%

1

Springfield MA 01111

RiverSource Life Insurance Company Total

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

41.70%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Protective Life Insurance Company

P. O. Box 2606

24.43%

2

2801 Highway 280 South

Birmingham AL 35202-2687

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Co Inc

3900 Burgess Place

16.46%

2

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund VA

ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company

One Orange Way, B3N

42.62%

1

Windsor CT 06095-4774

Nationwide Insurance Total

PO BOX 182029

24.97%

1

Columbus OH 43218-2029

CMFG Life Insurance Company

2000 Heritage Way

12.53%

1

Waverly IA 50677

Lincoln Benefit Life Company

3100 Sanders Rd MS N2D

7.47%

1

Northbrook IL 60062

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Co Inc

3900 Burgess Place

18.65%

2

Bethlehem, PA 18017

MetLife Investors Insurance Company

501 Boylston Street

12.82%

2

Boston, MA 02116

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

12.48%

2

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Hartford Life & Annuity Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

11.46%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

9.69%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

7.39%

2

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Phoenix Life Insurance Company

15 Tech Valley Dr

5.65%

2

East Greenbush, NY 10261-4137

Hartford Life Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

5.07%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

Oppenheimer Global Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

55.43%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

21.05%

1

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company

1295 State Street

9.12%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Allianz Life Insurance Company of

5701 Golden Hills Drive

5.71%

1

North America

Golden Valley, MN 55416-1297

Protective Life Insurance Company

P. O. Box 2606

33.01%

2

2801 Highway 280 South

Birmingham AL 35202-2687

Hartford Life & Annuity Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

17.94%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

Hartford Life Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

10.55%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

10.13%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

9.88%

2

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

100.00%

3

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

100.00%

4

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

76.35%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

6.69%

1

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Co Inc

3900 Burgess Place

26.31%

2

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Hartford Life & Annuity Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

16.18%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

Protective Life Insurance Company

P. O. Box 2606

11.00%

2

2801 Highway 280 South

Birmingham AL 35202-2687

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

8.10%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Allstate Life Insurance Company

544 Lakeview Parkway Suite L1B

8.07%

2

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)

One Sun Life Executive Park

6.82%

2

Wellesley Hills MA 02481-5615

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

72.63%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

14.99%

1

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

5.24%

1

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Allstate Life Insurance Company

544 Lakeview Parkway Suite L1B

23.06%

2

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Hartford Life & Annuity Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

17.55%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

16.16%

2

Springfield MA 01111

Hartford Life Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

11.28%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

10.11%

2

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York

3100 Sanders Rd MS N2D

6.32%

2

Northbrook, IL 60062

Lincoln Benefit Life Company

3100 Sanders Rd MS N2D

6.10%

2

Northbrook IL 60062

Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund VA

Lincoln Benefit Life Company

3100 Sanders Rd MS N2D

95.90%

1

Northbrook IL 60062

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

52.23%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Hartford Life Insurance Company

200 Hopmeadow Street

33.63%

2

Simsbury, CT 06089

RiverSource Life Insurance Company of NY

222 Ameriprise Financial Center

11.21%

2

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Oppenheimer Main Street Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

40.32%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

28.20%

1

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Allianz Life Insurance Company of

5701 Golden Hills Drive

11.55%

1

North America

Golden Valley, MN 55416-1297

Mutual of America

320 Park Avenue

8.16%

1

New York, NY 10022-6839

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)

One Sun Life Executive Park

38.14%

2

Wellesley Hills MA 02481-5615

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

25.74%

2

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

13.36%

2

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Allstate Life Insurance Company

544 Lakeview Parkway Suite L1B

5.21%

2

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

41.66%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

35.26%

1

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

16.93%

1

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Allstate Life Insurance Company

544 Lakeview Parkway Suite L1B

46.39%

2

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

One Security Benefit Place

39.91%

2

Topeka, KS 66636

Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York

3100 Sanders Rd MS N2D

12.66%

2

Northbrook, IL 60062

Oppenheimer Money Fund VA

Protective Life Insurance Company

P. O. Box 2606

68.65%

1

2801 Highway 280 South

Birmingham AL 35202-2687

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

28.49%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund VA

Mass Mutual

1295 State Street

59.26%

1

Springfield MA 01111

Nationwide Insurance

PO BOX 182029

20.02%

1

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company

4333 Edgewood Rd NE MS4410

8.75%

1

Cedar Rapids, IA 52499

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

7.55%

1

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Genworth Life and Annuity

6610 W Broad St Bldg 2, 7th Floor

43.63%

2

Insurance Company

Richmond, VA 23230

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)

One Sun Life Executive Park

18.51%

2

Wellesley Hills MA 02481-5615

Allstate Life Insurance Company

544 Lakeview Parkway Suite L1B

16.29%

2

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Genworth Life Insurance Company of New York

6610 W Broad St Bldg 3, 5th Floor

7.87%

2

Richmond, VA 23230

Commonwealth Annutiy and Life Insurance Company

440 Lincoln Street

5.16%

2

Worcester, MA 01653

Appendix B

Ratings Definitions

Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") listed below. Those ratings represent the opinion of the NRSRO as to the credit quality of issues that they rate. The summaries below are based upon publicly available information provided by the NRSROs.

Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's")

LONG-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS

Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa: Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa: Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A: Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa: Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba: Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B: Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa: Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca: Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C: Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a "(hyb)" indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.*

* By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

SHORT-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS FOR TAXABLE DEBT AND U.S. MUNICIPAL TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER

Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

P-1: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.


U.S. MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM DEBT AND DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.

MIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Demand Obligation Ratings

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody's evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody's evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ("demand feature"). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale.

VMIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's"), a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects Standard & Poor's view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor's analysis of the following considerations:

  • Likelihood of payment-capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
  • Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
  • Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

AAA: An obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA: An obligation rated 'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A: An obligation rated 'A' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB: An obligation rated 'BBB' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C: Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC', and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB: An obligation rated 'BB' is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: An obligation rated 'B' is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated 'CCC' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC: An obligation rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C: A 'C' rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the 'C' rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument's terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D: An obligation rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

NR: This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Note: The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

SHORT-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days-including commercial paper.

A-1: A short-term obligation rated 'A-1' is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2: A short-term obligation rated 'A-2' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3: A short-term obligation rated 'A-3' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: A short-term obligation rated 'B' is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C: A short-term obligation rated 'C' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D: A short-term obligation rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM NOTE RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor's opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor's analysis will review the following considerations:

  • Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
  • Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

SP-1: Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

SP-2: Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

SP-3: Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

ISSUER CREDIT RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's issuer credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about an obligor's overall creditworthiness in order to pay its financial obligations. This opinion focuses on the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due. It does not apply to any specific financial obligation, as it does not take into account the nature of and provisions of the obligation, its standing in bankruptcy or liquidation, statutory preferences, or the legality and enforceability of the obligation.

 

 

LONG-TERM ISSUER CREDIT RATINGS

AAA: An obligor rated 'AAA' has extremely strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. 'AAA' is the highest issuer credit rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.

AA: An obligor rated 'AA' has very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. It differs from the highest-rated obligors only to a small degree.

A: An obligor rated 'A' has strong capacity to meet its financial commitments but is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in higher-rated categories.

BBB: An obligor rated 'BBB' has adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitments.

BB; B; CCC; and CC: Obligors rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', and 'CC' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'CC' the highest. While such obligors will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB: An obligor rated 'BB' is less vulnerable in the near term than other lower-rated obligors. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

B: An obligor rated 'B' is more vulnerable than the obligors rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments.

CCC: An obligor rated 'CCC' is currently vulnerable, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet its financial commitments.

CC: An obligor rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable.

R: An obligor rated 'R' is under regulatory supervision owing to its financial condition. During the pendency of the regulatory supervision the regulators may have the power to favor one class of obligations over others or pay some obligations and not others.

SD and D: An obligor rated 'SD' (selective default) or 'D' is in payment default on one or more of its financial obligations (rated or unrated) unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on a financial obligation are jeopardized. A 'D' rating is assigned when Standard & Poor's believes that the default will be a general default and that the obligor will fail to pay all or substantially all of its obligations as they come due. An 'SD' rating is assigned when Standard & Poor's believes that the obligor has selectively defaulted on a specific issue or class of obligations, but it will continue to meet its payment obligations on other issues or classes of obligations in a timely manner. A selective default includes the completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby one or more financial obligation is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

NR: An issuer designated 'NR' is not rated.

Note: The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

SHORT-TERM ISSUER CREDIT RATINGS

A-1: An obligor rated 'A-1' has strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. It is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor's. Within this category, certain obligors are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments is extremely strong.

A-2: An obligor rated 'A-2' has satisfactory capacity to meet its financial commitments. However, it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in the highest rating category.

A-3: An obligor rated 'A-3' has adequate capacity to meet its financial obligations. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitments.

B: An obligor rated 'B' is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C: An obligor rated 'C' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for it to meet its financial commitments.

R: An obligor rated 'R' is under regulatory supervision owing to its financial condition. During the pendency of the regulatory supervision the regulators may have the power to favor one class of obligations over others or pay some obligations and not others. Please see Standard & Poor's issue credit ratings for a more detailed description of the effects of regulatory supervision on specific issues or classes of obligations.

SD and D: An obligor rated 'SD' (selective default) or 'D' has failed to pay one or more of its financial obligations (rated or unrated) when it came due, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. A 'D' rating is assigned when Standard & Poor's believes that the default will be a general default and that the obligor will fail to pay all or substantially all of its obligations as they come due. An 'SD' rating is assigned when Standard & Poor's believes that the obligor has selectively defaulted on a specific issue or class of obligations but it will continue to meet its payment obligations on other issues or classes of obligations in a timely manner. Please see Standard & Poor's issue credit ratings for a more detailed description of the effects of a default on specific issues or classes of obligations.

NR: An issuer designated 'NR' is not rated.

Fitch, Inc.

International credit ratings relate to either foreign currency or local currency commitments and, in both cases, assess the capacity to meet these commitments using a globally applicable scale. As such, both foreign currency and local currency international ratings are internationally comparable assessments. The local currency international rating measures the likelihood of repayment in the currency of the jurisdiction in which the issuer is domiciled and hence does not take account of the possibility that it will not be possible to convert local currency into foreign currency, or make transfers between sovereign jurisdictions (transfer and convertibility risk). Foreign currency ratings additionally consider the profile of the issuer or note after taking into account transfer and convertibility risk. Where the rating is not explicitly described in the relevant rating action commentary as local or foreign currency, the reader should assume that the rating is a "foreign currency" rating (i.e. the rating is applicable for all convertible currencies of obligation).

INTERNATIONAL LONG-TERM ISSUER RATINGS

AAA: Highest credit quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. 'A' ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB: Good credit quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB: Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.

B: Highly speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

CCC: Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

CC: Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a 'C' category rating for an issuer include:

a. the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
b. the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or
c. Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of 'RD' or 'D' to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

RD: Restricted default. 'RD' ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

a. the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
b. the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
c. the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or
d. execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D: Default. 'D' ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business. Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange. "Imminent" default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future. In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency's opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer's financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Note: The modifiers "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' Long-Term category, or to Long-Term categories below 'B'.

INTERNATIONAL SHORT-TERM ISSUER AND ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

F1: Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B: Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

DBRS

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

The DBRS® long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligations has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories "(high)" and "(low)". The absence of either a "(high)" or "(low)" designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.

AAA: Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

AA: Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from AAA only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

A: Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than AA. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

BBB: Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

BB: Speculative, non investment-grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

B: Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

CCC/CC/C: Very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although CC and C ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the CCC to B range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the C category.

D: A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods or extenuating circumstances may exist.

COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM DEBT

The DBRS® short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the subcategories "(high)," "(middle)," and "(low)."

R-1 (high): Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

R-1 (middle): Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from R-1 (high) by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

R-1 (low): Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favourable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

R-2 (high): Upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

R-2 (middle): Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

R-2 (low): Lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer's ability to meet such obligations.

R-3: Lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

R-4: Speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

R-5: Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

D: A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future, or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods, other procedural considerations, or extenuating circumstance may exist.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency ("KBRA")

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns credit ratings to issuers and their obligations using the same rating scale. In either case, KBRA's credit ratings are intended to reflect both the probability of default and severity of loss in the event of default, with greater emphasis on probability of default at higher rating categories. For obligations, the determination of expected loss severity is, among other things, a function of the seniority of the claim. Generally speaking, issuer-level ratings assume a loss severity consistent with a senior unsecured claim. KBRA appends an (sf) indicator to ratings assigned to structured finance obligations.

LONG-TERM CREDIT RATINGS

AAA Determined to have almost no risk of loss due to credit-related events. Assigned only to the very highest quality obligors and obligations able to survive extremely challenging economic events.

AA Determined to have minimal risk of loss due to credit-related events. Such obligors and obligations are deemed very high quality.

A Determined to be of high quality with a small risk of loss due to credit-related events. Issuers and obligations in this category are expected to weather difficult times with low credit losses.

BBB Determined to be of medium quality with some risk of loss due to credit-related events. Such issuers and obligations may experience credit losses during stress environments.

BB Determined to be of low quality with moderate risk of loss due to credit-related events. Such issuers and obligations have fundamental weaknesses that create moderate credit risk.

B Determined to be of very low quality with high risk of loss due to credit-related events. These issuers and obligations contain many fundamental shortcomings that create significant credit risk.

CCC Determined to be at substantial risk of loss due to credit-related events, or currently in default with high recovery expectations.

CC Determined to be near default or in default with average recovery expectations.

C Determined to be near default or in default with low recovery expectations.

D In default.

KBRA may append - or + modifiers to ratings in categories AA through CCC to indicate, respectively, upper and lower risk levels within the broader category.

SHORT-TERM CREDIT RATINGS

K1 Very strong ability to meet short-term obligations.

K2 Strong ability to meet short-term obligations.

K3 Adequate ability to meet short-term obligations.

B Questionable ability to meet short-term obligations.

C Little ability to meet short-term obligations.

D In default on short-term obligations.

KBRA may append a + modifier to ratings in the K1 category to indicate exceptional ability to meet short-term obligations.

 

Financial Statements

The Funds' audited Financial Statements (and in the case of Global Strategic Income Fund/VA, that Fund's Subsidiary), included in each Fund's Annual Report dated December 31, 2012, including the notes thereto and the reports of KPMG LLP thereon, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Funds' Semi-Annual Report dated June 30, 2013, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.

Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Website
www.oppenheimerfunds.com

Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Financial Center
225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10281-1008

Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Financial Center
225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10281-1008

Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. and
Shareholder Services Inc. doing business as OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1.800.CALL OPP (225.5677)

Custodian Bank
JPMorgan Chase Bank
4 Chase Metro Tech Center
Brooklyn, New York 11245

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
1225 17th Street, Suite 800
Denver, Colorado 80202

Counsel to the Funds & Independent Trustees
K&L Gates LLP
70 West Madison Street, Suite 3100
Chicago, Illinois 60602

PX0610.001.1113